Chapter 69: Between Anger & Peace

A Few Days Later

At Purab's House,

At The Dining Table:

(The dining room was warm and lively, filled with the familiar sounds of a family get- together... clinking cutlery, bursts of laughter, and playful teasing.

The aroma of freshly made rotis lingered in the air as Bhoomika tore one apart and placed it on Prakhar's plate, who, in his usual dramatic fashion, declared that he was famished beyond measure.

Paarth, in his animated style, was narrating a hilarious college incident that had Jyoti and Prem chuckling.

Purab's parents observed the chatter with a fond smile.)

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(Amidst the cheerful chaos, however, one person remained oddly silent.

It was Naina.

She picked at her food absentmindedly, her mind seemingly elsewhere.)

(Purab, who had been quietly observing her, frowned slightly.

It wasn't like Naina to be this quiet, especially at the dinner table.)

Purab: (nudging her lightly) Kya hua, Nunu? Tu itni chup kyun hai aaj? Sab theek toh hai?

Naina: (forcing a small smile) Haan, sab theek hai, Pogo!

(She absentmindedly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, trying to appear normal, but the usual liveliness in her voice was missing.)

Purab: (leaning in, studying her) Nahi, mujhe lagta hai kuch toh baat hai. Toone dinner ke dauraan ek baar bhi mazaak nahi kiya... na hi kisi ki taang kheechi... Bilkul bhi normal nahi lag rahi tu. Bata, kya hua?

Bhoomika: (from across the table, concerned) Haan Naina, tumhara chehra bhi thoda down-down sa lag raha hai... (Glancing at Jyoti for confirmation) Hai naa, Jyoti bhabhi?

Jyoti: Bilkul... mujhe bhi lag raha hai ki kuch gadbad hai.

Paarth: Yes! Even I can tell! I was talking about my lunch date with Kiara, aur Nunu aunty ne ek bhi reaction nahi diya! That's not normal! Something is definitely off with her today.

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Then,

(Naina sighed, setting her spoon down. She glanced around at the expectant faces before finally speaking.)

Naina: Kya bolun... Bas... ek ajeeb si situation hai... (She exhales deeply, gathering her thoughts.) Abhi.... ek hafte pehle, Anuradha aunty... mere ghar aayi thi.

(Silence.

The room, once buzzing with conversation, now held a sudden stillness.

Even the faint sound of utensils scraping against plates ceased.

Purab stiffened, his fingers tightening around his fork as his eyes widened in disbelief.)

Purab: (startled) Anuradha aunty?? Matlab... Vikram ki mummy?? Tumhaari ex-saas?!

Naina: (nodding slowly) Haan, Pogo.

(She picked up her glass of water, taking a sip as if to steady herself.)

Jyoti: (confused) Par woh wahan kaise aa gayi? Kuch kaam tha kya?

Naina: (hesitant) She came to apologize...

(Her voice wavered slightly, the weight of the moment evident.)

Naina: Bahut emotional ho gayi thi... ro bhi rahi thi.... Pogo, tu imagine bhi nahi kar sakta, ki unhone kya kiya....

Purab: (curiously) What did she do?

Naina: Unhone mere saamne haath jod kar maafi maangi!

Purab: (blinking, taken aback) Are you serious??

Naina: Yes!!! Dead serious!!!

Bhoomika: (frowning) Apologize? Ab kyun? Itne saal baad achanak kya yaad aa gaya unko?

Naina: (softly) Yehi toh samajh nahi aa raha mujhe... (She plays with the edge of her napkin.) She said ki Tanvi didi ne unhe samjhaya tha ki jo unke saath hua, woh unhe repeat nahi karna chahiye tha... Unhone realize kiya, ki jo bhi unhone kiya, woh galat tha. Aur phir Kiara ke national championship ki news jab paper mein aayi.... Aur logon ne uski taareef ki... aur meri bhi... tab jaake, unhe guilt mehsoos hua, and she realized ki unhone mere saath kitna galat kiya!!!

(Purab leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, deep in thought.

Bhoomika exchanged a questioning look with Jyoti, who simply shrugged.)

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Purab: (thinking) Hmm. Aur tu kya feel kar rahi hai?

Naina: (shakes her head, unsure) Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha, Pogo. Pata nahi main kya karun... Anuradha aunty ne mujhe itne saal tak mentally torture kiya. (She pauses, her voice heavy with emotions) I know ki maine Vikram ji ko bhi maaf kiya tha, but it was a gradual process... not an overnight thing! And he earned it!

