BLOOD DOESN'T LIE

CHAPTER 12

BLOOD DOESN'T LIE

A Story of Blood, Betrayal and Destiny

By: walidah_hm

Chapter 12 – Two Birthdays, One Secret

By evening...

The Singhania Mansion had been transformed.

Thousands of golden fairy lights illuminated the garden.

Fresh flowers lined the pathways.

Elegant tables stood beneath the decorated canopy, while soft music floated through the warm Mumbai night.

Luxury cars arrived one after another.

Guests stepped out in expensive outfits, carrying beautifully wrapped gifts.

Waiters moved through the crowd with trays of desserts and refreshments.

Everything looked perfect.

Everything looked expensive.

Everything looked like the kind of celebration people would talk about for years.

Near the entrance...

Mahesh stood beside Vaani, welcoming the guests.

"Welcome."

"It's good to see you."

Raj greeted several old business associates nearby.

Dhuraya sat comfortably in her chair, smiling as relatives and family friends came to greet her.

Only Sakshi seemed more interested in the spectacle than the celebration itself.

She looked around the garden proudly.

"Everything looks perfect."

Vaani smiled.

"It does."

Sakshi lifted her chin.

"This party should remind everyone who the Singhanias are."

Vaani glanced at her.

"A celebration isn't measured by how much money is spent."

Sakshi looked at her.

"Then what is it measured by?"

"By how happy the people inside the house are."

Vaani's voice remained gentle.

Sakshi gave a small smile.

"We simply have different ideas of happiness."

Vaani didn't reply.

---

Upstairs...

Aarohi stood before the full-length mirror.

Her champagne-gold gown shimmered beneath the bedroom lights.

Mrs. Nora made one final adjustment to her hair.

"There."

"Now you're ready."

Kiara clapped excitedly.

"Didi..."

"When you walk downstairs..."

"Everyone is going to stare."

Aarohi smiled at her reflection.

"They should."

Kiara rolled her eyes.

"You really love compliments."

Aarohi turned toward her.

"I've earned them today."

Kiara laughed.

"You're impossible."

Aarohi laughed too.

For a few moments...

They were simply sisters.

No expectations.

No family pressure.

No differences.

Just laughter.

A gentle knock sounded.

A servant stood at the doorway.

"Miss Aarohi."

"Sir is asking for you downstairs."

Aarohi nodded.

"Thank you."

She turned toward Kiara.

"Ready?"

Kiara smiled.

"Always."

The two sisters walked toward the staircase together.

---

The grand staircase curved down toward the garden.

The moment Aarohi appeared...

Several conversations slowly faded.

Guests turned toward her.

Camera flashes followed.

Whispers spread through the crowd.

"She's beautiful."

"She looks like a princess."

"Absolutely stunning."

Aarohi smiled gracefully.

She had grown used to attention.

But tonight...

It felt different.

Tonight, everyone was looking at her.

Mahesh looked up at his daughter with unmistakable pride.

"My little girl..."

Vaani smiled beside him.

"She's grown up."

Mahesh nodded.

"Too quickly."

Aarohi reached the bottom of the stairs.

Kiara followed closely behind.

Mahesh walked toward his daughter and smiled.

"Happy birthday, princess."

Aarohi hugged him.

"Thank you, Papa."

Vaani joined them.

"Happy birthday, my child."

Aarohi smiled.

"Thank you, Mother."

---

A little later...

Mahesh's eyes moved toward the entrance.

He checked his watch.

Then he looked at Vijay.

"Have you brought them?"

Vijay lowered his head.

"Yes, Sir."

Mahesh nodded.

"Good."

A few moments later...

Deepak entered the garden beside Pooja.

Compared with the expensive suits and designer outfits surrounding him...

His navy-blue kurta was simple.

Neatly pressed.

Clean.

Elegant.

Pooja adjusted his sleeve.

"There."

"You look handsome."

Deepak smiled.

"Thank you, Ma."

She touched his cheek.

"Happy birthday, beta."

Deepak immediately hugged her.

"Thank you."

Vijay watched them quietly.

He tried to smile.

But seeing Deepak standing there on the same birthday as Aarohi brought back memories he had spent twenty-two years trying to bury.

---

Across the garden...

Mahesh noticed them.

His face brightened.

"There they are."

He walked toward Deepak.

"Deepak!"

Deepak quickly folded his hands.

"Good evening, Sir."

Mahesh smiled.

"Come here, beta."

Deepak stepped closer.

Mahesh placed a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Happy birthday."

Deepak looked surprised.

