Chapter 75: chapter 75

When Imara descended the stairs, her eyes landed on Adhiraj, who was slowly making his way inside. She paused, taking in the sight of his tired and worn-out appearance. It was a look she had never seen before. His downcast expression tugged at her heartstrings, yet he managed to force a smile as he turned his attention towards Vandana and said, “I will eat later.”Without sparing her a glance, he dashed up the stairs, disappearing into their room. Imara turned away, her heart aching at his indifference. Forcing a smile, she redirected her attention to the others and settled down for breakfast.The rest of the day felt like a blur for Imara; her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. To make matters worse, Isha didn’t come to the factory due to illness. And so Imara didn’t want to burden her friend with her own troubles.The messages kept coming, each one a threat that the photos could be exposed at any moment. With every ping, her anxiety spiraled, knowing these threats were all too real. Finally, overwhelmed by the weight of it all, she responded to the private number, asking, “What do you want?”—————Adhiraj stepped through the door, timing his arrival just right to catch Imara coming down for breakfast. Despite the bitter reality of their situation, he longed to see her. And so, he did. In that fleeting moment, he allowed himself a glance, a sweeping gaze that he quickly retracted, as if afraid to linger too long. She looked weary. He could make out that she seemed just as tired. She wasn’t even faking a smile that she did every morning while coming down for breakfast.In that moment, clarity washed over Adhiraj, affirming the hard choice he had made. He now understood that he could not bind her to a life she did not want, no matter how desperately he wished for them to spend their lives together. He would’ve kept trying until she gave in, but last night’s incident changed everything. And now, as he thought all he did to bring them closer, he felt pathetic for forcing her to accept something she never intended to follow.He lay on the bed on his stomach, his eyes settled on the side of the bed where Imara slept. Inadvertently, he extended a hand, remembering the times he had slept with her when he would hold her hand, just to make sure she was okay and didn’t weep in her sleep, just to make sure she didn’t feel lonely, just to assure her he was there, watching over her and that he would do anything to keep her happy, even if it meant letting her go.—————That evening, Imara returned home, her shoulders heavy with fatigue and her face a canvas of worry. It felt as if a storm of anxiety was brewing within her, each thought crashing like waves against the shore of her mind. The events of the day replayed in her head, and she winced.Just then, Vandana appeared, her warm smile a beacon of comfort, as she asked, “How was your day?”Imara offered a hesitant nod, forcing out the words, “It was good!”“Get freshened up and come down for dinner, okay?” Vandana said, her keen eyes catching the shadows of sadness that lingered in Imara’s eyes.But Imara’s thoughts were a chaotic mess, too tumultuous to focus on anything else. The images, the videos, the looming threat, Adhiraj’s unsettling behavior, and her own introspection that why Adhiraj’s behaviour was bothering her so much, were taking a toll on her. She shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not hungry. I just want to rest. Isha wasn’t there today, and I’m tired.”Without waiting for a reply, Imara climbed the stairs to go to her room, leaving Vandana with a heart full of concern.Moments later, Adhiraj arrived, only to find Vandana standing at the foot of the stairs, her gaze fixed upward.“Mom…” he called out.She turned to Adhiraj, her brow furrowed with worry. Adhiraj managed a smile, though it was strained, and pulled her into a warm embrace. As he exhaled deeply, he sought to ease the storm of chaotic thoughts in his mind.Looking up at him, she asked softly, “What’s wrong?”Adhiraj feigned confusion by knitting his brows, determined not to burden his mother with his troubles. “Nothing! I feel exhausted. Three days being out has hit me with a backlog.”Vandana nodded, deciding in that moment that maybe she shouldn’t meddle in it. Only these hiccups make the bond stronger between a husband and a wife, and navigating them on their own would only strengthen the foundation of trust. Hence, she said, “Get freshened up and we will have dinner.”Adhiraj nodded and took to the stairs to go into his room. He wanted to see her to his heart’s content before she left him forever.—————Imara sat on the balcony. The chilly night air wrapped around her like a cloak as she wrestled with her chaotic mind. There was a recent message from the same private number, threatening that if she didn’t follow what she was being asked for, the photos would soon grace the front pages of every newspaper.A sob threatened to escape her lips, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest like a heavy stone. She felt all alone, emotionally exhausted. It was infuriating to think that she was being cornered when nothing untoward had happened between her and Dheeraj that night. But who would stand by her? How many people would she explain it to? The thought of becoming the reason for damaging her family’s name, as well as Adhiraj’s, was unbearable.She didn’t care if her own image was being tarnished, but she cared a lot about what these people would go through. Deep down, a fear gnawed at her—that no one would bother to seek the truth, just as Adhiraj hadn’t. The idea that he might believe the photos without question cut her deeply. Even though this was the most favourable situation to move out of this home, the treatment she had received in this home, especially from Vandana, made her pray the photos were never leaked. She hoped to find a way to handle this situation without putting anyone’s reputation and business at risk.—————Adhiraj entered the room and frowned when he saw Imara sitting on the balcony, out in the cold. He pushed the door open, his voice laced with concern. “Imara!”The sound of his voice startled her, causing her to quickly lock her phone before turning to meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with worry as he took in her weary state.“It’s freezing out here! You’ll get sick again,” he murmured, fighting the overwhelming desire to sweep her into his arms, carry her inside and hold her against his chest unless she was warm again.To his surprise, she offered no words. She merely nodded before rising from the couch and stepping inside. He closed the balcony door, cranking up the heat in the room so she didn’t feel cold.Without a word, she moved towards the wardrobe room, her mind racing with the alternate solutions for the problem at hand. However, Adhiraj’s voice broke through the silence, stopping her in her tracks.“No one will stop you. You may leave,” he whispered, his heart heavy and throat tight as he spoke those painful words.