05-07-2026, 09:58 PM
Chapter 134 – Quiet Farewells
The night finally settled over the village. The crowd had dispersed, the music had faded, and the courtyard lights were dimmed. Only the soft glow of a lantern remained in the courtyard as Jay and Nikitha walked back to the bedroom.
Once the door closed behind them, Jay turned to her, his voice low and gentle.
“So that day, after Sudhagaran uncle left… you spoke to my mom?”
Nikitha nodded, a small, tired smile touching her lips.
“Yes.”
“Whom did you think?” Jay asked, his tone almost playful but laced with genuine curiosity.
“I thought you could not even spend a minute without him and called Tharun.”
She smiled softly, shaking her head.
“No. It was your mother.”
The Days That Followed
The next two days were unexpectedly peaceful.
Nikitha was drenched in the care of Jay’s father and mother. They treated her like their own daughter, feeding her, asking about her health, and sharing old stories of Jay’s childhood. Jay’s mother would often pull her aside, holding her hand, and speak in hushed tones — asking about her well-being, gently reminding her that no matter what happened, she would always be their daughter-in-law in their hearts.
Jay, too, took care of her in his own quiet way. He made sure she had everything she needed, brought her water when she looked tired, and even helped her with small things around the house. But he kept a strict boundary — treating her as a dear friend, nothing more. There were no lingering touches, no intimate glances. Only respectful care.
In the quiet moments between the function events, they spoke about how happy they were to fix their family name and reputation.
Last night they had an honest conversation about everything, that's when she said it out loud .
“I have missed such a fatherly and motherly bond,” she said, her eyes still on the passing fields. “I wish… if Sudhagaran didn’t interfere, I would have got it earlier.”
Jay looked at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone. He stayed quiet for a moment, then asked gently,
“But you didn’t complain so far?”
Nikitha turned to him, a small, bittersweet smile touching her lips.
“You took care of that,” she said softly. You gave me that fatherly and motherly feel whenever I needed it.
“Honestly… you took care of it without saying a word. I didn’t realise it for so long.”
She reached across the small space between them and held his hand. Her fingers were warm, familiar. For a brief moment, the years between them felt closer than they had in months.
“I could see the same care in Tharun’s eyes,” she continued, her voice steady but gentle. “I’m happy about that. Don’t feel like I’m missing out.”
Jay’s grip tightened slightly on her hand, but he didn’t pull away. His eyes held a quiet storm — pain, love, acceptance, all tangled together.
He didn’t speak for a long time. When he finally did, his voice was low, almost a whisper.
“I’m glad you found someone who cares for you, Nikki. Truly.”
But both feared what would happen to his parents if they came to know they had already broken up.
The conversations were bittersweet — filled with nostalgia, regret, and unspoken love.
The Farewell
On the final evening, as they prepared to leave, Jay’s parents stood at the doorstep, their eyes heavy with emotion.
Nikitha fell on their feet, tears streaming down her face.
“I don’t deserve Jay…” she whispered, almost bringing the truth out.
Jay caught her hand gently, stopping her from revealing everything. His grip was firm, but his eyes were filled with heavy pain.
His mother helped her up and hugged her tightly.
“You will always be our daughter,” she whispered. “No matter what.”
Jay’s father placed a blessing hand on her head.
“Take care, child.”
With a heavy heart, Nikitha moved with Jay toward the train station.
The journey back felt longer than ever — filled with silence, unspoken words, and the weight of everything they had left behind.
The night finally settled over the village. The crowd had dispersed, the music had faded, and the courtyard lights were dimmed. Only the soft glow of a lantern remained in the courtyard as Jay and Nikitha walked back to the bedroom.
Once the door closed behind them, Jay turned to her, his voice low and gentle.
“So that day, after Sudhagaran uncle left… you spoke to my mom?”
Nikitha nodded, a small, tired smile touching her lips.
“Yes.”
“Whom did you think?” Jay asked, his tone almost playful but laced with genuine curiosity.
“I thought you could not even spend a minute without him and called Tharun.”
She smiled softly, shaking her head.
“No. It was your mother.”
The Days That Followed
The next two days were unexpectedly peaceful.
Nikitha was drenched in the care of Jay’s father and mother. They treated her like their own daughter, feeding her, asking about her health, and sharing old stories of Jay’s childhood. Jay’s mother would often pull her aside, holding her hand, and speak in hushed tones — asking about her well-being, gently reminding her that no matter what happened, she would always be their daughter-in-law in their hearts.
Jay, too, took care of her in his own quiet way. He made sure she had everything she needed, brought her water when she looked tired, and even helped her with small things around the house. But he kept a strict boundary — treating her as a dear friend, nothing more. There were no lingering touches, no intimate glances. Only respectful care.
In the quiet moments between the function events, they spoke about how happy they were to fix their family name and reputation.
Last night they had an honest conversation about everything, that's when she said it out loud .
“I have missed such a fatherly and motherly bond,” she said, her eyes still on the passing fields. “I wish… if Sudhagaran didn’t interfere, I would have got it earlier.”
Jay looked at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone. He stayed quiet for a moment, then asked gently,
“But you didn’t complain so far?”
Nikitha turned to him, a small, bittersweet smile touching her lips.
“You took care of that,” she said softly. You gave me that fatherly and motherly feel whenever I needed it.
“Honestly… you took care of it without saying a word. I didn’t realise it for so long.”
She reached across the small space between them and held his hand. Her fingers were warm, familiar. For a brief moment, the years between them felt closer than they had in months.
“I could see the same care in Tharun’s eyes,” she continued, her voice steady but gentle. “I’m happy about that. Don’t feel like I’m missing out.”
Jay’s grip tightened slightly on her hand, but he didn’t pull away. His eyes held a quiet storm — pain, love, acceptance, all tangled together.
He didn’t speak for a long time. When he finally did, his voice was low, almost a whisper.
“I’m glad you found someone who cares for you, Nikki. Truly.”
But both feared what would happen to his parents if they came to know they had already broken up.
The conversations were bittersweet — filled with nostalgia, regret, and unspoken love.
The Farewell
On the final evening, as they prepared to leave, Jay’s parents stood at the doorstep, their eyes heavy with emotion.
Nikitha fell on their feet, tears streaming down her face.
“I don’t deserve Jay…” she whispered, almost bringing the truth out.
Jay caught her hand gently, stopping her from revealing everything. His grip was firm, but his eyes were filled with heavy pain.
His mother helped her up and hugged her tightly.
“You will always be our daughter,” she whispered. “No matter what.”
Jay’s father placed a blessing hand on her head.
“Take care, child.”
With a heavy heart, Nikitha moved with Jay toward the train station.
The journey back felt longer than ever — filled with silence, unspoken words, and the weight of everything they had left behind.
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