Chapter 16: Inevitable Questions
The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the Rajawat mansion, its headlights casting long shadows against the towering iron gates.
Ekansh shifted the gear to park but didn’t unlock the doors. Instead, his dark eyes remained fixed on Siara, studying her as if he could see the thoughts racing in her mind.
She turned to him, her voice softer than usual. “Thank you.”
For everything.
For helping her when she was vulnerable.
For standing up for her at his home.
For making her feel… safe.
She didn’t say the rest aloud, but something in Ekansh’s gaze told her he understood.
His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel before he spoke, his voice cold and laced with danger.
“Whoever did this… they will regret it.”
Siara felt the weight behind his words—a promise, a warning, and a threat all at once.
His jaw tightened, and for the first time, she saw something dark and unforgiving in his expression.
He meant every word.
Before she could respond, the car locks clicked open.
She took a breath, composed herself, and stepped out.
As the gates of the Rajawat mansion loomed ahead, Siara didn’t look back.
But she didn’t need to.
She could still feel his presence, the lingering intensity of his words burning into her skin.
Whoever did this…
They were about to pay.
A Family’s Concern
The moment Siara stepped into her home, she was met with silence.
Not the kind of silence that welcomed peace.
No—this was the heavy, suffocating kind. The kind that signaled a storm brewing beneath the surface.
The kind that told her…
They knew something had happened.
Her mother, Meera, was the first to break the silence.
“Sia…”
Her voice trembled as she took a hesitant step forward, eyes scanning her daughter from head to toe.
And then—the dam broke.
“Tum theek ho?” (Are you okay?)
“Pata bhi hai hume kitni chinta ho rahi thi?” (Do you have any idea how worried we were?)
And then—the inevitable question.
“Yeh kapde—”
Siara exhaled sharply, already knowing where this was going.
The kurti and leggings she wore were clearly not hers.
Before she could explain, her chachi, Ishaani, crossed her arms and raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.
“Toh humse sach batane ka plan tha ya nahi?” (Were you planning on telling us the truth or not?)
Siara sighed. Here we go.
Her father, Veer Rajawat, hadn’t spoken yet, but his gaze was filled with silent questions.
Her dadu, Ranvijay, remained composed, but his sharp eyes studied her carefully.
And then there was Aadu—Advika.
Her little sister, who, unlike the rest, wasn’t bombarding her with questions. Instead, she just stood there, eyes wide with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
Siara took a deep breath.
And then—she told them everything.
The bump with the waiter.
The suspicion that lingered.
The syringe.
She watched as the blood drained from her mother’s face.
Her father’s hands clenched into fists.
Her chacha, Arjun, who had been quiet till now, spoke in a deadly tone.
“Kisne kiya yeh?” (Who did this?)
Siara hesitated. “Abhi tak pata nahi, par—”
“Par kuch nahi, Sia!” Her mother’s voice rose, her composure breaking. “Tumhe kya lagta hai? Yeh koi choti si baat thi?” (Nothing, Sia! Do you think this was a small thing?)
Her father’s voice was calmer but no less firm. “Aur tum is dress mein kaise aayi?” (And how did you come home in this dress?)
Siara inhaled sharply, already prepared for this question.
She kept her voice steady as she explained, “Ekansh ki maa ne diya tha. Main uske ghar par—”
A sharp gasp cut her off.
“Ekansh?”
It was Ishaani, her chachi, who looked the most scandalized. “Rajawat ladki… Vardhano ke ghar pe?”
Siara’s jaw tightened.
She continued, ignoring the tension in the room.
“I was there because I helped his sister, Kavya,” she said firmly.
Silence.
Then, Aadu’s voice broke through the thick air.
“Didi… aapko dar nahi laga?” (Sister… weren’t you scared?)
Siara looked at her sister—the only one who wasn’t accusing, just trying to understand.
She swallowed.
“Laga,” she admitted. (I was.)
Her voice was softer now.
“Par main weak nahi pad sakti thi, Aadu.” (But I couldn’t be weak, Aadu.)
“Jisne bhi yeh kiya, uska maksad mujhe todna tha. Lekin main unhe yeh jeet nahi dene wali.” (Whoever did this wanted to break me. But I won’t give them that victory.)
Her chacha nodded approvingly.
But her mother… her mother wasn’t convinced.
Meera stepped forward and cupped Siara’s face, her fingers trembling.
“Beta… tum samajh rahi ho na?” Her voice cracked. “Tumhare saath kya ho sakta tha?” (Do you understand… what could have happened to you?)
Siara felt the weight of her words.
The weight of her mother’s fear.
She reached up and held her mother’s hands.
“I know, Maa.” Her voice softened. “Aur isi wajah se…”
She took a deep breath.
“…main ab isse aur aage nahi badhne dungi.” (…I won’t let this go any further.)
Her father spoke next, his voice laced with something dangerous.
“Jo bhi tha… galti ki hai usne.” (Whoever it was… they’ve made a mistake.)
Her dadu, who had remained silent for most of the conversation, finally spoke.
“Siara sahi keh rahi hai.”
All eyes turned to him.
“Ab samay hai sawal karne ka nahi,” he said, his voice calm but commanding. “Ab samay hai jawab dhoondhne ka.” (This isn’t the time for questioning. This is the time for finding answers.)
The room fell into silence.
Then, Siara finally spoke.
Her voice steady.
“Main yahi karne wali hoon, Dadu.” (That’s exactly what I’m going to do, Grandpa.)
And in her eyes—
There was no hesitation.
Only determination.