Chapter 3: Dangerous Games

Sana sat in the bright, sterile police interview room, twisting her fingers in her lap. Her palms were damp with sweat.

Across the small table, Siddharth Chauhan watched her carefully.

He didn't smile. He didn't blink much.

Instead, he asked questions in that calm, deep voice of his.

"What time did you leave last night?"

"Around ten. A little after."

"Why were you the last?"

"I had work."

Her voice trembled slightly.

Siddharth noticed. His eyes narrowed.

Why is she so nervous?

Is she hiding something?

Could she have killed him?

Sana heard it all.

Every sharp, suspicious thought in his mind.

Her heart jumped.

She felt heat rise in her cheeks.

She couldn't stop herself—

"I didn't do it! I swear I had nothing to do with it!"

Siddharth froze.

He stared at her, startled.

"I didn't accuse you of anything. Yet."

He watched her closer, mind racing.

How did she know what I was thinking?

Sana bit her lip hard.

She had slipped.

Siddharth straightened in his chair.

His expression hardened.

"Come with me," he ordered.

She flinched, but stood.

As they walked out of the office, the entire staff stared.

Voices rose in hushed gossip.

Why is the police harassing her?Poor girl, she's so innocent.She couldn't have done it.

Sana kept her head low.

But she heard all of it.

Outside in the parking lot, Siddharth stopped beside his official car.

Before he could open the door, his phone buzzed sharply in his pocket.

He checked the screen.

His mother.

He sighed and answered.

"Yes, Ma?"

Her voice was frantic on the line.

"Siddharth! Your father—he fell! He's in the hospital! Please come quickly!"

His eyes went wide.

"What? Which hospital?"

"City Hospital! Come fast!"

He ended the call, face darkening.

For a second he forgot Sana was even there.

He yanked open the car door.

"Get in. Now."

But just as he was about to start the engine, he saw something that made him pause.

Sana was standing outside, looking at him with a strange expression.

A smile.

But it wasn't relief or happiness.

It was…odd.

Almost satisfied.

He blinked.

Why is she smiling?

Anger flared in his chest.

He slammed the door shut and stepped out.

Marched around the car.

Sana's smile faltered the moment she saw him coming.

"Get. In. The. Car."

His voice was like ice.

The smile vanished completely.

Sana made a small, frightened face and quickly sat inside.

He got in beside her and started the engine, glancing at her with suspicion.

What is with this girl? 

So innocent one second, so strange the next.

Why do I feel like I can't read her at all?

He shook his head, focusing on the road.

When they arrived at the hospital, he stopped the car with a screech.

He turned to Sana.

"Stay here. Don't move."

She looked at him with big, innocent eyes.

"Okay."

But he didn't trust her.

He got out, walked two steps, then stopped.

What if she runs?

He turned back around, exasperated, and opened her door.

"Out. You're coming with me."

Sana blinked.

"But you said—"

"I changed my mind. Move."

Inside the hospital, they found Siddharth's mother pacing in the corridor.

She ran to him immediately.

"Where were you? They just took your father for X-rays!"

He held her arms, steadying her.

"Calm down. Tell me what happened."

"He slipped," she said tearfully. "The floor was wet. He fell all the way down the stairs."

They both turned as a nurse opened the door.

His father was on a stretcher.

Bandages everywhere.

Siddharth's heart clenched.

"Papa!"

He ran forward, but the nurse blocked him.

"Please, sir. Let us take him inside."

He stepped back, breathing hard.

His mother wiped her eyes.

"This house is cursed," she whispered.

"Don't say that," he snapped.

"I'm so tired, Siddharth. Tired of taking care of him. He doesn't listen. He slipped because he doesn't care."

"Ma!"

She glared at him.

"Don't you dare scold me. I'm old. I'm tired. I want help. I want a daughter-in-law. Someone to share this burden."

Siddharth's jaw tightened.

"Not this again. I don't want to get married right now."

His mother pointed a shaking finger at him.

"You will. You will, Siddharth. I want a girl in this house. Someone to take care of us both. I'm not asking for much!"

From behind them, Sana watched silently.

She heard it all.

His father's voice cracked weakly from the stretcher.

"She wants a divorce…"

His mother spun on him furiously.

"I don't want a divorce, you idiot! I just want a daughter-in-law to share the work! Is that too much? Huh? She'll look after you too!"

Siddharth threw up his hands.

"I'm not marrying anyone right now!"

The tension in the corridor was so thick it felt suffocating.

That's when Sana's soft voice piped up.

"Aww…why, baby? You don't want to marry me?"

Silence.

Complete, shocked silence.

Siddharth turned to her slowly, eyes wide in disbelief.

"What…did you just say?"

Sana gave him a sweet, innocent smile.

"If you won't marry me… will you just keep dating me forever?"

His mother blinked.

Then her eyes lit up.

"Is this your girlfriend?"

"NO!" Siddharth snapped.

He turned to Sana.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Sana tilted her head, pretending to pout.

"But baby, you have to marry me now. Your mother wants a daughter-in-law."

Siddharth's jaw dropped.

Is she insane?

He couldn't even form words.

That's when Sana leaned in close.

She looked straight into his dark, furious eyes.

And without warning, she pressed her lips to his.

Siddharth's entire body went rigid.

His mother gasped behind them.

Nurses turned to stare.

Sana pulled back slowly, her eyes shining with amusement.

"There. Now you can introduce me properly."

Siddharth's blood boiled.

He wiped his lips furiously, glaring at her like she was a wild animal.

"You… are insane."

But Sana just laughed softly.

And in that laugh, there was something unsettling.

A spark of mischief.

A hint of danger.

And a promise that this was only the beginning.