Chapter 15 – The Name That Changed Everything
508 Words
Adithyan pressed the phone harder against his ear.
"Who?" he repeated.
Riya’s voice was barely a whisper. "Aravind Nair."
Adithyan frowned. The name meant nothing to him.
But the way Riya said it—like she was afraid someone might hear her—made his pulse quicken.
"Who is he?" he asked.
Silence.
Then Riya exhaled shakily. "You really don’t remember anything, do you?"
Adithyan clenched his jaw. "No. But I need to know."
Riya hesitated. "Meet me tomorrow. Not over the phone. This is too dangerous."
Adithyan’s grip tightened around his phone. "Riya, tell me now."
"I can’t," she said, her voice urgent. "Just trust me. Tomorrow, 10 a.m. at the old lighthouse near Fort Kochi. And be careful, Adithyan. If Aravind Nair is behind this… you’re in real danger."
Then, just before hanging up, she whispered something that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Vikram paid the price for knowing the truth. Don’t make the same mistake."
The call ended.
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Who Is Aravind Nair?
Adithyan sat in his car, staring at the dark road ahead.
Aravind Nair.
The name was unfamiliar, but something about it made his chest tighten.
And Vikram…
Riya had spoken his name with so much pain.
Had he been a friend? A colleague?
Had he died because of this mystery?
Adithyan opened his laptop and quickly searched for the name.
Pages of articles appeared.
"Businessman Aravind Nair Expands His Influence in Kerala."
"A Powerful Figure in Real Estate and Politics."
"Rumors of Illegal Activities Surrounding Aravind Nair."
Adithyan frowned. A rich and influential businessman. But what did he have to do with his past? With Maya?
As he scrolled further, an old news article caught his eye.
"Mysterious Disappearance of Journalist Vikram – Case Still Unsolved."
A journalist… missing?
Adithyan’s breath caught in his throat.
Had Arjun been investigating Aravind before he disappeared?
Had Adithyan himself been involved?
Is that why someone wanted him gone?
His hands curled into fists.
Whoever Aravind Nair was, he was about to find out the truth.
No matter the cost.
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A Silent Warning
Adithyan finally started his car and drove back toward his rented house.
His mind raced.
Tomorrow, Riya would tell him everything.
But would he live to hear it?
As he pulled into the driveway, he noticed something strange.
The front door was slightly open.
His stomach twisted.
He was sure he had locked it.
Heart pounding, he reached into the glove compartment and grabbed the small iron rod he kept for safety.
Slowly, he stepped out of the car and pushed the door open wider.
The house was dark. Silent.
But as he stepped inside, his foot hit something.
A small object rolled across the floor.
His eyes adjusted to the dim light—
And his blood ran cold.
A single bullet lay on the floor.
Next to it, a note.
"Stop searching. Or next time, it won’t be a warning."
Adithyan swallowed hard.
He wasn’t just being threatened anymore.
He was being hunted.
And now, there was no turning back.
- Writer
