It was exactly a week after the incident, and everything was back to normal, according to Shraddha. The week had been hectic, as she barely saved herself from the wrath of the law. They imprisoned her for changing identities, but her father was quick to bring a lawyer who defended her. Her evidence, which she traced to how Riya's daughter died, sealed Ranbir's punishment. He tried to escape from the country, but Riya made them capture him. She gave his number, which only she had, traced, and he was taken into custody, and later the court declared him guilty.
It was hard—very hard—when Shraddha investigated the incident on her own and in one day, when she didn't know anyone or any place in Mumbai except three houses, That was Riya's house, Anand's house, and her father's house. She didn't even know where to start looking. Where she will begin asking? Had it not been for a worker in the house whom she asked for guidance, she would never have known. The man was present when Ranbir shared that he killed his daughter to his father. Her father was also at fault and to blame, as even though he knew his son was a criminal, he chose to hide it. The worker got her the footage of that day five years ago. He linked her with his Uncle who was one of the labourers at the construction site that bore witness to when Ranbir shot her. She also saw in the footage how Mr. Kapoor, along with her father, brought her to the house. In the footage, she saw Anand's father being aware she wasn't the culprit in Riya's child's death; he knew it was Ranbir. Strangely, despite his dislike for her, he supported her rescue. The question lingered: Why did he save her?
"Mother!"
She sighed and replaced her thin lips with a broad smile when she heard Riddhima's voice. She stayed with her for the week. Her clothes and uniform were brought, and no one objected. She was surprised. She thought they would create a ruckus and deny letting them live together, but the whole family was silent. Anand would come every night to meet her, but whenever he would come, he would leave without getting to speak to her. She didn't forget, nor did she think she could forget that he ultimately killed her had it not been for the reversal of events made by Sarah. About her, she also got what she deserved. Shraddha told her they could no longer be friends. Anand said she could decide what she saw fit for her, and his family would gladly accept her decision, so she saw fit that she return to America. Her ticket is in process, and she's hoping that tonight they will get it.
"I made this for you."
Shraddha looked at the creamy yoghurt in a bowl that was in her hand. She smiled and pecked her forehead affectionately.
"Riddhima!" Anand's voice called out to her when he reached the home for his routine visit. Shraddha released her to go to her father, and she left the garden to give them privacy. Anand watched her leave even though he didn't want that, but he had no right to stop her. Although, he desperately wanted to apologise to her for everything, he himself wouldn't forgive anyone if someone had done what he did to her to him.
"Anan....Shraddha!" Sarah called out when she entered the hall with her luggage, where Shraddha sat alone, patiently awaiting Riddhima's return to share the yoghurt she had prepared. Shraddha turned her gaze toward Sarah, wearing a blank expression.
"When will I see you again?" Sarah inquired, prompting a half-sad smile to appear on Shraddha's lips.
"I don't want to see you again," she whispered.
Silence enveloped the atmosphere before Sarah spoke once more. "I want to apologize. Please forgiv...."
"You should be in jail with Ranbir, but you're still free even after attempting to end so many lives. If I hadn't forgiven you, you wouldn't be here now." Shraddha's eyes shifted away as Anand walked in with Riddhima by his side.
"I want to atone for my mistake in some way; if not, guilt will eat me up. If you want, I can reverse the events to when you first met your husband. This way, you could both fix your relationship. ...."
"Never! Let the past be in the past." Her sudden answer shattered Anand's heart, making him realize once again that there can be no amends in their relationship—it's dead.
"Think about it, Shraddha. You've already lived that life. You can avoid all mistakes this time."
"Will I forget what happened? Can I forget what happened? Will you return my mother? But then his family will lie about her again. You know what? Let it be. If the events are reversed, they will hurt more. I know that at some point she will die, and during her death, I will be in jail. This is not possible. You can't take the whole world back. We will accept what time has given us and continue moving forward. I don't want amends. In fact,..." she sighed. "Just go," she mumbled, covering her face as tears gathered in her eyes.
"Go outside, Riddhima!"
Shraddha looked up immediately after hearing Anand's voice, unaware that he was also in the hall with them.
"Can you bring back her mother?" he asked her friend.
"Don't mention her name again," she responded angrily, recalling when he proclaimed her mother being involved with a married man like it was her fault.
"No. The dead can't return, but I can send her to the past to correct....."
"There will be no corrections. I don't want that." She closed her eyes and once again requested both of them to leave.
"Let her be then," he said. She nodded, and as she left with her luggage, he approached Shraddha, who remained unaware of his movements. Opening her eyes, she found him standing before her.
He sensed the panic in her eyes and quickly explained, "I want to let you know that I am taking Riddhima with me today. Everyone at home misses her."
"You could have said that while standing far away too," she mumbled.
"I know. It's just that, after the incident, we didn't get the chance to speak."
"Because we used all our chances. Please go now. I understand Riddhima has a family she needs to be with, and I am nothing to her but a stranger. You can take her. Also, thank you for letting her stay here for a week. It means a lot." She conveyed with a straight face, but Anand still saw the sorrow and grief in her eyes she tried hard to hide. What it was for was what he couldn't detect.
"Are we really over? Is there no other way?"
Surprised by his audacity after everything he did, she remarked, "You should be honest and ask yourself. Is there no other way? Honestly, I don't find myself having any feelings anymore."
"But time heals all wounds."
"Except mine. Even after fifty years, I will still remember you burning the woman you claimed to love. You demeaned her late mother in front of her, and yet, you still expect she will forget it. If it's forgiveness you're after, be at ease. I won't hold a grudge. Tell your whole family, and this applies to you too; I've forgiven all that you did. Maybe circumstances forced all of you to, but I will never forget."
"Fifty years from now, I won't even be here." came his short reply.
She gazed into his pale eyes, and her eyes gradually moved to his sagging skin before they settled again at his eyes feeling her anger melt away. Sympathy swept into her heart, but she decided again never to return to him.
"Let's consider professional counselling." he said.
"It will be a waste of time because I won't give us a chance."
"There's no harm in trying. I'll accept any decision you make afterwards. If you don't want us to see, fine. We won't. But let's give it a try."
She sighed, struggling to convey that she couldn't forget the past events between them. "We can't do it, Anand. You have a wife."
"Lakshmi isn't my wife. We don't have a marriage certificate."
"But I don't want her to be hurt. Settle with her and leave me alone."
"Consider this my last wish in this world." he uttered, and she fell silent with shock, tears welling up because she couldn't refuse such a request.
"It will end in tears. I can feel it." she said as tears rolled down freely.
"I can feel it will end with a smile." He remained optimistic, holding her hand and planting a loving kiss on her palm. "You will honour my wish, won't you?"
She stayed silent, her eyes going up to which she saw her father listening to their conversation. He sent her a brief smile and nodded in support of Anand, understanding that her happiness was intertwined with his. All he wished for was to ensure her joy and leave her in the care of someone he could trust before he departed the world.
"Okay!" she agreed, since her father was in approval. "Let's seek a counsellor's advice and see where it will take us."
The End! Thank you. You made me change the whole ending, but😀, never mind.