𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞 || @𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙨||

.Chapter-42. The man in Black

3300+ words

Tumse juda hokar bhi tumhare saath hi rahe,
tumhare khayalon mein khud ko paaye,
har pal bas tumhi ki yaadon mein kho jaaye.

Ashwin's pov:

"I'm not sure. But Vikram's family had enemies, right? His father was powerful, wealthy. Someone could have wanted to take them out. And maybe Tanaya got caught in the crossfire."

"But that doesn't explain why Vikram blames you—or our family." Viyaan's voice held a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

I shook my head, trying to piece together the fractured memories of that time. "It doesn't. But Uncle Bhatra—Vikram's father's younger brother—he was close to them, right? And after the accident, he was the one who took control of everything. The family business, Vikram's guardianship... everything."

Viyaan nodded slowly. "Yeah, I remember. He was always in the background, like a shadow. But why would he want to destroy Vikram's life?"

I turned to face him, the realization starting to take hold. "What if Uncle Bhatra wasn't just in the background? What if he was the one pulling the strings all along?"

The thought lingered between us, unsettling in its implications. Uncle Bhatra had always been the silent figure, the trusted family member who had stepped in when Vikram's parents were gone. But what if his intentions had never been pure?

"That's a big leap," Viyaan said cautiously. "Do you really think Uncle Bhatra would kill his own brother and sister-in-law? And for what? Money?"

"It's possible," I said, my voice thick with the weight of the realization. "Think about it. Vikram's father was the head of the family, the one with all the power. Maybe Bhatra wanted that power for himself. And Tanaya..." I trailed off, the pieces starting to fall into place.

"Tanaya could have known something," Viyaan finished, his eyes widening as the idea took shape. "Maybe she overheard something or found out about the accident. And that's why she was killed."

The car fell silent as we both processed the enormity of what we were suggesting. If we were right, this wasn't just about a misunderstanding between me and Vikram. It was a carefully orchestrated plan to destroy him, set in motion by the one person he trusted the most—Uncle Bhatra.

"But how do we prove it?" Viyaan asked after a moment. "We don't have any evidence."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "We need to dig deeper. There must be something—bank records, old communications, anything that links Uncle Bhatra to the accident and to Tanaya's death."

"We'll need help," Viyaan said thoughtfully. "Someone who can get us into the right places without raising suspicion."

"Yuvan," I said immediately. "He has the resources and connections. If anyone can help us uncover the truth, it's him."

Viyaan nodded in agreement. "But we'll have to be careful. If Uncle Bhatra is really behind all of this, he'll be watching. And if he finds out we're onto him—"

"He won't," I interrupted, determination settling into my bones. "We'll get the evidence, and we'll bring him down. But we can't let Vikram find out until we're sure. If he goes after Bhatra without proof, it'll only make things worse."

Viyaan's face darkened. "He's already on the edge, Ashwin. If he thinks you're protecting someone responsible for his parents' deaths..."

"I know," I said quietly. "But I'll handle Vikram. I owe him that much."

We drove in silence for the next few minutes, both of us lost in thought. The revelation had opened up a new, darker chapter of this already twisted story, and we were now stepping into dangerous territory.