Chapter 10: A Shocking Family Connection

The silence that followed Reyansh's departure felt deafening. Aradhana stood in the park for what seemed like hours, the cool evening air doing little to soothe the turmoil inside her. She couldn't erase the image of Reyansh's hurt expression from her mind, nor could she forget the finality in his voice. It felt like a door had slammed shut on everything they had shared, and the emptiness that followed was suffocating.

She couldn’t even bring herself to go back to her apartment just yet. Her thoughts were too jumbled, the weight of the breakup bearing down on her. She needed time to think, time to breathe. In her heart, she knew she had made the right decision—at least, for now—but it didn’t make the pain any less real.

As she wandered aimlessly through the quiet streets, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She hesitated for a moment before pulling it out. The screen lit up with a message from her father, Rajiv Sahni.

“We need to talk. Come home.”

Her stomach clenched. The last thing she wanted to do was face her father. After the conversation they had the other night, she knew something was brewing—something that was far bigger than her relationship with Reyansh. But, despite her reluctance, she couldn’t ignore him. Her family’s secrets had a way of catching up with her, and this time, it seemed like the truth was ready to emerge.

With a heavy sigh, she made her way home. The familiar building loomed ahead, its cold, imposing structure offering no comfort. The elevator ride felt interminable, and as the doors opened to the floor of her apartment, she knew that whatever awaited her inside was going to change everything.

Her father was standing in the living room when she entered. He was a tall man, with sharp features and a commanding presence. Despite his calm demeanor, there was something about him that had always made Aradhana feel like she was walking on eggshells. He had always been the kind of person who demanded perfection—both from himself and those around him.

“Sit down, Aradhana,” he said, his voice steady, but there was an edge to it.

She sat on the couch, her nerves growing with each passing second. Rajiv took a seat across from her, his eyes never leaving her face. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension in the room was palpable.

“Do you remember the man you met a few weeks ago?” Rajiv asked, breaking the silence. Aradhana’s heart skipped a beat. She knew exactly who he was referring to—the mysterious figure from her past, the one who had resurfaced after years of silence.

“Vikram?” she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rajiv’s gaze hardened. “Yes. Vikram Kapoor. You have no idea how much danger he poses.”

Aradhana felt a chill run down her spine. She had always known that Vikram wasn’t just another acquaintance, but the way her father spoke of him—almost with fear—made her uneasy.

“What do you mean, danger?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Rajiv leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Vikram has a connection to our family that you’re not aware of. A connection that could destroy everything we’ve built. You see, Aradhana, your mother and I have worked our entire lives to keep our past buried. To protect you and your future. But Vikram... he knows things. Things about your mother’s past. About me.”

Aradhana’s mind raced. She had always known that there was something her parents weren’t telling her, but this—this was beyond anything she could have imagined. She had always thought of Vikram as a distant figure, a part of her past that she had long since moved on from. But now, it seemed that he was much more than that. Much more dangerous.

“You need to stay away from him,” Rajiv continued, his voice urgent. “He’s been trying to get to me for years, and now he’s using you to get closer to our family. I don’t know what he’s planning, but I can’t let him get what he wants.”

Aradhana’s mind spun. “What does he want? And why involve me?”

Rajiv’s eyes darkened. “That’s something I still don’t understand. But I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, Aradhana. I’ve made mistakes in the past—mistakes that I’ve worked hard to keep hidden. But now, it’s all starting to come back.”

She could feel the weight of his words settle on her shoulders, suffocating her. The reality of the situation was slowly starting to sink in—her father wasn’t just protecting her from a past she didn’t know existed; he was protecting her from a man who had the power to tear their entire world apart.

“I need to know more, Dad,” Aradhana said, her voice barely audible. “What did you do? What’s this connection between you and Vikram?”

Rajiv hesitated. For the first time, Aradhana saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. It was as if he were struggling with a decision—one that could change everything.

“I’ll tell you everything, Aradhana,” he said finally. “But you need to understand—once you know the truth, there’s no going back.”

Her heart raced as she waited for her father’s next words. The truth was always more complicated than it seemed, but this—this was something far bigger than she had ever imagined.

Before her father could speak again, the doorbell rang, breaking the moment.

Aradhana’s eyes widened. Who could it be at this hour? Without waiting for her father’s reaction, she stood up and walked to the door. She opened it, only to find a familiar face standing in the hallway.

Vikram Kapoor.

“Aradhana,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I think it’s time we had a little chat, don’t you?”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***