Taken For Granted

Chapter 54

Payal's POV

As I flip through the file, the evidence is undeniable—Shyam is dead. Despite everything he did, I can't help but feel a tinge of pity for him. All he ever wanted was to return to Anjali. Yes, he made terrible choices, but realizing your mistakes takes courage.
Khushi (shaking my shoulder): Jiji! Where are you?
Me (snapping out of my thoughts): What do you mean? I'm right in front of you.
Khushi (raising an eyebrow): I mean, where were you lost? What were you thinking?

Me (hesitant): I... I just feel a little sorry for Shyam.

Khushi (shocked): Jiji! That man doesn't deserve any sympathy. He realized his mistakes too late and put his trust in the wrong people.

(Authors note - Neither of them knows that Shyam had actually planned to kill Akash and Arnav.)

I nod, deciding to let the topic go.

Me: Let's just go meet this Rahul.

With that, we leave the police station and follow the GPS to Rahul's house.

The drive takes about half an hour, but as we near our destination, Khushi suddenly grips my hand.

Khushi (nervous): Jiji... what if Rahul is like Shyam?

Me (giving her a reassuring smile): Then this time, I'll be your shield.

Taking her hand in mine, I step out of the car, hoping to ease her fears as we approach the house.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

The door opens, and a woman stands before us, eyeing us with mild suspicion, as if trying to place us.

Krystal: Hello, may I help you?

Khushi (smiling politely): Can we see Rahul?
Krystal (narrowing her eyes slightly): Who are you? And why do you need to see Rahul?

Me (offering a calm smile): I'm Payal, and this is Khushi. We need to speak to Rahul—it's urgent.

Krystal studies us for a moment before nodding, sensing the urgency in my voice. She steps aside and gestures for us to enter.

Krystal: Please, have a seat. I'll call him.

As we settle into the living room, she calls out.

Krystal: Rahul, someone's here to see you!

Rahul (from another room): Coming!

Krystal turns back to us with a polite smile.

Krystal: Would you like some water?

Both Khushi and I shake our heads.

A few moments later, footsteps echo down the hall.

As the man approaches, our breath catches.

He looks just like Shyam—but different. Stronger. Calmer..

Rahul: How can I help you?

Before we can respond, Krystal glances between us, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. Krystal (curious): Do you know them?

Rahul (smiling slightly): No, Krystal. However, as a lawyer, I expect clients to come to me when they need help.

Khushi (startled): You're a lawyer?!

Rahul (frowning slightly): Who else is a lawyer?

I shoot Khushi a warning look, silently telling her to keep quiet.

Me (covering up smoothly): No one.

May I ask your full name?

Rahul (calmly): Just Rahul. I don't use a surname.

Me (surprised): Why?

Rahul: Because surnames don't define who we are—our actions do.

His words catch me off guard. The Shyam we knew would have never said something like that.

Me: How old are you?
Rahul's expression shifts ever so slightly, his eyes darkening with suspicion.

Rahul: Who exactly are you, and why do you need my personal details?

I hesitate. There's something in his tone—polite yet guarded. He doesn't trust us, and honestly, I don't blame him. We showed up at his house, knowing his name, with no explanation.

Khushi (cautiously): I'm Khushi, and this is my sister, Payal.

Before she can say more, I step in.

Me: We need your help. But we don't know if we can trust you yet.

Rahul leans back slightly, studying us.

Rahul (thoughtfully): I don't know how to prove that I'm trustworthy. But I do know that if I can help someone, I will. My police record is clean, and I've never lost a case in court.

I exchange a glance with Khushi. Do we even have a choice? From what I've heard, he seems like a good person. And he's been nothing but civil to us so far.

Me (carefully): Do you know Shyam Jha?

The change in his demeanor is instant. His fingers tighten slightly on the armrest, and for the first time, he looks... nervous.

Rahul (hesitant): Shy... Shyam Jha?

Krystal looks at him, confused by his reaction.

Rahul (exhaling slowly): He was my brother.

Krystal's eyes widened in shock.

Rahul: My twin brother.

Silence.

Rahul (voice quieter): He was adopted by my aunt when we were infants. She couldn't have children of her own, and he needed urgent medical treatment that my family couldn't afford. My aunt was wealthy at the time, so she took him in. But later... she lost everything. They became middle class, just like me.

He looks back at me, his eyes sharp.

Rahul: How do you know him? I swallow hard. His gaze isn't just questioning—it's wary.

Me (carefully choosing my words): Did your brother know he was adopted?

Rahul (shaking his head): No. We never met. I only found out about him a year ago.

So, he really didn't know. But something still feels off.

Me (quietly): Do you know Sheetal Jha? Rahul's jaw clenches.

Rahul (nodding slowly): She's our cousin. Another silence. There's something in his eyes—grief, maybe? Or is it something else?

I glance at Khushi. We need his help. But can we trust him? Is Rahul trustworthy?