My dear twin sister,

I can't message or text you since Ishaan broke my phone in a fit of anger, so I decided to write this letter instead. I needed to communicate with you directly.

People around you might blame Ishaan, but don't believe them. We had a fight, and yes, he slapped me, but the mistake was mine, not his.

I knew Jaya was recording everything on her phone when it happened. She might try to use this incident to create a rift between you and Ishaan.

I'm truly sorry for leaving you alone in this critical time of your life. But I'm doing this for us. I don't have time to explain everything right now, but I promise I'll share everything with you soon.

I suspect Ishaan went through something difficult in his past. Try to find out what it was. I always love you, sister. Stay safe.

P.S. I didn't read anything in the diary when I placed this letter inside.

With affection,
Rivan

Tara's POV

I exhaled, realizing this letter was from Rivan, not Ishaan. I read the letter again and again, searching for any hidden clues.

But I found nothing. Sighing, I placed the letter back inside the diary.

Just then, I heard the doorbell. I rushed to the door, twisting the knob frantically.

Standing there was Mahira, holding two bags in her hands. I didn't even greet her. She walked inside with authority as I stood there, astounded by her sudden appearance.

Though our moms are best friends, Mahira and I never developed a bond like that.

"What do you want? Why are you here?" I muttered.

Mahira said nothing. She handed me one of the bags. She signaled for me to open it. I glowered at her.

"There's food for dinner inside. Eat now," Mahira said, avoiding eye contact.

"I didn't order this. Why are you acting like a delivery girl?" I mocked her.

"No, you didn't order it. But I care about you. Eat it, now." Her commanding tone irritated me.

"I'm not eating until I know where Rivan is," I mumbled.

"Stop acting like a child. Just eat. If you don't, my mom will kick me out of the house, and my boss will fire me." Mahira opened the bag and thrust it into my hands.

She began arranging the food on a plate while I observed her. She was acting strangely. When we're alone, she's nice to me, but when people are around, she's adamant, stubborn, and shows a lot of attitude.

Mahira placed the plate in front of me. I set the empty bags aside but refused to take the plate.

"Tell me what happened between Ishaan and Rivan," I pleaded.

"If you eat, I'll tell you everything," Mahira promised.

Reluctantly, I agreed and moved to the dining table. Mahira sat beside me, and I raised an eyebrow, urging her to start.

"You were the topper in college. Why didn't you pursue higher studies?" Mahira's question caught me off guard.

I assumed she was trying to divert me, but I decided to answer.

"You know I studied on a scholarship provided by a sponsor. After I got married, they were still willing to support me for higher education." I paused, glancing at Mahira, who was listening intently.

"The sponsor helped me and Rivan a lot after our mother's death. I couldn't continue relying on them, so I decided to work at your mother's company instead."

"You should have asked Ishaan for the money," Mahira suggested as I took a bite of food.

"What about my self-respect? He didn't even care about me in these three years." I grunted.

"Ishaan is your husband," Mahira mumbled.

"We weren't in the kind of relationship you think. I couldn't ask Ishaan for money for my studies. I'm an adult. I need to take care of myself," I said.

"Fine, I understand. But you didn't even attend any campus interviews," Mahira's complaining tone, made me roll my eyes.

"I wasn't interested. My passion was for higher studies and research," I replied, taking another spoonful.

But I was lying. I had planned to finish my studies and start a life with Ishaan. I dreamed of a future with him and our children.

But Ishaan had other plans. After I finished my studies, he asked for a divorce.

The thought made my heart ache, and tears welled up in my eyes. I managed to hold them back as I absentmindedly drew circles on my plate with my spoon.

"Rivan lied to you," Mahira's sudden statement made me freeze.

"About what?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Rivan was selected in a campus interview. He got an offer from an MNC in Canada. But Rivan rejected it because of you," Mahira confessed.

"I... I didn't know that..." I choked as she went to the kitchen to get me some water.

I couldn't believe what she was saying. When she handed me the glass of water, I hesitated.

