FORBIDDEN FLAMES ✅

Facing the Truth

VIHAAN'S POV

I stood there, my mind reeling from what I had just heard. Shreya, Rohan, and Keerthi were discussing Aarna having an allergic reaction to peanuts. My heart skipped a beat. Peanuts? The same allergy I have. I couldn't believe it.

I looked at Shreya, a mixture of confusion and anger welling up inside me. "Does Aarna have a peanut allergy?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Shreya didn't answer immediately, her eyes flickering between Rohan and Keerthi. The silence only fueled my frustration. "Is Aarna my daughter, Shreya?" I asked again, louder this time, my voice echoing in the hallway.

Shreya finally met my gaze, but her silence was overpowering. I felt my anger rising, my voice growing even louder. "I need an answer, Shreya!"

She looked at me and with a heavy sigh, she said, "Yes, Vihaan, Aarna is your daughter, our daughter."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt a mix of anger, betrayal, and guilt. "Why didn't you tell me that I have a daughter, Shreya? We have a daughter. Why did you keep her away from me all these years? You kept her away from her own father. What right did you have to hide her from me?" I could hear my voice rising, the anger spilling over.

Before Shreya could respond, Keerthi stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "Control yourself, Vihaan. You're standing in a hospital, and Aarna is lying in there because someone intentionally gave her peanuts. We need to focus on her right now.

We can talk about you and your rights later. At least think about others in this situation. It's not always about you." She pointed her finger at me, her words were like daggers.

AUTHOR'S POV

Vihaan looked at her and said Just stay away from this Keerthi and stay away from my daughter!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the hospital corridor.

Keerthi responded with a sarcastic smile. "Your daughter? Wow, just wow, Vihaan. I have to appreciate your audacity," she retorted.

Shreya, sensing the escalating tension, tried to intervene. "Keerthi, please, let it go."

But Keerthi was not having it. She turned to Shreya, her eyes blazing with anger. "You don't get to talk now, Shreya. For three years, he didn't even care whether you were alive or dead and he left you when he knew that you were pregnant and now suddenly, he has this newfound concern for Aarna because he realized that Aarna is his daughter?"

Keerthi then shifted her focus back to Vihaan. "You just found out about your daughter and now you have this instant love for her? What happened to this love and affection when Shreya told you she was pregnant? Why did you accuse her, saying the baby wasn't yours and that you had no relation to the child? When you threw those hurtful words at her, you lost any right to claim Aarna as yours. Just because Aarna has a peanut allergy like you doesn't make you her father, Mr. Vihaan Tej Nanda."

Vihaan felt each word like a slap in the face. He struggled to find his voice, but Keerthi's words were relentless. They cut deep, dredging up memories he had tried to bury. The guilt and regret he had harbored for so long now lay bare in front of everyone.

"Keerthi, I...," Vihaan started, but Keerthi cut him off.

"No, Vihaan. You don't get to explain or justify. Not now. Aarna is lying in there, fighting because someone gave her peanuts. Instead of playing the victim, think about how you can actually help. Actions speak louder than words."