31.

NAINA

Dadu and Dadi passed away today. I'm standing in front of their lifeless bodies—stiff, cold, and utterly still. The room is filled with the sounds of grief—broken sobs, hushed whispers, and the soft murmur of prayers. Everyone is devastated, clinging to each other for comfort, but I feel strangely disconnected, as if I'm floating above it all, watching from a distance.

My thoughts are a tangled mess, racing uncontrollably as I try to make sense of everything that's happened. Amidst the chaos in my mind, one name stands out.

Reyansh.

It's been two days since we last spoke. Not because I didn't want to, but because I never got the chance. Now, in the midst of this tragedy, I find myself yearning to hear his voice, to feel the comfort he always brings. But the thought of him only deepens the ache in my heart.

My thoughts are abruptly interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. I look up to see a doctor walking towards me.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Singhania," he says, his voice gentle yet firm.

I turn to face him, trying to compose myself. "Yes?" I manage to reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Could we talk for a moment?" he asks, his expression unreadable.

"Of course," I nod, following him down the corridor to his office. The walls feel like they're closing in on me as we walk, the air thick with the weight of unspoken words.

Once inside, he gestures for me to sit. I take a seat across from him, my hands trembling slightly as he hands me a file. The moment it touches my fingers, I feel a wave of dread wash over me.

With a deep breath, I open the file, my heart pounding in my chest. The room feels eerily silent, as if the world is holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable.

"Mrs. Singhania," the doctor begins, his tone grave, "I'm afraid the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Singhania were not natural."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless. "What do you mean?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"They were poisoned," he says, each word sharp and precise. "It was a very painful and slow process. The drug used is one of the most dangerous substances known, a toxin that's nearly impossible to detect until it's too late. It can only be obtained illegally."

For a moment, I can't breathe. The room spins around me as the reality of his words sinks in. Poisoned. Dadu and Dadi were poisoned. The thought is too horrifying to comprehend.

I clutch the file tighter, the paper crinkling under my grip. "Who would do such a thing?" I whisper, more to myself than to the doctor. The question hangs in the air, unanswered, as I stare at the cold, clinical words on the page, trying to make sense of the nightmare unfolding before me.

But deep down, a fear begins to take root—a fear that the answer might be closer than I ever imagined.

I walk out of the cabin my breathing unsteady, my heart pounding in my chest like it would break out any moment.

By the time everyone already left for the Singhania mansion. Only Kainaat was here, she looks up hearing footsteps.

"Didi let's go they all left" I look at with a soft gaze, and pull her in my embrace.

Kainaat clings to me tightly, her small frame trembling as she buries her face in my shoulder. I can feel her tears soaking through my clothes, but I hold her closer, trying to offer some semblance of comfort even as my own heart shatters.

"We'll get through this," I murmur into her hair, though the words sound hollow, even to me. I'm not sure if I'm trying to reassure her or myself.

She pulls back slightly, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "Didi, who could have done this? Why would anyone hurt Dadu and Dadi?" Her voice is small and broken, full of the innocence that still clings to her despite everything.

I don't have an answer. How can I explain the darkness that lurks in the hearts of people, the evil that can drive someone to commit such a heinous act? I can't even begin to fathom it myself.

"We'll find out," I say instead, my voice firmer now, though my hands are still shaking. "But right now, we need to stay strong, for them, for the family."

Kainaat nods, though she doesn't seem convinced. I take her hand and lead her out of the hospital, the two of us walking in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.

The drive to the Singhania mansion is quiet, the usual bustling city streets feeling muted, as if the world itself is mourning with us. As we pull up to the grand gates, I see the familiar sight of the mansion that has always been a place of warmth and love, now standing cold and foreboding in the fading light of the evening.

We enter the mansion, the air thick with sorrow. Family members are scattered around, their faces pale and drawn, the reality of what's happened weighing heavily on all of us. The sight of Dadu's favorite armchair, now empty, sends a fresh wave of pain through me, and I have to force myself to keep moving, to not break down right here in front of everyone.

In the living room, I spot Reyansh standing near the window, his back to the room. His shoulders are tense, and even from a distance, I can sense the turmoil raging within him. He hasn't noticed us yet, his gaze fixed on something outside, lost in his thoughts.

"Kainaat, go upstairs and rest, okay?" I say gently. She nods, giving me a small, shaky smile before heading towards the stairs.

Once she's out of sight, I take a deep breath and walk over to Reyansh, my steps slow and deliberate. As I get closer, I can see the strain in his posture, the way his hands are clenched into fists at his sides.

"Reyansh," I call softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He turns at the sound of my voice, and for a moment, our eyes meet. The usual warmth in his gaze is gone, replaced by something dark and unreadable. There's a heaviness in his expression, a burden he seems to be carrying alone.

"Naina," he says, his voice rough, as if he hasn't spoken in hours. He looks like he's about to say something more, but the words die on his lips. Instead, he just stares at me, a silent plea in his eyes.

I step closer, reaching out to touch his arm. "Reyansh, what's going on? Talk to me, please."

He looks away, his jaw tightening. "This is... it's all so messed up, Naina. I don't even know where to begin."

"Start from the beginning," I urge, my heart pounding. I can feel that something is wrong, that he's holding back, and it terrifies me.

He takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair, a habit of his when he's stressed. "There's something you need to know... about Dadu and Dadi."

I feel a chill run down my spine. "What is it, Reyansh?"

He hesitates, his eyes filled with guilt and pain. "They... they knew. They knew something was wrong, but they didn't say anything because... because they were trying to protect you."

"Protect me?" I repeat, my mind racing. "From what?"

He finally meets my gaze, his voice barely a whisper. "From me."