Song of the chapter is Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur

-27-
-Kartik Malhotra-
-Present-

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Malhotra Mansion
24 November, 2030
3:23 pm

"Are you absolutely sure, dad?" I asked over the phone, as I paced back and forth on the terrace.

"Yes, Kartik. I'm positive." Dad's voice came clear on the other end.

"So you're saying that Mahi Sehgal and her family used to stay in Delmore before she died?"

"Yes, as far as I know." He answered, a strain in his voice. "That's how she came to work in our company in the first place."

"Okay, dad, do you remember the address?" I asked impatiently.

"Uh..."he trailed off, as if trying to remember. "Not really....but I'm sure it's in our office records. I can ask an employee to send you the details if you want."

"Yes dad, that'd be great!" I said with a hint of relief.

"But why are you suddenly asking about Mahi, Kartik?" I heard him ask next, with an undertone. "It's been years since...."

"I know, dad." I intervened before he could finish. "But I have a feeling that whatever's happening right now has something to do with the incidents of 2019. And she was the main reason why Yash started everything."

For the past few weeks, I had been stalling my dad proposition of explaining whatever was happening in Delmore and how the killings had started once again. He kept up to date with the news of this place more than where he actually resided now. He had been on my tail, asking me if I wanted him to come and sort out this mess and get Siya and I safely back to Delhi.

But I knew that was useless.

Because this killer wouldn't be done with us until he was done with us. And I didn't want to put him at risk by asking him to come here. So I decided that it was best to not involve him in this mess.

But he was persistent upon knowing what was happening, so I decided to give him atleast half the truth.

"Kartik, I'm gonna ask you this one more time." He began, again. "Do you want me to come down there? You know I would. I'll leave everything and come down to Delmore if you say so-"

I dreaded this. "Dad, it's fine, honestly-"

"How can it be?" He flared. "You're so saying the death toll is going up by the day! How are you fine?!"

"Dad, I can't risk you coming here. Whoever is doing this might try to use you as bait against me. I can't let anything happen to you." I tried to persuade him.

"I'm the parent in this relationship, Kartik. I should be the one to protect you, not the other way around." He spoke, slowly this time. I could hear the strain in his voice.

"We're supposed to protect each other, dad." I sighed. "I'll be okay, I promise. If I need you at any time, I'll call you. Just.... don't worry, okay?"

"How can I not, Kartik?" He asked, a sadness evident in his voice. "I've already failed you once. I can't fail you again..."

"And you won't." I said with a determined voice. "Just take care of yourself, okay? Don't stress too much. I'll keep you posted with everything."

There was a long pause following that.

"Alright....if you say so." He finally uttered. "I'll have an employee send you the details in an hour."

"Okay, thanks again dad." I nodded to myself.

"Stay safe, beta (son)." He said and hung up.

I sighed as I put my phone back into my pocket.

Exactly an hour later, one of my dad's diligent employees sends me the file containing Mahi Sehgal's personal information, from her address to qualifications, everything.

As I scanned my eyes across the file on the screen, I felt a small tug on my arm from behind. I looked back and found my wife standing with two cups of coffee in each of her hands. I smiled and took one.

"Thanks." I said as I took a sip, the hot liquid burning my tongue as I did.

She came and stood beside me without a word.

"Are Saina and her husband still cooped up in their room?" I asked.

She nodded this time. "I heard loud noises."

"Well...maybe they're doing....you know...married couple things." I teased. Siya gave me the side eye, chuckling slightly.

"No... I mean, I heard them arguing." She corrected.

I raised my brow. "Arguing?"

She took a deep breath, nodding. "Seemed really intense. It was mostly his voice, I didn't really hear Saina's much."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Who invited him? Did Saina ask him to come?"

"Apparently not. She seemed just as shocked as me when he arrived at our doorstep." Siya answered. "She looked hella uncomfortable with him just barging in here, it seemed."

"Well...that explains the arguing, I guess." I said, taking another sip of my coffee.

"Hm."