"Your situation made Rivan reject the offer. He didn't want to leave you alone. That's why he decided to work full-time at the petrol station instead of taking the MNC offer," Mahira explained.

I blamed myself for ruining Rivan's life. I set the spoon down and began rubbing my temples. My anxiety surged after hearing this. Rivan had made such a huge sacrifice because of me.

"Ishaan found out. He tried to convince Rivan in his way. You know about Ishaan's way of speaking," Mahira said, taking a deep breath.

"So that's why Ishaan slapped Rivan," I whispered, and Mahira nodded.

"Ishaan yelled at him and slapped him, trying to make Rivan understand that he needed to settle down and be able to take care of you for life," Mahira said, pointing at me.

"Do you have feelings for Ishaan?" I asked suddenly, surprising myself.

I had been searching for an answer to this question for a long time.

"Tara, you've finished eating. I don't have to answer that question," Mahira smirked.

She stood up to leave. As she walked toward the door, I called after her.

"Mahira, thanks for the dinner. It had all my favorite dishes."

"Go thank your Ogre. He cooked it for you," Mahira replied, stepping into her car.

I was stunned by her words. Before I could say anything, she drove away.

Did Ishaan cook for me?

Why does Ishaan hurt and care for me at the same time?

I couldn't believe what was happening in my life. On the outside, Ishaan seemed arrogant and harsh, but the words in his diary painted him as the kindest soul in the universe.

I went ahead and reread the letter from Rivan. In my imagination, Rivan's letter and Mahira's confession blend nicely.

I took Ishaan's diary in my hands and held it close to my heart, hugging it like a teddy bear. My only goal now was to uncover Ishaan's past—the past that turned him into an "ogre." Ishaan used to be my charming prince in childhood.

Once, when I was eight, Dhruv and Jaya pushed me into the swimming pool as a playful prank. The problem was, I didn't know how to swim. I thrashed helplessly in the water, feeling myself sinking.

I heard Rivan shouting from the edge of the pool, calling for help, but like me, he didn't know how to swim. I couldn't breathe as water filled my nose and mouth, and panic took over. Just when I thought it was over, I felt someone grab my wrist and pull me up.

It was Ishaan. He swam toward me and held me securely. He gestured for me to wrap my arms around his neck from behind, and I did as he said. Ishaan began swimming, carrying me on his back, and eventually led me to the steps at the side of the pool.

Once I was safely out of the water, Dhruv tried to hand me a towel, but Ishaan snatched it from him. He spread the towel around me, patting my back as I coughed up the water I had swallowed. I was shaking uncontrollably, my teeth chattering.

I glanced at the pool in fear, my eyes brimming with tears.

"Hey, Tara, it's okay. You're safe now," fourteen-year-old Ishaan said, gently brushing my palm with his.

I sobbed as my body trembled from the shock, and Ishaan pulled me into a comforting side hug. His other hand wrapped around my shoulder, reassuring me.

"Tara, I'm with you," he said softly. "Your Ishaan will always be with you."

I still wonder how a fourteen-year-old boy could say something so comforting. Ishaan had saved my life that day and helped me regain my confidence. 

That memory of the swimming pool accident has never left me. His words from our childhood continue to bring me happiness.

My eyes grew heavy with sleep, and I finally drifted off, ending another hectic day.

Two days later, I was reading Ishaan's diary again, along with Rivan's letter. I was determined to uncover something about Ishaan's past, but no matter how hard I searched, I found no clues.

I started daydreaming at work, creating my theories about Ishaan's life.

"Tara, stop living in your imaginary world and come back to reality," Mrs. Malini Pathak teased as she stepped out of her office.

"Boss, I have a problem. You're a genius—can you help me solve it?" I asked, walking beside her down the hallway.

"Fine, I'll give you a solution," Aunt Malini said, grinning.

"I've been trying to find something for the past two days, but I've failed," I admitted, though I didn't reveal the full story.

Yes, I had failed to find anything about Ishaan's past in his diary.

