Hellooo ji!
Kaise ho sab?
Also, reminder: this chapter is unedited, so... read at your own risk 😅[7.1K Words ]
Don’t forget to hit that 🌟 button and add the book to your library or reading list. And do drop a comment with your favorite part — I love reading them!
Now go on… continue reading! 👀✨
The party hummed on. Raghav had slipped out earlier—an urgent call from the hospital pulled him away. He was needed immediately for a surgery, and he'd left in a flurry of apologies and hurried goodbyes.
The party buzzed around her, lights flickering, laughter blending with music—but Arini sat still on the couch, phone in her hand, eyes locked on the screen. A tiny red dot blinked steadily on the live-tracking app, a dot she had been monitoring all evening with a face that gave away nothing.
Beside her, Aksh was scrolling through his own phone, lost in whatever drama involved him tonight. The two of them shared a comfortable silence, each in their own world.
A moment later, Aksh's phone buzzed sharply. He stood up, adjusting his blazer.
"I have an important call to attend. Excuse me," he said quietly.
Arini lifted her gaze just long enough to acknowledge him with a nod before he walked toward the balcony. The moment he left, her eyes returned to the screen.
Blink.
Blink.
A slow, steady red pulse.
Then—
The dot froze.
Stopped completely.
Arini's brows creased the slightest bit. She refreshed the screen once.
Twice.
A third time.
Still unmoving.
The red dot had frozen—
and now it pointed somewhere entirely different.
Churu, Rajasthan.
"Churu..." she muttered under her breath, tone flat but edged with something lethal.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Arini walked toward Aakarsh, who was still entertaining a cluster of guests. Her expression was calm—too calm—but the moment her eyes met his, he understood something was wrong.
She slipped into the circle with a perfectly crafted polite smile. "Mr. Rathore, I need to discuss something with you."
Then, to the guests, with that flawlessly charming yet icy curve of her lips, "Excuse us."
Aakarsh's posture straightened. That smile was fake—he knew it, because Arini never smiled like that unless danger hovered inches away.
He placed his glass down. "Of course."
The moment they stepped a few feet away, Arini's expression dropped. Her face turned blank—deadly blank.
"There's an issue," she said quietly.
Aakarsh's brows knitted. "Kya?"
Arini lifted her phone slightly, its screen casting a cold glow on her face.
"The Bratva hub has been shifted," she said. "To Churu, Rajasthan."
She swiped once, revealing a series of codes—some red, some white.
"Look," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "These red ones... ye mere codes hain. I slipped them into their main hub's server disguised as routine operational codes. That way I could track every internal activity without triggering alarms."
She enlarged the blinking red dot.
"This dot was active since morning, which means something was being moved. But instead of a transfer, the hub itself changed location."
She looked up at him, eyes sharp as a blade.
"Someone figured out something." Arini said, voice low and controlled. "And they're running. Or..." her jaw tightened, "they're planning something big. Something lethal."
Her gaze dropped back to the screen.
"Aakarsh, that hub isn't some portable pop-up street setup. When I wiped their data in the last mission, I saw it myself. It cannot be shifted in a few hours. Not unless someone gave them cover."
Aakarsh's eyes narrowed. "What are you trying to imply?"
Arini inhaled sharply. "Churu's main server—someone bought it under a pen name. Susen. And here, in Mumbai, I have the entire city network under my thumb. If I want someone's data, I take it. Simple." Her fingers tapped the edge of her phone. "But in Churu? It's different. It's layered. Restricted. They planned this."
She met his gaze again.
"And Churu is a lot closer to Delhi than Mumbai is."
Aakarsh's expression darkened, voice dropping. "Means they're targeting—"
She nodded once, firm. "My Delhi head office."
Aakarsh's jaw clenched so hard a nerve ticked near his temple. For a moment, he didn't speak—he just stared at the glowing screen in Arini's hand, absorbing every implication like a man calculating the fallout of an explosion he could already smell coming.
Arini continued, voice steady and cold.
"But my Delhi headquarters isn't something they can breach or slip past. They're trying to bait me, Aakarsh. They want me to log in... to force me into hacking back. This entire setup has one goal—to uncover my real identity."
She slipped her phone into her bag.
"They're targeting Delhi, but they won't strike yet. Not immediately. They want reaction... movement. So you need to act in the meantime."
Her eyes lifted to his, sharp and commanding.
"Tonight, you'll go to Rajasthan with Anavika di and her family. Manipulate them like others—like you always do. Then send your men ahead, disguised as locals in Churu. I want that new hub located."
She exhaled.
"I would have gone myself, but my coronation ceremony is in a week. I can't leave Mumbai for at least ten days... maybe even longer."
Aakarsh straightened, switching into the ruthless version of himself reserved only for the underworld.
"I'll go with Anavika and her family to Rajasthan. I'll make sure they reach safely, and I'll use the trip as a cover. My men will already be there before sunrise—spread out, disguised, quiet."
