Chapter 242 - Learning about the truth (5) (2/2)

The way my in-laws behaved around me, I just wanted to flee from their sights. One showered me with accusations, vile words, and humiliation… while another one was being unrealistically affectionate.

Cough… Cough...

I choked on the rice when I absentmindedly stuffed myself. Tears sprang in my eyes

”Easy…” Arjun rubbed my back. Picking up the glass of water he held it before me. Rubbing my chest, I hurriedly gulped the water. The coughing fit forced tears in my eyes as the chilly taste splurged through my throat, and nose.

After a couple of minutes, I finally regained my breathing back and the coughs subsided.

”I'm sorry!” A choked apology came from the person I least expected once I calmed down.

With wide eyes, I clenched my fists by my side. The apology startled me. I had never thought Eshan's mother would ever apologize to me. It felt weird. The cold demeanor with which she had thrown me out of this very same house almost a month ago was still fresh in my memory. I would often have nightmares of that day when my life was thrown into chaos.

At that time I wondered if she would ever listen to me. So, her present apology came as a shock.

”I know what I have said and done to you cannot be forgiven. I also know you can't forget it… I had no other option.”

I blinked, looking away from her crestfallen expression. Her voice wavered and big fat teardrops rolled down from her brown orbs. She looked pitiful, gone was the arrogance and aloofness. All that was left behind was a worn-out middle-aged woman who was sad. Eshan did not know what to do as he stood stern-faced by his mother's side.

I understood his stand though. By not being near to me, he was giving me space. He left the decision to me whether to accept her apology or not. He did not want to influence my decision.

”Ok. Stop now. Let Innaya eat first before we switch to that topic,” Eshan's father interrupted his wife before she could continue. ”Innu, eat slowly this time,” he gently added.

I frowned at his behavior. He used a stern tone with his wife while with me, it seemed as if he just ate honey. The contrast was alarmingly apparent. Ignoring it, I resumed eating again. This time I ate slowly in small amounts while chewing the rice. The gulab jamuns were gone. I did not even get to taste. I had to make do with biryani alone.

I heard a growling sound from beside. Arjun immediately placed his hand on his stomach. If he had not done that, perhaps I would not have reached the conclusion soon. But because of his haste, he gave himself away.

He was hungry.

I wordlessly forwarded my plate to him. I was not that hungry. Before this incident had happened, Eshan and I had our lunch.

”Stop right there.”

My hand holding the plate trembled when Eshan's father barked out the order.

”You're scaring her.”

”You're scaring her.”

Two voices rang out at the same time. Eshan's father looked taken aback at Eshan's and Arjun's words. His face fell, and his eyes guiltily darted towards me.

Arjun took the plate from me and placed it on the coffee table. His large hand came around my shoulders as he rubbed my forearm in a comforting manner. I sighed. The urge to return to the bedroom away from the tangled situation almost made me act on my desire, but I held back.

No one would allow me to get up and leave. Eshan's father's weirdness was getting on my nerves, causing me to raise my guard up against him. I did not realize that I was trembling until Arjun held me.

”Sorry,” Eshan's father mumbled apologetically.

Once again, his response threw me out of the track. His tone flipped so many times in the shortest amount of time we met that I was starting to wonder if he had some bipolar disorder. How was it humanly possible to switch back from one character to another in such a short span of the time?