Recap: Maya harassed by Vivaan disguising as Aryan

*********

Riya, Lekha, and Vivaan sat in the living room, sipping their coffee, but their eyes kept darting toward the door of the bedroom where Maya was still sleeping. The silence was heavy with nervous anticipation. They knew Maya's reaction could be explosive once she woke up.

Vivaan noticed their anxious faces and tried to reassure them. "Don't worry," he said calmly. "We'll handle her together. Just stay composed."

Riya turned to him, concern etched on her face. "Did you get the pills?"

"I did," Vivaan replied, his voice steady. "I'll mix one in her coffee. She won't suspect anything."

A little while later, Maya stirred from her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked at the familiar walls of the resort room. But her mind was crystal clear. Images from the previous night flashed before her.

"Aryan... where is Aryan?" she mumbled, panic rising in her chest.

Without wasting a second, she threw off the blanket and rushed out of the room. Her voice echoed through the living room as she screamed, "Aryan! Aryan!"

Riya and Lekha immediately sprang to their feet, grabbing Maya by her hands and gently pulling her down to sit on the couch.

"Maya, what happened?" Riya asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Riya," Maya said breathlessly, "Aryan came to me yesterday. We were together. He told me he would come back to me permanently... in my life."

Riya's eyes widened in disbelief. "Maya, cool down. What nonsense are you talking? How would Aryan come here?"

"I saw him, Riya!" Maya insisted. "He took me to a room in the pub. We were together. I'm not imagining things!"

Lekha shook her head, her tone gentle but firm. "Maya, you're getting too much of Aryan into your head. We were in the pub yesterday, yes. But you were drunk. When Riya and I came back from the dance floor, we found you lying at the bar. You were barely conscious. We brought you back to the resort."

"Shut up!" Maya shouted, her eyes blazing. "I met Aryan. We had sex last night. For god's sake, believe me!"

Vivaan stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. "Maya, please calm down. Listen. When I returned after meeting my friend, you were lying on the bar counter. Your head was down, and Riya and Lekha were trying to wake you up. You didn't respond, so we brought you back."

Maya's face contorted with confusion. "How is this possible? I clearly remember Aryan... embracing me."

"You're too obsessed with Aryan," Lekha said softly. "And now you've started hallucinating him."

Maya buried her face in her hands, her fingers clutching her hair as she sobbed uncontrollably. Riya and Lekha wrapped their arms around her, consoling her for a long time. Eventually, they guided her to the bathroom, hoping that a shower might help clear her mind.

After a while, Maya returned to the living room, freshly bathed and quiet. Vivaan handed her a cup of coffee along with a small tablet.

"What is this tablet for?" Maya asked, eyeing it suspiciously.

"Maya, you need rest," Vivaan said gently. "You're under too much stress. This will help reduce it."

Without a word, Maya took the tablet and swallowed it with a sip of coffee. Riya and Lekha exchanged a glance, believing it was a contraceptive pill—but Vivaan had only given her regular vitamins.

"Let's not go anywhere today," Riya said. "Maya, you take rest. We'll return in the evening."

Maya nodded silently and returned to her room. She lay on the bed, tears brimming in her eyes again.

"Aryan," she whispered. "I know we met yesterday. I remember everything. How could they say I was just lying at the bar? Didn't you take me to the room? What's happening to me?"

Her mind couldn't let go of the vividness of the night before. Determined to prove she wasn't imagining things, she picked up her phone and called Rajesh.

"Rajesh," she said quickly, "track Aryan's location for last night. I need to know where he was."

After hanging up, Maya lay down again, haunted by memories that didn't feel like dreams. Her body gave in to the emotional exhaustion, and she drifted off into sleep.

A few hours later, her phone rang, waking her up. She quickly answered.

"Rajesh, did you get the information?"

"Yes, madam," came Rajesh's voice. "He was at his home last night."

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes, ma'am. 100% sure. He didn't leave."

Maya's heart sank.

If Aryan was at home, then who did I see? How can a dream feel so real? her mind questioned.

Just then, Riya and Lekha walked into the room and saw Maya sitting upright, her face clouded with confusion.

"Riya, Lekha," Maya said slowly, "I just spoke to Rajesh. He traced Aryan's presence from last night."

"Where was he?" Riya asked.

"At his home," Maya replied, barely above a whisper.

Lekha let out a small sigh. "See? We told you. That must have been a dream, Maya."

"Come now," Riya said with a light tone. "We got ice cream. Let's enjoy something chill."

They dragged Maya out of the room and handed her a bowl of ice cream. She took it, but her eyes remained distant, her mind lost in thoughts that refused to fade. Vivaan stood at a corner, silently observing her every move.

He could see it in her eyes—she was far from convinced.

She's still clinging to the night, he thought. I need to find a way to divert her... before she starts digging deeper.

Maya sat on the couch,  tapping her fingers restlessly on the glass table. Vivaan leaned back with a lazy grin.

"Maya, have you thought of any idea to target Sanjana?" he asked.

"Not yet," she replied shortly.

Vivaan tilted his head, amused. "Tell me what's the latest news in office. Let me give you an idea."

