❀7. Confrontation❀

                                    

                                          
⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆
Avinash and Anya entered the living room where the rest of the family members were seated. The air was thick with unspoken words, but Avinash’s protective demeanor pushed Anya forward, straight towards their father.
“Dad!” Anya called out, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart racing as she approached Vikram.
Vikram looked at her, a warm smile gracing his face. “Come here, Anya,” he said, tapping the space beside him on the sofa.
Anya took a seat, her mind racing with what she was about to say. “Dad, I.... I wanted to tell you something serious.”
Confusion flickered in Vikram’s eyes, replaced swiftly by concern. “What happened, Anya?” 
Avinash walked toward them and sat beside Nandini, his brow furrowed, sensing the tension in the room.
Taking a deep breath, Anya exchanged a glance with Avinash, who nodded slightly, encouraging her. “Dad... Actually, someone has been sending me creepy messages from the past few days. And one day at work, someone left a gift box for me with no name written on it. When I opened it, there was a dress with a note. I thought someone was just playing a stupid game with me to make me scare. But that day, when I was late, my key got lost in the parking lot, and I heard it clearly it was someone's slow, deliberate footsteps. When I found the key and drove off from the parking, my car got punctured in the middle of nowhere, and I met Dev.....a....and today...”
As Anya's voice trailed off, Vikram’s expression shifted from soft and loving to a stern glare, anger flaring in his eyes. “WHAT. HAPPENED. TODAY?”
Anya gulped, her heart pounding. “To.... Today, I got a message and in my room, i found a big teddy with a night suit and a note....i heard someone's footsteps and I saw someone in the mansion too.” 
Vikram’s voice thundered through the room, causing Anya to flinch hard. “All this happened, and you're telling me about this now! How careless you are Anya! You're not that wise to keep things to yourself! You have done this in your school days as well dating that stupid and you didn't find it important to tell me if I wouldn't had told you about his true story you would have been......”
“Dad...i—” Anya started, tears pooling in her eyes 
But Vikram cut her off, his voice rising again. “Stop hiding behind excuses, Anya! I didn't ask you to explain anything. And from now on you will take guards with you outside the mansion...and you will not leave the mansion until or unless I say so. And that's final!”
“Dad....please....atleast listen to me I.........” Anya begged, her voice breaking.
“End of discussion!” Vikram shouted, his face a mask of fury.
Anya’s resolve crumbled. “But....Da....”
“Enough of your nonsense!” Vikram roared.
Before Anya could respond, Avinash stood up, his anger boiling over. “Dad, that's enough! Stop shouting on her, you're not even listening to her! She's scared because of that stalker, and you're scolding her instead of consoling. Wow, such a great dad you are!”
Vikram growled, turning his ire towards Avinash. “Watch your tone in front of me! You're the one who gave her all the freedom to do whatever she wanted. Now she will not go out or do anything without my permission!”
“Dad, that's ridiculous! She literally just mentioned she saw someone at the mansion! She heard there footsteps in this mansion full of guards and security! And you think keeping her locked away in four walls will keep her safe. How pathetic!”