The Veiled Hearts

🌹Stolen Breaths/Brooch🔪

I had no idea why Tanya’s father wanted to speak to me, but his tone… it was strange, almost as if he knew me, but didn’t want me here. Yet, I had never met him before. Neither Papa nor Bhaiya had ever mentioned him. His gaze lingered on me longer than I liked, the same suspicious feeling I got when Yash and I were leaving the temple after the attack.

I barely caught a glimpse of him that day, standing with the gardener I met in the rose garden a few days ago. What were they doing outside the temple when the whole area was supposed to be vacated? The questions swirled in my head like a storm, and I knew I should talk to Yash about it before he blew up at me for hiding things.

The mansion felt like a maze as I ascended the stairs. I still had no idea which route Avni had taken me to get to her room. Second floor, sure, but there were too many rooms up here. Wait… is that… Yash?

My heart skipped a beat. He was with Reyansh. But Yash must know where Avni’s room is. I should go ask him. I quickened my pace, heading towards him, but before I could reach him, he angrily slammed the door to a room. What happened to him? He was fine just minutes ago.

I froze, hearing his voice through the slightly ajar door. Angry. Frustrated. It was rare for me to hear Yash like this. Then I heard it—my name.

"Miss Vanya Sharma. Daughter of Pradeep Sharma—your father’s bodyguard—and sister of Kunal Sharma, who was your bodyguard, and as for your mother... she’s dead."

I staggered back a step, my heart clenching. Why were they talking about me? But it wasn’t just my name. It was the way they spoke about my family, like we were beneath them. The disdain in their voices… it cut deep.

I clenched my fists, biting back my frustration, swallowing the anger that was rising inside me. I pressed my ear closer to the door, desperate to hear more. Then i heard—Aarav intruded into my room and found the letters.

No! No, no, no. Yash will take this the wrong way. I didn’t mean for this to happen this way. Even though I went as Echo instructed, I never wanted to hurt Yash or his family.

Right now, I don’t care what anyone thinks of me. All that mattered was Yash. His anger, his frustration, his sadness—it mattered. He mattered. And I couldn’t let him paint a twisted picture of me because of Aarav’s intrusion.

I leaned in closer, trying to catch more of their conversation, but suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Vanya di? What are you doing near Aarav bhaiya’s room?" Avni’s voice pierced through my thoughts. "My room is the third one, not this one."

I spun around, my heart pounding.

"I wa__uhmm, I wasssss___" I stammered, my voice barely coherent as I tried to come up with an excuse. But before I could finish, the door behind me swung open, and I was yanked inside with a forceful jerk.