He paused, looking her directly in the eye.
"You want the hub found, and I'll find it."
A cold promise slipped into his tone.
"And when I do... whoever is hiding behind this 'Susen' name will regret breathing."
He stepped even closer, voice dropping to a razor's whisper.
"But Arini—listen to me carefully. Until this is done, you don't make a single digital move. No tracing. No hacking. No triggering those codes. If they want you to expose yourself... then we give them nothing."
His eyes softened just slightly—not with weakness, but with understanding. "I'll handle Rajasthan. You handle Mumbai. And until I'm back... don't take a single risk."
Arini smirked, not looking at him. "You treat me like I'm some immature little sister of yours."
Aakarsh mirrored her smirk, greyish eyes glinting. "Aren't you?"
She shot him a glare and turned her face away, muttering, "Shut up."
He shook his head with a faint chuckle, already anticipating the chaos that always seemed to follow her.
Ugh. I swear I'm going to go bald from stress.
Class 11th mein tension ki value nikalti thi... aur ab main khud tension mein doob rahi hoon.
Difference? Tab formulas the.
Ab toh mere paas yeh bhi formula nahi hai ki is tension ka answer kaise nikalein.
And where is that headache of a husband?
Pati bhi aisa... ki koi bhi aa kar mukka maar ke nikal jaaye.
Koi bhi! Door–door ki baat chhodo, meri khud ki best friend mauka mile toh do second mein tapka de isko.
This man is a walking danger magnet, I swear.
Come on, Arini. Get a hold of yourself. You can't lose your calm like this.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out...
I turned off the shower, wrapped myself in the bathrobe, and began drying my hair with a towel. It had barely been an hour since I returned from that party, and honestly, I was at my limit. If I had been forced to throw one more fake smile, I would've smashed at least one or two faces—minimum.
And yet, I left Aksh there.
Because he was busy talking on the phone.
And honestly? Leaving him unsupervised is more stressful than having him right in front of me.
I applied my serum and moisturizer—stress ho ya cyclone, skin glow is a must thing .
Priorities.
I combed through my hair and started braiding it, but an irritating little thought kept scratching at the back of my mind.
Why did I get that angry with Anu di?
Yes, I planned the entire thing.
Yes, everything unfolded exactly the way I wanted.
And yes, she did apologize just like I knew she would.
But still...
Why did it feel personal the moment she insulted Aksh?
I paused mid-braid.
I don't care about him.
I don't.
...Do I?
No.
No, no, Arini.
Stop.
Focus.
Think straight.
You have bigger problems than that danger-magnet husband of yours.
I exhaled sharply.
Focus on the real issue. Stop thinking rubbish and concentrate on the mess you're actually dealing with.
Just then the door opened and he walked in. I didn't even raise my head fully—until I saw it.
A scratch.
On his face.
I quickly tied the end of my braid with a rubber band. "Aksh... what happened?"
He sat on the bed, and I automatically stepped closer, cupping his face without thinking. "Did you get into a fight? Did someone attack you? How did this even happen?"
He sighed. "Nothing, Arini. When I was stepping out of the car, I accidentally bumped into it. That's all."
A beat.
Then I snapped, "Are you a toddler who learned driving today? Do you not have eyes? Or brain? How do you even—"
And then it hit me.
Why am I yelling?
It's literally just a scratch.
I don't even care.
...Do I?
What is wrong with me today? Focus, Arini. Focus.
I exhaled sharply, stepping back. "Just... go wash your face. And apply ointment."
Without waiting for his reaction, I turned, dropped onto the bed, and dragged the blanket over my head.
My brain is fried. Completely cooked. That's all this is.
I'm tired—that's why I'm behaving like this.
Yes. That's the reason.
It has to be.
What's wrong with her today?
One second she's braiding her hair like some calm, royal princess... and the next, she's grabbing my face like she owns it. Like she has every right to hold me still and inspect me.
And then she snaps.
Arini is already dangerous — certified dangerous — and always on the edge of anger. But when she reacts like that, when her voice trembles with something that is definitely not irritation... it makes me remember every god in existence. Just to stay alive for the next minute.
At the party too...
The way she'd argued with Anavika di for me — for me — was terrifying and... okay, fine, a little hot.
I mean, come on.
Anavika di is a proper chudail. I despise her from the bottom of my whole heart. This woman covered my entire room with jasmine knowing I'm allergic. I was basically dying and she was laughing. I still don't know why. Maybe she was bored.
She dragged me by my hair once. Across the palace. Like I was her emotional support mop.
So yes — she's more menacing than my wife.
But today she apologised.
Like... actually apologised. With her own mouth. Voluntarily.
WOW.
I wasn't lying earlier when I said Arini can freeze fire if she wants.
The woman walked into a battlefield of personalities and made Anavika di bend.
Something is wrong with her today.
And that — somehow — is even more dangerous.
I turned on the shower—and bit back a scream.
