âI had dinner already,â Imaraâs response resonated through the room, a bitter edge lacing her words in response to Vandanaâs invitation to join everyone for dinner.Vandana and everyone else present were taken aback, their surprise etched on their faces. Ignoring Vandanaâs bewildered expression, Imara ascended the stairs, her footsteps echoing on the marble steps as she marched resolutely to her room.The image of Dheeraj, his wife, their baby, and Dheerajâs parents remained vivid in her mind, haunting her thoughts. To find comfort, she sought refuge in the washroom. The warm water from the shower enveloped her, providing a temporary respite to her throbbing head, worn from countless tears. The weight of what she had witnessed was too heavy to bear, making it impossible for her to call Isha and share her pain. The piercing ache was too raw, too unbearable to put into words.âShe seemed upsetâ¦,â Vandana whispered.Virenderâs thoughts echoed in her words, causing a deep furrow to appear on Jaidevâs brow and Adhiraj to tighten his grip on his spoon, the metal utensil digging into his palm. Across the table, Anika and Tarushi exchanged worried glances, their fingers subtly interlocking with their husbandsâ in a silent show of support.Adhiraj, however, remained silent, unable to find the words to respond. The hunger was now a distant memory, overshadowed by the constant stream of updates he had been receiving about Imaraâs whereabouts. He knew exactly where she had been before returning home, and it gnawed at him, a persistent irritation. The thought of Imaraâs unhappiness, caused by the person she once loved, or perhaps still loved, stirred a mix of anger and concern within him. Yet, leaving the dinner in between would only heighten the already tense atmosphere. With a begrudging sigh, he forced himself to finish his meal, the flavours now dull and unappetising. Excusing himself, he retreated into his temporary room, seeking solace in the solitude that awaited him.âââââImara sat on the balcony, feeling the cool night air brush against her skin as she stared at her laptop. Frustration weighed heavily on her hands and thoughts, making it impossible to focus on her work. Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door jolted her back to reality. She reluctantly left the balcony and opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Vandana holding a tray filled with food.Imaraâs eyes threatened to well up with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, and said to Vandana, âI told you...âBefore she could finish, Vandana interrupted, âI can tell you didnât have dinner, Imara.âWithout waiting for a response, Vandana entered the room and began setting up the meal. Instinctively, Imara closed the door behind her and watched as Vandana gestured for her to join, saying, âCome, eat!âImara bit down on her lower lip as she tried to control her tears. Vandanaâs concerned gaze bore into her, like a warm ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds. Her gentle gestures, the way she reached out with a comforting touch, reminded Imara of her mother. It brought back memories of a time when her family would move heaven and earth to ensure her well-beingâmaking sure she had eaten well before bedtime, ensuring she went to sleep without any worries, and providing her with everything she desired and loved.âImara,â Vandanaâs voice broke through Imaraâs stupor, filled with both worry and determination.âI am not hungry,â Imara began, her words trailing off as Vandana, with a firm grip, pulled her towards a nearby chair, guiding her down to sit. Without hesitation, she placed a plate in front of her, commanding in a firm yet caring tone, âI donât know what happened today that upset you, but I am sure you refused to have dinner because of your foul mood. Now, will you eat yourself, or should I do it for you?âImara stared at her mother-in-law, her mind filled with confusion and disbelief. Memories flooded back to the time when she had first visited Dheerajâs home to meet his parents. The encounter had left her feeling unsettled and vulnerable. His motherâs demeanour was icy, calculating, and she seemed to scrutinise Imaraâs every move. The weight of her gaze was so intense that Imara had accidentally dropped a utensil she was helping to carry to the dining table. The bitterness in her voice, as she referred to Imara as a pampered princess, mocking her lack of knowledge about the struggles of ordinary peopleâs daily lives, had stung deeply. Despite her attempt to mask it with laughter, Imara could see through the facade. His mother hadnât even extended the basic courtesy of offering Imara anything from the laden table. Imara had felt like an unwelcome intruder, her apprehension growing with each passing moment. It was only Dheerajâs reassuring glances that provided her with a sense of belonging in that unfamiliar house.âImara,â Vandana called out once more, and in that moment, Imara finally noticed that Vandana was extending a morsel towards her. It was as if an invisible force gently prodded her from within, urging her to accept the offering and taste the love in Vandanaâs hand.As she did, a wave of bittersweet warmth washed over her, causing her eyes to flutter uncontrollably as she fought to contain her tears. With a trembling hand, she accepted the plate from Vandana, and whispered, "I will eat."Vandana responded with a tender smile, a flicker of warmth in her eyes, before gently placing her hand on Imaraâs head. In that moment, something within Imara shattered, and she could no longer hold back the floodgates of her emotions. Tear after tear rolled down her cheeks, each drop a testament to the overwhelming pain that consumed her. Sensing her distress, Vandana took the plate from her grasp, delicately returning it to the table, and enveloped Imara in a comforting embrace, a hug that radiated with the love and care of a mother. Imara closed her eyes, and in the darkness, Suvikaâs face materialised, prompting her to reciprocate Vandanaâs gesture and release her emotions in a torrent of tears.She gently caressed Imaraâs back, her heart wrenching at the raw, heartfelt sobs that echoed through the room. Yet she made a conscious choice not to pry into Imaraâs pain. She was grateful that Imara felt safe enough to release her emotions in front of her. Holding Imara even tighter, Vandana whispered softly, âDonât hold back, Imara. Pour it all out. I am here for you, without judgment.