Pocket Full of Lies

38- Glimpse of Old Rehaan

The fire was an accident. Then why?

I didn't understand what was going on. Based on what Ananya Di said it sounded like that fire was intentional and not an accident we thought for all these years.

I looked at Rehaan to see if he had any idea about what was going on, before face-palming me.

"You don't remember anything, do you?" I sighed, clutching my hair on the top of my head tightly.

"I remember standing outside the gate, looking at the remains," he muttered in a low sad voice, making my head snap at him.

His memory was ba-

"Partial amnesia," He reminded me, already knowing where my thoughts would land.

"Should we ask the families of other employees of that time?" I questioned, thinking that maybe they would have some clue.

"I think we need to file a police complaint first," Rehaan interjected, "Muskaan's life is in danger."

"And whose name will you file a complaint with?" Ananya Di asked, "She doesn't exist on paper, remember? All sorts of questions will raise and she will fall into a bigger danger.

"Let's not act hastily without a plan. I understand that your blood is boiling, but please do not forget that you two are still kids. These people seem to have connections with higher ups, while us, no offense, but we are useless."

"We are adults," I grumbled, ignoring all the other wise words she said.

"Inexperienced adults," she corrected herself, sarcasm dripping from her tone.

"I agree," Rehaan said, before I could fight it out with Di. "If they were the ones after our parents' deaths then we are fighting against something way major than we were thinking until now. Someone who not only killed our parents but also holds the grudge to come after us seven years later.

"Even if we have seen more than the people of our age, we would be nothing in front of those cunning bastards. We need to be cautious. And before fighting, we need to make provisions for our safety."

He said 'our', but his eyes screamed that he was only talking about my safety.

"Ananya Di, please hold onto Muskaan's luggage for a while. And make sure to not meet us in person. They might be still spying and could harm you instead," he said to her, before promising to call back later after he got everything in order.

Turning towards me, he said or more like ordered, "Muskaan, let's search the house to see if my documents are also gone. Or better yet, let's just start packing. We will eventually find out if they are there or not."

"Packing?"

"We need to shift. Those people are aware of both of our addresses. We don't know if they will just stop at our documents. So let's get out of here before they come back," Rehaan explained.

"I don't have that kind of money," I informed him in a small voice.

With all my savings lost on making my identification documents, I didn't even have enough money left to eat two full meals. And here he was talking about getting a new house.

All the money wasted on the documents that didn't even survive a week.

Rehaan stared down at me, before asking rudely, "Which part of 'we' you didn't understand?"

"Umm...," I opened my mouth just to close it again, not knowing what to say.

"You don't want to come with me?" It was more of a statement than a question. A statement that was filled with lots of hurt.

"You were the one who said that you can't see me as a housekeeper," I mumbled pathetically.

He wasn't going to employ me. With what other right could I go with him?

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, looking really frustrated with me.

"Our lives are on the line, yet you need a label to come with me?" He almost shouted, before sighing and forcing himself to speak in a calm voice, "Can't you just come? I have no interest in forcing you to stay by my side. I won't stop you from going away. Just until we are safe. Can't you just bear with me until then?"

"Am I that untrustworthy?" He muttered to himself at the end.

"I am not a freeloader," I mumbled, looking at my hands to avoid his angry gaze.

"You...seriously." He threw his hands up in the air, obviously frustrated with me.

I would have been too if I was in his place. But I couldn't just take advantage of his niceness. Especially after breaking his trust mercilessly.

"You leave. I will just stay back," I said, still avoiding looking at him.

"Yeah, stay back and then what? What if they come after you? Kidnap you or kill you? Forget investigation, no one can even file a missing complaint for you. Do you seriously not understand the situation?" He yelled at last.

"You know what, fine. Let's do it your way. Anyway, it's useless to make you understand anything."

My heart dropped at that moment. Because it felt like he was giving up on me.

Wasn't he just agreeing to my decision? I should have been glad. Then why was my heart having an opposite reaction?

With a heavy heart, I barely managed to get out the words, "Thanks for understan-"

"I am hiring you back as my housekeeper."

It took a second for me to process what he said.

"What?" I whispered, as my heart started beating rapidly.

Thank goodness it wasn't attached to the monitor. Or else the sound of my current racing heart would have exploded everyone's eardrums.

"You don't want to be a freeloader, fine. You will be coming with me to take care of me as well as my house, Ms. Housekeeper," he said in a hard tone, his eyes losing all the warmth.

As if he had buried all his feelings in that very moment.

Upon receiving my single nod of confirmation, Rehaan started commanding on what work I needed to do right away. No kind words, no patience, no time to panic over what was happening; just focusing on completing the given task.

And just like that, Old Rehaan was back.