AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Vishnu throws me a startled look as though he can’t believe someone would think that.
“You thought I liked Meher romantically?” he repeats incredulously. I take a swig of my drink and nod at him.
“Ayaan Shergill was jealous of me? Vishnu?” he mocks. “Don’t tell me you had me investigated?” His tone isn’t exactly thrilled.
“Yes, I did,” I admit. “You gave me every reason to look into your background. That’s how I discovered your real identity – that you are Pratap Walia’s son.”
Vishnu’s eyes narrow with surprise, and he regards me with a mixture of curiosity and irritation.
“So, it was you?” he asks, eager to know the truth. “That’s how Meher got her hands on that birth certificate? I should have known.”
“No. That wasn’t me,” I reply. “Someone gate crashed my wedding reception and handed that secret to Meher. I’m already looking for the person who provided it to her.”
That’s all I can tell him right now. In the present circumstances, I can’t share any information that might jeopardise my pursuit of Raghav.
Vishnu’s jaw clenches, his expression revealing a strong desire to confront this person for his actions.
“This matter must remain confidential, Ayaan. If it leaks, it will have catastrophic consequences for the Walias,” Vishnu emphasises.
“I have no intention of doing so. I don’t want to hurt Meher by making her family’s private affairs public and subject to gossip,” I acknowledge.
Vishnu nods, signifying he respects my perspective.
“I don’t think that the person who gave Meher this information has any motive to leak it to the media or create another controversy. If that were the case, they would have sold it to a media channel for a hefty sum instead of giving it to Meher. From what I can gather, their intention is to expose the secrets of the Walias and Shergills to their children and create hatred within the family.”
“What would anyone gain from that? And hold on. Did you just say Walia’s and Shergill’s secret? You mean this person revealed some secret of your father, too?”
All I do is nod without divulging the details.
“Yes, and I’m still trying to figure that out. I’ll keep you informed about it.”
He gives me a curt nod, meeting my gaze with determination. This time, I see a flicker of a smile on his lips.
“Out of everything else... I never thought your jealousy would be the reason you found out my true identity.”
I can’t help but chuckle at his response. For the first time, it feels like I’m having a real conversation with Vishnu. We’ve spent so much time avoiding each other, each of us trying to assert our authority over Meher while also ensuring her safety. But now, after learning the truth about our connection, there seemed to be a certain camaraderie forming between us, however begrudgingly.
“Anyways, now that we are on the same team, I want you to do something for me,” I command.
“Not happening,” he snaps, setting his glass down. “The Rook doesn’t take orders from the opposite king, you know that, right? What made you think I’ll ever take your order?”
“You will,” I assert, my tone rising. “Because you are equally responsible for hurting Meher. Just like Pratap Walia, you, too, hid this fact from her all these years. I can’t see Meher so stressed. I’ve done my bit, and now it’s your turn. If you love your sister and want to ease her worries, you’ll do exactly what I ask you to do.”
Vishnu looks at me for a long moment and nods in resignation. “What do you want?”
I draw in a deep breath before making my request clear. “I want you to stop Pratap Walia from expelling Aksh from their political party.”
Vishnu is surprised by my demand and is about to ask me why I suddenly care about Aksh’s political future. However, I address his unspoken question.
“Meher is deeply concerned about Aksh’s future. She doesn’t want her brothers,both of them, to endure further suffering at the hands of her father,” I explain.
Vishnu comprehends the situation but remains unsure about how he can help.
“You know Pratap Walia,” he finally speaks up. “He doesn’t readily accept advice on political matters. How can I influence his decisions?” he questions.
“You are his son, Vishnu,” I respond confidently. “He may not publicly acknowledge it, but I know you’re the only one who can sway his decisions.”
“Son,” Vishnu smiles with a touch of sarcasm, “I’m afraid you don’t quite grasp this. I’ve never had any influence over him, not in his political affairs and certainly not in his personal matters.”
