"Secrets Beneath the Surface"

Later that night, as Anaya lay in bed, her mind still whirled with thoughts of the locker. She had seen something in Rudra's eyes during dinner—a brief flicker of emotion that made her believe there was more to the story than he was letting on.

As she drifted off to sleep, she made a silent promise to herself: she would find a way to unlock the secrets that Rudra kept hidden, not just in the wooden locker, but in his heart as well.

Chapter 39: Secrets Beneath the Surface

The quiet hum of the night filled the mansion as Anaya lay in bed, her thoughts tangled with curiosity and uncertainty. The wooden locker in Rudra's study seemed to hold more than just papers or documents—it felt like a gateway to understanding him. His cold dismissal at dinner hadn't deterred her; if anything, it only deepened her resolve.

But tonight, she would let it go. Her focus had to remain on the interview that Rudra had arranged for her. The weight of his words hung in her mind: "You'll need to work for it. Singhaniya Enterprises doesn't hire anyone without merit, even if you are my wife." Those words played on repeat, fueling her determination to succeed.

She closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, but her mind continued to wander. Images of the wooden locker, Rudra's piercing gaze, and the faint smirk on his lips haunted her. The night stretched on, and sleep evaded her.

---

The next morning, Anaya awoke with a sense of unease lingering in her chest. The interview was a day away, but her mind was still focused on the mysteries Rudra kept hidden from her. After dressing, she made her way downstairs for breakfast, the usual routine of the household already in motion.

In the dining room, Rakhi was bustling around, ensuring everyone was served. Misha and Ria were engaged in a lively discussion about their college projects, while Aarav sat quietly, scrolling through his phone.

"Good morning," Anaya greeted them as she entered, her voice soft but steady.

Rakhi smiled warmly at her. "Good morning, dear. Are you ready for your big day today?"

Anaya nodded, taking a seat beside Ria. "I think so. I've been preparing."

Misha glanced up from her plate. "You'll do great, Anaya. You've been working hard, and besides, you're a natural."

Anaya smiled, though her thoughts still swirled with the unease from the previous night. She wished she could focus entirely on the interview, but her curiosity about the locker gnawed at her.

As breakfast continued, Ria nudged Anaya playfully. "So, did you talk to Rudra about it?"

Anaya blinked, momentarily confused. "About what?"

"About the internship," Ria replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Did he give you any more advice?"

Anaya shook her head, recalling their conversation from the previous night. "Not really. He just said I need to earn it."

Ria rolled her eyes, grinning. "Typical Rudra. Always making things harder than they need to be."

Misha chimed in with a smirk. "He's got a point, though. If you want something in this family, you have to work for it."

Anaya nodded in agreement. "I know. I'm just... trying to figure out how to navigate everything."

Rakhi, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, walked over and placed a hand on Anaya's shoulder. "You're doing just fine, Anaya. Don't be so hard on yourself." Today is your interview so do your best..

Anaya smiled up at her mother-in-law, grateful for the support. "Thank you, Mumma."

Yes give your best Anaya I wish you got clear this interview.. Ria Said with supportive smile.

Rakhi patted her shoulder and returned to the kitchen, leaving Anaya to ponder her next steps. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing, that there was more she needed to understand about her place in the family and about Rudra himself.

---

The morning sun filtered through the large windows of the Singhaniya mansion, casting soft shadows on the ground floor library. Anaya stood in the middle of the room, her eyes scanning the rows of books and the quiet corners that held more secrets than she could imagine. The memory of the wooden locker tucked away in the corner had been nagging at her for days, ever since she first stumbled upon it.

That locker—it felt like a mystery she couldn't ignore.

She took slow steps toward it, the faint smell of dust and old paper surrounding her. Kneeling down, Anaya ran her fingers over the carved surface, tracing the initials once more. R.S. Rudra Singhaniya. She couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was inside could help her understand him more, maybe even uncover why he was so distant, so closed off.

Taking a deep breath, she tried the key she had found in Rudra's study earlier. The lock clicked but didn't open. Frowning, Anaya leaned closer to inspect it further. That's when she realized—there wasn't just one keyhole. There were three.

It needs three keys?

Her heart sank. Of course, Rudra wouldn't make it easy. Nothing about him was simple.

Determined not to give up, Anaya stood up and began searching the library, hoping to find the other keys. She pulled out drawers, checked behind books, and even felt along the edges of the bookshelves, looking for anything that might reveal a hidden compartment. Every corner, every shelf—she searched them all. But after what felt like hours, she had found nothing.

Frustration set in, and Anaya slumped back against the shelves, her energy drained. She had been so close, but it seemed the answers would remain hidden for now. With a sigh, she decided to hide the locker on the top shelf, away from prying eyes. Using a decorative cloth, she covered it, hoping no one else would find it. For now, it would remain her secret.

---

As Anaya made her way back to her room, her mind shifted to the interview Rudra had arranged for her. She needed to focus. Today wasn't just about the mysterious locker—it was about her future, about proving herself to the Singhaniya family and to Rudra. She had to succeed.

Entering her room, she headed straight for her cupboard to gather her documents. The interview was in just a few hours, and she wanted to be well-prepared. As she sifted through her papers, searching for her resume and certificates, something felt off.