(There is a moment of silence as she exhales sharply, frustration evident in her tone.)

Naina: Lekin what about aunty? Abhi, suddenly she is feeling guilty for everything, and unhe maafi chahiye? How is this fair?

Purab: (softly) Nunu, fair ya unfair ka sawaal nahi hai. Sawaal yeh hai—tum kya feel karti ho?

Naina: (bitterly smiling) Mujhe sirf yeh lagta hai, ki jab tak, woh power mein thi, tab tak she didn't care.... Aur ab suddenly unhe guilt ho raha hai... toh unhe maafi chahiye... taaki sab normal ho jaaye!!!!

(At that moment, a realisation struck her.)

Naina: I think she knows, ki mere bacche kabhi unka saath nahi denge, tabhi toh, unhe maafi yaad aa rahi hai? may be she doesn't want to die with regrets!!!

(The room grows still, the weight of her words sinking in.)

Purab: Nunu.... Tumne Vikram se baat ki? iss baare mein?

Naina: (shaking her head) Nahi, abhi tak toh nahi ki.

Purab: (surprised) Kyun? Vikram se kyun chhupa rahi hai?

Naina: (sighing) Woh unke bete hain, Pogo... aur maine nahi chahati, ki woh mere decision ko influence kare.... I mean, he would want me to forget things and move on.... but how can I?

(Purab studies her for a moment, his expression unreadable.

Before he can say anything, Jyoti speaks up, concerned.)

Jyoti: (gently) Naina, maafi ka matlab yeh nahi hota ki, jo kuch tumhaare saath hua, woh sab tum bhool jao!!!!  Forgiveness takes time.... And so, tumhara confused feel karna bilkul normal hai.

Prem: (leaning back, arms crossed) ) Jyoti sahi keh rahi hai.... you don't need to forget anything.... But, the real question is—kya tum apne andar ke gusse ko khatam karna chahti ho? Ya phir you want to cling on to it?

Jyoti: (softly) and Naina, forgiving someone is not only for the other person!!!! It can be for yourself too!!! Agar tumhe aisa lagta hai, ki iss baggage ke bina tum zyada peacefully jee sakti ho, toh forgiveness can be an option!! BUT.... only if you are really ready!!!!

(Naina looked up at her, her expression a mix of gratitude and confusion.

Jyoti reached across the table to give her hand a reassuring squeeze.)

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(Then, Purab's mother who was silently observing,  spoke up-)

Purab's Mother: (gently) Beta, hamaare zamaane ki saas aisi hi hoti thi. Bahu ko kuch nahi samajhti thi. Unki feelings, likes, dislikes... kuch bhi nahi. Bahu ka kaam bas yeh hota tha ki ghar sambhaalo, pati ki seva karo, bacche paida karo, aur phir bacchon ko sambhaalo... aur kuch nahi.

Naina: (curious, tilting her head) Aapki saas bhi aisi thi, aunty?

Purab's Mother: (smiles bitterly) Haan... tumhaare uncle ji se hi pooch lo!

Purab's Father: (sighing) Beta, meri Maa ko toh marte dam tak koi afsos nahi hua ki unhone apni bahu ke saath kuch galat kiya. Kam se kam tumhaari saas ko toh apni galti ka ehsaas hua hai. Bhale hi der se hua... par hua toh sahi.

(Bhoomika noticed Nina get a little restless, and interrupts gently)

Bhoomika: Lekin Papa ji, Anuradha aunty ne, Naina ko sirf hurt nahi kiya, balki uske self-worth ko barson tak todti rahi.... She humiliated her, manipulated her... Har roz naye tareeke se neecha dikhaya... insult kiya. Seventeen years, Papa ji! Seventeen years tak jhela hai Naina ne!

(She glances at Purab and Prem, as if seeking confirmation.)

Bhoomika: Aapko yaad hai naa... Purab aur Prem bhaisaab ko kiss halat mein mili thi Naina? (She pauses, her voice thick with emotion.) Insaan ka nature ek din mein nahi badalta. Galti ka ehsaas ho raha hoga, but can Aunty truly change her nature?

Naina: (sighing deeply, her fingers tracing the rim of her water glass) Haan uncle... yahi toh main bhi soch rahi hoon. Kya mujhe unhe maaf kar dena chahiye? And if I do, how can I forget what all she did to me?

(The weight of the conversation hung heavy in the air, but the voices around her held nothing but support.)

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Then,

(Purab's father leaned forward, his voice firm yet gentle.)

