chapter 28

Shri’s voice wavered as she spoke. “I was so angry, Maan. For so long, I was angry at them. At the villagers, at our families... for tearing us apart. For destroying our happiness.”Maan nodded, his jaw tight with the memory of their suffering. “I was angry too. I wanted to hate them for what they did to us. For making us pay the price for something as pure as love.”They both fell silent for a moment, the weight of the past pressing down on them. The fire, the accusations, the betrayal—it had all been so painful. But now, standing together in the peaceful night, the anger felt distant, like a fading storm after the rain had passed.Shri's voice was soft, almost a whisper. “But what good is holding on to that anger now, Maan? We’re together again. No one can take that from us anymore.”Maan looked into her eyes, the deep love he felt for her shimmering within him. “You’re right. Our love was always stronger than their hate. It’s why we’re still here, together, after all these years.”Shri nodded, a small smile breaking through her sadness. “And maybe... it’s time to forgive them. They didn’t understand. They were blinded by their own fears and the rules of the world they lived in.”Maan sighed, the tension in his body easing. “They were scared of what they couldn’t control. They thought love like ours would break the chains they were bound to. And in a way, it did.”Shri rested her head against his chest, feeling the peaceful rhythm of their souls beating in harmony. “Maybe that’s why we keep coming back here, to this place. Not just to remember our love, but to let go of the pain. To forgive.”Maan’s hand gently stroked her hair as he whispered, “I forgive them, Shri. I forgive them for everything. Because none of it matters anymore. We’re free now.”Tears filled Shri’s eyes, but they were no longer tears of sadness. “I forgive them too. And now... we can finally be at peace.”Maan kissed her forehead softly, his lips lingering there as if sealing the promise they had made to each other. “We’ll come here every night, like we always have. To this place where our love began. And we’ll be together... forever.”Shri smiled, the light of the moon reflecting in her eyes. “Every night, Maan. I’ll always be here, waiting for you.”And from that night on, under the glow of the moon and the soft rustling of the trees, the souls of Maan and Shri reunited in peace. Every night, they would meet at the same spot, their love stronger than ever, untouched by the pain of the past. The whispers of their love echoed in the air, a love so powerful that even death could not keep them apart.Their souls lingered, not bound by vengeance or regret, but by the eternal bond they shared—a love that transcended life and death. And in the stillness of the night, they found peace in each other’s arms, knowing that they would always be together.Forever and alwaysNow, they sat together beneath the moonlit sky, the memories of their past both beautiful and tragic. Shri leaned into Maan, her head resting against his shoulder as his fingers traced the lines of her hand. The silence between them was filled with the quiet, unspoken love they had shared for so long, the kind of love that didn’t need words.“I love you, Shri,” Maan whispered, his voice filled with emotion. “I love you more than anything.”Shri looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I love you too, Maan. I always have, and I always will.”Maan kissed her forehead softly, lingering for a moment, trying to imprint the feeling of her skin against his lips. He held her close, knowing that nothing could ever come between them now, not even death.As the first light of dawn broke through the trees, Shri sighed softly, her heart heavy. “Will we meet again tomorrow?”Maan smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes, my love. Tomorrow, and every day after that.”Their forms began to fade with the rising sun, dissolving into the mist. But even as they disappeared, the love they shared lingered in the air, an eternal bond that could never be broken.In the silence of the haunted house, the whispers of their love remained, a testament to a romance so powerful that even death couldn’t keep them apart.