V I K R A N T

"P-Please leave me" the person begged in front of me, his voice trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. The desperation in his tone only fueled a dark satisfaction curling in my chest, making me relish how pathetically he pleaded.

I dragged the cold, gleaming knife slowly along his hands, feeling the resistance of flesh give way beneath the blade. His agonized scream tore through the air, echoing off the damp, concrete walls of the room.

My pulse, which moments ago thundered like war drums, began to steady. The sight of thick, crimson blood dripping down his wrist was almost hypnotic. A sharp, unhinged laugh escaped me, echoing like a predator’s triumph.

"You made a mistake by coming in my path" I said, my voice low but lethal. Without another glance, I passed the blood-stained knife to my man and turned toward the heavy steel door. His screams followed me for a few seconds more, then died away into a chilling silence as I made my way back toward my office.

"You should take a bath" Keshav suggested, his tone carrying a mix of concern and unspoken amusement.

"I love blood" I said simply, lowering myself into my chair. The leather creaked under me as I leaned back, propping one booted leg onto the polished desk.

"The information is out" he said, and my lips curved into a slow, deliberate smirk. Reaching for my laptop, I flicked it open, the screen’s pale glow revealing what I had been waiting for.

At her.

"So fragile for me" I murmured, my gaze locked on the photograph staring back at me. The image seemed almost delicate, breakable.

"Yet I'll catch her" I said, my eyes narrowing on Keshav, my stare cold enough to freeze him in place.

"Everything is ready?" I asked, each word carrying the weight of an unspoken threat. He gave a confident nod, not daring to falter.

I rose from my seat, the chair sliding back with a soft scrape, and walked toward the towering glass window. Beyond it, the city stretched endlessly under the fading light, a predator’s hunting ground.

"He thought I can't reach him but look what I reached in return" I said, my jaw tightening, teeth grinding together as a slow-burning anger surged within me like a rising tide.

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K A V Y A

"Maa bas, pet bhar gya mera" I said, my tone half-pleading, but still my mother pressed a soft, spongy rosogolla into my hand. The syrup glistened under the light, its sweet aroma making my mouth water. I could never refuse rosogolla when my mother made it—hers were perfection.

"Bas isko kha lo" she said softly, her voice gentle like a lullaby, before turning and walking into the kitchen. I popped the last piece into my mouth, savoring the burst of sugary syrup, before dragging myself to my room. My body ached with exhaustion after hours of intense Kathak practice.

I collapsed onto my bed, the cool bedsheet welcoming me, and let my eyes drift shut. Soon, sleep wrapped me in its arms, and I slipped into a world of sweet dreams—Krishna Murti’s serene smile, my ghungroos jingling as I twirled, the soft rhythm of the tabla filling the air. Everything was beautiful.

Just then—

A strange warmth ghosted over my neck, a slow, deliberate exhale that didn’t belong in my dream. My eyes snapped open, and my breath hitched. Right in front of me, a man—a stranger—was leaning over me, close enough for me to smell the faint scent of leather and rain.

Panic surged through me, icy and sharp. My lips parted to scream, but his hand shot out and clamped over my mouth, silencing me instantly.

"Chillao mat" he said flatly, his voice carrying no emotion. He pulled back slightly, giving me space, and I sat up abruptly, clutching the duvet to my chest as though it could shield me.

"A-Aap...kon h-hai?" I stammered, my voice trembling. My gaze darted to the balcony—it was open wide. The night air drifted in, making the curtains sway. Did he break in through there?

"I'll tell" he said, his intense eyes locking onto mine as though searching for something hidden deep within. "First come here" he added, patting his right thigh.

I rose, anger cutting through my fear. "I asked who are you?"

"Tsk...tsk...you are so disobeint" he murmured, shaking his head slowly. "I don't like repeating"—his tone turned sharp, edged with danger, making the hairs on my arms rise.

Heart pounding, I moved toward the door, ready to call the guards, but before my fingers could even graze the handle, I was slammed against the nearby wall. The impact stole my breath. His hands gripped my wrists and pinned them high beside my head, the pressure biting into my skin.

"You are making me angry now, Kavya Verma" he growled, and a chill ran through me. He knew my name.

"Who are you? Leave me before I call the guards!" I demanded, struggling to break free, but his fingers only tightened like steel cuffs.

"Aaaa..." I winced in pain.

"Lag rhi h?" he asked in a mocking tone, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"Choro mujhe" I shot back, meeting his gaze defiantly.

"Chura lo" he replied simply, and before I could process the words, his grip tightened further. I was certain my wrists would be bruised.

"I didn't come to scare you" he said finally, his voice low.

"Then?" I asked, clinging to a fragile thread of hope—maybe this was just one of my brother’s stupid pranks.

