Chapter 5: She Investigates

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Anjali's fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the wedding tapes, her heart pounding with anticipation. She did not forget to ask the videographer for the extra trial footage they had taken even before the ceremony started.

The cool plastic case felt heavy in her hands, laden with the weight of her mission. With a deep breath, she pressed play on the remote control and watched as the screen flickered to life, bathing the room in a soft glow.

Sat in rapt attention, her eyes were fixed on the scenes before her. Every frame held a potential clue, a piece of the puzzle she was determined to solve. She watched intently as the wedding day unfolded, meticulously analysing every gesture, every word exchanged between Arnav and Khushi.

The hours stretched into the night, but Anjali's resolve remained unwavering. She knew that somewhere within the depths of these tapes lay the truth she sought – the truth that could unravel the tangled web of misunderstanding and deceit that had plagued her family.

And then, like a beacon in the darkness, she found it. It was a fleeting moment, so brief that it could easily have gone unnoticed by anyone else. But to Anjali, it was like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the truth in stark clarity.

In that moment, she saw it – the raw emotion etched into Arnav's features, the unspoken longing in Khushi's eyes.

She had an inkling, when the wedding preparations were going on, that there was something going on between Arnav and Khushi, and she had even teased Arnav about it, but  had never imagined that his feelings were this strong.

He was looking at her as if she was the only person in the room. Sounds romantic, but the thing is, it was not a look of love. No, it was not.

He looked at her as if he was going to sob and punch a wall at the same time. Whatever it was, it sent a shiver down Anjali’s spine.

What the hell changed?!

I have to keep looking.

Tracing their movements was proving to be tougher than she thought. Her actions were starting to get irritatingly repetitive.

Rewind, pause, replay. Rewind, pause, replay. Rewind..

Pause.

Anjali had started to uncover some alarming similarities. It was Khushi first. Then Shyam, followed by Arnav.

One by one, all three of them climbed up the stairs near the foyer and were not seen again for a long time after that.

The stairs led to the only place away from the prying eyes of the wedding guests.

A beautiful place, with a mesmerising view, that always managed to give her solace when she was disturbed.

The terrace of Shantivan.

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⏰ Last updated: May 01 ⏰

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