I furrowed my brows at her. Ever since we came back home, Siya had been acting a little strange. She was hardly talking, and seemed somewhat lost.

"Hey....is everything okay?" I asked her, worried.

"Huh?" She spaced out, looking at me.

"I asked...are you okay?"

"Oh....yeah...yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"Nothing,...you just seem... distracted." I answered, studying her face.

Siya was one of those people who had a very easy tell. If she was lying, she would avoid eye contact at all cost and fidget with her fingers. I had learnt that over the years, making it harder for her to lie to me.

"Oh... it's nothing... it's just...the entire situation...you know." Siya spoke, looking away, fidgeting with her fingers.

Looking at her, I could easily tell that something else was bothering her. But she was one adamant woman! If she didn't want you to know something, she would get run over by a truck but let that ever happen.

So I decided not to probe.

I had faith in knowing that she would tell me about it if she felt like it. And I was content with that.

I sighed softly. "Anyways, I...uh...talked to dad and found out that Mahi Sehgal used to live here in Delmore before she...died."

"Yash's mother?" She furrowed her brows at me.

I nodded. "I just.... I can't shake the feeling that....the current murders have something to do with the previous ones."

"You think....Yash is still...." She trailed off, her eyes getting wider by the second. "But we saw him...get shot..."

"Yeah, but....what if he survived?" I licked my lips, expressing my concern.

"That can't be, Kartik." She retorted. "We were in Delmore for almost about a year after the incidents. We would've heard something about his escape... don't you think?"

"I'm not saying it's the most logical possibility, Siya. I just....even if it's not him...what if it's someone connected to him and his past?" I asked.

Siya gave me a panicked look.

"I just want to clear out my doubts, that's all." I explained.

"Well then....what do you suggest?" She asked.

"I'll go and check out if anyone in that neighborhood still remembers or has any contact with Yash's other family members. Something that could give us a clue regarding this entire situation...." I elucidated, sipping the last of my coffee.

"Alright, I'll go with you." She responded immediately.

"Siya, you don't have to-"

"Kartik Ashok Malhotra, you're delusional if you think I'm gonna let you go alone to the place where that monster lived. So just shut up and let me go grab my jacket." Her stern demeanor and strict words immediately shut me up.

I simply nodded.

We both went back downstairs and she grabbed her jacket from my room before informing Saina that we'd be gone for a while and to call us if she needed anything.

As we walked down the porch steps, the two policemen patrolling gave us a look. I ignored them and called us an Uber. As we waited for the cab to arrive, Siya suddenly intertwined her fingers with mine. I looked at her, surprised.

She blinked profusely before giving me a nervous smile.

"If something was wrong, you'd tell me, right?" I asked, not being able to keep it in anymore. There was definitely something up with her.

She looked at me for a hot minute before visibly gulping. "Of...course."

I felt a strong constriction in my chest but decided to not probe further, being aware of the police officers around us.

"Okay."

The cab arrived in a minute and as we got into the backseat of the car, I repeated the OTP to the driver, who sat with his back to us. His face wasn't clearly visible in the front view mirror, making it difficult for me to get a look at his face.

Once he was assured that we were the right passengers, he started the engine and drove off the premise of the mansion.

Slowly and gradually, I relaxed back on my seat and sighed, hoping to the heavens that this wouldn't be a total bust. A second later, Siya laid her head on my shoulder and wrapped her arm securely around my arm.

I sighed, feeling calmer and kissed the top of her head.

And as we sat there without speaking, I realised that no matter what situation we were in or whatever secrets we had with each other, she was the only one who could make me feel content and placid.

She was my safe haven.

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another cute cute chapter
before big big disaster-

oops, did i spoil it already?

anyways, yk i can't wait-
in about four chapters, we're gonna hit the interval for Act One of Secrets and Lies and you can bet your ass it's gonna be one hell of an interval!

until then,
keep your secrets safe!

and don't forget to vote, comment and share the book as much as possible!

love,
Bosedisha