CHAPTER 38
VISHNU
I step out into the garden, following Simran, who is now crouched down on the grass, kissing and cuddling Veer. Her laughter rings through the air as she nuzzles her nose against our son’s cheek, making him giggle in delight.
I gesture to Abhay, who moves quietly to my side.
“The client Simran is meeting today—did you check everything?” I ask, keeping my eyes on her as she continues playing with Veer.
“Already done,” Abhay replies without hesitation. “Clean background. No red flags. No connections to Zayed.”
I nod, exhaling slightly. I know she isn’t the primary target anymore—Zayed made that crystal clear when he called. But it doesn’t change the fact that she was once his pawn to get to me. And for that reason alone, I’ll ensure she is safe at all times. I am not taking any chances with her safety. That’s why my team is still screening every client, every vendor she meets, with no exceptions. Yet, the unease in my gut refuses to settle.
“Don’t leave her out of your sight,” I instruct, my tone dead serious, despite knowing I couldn’t have asked for a better man on this job than him. “Not even for a fraction of a second.”
Abhay’s response is immediate. “That goes without saying. She’ll be safe.”
I glance at Simran, still playing with Veer, before turning back to Abhay again, appreciating his confidence. “Amidst all this madness, the only reason I’m letting her step out is because I trust that she’s safe with you.”
I clap my hand gently against his arm, a rare display of gratitude.
“I’ve got this. I’ll keep her safe,” he assures me, showing that rare display of emotion.
Before I can respond, Simran strolls towards us, her arms folded, her lips curved in amusement.
“If you two are done discussing my security detail,” she teases, “can we leave now?”
I shake my head, smiling despite myself. She knows me too well—knows exactly how protective I am of her. And now, she never complains, never tries to fight me on it. Instead, she lets me do what I must, trusting me the way I trust her.
Abhay steps away quietly, giving us space while he waits a little ahead.
“Dad’s been obsessively planning Veer’s birthday party at the Alibaug farmhouse,” she tells me, her eyes soft yet filled with unspoken concern. “He just told me he’s called in some decorators today to discuss his grand plans.”
I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I know. But what can I do? He wants to celebrate it in a grand way, despite everything going on with Zayed.”
Simran chuckles, tilting her head. “I think he’s doing the right thing. We can’t live in fear, waiting for Zayed to strike. Your team is already doing everything to track him down. The moment we find him, his game is over.”
She has faith in me and in my team. And though her words should comfort me, I can’t shake off the feeling that Zayed is still out there, one step ahead of us.
Simran checks the time and lets out a small gasp. “Oh no, I’m really late.”
Before I can respond, she leans in and kisses me tenderly on my cheek. “Bye,” she whispers, then hurries off toward the car where Abhay is waiting.
I stand there for a moment, watching as they drive away, before returning inside to my team to check if they’ve traced any new lead on Zayed’s location.
*****************
Veer has been cranky from the moment Simran left for work. After weeks of her working from home, he had grown used to having her around, soaking up all her attention. Now, with her sudden absence, he refuses to settle. His nanny does her best to calm him, rocking him gently and distracting him with toys, but nothing works. He squirms in her arms, whining softly, his little arms reaching toward the door as if hoping his mother will walk in any second.
Even Devika tries to engage him with Avika, who holds out a stuffed animal for her little brother, smiling widely. But Veer barely looks at it. His bottom lip wobbles, his eyes filling with tears. I quickly take him into my arms, and thankfully, he stops crying. His tiny fingers fist my shirt, his face pressing into my chest. I sigh, rubbing his back gently.
“Missing your Mumma, huh?” I whisper, feeling his tiny body relax against mine. “She’ll be back soon, son.”
For the next hour, Veer refuses to let me out of his sight. Even when he eventually starts playing with Avika under the watchful eyes of Devika and his nanny, his eyes constantly look for me, making sure I’m still around. The second I step out of his view, his cries echo through the mansion. It takes everything in me to calm him down each time. He clings to me like I’m the only thing keeping him grounded in this big, scary world.
