CHAPTER 37 #2
Aanya’s heart clenched. The guilt she had pushed to the back of her mind returned in full force.
They had never told Radhika the truth that this entire ‘reunion’ between her and Reyansh had started as a facade.
A two-month lie to protect Radhika’s emotional well-being. It had been a deal, plain and simple.
But Radhika who was closely watching her, read her expressions and she finally revealed it.
“I knew it.”
Aanya blinked. “What?”
“I knew your so-called ‘reunion’ was just for my sake, an act to appear united. You and Reyansh had to pretend to be together for me. And once I was gone, the plan was to go your separate ways. I was aware of everything.”
Aanya’s lips parted. She felt the ground slip beneath her.
“You knew about it? Since when?” Aanya asked, stunned.
“When you and Reyansh went to Cape Town, that same weekend I got to know it all,” Radhika replied calmly.
Aanya blinked in disbelief. That trip had been brief, and they’d been careful not to say anything over the phone. There was no way Radhika could have overheard them. And yet...
“How is that even possible, Di?” she questioned. “We weren’t even there… then how did you find out?”
Radhika’s face darkened with the memory. “It was the second day after you left. Nani had to attend a ceremony at her friend’s home, so Rishi drove her. I was home alone. That’s when Shagufta came.”
Aanya’s fingers curled into a tight fist at the very name.
“Shagufta?” she snapped, almost hissing.
“Yes,” Radhika said with a bitter edge. “She knew you both were out of the country and took full advantage of the timing to spin her version of the story. She told me what she claimed was the truth…that your marriage was nothing but a deal. She even showed me a copy of your mother’s will, highlighting the clause about Noor Mahal’s ownership.
It convinced me that Reyansh married you just to reclaim the palace, and you agreed in exchange for a business opportunity to elevate Malhotra Industries.
She had evidence, Aanya. And I... I was devastated. ”
Aanya stood speechless as Radhika’s eyes welled up. “I didn’t believe her at first, but those papers... they made it real. And when I realized your marriage started on business terms, I lost hope. How could I believe either of you were serious about making this work? That night… I broke down.”
Radhika paused recalling she was pregnant that time when all this had happened.
“My health deteriorated. I had severe cramps, and when Rishi returned, he rushed me to the hospital.”
Aanya’s hand flew to her mouth. It all came flooding back. She had called Rishi during their trip, and he’d mentioned that Radhika wasn’t well… but she hadn’t guessed this was the reason.
“Oh my God, Di… that happened because of us?” Her voice cracked. “It was me and Reyansh who put your life at risk. I’m so sorry.”
Radhika didn’t reply. The silence said it all. It had taken everything in her to process what she’d heard and still carry herself with grace.
“But trust me, Di, that woman only told you half the truth.”
Radhika’s eyes stayed on Aanya, silently urging her to continue.
“Yes, Reyansh was interested in Noor Mahal. And yes, we made a deal. But that’s not the full picture.
We met long before marriage was ever on the table…
back in Cape Town. I was drunk that night, but he remembered everything.
He told me he felt something even then. That’s why he searched for me.
Noor Mahal came much later. And Di, he never even claimed it.
Not once, even after all these years of being married. ”
Radhika’s brow furrowed, trying to absorb it all.
“We began with a lie,” Aanya confessed softly.
“But that’s not where it ended. During those two months you stayed with us, we acted like we were trying…
but somewhere along the way, he actually started trying for real.
He told me he wanted us to work. But I wasn’t ready.
I found out about the Noor Mahal clause right before I left for California, and I was furious.
I confronted him and ended everything. But later…
seeing how shattered he was, how deeply he regretted it…
I couldn’t just walk away. We stayed in touch.
Our emails turned into something more. We started opening up—really talking.
And over time… he became the kind of husband I didn’t even know I had been wishing for. ”
Aanya’s eyes teared up as she continued.
“At first, I believed I was the one supporting Reyansh emotionally, helping him cope with the distance between us. But the truth is, he fulfilled every responsibility a husband should. Every little gesture, every quiet act of care, every time he stood by me without saying a word… it all drew me closer to him. And somewhere along the way, I fell for him…deeply and irreversibly.”
Radhika kept listening to her.
“It took us eight long months to truly understand that we wanted this marriage to work,” Aanya admitted.
“And now… it’s obvious to everyone around us.
They can see we’re meant to be. The only reason we kept it from you for so long was because we didn’t want to upset you, especially while you were expecting. We just couldn’t take that chance, Di.”
Radhika gently wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. Every word Aanya spoke hit home, because she knew, deep down, it was all true.
“It’s over now,” Radhika said with a soft smile. “And I’m so glad you both pushed through… that you actually love each other now.”
Aanya reached forward and hugged her. Despite the warmth of Radhika’s forgiveness, Aanya couldn’t overlook what Shagufta had done.
That woman had crossed a line. Revealing the truth was one thing.
But doing it when Radhika was alone… when she was vulnerable and carrying a child… that was unforgivable.
Aanya knew exactly what would happen if Reyansh found out. He worshipped his sister. If he ever learned that Shagufta had risked Radhika’s life and health, he wouldn’t stop until he made her pay and Aanya wasn’t sure how far he might go.
But Reyansh was completely immersed in wrapping up his work so he could fly to California and begin their new chapter together. She couldn’t afford to disrupt his peace or risk their delicate new beginning, for the sake of revenge.
This wasn’t just Reyansh’s battle now. It was hers too. And this time she would deal with Shagufta herself.
