Chapter Four: Suspicion and Shadows

"Oh! Uncle," Padma interjected quickly, her voice high with practiced innocence. "Anamika was just settling the bills. My bank app was misbehaving so badly that we decided to leave her behind to finish up."

Standing just a few feet away, Anamika began nodding vigorously, a nervous, tight smile plastered across her face as she tried to match Padma’s lie.

Mohini sighed, glancing around at the neighbors who had begun to linger. "Okay, now let’s go inside. We’re becoming more like a television show out here," she said, ushering them toward the door. They all moved to retreat into the safety of the house, but a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Wait!" Raju commanded.

Padma and Anamika froze, the shock visible in the stiffening of their shoulders.

Rao’s Villa

Inside the sprawling luxury of the Rao estate, Aditya sat in Alisha’s room, recounting the events of the audition and how Anamika had stepped in to help him.

"I’m just glad you’re okay," Alisha said softly. She reached out, playfully touching his cheeks, and Aditya couldn't help but offer a genuine smile.

"Umm... my tiny little sister is becoming more mature than ever," Aditya teased. Alisha’s smile widened at the compliment, but the warm moment was interrupted as Mahika burst into the room.

She flew toward Aditya, throwing her arms around him and sobbing with fake tears. Aditya’s expression immediately soured, his irritation clear, though Alisha looked on, touched by what she believed was true sisterly concern.

Back at the Jaykar house, the interrogation continued. Raju leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he questioned Anamika about the specific drugs they were prescribed at the clinic. Anamika and Padma remained paralyzed in a fearful silence.

"Ummm... maybe it was an injection? That’s why, right Padma?" Priyanka chimed in, trying to throw her sister a lifeline.

Padma jumped on the excuse immediately. "Yes, Uncle! It was an injection in the back. I’m still in quite a bit of pain," she added, reaching around to rub her lower back for dramatic effect.

Raju stared at them, his skepticism radiating off him in waves. "Why do I have a feeling that you’re hiding something from us?"

Mohini stepped in with a dismissive smile. "You’re worrying for nothing," she said, leading the girls away. They all filed out of the room, leaving Raju standing alone. He watched them go, his eyes cold with doubt.

I’ll check if it’s true or not, Raju thought to himself.

At the villa, Aditya finally managed to peel Mahika off him, stepping out of the embrace with a look of profound boredom.

"I was so worried about you, Aditya," Mahika cried, her voice trembling with forced emotion. "I almost had a heart attack!"

Aditya remained unimpressed, but Alisha swept in with excitement. "Well, he’s fine, Mahika! Please don’t cry," she said, pulling Mahika into a hug. "Don't ever stop loving my brother, Mahika," she added, looking over at Aditya.

Aditya forced a wide, fake smile, the mask of the dutiful brother firmly back in place.

UNKNOWN LOCATION

The air was damp and smelled of copper. Dev Malhotra was strapped to a chair, his face a mask of bruises and drying blood from a recent barrage of punches. Standing over him, Vihaan remained hidden behind his mask, his voice a low, terrifying growl.

"You will follow that brat to hell," Vihaan spat, his fist clenching for the next blow.

Later that evening, the tension shifted to the Jaykar dining table. Padma and Rohan had joined the family for dinner, the clinking of silverware the only sound in the room until Raju broke the silence. He looked up from his plate, his gaze fixing on the guests.

"What was the name of that clinic again?" he asked casually.

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