CHAPTER 42 #2
Anand and Kyle arrived in California as soon as they heard about the recent threat Aanya had faced. Neither of them had any clue about her past connection with Vicky. The revelation shocked them. Aanya had endured something so vile during her college years, and they hadn’t known a thing.
Before letting them step into her hospital room, Reyansh briefed them about everything.
He didn’t want them walking in unprepared.
He was particularly cold toward Anand Malhotra, whose neglect as a father still weighed heavily on Reyansh’s mind.
In his view, much of what Aanya had suffered…
then and now…stemmed from the absence of solid parental support.
Though Anand and Kyle had since tried to make amends, moments like these reopened wounds Aanya had long tried to forget.
The moment Anand stepped into the room and saw his daughter, he broke down.
“I’ve been a terrible father,” he choked out through his tears.
Kyle looked equally shattered. She blamed herself entirely for keeping Anand away from his responsibilities, for failing to hold him accountable when it mattered most.
“Dad, I’m okay now,” Aanya said gently, holding his trembling hand. “And we can’t undo the past. It’s already gone.”
“You’re too generous to forgive us, Aanya,” Kyle added softly. “But I don’t think either of us will ever be able to forgive ourselves.”
“Please,” Aanya insisted. “This isn’t the time to drown in guilt. I made it out of another nightmare, and that’s what matters right now.”
She cupped her father’s face tenderly.
“Dad... smile, please. I can’t see you like this. You’ve always held this larger-than-life image in my eyes. Don’t break that now.”
Anand could barely speak, overwhelmed by the compassion she still offered him, despite everything.
Just then, Reyansh entered the room, his voice cutting through the emotion-heavy air.
“Hey,” he said, stepping closer. “I need to step out for a bit. Will you be alright till I’m back? The guards are stationed outside, and Di is on her way to stay with you.”
Aanya nodded with a small smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“We’re not going anywhere either, Reyansh,” Kyle added quickly.
“Thank you,” he replied, before leaning in to kiss Aanya’s forehead, not bothering to hide his affection from the Malhotras. “I’m bringing you home tonight,” he whispered near her ear.
She exhaled deeply at the promise. The sterile air of the hospital was suffocating. The bed too narrow. What she craved now was to sleep wrapped in her husband’s arms, to find comfort in the one place that always felt like home— his warmth.
As Reyansh walked out, her eyes followed him, filled with curiosity. He hadn’t left her side in all these days. Whatever was pulling him away now, had to be something big.
****************
When Reyansh strode into the police headquarters, Mike, the senior officer overseeing Aanya’s abduction case, greeted him with a firm handshake and guided him to the interrogation wing.
“We’ve got Vicky’s confession on record, Mr. Chopra,” Mike informed as they walked. “Combined with the evidence you submitted, it’s more than enough to build a solid case against Miss Khanna. She’ll be deported to India tonight.”
“Good,” Reyansh nodded. “Pratham, the deputy commissioner in Delhi, will take over the case once they land.”
“Both Vicky and Shagufta are scheduled to board the flight tonight,” Mike confirmed. “Our team will escort them along with all the files.”
“Good,” Reyansh nodded. “I want to meet Shagufta.”
“Miss Khanna is wrapping up her deportation formalities with her attorney. You can see her once they’re finished.”
Reyansh offered a curt nod and waited. Inside him, anger simmered, ready to explode. The woman who’d tried to dismantle his life and destroy everything he cared about was just a few walls away.
When her lawyer finally exited, Reyansh stepped into the small holding room. Shagufta Khanna looked up and her expression lit up like she’d seen salvation.
“Reyansh!” she exclaimed, standing quickly.
“I knew you’d come. You’re the only one who can fix this.
Look at what Aanya’s done to me. She’s jealous, can’t stand our friendship.
She’s filed a false complaint. Yes, she’s your wife, but I’m your friend…
your best friend. She couldn’t handle it, so she turned you against me.
This whole arrest…it’s all her doing. Her plan to erase me from your world. ”
Before she could lay a hand on him, Reyansh caught her wrists in a tight grip.
“Drop the act, Shagufta,” he said coldly. “Do you really think I’d fall for this again?”
She faltered.
“And for the record,” his voice sharpened, “Aanya didn’t file that complaint. I did.”
Her breath caught, eyes widening as he stepped forward.
“You didn’t just cross a line…you destroyed it. You endangered Di when she was pregnant, and now Aanya. Both of them mean everything to me. And you played your nasty games without thinking twice.”
The fury in his gaze made her heart race. She’d clung to a last shred of hope that somehow, she could twist the story, blame Vicky, and win him back. But the expression on Reyansh’s face crushed that hope into dust.
She backed up until her spine hit the cold, concrete wall.
“Reyansh,” she murmured, trying again.
“Don’t,” he snapped. “Don’t you dare say my name.”
Her lips trembled.
“I gave you chances more than you deserved. But instead of changing, you chose to go darker. I told you clearly that I love Aanya. I loved her from the moment I met her in Cape Town. And I never saw you as anything more than a friend. Why was that so hard to accept?”
“I couldn’t,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “I couldn’t convince my heart that you don’t love me. We were so close for years. You shared everything with me. When she left after the wedding, I was the one who stayed. I supported you. I stood by you. And still, you chose her over me.”
She choked back a sob and reached for his face, cupping it tenderly as her voice cracked.
“Why her, Reyansh? Is it because she’s more beautiful? What is it? I’ll change, Reyansh. I’ll become whoever you want me to be, just don’t leave me for her. Please... don’t throw me away.”
But his eyes no longer held any sympathy. He did feel a flicker of pity for her but not enough to ignore the damage she’d done. Reyansh yanked her arms off him, disgust sharpening in his expression.
