Chapter 120: chapter 120

THE SILENT LOVE ...Chapter 119 :All heads turned, searching for the source of the deep and commanding voice. And there, standing Abhimanyu along with Arjun and Ambika, his eyes gleaming with determination.As Abhimanyu entered the room with the rest of the family, his presence commanded attention. He approached Swetha with a mix of concern and rebuke, his hand gently resting on her shoulder.“Swetha”, he began, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction and hurt,“did you forget about your godfather? Why didn't you inform us about what was happening? Did you think we wouldn't be approachable if we weren't in the city? When I heard about everything from Rasi, we immediately flew here to support you. But it seems like you never considered us as your family”.His words carried the weight of his disappointment and pain at being kept in the dark during Swetha's difficult times. Abhimanyu's anguish was palpable, revealing the depth of his attachment to Swetha and his desire to be there for her when she needed him the most.Noticing the pain and hurt in his voice, Swetha couldn’t help but heave a huge sigh, feeling remorseful for troubling him with her affairs. Yet, she felt a wave of gratitude as he stood before her, having set aside all his business obligations, even canceling his foreign trip.“Uncle! I always treated you as my family. Don’t sulk like a child for not informing you about the happenings. I was reluctant to burden you with my troubles amidst your busy foreign schedule. Truthfully, I find myself in a dilemma, being uncertain of my future. I just left everything to fate. I don’t want to make things critical for anyone”, calmly replied Swetha, gently coaxing Abhimanyu.Abhimanyu gently caresses her head, soothing her with his tender touch and comforting words,“Swetha! I know you have a kind heart. Even though you could have easily summoned me with just a phone call, you insist on bearing your burdens alone. But you can't deceive me so easily. I have been keeping a watchful eye on you, observing every single detail of what's been happening in your life. I intended to come sooner, but terrible weather conditions delayed my return. Now that I'm here, trust me, I will set things right”.Observing his unwavering determination, Swetha felt a pang of panic, realizing the potential consequences of his actions. She hurriedly cautioned him, her voice tinged with urgency,“Uncle, I understand your love for me, and I'm well aware of the lengths you are willing to go for my happiness. But please, don’t act impulsively. I don’t want to intensify Sreekar's misery and helplessness. At the same time, I can't go against my father's wishes. Let time decide everything. I refuse to betray my father’s trust in me, especially after he entrusted me with everything”.Witnessing her selfless demeanor, knowing she could easily orchestrate events to her liking with a mere snap of her fingers, yet choosing to remain an obedient daughter and ease Sreekar's burdens, Abhimanyu felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness toward her. In that moment, he made a silent vow to unite these two pure souls, determined to bring about a resolution that would bring them both happiness and peace.“Alright! Let us not become emotional. I won't go against your wishes”, pacified Abhimanyu, his tone gentle as he sought to ease her anxiety,“Your father desires for you to be embraced wholeheartedly by the family you will step into. Let's allow fate to take its action and grant your father's wish”.Abhimanyu accompanied them a while longer, while Arjun and Ambika remained by Swetha's side, offering soothing words to alleviate her agony. Eventually, they bid farewell to everyone and departed from the house. Despite Rasi's inner desire for Arjun to stay longer, she suppressed her feelings due to the circumstances and accompanied them to bid them farewell.Sreekanth excused himself, referring to some work, and left the house. However, he made his way to Krishna Kumar's house to discuss Swetha and Sreekar’s marriage proposal. Although Krishna Kumar, Mahalaxmi, and Gautham wished for the union due to the purity of their love, they harbored doubts about Balaramaiah's acceptance of the proposal. Sreekanth reassured them, pledging that he would do everything in his power to ensure Balaramaiah accepted the proposal, no matter the cost.Sreekanth, not wishing to drag the time any more, he calls Balaramaiah to inform everything that had happened in their life’s.“Uncle! Good day! How are you doing? Are you free now?”, wished Sreekanth and asked Balaramaiah’s wellbeing.“Yes Sreekanth! We were fine. What’s the matter? Is anything serious? You know, You can tell me anything”, assured Balaramaiah, encouraging him to continue his explanation.Sreekanth informed Balaramaiah all the events that had happened in their lives, how he once again abandoned their family and how he left the house accompanying Sreekar along with him. He unfolded the secret of Sreekar’s sacrifice of his love to reconcile his brother with his own family. He even revealed the atrocious acts that Lalitha orchestrated to drive Swetha away from Sreekar’s life.