The Revenge Game

5-News

The rest of the workday passed in a blur, my thoughts never straying far from Aarav and the unsettling news about Raha.

Meetings, emails, and deadlines filled my hours, but the tension in my chest remained. As the day drew to a close, I packed up my things and headed out to my car, my mind already rehearsing the conversation I knew I needed to have with Aarav.

The drive back home was quiet, the usual comfort of music doing little to ease my nerves. When I pulled into my driveway, I sat in the car for a moment, gathering my thoughts. The house was dark and empty, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, feeling the weight of the evening ahead.

I texted Aarav, asking him to come over. "We need to talk," I typed, hitting send before I could second-guess myself. Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with his reply.

"On my way."

The minutes ticked by slowly as I waited, pacing the living room. My heart pounded with anticipation and anxiety. Finally, I heard the sound of Aarav's car pulling up outside. I opened the door before he had a chance to knock.

"Hey," he said, a hint of concern in his voice as he stepped inside. "What's going on?"

"We need to talk," I repeated, leading him to the couch. We sat down, the air thick with tension. I took a deep breath, gathering my courage.

"Aarav, I found out something today that’s been bothering me," I began, looking into his eyes. "Raha is back in town."

His expression shifted, a flicker of something—surprise, worry, guilt—crossing his face before he composed himself. "Raha?" he asked, as if testing the name.

"Yes, Raha," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "Your ex-girlfriend. The one you never told me about."

Aarav sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maanvi, it's not what you think."

"Then tell me what it is," I urged, my voice soft but insistent. "Because right now, it feels like you lied to me."

He took a deep breath, his eyes meeting mine. "I didn't tell you about Raha because I didn't want to bring that drama into our relationship. She's... she's a complicated person, and our past isn't something I'm proud of."

"Complicated?" I echoed, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Amara told me about her. How she’s known for her obsessive behavior, how she hurt someone before. And now she’s back, saying she wants you back."

Aarav's face paled slightly, and he reached for my hand. "Maanvi, I swear, I have no feelings for Raha. What we had was toxic, and I moved on. I moved on with you because you’re everything she wasn’t—kind, understanding, and genuine."

"But why didn't you tell me?" I asked, my voice breaking. "Why keep it a secret?"

"I was afraid," he admitted, his grip on my hand tightening. "Afraid that if you knew about her, you'd think less of me. That you'd see me as someone who attracted that kind of chaos."

I took a deep breath, trying to process his words. "Aarav, I need honesty. I need to know that we can face things together, no matter how difficult."

"I understand," he said softly. "I should have been honest with you from the start. I'm sorry, Maanvi. I promise, no more secrets."

I nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering doubt. "We’ll figure this out together," I said, squeezing his hand.