Third person's pov!

Dhruv glanced at his watch as he stepped out of the car, the street lights casting long shadows across the quaint neighbourhood. The air was still warm, but a gentle breeze carried the earthy scent of the nearby trees, providing a welcome respite from the busy day he had just left behind. He pulled out his phone and quickly dialled Shraddha's number, wanting to keep her in the loop.

"Hey, Shraddha," he said when she answered, his voice steady but tinged with an underlying nervousness. "I wanted to let you know I will be a bit late tonight. I have to meet someone."

There was a brief pause on the line.

"Is everything okay?" Shraddha asked, her concern evident.

"Yeah. Nothing to worry about," he reassured her, sensing her unease. "I will be home as soon as I can."

"Alright," she replied

As he approached the small cottage, its weathered wooden door and ivy-covered walls exuded a quaint charm that belied the significance of the conversation that awaited him inside.

He pressed the doorbell and stood there for a moment, looking at the door, as he waited for someone to open the door.

Mithran Yadav opened the door for him. He looked quite surprised to see Dhruv at the doorstep at this time of the night.

"Dhruv, please come in." Mithran said and guided Dhruv to the living room where Madan Yadav was.

"Appa, do you recognise him?" Mithran asked and Madan looked up at him and his eyes widened as recognition struck him.

Dhruv knew that he was a spitting image of his father. Something he hated.

"Dh.. Dhruv.." It was a bare whisper, full of emotions.

"Uncle Madan, how are you doing? I heard you recently underwent a surgery." Dhruv asked in a formal tone, as he took a seat across from Madan.

Amrutha Yadav, his mother's close friend came out and when she saw him, she had tears in her eyes.

"Dhruv.." She called out as she hurried towards him and cupped his face so affectionately.

Dhruv felt uncomfortable with that sudden show of affection. He was not accustomed to this kind of motherly affection.

"Uh, hello aunty." He greeted awkwardly, the tears running down the older woman's cheeks making him uneasy.

"Why don't we all sit down and talk?" Mithran intervened, sensing Dhruv's unease.

They exchanged quick pleasantries. Amrutha stuck to Dhruv's side, too happy to even see that he was uneasy by the sudden onslaught of affection when he was not used to it.

"How is Diya doing? Is she married?" Uncle Madan asked.

"Yes, she is married. Her husband is a lawyer. They have a son, three years old." Dhruv said, pasting a smile on his face. Siddhant had told him that they were planning to have a vacation in Kerala. But so far, there seems to be no news of this supposed trip.

"Aww! I can't believe she is all grown up and a mother now.." Amritha Aunt gushed, with happy tears in his eyes.

"Mithran, please ask Chaahat to get something to drink," Amritha said, refusing to move an inch from Dhruv's side.

"Sure, Amma." Mithran said and Dhruv saw Uncle Madan tensing at that.

"Amrutha, why don't you go and get it yourself. She might not know where things are." Uncle Madan said.

"That's okay, Appa. I will help her." Mithran said.

"Chaahat?" Dhruv asked in confusion.

"My wife.." Mithran said with a smile.

"Oh, you are married? I didn't know." Dhruv said in surprise..

"It's been just a few months.." Mithran said brightly.

"Congratulations on your wedding, Mithran."

"You might actually know my wife. She works in K-fab. She is a senior designer there." Mithran said proudly and Dhruv frowned.

"Senior designer? I met most of the senior designers. I don't remember meeting Chaahat Yadav," Dhruv said in confusion.

"Ah, probably her name in the records would be Chaahat Bhatra," Mithran said and Dhruv froze.

"Bhatra?" Dhruv asked suspiciously.

Uncle Madan paled and Amritha Aunt had a horrified look on her face.

"Is that her maiden name? Bhatra?" Aunt Amritha asked in disbelief and Dhruv felt something was about to happen.

Call it a premonition, but he knew something unexpected was coming his way.

"Wait, lemme just call her. You might have seen her somewhere around the office." Mithran said and hurried towards the kitchen.

A moment later, Mithran came back with a woman in her early twenties.

Dhruv sprang up from the couch when he saw the woman approaching the living room.

All blood drained from his face.

"You???"

That face. He will never forget that face ever. And she has the nerve to look guilty.

Dhruv turned to Uncle Madan, who was sitting on the couch with a resigned look on his face.

This was all the confirmation he needed.

"I was actually feeling guilty of shutting you all out for the sin my father did. I had no idea you were an active accomplice in his sins." Dhruv bit out accusingly.

"How could you? How could you do this? After all that Mohini went through because of Rajath and Chandini, you went ahead and..." Aunt Amrutha trailed off, too shocked to speak.

