The Ideal Stranger

Chapter 9: The Edge of Truth

  Aanya barely slept that night. Rohan's message haunted her, and the revelations from her search kept replaying in her mind. Every detail she had overlooked, every gut feeling she had dismissed, now felt like pieces of a puzzle she had been blind to see.

  When the morning light streamed through her curtains, she still hadn't decided what to do. Should she meet Rohan and give him a chance to explain? Or was she only giving him more time to tighten his grip on her?

  Her phone buzzed again. It was Sana.

 Sana: Hey, want to grab lunch later? You seem like you could use some friend time.

  Aanya hesitated before responding. She wanted to confide in Sana about everything—about Rohan, Inspector Raj, and the secrets she had uncovered. But would Sana believe her? She had been so quick to trust Rohan, so eager to see their connection as something romantic.

  Aanya's fingers hovered over the keyboard before typing back.

 Aanya: I'll let you know. Might have something I need to figure out first.

  After sending the message, she stared at Rohan's last text.

 Rohan: I'll explain everything if you meet me tomorrow.

  She had to know the truth. It was the only way to free herself from the confusion that had been eating at her for days. But she wasn't going to do it blindly. She would go in prepared.

  Aanya chose a busy public park to meet Rohan. If things went wrong, she wanted to be surrounded by people. She arrived early, her nerves on edge as she scanned the area. Families strolled by, children played in the grass, and the usual hum of city life carried on around her.

  She spotted him sitting on a bench near the fountain. He was calm, almost too calm, watching the water ripple in the light breeze. As soon as their eyes met, he smiled—an unsettling smile that made Aanya's stomach twist.

  Taking a deep breath, she approached him. "Rohan."

  "Aanya." He stood up, gesturing for her to sit next to him. "I'm glad you came. I didn't want you to hear my side of things from anyone else."

  She hesitated before sitting down, keeping a safe distance between them. "I've heard enough, Rohan. Inspector Raj told me everything."

  His smile faded. "Raj? He's been filling your head with lies. He doesn't know me—he just sees what's on the surface, what's in the reports."

  "I found the reports myself," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I read about what you did to those women. Following them, manipulating them. That's why Raj warned me."

  Rohan's expression tightened, but he didn't lose his composure. "There's more to the story than what those reports say. Yes, I've made mistakes, but I'm not the monster they make me out to be."

  "Then tell me the truth," Aanya demanded, her heart racing. "Who are you? Why did you come into my life?"

  He sighed, leaning back against the bench. "The truth is complicated, Aanya. But I'll start from the beginning."

  He looked up at the sky, as if gathering his thoughts before speaking again.

  "When I first saw you, I didn't approach you by accident. I knew who you were. I've known you for years—at least, I've known of you. We grew up in the same neighborhood. I used to see you every day, but you never noticed me."

  Aanya's mind raced as she tried to place him in her memories, but nothing clicked. "I don't remember you."

  "I know," he said quietly. "You wouldn't. Back then, I was invisible to you, just another face in the crowd. But I remembered you. I followed your life from a distance, watched you grow into the person you are now. And when I saw you again in that café, I couldn't stay away."

  Aanya felt a chill run down her spine. "So you've been watching me? For how long?"

  "Years," Rohan admitted, his gaze intense. "But I never meant to hurt you. I was drawn to you, fascinated by you. When I approached you, it wasn't to manipulate you—it was because I felt something real."

  "You don't get to decide what's real for me," Aanya snapped, anger rising in her chest. "You stalked me, Rohan. That's not love. That's obsession."

  He looked genuinely hurt by her words, but Aanya didn't waver. She stood up, backing away from him.

  "This is over," she said firmly. "I don't care what your reasons were. I can't trust you."

  Rohan stood up too, desperation flickering in his eyes. "Aanya, wait. Please, just give me a chance to prove myself. I'm not the person you think I am."

  "You're exactly the person I think you are," she replied, her voice cold. "Stay away from me, or I'll make sure you do."

  Without waiting for his response, Aanya turned and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. Every step she took felt like reclaiming her freedom, piece by piece.