chapter 61
The next morning…
Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains as Ishni slowly woke up. She blinked a few times, still half-asleep, and instinctively turned to the side of the bed.
“Rudra?” she called softly.
No answer.
She sat up and looked around the room. The blanket on his side was untouched.
Her heart gave a small uneasy beat.
“Rudra?” she called again, a little louder this time.
She quickly got out of bed and checked the bathroom.
Empty.
For a moment she just stood there, confusion slowly creeping in.
Where did he go this early?
She stepped out of the room and was about to go downstairs when something caught her attention.
Through the slightly open balcony doors… she saw a figure.
Rudra.
He was standing there quietly.
Ishni slowly walked toward the balcony.
When she stepped outside, she paused.
Rudra was gently watering the white rose plant Tara had brought for her—the same plant Tara had gifted her after she lost her child.
The delicate white petals swayed slightly in the morning breeze.
Rudra carefully poured water into the pot, his movements slow and thoughtful, as if the tiny plant was something fragile… something important.
For a moment Ishni just stood there watching him.
Her chest softened at the sight.
Quietly taking care of a flower meant to heal her heart.
Rudra sensed her presence behind him.
Even before she spoke, he knew she was there.
He slowly turned around.
“Good morning, jaan,” he said softly.
Ishni walked straight toward him without saying anything and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
“I thought you went somewhere,” she murmured against his chest.
Rudra smiled faintly and gently kissed her forehead.
“Where will I go leaving you, hmm?” he said in a warm voice.
Ishni stayed there for a moment, holding him as if reassuring herself that he was really there.
Then her eyes moved to the flower pot.
“Since when did you start doing gardening?” Ishni asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him.
Rudra glanced at the small white rose plant and then back at her.
“I’m not doing gardening,” he replied calmly.
Ishni crossed her arms slightly. “Then what is this?”
Rudra stepped closer to her, his eyes soft but his voice steady.
“I’m doing it because it makes my wife happy.”
For a moment, Ishni didn’t say anything.
Her lips curved into a small smile, but her cheeks turned slightly pink.
“Rudra…” she murmured.
He leaned a little closer, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“If watering a thousand plants makes you smile,” he said quietly, “then I’ll plant a whole garden.”
Ishni looked at him, her eyes shining with warmth.
Time Skip
Ishni was sitting in her cabin, quietly going through a stack of files. The room was calm except for the soft sound of papers turning and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Her eyes moved carefully across the documents, her mind focused.
Just then the door opened.
Vijay walked in quickly, his face serious.
“I have a very urgent piece of information,” he said.
Ishni immediately looked up from the files. “What is it?” she asked, her tone alert.
Vijay stepped closer to the desk and placed a small envelope in front of her.
“Tonight there’s going to be a private party at this place,” he said, pointing to the address printed on the invitation. “And I’m damn sure… the people involved in the attack and the person behind all of this will be there.”
Ishni’s eyes sharpened instantly.
“This is the perfect chance,” she murmured, leaning back slightly as she thought.
Then a small problem crossed her mind.
“But how will I go inside?” she asked. “These kinds of parties don’t just let anyone walk in.”
Vijay gave a faint smile.
“I already thought about that,” he said.
He slid the envelope toward her.
“I have this invitation.”
“But how did you get this invitation?” Ishni asked, picking up the elegant black card and examining it carefully.
Vijay leaned back slightly, a faint confident smile appearing on his face.
“Mrs. Rajput,” he said calmly, “I’m an officer. I have my own ways.”
Ishni looked at him for a moment before nodding slightly.
“Well… great then,” she said. “Are you coming as well?”
Vijay’s expression changed slightly.
“I’m sorry,” he replied. “But I need to be somewhere else tonight.”
Ishni frowned a little. “Somewhere else?”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “If the person behind all this is really attending that party, then someone has to stay outside and keep an eye on everything. If something goes wrong inside… you’ll need backup.”
Ishni thought for a moment before nodding.
“Alright,” she said.
She looked down at the invitation again, her mind already planning the night ahead.
Tonight…
She might finally come face to face with the person who dared to attack Rudra.
--------
Rudra was inside his office, pacing back and forth like a caged predator. His footsteps were heavy, the tension in the room almost suffocating.
Every few seconds his jaw tightened, his mind clearly running through possibilities.
Vipul stood a few steps away, watching him carefully.
“Boss… what have you decided?” Vipul finally asked.
Rudra stopped walking.
