Treacherous Souls

XXVI. "What the fuck is going on?"

Third Person

The continuous ringing of her phone disturbed Aashika from her dreamless slumber, resulting in her being grumpier than usual.

"What?" She whined, not bothering to check who had called her this early in the morning.

"Aashika! Listen to me." A panicked voice sounded from the other side, removing all traces of sleep from Aashika's eyes.

"Bhabhi? What happened?" She sat up straight, recognising the tense voice of her eldest sister-in-law.

"Don't leave until further notice. Stay there for a few more days, and do not tell Kabir and Arjun about this. This call should remain confidential. After I end this call, you get up from the bed and investigate a man named Rishiv Yadav, got it?"

"But why? What is going on?" Aashika spoke, worried about the sudden turn of events.

"I don't have time to answer your questions. Follow my instructions, and do not call anyone from your phone."

"Okay!" Just after her confirmation, Mishka hung up the call.

Aashika wasn't able to comprehend the sudden change of plans, but she didn't bother to dwell on it, choosing to trust her bhabhi and investigate the man who had turned the strongest woman in the world distressed.

She took a quick shower, throwing on a pair of blue wide-leg jeans and white cropped top. Then she tied her hair in a messy bun, dumping her wallet and phone in a purse before hurrying out of the hotel.

***

The soft footsteps, muffled by the thick carpet, resounded throughout the otherwise silent corridor.

While being engrossed in her thoughts, Aastha subconsciously padded towards the indoor swimming pool and pushed the double wooden doors, revealing a spacious swimming pool.

The floor-to-ceiling glass panes reflected the hot rays of the sun, brightening up the otherwise dark room. There was a single L-shaped couch in the left corner, across from a bar, whose gleaming countertop  contained a few bottles of appetizing fruit juices. After Mishka married Dhruv, she added a few plants in this room, complaining about how boring and cold the swimming area looked, and since then the said room had become a sight to behold, famous for the aesthetic look it provided. The white and gold theme turned out to be fitting for a royal household, enhancing the allure of the Rajput Palace. In front of the entrance, there was a long and wide pool, filled with clear water.

Aastha's eyes wandered to the muscled back of her husband, who had decided to come for a quick swim.

"Manav?" She uttered, her eyes widening in surprise.

At the sudden interruption, Manav abruptly turned around, his eyes locking at the woman standing across from him in a simple kurti. Her right arm was still in a cast, reminding him of how badly he had failed in fulfilling his duty of protecting his wife.

"Aastha? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in bed right now?" He put down the wine glass in his hand and jumped out of the pool, wrapping a towel around his waist before striding towards his wife, a spasm of worry contorting his flawless face.

Aastha, being enchanted by the body her husband had scrupulously built, stood still, unable to mutter out a response. Her eyes were transfixed by his chest, and it was hard for her to  believe that behind the fitted suits and ties he always wore was hidden such a piece of art.