"You remembered?"

Mahesh laughed softly.

"Of course I remembered."

"You and Aarohi were born on the same day."

Deepak smiled.

"Thank you, Sir."

Mahesh looked toward Pooja.

"You both are part of today's celebration."

Pooja lowered her head respectfully.

"Thank you, Saab."

---

From across the garden...

Aarohi watched.

She didn't look angry.

Not at first.

But her smile slowly faded.

She had never minded Deepak being around.

He had grown up beside her.

They had shared the same house grounds for years.

But tonight...

Seeing her father bring him into her birthday celebration made something inside her feel uncomfortable.

Sakshi noticed.

She moved closer.

"You see?"

Aarohi looked at her.

"What?"

"Your father."

Sakshi's eyes remained fixed on Deepak.

"He always gives them more importance than necessary."

Aarohi said nothing.

Sakshi lowered her voice.

"Remember who you are, Aarohi."

"You are his daughter."

"The daughter of the Singhania family."

Aarohi looked toward Mahesh.

Then toward Deepak.

She didn't answer.

But the words stayed with her.

---

The master of ceremonies stepped onto the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

"May I have your attention, please?"

The music softened.

The guests turned toward the stage.

"Tonight, we have gathered to celebrate a very special occasion."

A round of applause followed.

"Our beloved Aarohi Singhania is turning twenty-two today."

The applause grew louder.

Aarohi smiled.

Mahesh looked proudly at her.

Then the host paused.

Mahesh stepped forward.

"But before we begin..."

The crowd quieted.

"There is someone else whose birthday we should remember."

Mahesh turned toward Deepak.

"Deepak."

Deepak looked around nervously.

"Sir?"

"Come here."

Pooja gently touched his shoulder.

"Go, beta."

Deepak slowly walked toward the stage.

As he stepped forward...

A few guests began whispering.

"Who is he?"

"Isn't that Vijay's son?"

"Why is he being called onto the stage?"

Aarohi heard the whispers.

Her expression became slightly uncomfortable.

Mahesh placed one hand on Aarohi's shoulder.

Then he rested the other gently on Deepak's.

"My daughter..."

"And this young man..."

"Were both born on the same day."

He smiled.

"So tonight..."

"We celebrate both of them."

The guests applauded.

Deepak smiled shyly.

Aarohi smiled too.

But somewhere inside her...

A small question remained.

Why did this feel different this year?

She didn't understand it.

Not yet.

---

Near the edge of the garden...

Vijay stood completely still.

His eyes remained fixed on the two young people standing together.

Aarohi.

Deepak.

Two children.

One birthday.

One secret.

Twenty-two years ago...

He had believed he was changing their futures.

Now...

He wasn't so sure anymore.

His hand slowly tightened around the glass he was holding.

Pooja noticed him.

"Vijay?"

He immediately looked at her.

"Yes?"

"You alright?"

He forced a smile.

"I'm fine."

Pooja studied him for a second.

Then nodded.

"Come."

"They're about to cut the cake."

Vijay followed her.

But his eyes remained troubled.

---

The lights suddenly dimmed.

A spotlight fell on the enormous birthday cake.

Twenty-two candles stood proudly across the top.

The guests gathered closer.

Aarohi stood beside Mahesh and Vaani.

Deepak remained nearby with Pooja.

The music changed.

Everyone began singing.

Aarohi smiled.

Deepak smiled too.

For one brief moment...

The two children stood beneath the same lights.

Celebrating the same birthday.

Unaware that their lives had been connected long before they could remember.

And somewhere in the crowd...

Vijay watched.

Terrified.

Because the secret he had buried for twenty-two years...

Was standing right in front of him.

---

Then...

A deep engine roar interrupted the celebration.

Heads turned toward the mansion gates.

A sleek black sports car rolled through the entrance.

The music seemed to fade beneath the sound of the engine.

The car stopped beneath the golden lights.

The driver's door opened.

A polished black shoe touched the ground.

Then another.

A tall young man stepped out.

He wore a perfectly fitted black suit.

He adjusted his cufflinks before removing his sunglasses.

Several young women near the entrance immediately began whispering.

"Is that him?"

"He actually came?"

"Who invited him?"

The young man looked toward the mansion.

A slow smile appeared on his face.

Confident.

Charming.

Impossible to read.

Someone near the entrance whispered his name.

"Kabir Oberoi."

Kabir slipped his sunglasses into his pocket.

Then he started walking toward the celebration.

And with his arrival...

The night was about to change.

To Be Continued... 🩸🔥