Two hours later, just as I manage to get Veer to settle into his playtime, I am called to the living room. Dad is standing near the entrance, already dressed, looking far too excited for my liking. The second I see that gleam in his eyes, I know something is up.
“What’s going on?” I ask, stepping closer, instantly on alert.
“Vishnu,” Dad begins, his voice carrying the same authority it always does when he’s made up his mind about something. “I need to head to the Alibaug farmhouse for an hour or two.”
My entire body stiffens. “No.”
His brows furrow. “Listen to me first.”
“No,” I snap again. “I cleared your entire schedule this week so you wouldn’t have to leave the house, Dad. And now you’re telling me you want to go all the way to Alibaug?”
“I had called the decorators here to discuss the arrangements for Veer’s birthday,” he explains calmly. “But they suggested it would be better to meet at the farmhouse so they can plan the decor accordingly. It made sense to me, so I agreed.”
I inhale sharply, barely containing my frustration.
“I let you plan Veer’s birthday at Alibaug despite the security concerns, but I am not letting you step out of Walia Mansion right now. It’s too risky.”
He sighs, shaking his head. “Vishnu, I am taking the entire convoy of guards with me. Nothing will go wrong.”
“I don’t care how many guards you take. You are not leaving anywhere.”
“Vishnu…” His tone softens as he steps closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Please.”
I glare at him, hating the way he plays the emotional card. He knows very well I can’t refuse him when he asks me like this, making me feel as if I’m suffocating him by being overly protective. I exhale harshly, rubbing a hand down my face.
“Fine,” I grit out. “But I’m coming with you.”
He raises a brow. “And Veer?”
I glance toward my son, who is now finally content, playing with Avika. Simran won’t be home for another couple of hours, and I don’t want to disturb her when she’s already juggling so much. If Veer is already this restless in her absence, leaving him behind without me is out of the question.
“We’ll take him along,” I decide.
Dad nods in agreement, and I immediately shift into command mode. I summon my security team and brief them on the new plan. Half of the team will stay back to guard the rest of the family, while I’ll take the best fifteen men with me to Alibaug. I am not taking any chances.
The Walias have long owned a luxury speedboat with a twenty-seater capacity, perfect for quick and frequent travel to our Alibaug farmhouse. Over the years, Dad has used it to host numerous exclusive parties for his political circle there.
Once I make sure that all the protocols are in place, we make our way to the dock. I send a quick message to Simran, letting her know about the sudden trip.
‘Taking Veer and his nanny with me to Alibaug. He won’t stay here without me, and Dad won’t let go of this farmhouse visit. Don’t worry, we’ll be back in 2-3 hours. Call me once you’re done.’
Her reply comes almost instantly.
‘Be careful. Safe trip. Love you.’
I grip my phone tighter, exhaling. I love her too. More than she knows. And I’ll be damned if anything, or anyone dares to threaten what we’ve built together.
Veer, who had been snuggled against my chest, lifts his head and babbles something incoherent before grinning up at me. His small hand pats my face, and just like that, the tension eases a little.
I kiss his forehead.
With my son in my arms, my father at my side, and my most trusted men surrounding us, I step onto the speedboat.
*****************
Alibaug
I drum my fingers against the wooden table, watching Dad converse with the decorators, gesturing animatedly with his arms. His eyes sparkle as he shows them around the farmhouse, mapping out his vision for the upcoming event. Despite the tightness in my chest—this constant state of vigilance I’ve been living in—I can’t help but smile at his excitement.
It’s been an hour since we arrived at our Alibaug farmhouse, and while Veer sleeps soundly under his nanny’s watch, my mind stays on high alert, running through contingency plans. My security team has already vetted these decorators thoroughly, but I trust no one these days. Not since Zayed.
