Chapter 18 The First Crack
The Rathore Mansion was unusually lively that evening.
The cheerful atmosphere from Vivaan's Family Day still lingered in the air.
For the first time in many years...
Vivaan hadn't stopped talking during dinner.
"And then Bhabhi won the drawing game!"
"No..."
Karan interrupted.
"You mean your team won."
Vivaan immediately shook his head.
"Bhabhi told us what to draw."
"So she won."
Riya laughed.
"That's not how competitions work."
"It is."
Vivaan replied confidently.
"If Bhabhi is on our team."
Everyone chuckled.
Even Rajveer's stern expression softened.
Across the table...
Aadhira quietly continued eating.
She neither denied Vivaan's praise...
Nor encouraged it.
She simply smiled at him.
Arjun noticed that.
She always allowed Vivaan to express himself.
Never making him feel embarrassed.
Never dismissing his excitement.
---
After dinner...
The family gradually gathered in the living room.
Vivaan sat on the carpet doing his homework.
Every few minutes...
He looked toward Aadhira.
"Bhabhi..."
"Hmm?"
"How do you spell 'responsibility'?"
Aadhira smiled.
She moved beside him.
Instead of giving the answer...
She picked up a pencil.
"Let's divide it."
She slowly explained the word.
Vivaan repeated every letter carefully.
"I got it!"
"You did."
She gently patted his head.
Nearby...
Savitri watched silently.
"So much patience..."
She whispered.
Nandhini nodded unconsciously.
Children usually became restless while studying.
Yet Vivaan...
Was completely focused.
Perhaps...
Because someone was finally teaching him without scolding him.
---
Rajveer looked at Raghav.
"When was the last time he completed his homework without running away?"
Raghav smiled helplessly.
"I honestly don't remember."
The entire family quietly observed them.
Neither Aadhira...
Nor Vivaan noticed.
They were too busy discussing mathematics.
---
Later that night...
Inside their room...
Arjun sat before his laptop reviewing tomorrow's reports.
Aadhira sat on the balcony reading the latest edition of Business World magazine.
Silence surrounded them.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
Finally...
Arjun closed his laptop.
He glanced toward the balcony.
Aadhira hadn't moved for nearly forty minutes.
She simply sat reading beneath the soft yellow lights.
Calm.
Collected.
As though nothing in the world could disturb her peace.
He remembered today's Family Day.
Children surrounding her.
Teachers appreciating her.
Vivaan refusing to leave her side.
He frowned slightly.
It didn't match the image everyone had created of her.
Not at all.
Without realizing it...
He continued watching her.
Suddenly...
Aadhira looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second...
Neither looked away.
Then...
She politely closed her magazine.
"I'm done."
She walked inside.
"Good night."
Arjun nodded.
"Good night."
Within minutes...
The lights were switched off.
Yet...
Sleep didn't come to Arjun immediately.
For the first time...
He found himself thinking less about work...
And more about his wife.
---
The next morning...
Astra Global Headquarters.
Employees hurried across the executive floor.
Inside the Cyber Security Division...
Kabir stared at six computer screens.
His cheerful expression had disappeared.
"This isn't right..."
His fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard.
One monitor displayed dozens of blocked login attempts.
Another showed encrypted code.
A third highlighted an unfamiliar IP address.
Kabir frowned.
"They're back."
He immediately picked up his phone.
"Shanaya."
Her voice answered.
"What happened?"
"Call Aadhira."
"Now."
---
Five minutes later...
Inside the executive cabin...
Kabir projected several files onto the large screen.
"The same people tried again last night."
Aadhira calmly folded her arms.
"Did they get anything?"
"No."
"But..."
Kabir enlarged one section.
"They're adapting."
"They're learning our security system."
Shanaya looked concerned.
"Can they break through?"
Kabir answered honestly.
"Not yet."
"But they're definitely professionals."
The room fell silent.
Aadhira walked closer to the screen.
"Trace everything."
"I don't care how small the clue is."
Kabir nodded.
"I'm already doing it."
Aadhira remained thoughtful.
Whoever was targeting Astra Global...
Was patient.
Skilled.
And determined.
She had no intention of underestimating them.
---
Meanwhile...
Devraj Mansion.
Morning tea had become quieter these days.
Harshvardhan folded the newspaper slowly.
Meera looked absent-mindedly at Aadhira's empty chair.
Every morning...
Her eyes unconsciously drifted there.
As though expecting someone who never came.
Devayani noticed.
"You miss her."
Meera's eyes immediately filled with sadness.
"I do."
Rajesh sighed deeply.
"Yesterday..."
"I heard she attended Vivaan's Family Day."
