Ivaan’s Villa

Jharna hugged Meera tightly, as if they had been apart for years. Meera returned the embrace, her eyes glancing toward Ivaan. He stepped forward, stretched out his hand with a faint smile, and said,

“Well played, partner.”

Meera gave a half-smile and shook his hand.

Flashback

It began in the kitchen, the night Meera got an electric shock.

Jharna rushed to her, hugging her protectively.

“Di, please take care of yourself. Why do you always do this to us?”

Meera smiled, brushing it off.

“I’m fine. Relax.”

But suddenly, a realization flashed across her face. Before she could speak, Ivaan’s voice cut in from the doorway.

“Jharna, I need to talk to you. Come.”

Jharna quietly picked up a tray with two glasses of milk and followed him.

Meera stood frozen. Her whisper trembled.

“If Jharna doesn’t remember anything… why did she say ‘always’?”

Her heart raced. Without waiting, she walked to their room and knocked. Jharna opened the door.

“You? Do you… need something?” Jharna asked innocently.

Meera didn’t answer. She walked in, shut the door behind her, grabbed a pillow from the bed, and hurled it straight at Jharna.

“Di!” Jharna gasped. “What are you doing?”

Meera threw another pillow.

“Reminding you! What did I always do when you lied to me?”

Ivaan sighed, rubbing his temples.

Jharna darted behind him like a child hiding from scolding.

“Do something! Save me!”

Ivaan raised his hands helplessly.

“I don’t interfere in women’s battles—especially when the warriors are you two.”

Another pillow flew past.

“Do you remember now?” Meera snapped.

“Yes! Yes! I remember! Please calm down, I’ll tell you everything.” Jharna surrendered.

Satisfied, Meera dropped the pillow, looked at Ivaan and smirked.

“Of course. Only your brain could come up with something like this. Am I right?”

“That’s true,” Jharna added instantly, pointing at him.

Ivaan shot her a glare, but Meera’s voice hardened.

“Now tell me—why are you both pretending?”

The two exchanged a heavy glance.

Second Flashback

The day of the surgery.

Jharna had just opened her eyes, weak and disoriented. Her voice broke, “Who?”

Ivaan froze. Before he could react, the doctors entered.

Jharna opened her arms wide, smiling faintly.

“Come on, Mr. Black Beast… give me a hug.”

Ivaan exhaled in relief, embracing her.

“You…”

She smiled mischievously.

“You’re not the kind of thing one forgets, Ivaan.”

But her smile faded when Ivaan quickly leaned in and whispered,

“But you’ll have to forget me, Jharna.”

Her brows furrowed.

“What?”

Ivaan’s voice turned firm.

“Why, when, how—I’ll explain later. But for now, you have to pretend you’ve lost your memory. Understand?”

Jharna nodded.

He straightened, signaled the doctor, and muttered under his breath,

“You know what you need to do.”

“Yes, sir,” the doctor replied instantly.

Second Flashback Ends

“So this was all happening before we even arrived?” Meera exclaimed.

Jharna nodded.

Still confused, Meera pressed, “But even now— why are you pretending?”

Jharna sighed.

“Di, think about everything that’s happened. The leaked video of me and Aashiya. The landmine field where Ivaan and I got trapped. My fall from the helicopter…”

“Coincidences,” Meera muttered.

“Coincidences don’t repeat again and again,” Jharna countered. “Even before you came, things happened—the chandelier falling at Papa’s party, the fire at Maurya Enterprises, Maa taking the wrong medicines, the fights between Papa and Ivaan… This isn’t fate. Someone is making it happen.”

Meera’s confusion deepened.

“You mean… there’s someone behind all of this?”

Jharna glanced at Ivaan gravely.

“Ivaan believes… that person is inside this house.”

“What?” Meera’s voice shook.

Jharna nodded.

“Do you know who?” Meera asked quickly.

Jharna shook her head.

“Not yet. But… Ivaan suspects someone.”

“Who?”

Ivaan took a long pause, then said calmly, “You.”

“What?!” Meera and Jharna shouted together.

“Yes,” Ivaan said. “Listen carefully. I thought the person behind this will try to take advantage of Jharna’s memory loss. But since they know it’s temporary, they won’t reveal themselves so easily. Unless…”

Meera frowned. “Unless what?”

“Unless they find an ally,” Ivaan explained. “If we make it look like you’re our enemy, they’ll come to you. Thinking they can use you.”

