Edit - minor changes made in this chapter upon today meaning October 9, 2024, the day being Wednesday.
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As soon as Yash and Meera's second video went live, things took a sharp turn. What initially started as a wave of support quickly turned into an uproar. People began questioning not just their identities but their reasons for hiding for so long. The questions came fast and furious: Why had they lied for nine years? Why had they stayed in Manali in secrecy?
But the most burning question was about Sunaina Agnihotri, a name from the past that suddenly resurfaced. Where had she been for the past six or seven years?
Soon, public outrage hit its peak. People demanded that Yash and Meera be boycotted for deceiving the world. Even worse, authorities were called upon to investigate the disappearance of Sunaina Agnihotri. She had once been the prime suspect in the Agnihotri case 11 years ago. She had served five years in jail for plotting her husband's murder, and after her release, she had seemingly vanished. Now, the public wanted answers.
As the outrage grew, Yash and Meera decided to address it head-on. Together, they recorded a statement.
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Yash spoke first, his tone calm but firm. "We understand that people are upset. We've already clarified everything in our previous videos. We've admitted our mistakes, and we've apologized. Today, we're apologizing again."
Meera nodded, taking her turn. "As far as Sunaina Agnihotri is concerned, we don't know where she is. But if you're so concerned about her disappearance, why didn't anyone ask these questions sooner? Why are these suspicions being raised now, after all these years?"
Yash continued, "And as for the questions about our disappearance and our identities - again, why now? Why didn't anyone ask these questions when we first disappeared nine years ago?"
They ended their statement with those pointed questions, which only ignited more debates. The media picked it up instantly, and the statement made headlines everywhere.
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Inder watched the video with a mix of emotions. He understood Yash's frustration, but he also knew the public had every right to be angry. After all, Yash and Meera had lived a lie for nearly a decade. He could see how the situation had spiraled out of control, but he also knew Yash and Meera weren't entirely innocent.
"They made their choices," Inder muttered to himself. "But the public's not going to let this go easily."
His thoughts briefly drifted to Seraphina, wondering what she would make of all this.
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Seraphina was quick to notice the backlash. She had been following the situation closely and could see how quickly things had escalated. She sympathized with Yash and Meera, but she also understood why people were upset.
However, instead of reacting emotionally, Seraphina knew they needed to approach this calmly. She picked up her phone and called Inder, adding Mr. Pathak to the conversation.
"We need to step in," she said firmly. "We should go live with Yash and Meera on Instagram. Maybe that will help calm things down."
Mr. Pathak agreed, his voice steady. "I think it's the right move. If we can bring them on to the podcast as well, it might give them a better platform to explain themselves."
Inder nodded in agreement. "Let's do it. The live session can help, but the podcast will be a longer, more in-depth conversation. They need that chance to speak without the chaos."
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Amidst the growing chaos, the police also released their statement. They acknowledged Yash and Meera's point that the public's questions about Sunaina Agnihotri's disappearance were suddenly surfacing after all these years. But they didn't let Yash and Meera off the hook either.
A spokesperson for the authorities stated, "Yash and Meera are right to point out that people should have raised these questions earlier. However, that doesn't change the fact that they've been hiding for nine years. They became Rajesh and Shanaya to avoid suspicion, and now they're frustrated that the public is reacting. But let's be clear - this is as much their fault as it is the public's. They chose to lie and deceive. Now, they have to deal with the consequences."
The police also assured the public that they would continue investigating Sunaina Agnihotri's whereabouts, promising to leave no stone unturned.
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After the call, Seraphina reached out to Yash and Meera on Instagram, proposing the idea of going live with Inder, Mr. Pathak, and herself. Yash and Meera, already feeling the pressure, quickly agreed.
During the Instagram live, Seraphina, Inder, Mr. Pathak, Yash, and Meera appeared together for the first time. The chat was filled with viewers, thousands of comments flooding in every second.
Seraphina started the conversation, introducing everyone and calmly addressing the controversy. "We know there are a lot of questions, and we're here to have an open discussion."
Yash and Meera once again apologized for their deception but emphasized that they were trying to move forward. "We've owned up to our mistakes," Yash said. "Now, we want to focus on the future."
During the live session, Seraphina asked Yash and Meera if they would be willing to join her podcast along with Inder and Mr. Pathak. "We're all meeting in Manali soon anyway," she said, "and I think it would be great if we could have a deeper conversation on the podcast."
Yash and Meera agreed immediately. "We'd be happy to," Meera said, smiling. "It's time for us to talk openly and honestly about everything."
The live session ended with all of them confirming that Yash and Meera would appear on the podcast, which set off another wave of reactions.
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After the live session, social media was buzzing with comments. While some people were relieved to see Yash and Meera being open about their past, others were still skeptical. The biggest question people kept asking was, Why do a separate podcast if they had already talked about everything on Instagram?
In the comments section, users asked, What more is there to say? Others speculated that the podcast would reveal even more secrets, while some believed it was just a publicity stunt.
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