ENIGMA

CHAPTER 15

Advik's phone rang abruptly, cutting through the tense atmosphere. Without a word, he turned on his heel and strode back to his room to attend the call.

Ruhani’s mind raced with possibilities, assumptions, and an overwhelming curiosity. Who were these people? What did they do for a living? Why were they so determined to keep her here? She had to find answers.

As she sat there, trying to piece together the fragments of her situation, her eyes wandered around the room, she approached Inaya.

“What’s your name?” Ruhani asked, her voice gentle.

“Inaya. You know that,” the girl replied, a bit puzzled.

Ruhani smiled softly. “I know, but I don’t know your full name.”

“It’s Inaya Malhotra,” she answered.

A cord struck within Ruhani. Malhotra! The name resonated with her. She tried to recall where she had heard it before. “What does your father do?” she asked, curiosity piqued.

Before Inaya could answer, Advik stepped into the room, his presence overwhelming. His eyes flashed with intensity.
“Ruhani, leave the room.”

Ruhani quickly complied, feeling the force of Advik’s authority. She stepped out, her heart racing. Inaya looked down, clearly upset, while Advik’s stern expression didn’t waver. “You must not share personal information with her. We don’t know who she is,” Advik instructed firmly.

Once outside, Ruhani’s mind raced. She pulled out her phone and typed “Advik Malhotra” into Google. The search results flooded her screen: photos of press conferences, celebrity weddings, and various high-profile events. Images of Advik, Inaya, and their parents filled the screen.

Realization dawned on her. This was the Dr. Advik Malhotra, a name synonymous with power, wealth, and influence. She sat back, her head spinning with the implications of her discovery. Suddenly, everything made sense—his intense scrutiny, the security, the insistence on knowing her identity.

She glanced back towards the room where Inaya and Advik were. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and she realized just how precarious her situation was.

Ruhani sat in the hallway, her mind racing with the realization of who Advik Malhotra truly was. The gravity of her situation became clear, and the weight of it pressed down on her. She glanced towards the room where Advik and Inaya were, knowing she had to tread carefully.

As she pondered her next move, Advik emerged from the room, his presence as commanding as ever. He looked at her with an intensity that made her feel small and exposed. “Ruhani” he said, his voice firm and unwavering.

Ruhani swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. “What do you want to know?”

Advik didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he motioned for her to follow him to a more private area of the suite. Once there, he closed the door behind them, his eyes never leaving her. The room felt smaller with him in it, his authority filling every corner.

“Sit down,” he commanded.

Ruhani complied, sitting down on the edge of a plush chair. Advik remained standing, towering over her. His posture was straight, and his eyes bore into hers with a scrutiny that was almost unbearable.

“Tell me everything about yourself,” he demanded. “Where are you from, what do you do, and why were you at that club last night?”

Ruhani took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. “I’m Ruhani Sharma. I’m from Mumbai. I just finished my bachelor’s in fine arts. I’m a painter. I came to Bangkok for a vacation... with my friends.”