Chapter 6 – The Search for Maya
406 Words
Adithyan lay awake all night, staring at the ceiling.
Maya.
Who was she?
Why did that man say, “You can’t avoid her forever”?
His head hurt just thinking about it.
By morning, he had made a decision. He had to find her.
Maybe Maya would tell him who he really was.
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Asking for Clues
At breakfast, Adithyan tried to act normal. His son, Rahul, was reading something on his phone. His daughter, Anika, was eating toast.
The elderly woman—his mother—smiled at him. “You look deep in thought, Arjun.”
Adithyan hesitated. Then, carefully, he asked, “Maa… have you spoken to Maya recently?”
The air in the room changed.
Rahul and Anika looked up.
His mother’s smile faded.
Nobody spoke.
Adithyan felt his stomach tighten. Why did the name make everyone so serious?
Finally, his mother sighed. “Maya… She doesn’t speak to us anymore.”
Adithyan’s heartbeat quickened.
Why not?
“What happened?” he asked.
Rahul frowned. “You really don’t remember?”
Adithyan forced a small laugh. “Just… remind me.”
Anika scoffed. “As if you ever forget things, Dad.”
His mother gave him a sad look. “Arjun, Maya left because of you.”
Adithyan’s breath caught.
Because of me?
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A Forbidden Name
His mother slowly stirred her tea. “After everything that happened, she wanted nothing to do with you.”
Adithyan swallowed. “And… where is she now?”
Rahul shook his head. “Nobody knows.”
Anika crossed her arms. “She probably wants to stay hidden from you, Dad.”
Adithyan clenched his fists. Who was Maya to him? Why had she left?
Something told him… she was the missing piece of this mystery.
He couldn’t let this go.
He had to find her.
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The First Lead
That afternoon, Adithyan searched through Arjun Menon’s things.
Old files. Business documents. Letters.
And then—
He found a photo.
A picture of himself—or rather, of Arjun Menon—with a woman.
She had soft eyes, a gentle smile. There was sadness in her face.
On the back of the photo, there was something written.
“Maya – Our last day together.”
Adithyan’s fingers tightened around the photo.
What had happened that day? Why did she leave?
He had to find her.
And he had a feeling…
She knew the truth about him.
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