Rahul went home in a rush, anger burning in his eyes. He stormed through the gate, and pushed the door open with force.

"Nanna! Nanna..!"
"Dad! Dad..!"

His loud voice echoed through the entire house. Everyone came running out of their rooms — his mother, even Anu. She stood near the staircase, shocked by the rage on her brother's face.

His father came out, adjusting his glasses.
"Emayindra Rahul..?"
"What happened, Rahul?"

Rahul didn't wait for another second; his words burst out like a storm.

"Nanna nuvu ala ela chestav..! Paapam Nidhi em chesindi nanna..! Tanaki vala daddy gurinchi nijam ela chepav..! Tanaki cheppakudadani nuve kada strict ga chepav..! Enta matram Anu ni priority aithe Nidhi ni marchipothava..?"
"Dad, how could you do this! What wrong did poor Nidhi do? You're the one who said we should never tell her the truth about her father! You were strict about it! Then why now? Is Anu such a priority that you forgot Nidhi completely?"

The whole house went silent. Not even a breath was heard.

Anu stood frozen, her heart pounding violently. Rahul's words rang in her ears again and again.

So this is why Bava fought with Nana...

Her hands trembled. She covered her mouth with her palm, her eyes filling with tears.

"Oh God..." she whispered under her breath.

Without saying a word, she turned away and went inside her room. She closed the door and slid down against it, unable to stop crying.

Her voice broke between sobs.
"I shouted at him... I accused him without knowing anything... I hurt him..."

Every word she had said to Vedansh now pierced her like a knife.
She remembered his silence, the way he walked away instead of defending himself.

Now she understood — he had carried a truth too heavy for her to know.

Anu cried until her voice cracked. Guilt drowned her completely. 

Hours passed. The house was dark and quiet. But her heart wouldn't rest.

She stood up suddenly, wiped her tears, and stepped out of her room.

It was late night when she walked to Vedansh's house. The streetlights flickered dimly. Every step felt heavier than the last.

She reached his gate, her hands cold and shaking. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

After a few moments, the door opened — Kavitha stood there.

Anu folded her hands, her eyes already wet.
"Atha... bava ekkada..?"
"Aunty... where is Bava?"

Kavitha looked at her silently. No anger, no softness — just quiet disappointment. That silence itself broke Anu's heart.

Before Kavitha could respond, "evaru maa" Vedansh walked out from the hallway. He stopped the moment his eyes met hers.

Anu's throat tightened. She took a step forward.
"Bava... okasari na maata vinu..."
"Bava... please listen to me once..."

Vedansh's expression didn't change. He turned slightly toward his mother and said coldly,
"Maa, vachinavalani vachinadarilone velipomanu."
"Mom, tell them to leave from the way they have come."

Anu's breath caught in her throat. Her tears spilled freely now.
"Bava please... okasari matladu..."
"Bava please... just talk to me once..."

Vedansh didn't look back. 

She turned to Kavitha with folded hands, crying.
"Atha please... bava ni agamanu okasari matladuta..."
"Aunty please... stop him once, let me talk to him..."

Kavitha sighed, her eyes glistening but her voice steady.
"Nuvu ila chestav anukoledu Anu... motham vishayam telusukokunda nuvu Vedansh ni ala anadam correct kadu... naa koduku em chesad ani nuvu mee nana ana niladisaru vadini..."
"I never thought you'd do this, Anu. Without knowing the truth, you blamed Vedansh... You even said you regret loving him.. Was that fair?"

Anu lowered her head, guilt flooding her face.
"Athaya sorry... naku motham vishayam telidhu... please nanu okasari matladini..."
"Aunty, I'm sorry... I didn't know the full truth... please, let me talk to him once..."

Kavitha shook her head slowly.
"Odhule Anu... . ippudu kopam ga unadu rep chudam..."
"Let it go, Anu... right now he is angry..we will talk tomorrow"

Those words shattered whatever hope Anu had left. She felt her knees weaken. She stepped back and sat near the doorstep, her tears falling endlessly.

Her mind screamed inside — "Why didn't I trust him? Why didn't I just listen once?"

She buried her face in her hands. The world around her blurred. The night breeze turned cold, and soft raindrops began to fall.

Her hair clung to her face as she sat there in the drizzle, shivering, crying — broken beyond words.

Anu ran to her house

She hugged her knees tightly, her whole body trembling.

The night stretched endlessly, wrapping her in guilt and silence.

By dawn, her eyes were swollen red, her throat dry, her soul heavy — but one thing was certain:
She might have lost her words, but not her love.

And someday, somehow, she would face him again — not to justify, but to ask for forgiveness.

The morning sunlight crept gently into the house through half-open curtains. The air felt strangely calm — as if the night's storm had exhausted everyone's emotions.