“I’m married,” he snapped.
“I know you are!” she yelled, desperation cracking her voice. “I don’t care. I’ll still love you, Reyansh. You’ll always have a place in my heart. Please... get me out of here. Help me.” Her hand reached for him again, this time bolder…crossing a line she had no right to.
Reyansh recoiled instantly.
“That’s enough,” he growled. “You need help, Shagufta. Serious help. I’ll make sure the authorities in India assign a psychiatrist once you’re in custody.
That’s the only help you’ll ever get from me.
One more threat to my family from you,” he said coldly, “and you won’t live to regret what I do next. ”
With that, Reyansh turned and strode out, leaving her behind for good. Shagufta bolted to the door, slamming her fists against it.
“Reyansh! Come back! I’ll change, I swear—I’ll change!”
But he didn’t stop. He didn’t look back.
He walked out, ending this chapter once and for all. And now, she was nothing more than a name in his past. Not even a friend. She’d crossed every line to be remembered as that.
Penthouse
“This feels so good,” Aanya whispered, drawing in the familiar scent of home as she stepped inside. Reyansh held her hand, watching her closely. The penthouse had felt empty in her absence, but now with her laughter, her presence, their love, it felt alive again.
“Welcome home!” Radhika and Kyle appeared from the kitchen, holding a glowing puja thali that lit up their warm smiles. Aanya blinked, caught off guard.
“You two?” she said, startled. “What is all this?”
“We had to,” Radhika replied softly. “After all that you went through in the last few days, we couldn’t take chances. This ritual is our way of offering prayers, to protect you… so that nothing like that ever touches your life again.”
Aanya smiled gratefully as they circled the thali before her and Reyansh. The moment the ritual ended, he swept her into his arms and carried her inside, as if reclaiming the space that felt incomplete without her.
The Negis stayed for dinner, filling the home with warmth and chatter, before heading out. Nani left with them, while Anand and Kyle stayed behind for the night.
“I’ll show you both your room,” Aanya offered.
“No need,” Kyle replied with a smile. “Reyansh already handled everything. We’ve settled in. Thank you for making us feel so welcome.”
“This is your home too,” Aanya said. “Unless... you still think of me as your stepdaughter.”
Kyle’s smile faded, her expression turning sombre.
“I did treat you that way,” she confessed. “But not anymore. Maybe that’s why I never had a child of my own, because I couldn’t be a mother to the one I was entrusted with. I wasn’t ready back then… but now, I want to be. If you’ll give me that chance.”
The room fell silent. Reyansh and Anand looked on, uncertain how to respond to the fragile moment unfolding between them.
“I’m not asking for much,” Kyle added. “I know things between us have always been complicated, and I don’t expect it to change overnight. But... maybe one day, you’ll let me be the mother I should’ve been.”
Aanya didn’t speak for a long moment. Then she reached out and gently pressed her hand over Kyle’s.
“I’ll think about it,” she said softly.
That simple assurance lit up Kyle’s face. She pulled Aanya into a gentle hug before she and Anand retired for the night.
Aanya turned toward Reyansh, who sat watching her from the couch.
“Phew,” she exhaled. “So many changes… all at once.”
“All good changes,” he replied, walking over and gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “From now on, only the good stuff.”
“Time for bed, Mrs. Chopra,” he added with a grin. “Feels like we waited forever for this.”
She laughed as he scooped her up again, carrying her into their bedroom, finally home.
Few minutes Later
“Where were you this morning?” Aanya asked as she stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in her nightwear. Reyansh was busy fixing the bed but paused mid-action to glance at her.
“Had something to take care of,” he replied, his chest rising with a slow, heavy breath.
“You met Shagufta, didn’t you?” she came closer, her tone calm but knowing.
He didn’t ask how she found out. He simply nodded.
“Yeah.”
“How did she react to the arrest?”
“She’s losing it, Aanya. She still wants me. Doesn’t matter that I’m married, that I love you. She’s obsessed—completely detached from reality.”
Aanya appreciated his honesty.
“I get it,” she murmured, sliding her arms around his neck with a teasing smile. “Any woman with a functioning brain would want you.”
“I’m being serious,” he said, his voice low. “She’s unstable and it worries me.”
Aanya understood his concern. Reyansh and Shagufta had known each other for years, even worked together. It couldn’t be easy cutting someone out after such a long history.
“Ow—” she winced, suddenly pulling her arm back from around his neck.
“Damn it, Aanya,” he said, alarmed. “You’re still healing. You can’t move like that.”
He helped her sit on the bed, his hands gently brushing over her shoulder.
“Let me check.”
She tilted her head to the side as he examined the injury carefully, his touch gentle and focused.
“I heard you’re hosting Navya’s bachelorette party here?” she asked, trying to shift the conversation.
“Yeah. You okay with that?”
“I love that idea,” she grinned, stopping his hand from continuing the massage.
“I figured you would. You and Navya are inseparable. If you were in India, you’d be planning it yourself. So I reached out to her and Rohan, and a few of their friends. Sunny’s handling their hotel bookings.”
“Can Navya stay with us?” she asked sweetly. “Please?”
Reyansh smirked. He’d seen that request coming a mile away.
“With that face? How can I say no?”
She squealed as he pulled her into his arms.
“We complete each other, don’t you think?” she whispered. “I think of something, and before I even say it out loud, you make it happen.”
“That’s what love’s supposed to be,” he murmured, lying back with her, holding her close.
After everything they’d been through the past few days, Aanya finally felt safe again in his arms. And Reyansh? He could spend forever like this…wrapped around the only woman who truly made him feel whole.