A Dangerous Truth

Vikram Khanna leaned back in his chair, studying Ayush with sharp eyes.

"You really want to know about your father?" he asked, his voice low, almost amused.

Ayush’s jaw clenched. "Stop playing games. Tell me what you know."

Vikram exhaled, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Your father, Rajveer Oberoi, was a brilliant businessman. Ruthless, powerful… but also a man who made enemies."

Ayush stayed silent, his pulse pounding.

Vikram continued, "There was one man in particular—Devraj Malhotra. A name even Arnav won’t say out loud."

Ayush frowned. "Who is he?"

Vikram chuckled. "A man who doesn’t forgive. Your father owed him something—something big. And when he refused to pay… he vanished."

Ayush’s blood ran cold.

"You’re saying…" he swallowed. "Our father didn’t just leave us? He was forced to disappear?"

Vikram’s smirk faded. "Call it whatever you want. But Devraj never forgets a debt."

Ayush’s hands curled into fists. His whole life, he believed his father abandoned them. But now—this?

His father didn’t run away.

He was hiding.

And now, someone was stirring up the past.

Back at the Oberoi Mansion

When Ayush stormed into the house, Arnav and Anirudh were already waiting in the study.

"You went to Vikram, didn’t you?" Anirudh said, his voice tense.

Ayush slammed the door shut. "You knew." His voice shook with anger. "You both knew Dad didn’t just leave—he was hiding from Devraj Malhotra."

Arnav’s face was unreadable. "Yes."

Ayush’s breath caught. No denial. No excuses. Just the truth.

"Why the hell didn’t you tell us?" Ayush demanded. "We spent years thinking he abandoned us!"

Anirudh exhaled sharply. "Because knowing wouldn’t have changed anything, Ayush! Devraj was dangerous—he still is. Arnav made sure we stayed out of his world."

Ayush let out a bitter laugh. "And look where we are now."

Silence.

Then Arnav finally spoke, his voice like steel.

"If Devraj Malhotra is back in the picture, then we have a bigger problem." His eyes locked onto Ayush. "Because he doesn’t just want our father."

A shiver ran down Ayush’s spine. "Then what does he want?"

Arnav’s expression darkened.

"Us."

To Be Continued…