Echoes of a Chance Encounter ~ A RuNak Five-Shot [Completed] - Page 3

Beautiful Story. Please continue

Originally posted by: Mishbir_j

Hi @aleyamma47 Can you update your Teri Meri Dooriyan FF please. It seems interesting.

Right now, I have too many things in my plate. I will tag you when I will update it

Sooo sooo beautiful....

I always believe in the show .. silence is the language of RuNak's soul... Their most profound and beautiful conversation happens through their eyes without any words ..I am sooo so happy to read a story that actually explored the idea further... their understanding beyond the words ...

It is a good read. .

Cute, innocent, with a touch of darkness...

Please continue it till end ..

Originally posted by: asmitamohanty

Sooo sooo beautiful....

I always believe in the show .. silence is the language of RuNak's soul... Their most profound and beautiful conversation happens through their eyes without any words ..I am sooo so happy to read a story that actually explored the idea further... their understanding beyond the words ...

It is a good read. .

Cute, innocent, with a touch of darkness...

Please continue it till end ..

Thank you so much for those words. It really means a lot

Caught up on the last 2 parts...I enjoyed reading Jhanaks letters especially the first one was so emotional

She saved Aniruddh unknowingly, and now he saved her. Both are broken souls

Chapter 5 (Last Chapter)

Season Of Love

Jhanak froze, her mind struggling to process the name that escaped Shrabani's lips: Aniruddh Bose.

Her hands trembled as she clutched her chest, her breathing quick and shallow. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she gestured frantically to Shrabani, her fingers moving swiftly in the air: "It was him? All this time? Why didn’t you tell me?"

Shrabani reached for Jhanak, steadying her. “Yes, Jhanak. It was him. Aniruddh baba has been your silent guardian, your savior. He sacrificed everything for you.”

Jhanak shook her head in disbelief, signing furiously: "But why? What did I do to deserve this? I need to know everything, Mashi. Tell me everything."

Shrabani took a deep breath, her voice heavy with emotion. “After his father passed away, Aniruddh baba found your letters. They moved him deeply. He saw a kindred spirit in you—a young girl who had lost everything, just like him. He decided to continue his father’s legacy, funding your education, your dance training, ensuring that no obstacle stood in the way of your dreams.

“He loved you, Jhanak, in a way no one ever could. But the price he paid…” Shrabani paused, her voice breaking. “The media tore him apart after your connection came to light. The rumors, the questions—they drove him away from everything he once held dear. He’s been living in isolation ever since, drowning in his guilt and pain.”

Jhanak’s tears streamed uncontrollably as the weight of Aniruddh’s sacrifices crushed her. She signed shakily: "Where is he now? I need to see him. Please, Mashi, take me to him."

Shrabani hesitated. “He’s not the same anymore, Jhanak. He’s… broken.”

But Jhanak’s resolve was unshakable. With Shrabani’s help, she set out to find him.

Aniruddh’s Home

The dilapidated house loomed before her, its broken windows and overgrown weeds a reflection of the man inside. Jhanak hesitated at the door, her heart pounding in her chest. Gathering her courage, she knocked. There was no response.

She pushed the door open cautiously, stepping into the dimly lit room. The smell of alcohol and stale air hit her immediately. In the corner, slumped in a chair, sat Aniruddh Bose. His once-brilliant eyes were now hollow, his face gaunt and unshaven. Empty bottles and syringes littered the floor around him.

Jhanak’s heart broke at the sight. She stepped closer, her movements deliberate.

Aniruddh stirred, squinting at her through the haze of his stupor. “Jhanak?” he mumbled, his voice hoarse and slurred. “What… what are you doing here?”

Jhanak knelt before him, her hands trembling as she signed: "Why did you do this to yourself? Why did you sacrifice everything—for me?"

He blinked at her, confusion and guilt swirling in his eyes. “Because…” His voice faltered. “Because I owed it to you. I dragged you into my mess—the rumors, the humiliation. I couldn’t protect you. I failed you.”

Jhanak shook her head vehemently, her gestures sharp and urgent: "Failed me? You gave me everything! My dreams, my life—everything I have is because of you."

Aniruddh let out a bitter laugh, tears glistening in his eyes. “And what did I get in return? Loneliness. Regret. Every day, I’ve punished myself for what I did to you.”

Jhanak’s hands froze mid-air, her lips trembling as fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks. She signed with trembling fingers: "And who gave you the right to punish yourself? Did you ever think about what I felt? How much I… missed you?"

Aniruddh stared at her, his voice barely above a whisper. “Missed me?”

