𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 ~ 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 (✓)

Part One ~ Finding Vansh

"Whatever." Roman grumbled before his eyes lightened up, "Shall we go in then? Let's see who has decided to test the devil today-No, don't look at me like that, I didn't call you the devil. It was a slip of the tongue."

"Childish," Vihaan commented, stepping over the leaves and walking to the door that was left open.

He glanced around the house once he had stepped inside, it didn't seem like anyone had lived in it for years. He moved to the room where he heard voices from, Roman following closely behind him, his hand firmly planted on his gun.

"Mr Malhotra?" Asked a lady, standing up from the chair.

Vihaan stared at her through his unforgiving eyes, "Yes. I assume you're the social worker."

The lady tried to smile, yet her hands were trembling, she hadn't known it was the 'Vihaan Malhotra'. "I-I'm Ria. I had called you earlier."

Vihaan's eyes fell on the child who was curled up on the couch. He was barely visible to him. He didn't look less than 10 and as far as he knew, Vansh would have turned 15 last month.

Roman stepped ahead, his hands in his pockets, "Whose child have you kidnapped?"

"Kidnap-What?" Ria stammered, eyeing both men as she tried to maintain eye contact.

"Volkov." Vihaan warned.

Roman rolled his eyes yet zipped his mouth, awaiting Vihaan to carry out whatever he had in his mind. He couldn't ever understand how this man had so much patience.

Ria glanced at Vihaan, "His mother is in the hospital and the doctors have established that she was an alcoholic. They aren't aware of when she'll be awake and the child is under the age of 16, he needs a legal guardian."

Vihaan's heart thundered against his chest as he rounded Ria and stepped towards the couch. His eyes examined the child thoroughly and he reached to touch him but stopped midway when he saw him flinch.

His eyes calmly flew back to the social worker. It hadn't taken a second to recognise the signs of abuse. In his line of work, he's seen many cases similar to this, and he was sure that this child had gone through something terrific.

Ria fisted the file in her hand, stammering out an explanation, "When I received a call from the hospital, I came straight to this house. I was skeptical when I saw the location that had been sent to me but as a social worker it's my job to check the place thoroughly and ensure to place children in safe environments."

"The door was open when I came in and since then I haven't seen him move once. I've tried speaking to him but I haven't got a word out of him."

Vihaan silently turned back to the child and crouched down, slowly placing his hand on his knees but the child flinched again, whimpering.

"What's your name?"

The child picked up his head, the voice he heard commanded respect, he didn't understand why, yet he couldn't help but look at the man who was trying to speak to him. "V-Vansh,"

Vihaan's throat dried, he'd recognise those eyes anywhere. Vansh had a small mole next to his eye since the day of his birth.

"Vansh," He softly whispered.

Vansh stared at the unknown stranger yet he didn't feel like it was the first time he'd met Vihaan. However, Vansh barely left this house, so he must be imagining it.

Roman's eyes widened, and he stepped forward, placing a hand on Vihaan's shoulder, "Vihaan, is it actually who I think it is."

A nod was all Roman needed for confirmation. He turned to the social worker, "Get all the documents ready, Vihaan Malhotra will be taking custody of the child."