"It's something important" he said, stepping closer, his body pressing against mine. One of his hands released my wrist and slid up toward my neck.

I flinched, instinctively leaning away from his touch.

"Jitna kam hilogi utna kam dard hoga, Verma" he said coldly. My brows knitted in confusion—until I felt it. Something sharp pricked my skin, biting into the side of my neck.

Darkness bled into my vision. The last thing I saw was his unblinking eyes, watching me fall.

___________________

V I K R A N T

I watched her body go limp in my arms, her head lolling against my shoulder. A slow, cruel smile stretched across my lips, satisfaction curling in my chest like smoke.

With deliberate care, I pulled the injection from her neck, the faint sting of the act still fresh in my mind. Adjusting my grip, I hooked her securely in my arms as though she were something precious—fragile, yet mine.

Stepping onto the balcony, I signaled to keshav, who was already gripping the staircase railing tightly in anticipation. My movements were measured, calculated; each step down was slow, my boots scraping lightly against the metal, her weight pressing into me as her head rested against my chest.

We reached the ground without a sound, the cool night air brushing against my skin. Together, we walked toward the waiting car. Keshav slid into the driver’s seat while I lowered myself into the back, her in my lap. Her head slumped against me, her breath shallow but steady. She wasn’t unconscious—just drugged enough to blur reality, to keep her mind swimming in confusion.

"Are we going back to Delhi?" Keshav asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. A small, unreadable smile ghosted across my face.

"Pull over to a mandir nearby" I said, my tone leaving no room for discussion. He looked at me sharply, an unspoken question in his eyes, but quickly shifted his gaze back to the road. He knew better than to disobey.

The temple loomed quietly under the pale moonlight. It was well past midnight; silence clung to the air, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves. Inside, the vast space was empty except for a priest sleeping curled up on the stone floor.

"Shaadi karni hai mujhe" I said coldly, my voice cutting through the stillness. Keshav froze beside me, horror flickering across his face, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he stepped forward and shook the priest awake.

The old man blinked, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. He looked from me to the girl in my arms. "She is sleeping?" he asked, confusion knitting his brows.

"Looks like. Shaadi karao jaldi" I replied, my face a mask of calm detachment.

"Aise shaadi nhi—" he began, but I pressed the cold mouth of my gun under his chin. My other arm never loosened its hold on her.

"Ab jo jayegi?" I barked, my voice sharp enough to slice the air. Fear flashed in his eyes, and he gave a stiff nod.

I lowered myself onto the floor, setting her beside me. Her body swayed, threatening to collapse, and I slipped an arm around her back, holding her upright. Her warmth bled into me, even through the haze of the moment.

"S-Sindoor phenaiye" the priest stammered. I dipped my fingers into the vermilion, the red powder soft and grainy against my skin, and brought it to her hairline.

"K-Kya...ho..rha hai" she murmured, her voice fragile, her eyes half-lidded with the drug’s weight.

"Shaadi ho rhi hai tumhari, Verma... mujhse" I said with a slow smirk, pressing the sindoor into her partition. Her fate was sealed in that stroke of red.

Next, I clasped the mangalsutra around her neck, the beads cool against her skin. Satisfaction pooled inside me as I fastened it, a dark sense of possession taking root.

For the pheras, I didn’t bother waking her further. I lifted her into my arms once more, her head falling against me, and walked the seven sacred circles around the fire.

"Shaadi Mubarak ho, Verma" I whispered into her ear as I completed the final step, my voice low enough for only her to hear.

When I looked up, Keshav’s expression was flat, unimpressed. His disapproval was obvious—but irrelevant. This had never been part of the plan.

I knew that.

After that, we flew straight to Delhi in the jet, the night sky stretching endlessly beyond the windows. She remained silent beside me the whole way, her head leaning against the seat. By the time we arrived, she was already half-asleep from exhaustion and whatever lingered in her system.

Once we reached the house, I carried her upstairs and laid her on the bed, adjusting the blanket over her before stepping back. Her breathing was slow and even, her face calm in a way that almost irritated me.

I turned away and walked downstairs, the air in the main hall thick with cigarette smoke and tension. Keshav and a few of my men stood waiting, their eyes following my every step.

Dropping into the couch, I leaned back, stretching my legs out until one boot rested on the edge of the table. I fished out a cigarette from my pocket, the familiar crinkle of the packet breaking the silence.

"What was the need to do that, Vikrant ?" Keshav asked, stepping forward until he stood right in front of me, his shadow cutting across my lap.

"I don't think just tying her down will calm me down" I said, locking my gaze with his. The words came out low, deliberate. "I want to make her suffer as well" I took a slow drag from the cigarette, the ember flaring briefly before fading.

"What will you say to your family?" he pressed, a trace of concern softening his voice.