“Uncle!”Sreekanth pleaded with a diligent heart, his voice trembling with emotion,“We have cut off all ties with that family, casting them away from our lives. Sreekar is my solemn responsibility, and as his elder brother, I stand as the guardian of his fate. I extend my hands to you, imploring your acceptance to embrace his love and offer your daughter's hand to my brother”.With a sincerity that resonated in every word, he continued,“I pledge to you, Uncle, that I will never let you feel remorse for choosing my brother as her life companion. I have always regarded you as a fatherly figure and my deepest desire is to see Swetha lead a life filled with happiness. Please, I request you, reconsider their pure and sincere love. Do not let the weight of my past hasty decisions burden the innocent hearts of these children any longer. I acknowledge my mistake, having once abandoned everyone leaving Shilpa alone  without the comfort from the family. I will not let that happen to my brother and Swetha, determined to stay by them like a pillar of support and care in each and every step of their life”.In his impassioned plea, Sreekanth's words were a testament to the depth of his affection for Sreekar and Swetha, as well as his profound respect and admiration for Balaramaiah.After a long silence, Sreekanth reluctantly called out Balaramaiah, contemplating on Balaramaiah’s actions after hearing his version.“Uncle! Please ...”, his words were cut off by Balaramaiah.“By next morning I will be there along with my family. Don’t let anyone know about this”, replied Balaramaiah, his voice carrying the authority.Sreekanth's heart swelled with hope upon hearing of Balaramaiah's impending arrival, delighted by the belief that his plea would be met with understanding and acceptance. With eager anticipation, he prepared himself to engage Balaramaiah in heartfelt dialogue, his thoughts flowing with optimism for a positive outcome.Meanwhile, Abhimanyu, after leaving from Swetha, instead of returning to their home, they went straight to Bhuvaneswari’s house to confront her. By the time they reached the house, Bhuvaneswari Devi was sitting alone in the living room, engrossed in her own thoughts. Hearing about their arrival from the butler, she gracefully welcomed them and ushered their seats.. By the time, Raghavendar, who was i the study room, hearing about their arrival, entered the living room while wishing them.“Mr. Abhimanyu! Welcome! What a surprise? It’s unbelievable to see you. What makes you come along with your family? How could I help you?”, enquired Raghavendar, gracefully taking his seat beside Bhuvaneswari Devi.Abhimanyu greeted Raghavendar with a warm smile, reciprocating the genuine friendliness with which he was welcomed. With a gentle demeanor, he addressed Raghavendar,“Good day, Mr. Raghavendar! I come to discuss matters of a personal nature, unrelated to any business affairs. I have come to express a heartfelt request. I wish to ask for the hand of your younger son, Sreekar, for my daughter”.In his words, there was a sincerity that resonated deeply, reflecting the earnestness of his intentions and the gravity of the request he was about to make.Both Raghavendar and Bhuvaneswari Devi gaped at Abhimanyu in astonishment, being baffled to hear such a request and exchanged their gazes.“Mr. Abhimanyu! According to my knowledge, you have one and only son. What of this daughter you speak of and what’s the purpose does this alliance serve?”enquired Raghavendar, gazing at him suspiciously, contemplating about the hidden truth behind his words.Abhimanyu Maintained his gentle smile, his eyes sparkling reflecting the admiration he had for his daughter, with unwavering sincerity he replied,Yes Mr. Raghavendar! It’s true that I had only one biological son but I am blessed to have a God daughter whom I embraced  with divine blessings granted upon me. It is for her that I seek the hand of Sreekar. She holds a  special and significant place not only in my heart but also in our life”.With every word he sorted to convey not only the depth of his affection for his daughter but also the genuine desire to cast a bond between them.Bhuvaneswari Devi, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, interjected with her authoritative voice,“Mr. Abhimanyu! What made you assume that we would accept just any random girl for our son, merely because you've granted your family name upon her?”.Ambika joined the conversation and responded to Bhuvaneswari Devi with her gentle voice,“Mrs. Bhuvaneswari Devi! considering your esteemed status and prestige in society, it's understandable that we wouldn't propose just any random girl for your son. You seem to have misunderstood Abhimanyu's words. She is our goddaughter, but that doesn't imply she is an orphan. She hails from a well-reputed family that upholds strong ethics and values. However, we regard her as our own daughter due to the close bond we share. Her presence in your family will undoubtedly enhance its reputation in society”.Bhuvaneswari Devi and Raghavendar exchanged their glances, interacting within them quietly and darted their  eyes towards the couple.“May we know who the girl is that you are referring to? If she holds a significant place in your lives, why have you never accompanied her to any social events or announced her presence?" queried Raghavendar, his voice carrying the weight of disbelief in their words.Abhimanyu offered a graceful smile and responded with a  gentle voice,,“Mr. Raghavendar! I can understand your  contemplation. Actually she had completed her studies recently and she doesn’t wish to announce our relationship in public. She is a  very simple, kind hearted and easy going  girl who doesn’t expect anything from us other than the love, care and admiration we have for her. If you are interested in  furthering our relationship, we will inform you about the girl”.Raghavendar was taken aback by Abhimanyu's words and found himself puzzled by their deep personal involvement with a young woman whom they regarded as their own daughter. He felt a strong curiosity to learn more about the girl who had inspired such a great and successful businessman to personally extend his hand in building a new relationship with them  where they doesn’t share any relation in the business. It makes Raghavendar more interested in that girl who captivated the  whole family, leading them  to sit in front  of  them, requesting for Sreekar’shand.With a sudden surge of interest and curiosity, Raghavendar inquired, his voice tinged with desperation,“Could you please share the details of the young lady for whom you've gone to such lengths to meet personally?”