Chapter -0 4

Rajat’s Hidden Agenda

The day had been long, each moment dragging on as Parth sat at his desk, pouring over financial records, trying to connect the dots. The quiet hum of the office felt distant as he combed through the details of Rajat Verma’s past—details he had never wanted to confront.

Parth’s mind kept returning to the discovery earlier in the day: Rajat’s name appeared in several financial documents linked to cases that Judge Saxena had presided over. The evidence was damning—money trails, shady land deals, investments in projects that had raised more than a few eyebrows. But it wasn’t just the financials that caught his attention; it was the pattern. Every case connected to Rajat seemed to have an undercurrent of corruption, and Saxena had been involved in each of them.

Why didn’t I see this before? Parth’s mind churned as he cross-referenced the documents with the judge’s court rulings. There it was, clear as day—Saxena had a long history of ruling in favor of Rajat’s business interests. The more Parth uncovered, the more the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Rajat had been using the judge for years, manipulating the system to his advantage.

But now, with Saxena dead, Rajat had found a new way to protect himself. And it was something Parth never expected: Jiya.

The thought of Rajat using Jiya, someone so important to him, as a pawn in his game made Parth’s blood boil. He had always known that Rajat had ambitions, but this? This was on another level entirely.

Parth leaned back in his chair, the weight of the situation sinking in. Rajat was using Jiya not just for his social status, but as a shield, a way to protect himself from the increasing scrutiny surrounding his business dealings. It made sense—Jiya was a well-respected forensic expert, someone with an impeccable reputation. Marrying her would provide Rajat with the perfect cover. If he could convince the world that he was a loving fiancé, no one would suspect the dark deals he had been involved in.

And that’s why he’s so determined to keep her in his life, Parth thought bitterly. Because without her, his facade would crumble.

Just as Parth was about to pull up more records, his phone buzzed. A text from Jiya.

"I’m meeting Rajat for dinner tonight. Can you look into the information I found about his land dealings? I’m feeling uneasy."

Parth’s heart skipped a beat. She was starting to notice the cracks in Rajat’s carefully constructed image.

Good, Jiya, Parth thought, feeling a glimmer of hope. She was starting to see Rajat for who he really was. But you need to be careful.

Parth’s mind raced as he formulated a plan. He needed to confront Rajat, but not without solid evidence. It wasn’t just about proving Rajat’s guilt anymore—it was about protecting Jiya.

That night, Parth found himself outside one of the city’s more upscale restaurants, watching as Rajat and Jiya arrived. They were laughing, the perfect couple in the eyes of the public. The contrast to the reality of Rajat’s intentions couldn’t have been starker.

Parth waited in the shadows, his pulse quickening as he prepared to confront Rajat. He had to be careful, though. A direct confrontation might push Rajat into doing something desperate. Instead, he decided to observe first, to wait for the perfect moment to intervene.

Inside the restaurant, Rajat had his arm around Jiya, his charm in full swing as he spoke about their upcoming wedding. Parth couldn’t help but notice the way Jiya forced a smile, the tension in her shoulders giving away her discomfort. She was beginning to see through Rajat’s polished exterior. But how much had she seen?

Parth’s thoughts were interrupted when he saw Rajat glance around the room, his eyes settling on something—or someone—in the distance. Rajat’s demeanor shifted, his easy smile replaced by something more calculating. Parth’s instincts flared.

A moment later, Rajat leaned in close to Jiya, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “I’m not sure I like how close you’re getting with Parth lately,” he said, his tone smooth, almost too smooth. “You know he’s still carrying a torch for you, don’t you?”

Jiya froze. Parth could see the tension in her body as she stiffened, pulling away slightly. Rajat’s grip on her tightened, but it was clear his intentions weren’t out of love. They were possessive.

“I’m just worried about you, Jiya,” Rajat continued, his voice dripping with manipulation. “Parth has never liked me. And now that we’re getting closer, I know he’s going to try to sabotage our relationship.”