The room fell silent.
Rohan looked toward his father.
"So..."
"She kept a promise to her new family."
Rajesh nodded slowly.
"But she still doesn't come home."
No one had an answer.
The silence itself became their answer.
Far away...
The daughter they had once sent away...
Was slowly building a new family.
And every passing day...
The distance between them only grew larger.
The atmosphere inside Astra Global Headquarters had become noticeably tense.
Kabir's fingers moved rapidly across multiple keyboards.
Lines of encrypted code flashed continuously across the large monitors.
His cheerful expression had completely disappeared.
"This isn't random..."
He muttered under his breath.
Shanaya stood beside him.
"What did you find?"
Kabir enlarged a section of the screen.
"Whoever is behind this..."
"They're not after money."
"They're searching for confidential company data."
Shanaya frowned.
"Competitors?"
Kabir slowly shook his head.
"No."
"This level of hacking..."
"Feels personal."
Just then...
The elevator doors opened.
Aadhira walked into the Cyber Security Division.
Every employee immediately stood.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am."
She acknowledged them with a nod before walking straight toward Kabir.
"Update."
Kabir projected another file onto the screen.
"They tried three different servers."
"They failed."
"But..."
He zoomed into one particular IP route.
"I managed to trace one relay."
Aadhira folded her arms.
"Where?"
Kabir looked at her.
"The attack originated through multiple proxy servers..."
"But one of them passed through Mumbai."
Shanaya looked surprised.
"So they're in India."
"Most likely."
Kabir replied.
"They know exactly what they're doing."
Aadhira remained thoughtful.
"Increase security."
"I want round-the-clock monitoring."
Kabir nodded.
"Already done."
She looked toward the entire department.
"No one outside this room is to know."
"If word spreads..."
"They'll know we're getting closer."
Everyone nodded immediately.
"Yes, Ma'am."
---
Meanwhile...
Rathore Group Headquarters.
Arjun had just finished another meeting.
He stood near the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city.
His thoughts unexpectedly drifted back to the school auditorium.
'Children don't remember expensive gifts...'
'They remember who stood beside them.'
For some reason...
Those words refused to leave his mind.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Siddharth entered carrying two coffee cups.
"I thought you'd still be working."
"I am."
Siddharth handed him a cup.
"You've been staring outside for five minutes."
Arjun accepted the coffee.
"I was thinking."
Siddharth smiled knowingly.
"I guessed."
After a brief silence...
He casually asked,
"So..."
"How was Family Day?"
Arjun looked at him.
"You knew?"
Siddharth laughed.
"Rohan told me."
"Apparently your little cousin has been talking about nothing else all week."
A faint smile appeared on Arjun's face.
"It went well."
"That's all?"
Arjun took a sip of coffee.
"Vivaan was happy."
"And Aadhira..."
He stopped.
Siddharth raised an eyebrow.
"What about her?"
Arjun searched for the right words.
"She's..."
Different."
Siddharth smiled.
"I've been waiting for you to notice."
Arjun frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You've spent weeks listening to other people's opinions."
"Now..."
"You're finally forming your own."
Those words lingered in Arjun's mind even after Siddharth left.
---
Elsewhere...
Devraj Mansion.
The atmosphere remained unusually quiet.
Rajesh slowly placed his teacup on the table.
"I received a business invitation."
Everyone looked at him.
"What invitation?"
Meera asked.
"A charity gala."
"It's next week."
Harshvardhan nodded.
"The entire business community will attend."
Rohan looked at the invitation card.
"So will the Rathores."
Rajesh sighed.
"And probably..."
"Aadhira."
The room fell silent again.
They hadn't seen her properly since the wedding.
Even when they did...
She behaved politely.
Respectfully.
But never like family.
The distance hurt more than anger ever could.
---
At the same time...
Inside a luxurious penthouse.
Kavya stood beside the window.
Her father, manoj ahuja, entered the room.
"You wanted to see me?"
Kavya turned around.
"Aadhira is becoming a problem."
He looked at her calmly.
"What happened now?"
"The Rathores are beginning to trust her."
Rakesh remained thoughtful.
"I warned you."
"If people start believing her..."
"Our old plan becomes useless."
Kavya clenched her fists.
"I won't let that happen."
Rakesh slowly smiled.
"Then don't attack her directly."
Kavya looked at him.
"Destroy her reputation instead."
He placed a file on the table.
"This charity gala..."
"Will give us the perfect opportunity."
Kavya picked up the invitation.
A dangerous smile slowly spread across her face.
"This time..."
"Aadhira won't leave with her dignity intact."
Outside...
Dark clouds slowly gathered over the city.