7.Silent Apologies

Elena arrived home exhausted, her arms wrapped protectively around her children as Arjun helped her carry them inside. The boys had fallen asleep in the car, their small bodies worn out from the day's emotional upheaval. Ansh stirred slightly in her arms but quickly settled back into slumber as she gently laid him on the bed. With her heart still heavy, she lay down beside them, wrapping her arms around Aarav and Reyansh, drawing comfort from their peaceful faces.

Arjun, after helping her get the children settled, quietly left the room and made his way to the living room. The weight of the day hung between them, but Arjun knew Elena needed space to process everything. He could see how drained she was, both physically and emotionally.

It wasn't long before Rivaan burst through the front door, his face tense with worry as he rushed into the house. His heart had been pounding ever since Arjun had told him about the incident at the school, and guilt gnawed at him for not answering Elena's calls earlier.

"Where are they? Are the kids okay?" Rivaan asked breathlessly, his eyes wide with concern.

Arjun, standing with his arms crossed in the living room, met Rivaan's gaze. His own worry was edged with frustration. "They're fine now. But why didn't you pick up Elena's calls? She was terrified, Rivaan. She called me in tears, scared out of her mind, thinking something awful had happened to the kids. What was so important about that meeting that you couldn't answer her?"

Rivaan ran a hand through his hair, frustration mingling with the guilt that was already swirling inside him. "I didn't know, Arjun. My assistant didn't tell me Elena was calling. She said it wasn't an important call," Rivaan explained, his voice heavy with regret. "I fired her. This won't happen again."

Arjun's expression softened slightly at the sight of Rivaan's genuine remorse, but the tension still hung between them. "You need to be more available, Rivaan," Arjun said quietly. "Elena was a wreck. She needs you, especially in times like this."

Rivaan nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I know. I'll make it right. Where are they now?"

"In your room. Elena's with the boys," Arjun answered, his voice softening as he saw the worry etched into Rivaan's features.

Rivaan didn't wait for another word. He walked quickly toward their bedroom, pushing the door open as quietly as he could. The sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks.

There, on the bed, lay his entire world. Elena, curled protectively around Aarav and Reyansh, with Ansh nestled against her chest. The children looked peaceful in their sleep, despite the bandages and the traces of their earlier injuries. But it was Elena's face that broke Rivaan's heart the most—her tear-streaked cheeks, her furrowed brow, even in her sleep, revealed just how deeply the day's events had shaken her.

He approached the bed slowly, his chest tightening with the weight of his guilt. He crouched beside her, his fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, there was confusion in her eyes. Then she saw him, and the flood of emotion she had been holding back all day came rushing to the surface.

Tears filled her eyes once more, and she couldn't stop them as they spilled over, running down her cheeks. "Rivaan..." she whispered, her voice broken with the weight of all the fear and worry she had carried alone. "The kids... They were bleeding... I was so scared. I thought... I thought something terrible had happened."

Before she could say anything more, Rivaan slipped into the bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her trembling form. He held her close, his lips pressing softly against her forehead. "Shh... It's okay now. I'm here," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Elena. I should have been there for you. I should have answered your calls. I'm so sorry."

Elena buried her face in his chest, her body shaking as the sobs she had been holding back finally escaped. "I didn't know what to do," she choked out. "I tried to be strong, but seeing them hurt... The blood... I was so scared, Rivaan."

His arms tightened around her, his heart aching with every word she said. He kissed the top of her head, whispering soothing words, trying to calm her. "I know, love. I know. But they're okay now. They're safe, and so are you. I'll never let anything happen to you or our children. I promise."

Elena's sobs began to quiet as Rivaan continued to comfort her. His hands stroked her back gently, his presence a balm to her frayed nerves. Gradually, her breathing slowed, and she relaxed in his arms, the emotional exhaustion finally catching up to her. With her cheek resting against his chest, she allowed herself to lean into his warmth, finding solace in the steady beat of his heart.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Elena felt the weight of her loneliness lift, if only for a moment. Rivaan's presence, his embrace, brought a sense of safety she hadn't felt in so long. She had missed this—the feeling of being cared for, of being loved. And though they had been distant from each other for months, in this moment, with their children sleeping soundly beside them, she felt a glimmer of hope that perhaps they could find their way back to each other.

As her tears dried, her eyelids grew heavy, and before long, she drifted off to sleep, her body still curled against Rivaan's. Rivaan, too, felt the exhaustion of the day settling in, but he couldn't bring himself to close his eyes just yet. He gazed down at his wife and children, his heart swelling with a mix of love, guilt, and determination.

Rivaan stayed awake a little longer, watching over his family. He kissed each of his children's heads and then tightened his hold on Elena, silently vowing that he would never let her feel alone again. Soon, he too fell asleep, with his family safe and close by his side.