Hot.
No—scorching.
Lava-level water crashed onto my skin like she was trying to melt me alive.
Is she human... or a damn dragon?
Who on earth bathes in boiling water?
I hurriedly twisted the knob, and cold water finally rushed down, soothing the angry burn spreading across my skin. I exhaled, leaning my forehead against the tiles.
No wonder she's always furious.
Anyone bathing in water hot enough to summon volcano gods would have their blood permanently boiling too.
I let out a low chuckle despite myself.
Dangerous woman. Deadly temper. Dragon-level heat tolerance.
And somehow... she's my wife.
I showered, changed into a T-shirt and shorts, and stepped out—only to find her sitting up with her laptop open.
Wasn't she trying to sleep ten minutes ago?
She glanced at me briefly, just a flick of her eyes, then went back to typing like I didn't exist.
I caught my reflection in the mirror and applied ointment to the scratch. It would've healed even without it, but I value my life. Pissing off Dragon Arini over a scratch didn't seem like a wise career move.
"Why did you come back early from the party?" I asked, still looking at her through the mirror.
She didn't even look up.
"My social battery died," she replied flatly. "And I figured it was better to exit before I ended up arrested in a murder case."
Translation: Mera dimaag kharab ho rha tha or mai ek do logo ko lapet deti . Yep That's what she meant .
I snorted. "Fair."
I dropped onto the couch, opened my laptop, and started skimming through mails and pending files. Routine. Safe. Mindless—exactly what I needed after that day.
Then one mail caught my eye.
From: Kavya Agnivanshi
Subject: Leave Application
A week.
I blinked once, then read it again. Kavya didn't take leaves. Ever. And definitely not for an entire week. For a second, I considered questioning it.
Then I smiled.
One whole week without Kavya Agnivanshi's constant interruptions, unsolicited opinions, and "urgent" matters that somehow never waited five minutes.
A blessing. Truly.
I didn't overthink it. Didn't ask for reasons.
I approved the leave.
If peace had a definition, this was it And Sometimes, peace arrives in the most unexpected emails.
From the corner of my eye, I glanced at Arini. Her fingers were moving fast over the keyboard, eyes sharp, posture rigid—like she was at war with the screen itself. So much for "I need to sleep."
Typical.
"You're still working," I said casually, spinning my neck a little. "Thought your brain was cooked."
"It is," she replied flatly, not looking up. "That doesn't mean the world pauses for me."
I watched her for a moment longer. The glow of the laptop reflected in her eyes, that familiar storm sitting quietly behind them. Dangerous. Controlled. Exhausted.
Strange thing was— earlier she snapped at me, then worried, then shut down completely.
And now? She was pretending I didn't exist.
I shook my head to myself.
Women were confusing.
My wife? A whole different species.
I turned to look at her. Seriously? A six-foot-three, fully alive human being was living right here in the same room, and she was treating me like background noise. Like I was a mosquito buzzing somewhere she didn't care to swat.
I had never felt this ignored in my life.
And—wait.
Why did that even bother me?
I didn't want her attention.
I really didn't.
Yeah.
I don't.
...Do I?
NO, AKSH. YOU DON'T.
Focus. Damn it.
I dragged my eyes back to my laptop, scrolling mindlessly through files, pretending my thoughts weren't completely derailing. After a moment, I exhaled and spoke, keeping my tone casual.
"Would you be interested in doing a joint project with AK Corporations?"
Her typing stopped.
Finally—finally—she looked up at me.
And for reasons I absolutely refused to acknowledge, that alone felt like a small victory.
I cleared my throat, annoyed at myself. Get a grip.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"What?" she asked. "What project?"
I cleared my throat. "The solar electricity project. It's starting soon, and I was thinking that... if we combine resources. Teams. Infrastructure. Do it together."
She raised an eyebrow. Just one. Deadly enough.
"You need my assistance for that project?"
"No!" I replied instantly—then paused. "...I mean—not assistance like that."
She leaned back slightly, unimpressed. "Aksh, you're sounding like an immature entrepreneur asking for funding at the lowest equity possible. Say it clearly—whatever it is you want to say."
I exhaled slowly.
Why was talking to her harder than negotiating hostile takeovers?
And since when did her opinion start mattering this much?
I straightened a little. "I'm saying—it makes strategic sense. For both of us. Equal footing. Equal control. No favors."
Her gaze sharpened, analytical now.
The dragon had officially switched modes.
"And why," she asked calmly, "would you want to do that?"
Because working with you makes sense.
Because you're terrifyingly brilliant.
Because I trust you more than most people in this industry.
None of that came out. Because what the hell am I thinking .
"Because," I said instead, "together, the project will be unstoppable."
Her lips curved—just slightly. Not a smile. More like a warning.
"Now," she said, turning fully toward me, "that's a sentence you should've started with."
This woman.
UGHHH.