.With a smug smile gracing his lips, Abhimanyu revealed the details of the young lady they had been discussing,“The young lady is none other than the one who has captured Sreekar's heart entirely. She is Swetha, our goddaughter”.Initially, Abhimanyu hesitated to unveil Swetha's identity, opting to first express their profound love, admiration, and unwavering commitment to Swetha's happiness. Only after conveying the depth of Swetha's significance in their lives did Abhimanyu disclose her identity, emphasizing her preciousness to them.Upon hearing Swetha's name, both Raghavendar and Bhuvaneswari Devi were initially dumbfounded, their astonishment quickly escalating to shock and disbelief. Bhuvaneswari Devi promptly rose to her feet, her finger pointed accusingly at Abhimanyu, her eyes ablaze with suppressed fury as she questioned,“Are you playing pranks with me?”.With an unwavering smile, Abhimanyu calmly responded,“I have no time for pranks, especially when my daughter is in distress. My sole aim is to liberate her from misery and shower her with boundless happiness. I have come to discuss with you the possibility of their marriage”.“I will never allow that low-class girl into my house, the one who has shattered my family. What makes you think I would entertain your proposal when that girl doesn't even meet our minimum expectations?”, Bhuvaneswari Devi retorted vehemently.Feeling helpless, Raghavendar heaved a sigh and gently guided Bhuvaneswari Devi back to her seat. He then turned to Abhimanyu and spoke with a mixture of disappointment and resignation,“Mr. Abhimanyu, while we have never been involved in each other's business affairs, I was hopeful when you extended your hand in a relationship with us. However, your representation on behalf of that girl has left me disheartened. Unfortunately, we cannot accept your proposal”.The gentle smile on Abhimanyu's face slowly faded, transforming into a frown as he replied with authority,“Your esteemed prestige and societal status blind you from seeing the precious gem hidden from the limelight. Though she may hail from the countryside and a humble family, she possesses a heart of kindness, nurtured with ethics, culture and values that are often lacking in high-class society. Moreover, I can assure you, she is no ordinary woman from that high end circle, she's my goddaughter. What's more, the truth unknown even to Swetha herself is that she is a director in our company, holding 25% of the shares. This should elevate her standing in your so-called high society. So, would you reconsider and accept my proposal now?”.Both Raghavendar and Bhuvaneswari Devi were utterly baffled by the sudden revelation, exchanging puzzled glances as they grappled with the implications of Swetha's relationship with Abhimanyu, and the extent to which he had gone by extending his shares in the business. They remained speechless for a moment, pondering the truth just revealed by Abhimanyu.Abhimanyu continued in his gentle tone,“Mrs. Bhuvaneswari Devi! this is not the time to dwell on Swetha's status or prestige in society. You must realize the significance of her presence in Sreekar's life. For the past five years, he has been living like a walking corpse, consumed by darkness, misery and solitude. Her entrance into his life has dispelled that darkness, bringing him towards the light of happiness and joy”.He continued, emphasizing the significance of Swetha in Sreekar's life,“I have witnessed him functioning like a robot, devoid of any feelings or emotions beyond business expansion. However, I observed a profound change in his demeanor with Swetha's presence. Unfortunately, it was short-lived due to your insistence on his marriage to Lalitha and your betrayal towards him. His happiness, joy, and even his peace are intertwined with Swetha. As a mother, you should understand your son's heart instead of prioritizing societal values. If you're solely concerned about her status in society, I'm prepared to announce her shares in my company, thrusting her into the limelight. My wife and son wholeheartedly support this decision, and all paperwork is finalized. Only the handing over of the papers to Swetha remains, which I will do shortly as she has completed her exams. Hoping for a positive response from you. We will take our leave now”.As they were about to leave, Arjun halted in his steps, turning back to face Bhuvaneswari Devi. With sincerity in his eyes, he promised,“Aunty! Though we were not blood-related, she is my god sister whom I will cherish for the rest of my life. We owe her our entire existence for protecting my father from death and saving me from being deprived of my father's love. Despite being Mr. Balaramaiah's daughter, she will be announced as my god sister and a director of our company at our upcoming business anniversary. Please don't hesitate to accept the proposal, as she will fulfill all your wishes. Goodbye, Aunty! Goodbye, Uncle!”, With those words, they bid farewell and left the house.