𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The first thing Aarvi heard when she woke up was the annoying blare of her alarm. The second thing? The realization that she had exactly fifteen minutes to get ready.

“Shit, shit, shit!” She scrambled out of bed, running around like a tornado—one shoe in hand, toothbrush in mouth.

In her rush, she nearly tripped over her own bag. Typical.

Finally, somewhat put together, she rushed out the door, bumping straight into Saanvi.

Saanvi smirked. “Let me guess. Snoozed your alarm ten times?”

Aarvi huffed. “Six times. But who’s counting?”

Saanvi handed her a coffee. “I figured you’d need this.”

Aarvi grinned, taking a grateful sip. "You’re an angel.”

One more hectic morning in the life of a struggling journalist.

The city buzzed with its usual chaos, and inside Insight 24/7, the newsroom was alive with discussions, phone calls, and the constant clatter of keyboards. Aarvi had started settling into her daily routine, but today felt different. There was an air of tension, something unspoken lingering between conversations.

𝐀𝐭 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞,𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝟐𝟒/𝟕

Vikram Khanna sat at the head of the meeting table, flipping through a folder with an unusually serious expression. His team, including Aarvi, Saanvi, and a few other senior journalists, waited for him to speak. Finally, he placed the folder down and took a deep breath.

“Aaksh Singhania,” he said, rubbing his temple. “He’s making news again.”

Aarvi frowned. She had heard the name before but never really paid attention.

“He’s the one who was involved in that real estate scam a few years ago, right?” one of the reporters asked.

Vikram nodded. “Yes, but now, he’s suddenly on a ‘redemption’ arc. He’s opened a hospital for needy people, and the media is eating it up. Almost every major news outlet has been invited for an exclusive interview.”

Aarvi exchanged a glance with Saanvi. “And Insight 24/7?” she asked.

“That’s the thing,” Vikram sighed. “He sent a personal invitation. Specifically, for me to take the interview.”

A low murmur spread across the room. It was unusual for someone as high-profile as Aaksh to invite a single journalist so directly.

Vikram leaned back. “I don’t trust him. I’ve interviewed him twice before, and both times, he was all about showmanship. Something about this doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Then why accept?” Sameer, one of their senior colleagues, asked.

“Because it’s news. And because if we don’t, we’ll look like we’re avoiding it.” Vikram exhaled sharply. “But I don’t want to go personally. I’ll send someone else.”

Silence followed.

Aarvi already knew where this was going.

Vikram turned to her. “Aarvi, I want you to handle this.”

She straightened. “Me?”

“You and Sameer,” Vikram confirmed. “I need someone sharp, but also someone who won’t attract too much attention.”

Aarvi nodded slowly. “Alright. But I’d like to do a private interview too, apart from the main press conference.”

Vikram studied her for a moment before nodding. “Fine. But be careful.”

---

𝐑𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐡’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The soft hum of jazz played in the background as Reyansh leaned against the balcony railing, a steaming cup of black coffee in hand. The city stretched out before him, the early morning haze still lingering.

His phone buzzed. Vidyut.

Vidyut: You awake?

Reyansh: Obviously. Some of us don’t sleep through alarms.

Vidyut’s instant reply: Not all of us function like robots, bro.

Shaking his head, Reyansh smirked. Same old Vidyut.

But today, something felt off. He didn’t know what. Just an odd feeling that settled in his chest, like something was about to change.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝟐𝟒/𝟕

Meanwhile, at Insight 24/7, a team meeting was in progress. Everyone was debating possible questions for Aaksh’s interview.

“What if we ask him about his past scams?” one reporter suggested.

Vikram shook his head. “He’ll dodge those. We need something subtle.”

Right then, in the middle of the silence, a loud, upbeat song suddenly blasted through the room—

“Oo Antava, Oo Oo Antava...”

Everyone turned towards Sameer, whose phone was the culprit.

“Oh, crap!” he fumbled, turning it off as laughter erupted.

“Sameer, really?” Vikram shook his head, smirking. “I didn’t peg you for a Pushpa fan.”

Everyone turned to him, grinning.

Sameer fumbled, turning it off. “Uh… carry on.”

Laughter erupted.

Aarvi shook her head, smiling. Despite the serious discussion, moments like these made work enjoyable.

---

𝐑𝐕 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

Meanwhile, at RV Industries, Reyansh and Vidyut were thriving. Their fathers often visited to guide them, though their conversations seemed heavier than usual lately. It wasn’t the usual business talk. There was something different—something unspoken.

One evening, after a late meeting, Reyansh and Vidyut decided to head to Vidyut’s home, where both their families were gathered for dinner. The atmosphere was warm, but there was a certain tension in the air, an underlying unease that neither of them could ignore.

Laughter echoed as Vidyut’s mother, neelam, playfully nudged reyansh. “You’re always so busy with work. When are you bringing home a nice girl?”

Vidyut groaned. “Ma, not this again.”

His father chuckled. “Reyansh, at least you tell us—any special someone?”

Reyansh smirked, scrolling his phone. “Work is my only relationship.”

neelam rolled her eyes. “You boys… you think the world runs only on business.” then,Reyansh's mother told Vidyut, "Son, you tell me if you like any girl." Vidyut said, "No aunty, I haven't thought of anything yet."

As the dinner continued, their parents are talking to each other ,the conversation took a turn. Vidyut’s father casually mentioned, “Did you hear about Aaksh Singhania’s new project?”

Both Reyansh and Vidyut, who had just excused themselves, paused on the staircase.

“I still don’t understand why he’s suddenly playing philanthropist,” Vidyut’s mother mused.

“Something isn’t right,” his father added. “Aaksh doesn’t do anything unless there’s a benefit for him.”

Reyansh and Vidyut exchanged a look. They weren’t supposed to hear this.

Rajeev sighed, rubbing his temple. “It’s not just about the past anymore. We should have been more careful. If we had never gotten involved with him, things would have been different.”

Manoj nodded solemnly. “But what choice did we have back then? You know how he operates. Once you’re in, there’s no way out.”

Neelam placed a reassuring hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Let it go. It’s in the past now.”

“But is it really?” Asha muttered. “We lost something that can never be replaced. And if the boys ever find out—”

Casually, they walked back into the living room. “We forgot our phones,” Reyansh said smoothly, picking up his phones.

Their parents didn’t suspect anything and continued their conversation. But now, both men had a new curiosity.

Reyansh and Vidyut exchanged glances. Their parents had always been open about their past struggles, but something about this conversation felt… different. Something was missing. Something was hidden.

Reyansh clenched his jaw. He hated secrets, and he especially hated being kept in the dark.

Later that night, as Vidyut and Reyansh drove for a ride, neither spoke for a while. The silence stretched between them until Vidyut finally exhaled. “You heard it too, right?”

Reyansh nodded, gripping the steering wheel. “Yeah. And I don’t like it.”

“So what do we do?”

Reyansh’s eyes darkened with determination. “We find out the truth.”

However, And Aarvi? She, too, had unknowingly stepped into the same dangerous web.

As she continued to investigate minor leads on a corruption case, she stumbled upon something—something that tied back to Aaksh. A file. A single document that didn’t make sense yet but held the weight of something bigger.

*So this was our third chapter, if you liked it, show some love and stay tuned for the next part to see, stay happy and healthy byeee loveies .❤

@Author aanu_writes7

Instagram Id:@aanu_writes7

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