She steps straight onto my nerves and then performs a full-fledged Bharatanatyam on them—graceful, ruthless, flawless—without even breaking a sweat. Why does she have to be this infuriatingly sharp, this brutally honest jerk?
And more importantly—why on earth am I getting affected by her this much?
I clench my jaw, staring at my laptop screen without actually seeing a single word. God. I've faced hostile boardrooms, men who wanted my blood on contracts—and yet one raised eyebrow from her makes me feel like I've just lost an argument I didn't even finish.
This is ridiculous.
I don't care.
I shouldn't care.
But somehow, her presence feels heavier than silence, louder than words. And the worst part? I can't even blame her. She didn't do anything. She just exists—and that alone is enough to throw me off balance.
God, help me.
Because if this keeps going, I'm not sure who's winning anymore—my logic... or her.
She didn't even look at me as she went back to typing, fingers moving with lethal efficiency.
"Where's the location?" she asked flatly.
Oh.
She was interested.
That realization brought an irrational sense of relief—something I absolutely refused to acknowledge.
"Rajasthan," I replied.
Her head snapped toward me so fast it was almost violent.
"What?"
I nodded once. "Yeah. The project will cover a triangular sector. The solar plants will be set up across Phalodi, Nagaur, and Jodhpur."
She frowned, but her voice steadied as she asked,
"What about the locals? You'll be buying land—existing houses will be affected."
I answered without hesitation.
"They'll be relocated. Better location, better houses. My team already has the locals' consent—documents signed, compensation finalized. Everything is legal."
I paused, then added, "I discussed it with Mrs. Rajput as well. She has no objections."
Her eyes flickered in mild surprise.
"Raani Maa agreed?" she murmured. "That's... good."
Then she looked at me again.
"But why Rajasthan, of all places?"
I glanced back at my screen.
"Because it's ideal," I said simply. "Maximum sunlight. Minimum loss. Highest long-term output."
She didn't respond immediately, eyes narrowing as if a dozen calculations had begun running in her head at once. Then she leaned back slightly, fingers resting on the edge of her laptop.
Then she spoke, voice cool but measured.
"Send me the detailed proposal. I'll review it with my team."
My chest loosened slightly. "So... that's a yes?"
She turned back to her laptop, already typing.
"It's a consideration," she corrected. "Don't celebrate yet."
I smiled to myself, lying back on the couch.
Dragon or not—
she is definitely a brilliant woman.
NEXT MORNING -
By the time I woke up, the dragon had already flown off to her lair.
A single message from her waited on my phone,
"We'll discuss the solar project officially. Boardroom. My office."
Short. Crisp. Non-negotiable. In short, I was being summoned.
I stared at the screen for a moment, then sighed.
Great. I had to go to her office today. And knowing her, this wouldn't just be a meeting—it would be a silent war wrapped in professionalism and sharp glances.
I locked my phone and muttered to myself,
"Pray for me, whoever's listening."
Because dealing with dragons this early in the morning?
That required divine intervention.
I took a shower, got dressed, and adjusted my watch, giving myself one last glance in the mirror before heading downstairs for breakfast.
"Good morning, Maa," I said, hugging her before taking my seat at the table.
She smiled warmly. "Good morning, beta. Where's your wife?"
Of course.
Everyone asks about her first.
I served myself breakfast and took a bite. "She left for office early this morning."
Maa's brows lifted, forming a perfect O of surprise.
"Oh? So early?" Maa said, clearly impressed. "That's good. She's very dedicated to her work."
I resisted the very strong urge to sigh.
"Maa, I also work with full dedication," I said, taking another bite. "You just happen to notice hers more."
She laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Haan haan, I know. You also work very hard."
Very convincing, Maa. Truly.
"Now finish your breakfast," she added, pushing my plate slightly toward me, "or you'll get late for work."
I nodded, chewing quietly—because arguing further would only dig my grave deeper.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, though, one thought echoed clearly:
Everyone sees her dedication.
No one sees the man trying to survive being married to a dragon.
"Obviously, Jiju. This is far deeper than I initially thought," I said, staring straight into those piercing grey eyes glaring at me through my laptop screen.
The moment I reached my office, the first thing I did was disturb my Jiju's sleep.
I mean—inform him.
Hehe.
He sighed, voice thick with sleep. "Arini, I swear—"
"Stop swearing and listen to me," I cut him off smoothly. "I thought the Bratva was targeting my headquarters. But the real danger... is on Aksh."
That snapped him fully awake.
"The project I told you about—I'm going ahead with it. I'll do it with him," I continued calmly. "I'll visit Rajasthan for the location check. That way, we can cover Churu more efficiently."
He nodded slowly. "Alright. My men are already spread out in Churu. They're digging as deep as they can to locate the Bratva hub. When are you coming here?"
I leaned back in my chair, spinning it slightly. "I'll try to come soon. Either this week—or after ten days."
"Okay," he said. Then, with a warning edge, added, "And now don't disturb me unless you're dying. Because next time, I will kill you for ruining my sleep."
