"Anvitha’s Secret, Chaitanya’s Pursuit, and a Web of Lies"

She went into her room and changed into a different salwar before stepping out again.

As she walked back, she was deep in thought. Chaitanya's room was very large—inside it was another room, her dressing room. After changing there, she had to pass by Chaitanya to leave, and she stepped out cautiously.

Just as she feared, he was there, leaning against the wall in a night dress with his arms crossed over his chest, watching her. Seeing him like that made her face flush red with embarrassment and she froze.

He walked toward her with firm steps. Realizing this, she stepped back until she hit the wall. Coming closer, Chaitanya placed his arms on either side of her and leaned near her face.

She tried to push him away, but he pinned her hands against the wall and pressed his body against hers. It hurt, and she whimpered. Her face flushed red as she couldn't bear his closeness. "Let me go, it hurts," she said.

But he moved his lips near hers and said, "If this hurts, how are you going to handle anything else?" His lips moved near her ear. "Didn't I tell you to wear a saree for me? What's with this salwar?"

The scent of the soap from his body overwhelmed her. "No, there's still a lot of work in the kitchen. I can't work wearing a saree," she said softly.

"Oh! So, once you're done with kitchen work and dinner, you'll wear the saree I like at night, right?" he asked.

All she wanted at that moment was to escape. "Yes, I'll wear it… just let me go first, please," she pleaded.

"But didn't you set all sorts of conditions this morning? What happened to those now? Did you forget them?" he taunted, reminding her.

Standing so close to him, she had momentarily forgotten all those conditions. But when he brought it up, she regained her senses and pushed him away with all her strength.

Amused, he laughed. "Oh! So now you remember? You forgot them all this time, huh? Wow, I had to remind you?" he said, pretending to be regretful.

Angry at his tone, she replied, "Look here… nothing has changed. My conditions still stand. Don't come near me again for any reason."

"But just a while ago, you didn't say anything and just left," he said and moved toward her again. She stepped away before he could touch her.

Surprised, he asked, "How long are you going to run around this room? I'm not chasing you! If you stick to your conditions, why would I even need to come near you?" she said as she walked toward the door.

Ignoring her, Chaitanya snapped, "Listen, your conditions are ridiculous. It's true that Geetha and Pari cared for me, but that doesn't mean I'll accept their lies. What do they have to do with our relationship? That's what I still don't understand. You're creating unnecessary problems with me," he said, pointing a finger to intimidate her.

She didn't respond. Instead, she placed her hand on the door handle to leave, but he shouted, "Hey! Is this all you know? I'm trying to talk to you, and you're planning to run away again?" he said and quickly approached her.

Sensing him coming, Anvitha fled, just like she had run out of the hospital that morning. She ran down the stairs, and Chaitanya watched from the doorway with his arms crossed.

"She'll have to come back here tonight anyway. Let her go… this devil! Always up to something," he thought to himself before heading back inside to work on some hospital files.

In the kitchen, Anvitha was helping Annamma cook, while also deeply thinking about how to avoid Chaitanya that night.

Just then, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw it was an unknown number. Wondering who it could be, she answered with a "Hello."

A woman's voice on the other end said, "Hello, Anvitha… it's you, right?" Hearing that, Anvitha was shocked.

After marrying Chaitanya, she had changed her phone number. Only Lalitha and Vijayan knew the new one. So who else could be calling her by name?

She remained silent.

Then the voice said, "Anvitha, it's me, Geetha… Pari's younger sister." That brought Anvitha a sense of relief.

"Tell me," she responded.

"You're Aadira's younger sister, right? Lalitha told me everything on your wedding day. Please forgive me, Anvitha. Because I lied to Chaitanya saying Aadira was already married, so many problems started. If I hadn't said that, maybe he would've married Aadira, and your sister might still be alive. It's all my fault," she said, crying.

"It's okay… forget it. If something is meant to happen, no one can change it," Anvitha replied gently.

"But Anvitha, all this time you've been living with Chaitanya without telling him the truth that you're Anvitha? What if one day he finds out? He might abandon you like he did to me. Please be careful. Don't ever reveal that you're Anvitha," she warned.

Anvitha began to think—how could she keep such a big truth from Chaitanya? Wouldn't that be terribly wrong? But she remained silent.

"Alright, Anvitha… I'll call you from time to time. This is my number. Take care," Geetha said before ending the call.

Thinking about Geetha's words, Anvitha continued helping in the kitchen. That's when Anandi, who was taking care of Advaith, came in.

Since Advaith had started going to playschool, Anandi didn't have much work during the day. In the evenings, Anvitha and Chaitanya would play with Advaith. At night, he would sleep with Anandi as usual.

Now, Anandi came looking for Anvitha in the kitchen. "What happened, Anandi? Are you feeling unwell?" Anvitha asked.

"No, Aadira ma'am. I was wondering if I could go to my hometown for a week. Can you take care of the child until then?" she asked.

"So suddenly?" Anvitha asked.

"My sister's daughter is getting married in ten days. She's been asking me to come for a while. I thought I could go at least a week early," Anandi explained.

Hearing that, Anvitha's eyes lit up. Since Advaith would be dropped off and picked up by the driver, Annamma could watch him in the evening, and Anvitha could take care of him afterward. It wasn't too difficult.

But more than that, it had another benefit—Advaith would sleep in her room with her and Chaitanya for the whole week. She now had a way to keep Chaitanya at bay. Delighted by the opportunity, she happily agreed.

"Why just a week, Anandi? Take 15 days. No problem. Go peacefully. I'll take care of the child. Don't worry about your salary—I'll pay you for those 15 days too," she said.

Anandi was overjoyed. "Thank you so much, Aadira ma'am," she said and left for her hometown, handing over Advaith to Anvitha.