Vedansh sat in the living room, his posture straight, a file open in his hands. He looked composed, too composed — the kind of silence that hides the chaos inside.

He wasn't really reading. His eyes were on the paper, but his thoughts were miles away.

Footsteps echoed softly behind him. It was Nidhi, still in her nightwear, her face pale and eyes slightly swollen from crying.

She hesitated near the sofa for a moment, then slowly came and sat right in front of him.

He knew she was there — he could feel her presence — but he didn't look up. He kept flipping through the papers, pretending to be busy.

That little act hurt her more than words ever could. She lowered her head, fiddling with the edge of her dupatta, her throat tightening.

Seconds passed. The silence between them felt heavier than the night before.

Just then, Kavitha came from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her saree pallu.

Vedansh looked up at Nidhi and said softly,
"Nidhi... we want to tell you about our father..."

Her heart stopped for a second. She shook her head quickly, tears filling her eyes.
"Nakem telsukovalani ledhu..."
"I don't want to know anything..."

Her voice trembled as she continued, her eyes locked on him.
"Manalni odhu ani anukoni vellinapudu... manam enduku talchukoni importance ivali... nakem chepodhu annaya..."
"When he decided to stay away form us, we shouldn't keep remembering or giving importance to them... It doesn't matter to me anymore, Annaya."

Her voice broke at the last word. She leaned forward and hugged him tightly.

For a moment, Vedansh froze — his hands still, his jaw clenched.

Then, slowly, his arms came around her. He pressed his chin gently over her head and caressed her hair, his heart softening at her words.

"And I am sorry... for yesterday's behaviour..." she whispered against his chest.

Vedansh exhaled deeply. He didn't say much — just pulled her closer and kissed her forehead softly.
"Chalu Nidhi... leave it... yesterday is over."
"Enough, Nidhi... forget it... yesterday's gone."

Kavitha stood by the doorway, watching them silently. A small smile curved her lips — half relief, half pain.

After a few seconds, she called out gently,
"Randi... breakfast ready ayyindi..."
"Come, breakfast is ready."

Vedansh nodded, but didn't move. Nidhi slowly pulled away from the hug, wiping her eyes. She expected her mother to say something to her, maybe a word of affection.

But Kavitha walked toward the dining table, calling,
"Vedansh, tiffin ayipoindi, ra."
"Vedansh, come breakfast gets cold."

She didn't even look at Nidhi.

That one small moment — that silent ignorance — pierced Nidhi deeply. Her chest tightened. The tears she thought she had controlled came rushing again.

She sat there for a second, her throat choking. Then she stood up slowly and followed her mother toward the dining room.

Kavitha was setting plates when Nidhi came near her.

She took a deep breath and said in a broken voice,
"amma..."

Kavitha paused but didn't turn around.

"amma, sorry..."
"mom, I'm sorry..."

Her voice cracked completely. Kavitha's hands froze midair, the spoon in her hand trembling slightly.

Nidhi's tears rolled down freely now.
"nenu telusukokunda chaala matalu annanu..."
"I said so many things without knowing the truth..."

For a moment, Kavitha didn't say anything. She just kept her back turned, eyes closed. Then slowly, she turned around and saw Nidhi standing there, crying like a small child.

Her motherly heart couldn't stay still anymore. She walked closer, placed her palm gently on Nidhi's cheek, and wiped the tears away.
"Chaalu amma... endhuku ilaa edustunav..."
"Enough, dear... don't cry like this..."

Nidhi shook her head, crying harder.
"amma please...matladu i know ninu hurt chesau... annaya ni hurt chesanu....."
"mom please... talk..i knoe i hurt u,...I hurt Annaya....."

Kavitha pulled her into a soft hug.

Nidhi nodded against her shoulder, still crying softly. Kavitha patted her back lovingly.

At that moment, Vedansh walked into the dining hall, quietly watching the two of them.

He didn't speak, but the sight softened his face — the tightness around his eyes faded.

Kavitha noticed him and said,
"Ra Vedansh... breakfast tindam andaru kalisi."
"Come, Vedansh... let's all eat together."

He nodded faintly, walked to them, and without saying anything, placed his hand on Nidhi's head.

She looked up at him, surprised. He didn't say a word — just gave a faint half-smile and turned toward the table.

That single gesture — a quiet touch, a silent forgiveness — meant more than any apology could.

Nidhi sat down slowly, her heart lighter than it had been in days. Kavitha served food quietly, occasionally glancing at both of them — her eyes warm now, not cold.

The family didn't say much during breakfast. But sometimes, silence heals more than words ever could.

As they ate, a soft breeze entered through the window, brushing against the curtains — fresh, gentle, almost like peace had finally found its way back into the house.

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