Accusations and Entanglements

Arya had barely stepped into the comforting familiarity of the art studio the following morning when Rohan burst in, his usual breezy demeanor replaced with something more serious.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Arya said, setting down her paintbrush.

"We need to talk," Rohan said, dragging a stool next to hers. His sudden intensity startled her.

"What is it now? Another errand? More files to fetch?" Arya teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

"It's about my dad," Rohan said, ignoring her attempt at humor.

Arya's teasing smile faltered. "What about him?"

Rohan leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You're not going to believe this, but he's been asking about you."

Arya froze. "What do you mean, asking about me?"

"I don't know exactly," Rohan said, running a hand through his hair. "But he mentioned you at breakfast this morning. Something about you being...interesting."

Arya felt a flush creep up her cheeks. "Interesting? What's that supposed to mean?"

"I was hoping you could tell me," Rohan said, studying her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Did something happen between you two at the gala?"

"Of course not!" Arya said quickly, her voice a little too sharp. "We barely spoke. He just asked if I was enjoying the party, and that was it."

Rohan frowned, clearly unconvinced. "Arya, I know my dad. He doesn't take an interest in people unless there's a reason."

"Well, there's no reason here," Arya said firmly. "I'm just your friend. Nothing more, nothing less."

Rohan studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright," he said. "But if he starts acting weird around you, let me know, okay?"

"Deal," Arya said, though her mind was already racing.

Later that week, Arya found herself back at the Veer estate, this time to help Rohan prepare for an upcoming competition. She had offered to help him polish his presentation slides, which he admitted were a mess.

They were working in Rohan's study when the door creaked open, and Mr. Veer stepped in.

Arya felt her heart skip a beat. He was dressed casually, a far cry from the imposing figure she had seen at the gala, but his presence was no less commanding.

"Rohan," Mr. Veer said, his deep voice cutting through the quiet. "A moment, please."

Rohan glanced at Arya. "Uh, sure. Be right back," he said, following his father out of the room.

Arya tried to focus on the laptop in front of her, but her ears strained to catch snippets of their conversation from the hallway.

"She's talented," she heard Mr. Veer say.

"She's my friend, Dad," Rohan replied, his tone defensive.

"And you trust her?"

"Of course I do. What's this about?"

Their voices faded as they moved further down the hall, leaving Arya with more questions than answers.

The next day, Rohan invited Arya to a family dinner, insisting it would be low-key and casual. Reluctantly, Arya agreed.

The dining room was far less intimidating with only the three of them present. Rohan kept the conversation lively, cracking jokes and recounting stories from college. Mr. Veer, however, was quieter than usual, his gaze often drifting to Arya.

"Ms. Arya," he said suddenly, breaking into her thoughts.

"Yes?" Arya said, startled.

"I've seen some of your sketches," he said. "Rohan showed me. You're very talented."

Arya blinked, taken aback. "Thank you," she said hesitantly. "I didn't realize Rohan was showing them off."

"They're worth showing off," Mr. Veer said simply, his expression unreadable.

Rohan laughed. "Told you he's picky about people. If he says you're good, it means you're really good."

Arya smiled, though she still felt a strange tension in the air.

As the meal continued, Arya couldn't shake the feeling that she was being evaluated, as if Mr. Veer was trying to piece her together like one of his business deals.

A week later, everything came crashing down.

Arya was in the middle of a lecture when she received a flurry of texts from Rohan.

Rohan: Where are you?

Rohan: Dad's furious. You need to come to the house now.

Her stomach dropped. She couldn't imagine what could have gone wrong, but the urgency in Rohan's messages was enough to make her excuse herself from class and head to the Veer estate.

When she arrived, the atmosphere was charged with tension. Rohan met her at the door, looking unusually serious.

"What's going on?" Arya asked, her voice trembling.

"My dad thinks you're part of some scheme," Rohan said, his jaw tight.

"What?" Arya said, her heart racing. "What scheme?"

"I don't know all the details," Rohan admitted. "But someone's been spreading rumors about you trying to get close to him for money. He's got people whispering in his ear, and now he's suspicious of everything."

Arya felt the blood drain from her face. "That's ridiculous. I've never done anything like that."

"I know," Rohan said quickly. "But you need to talk to him. Set the record straight."

Arya hesitated, fear and anger warring within her. She didn't want to face Mr. Veer under these circumstances, but she couldn't let him believe the lies.

Mr. Veer was waiting for her in his study, standing by the window with his back to the door.

"Come in," he said without turning around.

Arya stepped inside, her palms sweaty. "Mr. Veer, I don't know what you've heard, but—"

He turned to face her, his expression cold. "I've heard enough to be concerned, Ms. Arya. People in my position can't afford to be careless about who they let into their lives."

Arya's hands clenched at her sides. "I understand that, but I'm not here to take advantage of anyone. I'm just Rohan's friend. That's all."

"Is it?" he asked, his gaze piercing. "Or is this part of some larger plan?"

Arya's anger flared. "You don't know me," she said, her voice shaking. "You don't know what I've been through or what kind of person I am. If you did, you'd know I'd never do something like this."

For a moment, Mr. Veer said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he sighed, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.

"I hope you're telling the truth," he said quietly. "For Rohan's sake, if nothing else."

Arya bit her lip, holding back the retort she wanted to make. Instead, she nodded and turned to leave, her heart heavy with frustration and hurt.

As Arya walked back to her apartment, her mind raced with everything that had happened. The accusations, the tension, the cold way Mr. Veer had looked at her—it was almost too much to bear.

But she couldn't let it break her. She'd prove her innocence, not for Mr. Veer, but for herself.

Little did she know, the path ahead would only grow more complicated, testing her resolve and drawing her deeper into a web of secrets and danger she never could have imagined.