"Have you searched thoroughly?" Aunt asked, scrolling through her phone.

"Yes, but..."

Should I ask her about Ishaan's past? My throat went dry at the thought of it.

Aunt Malini was always busy with meetings, so she didn't press me for more details.

"Try searching on Google, YouTube, or even Library," she suggested giving me some files.

"It's not available there. I have to find it some other way," I said, my determination bringing a smile to Aunt Malini's face.

"If you want to find something, go back to the place where you lost it," she advised.

I was confused.

"So...?"

"Go and look where you lost it," she repeated before getting into her car.

I stood there, stunned by her words. An idea sparked in my mind—a crazy idea that my heart warned me not to follow.

But after taking a deep breath, I decided to trust my instincts.

To find Ishaan's past, I need to enter Divan mansion and retrieve his old diary. I don't have any other option left to know his past.

I scrolled through my phone contacts, stopping when I saw "Rachana Aunt." I sighed and tapped the screen to call her.

"Tara, dear, how are you?" Aunt Rachana asked, her voice cheerful.

"Aunt, I need your help," I blurted out, hurriedly packing my bag at the office.

"Calm down, dear. You know I'm always here for you," her reassuring words filled me with confidence.

"I need to sneak into the Divan mansion tonight with your help," I confessed, embarrassed.

"Why would you sneak in like a thief? You can come anytime," Aunt replied.

"I can't just show up whenever I want. Ishaan has challenged me, and I planned to sneak in without him knowing. I need to retrieve some important stuff," I explained.

"Don't come alone in the middle of the night. Shyam will pick you up. I'll be waiting for you," Aunt Rachana said before hanging up.

A few hours later, as promised, Shyam came to pick me up. As we drove, I contemplated where to search for Ishaan's old diary—his closet, his study room, or his nightstand.

My thoughts were interrupted when Shyam stopped the car at the servants' quarters of the Divan mansion. He showed me the way to the back door of the kitchen.

Shyam seemed unhappy about the plan, only helping because Aunt Rachana insisted.

I quietly slipped into the kitchen, where Aunt was waiting for me with her phone flashlight on.

"Aunt!" I whispered, and she hugged me tightly.

"I made your favorite brownies. Eat one first," she said, offering me a plate.

"They look delicious!" I licked my lips and took a bite. The taste was heavenly, and I devoured it quickly.

"Nikhil will start looking for me soon, so I'll go. Finish your work and message me when you're done," Aunt said before disappearing into her room.

I headed to Ishaan's study, but the door was locked. Taking a deep breath, I tiptoed to his bedroom. The door wasn't locked, and I carefully opened it, stepping inside like a mouse.

I turned on my phone flashlight to scan the room.

In the dim light, I saw Ishaan lying on a mattress, wrapped in a blanket—my blanket in corner of the room. The pink teddy bear we won on the game was on Ishaan's bed.

Why was Ishaan sleeping on my mattress?

Pushing my thoughts aside, I focused on my mission. I opened his closet, but there was no sign of the old diary. Just then, Ishaan shifted in his sleep, turning over, his face now visible outside the blanket.

For a moment, I froze, staring at him. Even after everything, I still loved him unconditionally.

My heart melted as I watched Ishaan sleep, but anger simmered beneath the surface. 

How could he be so gentle in moments like this and so cruel when awake?

I bit my lip, resisting the urge to brush his hair away. He's broken me, but why can't I let him go?

Suddenly, I heard a noise outside. Panic surged through me. I quickly ducked under the bed, my heart racing.

I saw Ishaan's feet move as he got out of bed and walked toward the door. My dread grew, but my curiosity was stronger—who could be visiting my husband's room at this time of night?

Let me know your views on the eighth chapter in the comment section. 

Are you feeling bored? If yes, then I am ready to write the way you like.

Feel free to interact with me. Your comments and votes will motivate me, so don't forget to press the vote button and type a comment on this chapter.

The ninth chapter will be out tomorrow. Bye. Good Night.