9
Chapter 9
The World He Hid
Aarav's expression changed so quickly that Anaya almost thought she had imagined it.
One second, he was standing beside her near the fountain.
The next, he looked like a completely different person.
Colder.
Sharper.
Dangerous.
The servant stepped closer and lowered his voice.
"Sir, the security team has already handled it."
"Who was it?"
"We're not sure yet."
Aarav's jaw tightened.
"Find out."
The servant nodded and immediately left.
Anaya watched the interaction carefully.
She remembered that version of Aarav.
The one who always seemed prepared for trouble.
The one who noticed exits before entering a room.
The one who sometimes disappeared in the middle of the night without explanations.
Five years ago, she had ignored those signs.
Until she couldn't anymore.
"Aarav."
He looked at her.
"What's going on?"
For a moment, it seemed like he might answer.
Then the walls went back up.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
Anaya almost laughed.
"That's your answer for everything."
"And yet you're still asking."
The frustration that had been building for years resurfaced immediately.
"You know what? Forget it."
She turned to leave.
But Aarav caught her wrist.
Not hard.
Just enough to stop her.
The contact sent a familiar jolt through both of them.
His grip loosened instantly.
Yet neither moved away.
"Anaya."
His voice was quieter now.
"I'll handle it."
There it was again.
The same response.
The same distance.
The same refusal to let her in.
Five years later, some things hadn't changed.
---
The rest of the evening passed without incident.
At least on the surface.
Anaya left early, claiming she was tired.
The truth was simpler.
Being around Aarav for hours felt dangerous.
Not because she was afraid of him.
Because she still cared.
And that was far worse.
---
The next morning, Kabir woke her up by jumping on her bed.
"Mumma!"
Anaya groaned.
"What happened?"
"I need help."
That sounded suspicious.
"With what?"
Kabir held up a school notice.
Anaya took it.
Then froze.
Parent-Child Activity Day.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
The event required parents to participate in games and activities with their children.
Normally that wouldn't be a problem.
Except Kabir had become increasingly curious about fathers.
"Mumma?"
"Yes?"
"Can you come?"
Her chest tightened.
"Of course."
The smile that appeared on his face made everything worth it.
At least until he asked his next question.
"Can I invite Uncle Aarav too?"
Anaya nearly fell off the bed.
"What?"
Kabir blinked.
"He likes me."
That wasn't the issue.
"And I like him."
Definitely not the issue.
"So he can come."
Very much the issue.
Anaya buried her face in her hands.
This child was going to be the reason she developed gray hair.
---
Later that day, Aarav was reviewing security footage from the previous night.
The incident at the mansion had been minor.
A suspicious vehicle.
Nothing more.
But in his world, even small things mattered.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
Vikram entered.
And immediately looked serious.
Aarav didn't like that.
"What happened?"
"We found something."
His stomach tightened.
The investigation.
Kabir.
Anaya.
Finally.
"What is it?"
Vikram placed a folder on the desk.
Aarav opened it.
Inside was a copy of Anaya's old medical records.
His pulse quickened.
"Where did you get this?"
"Legally."
That answer usually meant legally enough.
Aarav ignored it.
His attention was on a single date.
The date of the first pregnancy examination.
The room fell silent.
Because according to the report...
Anaya had already been pregnant before she disappeared.
Aarav stared at the page.
Then read it again.
And again.
The answer remained the same.
Pregnant.
Before she left.
His heartbeat became uneven.
For years, he had wondered why she disappeared.
Why she never called.
Why she never came back.
And now-
"Sir?"
Aarav slowly looked up.
For the first time since starting the investigation, real fear appeared in his eyes.
Because this wasn't a possibility anymore.
This was becoming reality.
"If this is true..."
His voice trailed off.
Vikram remained silent.
Neither man needed to finish the sentence.
---
That evening, Anaya arrived home exhausted.
She had barely stepped inside when she noticed something sticking out from her mailbox.
A small envelope.
No sender name.
No address.
Nothing.
Her frown deepened.
She opened it.
A single photograph fell into her hand.
The color drained from her face.
It was old.
Very old.
A picture from five years ago.
A picture of her and Aarav together.
On the back, someone had written four words.
"He deserves the truth."
Her hands began shaking.
Because there was only one truth those words could mean.
Kabir.
Someone knew.
Someone had found out.
And if they knew...
How long before Aarav did too?
For the first time in years, genuine fear settled in her chest.
Because she had spent five years protecting her son.
But secrets never stayed hidden forever.
And hers was already beginning to crack.
To be continued...