It's how you see

chapter 9

While Adira and her friends were celebrating their reunion, there was someone at the other end bothered by the case. Ishaan was getting restless with a million unanswered questions pondering him regarding Adira's case. He was so restless and clueless about where to start. His thoughts were unsettling, he was disturbed and anxious. His mind and heart were at a war. His mind was being logical and work oriented while his heart was urging him to trust Rakshitha and stop digging up the case. After thinking for hours, he finally decided to dig up the entire truth. He went through the case records again and again. But it didn't lead him to any clue. His mind started deflecting again when he thought of taking Rakshitha's help. He didn't know how to explain his thoughts to her. The thought of hurting her scared him the most and was unsure about his feelings towards her. Whenever he thought about his feelings for Rakshitha, he would unknowingly deny the attraction he feels towards her. He did realize he was prioritizing Rakshitha over everything and everyone and made him feel that Rakshitha was more important than Ketki. This was the point he was unable to accept. Both his confusion, his desperation was together taking a toll on him. He knew only one person who could give his mind some peace, show him the way out of this turmoil: his mother. He grabbed the keys of his flat and car. He stormed out of his flat, sat in his car and drove home, which was quite far from his place.

His mother, Dr. Savitha, a clinical Psychologist, and child counselor. He reached his home and desperately rang the doorbell; his mother was surprised to see her son through the peephole. She immediately opened the door and let him in, "what's wrong, Ishu? How come you came home suddenly?" she questioned. Ishaan was silent, he sat on the couch, soon his mother locked the door and sat next to him, he placed his head in her lap. He felt a sudden relief when his mother ran her fingers through his hair. Ishaan was slowly relaxing, that's when Savitha broke the silence by asking him about what's bothering him, "I'm in a dilemma Maa." Ishaan replied, "About Rakshitha?" Savitha questioned, Ishaan was surprised to hear that, "kind of, but how did you know about her?" he asked. Savitha just smiled.

Ishaan didn't want the question he asked to be ignored, he lifted his head from her lap, he sat up straight facing her. Savitha kept smiling, "who told you?" Ishaan asked, realizing someone strongly told his mother about his bond with Rakshitha, "Don't you know who would tell me?" Savitha asked with a teasing smile. Ishaan rolled his eyes and muttered "Swetha.", Savitha nodded in agreement. She then placed her hands on Ishaan's head, "now tell me what's eating you up?" she asked, Ishaan took a deep breath, "well, this case has so many things hidden. I know there are a few loose ends that will tell a completely new story, but I'm unable to sort them out, it's all tangled" Ishaan said. Savitha thought for a moment, while Ishaan's stress was finding its way back to his head making him restless again, "why struggle then, for whom are you doing all this?" Savitha questioned. Ishaan was immersed in his own thoughts, "For Rakshitha" he blurted out, Savitha tried suppressing her smile, Ishaan took a pause realizing what just slipped out of his mouth.

Savitha was happy to know her son chose a better girl this time, though she was aware he wouldn't easily give in without having an internal war between his heart and mind, she chose to stay on topic. She didn't push her son to accept his feelings right away, "go through the case from the start, if you think the ends are not taking you anywhere, start looking at it from the end." she said. She then went inside to get some water, while Ishaan kept thinking about his mother's words, the last end was Maanav.'Maybe interrogating Maanav may give him a lead in the case' he thought.

He drove back home with new found motivation. He wrote down 5 names on his white board; Noel, Adira, Tanav, Sira and Maanav. He decided to start his investigation from Maanav, and he retired for the day. The next day he woke up late, and rushed to the office to meet Maanav, while he was signing in the entry register, he got to know about Adira's appointment too with Maanav, which surprised Ishaan. He slowly sneaked into the monitor room connected to the interrogation room, from where he could see and hear them, while they weren't aware of his presence. Sitting on the chair in front of the monitor , Ishaan was feeling slightly guilty for eavesdropping on their conversation, "how is it to be in jail?" Adira asked, Maanav just smiled in response, "how have you been?" Maanav asked her. Adira rolled her eyes at him, "Stop it Maanav, it's not going to save you from my wrath. You are as senseless as a stone, a worthless bastard and a mere puppet of your father." Adira lashed out at Maanav. Maanav didn't even react to her, he was swallowing every insult, every bit of the venom Adira was spitting at him. Adira stood up to leave, but she turned around to say "Remember one thing, you are here because of your own doing. You deserve all this pain and agony, before you defend yourself by comparing your actions with that leach, let me tell you, both of you are the same, and you are not any better than him like others think. In fact he is a lot better than you, he knew he had to live his life on his terms and not to please someone else." and barged out of the room banging the door behind her.

