The rain had stopped but the turmoil inside Abhimaan's heart did not cease.

''Anything that made you feel curious or weird about your parents?'' Alok asked stiing opposite to Abhimaan, facing him.

''Nothing about them was weird, sir. The moments were lovely and beautiful and each moment had a lesson for life. I have never felt weird but I have felt curious about their overprotectiveness for the time being.''

''Overprotectiveness?''

''It happens with everyone. Every parent is over-protective for their children.'' Abhimaan replied without blinking.

''I must say, they have raised you well.'' Alok said smiling.

''Wait. Whenever I was out from their sight, they were worried. Extremely worried about my well being. They used to panic.'' Abhimaan replied after thinking about Abhira and Armaan's behavior he had seen when he had been to Moti Talav and the hospital.

''When I and Raunak had taken you to the hospital, my mother was extremely worried. She was panicking.''

''Anything you remember- some sort of strange happening or anything suspicious?''

''No. I don't know and I don't want to know about it. The rain has stopped- I will book a taxi and you can leave. I am sorry but I cannot answer your questions, I am not in a state to answer them.'' Abhimaan replied and folded his hands.

''Think about it Abhimaan. You will come to know about the truth soon. Your father used to say- the truth doesn't die and the lies never live a long life.''

Abhimaan looked at him surprised.

''I was your father's assistant. I know every idiom, every word, he used to say. I have worked with him for years, Abhimaan. I know that you will find out the truth soon. And that soon will come very soon. I will be here for two days. This is my number.'' Alok said as he wrote his number on the notepad on the table.

''If my parents have lied to me, there should have been some reason behind it.''

''Abhimaan, whatever happens, happens for a reason. Maybe you will find a reason to reach me, maybe the Poddars?'' Alok replied and smiled firmly while reaching for the door.

Abhimaan looked at his retreating figure and scrunched his eyebrows.

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Kaveri was rummaging through her cluttered cupboard, filled with memories and forgotten treasures. As she sifted through old clothes and trinkets, her fingers brushed against a familiar frame. Pulling it out, she realized it was a photo of her family, captured on the day of Raksha bandhan. Everyone looked radiant, their smiles genuine and their eyes twinkling with joy. Kaveri couldn't help but smile as she remembered the fun-filled day they had spent together, cherishing each other's company.

Her eyes then fell on another photograph, this one from Charu's engagement party. In the image, Abhira and Armaan stood alongside the family, their faces adorned with smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes. Kaveri's heart ached as she recalled the tension that had surrounded that day, the unspoken words and unshed tears that had lingered in the air.
The memory of the final conversation she had with Armaan and Abhira before they left that night came flooding back to her. Their voices had been tinged with sorrow and resolve as they shared their moments with her. Kaveri had watched silently from her window as they slipped away into the darkness, knowing the heavy burden they carried, the struggles they faced.

She had chosen not to stop them, to let them go in search of peace and freedom from the chaos that had ensnared their lives. And now, holding the photograph in her hands, a silent tear slid down her cheek, mixing with the colors of the past captured in the frame.

...........................

Abhimaan sat in his room, surrounded by a sea of emotions. The revelation about his parents' true identity had left him in a state of shock. The Poddars. How could they be the Poddars when he had always known them as the Vermas? Questions swirled in his mind, causing his heart to twitch with confusion.

As he lay in bed, unable to sleep, memories flooded back to him. He recalled the day when he had innocently opened his father's cabinet, only to be met with an unexpected outburst of anger from Armaan. It was a side of his father that he had never seen before – red-faced and raging. The following night was filled with sweet apologies and treats from his parents.

''That cabinet- I am sure that I will something there. I need to find out what exactly had happened and why mumma and papa were away from their family. What had made them leave the house? I need to find it!" Abhimaan got up and rushed towards his parents room. He felt his heart sink seeing the room empty.

Taking a deep breath- he tried to find the keys from Armaan's drawer.

''This is the bike key, this is my cycle's key, this is mumma's scooter keys, I have the car keys, this is papa's locked drawer keys..wait...the locked drawer might contain the key to the cabinet'' Abhimaan took the key and unlocked the drawer. After rummaging its contents, he found a small box. Opening it, he found a key.''

''Maybe this is the key'' He stood up and climbed on the bed to access the cabinet.

''Please open'' He told and put the key inside the keyhole. The key turned and made a click sound.

''Finally!" Abhimaan exclaimed but he found nothing except the album and an old suitcase.

''Suitcase? Album? There are no documents here.'' Abhimaan muttered when the album fell on the bed.

Abhimaan picked up the album and opened it. It had photos of him with his parents. He felt nostalgic and emotional.

For some moments he forgot the main thing- and was lost in the world of memories. As he turned the last page, he found a small key.

Getting back to his work, he pulled the suitcase out and tried to find the lock but found none. Instead he found a code.

''What can the password be?'' He wondered and tried several combinations- his birthday year, date, his parent's anniversary date, his mother's birthday and his father's but nothing worked.