She leaned forward slightly. "We are just working to increase the products, and schedules are going on for a new product launch."

Vivaan's interest piqued. "New product? When are you planning to launch it?"

"Probably next month."

A mischievous glint danced in his eyes. "Good. Then listen to my idea. Just before the day of the launch, get some news leaked that the product has harmful ingredients. Instigate people to test the product in public. And since Sanjana is the chairperson, and she's a sentimental idiot, it will be easy to drag her into the testing."

Maya's eyes narrowed slightly as a smirk formed. "Hold on. I got to know what to do now."

Vivaan wasn't done. "Let her down in front of Aryan first. Get photos of Sanjana and Pradeep together. Drag them into a scandal."

She leaned back with a wicked smile. "Hmmm. I will do anything to chase her away from Aryan."

"Tell me if you want me to do anything," he offered.

"Sure. Thank you for the ideas," she replied.

"Anything for you, Maya."

"Fine. Start early. I need to be in office tomorrow."

"Okay then. We'll start after lunch."

They finished lunch and immediately began their journey back to Chennai.

At Aryan's mansion in Chennai, Pavi and Keerthy came to visit Sanju. They were seated in the living room, chatting, when Aryan came down the stairs carrying Sanju in his arms. Both girls tried hard to control their smiles, not wanting to embarrass the couple.

"Madam, how are you?" Pavi asked playfully.

"I'm fine, girls," Sanju replied, a soft smile on her face.

Keerthy raised a brow teasingly. "Bro, I think you won't let her walk now."

"She's weak now, so I don't want her to use the stairs," Aryan said calmly.

"Isn't the lift working?" Pavi questioned with a grin.

Sanju chuckled. "Don't expect us to use the lift for just one floor."

"Fine, madam. We aren't saying anything," Keerthy teased.

"You girls carry on. I'll be in the study," Aryan said before heading away.

Once he left, the girls sat beside Sanju.

"Sanju, how are you now?" Pavi asked sincerely.

"Seriously, I'm fine."

Keerthy frowned slightly. "Do you even know how scared we were yesterday? Poor Aryan bro was terrified. He even cried. He came rushing at such a speed."

Sanju smiled warmly. "He cares for me a lot. He gets scared even if it's a very simple thing."

"We saw that yesterday," Pavi said, nodding.

"Now tell us," Keerthy started with a sly grin, "doctor said that you're two months pregnant, which means you were pregnant when you went on honeymoon."

"Hey, actually I didn't know. I used to have irregular periods, so I thought it was just delayed. I didn't have any symptoms. Only recently, I started feeling tired and sleepy."

"So, where are you planning your next honeymoon?" Keerthy teased.

"Shut up," Sanju laughed. "And tell me, how are the works going on in office now?"

"You will not come to office, is it?" Pavi asked curiously.

"Hmm... Not only me, even he won't be coming to office. I told him, but your brother is very strict and won't let me leave home."

"He is correct," Pavi said. "You are too weak. Take rest. Office will run still, so don't worry."

"Pradeep will take care," Keerthy assured.

"Okay. You girls are there to help him," Sanju said with a smile.

After spending some time together, Pavi and Keerthy left.

Late that night, Maya and her friends reached Lekha's home in Chennai. The next day, Maya returned to office and focused on work. She noticed Pradeep immersed in tasks and decided to request a meeting with Sanju. However, Pradeep denied it. Maya didn't make a fuss and continued working. This pattern repeated for three days, and she grew suspicious about Sanjana not turning up at the office.

Pradeep sensed her suspicion and made a call to Aryan.

"Aryan, Maya has growing suspicion about Sanju not being at the office."

"Just tell her that Sanju is not well. I don't want her to know now," Aryan instructed.

"Seri. Okay, Aryan. Take care," Pradeep responded before ending the call.

A week passed without any sign of Sanju or Aryan at the office. Maya's curiosity peaked. She approached Asha casually in the pantry.

"Asha, did you get any gossip about Sanju not being in the office?"

Asha looked up thoughtfully. "Actually, not only Sanju. Aryan sir has also not come to office for a week. This is the latest news I got today."

"Aryan has not come? But why?"

"Sanju isn't well, it seems. Maybe he's taking care of her."

"What happened to her?" Maya asked, but Asha had no answer.

Frustrated, Maya marched to Pradeep's cabin.

"Pradeep, why is Sanjana not coming to office?" she demanded.

"I heard she has some health issues. But I don't know exactly," he replied, calm and vague.

"Why is Aryan not coming to office?"

"He is staying with Sanju, it seems."

"Does she have a serious problem?"

"I don't know exactly. Maybe if I get to know, I'll inform you," Pradeep said, offering no more details.

Maya left his cabin, frowning, her mind racing. If Pradeep didn't have the news, she had to find another way. She needed answers. Her thoughts churned as she stepped out of the office. That night, she made a call to Rajesh.

"Keep an eye on the people moving in and out of Aryan mansion," she ordered. "Track Aryan or Sanju if they step out. I need to know what's going on."

************

A/N:

Please vote and comment

Take care

Thank you