The documents weren't where she had left them.

She frowned, pushing aside clothes and boxes, pulling out drawers and emptying shelves. Still nothing. Anxiety began to bubble up inside her. Where could they be?

Then she remembered—last night, she had been organizing the study desk, and she must have left the file with her documents there. She hurried over to the study side of the room, her heart racing. When she pulled open the drawer, sure enough, there was her file. Relief washed over her.

But as she reached for the file, something else caught her attention—a small wooden box, precariously balanced on the edge of the shelf. Before she could stop it, the box toppled over, crashing to the ground and shattering into pieces.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, kneeling down to clean up the mess.

As she gathered the broken pieces of wood, something small and metallic glinted in the light. Frowning, she reached for it, her fingers closing around a small, old-fashioned key.

Her breath hitched. The key was worn, its edges smoothed over with age. It looked ancient, as if it had been hidden away for years.

Anaya sat back on her heels, holding the key in her hand, her mind racing. Could this be one of the keys to the wooden locker? It had to be. There was no other explanation for it being hidden in such an old, delicate box.

For a moment, she just stared at the key, feeling a mixture of excitement and fear. She had found one of the three keys. There were only two more to go, and if she found them, she could unlock whatever secrets Rudra was keeping in that old locker.

But now wasn't the time. She had the interview to focus on, and she couldn't let herself get distracted. With a deep breath, Anaya placed the key carefully in the drawer of her study table and stood up, shaking off the tension. She had to prepare. There would be time for unlocking secrets later.

______________

The rest of the day passed in a blur as Anaya gathered her documents and went through the usual motions of preparation. She sat down at her desk, reviewing her notes and brushing up on the company she was interviewing for. Rudra had been true to his word—he had called someone and arranged the interview for her, but the pressure of it all weighed heavily on her shoulders.

She wanted to prove herself, not just to Rudra, but to herself.

Anaya stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her outfit for the interview. The weight of the previous night's conversation with Rudra still lingered in her mind, but she pushed it aside. Today was too important to let her emotions get the best of her.

She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and left the room, ready to face whatever the day would bring.

As she made her way downstairs, she saw Rudra standing near the front door, his expression unreadable as always. He glanced at her briefly but said nothing.

Anaya nodded in acknowledgment, her heart racing as she walked past him. She had a feeling that today's interview would change everything—not just for her career, but for her relationship with Rudra as well.

And as she stepped outside, the weight of that realization settled heavily on her shoulders.

As she got ready to leave for the interview, her thoughts drifted back to the key. What if the other two keys were hidden in similar places? What if they were somewhere in the house, waiting to be found? She couldn't help but feel like this was the start of something much bigger than she had anticipated.

---

Later that afternoon, after the interview, Anaya returned home feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief. The interview had gone well—better than she had expected—but her thoughts were still consumed by Rudra's words from the night before.

The interview was challenging but manageable. Anaya felt confident in her responses, and though her nerves had been present throughout, she knew she had done her best. The interviewer had been impressed with her knowledge, and when she left the office, there was a sense of accomplishment that followed her.

But despite the success of the interview, her mind kept returning to the locker and the key she had found. She couldn't shake the feeling that Rudra had intentionally hidden parts of his life from everyone—including her. The cold, distant man she had married had layers, and she was only just beginning to uncover them.

When she returned to the mansion later that evening, the house was quiet, almost too quiet. The usual lively banter between Ria and Misha was absent, and Rakhi was nowhere to be seen. Anaya slipped into her room, her thoughts heavy with the events of the day.

She needed answers. She needed to understand why he kept everything locked away, both literally and emotionally.

As she stood in the hallway, her gaze drifted once again to the study. The locker called to her, its secrets hidden just beneath the surface.

Anaya took a deep breath and made her decision. She couldn't wait any longer. She needed to know the truth.

With determination in her step, she walked toward the study, her heart pounding in her chest.

Whatever was inside that locker, it was time to find out.

Should I tell Rudra about it? she wondered, her mind swirling with indecision.

But something told her that this wasn't the time. Rudra was a man of few words, and he wasn't the type to easily share his past. If she brought up the key now, he might shut her out even more. And there was the looming possibility that he would be angry for snooping through his things.

Anaya sighed, leaning back in her chair. The path ahead wasn't clear, but one thing was certain—Rudra was a mystery, and she wasn't going to unravel him overnight.

---

Later that night, Anaya lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The soft sounds of the night filled the room, but her thoughts were miles away. She couldn't stop thinking about the wooden locker, about Rudra, and about the secrets that seemed to hover just out of reach.

She had found one key, but where were the others?

And more importantly, what would she find when she finally unlocked the locker?

These questions buzzed in her mind, keeping her awake long after the rest of the house had fallen silent.

Anaya turned over, her gaze drifting to Rudra's side of the bed. He hadn't come to bed yet, and she wondered if he was still working in his office. Part of her wanted to go to him, to ask him directly about the locker and the key. But another part of her knew that he wasn't ready to share that part of himself—not yet.

With a deep sigh, Anaya closed her eyes, letting exhaustion finally take over. Tomorrow was another day, and maybe, just maybe, she would find the answers she was looking for.

But for now, all she had were questions.

And a key.

##To be continue...**