10
Chapter 10
Cracks in the Secret
Anaya barely slept that night.
The photograph remained on her bedside table, its presence impossible to ignore.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those four words.
He deserves the truth.
Who had sent it?
How did they know?
And most importantly...
Were they planning to tell Aarav?
By morning, she had developed a headache.
Unfortunately, life didn't stop for panic.
Kabir still needed breakfast.
School still existed.
Bills still had to be paid.
So she forced herself to act normal.
At least until her phone rang.
The screen displayed a name she wasn't expecting.
Aarav.
Her stomach dropped immediately.
For a second, she considered ignoring it.
Then remembered he would probably show up at her apartment if she did.
"Hello?"
"We need to meet."
No greeting.
No explanation.
Classic Aarav.
"Good morning to you too."
"Anaya."
The seriousness in his voice erased her sarcasm.
Something was wrong.
"I'll send the location."
The call ended.
Just like that.
---
An hour later, Anaya arrived at a private café owned by Rathore Industries.
The place was nearly empty.
Which was probably intentional.
Aarav was already there.
Waiting.
His expression made her nervous.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Determined.
As if he had finally made a decision about something.
The moment she sat down, she knew this wasn't a business meeting.
"There was no reason to drag me across the city for coffee."
"We're not here for coffee."
Great.
Even worse.
For several seconds, Aarav simply looked at her.
Almost like he was trying to read her thoughts.
Finally, he spoke.
"Why did you leave?"
Anaya blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
His gaze never left hers.
"For five years, I've asked myself that question."
The pain in his voice caught her off guard.
"I wasn't enough?"
"Aarav-"
"Did you stop loving me?"
The question landed between them like a bomb.
Because despite everything...
Despite the years.
Despite the secrets.
The answer was still no.
And that was the problem.
Aarav leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me the truth."
Anaya looked away.
Because if she met his eyes, she might break.
"You don't want the truth."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"That's funny."
"Why?"
"Because I think I do."
If only he knew.
---
The conversation ended without answers.
Just like every important conversation they had ever had.
As Anaya walked toward her car, her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
Tell him before someone else does.
Her blood ran cold.
Another message arrived seconds later.
Time is running out.
She immediately looked around.
The street was crowded.
People everywhere.
Yet suddenly she felt watched.
The feeling didn't disappear until she drove away.
---
Meanwhile, Aarav returned to his office with more questions than before.
He opened the medical records again.
Then looked at Kabir's school photograph.
Then back at the records.
The evidence was becoming impossible to ignore.
Yet he still couldn't understand one thing.
Why?
If the child was his, why hide him?
Why disappear?
Why spend five years alone?
Nothing made sense.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Vikram entered.
This time he looked genuinely concerned.
"What now?"
"We identified the person who sent the anonymous photograph."
Aarav's attention sharpened instantly.
"Who?"
Vikram hesitated.
Then-
"Someone from your past."
The room became silent.
A very dangerous silence.
"What does that mean?"
"Five years ago, there was a woman working for one of your rivals."
Aarav's expression darkened.
He remembered.
Unfortunately.
Very well.
"And?"
"She recently returned to Delhi."
The unease in Aarav's chest grew stronger.
Because people connected to his old life rarely returned without a reason.
And it almost never ended well.
---
That evening, Anaya picked Kabir up from school.
The moment she arrived, the little boy ran toward her.
Excited.
Far too excited.
Which was usually a bad sign.
"Mumma!"
"What happened?"
Kabir practically bounced in place.
"Guess who came today!"
Anaya frowned.
"What?"
"The uncle!"
Her heart stopped.
"What uncle?"
Kabir looked at her as if the answer was obvious.
"Uncle Aarav."
The world seemed to tilt.
"What do you mean he came?"
"He brought chocolates."
Anaya stared.
"He what?"
"And he talked to my teacher."
For a second, she forgot how to breathe.
Aarav had gone to Kabir's school.
Without telling her.
Without warning.
Without permission.
A hundred terrifying possibilities raced through her mind.
"Did he say anything else?"
Kabir thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"He said he wants to come to Parent-Child Day."
Anaya closed her eyes.
Of course he did.
Of course.
Because apparently the universe had decided she hadn't suffered enough.
But what truly terrified her wasn't the school visit.
It was the reason behind it.
Aarav wasn't getting closer accidentally anymore.
He was actively seeking Kabir out.
And if he kept doing that...
Sooner or later, he would see it.
The resemblance.
The timeline.
The truth.
The secret she had spent five years protecting.
And when that happened...
Everything would change.
To be continued...