"What the hell is going on? Can someone explain? Dhruv, stop speaking to my father in that tone." Mithran said in a warning tone.

Dhruv let out a humourless chuckle.

"How else am I supposed to speak?" Dhruv asked sarcastically and Mithran frowned.

"Appa, Amma, what is going on?" Mithran asked.

"You want to know the story? Well then, let me make it short. Your wife is the illegitimate daughter of my father." Dhruv bit out angrily and Mithran looked at Chaahat in shock.

Dhruv's mind raced as all what had happened in his life flashed in front of his eyes like a movie. His father left them for another woman. His mother committed suicide. And who was the injured party in this. Dhruv and Diya. Just them.

"Dhruv, whatever sin your father and Chaahat's mother did, Chaahat is an innocent party in this. You have no right to look at her in accusation. You have no right to hate her, when she was not party to any of that has happened in your parents life." Mithran said, standing next to Chaahat, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and glaring at Dhruv.

"Careful Mithran. Who knows? Like mother, like daughter. Just keep her in check and make sure she doesn't break another woman's house like her mother did." Dhruv said, the disgust evident in her voice.

He knew what Mithran just said was right. Chaahat was an innocent party in this. His father and that woman were the sinners. But he couldn't think straight. Seeing her brought back all the pain he had tried hard to suppress all these years.

"Mind your tongue, Dhruv. Do not speak of matters you know nothing about." Uncle Madan warned in a cold tone.

"What's wrong in what he said?" Aunt Amritha asked furiously.

"Maybe you like to forget some truths and remain loyal to your childhood friend, Amritha. But I will not keep shut anymore. Rajath and Chandini had suffered a lot and Chaahat still hasn't come out of her trauma. All because of a spoiled princess of a wealthy family." Uncle Madan bit out angrily and Aunt Amritha reddened at those words..

Madan then turned to Dhruv and shot an angry look at him.

"If children are to be judged by their mother's character, then they should be scared of the evilness of you and your sister, Dhruv. Because I have never seen someone as evil as Mohini ever in my life." Uncle Madan bit out angrily, his hate for Mohini Khuranna evident in his voice.

"Uncle... Don't you dare say a word against my mother.." Dhruv warned coldly and Madan chuckled.

"You know nothing about your mother, Dhruv. You only probably know the story your grandfather taught you from a young age." Uncle Madan said.

"Appa, stop beating around the bush and explain what you mean. Can't you see how affected Chaahat is." Mithran intervened impatiently.

"I have tried to tell Chaahat many times, but she never wanted to listen. She never wanted to be reminded again and again that her mother broke another woman's home." Uncle Madan said in a resigned tone.

Madan once again turned to Dhruv.

"Rajath and Chandini were childhood sweethearts. In love with each other since forever. They had no objections to their love either, since their fathers were best of friends. Everything was going smoothly. That is when my wedding got fixed with Amritha. Your mother met Rajath at our wedding." Uncle Madan said.

"And what? When he saw a wealthier woman, he forgot his so-called love of life and married my mother?" Dhruv asked sarcastically and Madan let out a sarcastic chuckle.

"Rajath could never forget Chandini. Theirs was that one in a million kind of love story. And the black eye that fell on their happiness is your mother." Madan said angrily.

"Madan ji.." Amritha almost yelled.

"Don't raise your voice, Amritha. Your anger is not going to alter the truth." Madan warned.

"Oh really? One in a million kinds? Then how in the hell did he marry my mother and create two kids before taking off with a share of Khurana wealth?" Dhruv asked sarcastically.

"So? That's the story your grandfather taught you." Madan mused.

"Appa..." Mithran sounded impatient.

"Your father didn't willingly marry your mother. He was forced into it. He was blackmailed into it..."

What the f*ck!

"What the hell do you mean?" Dhruv thundered at that piece of information. What nonsense is he sprouting? And why was he standing there and listening to it all?

"Mohini met Rajath at our wedding and she instantly decided that she wanted him. She followed him around, but he told her that he is already committed to Chandini. But that piece of news didn't deter her. She wanted him at any cost. As the only daughter of a wealthy diamond merchant, she had always gotten what she wanted. And she couldn't handle rejection. She went to her father, who always moved heaven and earth to fulfil all his daughter's wishes." Madan said and Dhruv was stricken.

"You mean my father and mother had known each other their whole life? They didn't meet each other later on in life?" Chaahat asked.

"Yes.."

"This is all a lie. You are simply lying to make your friend look a better person. He is nothing but an adulterer, who left his wife and kids for another woman." Dhruv bit out furiously.

Uncle Madan must be lying. There is no way any of this is true.

