7
Chapter 7
The Photograph
Anaya stood in the kitchen doorway, watching a scene she never thought she would witness.
Aarav Rathore, one of the most feared men in the country, was sitting cross-legged on her living room floor while Kabir explained the importance of dinosaurs.
Very seriously.
"And this one is a T-Rex."
Aarav nodded.
"I know."
Kabir looked offended.
"You didn't let me finish."
"Sorry."
"Good."
Anaya almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, she focused on preparing tea while trying to ignore how natural everything looked.
That was the problem.
It looked natural.
Too natural.
As if they belonged in the same room.
As if fate wasn't playing a cruel joke on her.
A few minutes later, she placed two cups on the table.
Kabir immediately pointed at the biscuits.
"Can I have one?"
"No."
"What about two?"
"No."
"What about three?"
Aarav hid a smile behind his cup.
Traitor.
Absolute traitor.
Kabir looked at him hopefully.
"You're supposed to help me."
"I don't think I should get involved."
"You're scared of her too?"
Anaya choked on her tea.
Aarav actually laughed.
A real laugh.
Deep and warm.
For a moment, the years seemed to disappear.
And that scared her more than anything.
---
An hour later, Kabir finally fell asleep on the couch.
The fever medicine had made him drowsy.
Anaya carefully adjusted the blanket over him.
When she turned around, Aarav was watching them.
There was something strange in his expression.
Something thoughtful.
Something almost... wistful.
"You love him."
The statement caught her off guard.
Anaya looked at her sleeping son.
"Of course I do."
Aarav nodded slowly.
As if that answer mattered more than it should.
Silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just heavy.
Filled with things neither wanted to say.
Finally, Anaya crossed her arms.
"You came here for a reason."
His gaze shifted to her.
"Right."
The softness disappeared.
Replaced by determination.
"I need answers."
Her stomach tightened.
"What kind of answers?"
Aarav didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he stood and walked toward the bookshelf near the television.
His attention moved across the family photographs displayed there.
Most were of Anaya and Kabir.
School events.
Birthdays.
Vacations.
Memories.
Then he stopped.
Completely.
Anaya's heart dropped.
Because he was staring at a particular photograph.
One she should have removed months ago.
A picture taken years before.
Before everything fell apart.
Before she left.
Before Kabir.
It was a photo of her and Aarav.
Smiling at the camera.
Happy.
Young.
In love.
The color had faded slightly with time.
But not enough.
Aarav picked it up carefully.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Anaya couldn't breathe.
Finally, he looked at her.
"You kept it."
The accusation she expected never came.
Instead, he sounded confused.
Almost hopeful.
"I forgot to throw it away."
The lie felt weak even to her.
Aarav clearly didn't believe it.
Neither did she.
His thumb brushed the edge of the frame.
"You forgot for five years?"
Anaya looked away.
Big mistake.
Because avoiding his eyes only made the truth more obvious.
Aarav let out a quiet laugh.
Not mocking.
Not angry.
Just sad.
"You really are a terrible liar."
---
A few minutes later, Aarav was preparing to leave.
The atmosphere had become too complicated.
Too emotional.
Neither of them knew how to handle it.
He paused near the door.
His gaze drifted toward the couch one last time.
Kabir was sleeping peacefully.
One arm hanging off the side.
Completely unaware of the storm surrounding him.
A strange feeling settled in Aarav's chest.
Protectiveness.
The realization annoyed him.
Because it made no sense.
Yet it was there.
Strong and undeniable.
"Goodnight, Anaya."
She nodded.
"Goodnight."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Aarav opened the door and left.
---
Half an hour later, he was sitting in the backseat of his car.
The city lights blurred past the window.
But his thoughts remained in that apartment.
In that living room.
With that child.
His phone rang.
Vikram.
"What is it?"
"We found another thing."
Aarav straightened immediately.
"What?"
"The hospital."
His grip tightened around the phone.
"What about it?"
"The hospital where Kabir was born."
A pause.
Then-
"One of the nurses remembers Anaya."
Aarav's pulse quickened.
"And?"
"Apparently she arrived alone."
That wasn't surprising.
"What else?"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
As if Vikram wasn't sure how to continue.
"According to the nurse, Anaya kept asking one question during labor."
Aarav frowned.
"What question?"
The answer came quietly.
"'What if his father never forgives me?'"
The car fell silent.
For several seconds, Aarav forgot how to breathe.
Because deep down...
He already knew.
He knew exactly who she had been talking about.
And for the first time, the possibility stopped feeling like a theory.
It started feeling like the truth.
---
Back at the apartment, Anaya finally carried Kabir to bed.
The little boy stirred slightly.
"Mumma?"
"Hm?"
Still half asleep, he smiled.
"I like Uncle Aarav."
Her heart sank.
Of course he did.
Children always recognized good people before adults did.
Even broken ones.
Even dangerous ones.
Even men carrying too many secrets.
Anaya brushed a hand through his hair.
Then froze.
Because for the first time, she saw it clearly.
The resemblance.
Not just in the eyes.
Not just in the expressions.
But in the way Kabir smiled when he was happy.
Exactly like Aarav.
The same smile she had once fallen in love with.
A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.
Because the truth was becoming harder to hide.
And sooner or later...
Aarav Rathore was going to find out that the child he couldn't stop thinking about...
Was his son.
To be continued...