Chapter 39: chapter 39

Imara felt a deep resonance within her soul as she absorbed Adhiraj’s words. They pierced through her heart, causing her to question her own actions. Was she truly running away? Was her decision to sever ties with her family a reflection of her own wrongdoing? Did her attempt to punish her family result in her own punishment, all because she dared to love someone? Absolutely not! It was not Imara who was at fault here. It was her parents, her brothers, her Chachu, and Maa who wronged her. They were the ones who drove Dheeraj out of her life, leaving her to bear the consequences.She angrily wiped away the tears from her eyes, steadied herself, and with unwavering resolve, she left her room. However, as she closed the door behind her, she hesitated, causing her heart to pound in her chest. Facing them would only serve as a painful reminder of the anguish she endured every night, the overwhelming loneliness that still haunted her. Nevertheless, she steeled herself, squared her shoulders, and descended the stairs to confront the situation head-on. Little did she know, she was determined to prove to her husband that she was not a quitter, and that she was not the one at fault. Unbeknownst to her, she was believing in the faith he had in her.As she descended a few steps, the sound of a voice from behind startled her. “Glad you listened to your husband...” The suddenness of it nearly caused her to trip, but Adhiraj’s swift reflexes saved her. His strong arm wrapped firmly around her waist, providing a sense of stability.Her heart skipped a beat as she clung tightly to his t-shirt, fearing the impending fall. Their eyes locked, and her lips parted in anticipation. She could feel the tension in his fingers as they tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. Her breath caught in her throat, her senses overwhelmed, unsure of why she couldn’t bring herself to pull away.“Careful,” he whispered, his words barely audible, as he slowly loosened his hold and gestured for her to continue down the stairs.Imara clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, unaware of the sly smirk that played upon Adhiraj’s lips, as she strode down.—————Vandana’s forehead furrowed in a mix of perplexity and astonishment as Imara made her way towards the dining table, with Adhiraj trailing closely behind. This unexpected sight left Virender and the rest of the Shekhawats utterly taken dumbfounded.Meanwhile, the expressions on Sanjay and the other Rathores’ faces were a clear reflection of both astonishment and longing. Imara was still the apple of their eye. Their home, devoid of her infectious laughter, witty comebacks, and comforting presence, felt nothing short of a desolate place of sorrow.Adhiraj locked eyes with Virender, who mischievously winked at him, provoking an exasperated eye roll from Adhiraj. Without further ado, he joined Imara, settling down beside her, and exchanged nods with all the Rathores before helping himself to dinner.“Raj...” Jaidev broke the silence, “When will the matter of the showroom be resolved?”As Adhiraj chewed on a carrot, he replied thoughtfully, “Within two or three days, perhaps. I already have a suspect.”“Who?” Atharv asked.“Who else?” Adhiraj shrugged casually.“Raghuvanshi?” Samrat confirmed, catching Imara’s attention.Adhiraj, with a nod, confirmed, “Yes! But it all depends on the statement and evidence.”Virender let out a deep sigh and added, “You need to be cautious. They might try other methods as well.”Adhiraj took a spoonful of rice and nodded, saying, “I have something in mind for that. We’ll discuss it later.”Virender nodded thoughtfully, while Sanjay sought clarification. “Is it about the same showroom that caught fire yesterday?”“Yes!” Adhiraj confirmed, “It was planned.”Imara listened as Adhiraj detailed his findings to Sanjay, and a sense of unease washed over her. Isha’s warning about the school management’s sudden interest in her firm echoed in her mind.“Imara…” Vandana’s gentle nudge snapped Imara out of her thoughts, prompting her to return to reality.“Are you alright?” Vandana’s concern touched Suvika’s heart, filling her with a sense of peace knowing that Imara had someone looking out for her.Imara nodded, trying to reassure Vandana, and resumed her dinner. Adhiraj couldn’t help but question himself, wondering if he had crossed a line by insisting that Imara join them. But the thought of her eating alone while he enjoyed the warmth of his family’s love troubled him deeply. He couldn’t bear to leave her in that lonely state, not when he cared so much.“Raj! We’ve decided to have the reception on Saturday since Vandana is taking Imara, Anika, and Tarushi to the temple on Sunday,” Jaidev revealed.Imara paused mid-chew and glanced at Vandana. Both announcements caught her off guard.Vandana, sensing Imara’s confusion, offered an understanding nod. “I was going to tell you after dinner. This Sunday, we are going to the Kuldevi Temple, and it’s a tradition for new brides to go without their husbands and spend the night there.”Imara blinked, and the first thing that came to her mind was to shake her head in a ‘No’. But she couldn’t bring herself to defy Vandana at that moment. Therefore, she decided to discuss it later and simply nodded, focusing on her meal.Suvika and Vibha exchanged concerned looks, noticing how much their Imu had changed. She was usually the one who heartily embraced such news, eager to visit temples, immerse herself in the tranquillity, and revel in the melodic chants.“The date of the reception is fine with….” Adhiraj began, but Imara couldn’t hold back any longer and interrupted with, “Can we postpone it for a month? I have a few important projects to take care of.”As the people around the table fell into silence, Adhiraj looked at Imara, silently conveying that he understood what she was trying to get at. Surprisingly, Imara grasped his thought process, causing her to narrow her eyes at him, giving everyone the impression that Imara was silently warning Adhiraj in a typical wife style, ‘Kamre mei chalo, phir batati hu!’“Of course we can!” Virender declared, smiling at Imara, pleased that she was expressing her opinions.Imara nodded gratefully and returned to her meal while Adhiraj rolled his eyes, silently praying that Imara would lose this challenge.