Chapter 30 #2
“Agreed.”
“And you will continue sleeping in the guest room.”
Shaurya’s jaw tightens. “Where I sleep is between my wife and me.”
“This is my house.”
“And she is my wife.”
“Both of you, stop,” I warn before another battle can begin.
Their eyes remain locked in a silent contest before Bhai finally turns towards me.
“Rest. I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”
I nod. He bends to press a gentle kiss to my forehead before straightening and leaving the room.
“You handled that surprisingly well,” I tell Shaurya once the door closes.
“I promised you I would remain calm.”
A faint smile touches my lips, but it fades when I begin to speak carefully. “I am not asking you to forgive your mother today. But you can forgive—”
“No.” His expression closes instantly. “And I don’t want you trying to convince me otherwise.”
“Shaurya—”
“You could have lost our baby.” His jaw hardens as fury and grief battle across his face. “I could have lost both of you.”
“But you didn’t,” I remind him gently.
“That does not make what she did forgivable.” His fingers tighten around mine. “The fact that you survived does not lessen what she chose to do.”
Before I can respond, a soft knock sounds against the door. A moment later, it opens and his mom steps into the bedroom.
Shaurya rises instantly and positions himself between us, completely blocking her path to my bed.
“What are you doing here?”
“I need to speak to Reeva.”
“No. You were told to stay away from her.”
“I know.” Her voice trembles. “I only need five minutes.”
“You are not getting five seconds.” He points towards the door. “Leave, Mom.”
“Shaurya, let her speak,” I say softly.
He turns towards me, disbelief and concern tightening his features. “No. You heard the doctor. You cannot be subjected to any more stress.”
“Not knowing what she came here to say will cause me more stress,” I point out quietly. “Please, Shaurya.”
His expression tells me he knows I am using his concern against him. I hold his gaze until he releases a harsh breath and reluctantly steps aside.
“Five minutes,” he says coldly. “And I am not leaving this room.”
His mom nods and walks farther inside, stopping several feet away from my bed. For a moment, she merely stares at me. Her eyes are swollen, her face is pale, and every trace of her customary pride has disappeared.
“I was wrong,” she begins, her voice unsteady. “I was terrified that you would take the baby away from this family. Somewhere along the way, I also convinced myself that Shaurya’s love for you had made him forget everything his father suffered.” Her gaze shifts towards him. “But I was wrong.”
Shaurya remains silent.
“I told myself I was protecting the Rajvansh family,” she continues.
“The truth is, I was protecting my hatred. I had carried it for so many years that I no longer knew who I was without it.” Her voice cracks as she looks at me again.
“You were right, Reeva. I never allowed myself to see you for who you truly are. Whenever I looked at you, all I saw was Arvind Singhania’s daughter.
” She pauses and pulls in a breath. “But when I saw you lying injured in that hospital bed, I finally saw what my hatred had refused to let me see.” Tears spill freely down her cheeks.
“I saw my son’s wife. I saw the mother of my grandchild.
But more than that, I saw you… a young woman who had done nothing to deserve the cruelty I repeatedly inflicted upon her.
” Her trembling hands come together before her.
“I am sorry, Reeva. I know those words cannot undo what happened or erase the pain I caused you. I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, but I needed you to hear the truth from me.”
For several moments, I simply stare at her.
“I forgive you,” I say softly.
Shaurya’s head snaps towards me. “Reeva—”
“I forgive you, Maa,” I repeat, keeping my gaze upon her.
Hope flares across her tear-streaked face at the name, but I continue before she can mistake forgiveness for the immediate restoration of everything she destroyed.
“That does not mean I have forgotten what happened, and it does not mean trust will return because of one apology. Rebuilding our relationship will take time.” I draw in a careful breath.
“But I refuse to let our child inherit the hatred that has already taken so much from this family. It has to end somewhere.”
Her lips tremble. “I don’t know whether I deserve to call you my daughter. But if you allow me, I would like to spend the rest of my life trying to become the mother you always deserved.”
Emotion tightens my throat. “I would like that.”
“Will you ever come home?” she asks, hope and uncertainty mingling in her voice.
“Yes,” I answer with a smile. “Shaurya and I will come home tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” she whispers before turning towards Shaurya. “I am sorry, son.”
His expression remains unreadable. “This is Reeva’s forgiveness. Do not mistake it for mine. And if you ever hurt her again…”
“I will lose both of you,” she finishes quietly. “I understand that now.”
Shaurya says nothing.
Maa looks at me for one long, emotional moment before approaching the bed. When Shaurya does not stop her, she bends and presses a tender kiss to my forehead.
“I should go and make that house worthy of welcoming my daughter.”
A faint smile touches my lips. “We’ll be there tomorrow.”
With tears still glistening in her eyes, she turns and quietly leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
Shaurya remains standing for several seconds before lowering himself beside me. He leans forward until his forehead rests gently against mine.
“I love you,” he whispers as his hand settles protectively over my stomach.
“I love you too.” I place my hand over his, our child sheltered beneath our joined palms.
We almost surrendered everything to the wounds of our past. But through every lie, every heartbreak, and every choice to begin again, our love still found its way home.