Chapter 74: chapter 74

Imara stood motionless in front of her open wardrobe, her fingers grazing the silky fabrics and her eyes scanning the array of colours, yet none of that registered in her mind. Conflicting emotions battled within her, causing her stomach to twist and turn. The creaking of the door broke her reverie, and she turned to see Adhiraj entering the room. But he paid her no attention as he retrieved his clothes and stepped out. His indifference sliced through her like a knife.Driven by instinct, she sprinted out after him, only to see that he had walked out before the door slammed shut behind him. A sob caught in her throat, and her heart ached at his dismissive behavior. He wasn’t even looking at her, let alone an explanation. And that made her realise she was slowly building a hope for something that lacked trust.Later that night, she entered her empty room. Adhiraj had left abruptly after dinner, claiming an emergency at the office. Virender and Vandana had exchanged concerned frowns, puzzled by his sudden departure after already being away for three days. However, it was Jaidev’s frown, directed at Imara, that hinted he knew about the events that took place in her office.Reluctantly, she settled onto her bed, the softness of the mattress offering little comfort. She reached for her phone, her heart longing for Adhiraj’s usual message. But there was none. Just as she was about to put her phone away, a message from an unknown number flashed on her screen. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she downloaded the images, her breath escaping in gasps. Tears blurred her vision as the video Dheeraj had shown her played on a loop in her mind. And below those haunting images, there was a threatening message that left her stunned.—————Adhiraj hesitated as his fingers hovered over the images on his phone. These were the pictures Avir had sent him earlier that day. Since Yash was still on the loose, Adhiraj had no idea when or how Yash had taken these photos before handing them over to Pratap. However, he could figure out that these pictures were taken during one of the office parties where Dheeraj and Imara had worked together, which meant almost over a year ago.In the photos, Imara and Dheeraj were locked in an intimate embrace. Her arms were draped around his neck, their faces mere inches apart, caught in a moment that seemed to teeter on the edge of a kiss. The backdrop was a hotel corridor. It wasn’t just one, but a series of images revealing them slipping into a room together. Adhiraj’s mind had raced with possibilities, wondering if it was all a carefully orchestrated plan meant to show something that never happened. But a video was recorded following that night, showing Dheeraj stepping out from that very room and Imara nestled against him.Truth be told, it did make Adhiraj feel uncomfortable, and he realised what a hypocrite he was. Hadn’t he been in relationships in the past, too? Hence, he concentrated on the issue at hand. Pratap’s scheme was clear: to reignite the connection between Dheeraj and Imara, to leak these incriminating photos, and to tarnish Shekhawat’s reputation, all in a calculated move to dismantle their business.Avir had assured him he wouldn’t let Pratap succeed in his plans. Only then did Adhiraj leave for home. However, what greeted him wasn’t what he expected. With Avir’s help, Adhiraj got Dheeraj to leave his job at the Saraswati Group of Schools. And so, he was sure that Dheeraj’s meeting with Imara wasn’t work related.That night, Adhiraj didn’t go back home.The next morningThe alarm blared, jolting Imara from a restless sleep, her eyes heavy and swollen. She rubbed her aching temples, a futile attempt to soothe the storm brewing within her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t sleep the entire night. Every few minutes, she found herself reaching for her phone, scrolling through the images and the menacing message that followed. Then, her gaze would linger on Adhiraj’s profile picture. Her heart would ache with the weight of unspoken words as she contemplated calling him. But each time, she hesitated, gripped by the fear that just seeing her with Dheeraj had spiraled into this chaos. What would happen if Adhiraj saw those photos? Would he even care to listen? Deep down, she feared the answer. His lack of trust in her only strengthened her belief that he was clinging to their relationship for the sake of his own reputation. He wouldn’t let her go, not because of love, but because the Shekhawat name was at stake.“And what if these photos are actually leaked?” she muttered to herself.At that moment, a soft knock echoed through the room, pulling Imara from her thoughts. She quickly wiped her tears and moved to the door, revealing Vandana, whose face was etched with concern.“Did Raj tell you anything?” Vandana inquired as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her.Imara’s brows knitted together as she shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “No! He didn’t.”Vandana placed a comforting hand on Imara’s shoulder, her eyes filled with concern. “He hasn’t come back. This isn’t like him, Imara. Did something happen last night?”Imara sucked in a sharp breath as the incident from the previous night hovered in her mind. And her emotions and thoughts about Adhiraj again got conflicted. Why would he leave like this if he was only trying to make it work to save his family’s name? And why didn’t she think about this perspective last night?“Imara,” Vandana said, bringing her out of her trance. “What’s wrong? Tell me.”Imara’s heart sank as she saw the worry etched on Vandana’s face. Here was a mother, a woman whose heart was aching because her son had not returned home. A mother, who, despite knowing about the troubles in her son’s married life, always treated Imara with unwavering love and care. Hence, in that moment, Imara decided to tell Vandana everything. Maybe her motherly instincts could shed some light on what might be going on in Adhiraj’s mind. Maybe whatever theories Imara was cooking in her head were nothing but a mere misunderstanding. With a deep breath, Imara poured her heart out, recounting everything that had happened since Adhiraj’s visit to her office. However, she didn’t tell for what purpose Dheeraj visited and Vandana didn’t probe.Vandana palmed Imara’s face and asked with concern, “He didn’t ask?”Imara shook her head, whispering, “I tried to clarify, but…”Vandana nodded, realising that Adhiraj must be too wrapped up in his own thoughts to let Imara even explain anything. Yet, amidst the worry, she found a glimmer of hope and smiled, asking, “Do you want to talk to him about it?”Instinctively, Imara nodded, and Vandana’s smile grew wider as she said, “I am glad you are trying to make it work.”Imara stiffened. Was she really trying to make it work? Was her desire to explain a sign of her commitment?“Talk to him when he returns. I am sure he will listen,” Vandana advised before leaving the room. Just then, Imara’s phone buzzed again, bringing with it the same haunting images, the same video, and the same chilling threat.