âAnd Imara wept uncontrollably, unable to find the words to express the turmoil inside her. She felt shattered, far from the strong facade she usually displayed. All she could do was restrain her relentless sobs, fighting to maintain composure. And then, with a heavy heart, she pulled away, and Vandana allowed her to do so.Vandana gently cradled her face, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks. With each tear she brushed away, she brought another morsel of food to Imaraâs mouth. This time, there was no resistance from her daughter-in-law, as she obediently opened her mouth to accept the food. Silence enveloped the room, as no words were exchanged between them. Yet, in that quietude, Vandana felt a profound sense of relief. She felt a deep connection forming between herself and her daughter-in-law, a bond that brought solace to her heart. A year ago, when Devyani had revealed her choice of bride for Adhiraj, Vandana had wholeheartedly trusted her judgment. She had never doubted that whoever Devyani had chosen would be the perfect match for her son. And now, as she fed Imara, Vandana wished her late mother-in-law could witness the purity of Imaraâs soul. Devyani had always told Vandana that those who wear their heart on their sleeves would have their faces reveal their true selves. Today, Vandana saw that truth reflected in Imaraâs countenance. In this moment, she fervently hoped that Imara would heal from her past. Above all, Vandana longed to witness her sonâs happiness in his marriage, to see Imaraâs smile radiate with pure joy and her tears flow only from the depths of happiness.Vandana gently placed the plate back on the table, realising that she had indeed fed the entire dinner to Imara. She looked at her and asked, âAre you feeling comfortable going to the temple, Imara? If youâre not, itâs completely fine to say no.âImara shook her head, and Vandana softly patted her hand, whispering, âDonât worry, we can postpone it until you feel ready, alright?âImara kept her gaze down and nodded. Vandana continued to rub a loving hand on her head, assuring her, âYou donât have to hold anything back from me, Imara. Iâm here to listen whenever youâre ready to talk. Remember, I will never judge you.âImara, once more without glancing up, nodded in agreement. Vandana gently led her to the bed, helping her sit down and arranging the pillows before coaxing her to lie down. With a tender voice, she advised, âClear your mind of all the chaos and take a peaceful nightâs rest. When you wake up tomorrow, donât allow the troubles of today to weigh you down. Begin each day anew, alright?âImara nodded, sinking deeper into the warmth of the duvet Vandana had tucked her into. With a loving touch, Vandana planted a kiss on Imaraâs forehead, reminiscent of Suvikaâs affectionate gestures from the past, and softly patted her until she drifted off to sleep.However, prior to returning to her room, Vandana went towards Adhirajâs temporary room. There, she saw him standing by the window, deep in thought.As soon as he heard the door open, he turned and noticed Vandana approaching him. Before he could utter a word, Vandana gently rested her hand on his shoulder, sharing the details of what happened in Imaraâs room.It wasnât the fact that Imara broke down that surprised Adhiraj, but rather the fact that she allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of his mother, which he saw as a silver lining.In that moment, he felt an urge to rush back to their room and hold Imara tightly, close to his heart, ensuring she never sheds another tear. The reason behind these emotions remained a mystery to him. All he knew was that the mere image of Imara in that fretful state evoked an unsettling sensation, as if his heart were being squeezed with pain.âRaj, I am not entirely sure, but I think it is related toâ¦,â Vandana trailed off.âI know, Mom,â Adhiraj replied, his gaze wandering aimlessly.âI know where she had been â Adhiraj murmured, his anger bubbling beneath the surface as he thought about Imara being upset over someone she still clearly loved.âShe needs time, Raj. Have patience. She will come around,â Vandana whispered.She could see the conflicting emotions etched on her sonâs face, his brows furrowed in frustration. She understood just how deeply Adhiraj had grown to like Imara, the way his eyes would light up whenever she was around.Adhiraj nodded silently, his fingers anxiously tapping against the windowpane. He longed to find a way to rescue Imara from this deadlock, to ease the heaviness in her heart, but the words eluded him, leaving him feeling helpless."Leave some things on time," Vandana whispered, as if she could sense the turmoil brewing within her son's mind. Her words carried a gentle reassurance, a belief that everything would fall into place when the time was right. "Let her adjust to this new life. I am sure that your married life will blossom when she realises the depth of your feelings for her.âThis time, Adhiraj didn't resist Vandana's observation that he harboured affection for Imara. Instead, he embraced his mother, seeking solace in her comforting presence. With a sigh that seemed to release the weight of his worries, he hoped to draw strength and patience from his mother's unwavering support. In response, Vandana let out a soft chuckle, her hand gently patting his back, saying, âLook at you! Dealing with businessmen, scaring them with your stern attitude and finding it hard to deal with your wife.âAdhiraj couldn't help but chuckle as well, pulling away from the embrace and quipping, "Stop mocking me.âVandana fell silent, her hand tenderly cupping his face, conveying a love that needed no words. Adhiraj pressed a gentle kiss onto his mother's palm, expressing, âI am sure she will come around soon.âWith a nod of understanding from Adhiraj, Vandana left his room, leaving him alone with his thoughts. However, he couldn't bear to stay confined within the walls of his room any longer. Driven by instinct, he made his way towards Imara, only to witness something that left him both shocked and worried.
Chapter 41: chapter 41
The Fated Knot•Words: 12753