Parth could hear the lie in Rajat’s voice, the subtle threats hidden beneath the surface. Jiya was still silent, her eyes wide, trying to process what Rajat was implying.

Damn it, Parth thought, fury building in his chest. He couldn’t let Rajat manipulate her like this, not when she was already starting to doubt him. He stepped forward, walking briskly toward their table.

“Rajat,” Parth’s voice cut through the air, sharp and authoritative.

Jiya’s eyes snapped to him, her expression a mix of surprise and uncertainty. Rajat’s smile remained, but there was an edge to it now.

“Parth,” Rajat greeted him, standing up and offering a handshake. “I didn’t expect you to join us.” His tone was icy, a far cry from the friendly one he had used moments before.

“I didn’t expect you to lie to her,” Parth replied, his voice low but filled with conviction. He could feel the tension between them, the air crackling with unspoken threats.

Jiya looked from Parth to Rajat, confusion clouding her face. Parth’s gaze never wavered as he addressed Rajat. “I know what you’ve been doing, Rajat. I know about your financial dealings, your shady business with the judge. And I know you’re using Jiya to shield yourself from the fallout.”

Rajat’s eyes flashed with anger, but he quickly masked it with a thin smile. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Parth. You’ve always had a vendetta against me, ever since—”

“Ever since you decided to make her your pawn,” Parth cut him off. “Jiya deserves better than to be a tool in your game.”

Jiya stood there, caught in the middle of the confrontation, her emotions clearly torn.

“You’re wrong, Parth,” Rajat snapped, turning toward Jiya. “He’s just trying to sabotage what we have. You’ve always known he’s jealous of us, haven’t you? That’s why he’s here now, trying to cause problems.”

Jiya’s face was pale, and Parth could see the doubt creeping in. She had always been strong, but Rajat’s words were having an effect.

I won’t let him get away with this, Parth thought, his resolve hardening.

“I’m not trying to ruin your relationship, Jiya,” Parth said softly, his voice steady. “I’m trying to protect you.”

Jiya looked between the two men, her expression hardening. “I need time to think,” she said finally, her voice tinged with frustration and hurt. She turned and walked away from the table, leaving Parth and Rajat alone.

As she disappeared into the crowd, Parth’s chest tightened. The weight of the situation was overwhelming, but he couldn’t afford to lose her—not again.

Rajat, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair, a smug grin on his face. “You’ve always been too late, Parth,” he sneered. “Jiya and I are going to get married, whether you like it or not.”

Parth’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t respond. He couldn’t afford to let Rajat win. Not this time.

The game was changing, and Parth was ready to fight for Jiya.

The memory hit Parth like a wave, sweeping him back to a time when things had been different.

It was a quiet evening, just the two of them on the balcony of their apartment. They had been planning their future together, dreaming of a life beyond the chaos of their careers.

“We’ll travel the world, see new places,” Jiya had said, her eyes bright with excitement. “And when we’re done, we’ll settle somewhere peaceful. Maybe a small house in the mountains. Just you, me, and a little bit of space to breathe.”

Parth had laughed, his heart light. “A house in the mountains, huh? I like the sound of that.”

Jiya had reached out, taking his hand. “You promise, Parth? Promise me we’ll make this happen.”

“I promise,” he had said, squeezing her hand. “No matter what happens, we’ll make this work.”

But somewhere along the way, Parth had broken that promise. He had gotten lost in his work, consumed by the pressures of his job. And now, standing in front of Rajat, he wondered if he could ever make things right.

He wasn’t sure, but one thing was clear—he wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Let me know if the plot is interesting or not.

Words in italics are Flashback

List of Ongoing Stories.

1) Sunn Yaara (RagLak)
2) Falling For my Wife (RagLak)(os) ✓
3) The Twist of Fate (TeZain)
4) You're The One For Me? (TeVin).
5) When We Meet Again (TeVin).✓

Niha🖤