Chapter 118: chapter 118

THE SILENT LOVE ...Chapter 117 :Sreekar felt his heart exploding like a volcano, the realization of his mother's deception engulfing him in a torrent of emotions. He struggled with the revelation that his mother's affection for Lalitha had driven her to take the promise of Lalitha's hand in marriage in exchange for acceptance of Sreekanth's union. Never had he comprehend that his own mother would ruthlessly shatter his lovelife to safeguard their standing and prestige in society.Overwhelmed by a turbulent mix of despair, dejection, and anguish, Sreekar came face to face with the reality of his mother's true character. In that moment, he couldn't help but empathize with the pain and torment his brother had endured when Shilpa was forcefully driven from his life. Initially, she had merely attempted to eliminate women from his brother's life, but now, she had seized upon the opportunity presented by their circumstances to rid herself of Swetha, constraining Sreekar into a promise that served her own selfish ends.Unable to contain the whirlwind of emotions engulfing him, Sreekar pointed his trembling finger at his mother, his voice quivering with overwhelming intensity , he wailed,“You ...! Mom! You have known my love for Swetha from the very beginning. Isn’t it? And yet, you exploited the circumstances to get rid of Swetha by orchestrating your own scheme. You deliberately planned to destroy my love life behind my back. What a devious plan. Mom! I never imagined that a mother could shatter the joy of her own son”.Sreekar was swept away by a hurricane of emotions, drained of all his strength, he collapsed to his knees, his hands instinctively covering his face as he wept uncontrollably, his cries echoing the wail of an abandoned child.Sreekanth, rooted to the spot, absorbed every word uttered by Sreekar, understanding the depth of his brother's pain. Sreekanth lunged to Sreekar's side, lowering himself to the ground and enveloping his brother in a warm, tight embrace. In that moment, he comprehended the true motive behind their mother's sudden overtures of reconciliation. His heart swelled with anguish as he realized the extent of their mother's betrayal, scheming against both her sons.Sreekar, gathering his composure, lifted his tear-streaked face, casting a penetrating gaze at his mother, with a voice loaded with emotion, he began,“Mom! Do you truly understand who Swetha is to me? She is the beam of hope that penetrates through the darkness of my existence. In a life devoid of interest or purpose, she is the radiant sunshine that warms my soul. Following my brother's tragic departure, I found myself engulfed in a profound darkness, devoid of light. My heart, wounded by loss of my brother, harbored demise towards women, leading me to build walls of cold detachment around myself, shielding me from their presence. I was living like a walking corpse, only to manage the business and handle my family in my brother’s absence”.Pausing for a moment, Sreekar continued,“Mom! Do you know? No woman could break through the barrier around my heart, but Swetha, with her single glance, broke the walls and touched my soul. Her mere glance illuminated my life with light, dispelling the darkness and loneliness. With her smile alone, she showered my deserted heart with a cool breeze. She is the reason for my  recent happiness. She is the one who brought a genuine smile from me  after my brother’s departure”, his words conveying the love and admiration he harbored for Swetha.Bhuvaneswari Devi stood rooted to her spot, hanging on every word uttered by Sreekar. She had never heard him express his feelings so openly nor had she witnessed him in such a vulnerable state before. Since Sreekanth's departure, she had noticed a change in his demeanor, leaving her anxious for his happiness. As she listened to him speak, she felt as though some unknown force was swirling around her, making her feel suffocated, unable to react, like a statue absorbing his words.Sreekar's eyes gazed into the distance, lost in memories of his encounters with Swetha, as he continued,“Mom! We never actually confessed our feelings or spoke to each other, but our souls knew we were destined for each other. Can you believe that she tried to take her own life when she was about to get engaged to someone else? She believes that her soul belongs only to me and would never allow anyone else to invade her heart. This belief led her to attempt suicide, wanting to remain mine and mine alone. If she couldn’t make it at that  time, I would have not stood alive in front of you. Because she is the reason for my heartbeat, the breath of  my life”.The atmosphere in  the room has become thick silent, leaving everyone absorb  the words uttered by Sreekar and realize the depth of  his love towards Swetha.Composing himself, Sreekar rose to his feet and glanced at his mother,“Mom! You seem more desperate to safeguard your prestige in society than to ensure the happiness of your children. Fine! As I have already promised you, I will marry Lalitha for your sake. But don't expect anything from me as a husband to Lalitha or as your son. From today, I will be like a living corpse, deprived of my love. I will stay as your son in this house, but other than that, we don't share anything," he declared firmly. With that, he whirled around and attempted to rush to his room.Sreekanth caught Sreekar before he could disappear from his sight and stopped him from leaving. Unable to contain his emotions, Sreekar hugged his brother tightly and wept in his embrace, reminiscent of their childhood days. Sreekanth rubbed his back gently, offering comfort, while he glanced at their mother, who remained frozen in her place.