Ch41Kathas Sacred Truth #4
Seeing her linger tentatively near the entrance with a face full of unspoken anxiety, I offered a soft, welcoming smile, gesturing for her to come closer.
"Dharu, come inside. Why are you standing all the way over there?"
Dhara closed the distance between us with quick, hurried steps.
Without a single word, she threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly as if she were trying to shield me from the entire world.
"Rivu... are you genuinely okay?" she whispered, her voice laced with deep, sisterly concern that she could no longer hold back.
I wrapped my arms securely around her shoulders, resting my chin against her neck, absorbing the familiar comfort of her embrace. "Yes, Dharu, I am perfectly fine."
Dhara gently pulled back, her hands sliding up to grip my shoulders firmly.
She looked directly into my eyes, her gaze sharp, piercing, and completely unconvinced by my calm demeanor.
"Look at me, Rivu. You know there is absolutely no one else in this room right now. You don't need to put on a brave face or pretend to be okay for my sake. Tell me the absolute truth, baby. How are you actually holding up? I know how much you are hurting inside."
I let out a long, heavy breath, my shoulders dropping slightly as I looked at the only sister I had ever known, the one who could read my soul without me saying a single word.
"It's not what you think, Dharu. I swear I am not lying to you this time. I am genuinely finding the strength to hold myself together. I am actively picking up my own shattered pieces and rebuilding my resolve."
Dhara furrowed her eyebrows, looking thoroughly perplexed by the sudden shift in my aura. "What do you mean by that, Rivu?"
Taking her by the hand, I guided her toward the edge of the mattress, away from the heavy atmosphere of the doorway.
We both sat down close to one another, and I enveloped her palms within my own, squeezing them reassuringly to transfer some of my newfound strength to her.
"Dharu, how long am I supposed to stay weak? How long am I expected to just sit around and weep over my destiny? It was this exact vulnerability, this continuous crying, that Naresh Bedi exploited for all these years. And if I am being completely honest with myself,
it wasn't a weakness it was a naive innocence. I was simply too blind to see the absolute malice in others because I thought everyone had a heart like Mumma. But the time for ignorance is over. I have to stand up for myself now.
I have to deliver absolute justice to Mamma and fulfill every single dream she left uncompleted. And above all, I must uncover the true identity of my biological father. I cannot achieve a single one of these goals if I lose my composure and collapse into tears."
I paused for a brief second, a quiet, unyielding fire reflecting in my eyes, replacing the sorrow that had clouded them for the past twenty-four hours.
"Since yesterday, I had done nothing but cry. But today, when I sat down and truly absorbed the sheer magnitude of the horrors and grief my mother endured all alone, I realized that my current sorrow is absolutely nothing compared to hers. Look around us,
Dharu I have an entire village of incredible people standing right behind me, ready to fight my battles. I have you, Papa, Maa, Nanu, Nani, and... and Rudraksh. But what did my poor Mamma have? She had absolutely no one to shield her from that monster."
Dhara sat in absolute, stunned silence, listening to my words as a deep wave of emotion washed across her face.
Her eyes brimmed with tears of immense pride, realizing that her sister had truly grown into a warrior overnight.
Reaching out, she tenderly cupped both my cheeks with her warm hands.
"Rivu, you are genuinely the strongest woman I have ever known. I am so incredibly proud of you. And remember this you are never, ever going to face this storm in isolation. No matter what changes, no matter what happens down the road, I am always standing right beside you as your shadow."
Hearing her fierce, unconditional promise made a thick knot form in my throat.
My own eyes welled up instantly, but instead of tears of weakness, they were tears of gratitude.
I pulled her back into a crushing, emotional embrace, holding onto her tightly.
After holding each other for a few minutes, I pulled back slightly, wiping a stray tear from my cheek as a spontaneous, refreshing idea hit me.
"Alright, enough with the heavy thoughts. Dharu, let's visit the Shiv and Gauri temple today, what do you say?"
Dhara quickly wiped her own eyes, a bright, radiant smile breaking across her face, completely transforming her worried expression.
"Yes! It has been ages since the two of us spent some quality time together. We will visit the temple first, and then the rest of the day is officially ours. It's going to be a classic bestie date, exactly like the ones we used to go on before your wedding changed everything."
I excelled a soft chuckle, my heart feeling lighter than it had in days, anchored by her companionship. "Deal. Today, my entire day belongs exclusively to you. We are going to relive our old childhood days, walk down the familiar streets, and make some beautiful memories."
Dhara stood up from the bed, dusting off her clothes with newfound enthusiasm and a determination to make me smile.
"Perfect! Now go, run along and freshen up. While you are in the shower, I am going to scan your wardrobe and select a gorgeous outfit for you. Stepping outside the house, feeling the breeze, and breathing the fresh air will do wonders for your peace of mind."
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