Jhanak took a deep breath, her signs slower now, each gesture laden with emotion: "Yes. You became my everything, Aniruddh. Your letters, your support—they were my strength. And now, seeing you like this… destroyed and broken… it’s breaking me."

Aniruddh’s defenses crumbled. His voice cracked as he confessed, “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Jhanak. I don’t deserve you. But if punishing me will give you peace, then do it. I’ll take whatever you decide.”

Jhanak rose to her feet, her eyes unwavering as she stepped closer to him. Aniruddh braced himself, expecting anger, perhaps even rejection. But what she did next took him completely by surprise.

She reached out, cupping his face gently with her hands. Her touch was warm, steady, and full of unspoken emotion. She signed with one hand, her movements deliberate and slow: "This is how I’ll punish you."

Before he could react, Jhanak leaned in and kissed him.

The kiss was soft at first—a tentative brush of her lips against his. It carried the weight of her gratitude, her pain, her love. Aniruddh froze, his breath hitching as her warmth seeped into him, melting the icy walls he had built around his heart.

As the realization sank in, his hands reached up hesitantly to hold her. The kiss deepened, transforming into something fierce and passionate—a meeting of two souls who had suffered and longed for each other in silence.

Years of pain and longing melted away in that single moment. Their tears mingled as they poured every unspoken word, every buried feeling, into the kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling. Aniruddh’s voice was barely a whisper. “Jhanak… I… I love you. I always have.”

Jhanak’s fingers moved in the space between them, signing slowly but with conviction: "I love you too. I always have. And now, we face everything together. No more running. No more hiding."

Aniruddh nodded, his tears spilling freely. “Together.”

She smiled through her tears, leaning in to kiss him again, sealing their promise with the same tenderness and passion as before.

The two held each other tightly, their hearts beating in unison. For the first time in years, hope flickered in Aniruddh’s eyes. He knew he had been given a second chance—not just at love, but at life.

--------

The End.

Epilogue:

The grand stage of the 2024 National Film Awards glittered under the lights as the host announced, “And the Best Actor Award goes to… Aniruddh Bose for his outstanding performance in......!”

The hall erupted into applause as Aniruddh rose from his seat, his presence commanding yet humble. Dressed in a tailored black suit, his hair streaked with silver at the temples, he walked to the stage with the quiet confidence of a man who had faced and overcome life’s darkest storms.

Accepting the golden trophy, he stood before the microphone, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. The cheers quieted, and an expectant hush fell over the room. He smiled—a genuine, heartfelt smile—and began.

“Ten years ago, in 2014, I stood on this very stage holding this same award. Back then, I thanked a mystery person in my life—someone who, without even knowing it, became my source of strength, inspiration, and purpose. Today, I stand here again, older, perhaps wiser, but definitely richer in love and gratitude.”

He paused, the crowd leaning forward in anticipation. His voice softened, thick with emotion.

“That mystery person is no longer a mystery. She’s here with me tonight. She’s not just the reason for my success but also the reason I’m alive, standing here as the man I am today.”

Aniruddh turned his gaze to the audience, where a woman rose from her seat, her movements graceful and measured. The cameras immediately shifted to her, capturing her luminous presence.

Jhanak.

She wore a simple yet elegant cream-colored saree that glimmered under the lights, her dark eyes filled with quiet strength and love. Her hands moved delicately as she signed, "Thank you."

Aniruddh extended his hand toward her, beckoning her to join him on stage. The crowd watched, entranced, as Jhanak walked to him, her every step radiating poise.

When she reached him, he held her hand, their connection palpable even from afar. He turned back to the microphone, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

“Jhanak is my wife, my muse, my everything. She taught me what resilience looks like, what it means to fight for your dreams, and, most importantly, what it means to love unconditionally. When I lost my way, she found me. She gave me the courage to face life, to live it fully, and to pour my soul into my work. Every ounce of passion you see in my performances is because of her.”

The audience erupted in applause, a standing ovation sweeping through the room. Tears glistened in Jhanak’s eyes as she smiled at him, her hands moving to sign, "I’m so proud of you."

Aniruddh, without hesitation, translated her words aloud for everyone to hear. “She says she’s proud of me. But, truthfully, I am the one who is proud—proud to be her husband, her partner, her biggest admirer.”

The lights dimmed as the two stood together, hand in hand, their love and story inspiring everyone in the room. For Aniruddh and Jhanak, this moment wasn’t just about an award—it was a celebration of their journey, their love, and the life they had built together.

As the applause thundered around them, Aniruddh leaned toward Jhanak and whispered, “We did this together.”

And together, they bowed, their hearts full, ready to embrace whatever the future held.

reserved for last part and epilogue

Thank you Thank you for continuing your story is amazing