Chapter 87: chapter 87

“Do not go out of the apartment today. We have caught Sunita and Pradeep. Yash might get alert as he won’t be able to contact them and he might try to harm you.”The above was Adhiraj’s text when Imara checked her phone in the morning. However, this information got her worried. Sunita was a maid in Shekhawat Mansion, and Pradeep was an employee at her factory. As far as she remembered, she always saw them as affable and honest employees. Instinctively, she dialled Adhiraj’s number.“Good morning, my hellfire,” he drawled, his tone dripping with lazy charm.His voice soothed her mind, and she beamed back, “Good morning!”He stretched while yawning, then added, “I’m bringing you back here today. I can’t stand being away from you.”Imara snuggled back under the duvet and confessed, “I miss you too.”“We will see each other today, I promise,” he murmured, making Imara’s cheeks flush.“You are not stepping out of the apartment today, alright?” he said after a moment.“What if he tries to harm Isha or my factory?” she fretted, her anxiety creeping back.“He can’t do a thing to your factory. And don’t worry about Isha; I’ve got a security team on her. Speaking of which, I’ve got something to discuss,” he chuckled.The moment Adhiraj had noticed Neel’s dejected face after Isha had left without a glance at him on the day after Adhiraj and Imara’s wedding, it hit him—Neel had a soft spot for Isha. And when his security informed him, that someone had dropped Isha off last night, only for Neel to show up right after, Adhiraj knew he needed to have a word with Imara to see if she had any idea about the situation. But this wasn’t the right time for that conversation. He would wait until she was back, preferably curled up in his arms, close enough for him to hear her heartbeat.“What do you want to discuss?” Imara asked, hopping off the bed and walking toward the living room.“I will tell you when we meet,” he replied, biting his cheek to stifle another laugh.“Tell me now,” she insisted.“Not now, Little Tyke!” he responded.“Raj,” she cooed sweetly, batting her eyelashes even though he couldn’t see her.“Don’t say my name like that,” he murmured. “I might not even wait to get my hands on Yash before coming to take you back.”Imara burst into giggles, completely sidetracked from her original demand. “I miss home,” she whispered, and Adhiraj grinned, “We miss you too, Little Tyke.”After a moment, she declared, “I want to beat him.”With a chuckle, Adhiraj replied, “Your wish is my command, my lady.”Imara erupted in laughter, her spirit soaring as she made her way to the kitchen to prepare a soothing cup of tea.Adhiraj’s voice floated through the phone. “Your breakfast is on the way. Make sure to eat well and wait for my call. I’ll also keep an eye on your chats, alright?”“Okay!” Imara replied, her heart fluttering, before she hung up.She quickly texted Isha, letting her know she wouldn’t be around because she was feeling unwell. With that, she eagerly dug into the breakfast that had just arrived, savouring each bite.About an hour later, while she was immersed in her work on the laptop, her phone buzzed unexpectedly. She grabbed it, her breath catching as she saw the photos that had just come through. Adding to her shock, the accompanying message sent a chill down her spine: “I have what I wanted. Just thought I would polish these photos before sharing them with those eager TRP-hungry media houses.”Imara sat frozen, her heart racing as she stared at the altered images before her. They were unmistakably manipulated, depicting her in a passionate kiss with Dheeraj. The dress she wore appeared scandalously revealing, as if they were caught in a heated moment right in the lobby. A wave of dread washed over her, and she instinctively reached for her other phone, dialling Adhiraj’s number with trembling fingers.“Raj,” she breathed, panic lacing her voice. “He…”“Imara,” his calm voice enveloped her like a warm blanket. “I’ve seen it. Don’t worry.”“It looks so real,” she murmured, fear creeping in.“You are worrying for no reason, Little Tyke. He is already trapped, he just doesn’t know it yet. He can do nothing,” he reassured her before ending the call.Just then, her phone buzzed again, and a chilling message appeared: “Ten crores won’t save you from the horror etched on your face. You’re finished, Imara.”In that moment, she watched as Adhiraj took control of the situation.Imara - You got the quotes already, then why are you after me now? Who are you?Blackmailer - It was never just about the quotes or the photos. I’ll make sure the media knows that the Shekhawat family disowned you for being caught with your ex in your office. Imara Rathore, you won’t be able to face yourself after the onslaught of insults, the reporters and the world will unleash upon you. You’re done for!Imara - I have proof that nothing happened that night.Blackmailer - No one will believe your friend.The next moment, every message from the beginning vanished, leaving her chat empty except for her own messages. —————Isha’s heart sank as she read the message from Imara, a frown creasing her brow. Imara had been so closed off lately, keeping her struggles to herself, and the silence about the blackmail threats only deepened Isha’s worry. Her instincts as a friend surged within her, and she found herself anxiously awaiting a call or text from Vijay, who was due to pick her up soon. In the meantime, she quickly texted Neel, letting him know that Imara was feeling unwell and wouldn’t be at the factory. Her thoughts spiraled back to the shocking events of the previous night.After dinner, Vijay dropped her back to her apartment. Isha felt a warmth in his presence, a comfort that lifted her spirits. But as she dismounted from his bike, he gently grasped her hand, halting her in her tracks. The surprise left her momentarily speechless, and her instinct was to pull away, yet he drew her closer instead. The dimly lit lane felt more intimidating at that hour, and she felt uneasy.“What are you doing?” she whispered, trying to step back.“I really like you, Isha,” he replied, locking eyes with her. “Let’s take the time to know each other better. I promise you’ll have a family to call your own. You’ll never have to feel lonely, eat alone, or live alone again.”Those words touched her heart, like a soothing balm to her tumultuous emotions. Although she didn’t feel the same jitters whenever she was around Neel, she tried to convince herself that love often blossoms slowly. Perhaps she should give Vijay a chance. Hence, with a hesitant nod, she agreed.His face lit up with a smile as he released her hand. “I am planning for a movie tomorrow. I will pick you up at 1?”Isha nodded, and with a playful wink, he rode off into the night. Just as she stepped into her apartment, the doorbell rang, startling her. Peering through the peephole, her heart skipped a beat as she saw Neel waiting outside.Biting her lip, she felt a rush of anxiety about whether to open the door. The bell rang again, accompanied by Neel’s voice, “Isha, open up. I need to talk about Imara.”She frowned. Sensing the urgency in his tone, she quickly opened the door. In an instant, Neel was inside, slamming the door behind him and demanding, “Why haven’t you been answering my calls and messages?”“Don’t shout at me,” Isha snapped.Neel let out a frustrated groan, turning away momentarily to rub his face in exasperation before fixing his gaze back on Isha. The worry gnawed at him, especially since she hadn’t been returning his calls or texts. He was both anxious and restless. However, he decided to set aside his own feelings for now, promising himself to address them later, once Imara’s situation was settled. With a determined breath, he unlocked his phone and showed her a sketch.Isha’s brows knitted together as she took the phone from him. “Why do you have Vijay’s sketch?” she inquired, her curiosity piqued.“You know him?” Neel asked, taking his phone back.Isha nodded, her expression shifting to concern. “Yes! But why do you have a sketch of him?”“He’s the one who bribed the waiter to slip something into Imu’s drink that night,” Neel replied, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer to Isha, his voice low and intense. “How do you know him?”