It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and Rajat had left for yet another “urgent business meeting.” Rhea was in their bedroom, flipping through some medical journals to prepare for her upcoming shift at the hospital. But her mind wasn’t focused on work; instead, it kept drifting to the growing unease surrounding her husband’s strange behaviour.
After weeks of cryptic answers and vague reassurances, she felt more anxious than ever. There was something off, and despite Rajat’s attempts to comfort her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something big—something dangerous.
She stood up, her nerves getting the best of her. Maybe some housework would clear her mind. As she began tidying their closet, her hand brushed against something hard in the back corner of Rajat’s side. Curiosity piqued, she pushed the row of neatly hung suits aside and found a small, hidden compartment she had never noticed before.
Heart pounding, she knelt down and pulled it open. What she saw inside made her breath catch in her throat—a row of sleek, polished guns and stacks of documents, some with names and addresses, others with ominous markings and foreign seals.
Rhea’s hands trembled as she leafed through the papers, her mind racing. These weren’t ordinary business documents. This was evidence—evidence of something far more sinister than she had imagined.
“What the hell…?” she whispered under her breath, barely able to comprehend what she was seeing. Her heart raced, and an overwhelming sense of dread washed over her.
She slammed the compartment shut, her chest rising and falling rapidly. What was Rajat involved in? This wasn’t just about “family business.” This was something darker, something illegal.
Her stomach churned as she sat back on her heels. She had to confront him, but the thought of it filled her with fear. What if he lied again? What if he was truly dangerous?
Rajat came home earlier than expected that evening, looking as calm and collected as ever. Rhea’s heart raced in anticipation as she prepared herself for the confrontation.
When she heard his footsteps approaching, she stood in the living room, arms crossed, her nerves barely contained. Rajat walked in, his usual charming smile fading as he noticed her rigid posture.
“Rhea?” he asked, his voice cautious. “What’s wrong?”
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. “I found something today… in the closet.”
His eyes flickered with something—surprise, maybe? Or was it fear? He walked closer, his expression unreadable. “What did you find?”
“Guns, Rajat,” she said bluntly, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to remain composed. “And documents—things that don’t look like they belong to any legitimate business. What the hell is going on?”
Rajat’s jaw clenched as he looked away, tension rolling off him in waves. “Rhea, it’s not what you think—”
“No!” she snapped, stepping forward, her anger finally breaking through. “I’m tired of that excuse! You’ve been disappearing, you’re always on edge, and now I find this? What kind of ‘family business’ are you involved in?”
Rajat ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “It’s for protection, Rhea. You have to understand—”
“Protection?” she echoed, incredulous. “Protection from what? Are we in danger? Are you in danger?”
His silence spoke volumes. Rhea’s breath hitched as she took a step back, her mind spinning. “What are you hiding from me, Rajat?”
He reached for her, his expression softening, but she pulled away, her arms wrapping around herself defensively. “Rhea, please listen to me. I know this looks bad, but it’s not what you think. My family has enemies. People who want to harm us. The guns, the documents… it’s all for protection. I swear to you.”
“Protection from who?” she demanded, her voice rising. “What kind of enemies does your family have? This isn’t normal, Rajat! I’m not stupid—I can see there’s something more going on here.”
Rajat’s eyes darkened, a shadow crossing his face. “You have no idea what kind of world we live in.”
His words sent a chill down her spine. “Then tell me,” she whispered. “Tell me what kind of world this is. Because I’m your wife, and I deserve to know.”
For a moment, he stood there, silent and unmoving, his gaze locked with hers. Rhea’s heart pounded in her chest, waiting for him to finally reveal the truth. But instead, Rajat exhaled slowly, his expression softening as he stepped closer to her.
“Rhea,” he said quietly, his hands reaching for her shoulders. “I don’t want to drag you into this. I’ve been trying to protect you from all of it.”
She stared at him, her emotions swirling in a storm of confusion, fear, and love. “What are you protecting me from, Rajat?”
His fingers tightened slightly on her shoulders as he leaned down, his voice low and filled with regret. “From a life you weren’t meant to be part of.”
Rhea’s breath caught in her throat as he pulled her into his arms, his warmth momentarily easing the tension between them. “I never wanted you to find out like this,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “But I promise, everything I do… it’s for us.”
She closed her eyes, torn between the comfort of his embrace and the terrifying knowledge she had uncovered. How could she reconcile the man she loved with the dangerous secrets he was keeping from her?
“Rajat,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “This… it’s not normal. I’m scared.”
He pulled back slightly, his hand cupping her cheek as he gazed into her eyes. “I know. And I hate that you’re scared because of me. But you have to trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
His words were tender, filled with the kind of conviction that had once made her feel safe. But now, they were laced with an edge of danger she couldn’t ignore.
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” she admitted, her voice breaking.
Rajat’s eyes darkened with hurt, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed her—soft at first, but then with a fierce intensity that left her breathless. The passion between them ignited like wildfire, burning away her doubts for just a moment as she lost herself in the feel of him.
They moved together, their bodies a familiar rhythm that had always brought them closer, even when words failed. His hands roamed her body, possessive and urgent, as if he was trying to claim her all over again, to remind her of the bond they shared.
But even as their passion flared, the weight of what she had discovered lingered in the back of her mind. When they finally collapsed together, spent and tangled in each other’s arms, Rhea stared at the ceiling, her heart heavy with unresolved questions.
She could feel Rajat’s steady breathing beside her, his arm draped protectively around her waist. But the warmth of his embrace no longer soothed her like it once had. Instead, it felt like a reminder of the secrets that still lay between them.
As Rajat drifted into a peaceful sleep, Rhea lay awake, her thoughts spinning. She had married a man she thought she knew, but now she wasn’t so sure. And no matter how much he claimed to be protecting her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the danger was far closer than he was willing to admit.
She glanced over at his sleeping form, her heart aching with love and fear in equal measure.
What have I gotten myself into?
