The sterile smell of antiseptic and the hum of machinery surrounded Rhea as she walked through the hospital halls, but her mind was far from her patients. The revelation about Rajat’s involvement in the mafia still rattled her, but today, she faced an even more shocking truth that would shake her world to its core.
A few days after the confrontation with Rajat, Rhea met with a family friend, Anjali, who had always been like an aunt to her. They sat across from each other in a small café near the hospital, the aroma of coffee blending with the weight of unspoken secrets.
“Rhea, you’ve been quiet lately,” Anjali observed, her brow furrowing with concern. “Is everything okay with Rajat?”
Rhea sighed, her heart heavy. “It’s complicated. I found out he’s involved in… some dangerous things. But there’s more, Anjali. I feel like I’ve been living a lie.”
“What do you mean?” Anjali leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“I learned that my family has a history tied to organized crime,” Rhea confessed, her voice trembling. “How could I not know this? I feel like I’ve been surrounded by secrets my entire life.”
Anjali’s eyes widened, and she reached across the table, gripping Rhea’s hand tightly. “Oh, dear. That’s a heavy burden to bear. Have you spoken to your parents about it?”
Rhea shook her head, a mix of anger and fear swirling inside her. “Not yet. I don’t even know where to start. How could they keep something like this from me?”
“Sometimes, families hide things to protect the ones they love,” Anjali replied gently. “But you deserve to know the truth.”
Taking a deep breath, Rhea steeled herself. “I have to confront them. I need to understand what’s been hidden from me.”
Later that evening, Rhea returned home, the weight of her discoveries making her heart race. As she walked into the living room, she found her parents sitting together on the couch, the TV flickering in the background.
“Mom, Dad, we need to talk,” Rhea said, her voice firm.
Her mother looked up, concern etched on her face. “What’s wrong, Rhea?”
“I learned something today,” she began, her heart pounding. “I know about our family’s past. The ties to organized crime. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her father’s face paled, and he exchanged a quick glance with her mother. “Rhea, it’s not what you think,” he said, his voice tense. “We wanted to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Rhea echoed, incredulous. “By lying to me? I feel like my whole life has been built on a foundation of deceit!”
“Listen, it was a different time,” her mother interjected, her voice rising defensively. “Your father and I made choices we thought were right. We left that life behind for you. We thought it was best to shield you from it.”
Rhea shook her head, frustration boiling over. “But you didn’t give me the chance to understand! You kept me in the dark! And now, I’m married to someone who is neck-deep in that world.”
“Rajat?” her father asked, concern etched in his features. “You can’t be serious. He’s not the man you think he is.”
“I love him, Dad!” Rhea shot back, her voice rising. “And I thought he loved me too, but now I don’t even know what that means when our families are so intertwined in all of this!”
Silence hung heavily in the air, filled with unsaid words and deep-seated fears. Her mother reached out, trying to soothe Rhea. “We never wanted you to be involved in any of this. You’ve always had a chance to live a normal life—a life we dreamed for you.”
