Whispers Of Danger!!

'You want me to spy my own sister?!'

'Under your guidance? You don't think me of a puppet, do you?!'

Deep's voice kept reverberating around Aarohi, her steps almost a slow steady dance as she walked dazed. In the hours of darkness, she kept contemplating about the befalling future.

'You don't expect me to take you home with me, do you?'

'When will I be getting to know what exactly should I do, cause...I don't want to drag it long!!'

Deep's changed attitude towards the complication worried her in one way while arising a sense of hope in another. A lingering thought that he had taken over the control, closer to solve the mystery, while somehow, the same thought concerned her about his well-being. Closer to solution - even more closer to the threat.

She didn't yet know for what was he being blackmailed and why had he today give in. The only thing she was sure about was Tara being included, the target being protected yet.....spied by Deep.

Her thoughts caged her consciousness for a while until a faint voice reached her, "Are you okay, Aarohi?!" Soumya reached her!

Aarohi looked her surroundings as if pulled back from the reality, only to realise she wasn't lost in reality but her dazed mind. Soumya looked at her concerned and that made her realise she was back home and probably went unanswered to some of her questions.

"Yeah, I'm home!" she forced a smile, and her gaze settling on Soumya for a moment, travelled across the house as if scanning for someone particular, finally ending up settled on her brother who was seated at the dining table. His eyes meeting hers, a smile taking over his lips, "You're back, I have been waiting for you!!" he welcomed!

"What took you so long!" he enquired once she reached him along with her sister-in-law.

Soumya took a seat beside her brother, "We have been waiting for SO....long!!" she quipped which barely received her response!

"I couldn't find a taxi!!" she effortlessly lied forcing a smile again, "Give me a minute, I'll be back freshing up!" she softly said, leaving them!

Rithik shook his head, "I've many times suggested her to make use of my car, why doesn't she listen?!"

"You should know that better for she's your sister!!" Soumya shrugged.

"You could know better than me, you both are friends after all!" he said with a raised brow.

"Well....secrets stay secrets!!" she smiled.

"Too secretive!!!" he chuckled.

Aarohi remained staring at her reflection in the mirror, in the bathroom, the sound of water flowing echoing around in the silence! With a slight crouch closer to the washbasin, she watched her palms well over with water, the creases on her palms visibly enlarging. With a sigh, she let the water hit her face, an act that continued for few more seconds until with a sigh again, she turned off the tap, looking at herself in the mirror again!

A moment of silence fell over until she shook her head, "Everything is going to be alright!!" she motivated herself with a smile.

Rithik and Soumya waited for Aarohi who appeared after the briefly time she took, and now all were having the dinner together.

Aarohi tried as much as to focus on her meal only to get betrayed by herself, all she could again think of was the situation, she needed to decide what to do.

Why would Deep go to Mathura? He didn't even inform her yet. While Tara....is she going there and that is why he has to follow her?

If yes, why is she suddenly interested in going there?!

"You seem to be lost in thoughts!!" her brother's voice grabbed her from the mess her mind and it's thoughts were creating continuously.

"I....am!" she admitted.

"Well....care to share?!" he asked.

Aarohi pondered over that before with a sigh she continued to speak. "I received a client who stays far away from here, I am wondering if I should consider the offer or not!"

Soumya's mind seemed to roam over that, wondering why did Aarohi put up the subject before her brother, cause neither her worrying much about her work issues to the extent where she was lost in thought, was normal, nor her discussing her issues with her brother. She everytime tried as much as possible to not to disturb him considering his profession, so....this was rare.

Rithik nodded thoughtfully, "Why are you hesitating?" he asked calmly, taking over his meal.

Aarohi shrugged, "I never.....travelled that far!!"

"Where is the client from?"

Soumya and Rithik both took notice of the momentary silence she took.

"Mathura!" she blurted out!

Both glanced at her surprised, it was indeed far!

Rithik then nodded understandingly this time, "Distance shouldn't be your limitation, Aru! If you want to accept it, go for it!!"

Aarohi provided a whispered "Thank you" as a response with a faint smile, "I would be leaving tomorrow, then?"

Soumya glanced at her surprised, even Rithik was surprised for a moment before making himself comfortable with the information, "Would I be any help?"

Aarohi almost immediately shook her head, "I can....manage!!"

Rithik offered a smile and they all continued to have the dinner.

**********

Deep casually returned home, no hints of tension or worry detectable in his face. As they all sat together for supper, it was Arshad this time to question Deep, "Where have you been to?" his voice low and calm, completely against to the mixture of feelings he felt inward!!

Deep looked up from his cutlery, all gazes fixed on him now, with a smile he shook his head, "It was just a meeting!"

"Late night meeting?!" Tara chuckled!

A chuckle which received another, from Deep, "Business meeting!!" he added. His gaze shifted back to his father, "We have got a deal, and if we could attain it, we would be doing business internationally!!"

Arshad frowned, they already had few international alliances, why was his son...."Where from?"

Deep took a momentary silence, a look exchanged by both the men while Tara, Aryan, and Rhys kept staring them, before a low "London!!" escaped from Deep.

"I need to meet them directly to make the deal....!"

Arshad pondered over that just like the others, "Does that mean you would be leaving as well?!" Tara questioned.

Deep gave a slight nod which seemingly had shown his reluctance.

"When?!" Rhys finally spoke up.

"I think of leaving after Tara?!"

His mother gave an understanding nod before a sigh escaped her, "We would be all by ourselves then!!" she added, "Too lonely!!"

Arshad shook his head at his involuntary involvement in her statement, "Aren't you busy enough to look over the loneliness??" he quipped!

Rhys rolled her eyes which only made Tara and Aryan smile softly, "When will you be back?"

Deep pondered over it briefly, well, as if he knew it, "Depends on the circumstances, mother!" he offered a smile before continuing his meal. He didn't want to discuss on this fake discussion anymore.

Rhys sighed, deciding to focus on her meal, Tara chuckled while Aryan shook his head with a smile. Arshad remained silent until his meal was finished and everyone's as well. Time passed by with little laughters of Tara and Aryan in an engaging conversation with Rhys who seemed to respond really well!

As Tara and Aryan left conveying a goodnight, Rhys exchanged a brief look with her husband and son before a "Goodnight" escaped her with a sigh! Her figure retreating the place slowly!

It was just the father and son who were left behind, their cutleries lazily laid in their empty plates. Silence swayed around, even their gazes not colliding, until Deep dared to look up at his father, "It isn't London but Mathura!!" he confessed.

The confession which made Arshad look back at his son almost immediately, silence invited again.

Arshad just looked at him before a low "What are you exactly hiding from me?" escaped him along with a sigh.

"A lot!!" Deep's response was instant.

Arshad pondered over that, his son's response conveying something he didn't yet completely know, feeling as though Deep was desperate enough to let it out.

"What is it?!" Arshad asked patiently.

Deep took a moment of silence over responding immediately again, "I..... cannot be brief, but..... I need your help!"

Arshad and Deep exchanged an understanding gaze, "How....can I help you?"

Deep's hand reached for his father's, an assuring tap offered, "I just want you to trust me in whatever I am going to put myself in!!"

Arshad stared his son in the presence of intimidating silence that befell, and all they could exchange was an understanding eye contact, completely unaware of someone else's presence.

Rhys, who stood upstairs watching her husband and son's brief exchange of conversation, inhaled deep, concern taking over her.

The uncertainty of the situation and the issue alone bothering her to the core, realising nothing was in her hands to prevent anything!!