Just then, my phone rings, vibrating in my pocket with another four-digit number flashing on the screen. My heart pounds as I signal my team, mouthing, ‘It’s him.’ The air around us grows tense as I gesture for them to stay alert and start tracking the call.
The decorators continue discussing plans with Dad, completely oblivious to the storm that is brewing.
The second I pick up the call, a slow, sinister laugh fills my ears. My blood boils, and my fingers clench around the phone.
Alex, the tech specialist from GLEN assigned by Krish and Ayaan, is already on his tablet, monitoring the call. He glances up and gives me a thumbs-up—the tracking is in motion.
I wait, letting Zayed’s laughter die out.
“I can’t believe it,” Zayed’s voice drips with cruel mockery. “After all the precautions you’ve taken, you still allowed Simran to go to work today...”
My body stiffens. F*ck! He knows Simran is at work! Damn it!
“How can you be so careless, Vishnu?” He continues laughing wickedly. “Don’t you care for her life anymore?”
My jaw tightens, every muscle coiled with tension.
“You might know where she is,” I growl, keeping my composure, “but forget hurting her, you won’t even get close. My men are all around her, Zayed. The moment you’re near her, you’ll get caught.”
Another mocking laughter follows. “I like your confidence, Vishnu...”
Alex catches my attention, holding up his iPad triumphantly. This time, there’s no confusion. Unlike before, when Zayed’s signal bounced all over India, now it’s locked on a single clear location—Mumbai, Gateway of India. The advanced GLEN technology is finally giving us an edge.
Zayed is in Mumbai? At Gateway of India? So close to us?
“What if I challenge you,” Zayed’s voice darkens, taunting, “to not only reach Simran but also to take her away from you forever?”
I’m already moving, my teeth clenched so hard that my jaw aches. Simran’s meeting is in Bandra—barely forty minutes from Gateway. My mind is racing as I motion for three of my men, including Alex, to follow me as I stride toward my car.
“Stay the f*ck away from her, Zayed,” I growl, signalling one of my men to alert Abhay, who’s with Simran. “If you so much as think of harming her... I swear the moment I find you, you’re dead,” I seethe, getting into the driver’s seat.
Zayed’s dark laughter echoes through the line, fuelling my rage further. My jaw tightens as I glance at my men—one is already calling Abhay, ensuring he’s alert and ready. Another reaches out to Ayaan for backup at the farmhouse to protect Dad.
Sliding behind the wheel with Alex beside me and two guards in the back, I slam my foot on the accelerator. Zayed’s voice crackles through my Bluetooth headset as I tear down the road toward our speedboat. We need to get back to Mumbai—fast.
“You know what I like about you, Vishnu?” Zayed muses over the call.
I check the rearview mirror, and my men confirm Abhay’s been notified. The speedometer climbs higher as we zoom ahead towards the jetty in Alibaug.
“I like that you take me so seriously... that you fear...” His voice turns venomous. “You fear losing your loved ones... just like I did once. I know that pain... that fear... It eats at you, doesn’t it? Even the mere thought of anything happening to them... it kills you a thousand times worse than the actual death itself, isn’t it?”
I drive like a madman, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. The connection crackles and Zayed’s voice breaks into static. Alex stiffens beside me, his tablet flashing something new.
Then, the line completely distorts.
“What’s happening?” I bark at Alex, my pulse quickening.
“His location is changing,” Alex mutters, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. “But he’s moving too fast—that’s impossible on land.”
My gaze flicks to the screen. The red dot is moving. Too fast. Too steady.
Then it hits me. The red dot is moving across the sea. My blood turns to ice as realisation sets in.
“F*ck, he’s AIRBORNE!” I roar, yanking the wheel into a sharp U-turn. “He’s coming for Dad! Call Ayaan—NOW. We need backup! ASAP!”
The words are barely out of my mouth when the connection stabilises again, and Zayed’s voice returns—he’s heard everything.