Jharna added softly, “Because the enemy of an enemy… is a friend.”

“Exactly.” Ivaan confirmed.

Meera blinked, shocked. “So, we’ll have to fight? Pretend in front of everyone?”

Ivaan nodded.

“Fine,” she agreed reluctantly. “But at least give me some warning. I can’t fight on cue like an actress.”

Ivaan shook his head.

“That’s the point. We can’t predict when this person will strike. Whenever it happens, you must play along.”

Meera hesitated. “Alright. Do what you have to. But promise me—never in front of Miransh. He already hates me enough. If he sees me as your enemy, I’ll lose him forever.”

Jharna looked thoughtful. Then softly, she asked, “Di… do you trust me?”

Meera nodded slowly.

“Then let it happen in front of Ansh,” Jharna said firmly.

Before Meera could argue, Jharna placed a hand on hers and whispered.

“Trust me.”

After a long silence, Meera nodded.

Jharna smiled faintly, picking up the tray of milk. “I’ll give this to the kids.”

And with that, she walked away.

Ivaan turned to Meera. “Whenever this begins—you’ll leave the house immediately and go to my private villa. I’ll arrange the car. Jharna and I will meet you there.”

Meera gave a single nod.

Flashback Ends

Meera sat quietly on the bed beside peacefully sleeping Miransh, her fingers gently brushing through his soft hair. Across from her, Jharna and Ivaan sat in silence, watching.

Meera broke the silence first.

“I didn’t know… everything would unfold so soon.”

Jharna gave a faint nod.

“Neither did I”

Ivaan leaned back, his lips curving with quiet satisfaction.

“But it worked exactly the way I wanted. Every step.”

Meera’s face softened into a rare smile.

“Do you know what the best part was? I finally got my son back. Jharna, did you see how he defended me? He stood on my side without a second thought.”

Jharna’s smile warmed with pride.

“Of course. Whenever anyone questioned my upbringing, Ansh would fight them head-on. I knew he would do the same for you today.”

Meera hesitated, then asked, her voice trembling slightly,

“Jharna… did it hurt you? That Miransh chose me?”

Jharna shook her head firmly.

“Not at all. In fact, I feel proud. My Ansh has grown up into such a mature boy. He knows how to handle situations now.”

Her eyes softened as they fell on little Miransh’s sleeping face. Jharna’s mind wandered back to the moment when Meera and Miransh were leaving. Miransh had turned to look at her, his eyes silently trying to explain himself. She blinked in reassurance and nodded.

Now, looking at him, Jharna smiled tenderly.

Breaking the silence again, Meera asked,

“So… did you two find out anything about that person?”

Ivaan exhaled, shaking his head.

“If that letter had been handwritten, we could’ve traced it through the handwriting. But it was typed and printed.”

Meera muttered grimly,

“Which means that person is smart—dangerously smart.”

The room fell quiet. After a long pause, Meera finally asked,

“Ivaan, you said you suspected someone. Who is it?”

Jharna and Ivaan exchanged a loaded glance. Then, Ivaan spoke,

“Sagarika.”

Meera’s eyes widened.

“What! Sagarika? Vihaan’s wife?”

Jharna quickly intervened,

“It’s only an assumption, Di. We have no proof yet.”

Ivaan raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp.

“Excuse me? Do you think I’m saying this without reason?”

Jharna matched his intensity.

“Oh really? Then on what basis are you accusing her?”

Ivaan smirked faintly.

“Experience, wifey. Years of experience reading people. From the start, that woman felt… off. But I ignored it—for Vihaan’s sake.”

Jharna, “Ivaan, we can’t put such a serious blame on Sagarika just based on your instincts. Remember how even Adhik reacted for Meera di, when they’re just friends. And in that case, Vihaan loves his wife. Imagine what his reaction would be if we accuse her. We can’t even predict it.”

Ivaan’s gaze shifted sharply toward Meera.

“Just friends, Meera?”

Meera frowned in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

Ivaan leaned forward.

“I mean… are you sure it’s only friendship between you and Adhik? Nothing more?”

Meera’s answer was quick, defensive.

“Of course. What else could it be?”

Ivaan’s voice was calm, but his words cut like glass.

“Maybe love.”

Jharna gasped in shock, while Meera’s face hardened.

“Shut up. What nonsense are you talking? We are just friends. Nothing more.”

Ivaan tilted his head.

