One day, One love

The Trap Within

Manisha returned to the hospital, her mind still racing from what she had discovered. As soon as she stepped into the lobby, she spotted Abhishek pacing nervously near the waiting area. The moment he saw her, relief flooded his face, and without a second thought, he rushed toward her.

"Manisha!" he called out, his voice a mix of excitement and exhaustion.

Before she could say anything, Abhishek wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I have amazing news," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "The doctors just told us—Dad's going to be discharged in two days. He's recovering!"

Manisha, still processing everything that had unfolded earlier, hesitated for a split second. Her mind wanted to stay distant, to hold back, but her heart couldn't resist the raw emotion in his voice. Slowly, she brought her arms up and hugged him back, allowing herself to share in this moment of relief, even if it was fleeting.

Abhishek felt her warmth as she returned the hug, and for a brief moment, the tension he had been carrying dissolved. But then, he froze, his body stiffening as the reality of her touch sank in. This was the first time in days that Manisha had embraced him, and it caught him completely off guard. She had been so distant, so cold, and now this unexpected moment of closeness confused him.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching her face, trying to understand. "Manisha... I—" he began, but the words caught in his throat. He didn't know what to say. Part of him wanted to ask her if everything was okay, if this was her way of forgiving him, but the uncertainty in her eyes stopped him.

Manisha managed a small smile, though her mind was still miles away. She wasn't ready to confront him about what she had uncovered. Not yet. This moment was about Vinay, about the family's relief, and she didn't want to shatter that—at least, not today.

"That's great news," she said softly, her voice steady but distant. "Your dad's going to be okay. That's what matters."

Abhishek nodded, but he couldn't shake the strange feeling that something was still off. He wanted to ask her, to push her for answers, but he also didn't want to ruin the fragile peace they seemed to have found, even if it was only for a moment.

"Yeah, you're right," he replied, though his heart was heavy with unspoken questions.

As they stood there, the hospital bustling around them, the weight of everything unsaid hung between them—his guilt, her suspicions, and the storm of emotions yet to be unleashed. Manisha sat in the quiet of her car, her fingers lightly drumming against the steering wheel. Her mind was swirling with a mix of emotions—anger, betrayal, and a strange sense of calm determination. She had the proof now, the footage that showed everything Neha had done to Abhishek. But confronting her wasn't something she could rush. It needed to be planned, carefully, so that Neha couldn't slip away from the consequences of her actions.

Taking a deep breath, Manisha pulled out her phone and found Neha's number. Her thumb hovered over the call button for a moment before she pressed it, listening as the line rang. She had to approach this delicately, despite the anger bubbling inside her. If she showed her hand too soon, Neha might get suspicious.

On the third ring, Neha picked up. "Hello?" came her voice, smooth and unsuspecting.

Manisha felt her chest tighten, but she kept her tone soft and even, forcing any hint of confrontation out of her voice. "Hi, Neha. It's Manisha," she said gently, as though nothing was wrong, as though she wasn't on the verge of exposing her. "I was wondering if we could meet. The day after tomorrow, perhaps?"

There was a pause on the other end, and Manisha could almost feel Neha calculating, trying to figure out why she was being asked to meet. But her tone remained friendly when she responded. "Oh, sure, Manisha. Of course, we can meet. Is everything alright?"