“That’s right. I’m coming for your dad, Pratap Walia, Vishnu.” Zayed’s voice drips with dark pride. “Six years! That’s how long I’ve waited for this revenge. Six years ago, you stormed into my house and took my father’s life. Remember what I told you? That within the next six days, I will come to your house and take your father away from you.
He gives a menacing pause, letting his words settle in. “So what if the house is not the Walia Mansion... so what if it’s from your getaway home—your Alibaug farmhouse…”
His laughter echoes eerily as I scream, “Don’t you dare touch my father!”
The line goes dead.
“Zayed!” I roar, but the call disconnects. My heart is hammering, instincts screaming at me to move faster—there’s no time to process, no time to think.
Two cars suddenly appear out of nowhere, boxing us in. Men lean out of the window with weapons drawn, and gunfire erupts.
“Get down!” I bark, jerking the wheel hard. The car swerves, and the tyres scream as bullets shatter the side windows. Cracks spread across the reinforced glass, but they thankfully don’t break, buying us precious seconds. Alex and my men return fire through the fractured spider webs of bullet holes while I ram our car into one of our attackers, trying to find a gap to escape.
The car jerks violently as a bullet grazes the rear wheel, throwing us off balance. Alex ducks instinctively, clutching the tablet with a death grip. “We can’t take much more of this!” he shouts, his voice filled with urgency.
My knuckles turn white on the wheel as I drive like a maniac, fighting to outmanoeuvre our attackers despite the bullets being fired at us.
This was Zayed’s masterplan.
He used Simran as a perfect distraction, knowing I’d drop everything to protect her. Now Dad is vulnerable, and I’m trapped in this speeding metal coffin, precious minutes ticking away while Zayed closes in on his real target.
I can literally hear Dad’s laughter from earlier, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he planned the event. I won’t let Zayed take that joy away. I won’t let him take my father.
The enemy car on my right rams into us hard. I grip the wheel tighter, slamming my foot on the accelerator. If I lose control now, we’re dead.
“Vishnu, we need to take them out now!” one of my men shouts, reloading his gun.
I don’t wait. I jerk the steering wheel, slamming the car into the one on my right. The impact is brutal—metal grinding, tyres screeching. Their SUV swerves wildly and smashes into the side barricades with a deafening crash. One down.
But the second car is relentless. It is still firing.
“Take the shot!” I command.
My man leans out, his gun aimed firmly, despite the chaos around him. A single shot hits the target—right into the second car’s front tyre. Their SUV skids, flipping out of control onto its side. The screech of metal and the shatter of glass fills the air as it rolls multiple times and then comes to a brutal stop.
I press the accelerator hard and escape from there.
Alex exhales sharply, still staring at the wreckage behind us.
“That was close,” he mutters.
But we’re not done yet.
I tap the Bluetooth button on my car dashboard, reconnecting to Ayaan.
“We need air support at the farmhouse. Now.”
“Already on it,” Ayaan responds. “We just got news—Zayed’s chopper was spotted heading toward Alibaug. Vishnu, listen carefully. He’s not alone.”
My grip tightens on the wheel. “How many?”
“At least twenty armed men. Possibly more.”
I inhale sharply. Twenty men. An ambush. A full-scale attack on the farmhouse. On Dad.
No.
Not today.
Not ever.
I slam my foot on the accelerator. “Tell Dad to take cover. We’re coming.”
“We can’t,” Ayaan says grimly. “We are not able to reach any phones. Neither your father’s nor your guards’. Nothing. Looks like their signals are jammed.”
“Damn,” I hit my palms angrily over the steering wheel, my frustration boiling over. My grip tightens as I steady myself, forcing my focus back on the road.
Zayed has made his move.
Now it’s my turn.
And I swear I will end him.
For good.
Suddenly, a fresh burst of gunfire rips through the air. This time, it hits the tyres of our vehicle. The call with Ayaan gets cut off abruptly as the car spins out of control, flipping with a sickening crash before coming to a halt—upside down!