“The moment you left, he gave me a death stare and you’re still saying it’s just friendship?”

Meera swallowed hard, but stayed silent.

Ivaan pressed further.

“Maybe not from your side. But from his. It’s a hundred percent love.”

Meera’s heartbeat raced. Jharna, still stunned, added, “Yes… maybe that’s why he’s changed so much. Otherwise, he used to be so carefree.”

Meera lowered her gaze, words escaping her. Jharna hesitated, then softly asked,

“Di… is there really no chance for you and Adhik?”

Meera snapped her eyes up, glaring.

Jharna quickly tried to soften her words.

“I mean… how long will you keep holding on to your past? You have every right to move on. To be happy.”

Meera’s tone turned icy.

“I am happy. Just the way I am. And if you two are here to talk about your plan, then do that. Don’t drag me into this. If that’s all, then please leave.”

With that, she walked out to the balcony.

Jharna sighed, frustration burning in her chest. Ivaan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Her voice trembled with fury.

“If I ever meet that man… I swear I’ll kill him myself. He destroyed my sister’s life.”

Ivaan’s eyes narrowed.

“Who was he?”

Jharna’s face fell in helplessness.

“I don’t know, Ivaan. Di never told me. Not even his name. I only know one thing—he knew about Ansh. Yet he told her to abort him. My sister was so broken she almost… she almost ended her life.”

Her eyes turned back to Miransh. She lay down beside him, kissing his forehead softly.

“And till today, my Ansh doesn’t even know who his real father is.”

Her voice dripped with hatred.

Ivaan’s gaze drifted toward the balcony. Meera stood there, clutching the railing, her tears glistening under the moonlight. He walked to her quietly, standing by her side. He didn’t speak—he just stayed there.

Her voice broke as she whispered,

“I loved him… so much.”

Ivaan turned his head, watching her silently.

Meera continued, her words soaked in pain.

“We were in the same college. He was in commerce, I was in medical. We were paired together for an event. Because of that, we kept meeting. He noticed everything about me—every little detail. I thought… he was the one. That nothing else in life mattered anymore. One day, he proposed… and I said yes. He never crossed limits, never forced me. I believed it was true love. He became my strength. But… I didn’t know that to him, I was nothing more than a bet.”

Ivaan froze.

A painful smile crossed her lips.

“Yes. I was never interested in love. My only dream was to become a doctor. People used to taunt my parents because they had no son. But Papa always said—‘My daughters are my pride.’ I wanted to make him proud. That’s why I never spoke to boys. Do you know what they did? They placed a bet—that whoever impressed me would become the college president. And guess what.. He accepted that challenge.”

Her tears spilled faster.

“I knew nothing about it. I was just happy. But then… everything shattered. My parents died in an accident. I broke completely. Jharna’s responsibility fell on me. I was weak… and he became my support. He took me to his farmhouse. I trusted him blindly. He brought me hot chocolate. After drinking it… I started losing my senses. The next morning… I woke up broken. My condition told me everything. When I confronted him, he said I provoked him. That my medicine had side effects. I forced myself to accept it. After all, I loved him. I ignored the storm inside me. But soon… I found out I was pregnant.”

Her sobs grew heavier.

“When I told him, he confessed everything—the bet, the lie. Then he handed me money and told me to abort my child. My child.”

She stopped, her voice breaking.

“I wanted to die. I hated myself. I thought ending it all was the only way. But at the very last moment… Jharna came and saved me.”

She collapsed against the railing, crying harder than ever.

***

Sitara’s Note 

Some truths don’t just break hearts—they shatter entire worlds.

In this chapter, Meera finally reveals the weight she has carried alone for years. The betrayal she faced was not just about love lost, but about trust broken in the most brutal way. She was a daughter determined to make her parents proud, a sister who had to grow up too soon, and a woman whose strength was tested beyond limits.

Jharna’s fury, her vow of vengeance, shows how deep sisterhood runs—pain shared becomes pain doubled, but it also becomes a fire that cannot be extinguished.

And then there’s Ivaan—calm, calculating, yet silently standing as a witness to truths darker than any of them imagined. He doesn’t comfort with words, but with presence. Sometimes, silence speaks louder than anything else.

This chapter is not only about betrayal—it’s about resilience, about finding strength in the ashes of broken trust, and about the hidden enemy lurking in shadows.

Every scar has a story. And sometimes, those scars speak louder than the person who carries them.

— Sitara Chandria