Purab's father: Beta, main Jyoti ki kahi hui baat, phir se dohraata hoon.... tumhe kuch bhi bhoolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Maafi ka matlab yeh nahi hota ki jo tumne jhela hai, woh koi maayne nahi rakhta. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgiving toh sirf itna hai, ki tum uss dukh ko, uss dard ko apni zindagi ka hissa banaane se rok rahi ho.

(Purab's mother reached out, placing her hand over Naina's.

Her voice, calm and composed, carried years of wisdom.)

Purab's mother: (calmly) Par beta.... agar tumhe lagta hai ki maaf kar dena tumhare self-respect ke against hoga, toh phir mat karna!!! Kai baar, kuch cheezein unforgivable hoti hain.... and it is okay to choose yourself first.

(Naina's eyes flickered with an emotion she couldn't quite place.

Relief?

Understanding?

Perhaps a mix of both.)

Purab: (nodded in agreement) Exactly! Forgiveness ka matlab yeh nahi hota ki tum uske har ek galti ko accept kar rahi ho. It just means you are freeing yourself from the pain. But only if, tumhe lage ki, yeh tumhare liye zaroori hai.

Prem: (firmly) Naina, forgiveness is not absolution. It doesn't mean ki you are justifying her actions... or that you are considering them right. It just means you are choosing to move forward without letting her control your emotions anymore.

(He paused, then added)

Prem: Dekho Naina, I don't want to thopofy my opinion on you..... But ek aur angle se dekho— agar tumhe lagta hai ki maaf kar dene se, you can get rid of the negativity around you, tumhaara mann halka hota hai.... then it's worth considering!!!!

(Jyoti gave a small smile and added—)

Jyoti: Lekin agar tumhe lagta hai ki tum unhe maaf nahi kar sakti... it's too painful for you... then, that's okay too. Maafi dena ek option hai, koi obligation nahi.

(Prem looked at Naina again, his eyes holding quiet reassurance.)

Prem: But Naina, ek baat zaroor sochna—tumhari life sirf past tak limited nahi hai. Tumhari life aage bhi hai. If holding onto this anger is weighing you down, then shayad usse chod dena hi behtar hoga. Forgiving is not about satisfying her.... it's about finding your own mental peace.

(Purab grinned, nudging Naina's shoulder playfully.)

Purab: Bhaisaab sahi keh rahe hain, Nunu! Tu sirf apne baare mein soch! Toone unke according bahut kaam kar liye.... Ab tujhe kisi se darne ki zaroorat nahi!

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(Naina looked around the table, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

For the first time that evening, a faint smile touched her lips. Her voice, though soft, held gratitude.)

Naina: Thank you.... thank you all so much. Aap sab se baat karke thoda better feel ho raha hai. Shayad mujhe thoda aur waqt chahiye. I need more time to process everything.

(Purab's mother's eyes were filled with warmth. She leaned forward and spoke reassuringly.)

Purab's mother: Bilkul beta, jitna time chahiye, utna le lo. Decisions dil se aane chahiye. Jaldi-baazi mein kabhi bhi decisions nahi lene chahiye.

Jyoti: (smiled kindly) and hamesha yaad rakho, Naina. Hum sab tumhaare saath hain. Kabhi bhi, if you need to talk about something... all of us are just a phone call away.

(Naina's heart felt a little lighter. She looked around at the family, absorbing their unwavering support.)

Naina: (her voice thick with emotion.) Main bahut lucky hoon, ki mujhe aap jaisa parivaar mila!!!!

Purab: (lifting the mood, smirked) Oye... tu kab se senti hone lag gayi! Ab bas rona mat shuru kar dena. Waise bhi, khana thanda ho raha hai!

(Everyone laughed, the heavy air lifting, replaced by an easy warmth.

Naina, though still contemplative, felt a deep sense of comfort and belonging.

The journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she didn't have to walk it alone.)

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Author's Note ✨💛

Hey, lovely readers! 🌸

Wow, this chapter was intense, wasn't it? 😮

Naina is standing at a crossroads—to forgive or not to forgive?

That's never an easy decision, especially when the pain runs deep. 💔

But as Prem said, forgiveness is not for others—it's for YOU. Will Naina find peace?

Only time will tell... ⏳

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts! What would YOU do if you were in Naina's place? 🤔 Drop a comment below and let's chat! 💬

Also, don't forget to VOTE ⭐, COMMENT 💬, and FOLLOW 📌 if you're enjoying the story!

Your support means the world to me and keeps me motivated to write more! 💖

See you in the next chapter! 😘✨