His Bride

24 / Truth

Chapter 24 – Truth

Arushi's POV

The room was thick with tension. Everyone sat in silence, still processing the events that had just unfolded—the gunshots, the fallen men, and the chaos that left their hearts racing. I knew the questions would come, and now it was time to tell the truth.

"What is happening, Dhruv? And how did Arushi shoot those men like a trained assassin? Are you hiding something from us?" Dada's voice was calm but firm, his sharp gaze cutting through the silence.

Dhruv opened his mouth to reply, but I gently squeezed his hand, signaling him to let me speak. I owed them this explanation.

"Dada... Dadi... Nanna... Baba... Chacha... Chachi... Maa... Bua," I addressed each of them, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

"We have hidden something from you all," I admitted, my eyes flickering to Aadhi, who was standing by my side, clutching my saree. "Aadhi, go to your room, sweetheart. I'll come to you soon."

She looked at me with wide, innocent eyes but nodded and left the room without a word. The silence returned, deafening and heavy.

I took a deep breath, gathering my strength. "First of all, my real name is Netra Mehta," I began, scanning their faces for any sign of recognition. "I am the daughter of Devanath Mehta and Mithra Thakur. I was their firstborn. Five years later, my younger brother, Aarav Mehta, was born. We were a happy family. My childhood was filled with laughter, love, and the kind of memories you cherish forever."

I paused, my throat tightening. This was harder than I thought.

"I was always fascinated by technology and problem-solving. At fifteen, I was recruited as a trainee for RAW, India's external intelligence agency. I was a gifted hacker, and over the years, I became one of the best in the field. By the time I turned twenty, I was handling high-level missions. My last mission was the most dangerous one—Saif Ali Khan, India's most wanted criminal."

Everyone stiffened at the mention of Saif. His name wasn't just infamous; it was feared.

"We thought the mission was a success... but we were wrong," I continued, my voice trembling with the weight of the past. "One day, everything changed. I returned home only to find... my worst nightmare waiting for me."

My voice broke as the memories flooded back—the smell of smoke, the lifeless bodies of my parents and brother, the haunting silence that filled the house.

"My entire family was gone," I whispered, tears burning my eyes. "Me and Aadhi were lucky to escape just before the fire consumed everything. She was only two months old at the time. From that day on, I swore revenge, but I couldn't risk Aadhi's life. I had already lost everyone else—I couldn't lose her too."

I paused to collect myself, glancing at Dhruv, who gave me a reassuring nod.

"There's one more thing you all need to know," I said, bracing myself for the final truth. "Aadhi is not Dhruv's daughter."

Gasps filled the room. Shock and confusion registered on their faces as they looked at me, then at Dhruv.

"Even Dhruv asked me once who Aadhi's biological father was," I continued, pointing at him. "But the truth is... Aadhi is not my daughter either. She is my little sister."

The room went completely silent.

"Aadhi is the third child in our family. When Mom was pregnant with her, Aarav and I were overjoyed. She was our little miracle. But I lost everyone when she was just two months old. I couldn't bear the thought of her growing up without a family, so from that day, I became both her mother and her father. I raised her as my daughter because that was the only way to protect her."

Tears streamed down my face as I spoke. "She still doesn't know the truth. She has no idea that I'm not her real mother... and I don't know how to tell her."

For a moment, no one spoke. The weight of the truth hung heavily in the air. I could see the disbelief, the sadness, and the overwhelming mix of emotions in their eyes.

Dada was the first to break the silence. He reached out and placed his hand on mine, his voice gentle but firm. "You did what you had to do, Arushi. You protected your sister in the best way you knew how. You gave her a chance at life."

Dadi wiped her tears, nodding in agreement. "Aru, you're one of the bravest women I've ever met. You've been through so much, yet you're still standing strong."

Dhruv wrapped his arm around me, his voice steady and full of pride. "She's not just brave—she's extraordinary. And now that we know the truth, we'll protect Aadhi together. Saif won't get near her or Arushi again."

The family slowly began to process the truth. One by one, they stepped forward, offering their support, their understanding, and their unwavering love.

In that moment, I realized I wasn't alone anymore. I had found a family—a real family—that would stand by me no matter what.

And as I looked around the room, I knew one thing for certain—Saif had no idea who he was messing with.

This time, the fight was personal. And I wasn't going to lose. Not again.

I took a deep breath, locking eyes with every member of the family. "There's one more thing... Maybe it's time you know my real identity in the intelligence world."

Everyone leaned in, curiosity radiating from their faces.

"My agent name wasn't Arushi or even Netra. In the intelligence world, I was known as Agent Trivarna."

The room fell into stunned silence. Dhruv's eyes narrowed in confusion, while Hardik and Naksh exchanged shocked glances.

"Trivarna?" Lakshya said slowly, almost as if testing the weight of the name. "Wait... THE Trivarna? The one who took down the Southeast Asian drug syndicate? The one who exposed the secret arms trafficking ring in Europe?"

"That's right," I said, my voice calm but unwavering. "That Trivarna."

Naksh blinked in disbelief. "You were the youngest RAW agent to ever lead a classified mission. I read about your work in... well, rumors. Everyone thought you died after the infamous Saif mission."

"I didn't die. I disappeared," I explained. "I walked away from that life after the tragedy that destroyed my family. My only mission from that day was to protect Aadhi. To give her a life free from danger and bloodshed. Trivarna ceased to exist. Until now."

Dada leaned back in his chair, his eyes full of surprise and pride. "Agent Trivarna... living under our roof, as part of our family." He chuckled softly. "You never cease to amaze me, beti."

"Bhabhi, you're a legend!" Hardik exclaimed. "I thought Dhruv bhai was the dangerous one in this family. Turns out, you've been hiding a much bigger secret."

Dhruv smirked, shaking his head. "You never fail to surprise me, Arushi. Or should I say... Trivarna?"

I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I couldn't let you have all the fun being the dangerous one, could I?"

Everyone laughed, but I could see the seriousness still lingering in their eyes. This wasn't just a revelation—it was a shift in how they saw me.

"Now that you all know," I said, my voice dropping to a more serious tone, "Saif won't stop until he finishes what he started. I've managed to avoid him for years, but today's attack was just a warning. He knows I'm still alive. And now, he'll come for us."

Dhruv's face hardened. "Let him come. He'll regret it."

"No," I said firmly, looking into his eyes. "He's dangerous, and I won't let any of you become targets because of me. This is my fight. I'll end it."

Dhruv reached out and gripped my hand tightly. "No, Arushi—this is our fight. You're not alone anymore."

I nodded, my heart swelling with a mix of fear and gratitude. For the first time in years, I didn't feel like I had to face the world alone.

Agent Trivarna was back. And this time, she wasn't fighting just for revenge. She was fighting for her family. And nothing—not even Saif—would stop her.