[A 5-STAR HOTEL – NEW DELHI]
The atmosphere inside the grand banquet hall of the five-star hotel was thick with tension and understated luxury.
The Maheshwaris stood poised, regal in their own right, while the Rajvanshis, led by the ever —imposing Adityanath Rajvanshi, sat like a panel of royalty, watching the clock with a mix of boredom and calculation.
Just then—
The double doors swung open. Every head turned.
Aria Maheshwari walked in, poised and unapologetically composed, dressed in an elegant dark green saree with a structured blouse, her hair neatly pinned. Behind her, a staff member wheeled in two strollers—each cradling a newborn child.
A loud gasp escaped the hall.
Uttam Maheshwari, who had been sipping water, nearly dropped the glass. His eyes widened with disbelief.
He stepped forward, voice tight with concern.
"Aria... what is this? Two infants? They are... not yours, right?"
Aria's expression remained neutral. "Yes, Papa. They're mine."
The silence grew heavier, like storm clouds ready to burst.
Uttam, wounded and visibly shaken, "How...? When? Why wouldn't you tell me something this big?"
Aria took a breath. Her eyes flickered toward the Rajvanshis, resting finally on Ahaan Rajvanshi.
"Because I didn't think I needed to explain myself. Ask him instead."
All eyes turned to Ahaan.
The young Rajvanshi heir stood tall, confusion flickering in his eyes for the briefest moment before he recovered, gazing at the children... and the distinct, unmistakable crescent-moon shaped birthmarks on one of the infant's wrists.
Before anyone could question further, he stepped forward.
"They're mine. I'm their father."
A fresh round of gasps echoed across the hall.
Aria momentarily flinched at his immediate acceptance.
'What?... so easily.'
Manik, stunned, stepped closer to the babies and exchanged a glance with Savi, who had the same realization—there was no denying the resemblance.
Savi's eyes squinted at the infant's wrist.
"This mark... Bhai has it too. Even Papa and Dadu have the same birthmark. Just on different places. They are Rajvanshis," she murmured.
"Then are they really theirs?" Manik asked.
Savi frowned. "Seems so."
Then came the cold voice of Vaibhav Maheshwari.
Vaibhav scoffed,"Of course. Aria Maheshwari, always aiming for dramatics."
"What's the goal this time? Blackmail? Defamation?Turning Ahaan into the father of your imaginary scandal?"
Ahaan, his voice laced with unexpected steel: "She's not lying. The children are mine. And this is neither a joke nor a game."
Adityanath Rajvanshi, who had been silent all this while, suddenly chuckled.
All heads turned to him.
He leaned forward in his chair, cane tapping once against the floor. His eyes gleamed with wicked amusement.
"Well, well, well — this is a twist I didn't see coming."
He smiled clearly pleased with the situation.
"An engagement meeting turning into a paternity reveal. Delightful. Let the story unfold—I'm curious where this goes."
Amid the chaos and scrutiny, Ahaan walked over to Aria.
"Let's talk. Privately," he said softly.
He motioned toward a side lounge, and Aria nodded curtly.
As the twins were wheeled away by Manik and Saavi, both watching the babies like newly appointed guardians, the rest of the room buzzed with whispered speculations.
○●○
[Private Room - Moments later]
The walls of the lounge muffled the noise of the escalating arguments outside.
The silence inside however — was louder.
Aria stood with her back to the door, her arms folded tightly, eyes fixed on Ahaan—who now stared at her with a mix of confusion and concern.
" You didn't deny it. Why?"
She stepped closer. Her voice cold.
"Did you think I wouldn't ask questions?"
Ahaan said carefully, "What questions would I have answered that could've made any of this better?"
His politeness made Aria's anger flare even more. Her voice rose.
"How about why? Why did you abandon them?"
She stepped even more close. Ahaan subconsciously stepped back.
"Was it because their mother was a commoner — not worthy of your Rajvanshi name?"
"And now that It's a Maheshwari — the shame's gone. They've become acceptable, haven't they?" she hissed.
Ahaan blinked—startled not by her accusation, but the ache in her voice.
She looked hurt. Betrayed. Wounded in ways that couldn't have come from just his presence today.
And then it clicked.
The woman his brother had talked about... the one he had been so determined to leave everything behind for...
It's her.
This is her.
And she thinks I'm him.
A hundred thoughts collided in Ahaan's head—but he kept his face unreadable.
'If this woman was the one Rudra loved, then she didn't need to be broken any further by the truth.'
'Not now.'
'Not when she was clearly alone and carrying Rudra's children.'
'I have to pretend as Rudra for her too.'
Ahaan tried to explain. "I didn't abandon anyone. I... I was going to come back—when the time was right."
Aria let out a humorless laugh. Her voice mocking.
"Of course you were. And when was your right time going to come. Hm? After the engagement? Or the wedding?"
"That, I—"
"No. Please, tell me really. What was the plan—keep them hidden forever?"
"Of course not. I would never do—"
She interrupted him again. Her smile vanished. Her eyes cold and full of hatred.
"Were the kids going to grow up thinking they were mistakes?"
Ahaan had no answer. His throat tightened.
He didn't even knew her name before,
But now she was here, fiery and fearless, defending two babies who bore his brother's mark.
He couldn't tell her that Rudra was gone. That no one knew where he was. That the Rajvanshi elders had locked him away or worse....
No, She had enough pain already.
So he let the lie linger.
Let her believe he was Rudra.
Let her be angry. Let her hate him.
At least then, she'd stay strong.
A knock shattered the silence.
Savi's voice called from outside.
"You two, come out now. Our families are seconds from strangling each other."
Then a pause.
She added, "And Aria di, your dad looks like he's going to pass out."
Aria didn't look at Ahaan as she stepped toward the door.
"Don't pretend you care now. Just play along."
And with that, she walked out —leaving Ahaan alone with two truths weighing on his shoulders:
One: His brother's children were now part of this twisted game.
Two: The woman Rudra had loved was a storm... and she had just walked back into the heart of their fire.