Chapter 35: Whispers of Betrayal

Aman stood frozen, his fingers gripping the file as though it might disintegrate under the weight of the truth it held. The name at the top of the document was like a dagger to his chest: Riya. The one person he thought he could trust implicitly. How could she be involved in the sabotage? Was it possible?

Nisha stood by, watching his reaction closely. "Aman," she said softly, "I don't know how deep this goes. But if Riya's involved, we need to tread carefully. The crew is already on edge."

Aman closed the file, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't jump to conclusions, but the evidence was there, staring him in the face. His feelings for Riya—whatever they had once been—couldn't cloud his judgment now. The production was hanging by a thread, and any wrong move could bring it crashing down.

"I'll handle it," Aman said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "But until I know for sure, we don't say anything to the crew. No one else needs to know."

Nisha nodded, though her eyes betrayed her concern. "Just be careful, Aman. If she's really behind all this… we don't know what she's capable of."

---

Later that evening, Aman sat alone in his office, the file still on his desk, unopened but looming like a dark cloud. He had gone over the events of the past few weeks in his head, replaying every interaction he had with Riya, searching for signs—anything that might have hinted at her betrayal.

But there was nothing. Riya had been nothing but supportive, standing by him during the toughest moments of the shoot. Could it all have been an act? A cover for her sabotage?

The door to his office creaked open, pulling Aman from his thoughts. Riya stepped inside, her usual radiant smile in place, though there was something different about her today—something that made Aman's heart sink further.

"Hey," she said, her voice light. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Aman forced a smile, his mind racing for the right words. "Just… tired," he said, leaning back in his chair. "It's been a long day."

She moved closer, her gaze softening as she sat on the edge of his desk. "I know things have been crazy lately, but we're almost through it. The worst is behind us." She reached out, resting her hand on his. "You've done an incredible job holding it all together."

Aman wanted to believe her. He wanted to see her the way he always had—his anchor in the storm. But the file sat between them, a wedge that couldn't be ignored. He pulled his hand away, his expression hardening.

"Riya, we need to talk."

She frowned, sensing the shift in his tone. "What's going on?"

Aman leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me. No more games."

Riya hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Aman, you're scaring me. What is this about?"

He picked up the file and placed it on the desk between them, his heart pounding in his chest. "I found this today. It shows financial transfers, contracts signed behind my back. And your name is all over it."

Riya's eyes widened, her face paling as she looked at the file. For a moment, she seemed genuinely shocked, but Aman couldn't tell if it was real or just another part of the act.

"Aman, I… I don't know what this is," she said, her voice trembling. "I swear, I didn't do any of this."

Aman's jaw clenched, anger and hurt bubbling to the surface. "Then how do you explain your name being all over these documents? How do you explain all the strange things happening on set, the sabotage? Everything points to you, Riya."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she shook her head. "I don't know! I don't know how my name got on those papers, but you have to believe me. I would never hurt you. I would never do anything to destroy this project."

Aman wanted to believe her. He wanted to take her in his arms and forget everything. But the stakes were too high. Too many things didn't add up.

"Then tell me the truth," Aman said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you're not behind this, who is?"

Riya wiped at her eyes, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts. "I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I swear to you, Aman, I'm not the one doing this. You have to believe me."

Aman stood up, pacing the room, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. Could she be telling the truth? Or was she just a better liar than he ever realized?

Before he could respond, his phone buzzed on the desk. It was a message from an unknown number.

"Meet me at the old soundstage. I have the answers you're looking for. Come alone."

Aman stared at the message, his heart racing. This had to be a trap, but it was also the only lead he had. He couldn't afford to ignore it.

"I have to go," Aman said, grabbing his coat and heading for the door.

Riya stood up, panic flashing across her face. "Where are you going? Aman, please don't shut me out. We can figure this out together."

But Aman was already halfway out the door, his mind set on the mysterious message and the promise of answers. "Stay here," he said without turning back. "I need to do this alone."

---

The old soundstage was abandoned, its once-grand halls now filled with dust and decay. Aman's footsteps echoed in the empty space as he walked through the darkened corridors, his flashlight casting eerie shadows on the walls.

He reached the center of the room, the tension building with every step. He had no idea who had sent the message or what awaited him here, but he knew he had to see this through.

A figure emerged from the shadows, their face obscured by the dim light. Aman's heart raced as he took a step closer.

"You wanted answers," the figure said, their voice low and gravelly. "I'm here to give them to you."

Aman clenched his fists, his body tensing in anticipation. "Who are you? What do you know about what's been happening?"

The figure stepped forward, their face finally becoming visible in the faint light. Aman's breath caught in his throat as he recognized them.

It was Rajeev.