Six Years Ago....She Disappeared
Jiya Yadav never thought she would cross paths with *him* again. That one fateful night has now turned her life upside down. Arjun Singh Thakur, the commanding CEO, has become her hotel's VIP client. The problem? He...
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Jiya's POV
It has been six long years since I ran away from my past, carrying a secret that changed my life forever. Leaving Lucknow behind, I settled in Mumbai, determined to bury the memories-and the man-I once loved. I thought I could escape it all.
But fate has a strange way of circling back.
The very man I had been avoiding has reappeared, as if destiny itself dragged him back into my life. I thought I had hidden my child well, but he began to suspect, trailing us, trying to uncover a truth I've desperately kept hidden.
And the most terrifying part? My heart still trembles at his presence. The man I spent one unforgettable night with, whose blue eyes still haunt my dreams. That night, etched into my soul-the warmth of his breath, the comfort of his touch, the way our heartbeats became indistinguishable... it's a memory that refuses to fade.
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"Mom, you're going to be late!"
Arush's small voice cut through my dream like a sharp blade. My five-year-old son stood at the edge of my bed, tugging the blanket off me with an urgency only children possess.
Startled, I sat upright.
"Don't you have a meeting with your clients today?" he asked, frowning with concern far beyond his age.
The realization hit me-I did have a client to meet. I scrambled out of bed, heading to the bathroom. "I'm up, Aru, I'm up!"
Standing at the sink, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was tied in a practical bun, round black-rimmed glasses perched on my nose. I wore a buttoned-down shirt tucked into a loose-fit blazer and a black skirt that ended just below my knees. Professional, yes-but stylish? Definitely not.
At breakfast, Arush studied me with a judgmental eye only children can get away with.
"You really have no fashion sense, Mom," he said, shaking his head.
I almost spat out my coffee. "Excuse me?"
"Why do you wear glasses when your eyes are perfectly fine? And your clothes-ugh! You're not even that old. If you dressed better, maybe you'd have a boyfriend."
I laughed off the embarrassment. "Well, if no one marries me, at least I have you to look after me."
He paused, genuinely puzzled. "Wait, what? Fine, I'll take care of you."
Then, casually, he added, "I'm taking a day off tomorrow. We'll say my grandfather died."
I blinked. "What? We used that excuse last month!"
"That was your side of the family. Tomorrow we'll say it was Dad's side."
I squinted at him. "Why do you want the day off, Aru?"
He looked away. "I don't want to go to the tree-planting event. It's boring."
But I wasn't convinced. Deep down, I knew why he didn't want to go. He didn't want other kids to ask where his father was. He didn't want me to feel guilty for taking time off work to be there with him. My brave, responsible little boy-far too mature for his age.
"What if your dad came with you?" I teased gently.
He ignored the question entirely. "We have only ten minutes left. We're going to be late. Let's go."
At the elevator, I held his hand and whispered, "Alright, let's get you to school first."
As the elevator descended, I caught sight of a scratch on his cheek. I sighed inwardly. *He throws tantrums just like his father used to.*
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Later that morning, I arrived at Dynasty Hotel, one of Mumbai's finest five-star destinations. A massive crowd had gathered at the entrance.
I stepped out of the car and sighed. *No wonder Manager Suresh pulled me back from leave-it's to receive the famous model, Naina. And by the look of this crowd, impressing her won't be easy.*
Just then, a voice called out, "Director Jiya! You're finally here."
It was Manoj, the head of security, looking stressed.
"Open the emergency parking lot exit," I instructed through my Bluetooth mic. "We'll guide them straight to the side entrance."
Manoj looked alarmed. "That's against regulations! It's a fire escape-strictly off-limits."
Before I could argue, a staff member ran over, panting. "Ma'am, the cars are here. They arrived early-almost an hour early!"
*Something's off,* I thought. *Could this be a surprise check by Naina's team?*
Manoj and I rushed to the entrance, pushing through the crowd chanting "Naina! Naina!" as blacked-out luxury cars pulled in. The hotel's security team formed a protective ring.
I bent slightly, addressing the car window, "Miss Naina, welcome to Dynasty Hotel."
But the window's tint made it impossible to see inside.
The door opened slowly.
And then, he stepped out.
Time froze.
Those same blue eyes met mine.
My heart clenched.
*Is it really him?*
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**To Be Continued...**
Will Jiya's past collide with her present? Will Arush ever meet his father?
Thank you for reading the first chapter of *Eclipsed Hearts*. If the story touched your heart, please leave a review it helps more than you know. Stay tuned for the next chapters, and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