He then tried to put all the birthdates combined. He put two- that was his birth date, four- his mother's birth date and and thirty- his father's and the suitcase opened revealing a large box with a lock. With the key that he had found inside the album's plastic holder- he opened it and found two diaries, some documents and a lot of photos.

One diary had the name- Abhira Akshara Abhinav Sharma and one had the name Armaan's musings.

The documents- had an affidavit for name change- from Poddar to Verma, had degree certificate in LLM and LLB and had his parents graduation ceremony photos. His hands trembling, Abhimaan pored over the photographs, piecing together a story of the past. He recognized the faces in the pictures – the Poddar family, his parents' graduation day and his father's photos- in the cabin of the Poddar firm. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together.

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''Ash, is this extremely important?'' Ronit asked as he drove her to the airport.

''Its an important assignment Ronnie. I cannot just avoid it. I am sad, leaving you but I have to go to Bangalore darling. We will video call each other!''

''By the way our birthdays are coming the next month!''

''Yeah! I will be turning twenty five and you will be turning twenty four-''

''I AM SO HAPPY THAT WE SHARE OUR BIRTHDAYS AS WELL!''

''As well? What else do we share?'' Asmita asked.

''Our hearts, our souls and very soon we will be sharing our anniversary- of course!'' Ronit replied happily.

''Ronnie, you are turning a flirt day by day!''

''For you- I will become everything'' Ronit said as he parked the car near the airport

"Ronit!" Asmita exclaimed, and Ronit looked at her. She leaned forward, and both shared a quick kiss before parting.

As Asmita boarded the flight, Ronit watched her disappear through the gates, a feeling of longing settling in his heart. The days without her would be difficult, but he knew their love would keep them connected despite the distance.

Asmita settled into her seat, her mind filled with memories of Ronit. His smile, his jokes, his unwavering support - she would miss it all. But she also knew that their love was strong enough to withstand any trials that came their way.

As the plane took off, Ronit stood outside the airport, watching the sky. He knew that this separation was temporary, and soon they would be together again, celebrating not just their birthdays but their love that knew no bounds.

And as the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Ronit whispered to himself, "Distance means so little when someone means so much." And with a hopeful heart, he turned towards home, counting down the days until they would be reunited once again.

--------------

5TH NOVEMBER 2024.

Abhimaan stood tall in the midst of the garden after giving his third paper, the wind gently rustling the leaves around him. Alok approached him, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "So you finally came?" Alok asked as he saw Abhimaan standing there, his presence commanding attention.

"I have come - TO A POINT," Abhimaan responded, his voice steady. "I will be going to the Poddars, but after conducting the rituals of my late parents."

Alok smiled, relief washing over him. "I am so happy that you will be going back to where you belong," he said, joy evident in his voice.

Abhimaan's expression turned solemn as he gazed into the distance. "I BELONG TO MY PARENTS. NOT THE PODDARS," he declared with conviction. "MY PARENTS ARE MY FAMILY. PODDARS AREN'T MY FAMILY. IF THEY WERE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE LET MY PARENTS SUFFER."

As the words hung heavy in the air, Alok could sense the depth of pain and determination in Abhimaan's voice. There was a fire burning within him, a fire fueled by the injustice that his parents had faced.

"I have read the entries made by my father in his diary," Abhimaan continued, his eyes flashing with resolve. "He and my mother had endured a lot. I will seek for my answers and go away once I get them. I AM NOT A PODDAR. I AM ABHIMAAN ABHIRA ARMAAN VERMA," he proclaimed, each word ringing with certainty.

Alok watched in silence, his heart heavy with emotion. He knew then that Abhimaan's journey was far from over. It was a journey of self-discovery, of uncovering the truths buried in the past, and of finding his place in the world.

As Abhimaan walked away, Alok looked at his retreating figure.

''ABHIMAAN IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE TRUTH. HE IS GOING TO ENTER INTO THE WORLD OF PODDARS. O DIVINE, PLEASE PROTECT HIM AND SHIELD HIM FROM ALL THE DANGERS. HE IS GOING TO LOCK HORNS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ANOTHER NAMES FOR DARKNESS.'' Alok muttered a silent prayer.

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Another update before exams! THIS BOOK WILL BE ON HOLD TILL MY EXAMS! 

RONIT IS YOUNGER THAN ASMITA- HE IS A YEAR YOUNGER THAN HER. 

ABHIMAAN IS ALL SET TO ENTER THE PODDAR MANSION! BUT HE HAS SET BOUNDARIES.

MANY EVENTS ARE GONNA TAKE PLACE! AND A SPOILER FOR YOU ALL- ABHIMAAN IS GONNA MEET HIS HEROINE- NAVIRA.

WANNA SEE THE PIC of ABHIMAAN AND NAVIRA- #MAAIRA

HERE IT IS! ❤️❤️

DROP IN YOUR VIEWSS AND DO VOTE THIS UP!

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