Chapter 10

“Destiny has a way of reconnecting us with the people who matter most.”
                           ｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡

Rathore Haweli, Jaipur

I came into my room, and tears were already falling.

I had spent so many nights asking the air
“Where are you? Please come back… or take me with you.”

Why do I always end up breaking like this?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

“Vani, stop crying. She’s not going to come back just because you cry. Go downstairs. Mom must be waiting.”
I whispered to myself.

I wiped my face and walked towards the hall.
But just as I reached the stairs, I heard someone talking.

Mom was telling a girl about Inaiyat. I was about to stop her when that girl interrupted
“I know where she is.”

Wait… what?

How does she know?

I rushed toward them, heart racing.
And then, she said it.

“I am Inaiyat.”

My legs froze.

I just stood there, listening. She was trying to convince mom that she was Inu.
And all I could do was stare.

Was it really her?

I wanted to ask so much
Where had she been? Why didn’t she come back? Why didn’t she tell me?

Before I could gather my thoughts, someone else walked in.
Mom greeted him warmly.

I had seen him before…
Yes, at the seminar.

Dad came downstairs, and we all sat with them.
But my mind was nowhere in the conversation.
It was full of noise,memories, questions, pain.

Does she even miss me?
Does she still see me as her friend?
Or did I ruin everything by being so rude to her?

Vani, why couldn’t you just shut up? What if she hates you now?

I looked at her.
She looked… blank. Like me.

Soon, they talked about going to her house. I didn’t say anything.
I just followed.

When we reached, she went inside first.

Her chachi raised her hand to slap her, but mom grabbed her wrist.
And instantly, that woman’s expression changed.

Chameleon.
The kind of woman who switches faces depending on the situation.

And Inu had been living with her all these years?

I clenched my fists.
Inu, I’m sorry. I wasn’t there for you.

Mom told us to go into the kitchen to make something while the elders talked.
We quietly did as she said.

As soon as we entered, she looked at me and said,
“Aren’t you happy?”

I looked at her, confused.

Before I could reply, she said again,
“Maybe you found someone better, right?”

That was it.

Tears burst out.
I had held them in long enough.

“I cried the moment I saw you, Inu… and you think I’m not happy? That I found someone better? You have no idea how I’m feeling right now.”

I was sobbing, but I didn’t care anymore.

She stepped forward and hugged me.

“I missed you. I missed you so much, Inu,” I whispered.

“Me too,” she said softly.

We pulled back and looked at each other
Then suddenly laughed like idiots.

I don’t even know why we laughed. Maybe it was relief. Maybe pain. Maybe both.

We made tea together and took some cookies out.

Placing the tray in front of everyone, I saw how Inu’s chachi had gone quiet.
Uncle Amrinder looked straight at her and said coldly,

“Tomorrow, Simr, Jasmeet, my wife, Mehak, and Nav will come.”

Her face turned pale.

“Is that okay with you, Jahnavi?”

“Yes veerji, of course,” she said nervously.

She was scared. It showed on her face.

And honestly? I enjoyed that moment.
She deserved it.

Who was she to raise her hand on Inu?

God, I don’t know what Inu has gone through,
But please… don’t separate her from me again.

Please

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Hi guys…i know its short…and maybe you’ll think its boring…but this is how the story goes…and I’ll promise you’ll gonna like the next chapters…

And yeah I’ll be regular from now on..
My exams are over…

So please be patient with me…

Love you…

Your Writer
Fanaa

Heading off!!!!

Words:: 682.