Day 270
“Sunny, please,” Aanya insisted over the call, her voice firm but laced with desperation.
“No. Absolutely not,” Sunny replied, clearly frustrated. “What you’re asking this time is out of my hands. Last time was different. You were flying out to see Boss, and I knew my team was with you. You were safe. This isn’t the same.”
“I’m only asking for information,” she argued. “Not a full-blown mission.”
“You’re asking for details about the woman trying to tear you and Boss apart. And even if I had that intel, I can’t give it without telling him.”
“Sunny, I will tell him when the time is right. But for now, I need your help.”
He groaned on the other end. “If Boss finds out you’re planning to meet Shagufta Khanna behind his back, he’s going to lose it.”
Aanya exhaled, pushing down her frustration. “Let the guards stay with me. I won’t go alone.”
“No.”
“Sunny,” she pleaded. “If Reyansh gets involved now, he’ll react in ways that might hurt people. We both know what he’s capable of when it comes to protecting his family. Just give me a chance to handle this my way.”
“This is a mistake,” Sunny warned. “A dangerous one.”
“You are my last hope,” she whispered.
There was silence. Then a sigh.
“Fine. I’ll dig up what I can. But you have two days, Aanya. After that, I’m telling him myself.”
“Thank you,” she breathed, relief washing over her. “Is Shagufta still in California?”
“Yes. We’ve been tracking her. Last ping placed her a few miles from your apartment. I’ll send you the address once I verify it. But you are not ditching the guards. I’ll brief them personally.”
“I promise.”
She ended the call and closed her eyes, heart pounding. One step closer to facing Shagufta… alone .
Day 271
Aanya had barely returned from work when she fainted and collapsed minutes after playing with Ruhi. Nani and Radhika had rushed to help…patting her face, dousing her with water, trying to bring her back.
“Sit down,” Radhika said firmly, guiding her to the bed. “I’m calling the doctor.”
“No.” Aanya stopped her.
“Why not?” Nani demanded. “That wasn’t normal.”
“I skipped lunch today, that’s all. Had a sandwich in the evening. There were new clients and back-to-back meetings. So, I just didn’t get the time.”
Radhika crossed her arms. “Didn’t Reyansh warn you not to skip meals?”
“He did. And I swear, this was a one-time thing. I won’t do it again.”
“I’ll bring some juice,” Nani said, already heading to the kitchen. Aanya tried to protest, but it was pointless.
Radhika sat beside her again. “You’ve been juggling too much—traveling, the wedding, work. And once Reyansh moves here, you won’t get a minute to breathe. You need to take care of yourself, especially if you two are planning to start a family.”
Aanya forced a smile. Her stress had nothing to do with work or Reyansh. It was the wait for Sunny’s update on Shagufta that was bothering her.
“I’m taking you to the clinic tomorrow,” Radhika said.
“Clinic? Why?” Aanya tensed.
“You’ll find out. My friend is a gynaecologist.”
Aanya blinked. Her heart skipped. “Why a gyno?”
“What if you’re pregnant?” Radhika asked calmly.
Aanya froze. Pregnant?
“No… that’s not possible.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Good question! She wasn’t sure. The two nights she spent with her husband could make her pregnant, although they had used precautions.
“It’s just a routine check-up, Aanya,” Radhika urged. “For my peace of mind. Please.”
Aanya nodded slowly. “Okay, Di.”
For now… she had to handle both Radhika’s peace of mind, and her own war with Shagufta. Hence she agreed.
Day 272 – Evening
“What’s wrong? Di told me you went to the clinic,” Reyansh asked, concern thick in his voice. It had only been a week since Aanya returned to California, and the moment his sister shared the news, panic surged through him.
Aanya laughed softly. “It was a routine check-up.”
“What kind of routine check-up?” he snapped. “You’ve never gone for one before. Why now?”
She rolled her eyes, propping a pillow behind her back.
“Reyansh, things have changed between us, haven’t they? Di urged me to get a check-up—just to be cautious. I also had a few personal concerns. I sought some advice. It was more like a woman-to-woman conversation. You don’t need to know every detail.”
His jaw tensed. “Other men may not be interested, but I want to know every detail about my wife. Especially her health.”
Her body flushed with heat. “Then come here and I’ll tell you everything.”
“I want to hear it now.”
She sighed, finally giving in. “I fainted the other day. Di thought it might be a pregnancy symptom. I knew it was too early, but she panicked.”
Silence stretched on the other end of the line. Reyansh hadn’t expected that.
“What did the doctor say?” he asked eventually.
“I’m not pregnant. Just... a bit low on strength. She advised me to build that up before we even think about having kids. Prescribed a few supplements and told me to repeat some tests once the course is done.”
“Damn it,” he muttered. “What else?”
“That’s it. I didn’t want to burden you with all this over the phone.”
He was silent for a moment before his tone turned firm.
“Send me the doctor’s number.”
“Why? I’ve already told you everything she said.”
“That’s not enough. I need to hear it straight from her.”
She knew him too well. He wouldn’t rest until he did.
“Alright, I’ll text it to you. When are you flying in?”
“Four more days, baby. And after that, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
A blush crept to her cheeks. She missed him terribly.
He didn’t need to spell it out, she could feel it.
But before Reyansh arrived, Aanya had to confront Shagufta and warn the woman to stay out of their lives.
She didn’t want to escalate things, because if Reyansh got involved, it would explode.
A direct woman-to-woman conversation might settle it quietly.
And if it didn’t? Then she’d happily step aside and let her husband deal with Shagufta his way.