“Mom! I never imagined you  would repeat the same actions after experiencing the loss of your own son. But who am I kidding? You are Mrs. Bhuvaneswari Devi, prioritizing family prestige in society over the emotions and feelings of your own family members. I don't feel remorse for leaving my family to protect my love. I won't allow my brother to be deprived of his love either. I will ensure his success in his love life, even if it means defying God to bring them together. I can't let my wife and daughter live in a place where wealth and status are prioritized over relationships. You bound him to our promise to accept my return home. Now, I am leaving along with my family and my brother. I won't let my little brother suffer anymore. Since childhood, I have been the one taking care of him, and I will continue to be there for him every step of the way," Sreekanth declared firmly, his voice resonating with determination.Later he turned to Shilpa who stood gracefully carrying Honey in her arms and called out softly,“Shilpa! Come, this is not our house. Let’s leave from here. I don’t wish to  construct our future at the expense of my brother's happiness. He deserted his own love to reclaim what is rightfully mine. Being an elder brother, I have to rectify the turmoil our mother has left ”, took Honey into his arms, glanced at Sreekar who was looking haggard. Draping his hand across his shoulder, he spoke with empathy,“Sree! Come, let’s leave this place. Here, sentiments and affections don't hold any significance. We should find our own path in pursuit of genuine happiness. Your true happiness is with Swetha. don’t desert it for trivialities. Come, let us leave now to find the true essence of life”.Sreekar shook his head in denial and replied,“No brother! I cannot leave at this period. I promised her to secure her prestige in society. I should keep my word regardless of the circumstances”, his voice devoid of any emotions.Sreekanth glanced at his brother, acknowledging his unwavering determination to uphold his promise,  he attempted to persuade him gently,“You gave the promise in exchange for accepting my re-entry to this house. But now, I am abandoning not only this house, my relationship and my rights within it. You are not bound by that promise anymore. Its significance will only be realized when I reclaim my inheritance, which holds no interest for me. Come, do not leave yourself confined to this cold and loveless residence. I refuse to abandon you in this environment devoid of sentiment and affection”.Completing his lecture to Sreekar, Sreekanth gently but firmly dragged him along, with Shilpa following closely behind. Raghavendra, who had remained rooted to his spot in a daze, suddenly snapped out of it. He hurried towards them, desperate to stop them from leaving.“Sreekanth! Sree! Please don’t leave the house. We can resolve everything with talks. If Sree is truly in love with that girl, I swear, I won’t let your mother compel to marry Lalitha. Your happiness matters more than anything else. Please. Please don’t abandon me at this age”, pleaded Raghavendra, his voice desperate and pleading, his eyes filled with a sense of urgency to prevent their departure.Halting in their steps, Sreekanth and Sreekar glanced at their father, their eyes reflecting their sorrowness,with a heavy heart Sreekanth replied,“Dad! I am really sorry for putting you in such a difficult state, but my brother’s happiness matters the most more than the respect I have for you. Please don’t stop us if you truly wish us to find genuine happiness”.Pratap, who had followed Raghavendra, felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing Sreekanth's words, realizing the consequences stemming from his daughter's actions. Despite the setback, he didn't lose hope. Turning to Sreekar, he pleaded earnestly,“Sree, please reconsider leaving the house. It took so long for happiness and joy to return to this home. I apologize on behalf of Lalitha and Bhuvana for their actions. If I had known about their plans, I would have intervened. I won't allow Lalitha to interfere in your affairs. Please, don't leave the house”.Sreekar glanced at Pratap with a pained expression, his voice heavy with sorrow as he replied ,“Uncle! I am not in the right state of mind. Let me follow my brother’s steps till I regain my composure. I need some space to overcome this trauma of my mother’s betrayal. I apologize for denying your request”, followed Sreekanth’s steps like a lost child who forgot his way.In the presence of their family members, Sreekanth ushered Sreekar and Shilpa while carrying Honey in his arms, left the house without looking back.