The call disconnected. I smiled faintly at the dark screen.
Worth it.
I started scrolling aimlessly—rare moment of peace, considering how chaotic my life usually is. But the universe, of course, hates peace. A knock echoed against my cabin door.
"Come in," I said.
Bhavya walked in, wearing her usual professional expression—the one she carries every single day when she's about to brief me on my schedule. But today? I was not in the mood.
Before she could open her mouth, I spoke, "Bhavya, I want to eat ice cream today. Care to join me?"
She blinked. Once. Twice. "Ma'am... you—"
"Yes or no, Bhavya?"
"...Yes, ma'am," she replied quickly.
Of course she did. The seriousness in my voice is not something people joke with. I settled into the passenger seat while Bhavya drove my car. I don't know why, but I trust her—with my cars, and maybe with more than that.
"Since I actually have time," I said, scrolling through my phone, "why don't we go to a mall first? A little shopping. Then ice cream."
She glanced at me for a second before replying, "Ma'am... if you keep talking like this, I might start doubting whether you're the real you or some duplicate version."
A soft chuckle slipped out of me. "Then switch seats next time. I'll drive. That should confirm everything."
She smiled. "For now, I'm convinced. Maybe next time. Which mall do you want to go to?"
"Any," I replied immediately. "Except our own."
She raised a brow.
"I don't want to deal with work today," I added. "No 'Arini mam this' and 'Arini mam that'. I want peace. Spare me."
She nodded and drove us to the mall. Once the car was parked, I stepped out and immediately pointed at the badge clipped to her blazer—Bhavya Chandel.
"Remove it," I said. "Here, we're friends. Not CEO and secretary." She hesitated for half a second, then unclipped it and slipped it into her bag. Only then did we walk inside.
I glanced around lazily. "So... anything specific you want to shop for?"
She shook her head. "No. You dragged me here so randomly." Then she paused, thinking. "But heels? Heels are always a safe choice."
I nodded. "Agreed. You can never go wrong with heels."
And just like that, we turned toward the stores— Just a small pocket of normalcy I hadn't realized I desperately needed.
We moved from store to store, heels after heels lined up in front of us like a battlefield of choices. I instinctively gravitated toward high, sharp pointed heels—the kind that made people rethink their life decisions the moment they heard them click on marble floors.
Bhavya, on the other hand, picked medium-high platform heels. Practical, comfortable... very her.
She tried on a few pastel shades—soft pinks, muted lavender, cream. Not so surprisingly, she looked perfect in every single pair. I finalized three pairs for myself: one classic black, one crisp white, and one deep navy blue. Clean. No nonsense.
At the billing counter, I slid my card toward the cashier without a second thought.
Bhavya immediately turned to me. "Ma'am, you—"
I cut her off before she could finish. "What did I say before we entered?"
She hesitated.
"We're friends," I continued calmly. "And there's no hesitation between friends."
She studied my face for a second, then nodded quietly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
I took my card back once the payment went through, picked up my bags, and handed hers to her.
"Now," I said, already turning toward the next store, "let's get dresses to match these heels. I heard the new Valentino collection just dropped."
She followed me inside as the staff immediately guided us toward their exclusive pieces. I made Bhavya try on a few outfits—one beige, one black—and she looked stunning in both. I even clicked a picture because she genuinely looked beautiful.
Then I tried on a cherry-red dress. The moment I saw my reflection, I knew—it was coming home with me.
We finalized our picks, I settled the bill, and soon both our hands were full of shopping bags.
I glanced at her and smiled. "Bhavya, now you owe me an ice-cream treat."
"Sure, ma'am," she replied instantly.
I chuckled. No matter how many times I tell her to drop the formalities when we're out like this, she just never listens.
We reached the ice-cream shop, picked our favorites, and settled down. As I took a bite, I spoke casually,
"Bhavya... can I ask you something?"
She nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"How do you feel working with me?" I asked, watching her carefully.
She hesitated for a second, then smiled softly. "To be honest, ma'am, in the beginning I thought you were rude... cold... almost like a tyrant," she admitted. "I was genuinely scared of you."
I raised an eyebrow, amused.
"But I was wrong," she continued. "You were strict—very strict—and you still are. But over time, I became comfortable working around you. With you."
She paused, then added quietly, "After all these years, I'm sure of one thing—I can't work with anyone else now. I'm too introverted, and you... you make it easier."
I looked away, taking another bite of my ice cream to hide the faint smile tugging at my lips.
"Bhavya... would you like to work with me permanently?" I asked, keeping my tone casual as I took another bite of my ice cream.
She frowned slightly. "But ma'am, I already work with you. And... isn't that permanent already?"
I nodded. "It is. But this week, I'll be officially joining SR Enterprises as well—and I want you there too. As my secretary."
I glanced at her. "The question is, will you be able to manage both—AR Group and SR Enterprises—on a regular basis?"
