Chapter 10

The early morning sunlight filtered through the large windows of Raghav’s office, casting long shadows on the walls. Ananya sat across from him, her fingers absentmindedly tapping the edge of the ledger. They had spent hours poring over its cryptic details, but the answers they sought remained elusive.

Raghav sat back in his leather chair, his eyes fixed on the ledger’s pages. “This doesn’t make sense,” he muttered. “We’re missing something—some piece of the puzzle that ties all of this together.”

Ananya leaned forward, tracing her fingers over a name that had appeared several times in the ledger. “This name… Dev Sharma. He’s listed as the recipient of several large payments over the years, but there’s no indication of what services he provided. It’s strange.”

Raghav frowned, recognizing the name. “Dev Sharma was a longtime employee of the hotel. He worked here for years, starting as a bellboy and eventually becoming head of housekeeping. But he left under mysterious circumstances about a decade ago.”

“Do you think he could have been involved in the financial discrepancies?” Ananya asked, looking up at Raghav.

Raghav’s expression was serious. “It’s possible. If anyone knew the inner workings of the hotel, it would have been him. He was trusted by my grandfather’s generation.”

Ananya stood up, her resolve strengthening. “We need to talk to him. If he was involved in these transactions, he might know what’s going on.”

Raghav nodded. “I’ll see if I can track him down. He used to live in a small village a few hours from here. It’s a long shot, but we can try to find him.”

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Later that day, Ananya and Raghav drove out of the city and toward the village where Dev Sharma had last been seen. The winding roads took them through dense forests and rolling hills, the landscape growing quieter as they left the bustling city behind. The tension between them had subsided slightly since they had started working together, though their conversations remained guarded.

As they pulled up to a small house on the outskirts of the village, Raghav killed the engine and glanced over at Ananya. “This is the place.”

The house was modest, with peeling paint and a thatched roof. It looked like it hadn’t been lived in for some time, but there were signs that someone had been there recently. Ananya stepped out of the car, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of life.

They approached the front door and knocked, the sound echoing through the quiet village. After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing an elderly man with graying hair and weary eyes. His face was lined with age, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that suggested he was not easily fooled.

“Dev Sharma?” Raghav asked.

The old man hesitated before nodding. “Yes. And who might you be?”

Raghav introduced himself, explaining their reason for visiting. Dev’s expression remained impassive, but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes when they mentioned the hotel.

“I don’t work for the hotel anymore,” Dev said gruffly. “I left a long time ago. Whatever it is you’re looking for, I can’t help you.”

Ananya stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. “We’re not here to cause trouble. We just need to ask you a few questions about the financial records we found. Your name appears several times in connection with large payments. We think you might know something about what was going on at the hotel during those years.”

Dev’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Ananya thought he might slam the door in their faces. But after a long pause, he stepped aside, motioning for them to enter.

The inside of the house was as modest as the exterior, with simple furniture and a sparse layout. Dev led them to a small living room where he gestured for them to sit.

“I knew this day would come,” he muttered as he settled into an armchair. “I thought I could leave it all behind, but the past has a way of catching up with you.”

Ananya exchanged a glance with Raghav before speaking. “What do you mean?”

Dev sighed, his gaze distant as if recalling memories long buried. “I worked at that hotel for over forty years. I saw things—things that should never have happened. The financial transactions you found? Those were just the surface of a much darker operation.”

Raghav’s jaw clenched. “What kind of operation?”

Dev hesitated, his hands gripping the arms of his chair. “Money laundering, bribes, illegal deals made under the table. It was all happening right under everyone’s noses. The hotel was being used as a front for all kinds of illegal activities, and I was caught in the middle of it.”

Ananya leaned forward, her heart pounding in her chest. “Who was behind it?”

Dev’s eyes flicked to Raghav before answering. “Your grandfather knew about it, Raghav. He wasn’t directly involved, but he turned a blind eye to what was happening. There were powerful people pulling the strings—people who couldn’t afford to have their names tied to any scandals.”

Raghav’s face darkened, his fists clenched at his sides. “And Raj? My fiancée… Was his death connected to all of this?”

Dev lowered his gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know the full details, but if Raj was poking around where he shouldn’t have, it’s possible he found out too much. They wouldn’t have hesitated to silence him.”

Ananya’s breath caught in her throat. The thought of Raj being killed because of something he had uncovered made her stomach churn. She had suspected foul play, but hearing it confirmed was a different matter entirely.

Before they could ask any more questions, there was a loud crash from outside the house. Dev’s eyes widened in panic, and he stood up abruptly.

“They’re here,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “You need to leave—now!”

Raghav and Ananya exchanged a confused glance, but before they could react, Dev ushered them toward the back door. “Go! If they find you here, you’ll be in danger.”

“Who’s after you?” Raghav demanded, but Dev shook his head.

“There’s no time to explain. Just go!”

Reluctantly, Raghav and Ananya hurried out the back door, their hearts racing. As they made their way back to the car, Ananya couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but the dense trees obscured her view.

They drove back to the city in tense silence, the weight of their conversation with Dev hanging heavily between them.

“What now?” Ananya asked quietly as they approached the hotel.

Raghav’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Now, we figure out who’s trying to stop us from learning the truth. And we don’t stop until we uncover everything.”

But as they pulled into the hotel’s driveway, they were greeted by a scene that made their blood run cold.

Dev Sharma was gone.

The small house they had visited earlier was now engulfed in flames, the fire roaring through the night sky. They had just spoken to him a few hours ago, and now everything was gone.

Ananya’s hand flew to her mouth in shock, while Raghav’s face twisted in anger. Whoever was behind the threats was making their move, and they were closer to the truth than they had realized.

But now, with Dev gone, they were left with even more questions—and the first real clue that the stakes were much higher than they had ever imagined.