"Like they care" I scoffed, blowing out a stream of smoke that curled lazily in the dim light. I ignored his look, focusing instead on the cigarette between my fingers.

_________________________

K A V Y A

I don’t know when, but when I opened my eyes, I was in unfamiliar surroundings. The ceiling above me was different, the air smelled faintly of sandalwood and something sharper. My heart pounded as I pushed myself upright, scanning the room. This wasn’t my house.

And then it struck me—the man. My hand flew to my neck, where a burning sting made me hiss in pain. The skin was tender under my fingers.

My head throbbed, a dull ache spreading to my temples. It felt as though my brain was trapped in a spinning cage, each movement making the pounding worse. I swung my legs off the bed and fumbled for the side lamp. A dim glow filled the room—dark, not completely black, but shadowed enough to feel oppressive.

Somehow, I managed to stand, my legs heavy as though I was wading through water. I staggered toward the door, each step deliberate. The hallway was silent.

I stepped out and made my way to the railing. My stomach dropped.

Below, a group of men stood near a couch—armed, broad-shouldered, their stance rigid. And in the center, sitting with the ease of a man who owned the world, was him. He looked completely at ease, lounging like a king among his men.

Why am I here? Did he… kidnap me? But why?

I began to descend the stairs, careful to make no sound, my bare feet light against the steps. But my payal betrayed me, the faint jingle slicing through the tense quiet like glass shattering.

I saw his head tilt ever so slightly, his ears catching the sound—but he didn’t look at me. It was as if he already knew I was there. One of his men, however, stared at me intently, his gaze trying to read my every movement.

I stopped on the last step, my voice trembling but clear. "What I am doing here?"

He finally turned his head toward me, his expression unreadable but tinged with amusement. He didn’t answer, as though my question was nothing worth responding to.

"Who are you?" I pressed, the heaviness in my throat almost choking me.

"Basically…" he stood, unhurried, and began walking toward me. "Your husband?"

"H-Husband?" The word left my mouth in pure confusion.

He stopped in front of me, his hands still tucked in his pockets, and gave a short nod. My gaze followed his, and my hand reached up instinctively.

Sindoor.

My breath caught. My stomach churned. I looked at him, horror etched into my face. "W-Why?"

"Because I wanted to" he said simply.

"I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU!!!" I shouted, my voice cracking from a mix of fear and rage. His eyes darkened—not sure if it was because of my words or the volume.

"You will get to know very soon" he said, his tone casual but laced with something dangerous.

"I am not going to live here" I snapped, brushing past him toward the door. I had only taken two steps before his hand shot out, yanking me back. His fingers clamped around my wrist, twisting it behind me until my chest collided with his.

"You aren’t going anywhere" he said, his gaze locking with mine, unblinking. Anger surged inside me and, with my free hand, I shoved him hard. He let me go—almost too easily.

"How dare you do this? How did you marry me??" My voice rose, fueled by the injustice and the burn of humiliation. His laugh cut through the air, mocking the misery in my tone.

"I am capable of doing more than you think, Miss Verma" he said, brushing past me as though my words meant nothing.

"Do you even know how pure marriage is?" I called after him, turning on my heel. "How can you marry me when we both know each other?"

He froze. Slowly, he turned back to face me.

"Don’t know each other?" he repeated, his voice dropping. His steps toward me were slow, deliberate, predatory. I instinctively stepped back.

"We know each other well, Miss Verma" he said, closing the distance until his face hovered inches from mine. My breath hitched.

"I...I don’t know you" I whispered, shaking my head.

"It’s okay. I know you and that is enough for me" he murmured, leaning in until I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin.

"Kaho toh chum lu?" he asked with a smirk. My blood boiled, and before I realized it, my palm connected sharply with his cheek.

The crack echoed. His face turned to the side, and my heart skipped a beat when I noticed the shift in the room. His men now had guns aimed directly at me.

My fingers clenched around my dupatta, fear creeping into my chest.

Then—he chuckled.

"Drop your gun. Don’t you dare to raise it against her!" he barked, his sudden roar made me flinch. He closed the distance between us in two long strides and, without warning, fisted a handful of my hair. The pull wrenched my head back, forcing my gaze up to him.

"Don’t you dare to use your hands again" he growled into my ear, the whisper edged with venom. Tears pricked my eyes as the sharpness of his grip burned my scalp.

"Are we clear, Miss Verma?"

I nodded quickly, desperate for the pressure to stop.

He loosened his grip and, almost mockingly, patted the spot where he’d just held me so brutally.

"Be obedient because I don’t like who doesn’t listen to me" he said coldly. "Go back to the room, you will get your dinner there" He gestured toward the stairs, dismissing me.

Without another word, I turned and bolted up the steps, my heartbeat loud in my ears until I reached the room again.