Maanav's head fell low, his pain, sorrow and agony were surfacing. Ishaan was now sure that Maanav had the answers to all the questions that were haunting him. Ishaan entered the room and sat on the chair across Maanav. Ishaan knocked on the table to catch Maanav's attention. Maanav raised his head to see Ishaan. Ishaan smiled, "Hello Mr. Khanna, I just overheard your conversation with Ms. Srivastav. I can see that you have been framed and if you tell me the truth, I'll make sure that all the charges on you will be revoked. " Ishaan said. Maanav responded with a mocking laugh, which surprised Ishaan. Soon Maanav got back to his posture, "you are just a petty officer, and you think Maanav Khanna will need your help?" he questioned with arrogance, "You better watch your tone Maanav, and keep that arrogance of yours buried inside you for the time being, it won't help you get out of this mess." said a familiar female voice from behind, Ishaan and Maanav faced the door from where the voice was coming. Ishaan was shocked to see Adira standing at the door. Ishaan stood up in a reflex, "come with me Ishaan, I'll reveal the entire truth to you , this filthy man is only capable of lying." Adira said, after which Ishaan followed her out,leaving Maanav alone.

Ishaan was very anxious, he was worried about what Adira might do, though his heart said Adira was a good person and she wouldn't harm him, but his mind said otherwise. However, he was not sure since Adira was also on his suspects' list. With a million thoughts storming his head, he sat in the passenger seat along with Adira in her car. Her driver drove them to her office, Adira asked Ishaan to come with her. She entered the office along with Ishaan who was absolutely clueless about what was going on. Adira didn't even spare him a look , she walked straight to Mythri giving her a strict instruction to postpone all her meetings for the day. Mythri was about to oppose the idea of postponing the meetings; however, on spotting Ishaan right behind her, feeling nervous, she realized something big was going to happen. Mythri got the hint that Adira was going to reveal the truth to Ishaan, "you sure?" she asked. Adira knew Mythri was no longer talking about the meeting postponement. Adira just gave her a nod and asked Ishaan to follow her into the personal lounge.

Ishaan sat on the couch while Adira made some coffee and handed him a mug, he was getting restless with every passing moment, he slowly looked at Adira and saw her glancing at the door, "are you expecting someone?" he asked, Adira smiled, "well yes, I'm waiting for the girl you wished was your girlfriend instead of Ketki." she said. Ishaan involuntarily let out a frustrated groan, "Not you too! Rakshitha is a very good friend of mine, that's it." he defended. Adira smiled at him. Soon Mythri knocked at the door. "Ma'am your visitors are here." she said, opening the door for Rakshitha, Laya and Swetha.

Rakshitha entered the room first, she was surprised to spot Ishaan there on the couch. All the four ladies entered the room and Mythri locked the door behind her, "what's all this Adira?" Rakshitha asked. Adira stood up from her chair, "sit down Rakshu, I'll tell you everything. But for now, hand your phones to Mythri, I don't want any kind of distractions." Adira said. Laya was surprised, they all exchanged perplexed looks, but handed their phones to Mythri. Mythri placed the phones aside while Laya and the others took a seat. Soon Mythri returned and sat next to Adira. Rakshitha was getting restless, sensing that Adira started speaking. "I have a few confessions to make. I wanted to reveal all these things later but I don't want to take a risk on anything. Ishaan your doubts aren't baseless, in fact you are right. Your doubts were right, this entire Kidnap was a plan executed by a mastermind, or maybe I should just say a deeply wounded heart which craved for justice. I was behind all of this, I GOT MYSELF KIDNAPPED!!"