She stared at me, clearly stunned, blinking a couple of times as if she wasn't sure she'd heard me right.
I took another slow bite of my ice cream, completely unbothered. "Think about it. Tell me tomorrow. If you agree, I'll have the contract prepared and handed to you."
She nodded, still processing everything.
After an hour, we returned to the office. I went straight to the meeting room—because any moment now, that walking danger magnet was going to arrive. I still didn't know what had possessed him last night to suddenly suggest working with me. Aksh and collaboration usually didn't belong in the same sentence. But whatever it was, it worked in my favor.
I needed a legitimate reason to go to Churu and locate that hub.
Now I had one.
I would go there—officially. Professionally. Without raising suspicion.
Of course, I had several questions regarding the project. Very relevant ones. Ones that should be asked in a meeting. Or maybe...I'd let him talk first. Sometimes, people revealed far more when they thought they were in control.
Two hours later, the meeting finally wrapped up.
The deal was sealed—AR Group and AK Corp would jointly execute the project. Equal division of resources, teams, and profits. Clean. Strategic. Exactly how I wanted it.
I settled back into my chair in my cabin, barely exhaling in relief, when Aksh walked in as if this were his personal lounge.
I looked up at him flatly. "What?" I asked. "Don't you have work in your own office?"
He shot me an offended look. "For God's sake, I just survived a two-hour interrogation disguised as a meeting. Question after question. Let me breathe for five minutes."
I crossed my arms. "For your information, this is my cabin, not your resting room. Go find another place to collapse."
He raised an eyebrow, utterly shameless. "And what will people think if a poor husband is forced to rest on a reception sofa while his wife owns the entire building?"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"I'll personally put bullets in anyone's brain if they even think that," I said calmly. "Saying it out loud would be a death wish."
I leaned back in my chair, eyes narrowing slightly. He looked at me and then with a stubborn expression on his face , he sat on couch saying "Still I am not going anywhere ."
Honestly...this man was exhausting.
And somehow, completely impossible to get rid of.
In Russia - 3 PM
At the heart of the city, inside the grand hall of a massive estate, tension hung thick in the air.
A man in his fifties sat at the head, a cigar resting between his fingers. One of his arms was mechanical, polished steel glinting under the lights. Beside him sat another man in his thirties, swirling whiskey in a crystal glass with unsettling calm. Armed guards stood posted behind them and along the edges of the hall, rifles loaded, eyes alert.
Across from them sat a woman in her twenties. She wore a black overcoat dress, tailored sharply to her frame, paired with high heels. A Chanel bag rested on the table before her—placed there deliberately, like a statement rather than an accessory. Her posture was relaxed, but her eyes held intent.
To their left, a massive screen glowed pitch black. Someone else was connected through that call—present, listening—but their face remained hidden, their identity concealed in darkness.
The woman finally spoke, her voice steady and cold.
"I'm ready to work with you," she said. "Our motives align."
The younger man finally spoke, his voice calm but edged with suspicion.
"And why exactly should we trust you? What if this is all just a bluff?"
She leaned forward slowly, her heels scraping softly against the marble floor. Her gaze was unwavering.
"If I'm bluffing," she said coldly, "cut my head off the very moment you sense betrayal."
A brief pause—deliberate.
"I want her destroyed," she continued. "And I will give you every piece of data, every scrap of information I can obtain. I'll stay as close to her as possible. Close enough to watch her breathe... and close enough to stab when the time comes."
The man narrowed his eyes. "And why?"
She inhaled sharply, her jaw tightening.
"Because she stole something that was mine. Something precious. Something tied to my heart."
Her fingers curled slightly.
"And now, I want her to pay. I want what was taken from me—back."
Silence followed.
The man spoke with restrained fury in his voice. "She is the reason for our losses. Because of her, my father lost his arm."
Then the older man took a long drag from his cigar and exhaled slowly. "So it's settled."
The younger man nodded.
"We work together." His eyes hardened. "And we destroy her."
A deep, heavy voice finally emerged from the black screen, slow and deliberate.
"In a few days, she will assume the position of President of SR Enterprises. Stay close to her there. The more information you extract about that empire, the easier it will be for us to dismantle her from within."
The woman didn't hesitate. She inclined her head slightly, her expression unreadable, eyes burning with quiet resolve. "I'll do everything I can."
Same day - In MUMBAI ~
Bhavya entered Arini's cabin and spoke without hesitation.
"Ma'am, I'm ready to be on your side."
Arini looked up from her desk, her gaze unreadable.
Bhavya continued, steadier now, "I can manage both AR Group and SR Enterprises. I'm ready to work with you there as well."
A faint, approving smile curved Arini's lips. "Impressive, Bhavya. I'll have the contracts prepared and handed to you tomorrow."
As the cabin door closed behind her, Arini leaned back in her chair, fingers interlacing thoughtfully. "Bimari ka ilaaj agar pehle se pata ho," she murmured softly, a dangerous glint in her eyes, "toh nuksaan nahi hota."