"Chandini was not the other woman. Mohini was. Mohini ruined their life because of her stubbornness and ego." Madan shot back furiously.

"What exactly happened, Appa?" Mithran slotted in.

"Ambar Khuranna blackmailed Rajath using his family. Rajath's father met with a small accident, which was caused by your grandfather. He blackmailed Rajath, saying that if he didn't marry Mohini, the future accidents won't be small and that he would make sure that the victim wouldn't survive." Madan said and everyone looked at him in disbelief.

It sounds like the plot of a daily soap. Does Uncle Madan really think that he is going to believe this cooked up story?

"He didn't leave Rajath with a choice. With heavy hearts, Rajath and Chandini decided to part ways. Your grandfather even made sure to separate Rajath from his family. To protect his family, Rajath stayed away. It was Chandini who took care of Rajath's ageing parents after he was taken away by the Khurannas. Rajath tried to forget everything and lead a life with Mohini. But Mohini was mentally sick. Her ego and stubbornness caused a great deal of damage. Rajath's parents passed away after a few years and Rajath didn't have anybody to protect anymore. So, he decided to divorce Mohini, no matter what the threat was. He met Chandini again and realised that she hadn't married anyone else.." Madan trailed off..

"So? We didn't matter to him? Because we were born to a woman who ruined his life? Is that what you are trying to say?" Dhruv asked sarcastically, his mind refusing to believe that his father could be an innocent victim, when all his life he had believed otherwise.

"You think he didn't try to get your custody? When Rajath left home, Mohini attempted suicide. Her intention probably was just to scare Rajath to return. But the ploy backfired and she couldn't survive."

"And out of spite, Ambar span a story of how Rajath cheated Mohini and thus she committed suicide. Thus he was denied custody." Uncle Madan said

"But your father didn't let him live freely even after that. For years, he mentally tortured Rajath by sacking him from any decent job he could get. An engineer had to work as a daily wage labourer to make ends meet. By then Chaahat was born. Even in poverty, they were happy with each other. Rajath's only sorrow was that he would never be able to meet his children. Chandini would have wholeheartedly accepted you two, if they were given a chance." Uncle Madan continued

"Do you believe that your father died in a mere car accident?" Madan asked sarcastically and all blood drained from Dhruv's face, his mind already catching onto what Madan was about to say.

"He was murdered. And with his connections, Ambar made it an accident. Even then, he wasn't satisfied. He went after Chandini with a vengeance. He knows what could be more punishing than death, for a woman like Chandini. He ruined her reputation. Rajath and Chandini were legally married. Chaahat was conceived after their marriage only. But Ambar spread rumours that Chandini was Rajath's mistress and that Chaahat was illegitimate. People always tend to believe salacious lies rather than truths. So they believed those rumours and painted Chandini as a fallen woman. She was constantly on the move. Wherever she went, Ambar made sure to dishonour her. It was only after Ambar's death, she was able to stay somewhere without fear. But by then, she was too weak." Madan said with a resigned sigh.

There was a complete silence in the room, everyone trying to absorb the horrific tale that was revealed after all these years.

Dhruv couldn't argue with conviction on that point. Because he knows how Ambar Khurana was. And that was exactly how he raised Dhruv too.

'Wipe your enemy off the face of this earth,' That's what his grandfather always said.

"I feel terribly guilty, because it was my wedding with Amritha that ruined Rajath and Chandini's life. Maybe that is the reason why we never had a happy life even though we loved each other.." Uncle Madan said softly.

Dhruv's mind was racing, struggling to process the cascade of revelations that had just shattered his understanding of his family's history. The weight of truth pressed heavily upon him as the intricate web of lies, manipulation, and tragedy unfurled before him. The room was filled with an eerie silence, a vacuum that seemed to magnify the emotions swirling within each family member.

Dhruv's anger was no longer directed at his father; it was directed at the years of deception, at the insidious games played by Ambar Khuranna, at the heartless actions that had wrecked so many lives.

But what if all these were lies? He should get his facts clear before blindly believing whatever Madan Yadav just said.

Without another word, Dhruv marched out of the house.

A/N

This is a scene that already came in Promise Of Love. That's why I am uploading the whole scene as a single chapter here. Didn't want to drag on as most of the readers might have already read this part..

And yeah, Chaahat is a spitting image of her mother. Dhruv a Xerox of his father. Shraddha a Xerox of her mother.. I just noticed it all...lol. It doesn't happen that way in real life. Maybe a twenty percent of the population could be spitting images of their parents. But for the sake of the story, let's just assume that all my characters are Xerox copies of their parents...lol🤪

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Love,

SF❤️