36

The storms in my head ruin the

Garden that my soul holds.

The next day Aradhya's return to Singhania Mansion after five long years was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

Standing at the gate, memories flooded back, each one heavy with the weight of her past. The sprawling estate, once filled with the echoes of her childhood, now loomed before her like a fortress of both nostalgia and trauma.

As Aradhya stepped through the gates, she felt an unsettling mix of trepidation and determination. The mansion, with its towering walls and opulent facade, was a stark reminder of her abusive parents and the turbulent environment she didn't even fight to escape. Every inch of the place felt marred by the darkness of her experiences

Now that she looks back she thinks how naive and stupid she was to not escape when she had so many chances of doing so but then maybe it would have never been same.

She wouldn't have had met the man who is holding her hand and his mere presence comforting her that it's all okay.how his eyes are hooked on her to see slight uncomfort and he's ready to destroy the entire estate.

Upon entering, the air was thick with a familiarity that left her disoriented. She could almost hear the echoes of her parents’ harsh words, the moments of helplessness that had broken her spirit in ways she had spent years trying to heal.

Yet amid the oppressive memories, there was another, more resolute part of her that anchored Aradhya. She had come back not as a victim, but as a survivor.

Reyansh stood quietly beside Aradhya as they approached the imposing gates of Singhania Mansion.

As they walked together, he kept his eyes fixed on Aradhya, studying her every reaction. The way her brow furrowed as they passed familiar landmarks, the slight shiver of her shoulders when they crossed the threshold into the mansion, all did not go unnoticed by him.

Each small sign of  pain sent a bolt of anguish through him, a reminder of his own past failures. He had been part of her pain, a misguided instrument in a tortured symphony, and the thought of ever causing her hurt again ignited a burning flame of remorse within him.

He felt an overwhelming urge to reach out, to pull her close and shield her from the painful echoes of their shared past. "I’ll burn the world down," he thought fiercely, a primal protective instinct washing over him.

If any trace of discomfort flickered in her eyes, he would not hesitate to fight against the tide that sought to drag her back into the churning waters of her past.

He remembered the countless nights he had spent wrestling with his own guilt, wishing he could turn back time. He had stood by while Aradhya faced her demons alone, and he could not rid himself of the haunting reality that he had been part of that cycle.

As Aradhya and Reyansh entered the heart of the Singhania Mansion, a palpable tension filled the air. Every step they took echoed in the vast, opulent hallway—a reminder of their childhood home that once felt so stifling.

Reyansh could sense Aradhya’s heartbeat increase as they approached the living room, where her parents awaited them, comfortably seated on their plush, oversized couches.

They were told beforehand that aradhya is returning back so that they don't die with heartattack so soon.

The moment they entered, her mother’s eyes narrowed in a glance full of disdain. “Look who decided to come crawling back,” she sneered, her voice dripping with hate.

Aradhya's breath hitched slightly, her mother’s words slicing through the air like a knife.

“Save your breath,” Aradhya replied, summoning all the strength she could muster. “I won't think twice before doing something you won't like my dear mother.”

"Aww but we missed you,you were gone for 5 years"her mother said with a mocking tone,"didn't we honey?"she looked at her father who nodded his head,his smirk revealing a deep seated arrogance.

The hurtful words stirred a wave of anger within Reyansh. Watching Aradhya struggle to find her voice, he stepped forward, placing himself firmly between her and her parents, his jaw clenched with rage.

“If you think you can talk to her like that and get away with it, you have another thing coming,” he warned, his voice low and dangerously calm.

Her father’s expression shifted, a mix of surprise and fury bubbling just beneath the surface. “Who do you think you are? You think you can just come in here and—”

“I know exactly who I am,” Reyansh interrupted sharply.

"Tsk she left you and ran away from you.You should have taught her a lesson but here you are protecting her"Her father let out a disappointed sigh.

Reyansh saw the hurt flash across Aradhya's face, and a surge of protective fury coursed through him. He couldn’t let her father’s poison seep into her soul any longer.

“Enough!” Reyansh barked, his voice reverberating through the opulent space. He reached beneath his jacket, revealing the gun he had concealed. The metallic glint reflected the light from the chandelier above, and for a moment, it hung in the air, a symbol of his seriousness and anger.

Her father’s arrogant smirk faded, replaced by a startled expression. “What do you think you’re doing?” he questioned, his bravado faltering. “You wouldn’t dare—”

Before he could finish, Reyansh, with unwavering conviction, aimed the gun at Aradhya’s father’s arm. “You’ve taken enough from her. You don’t get to harm her anymore,” he growled, his voice fierce and unyielding.

“Reyansh, no!” Aradhya shouted, shock and disbelief washing over her. Her heart raced, torn between the desire for justice and her innate horror at the violence unfolding before her.

In one swift motion, he pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the mansion, piercing the air with a sharp crack that reverberated against the lavish walls.

The bullet struck her father’s arm, sending him reeling backward, a mixture of shock and pain plastered on his face. He clutched his arm, blood seeping through his fingers as he bellowed in agony, fury transforming into disbelief.

“What have you done?!” he roared, his voice a deadly mix of rage and panic. “You’ll pay for this! You think this will solve anything?”

Reyansh stood his ground, resolve unbroken,“you disrespected the Queen of Rajasthan and you think I will let it slide. what a wrong move singhania.this isn't over"

As the echoes of the gunshot faded, Aradhya's mother, her face pale and trembling with shock, quickly regained some composure, fury flickering in her eyes. “Get out! Both of you!” she screeched, her voice a mixture of panic and desperation, as she moved to support her husband, wincing at the sight of his bleeding arm.

But as Aradhya stood there, a calm confidence began to replace the fear that once shackled her. She exchanged a glance with Reyansh, who remained steadfast beside her, ready to defend her against any further attacks, verbal or otherwise. In that moment, a smirk surfaced on her lips—an expression that spoke of newfound power and liberation.

You should be the ones leaving, actually,” Aradhya replied coolly, her voice steady.

Byeee 💋