Her smile sharpened. "Bas ab yeh jaanna baaki hai...yeh bimari hai kaun."
(If you know the cure to an illness beforehand, it can't harm you. Now all that remains is to find out who the illness actually is.)
Same day -In Rajasthan ~
Aakarsh followed the furious Anavika down the corridor.
"Anu... Anu, meri jaan, suno toh—"
"Mujhe kuch nahi sunna!" she snapped, not slowing even a bit.
"Please, Anu. Just two minutes," he pleaded again, his voice dropping into that calm, gentle tone that surfaced only for her. "You misunderstood. I swear—"
"Ohhh," she scoffed bitterly, walking even faster. "So now you're saying I don't have a brain? That I misunderstood your words? Wow."
He quickened his pace to match hers. "No, I never said that. I just mean—you didn't hear the entire thing and I—"
She cut him off sharply. "And now you're trying to manipulate me?" She laughed, cold and humorless. "I know you very well, Mr. Manipulator. Ek tum manipulate karte ho, aur ek tumhari saali."
She stopped abruptly, turning to glare at him. "I am seriously done with both of you. Ab main kuch nahi sunungi. Not a single word."
He caught her wrist—gentle enough not to hurt, firm enough to make it clear escape wasn't an option.
"Anu... please," he said quietly. "It's not what you think. I didn't mean—"
She wrenched her hand free, fury blazing in her eyes as she jabbed a finger into his chest.
"Whatever you meant, you said the wrong thing," she snapped. "I warned you. I warned both of you—stay out of each other's matters. And you still crossed the line. Now don't talk to me. Don't explain. I'm done."
Aakarsh exhaled slowly, jaw tightening. "There was something I had to ask her," he said, voice low. "That's all. And I never meant that word for her."
She shot him a murderous glare and turned to leave.
"I don't want to talk to yo—"
She gasped.
A firm arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her back, flush against him, so suddenly her breath knocked out of her lungs. Her back hit his chest, his grip iron-hard, possessive, unyielding.
"Aakarsh—" she hissed, struggling. "Have you lost your mind? Leave me. We're in the palace, not Italy."
She tried to twist free. Useless. His hold was steel.
He leaned down, lips brushing the shell of her ear, voice dropping into that dangerous calm that always meant trouble.
"Then you should have thought about that before walking away from me."
She stilled.
He tightened his arm just enough to remind her who was holding whom.
"Now repeat what you said," he murmured. "You don't want to talk to me?"
A beat. Two.
"Fine," he continued softly, almost smiling. "Then I won't let you go either. Not until you talk. And not until you stop pretending you don't care."
She swallowed.
"And," he added, voice dark, intimate, "call me Arsh. Like you always do. Or we're standing right here all night."
[A/N: Aaa raat bharrrr ..Jayeee naa gharrr . Hehe Moment break krr diya . Don't worry and continue .]
"In your fucking dreams, Mr. Rathore," she shot back, purely to provoke him further.
One brow lifted slowly, a slow, lethal curve touching his lips. "Sweetheart," he murmured, voice low and dangerous, "my dreams are far wilder than anything you could imagine."
She let out a sharp breath. "Such a bastard of a husband."
His hand slid up, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face with unexpected tenderness—while his other arm remained firm around her waist, a silent reminder that escape wasn't an option. "Your bastard husband, Sweetheart" he corrected softly.
"I genuinely want to know Aakarsh tum itne besharam bachpan se the ya iska alag se course kiya hai ?" Anavika snapped, irritation sharp in her tone.
(I genuinely want to know, Aakarsh... were you this shameless since childhood, or did you take a separate course for it?)
He barely seemed to hear the insult. His focus was entirely elsewhere. His free hand reached up, fingers lazily brushing against her earring, thumb grazing the sensitive skin just beneath her ear as if testing how far he could push before she snapped again.
"No, sweetheart," he murmured, voice low, unbothered. "I just—"
He was cut off by a familiar voice echoing from downstairs. "Anavikaaa...!! Come downstairs."
Anavika stiffened instantly. Her eyes darted toward the staircase.
"Aakarsh," she hissed under her breath, panic flickering beneath her anger, "leave me. Maa will come upstairs if I don't go right now."
He shook his head slowly, dangerously calm.
"I'm not interested," he replied, eyes darkening. "Not yet."
She stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "What do you mean you're not interested? Maa will come upstairs, she'll see us like this, and everything will turn awkward. Did you leave your brain back in Italy or something?"
He didn't answer her logic. Instead, his grip tightened around her waist—possessive, unyielding, pulling her closer until there was no space left to argue.
"You just called me Mr. Rathore," he said quietly, leaning in. "And that man... doesn't negotiate."
She exhaled sharply, irritation mixing with helplessness. Then, deliberately, she softened her voice—sweet, coaxing, the tone she knew worked best on him. "Arshhhh... let me go."
