The forced alliance (Completed)

Chapter 26: Muskaanein jhoothi hain

Now  from Aradhyaa's Pov:

It was a quiet and serene night in their shared penthouse. Aradhyaa lay in her bed, her eyes closed, and her thoughts wandering. The room was dimly lit, with only a soft bedside lamp providing a gentle glow. Abhimaan lay beside her, and although she couldn't see him in the darkness, she could sense his restlessness.

Aradhyaa had always been sensitive to Abhimaan's moods. She had noticed a change in his behavior throughout the day. He seemed distant, lost in his thoughts, and it worried her. The uneasy feeling grew as the hours passed.

Aradhyaa decided to pretend she was asleep, not wanting to intrude on Abhimaan's space but also concerned about what might be troubling him. She kept her breathing steady, her eyelids lightly shut, and focused on feigning slumber.

As the night wore on, she heard the subtle sounds of Abhimaan moving in the room, perhaps texting someone. Her curiosity piqued, and she couldn't resist the urge to peek. Gently, she opened one eye ever so slightly, allowing her to see the soft glow of his phone screen.

Aradhyaa watched discreetly as Abhimaan exchanged messages with someone. The glow illuminated his face, revealing a mixture of emotions - confusion, sadness, and something else she couldn't quite decipher. She observed as his brows furrowed while he typed a response.

The messages indicated that he was going to meet someone, someone important, and Aradhyaa couldn't help but wonder who it might be. Her mind raced with thoughts, and she began to piece together that it was related to this person's family.

The texts continued, and Aradhyaa saw the name Shanaya on the screen. The pieces of the puzzle started coming together, and a sinking feeling settled in her chest. She knew Abhimaan had a past, but he had never felt compelled to share it with her, and she had never pushed him to reveal it. Now, seeing his late-night text exchange with Shanaya, it stirred her unease.

Aradhyaa felt a mix of emotions—worry, curiosity, and a hint of insecurity. She wanted to respect Abhimaan's privacy, but she couldn't deny the fact that his actions had raised questions.

In the darkness, Aradhyaa continued to pretend to sleep, keeping her observations to herself. She was aware that this was something significant, something Abhimaan was wrestling with. The night seemed to stretch on endlessly as she contemplated what to do next.

Should she confront him, or should she wait for him to open up when he was ready? These thoughts lingered in her mind as she lay there, pretending to sleep, but fully awake and aware of the emotional turbulence in their shared space.
With all these thoughts she drifted to sleep.

In the soft morning light, Aradhyaa hesitated but couldn't ignore her curiosity any longer. The unease from the previous night lingered, and she felt a growing need to understand what had been bothering Abhimaan. She glanced over at him, still sound asleep beside her, and decided to gently reach for his phone, which lay on the bedside table.

As she unlocked the device and browsed through his messages, she soon found the conversation with Shanaya. Her heart raced as she read about their plan to meet, including the time and location. It was clear that this was an important meeting for Abhimaan, one that involved Shanaya's family.

With the newfound information, Aradhyaa debated whether to confront Abhimaan or allow him to explain himself when the time was right. She knew she needed to respect his privacy, but the situation had become a source of concern and tension in their relationship.

Aradhyaa carefully placed the phone back where she found it, not wanting to disrupt Abhimaan's rest. She knew that today would bring more uncertainty, and her mind was filled with questions about Abhimaan's past and the nature of his relationship with Shanaya. It was a delicate balance between giving him space and addressing the issue at hand.

Abhimaan was a little awkward since morning, which increased her uneasiness, but she trusted Abhimaan much, so she ignored that thing and took sick leave today as she wasn't feeling like to work

The hours passed, and the morning sun bathed their room in a warm glow. Aradhyaa lay there, still awake, her thoughts centered on what the day would bring and how she would navigate this new challenge in their relationship.

Getting no text from Abhimaan till 1, even after her telling him that she is not well.
Was something which wasn't settling well with her so at last she decided to that she be going to cafe where they are supposed to meet at 1:30

And as soon as she reaches there.........