A Cruel love story

Chapter : 20

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the garden, Mallika and Sumedh returned home after their walk. The peacefulness of the day still lingered in their minds, a comforting end to what had been an emotionally charged morning. They stepped inside, greeted by the familiar warmth of their home.

Sumedh headed towards the kitchen to pour them some tea, while Mallika made her way to the living room. The house was quiet, with only the soft ticking of the clock filling the silence. Mallika settled onto the couch, her thoughts drifting back to the garden and the simple joys of their life together.

But just as she began to relax, the front door creaked open. Mallika frowned, glancing towards the entrance. It was too late for visitors, and she hadn't heard anyone knock. The unease in her chest grew as footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Before she could rise to check who it was, a figure appeared in the doorway. Mallika's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest as she recognized the woman standing there—Sana, her sister, the very person who had abandoned Sumedh on their wedding night.

Sana looked different—thinner, more worn, but her eyes held the same fire that Mallika remembered. She stood there, her expression unreadable, as if she were uncertain whether she was welcome or not.

"Sana?" Mallika's voice was barely a whisper, shock and confusion warring within her. "What... what are you doing here?"

Sana didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she stepped further into the room, her gaze sweeping over the familiar surroundings as if she were a ghost revisiting a past life. Finally, she met Mallika's eyes, a flicker of something—guilt, perhaps—passing through her expression.

"I had nowhere else to go," Sana said softly, her voice devoid of the usual bravado that Mallika associated with her sister. "I thought... I thought maybe I could come back."

Before Mallika could respond, Sumedh entered the room, carrying a tray with two cups of tea. His eyes fell on Sana, and the color drained from his face. The tray slipped from his hands, the cups shattering on the floor, spilling tea across the polished wood.

"Sana," he breathed, his voice tight with a mix of emotions—shock, anger, and something else that Mallika couldn’t quite place.

Sana flinched at the sound of her name, but she stood her ground, her chin lifting slightly as if preparing for a confrontation. "Sumedh... I—"

"What are you doing here?" Sumedh’s voice was sharper now, cutting through the air like a blade. The warmth and affection he had shown just moments ago had evaporated, replaced by the coldness that Mallika remembered from the early days of their marriage.

"I didn’t know where else to go," Sana repeated, a tremor in her voice this time. "I made a mistake, Sumedh. I know I hurt you... both of you. But I’ve come back to make things right."

Sumedh took a step back, as if her presence were physically pushing him away. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to process the sudden turn of events. Mallika, still frozen on the couch, felt a wave of anxiety rise within her. The peace they had worked so hard to build was teetering on the edge of destruction.

"What do you mean by making things right?" Mallika found her voice, though it was shaky. She stood up, moving to Sumedh’s side, needing to feel his presence close to her.

Sana’s gaze flicked between them, her expression growing more desperate. "I mean... I want to fix what I broke. I want to be a part of your lives again."

Sumedh’s expression hardened. "You think you can just walk back into our lives after everything? After abandoning me on our wedding night and leaving Mallika to pick up the pieces?"

Sana’s eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t turn away. "I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ve changed. I’m not the same person I was back then. I just... I just need a chance."

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Mallika’s heart ached as she watched the man she loved grapple with the sudden reappearance of the woman who had nearly destroyed him. She felt torn between the loyalty she felt for her sister and the love she had for her husband.

Sumedh turned to Mallika, his expression softening as he searched her eyes for guidance. It was clear that the final decision lay with them both, but the weight of it was overwhelming.

Mallika took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Sana," she began, her voice steadying as she spoke, "we need time to process this. You can't expect us to just... accept you back into our lives without any thought."

Sana nodded, wiping at her tears. "I understand. I’ll give you time. But please, just consider it. I have nowhere else to go."

With that, Sana turned and left the room, retreating down the hallway towards one of the guest rooms, leaving Sumedh and Mallika standing in stunned silence.

As the door clicked shut behind Sana, Mallika felt the weight of the situation settle on her shoulders. The past they had tried so hard to bury had come crashing back into their lives, threatening the fragile peace they had built together.

Sumedh reached for Mallika’s hand, holding it tightly. "We’ll get through this," he whispered, though his voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

Mallika nodded, leaning into him for support. They would need each other more than ever now, to navigate the storm that Sana’s return had brought into their lives.

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Hey everyone! It's been a while. I’m really sorry for disappearing like that, but I got caught up with some things and needed to take a break to clear my mind. I hope you can understand and forgive me. But now I’m back and ready to share this new chapter with you all. I hope you enjoy it, and I'll do my best to keep posting regularly from now on!