He smiled inwardly, but his face remained unreadable.
"Not until you fulfill my demand."
She cursed him silently, jaw tightening. "What demand?" she asked, still using that deceptively gentle tone.
He lifted his free hand and tapped his forehead once. "A kiss."
She scoffed. "I won't even reach there."
His finger slid down—slow, deliberate—from his forehead to his lips. "I meant here."
She sucked in a breath. "What is wrong with you, Aakarsh? We're not in Italy. This is my palace. For God's sake, can you behave?"
He leaned closer, voice dropping to a murmur meant only for her. "Whatever is wrong with me—you love it."
Then, softer, teasingly dangerous, "And are you really saying that you miss the things we did together in Italy?"
"Shut up, Arsh!" she snapped, heat rushing to her face.
"Make me, Anu."
She closed her eyes briefly, surrendering with a frustrated sigh.
"Okay. Fine. But first let me go. I promise I'll fulfill your demand."
After a moment's pause, he loosened his grip. The second she was free, she stepped closer on her tiptoes. His eyes fluttered shut instinctively—trusting, foolishly so.
She pressed a quick, fleeting peck to his lips and instantly pulled away, already turning to run.
"You didn't specify for how long!" she called over her shoulder, laughter lacing her words as she bolted toward the stairs.
"Anuu— You'll pay for it later !" he took a step forward, but she was already halfway down, disappearing with the sound of hurried footsteps.
He stopped, shook his head slowly, a smile tugging at his lips. "This," he muttered to himself, amused and fond, "is the same woman the dark realm is terrified of."
Same day — Somewhere else in Mumbai
Chhavi wrapped up her work, neatly aligning the last few files on her desk before slipping her bag over her shoulder. She stepped into the lift, already running calculations in her head. If she pushed a little harder this week—and maybe wrapped up part of next week's work early—she could finally take a few days off.
For Arini's birthday. Chhavi smiled faintly at the thought.
She had never really understood Arini when it came to birthdays. No excitement. No grand plans. Just a quiet cake-cutting with family, a few obligatory pictures—sometimes uploaded, sometimes not. As if it were just another date on the calendar.
Birthdays were meant to be celebrated. Loudly. Joyfully. Without restraint.
Ironically, Chhavi herself often felt a strange sadness on her own birthdays—but her enthusiasm never dimmed. She compensated with double the cheer, double the energy. Arini, on the other hand, treated happiness like a luxury she refused to indulge in.
The lift doors slid open. Chhavi walked out, pulling her phone from her bag to book a cab. Just as she unlocked the screen, her steps slowed.
A familiar figure stood near the parking area. Raghav.
She looked up, surprised, and walked toward him.
"You're here?" she asked, genuine confusion lacing her voice.
He looked at her, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Um... yeah. Arini sent me. Your car went for repairs, right? So I'll drop you home."
She stopped him instantly. "House," she corrected, calm but firm. "My house."
He blinked, then nodded, catching himself.
"Yeah—your house," he said, moving ahead and opened the passenger door for her. "After you."
She paused for half a second—just long enough to notice the gesture—then slid into the seat.
"Thanks."
Inside the car, Chhavi pulled out her phone. "Let me inform Arini that I agreed to go with you."
Raghav spoke instantly, a little too fast. "No!"
She paused, looking at him.
He cleared his throat, forcing calm into his voice. "I mean—she specifically told me not to disturb her. You can call her after you reach your hom-... house." He corrected himself quickly.
Chhavi studied him for a second, then nodded. "Okay."
The rest of the drive passed in silence—thick, awkward, and unspoken. No music. No small talk. Just the hum of the engine cutting through the night. Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of Chhavi's house.
She stepped out, closed the door, and gave him a small wave. "Bye."
Raghav nodded back and drove away. The moment he turned the corner, he grabbed his phone and dialed frantically.
"Pick up... pick up... please pick up..."
After four rings, a familiar female voice answered. "Yes, Raghav?"
"Arini, listen—I need your help," he said quickly.
She replied calmly, "Do I need to come there, or can this be handled over the phone?"
"No, no—you don't need to come," he rushed. "Just... one thing. When Chhavi calls you and asks if you sent me to pick her up—can you please say yes?"
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Finally, Arini spoke, her tone unreadable. "I will. But you owe me a full explanation later. Deal?"
"Deal," he said instantly. "Thank you. Really."
"No worries," she replied, and disconnected the call. Raghav exhaled, gripping the steering wheel tighter—relief mixed with dread.
____________________________________
How was the Chapter ?
Any favorite part ?
Do let me know your views on this one .
^_^ Thank you so much for reading this chapter, dear Violets. I truly appreciate your time and support—it means a great deal to me. Your support inspires me and I'm grateful to have you with me on this journey. Until next time, keep blooming beautifully. 💜
Your Author ~ ITA 🫶
Write a comment ...