Arjun's Discovery
Arjun sat in his study, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone when a notification popped up. It was a post from Aarav, sharing a link to a book he had been raving about for weeks. Arjun had heard about it at family dinners, in office conversations, and even from Sia's mother, Shreya. The anonymous author, who went by the pen name "Rhythm," had become something of a literary sensation.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the post. Aarav had quoted a passage:
"Sometimes, strength lies not in wielding power but in bearing the weight of silence with grace."
Arjun's heart skipped a beat. The words resonated with something deeply familiar. He clicked on the link and scrolled through the book's synopsis and excerpts, each line hitting closer to home. The way the author described emotions, relationships, and struggles mirrored what he had seen in Sia.
He quickly searched for more details, but the author had kept her identity exceptionally well-hidden. Frustrated by his inability to connect the dots, Arjun leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.
"Am I seriously doing this?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head at the absurdity of what he was about to do.
He pulled out his phone and made a quick call. "I need you to look into someone for me," he said, his tone sharp yet laced with a hint of embarrassment.
"Who's the target, sir?" came the professional response from the other end.
Arjun almost laughed out loud at how ridiculous the situation was. "An anonymous author," he said, chuckling despite himself. "I can't believe I'm actually using my spies for this."
The team got to work immediately, and within a few hours, Arjun received a call.
"We've found the information, sir. The author goes by the pen name Rhythm, but her real name is Sia. Does that ring a bell?"
Arjun froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Sia?" he repeated, as if he hadn't heard it correctly the first time.
"Yes, sir. Sia Mehta," the voice confirmed.
Realization hit him like a freight train, and he leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh. His wifeâhis quiet, unassuming Siaâwas the celebrated author everyone had been raving about.
He chuckled again, this time at his own obliviousness. "Looks like I didn't need spies for this one after all," he muttered, feeling a mix of awe and guilt. Sia had been hiding an entire world within herself, and he hadn't even scratched the surface.
But why hadn't she told him?
Sharing with Aarav
Unable to keep it to himself, Arjun found Aarav in the living room, flipping through a magazine.
"Aarav," he began, his tone calm but serious.
Aarav looked up. "What's up, bhai?"
"Sia is Rhythm."
Aarav's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "No way. Are you sure?"
"Positive," Arjun said, his voice firm.
Aarav grinned, clearly impressed. "Wow, Sia bhabhi is full of surprises. I mean, I always knew she was smart, but this? This is next level."
Arjun frowned at his brother's act, his brows furrowing. "You knew she was writing?"
Aarav hesitated, sensing the shift in Arjun's tone. "Well, not exactly from the start. But I remember her mentioning she liked to write. I didn't know she was this good. So, I got curious and later found out everything. And you know bhai, Neha is her Manager,"
Arjun's chest tightened. Even Aarav had known more about Sia's passion than he did. It was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Arjun muttered, more to himself than to Aarav.
Aarav shrugged. "Maybe she didn't think you'd be interested. Or maybe she didn't know how to bring it up."
Arjun's jaw clenched. The thought of Sia feeling like she couldn't share this part of herself with him only added to his growing frustration.
Sia's POV
Sia sat in her room, staring at her phone. The name flashing on the screen made her stomach churnâRiya. After a moment's hesitation, she answered.
"What do you want, Riya di?" Sia's voice was cold, her defenses already up.
"Relax, little sister," Riya replied, her tone dripping with mock sweetness. "I just wanted to check on you. How's married life?"
Sia's grip on the phone tightened. "Cut to the chase, Riya di. Why are you calling?"
Riya laughed, a sound that sent chills down Sia's spine. "Oh, Sia. Always so defensive. I just thought you should knowâI'm coming back. And I'm taking what's mine."
"What are you talking about?" Sia asked, though she already knew.
"Arjun," Riya said simply. "He was mine before he was yours. And he will be mine again."
Sia's heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to let Riya hear the fear in her voice. "Arjun is my husband. Stay out of our lives."
"We'll see about that," Riya said before ending the call.
Sia stared at the screen, her hands trembling. She felt like the walls were closing in on her, suffocating her with the weight of Riya's words.
Sia's eyes drifted to the framed photographs scattered across the room. Moments of laughter, warmth, and belonging flashed in her mindâArjun's grandparents, who always welcomed her with open arms; his and Aarav's parents, who treated her like their own daughter; Aarav and Ishika, who had become her closest allies in this whirlwind of a family.
But now, it all felt fleeting. She let out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "They'll forget me the moment Riya comes back. I'm nothing compared to her... so easily replaceable."
Her gaze fell on Candy, who sat at her feet, looking up at her with innocent eyes. Sia reached out to gently stroke his head, her tears falling freely now. "Candy, listen to me. When Riya di comes back, don't scare her, okay? She'll be your dad's partner, and you need to love her like you love me." Her voice cracked as she continued, "Don't miss me too much. Promise me you won't act distant from Arjun. He needs you, Candy."
Unbeknownst to her, Arjun had been standing outside the door. The words he heard sliced through him like a knife. Every ounce of Sia's pain, every tear she shed, resonated in his chest, making him feel something he hadn't allowed himself to confront before.
Sia didn't notice him as she buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly. Candy nuzzled against her, trying to comfort her in his own way, but the weight of her words hung heavy in the room.
Arjun, unable to take his eyes off her, felt his heart shatter at the sight of the woman who had somehow become the center of his worldâbroken, hurt, and believing she was unwanted.
The Alliance
In a sleek London office, Mayank leaned back in his chair, a sly grin on his face. Across from him sat Riya, her polished appearance radiating confidence.
"So, we're agreed," Mayank said, extending his hand.
Riya smiled and shook it. "We both want the same thingâSia and Arjun apart. Let's make it happen."
Their handshake marked the beginning of a dangerous alliance, one that would test the strength of Arjun and Sia's bond in ways they could never imagine.