For a moment he looked out through the large window, the city stretching far below.
Then he spoke.
“I’ll go,” he said calmly.
Vipul frowned slightly. “Boss—”
“I want to know who is behind all this,” Rudra continued, his voice steady but firm.
Vipul stepped forward. “But boss… it could be a trap.”
Rudra slowly turned toward him.
“I don’t care.”
His eyes darkened.
“They already attacked once,” he said coldly. “Which means they won’t hesitate to do it again.”
Silence fell between them.
Rudra slipped his jacket on, his movements slow but decisive.
“This time,” he added quietly,
“I’ll be the one waiting for them.”
--------
Ishni sat at her desk, the invitation still in her hands. Her eyes moved across the elegant golden letters printed on the card, her mind already planning how she would move once she entered the party.
Just then her phone rang.
She picked it up without looking at the caller ID.
“Hello?”
The person on the other side said something. Within seconds, Ishni’s expression changed.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She didn’t speak for a moment… just listened carefully.
Then she slowly nodded.
“Okay… I understand,” she said quietly.
The call ended.
For a few seconds she remained still, the phone still in her hand as she processed what she had just heard.
Vijay noticed the sudden change in her expression.
“What happened?” he asked.
Ishni placed the phone down on the desk and looked at him.
“I won’t be able to go tonight,” she said.
Vijay’s brows immediately furrowed.
“Wait… why?” he asked, surprised.
Ishni looked away for a moment, her face turning serious.
“Just… something important came up,” she replied.
---------
Night fell.
Far outside the city, away from the noise and lights, stood a large private estate. From the outside, it looked completely silent dark gates, tall walls, and guards posted at every corner.
No one passing by could guess what was happening inside.
But inside…
A private party was in full swing.
The hall was filled with powerful men businessmen, politicians, and people whose names were never spoken in public records.
Expensive suits, glasses of whiskey, low conversations, and quiet laughter filled the room.
Yet beneath the luxury, there was something darker in the air.
Among the crowd stood Karan.
He leaned casually against the bar, a glass in his hand, his expression relaxed but his eyes constantly scanned the room.
Just then his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled it out and looked at the screen.
A message had appeared.
“Ishni Oberoi will not come to the party.”
Karan read it once.
Then again.
A slow smirk appeared on his lips.
Without reacting much, he locked his phone and slipped it back into his pocket.
“So…” he murmured under his breath.
“She didn’t come.”
But there was no disappointment on his face.
Inside the grand hall, everyone was wearing masks. Elegant black and silver masks covered every face, hiding identities completely.
No one could tell who stood behind which mask whether a businessman, a criminal, or someone far more dangerous.
The dim golden lights, the slow music, and the quiet murmurs of conversation created an atmosphere full of secrecy.
This was not a place where people revealed themselvesthis was a place where people hid.
Among the crowd moved a woman dressed in a long black gown.
Her hair was open, flowing smoothly down her back, and a sleek black mask covered the upper half of her face, leaving only her sharp eyes visible.
She walked slowly through the hall, her steps calm yet observant, blending perfectly with the mysterious atmosphere of the party.
She didn’t stay in one place for long. Instead, she roamed from one corner to another, her gaze carefully studying the people around her.
Every masked face, every whisper, every suspicious movement caught her attention. To anyone watching, she looked like just another guest enjoying the party, but her eyes told a different story.
She wasn’t there for the music, the drinks, or the company.
She was there to find someone.
The woman in the black gown moved quietly through the crowd, her steps careful as she followed a certain direction.
Her sharp eyes were fixed ahead, watching a man walking toward the far end of the hall.
Karan.
He walked confidently through the masked crowd, unaware that someone had been carefully tracking his movements for the past few minutes.
But something about the silence behind him suddenly felt… different.
Karan slowed his steps.
A strange instinct crawled up his spine.
He turned around.
His eyes scanned the crowd behind him.
Masked faces. People laughing. Glasses clinking.
At the same moment—
Before the woman could react, a strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her sharply to the side.
She barely had time to understand what was happening before she was dragged inside a nearby dark room.
The door shut quietly.
Outside, Karan continued observing the crowd for a few seconds.
When he found nothing unusual, he gave a faint dismissive scoff and turned back around.
Completely unaware that someone had been following him just moments ago.
And that the person had just disappeared.
--------
Back at the mansion, the entire place felt unusually quiet.
It was late at night, and Tara was sitting alone in the living room, the television playing in front of her. The light from the screen flickered across the large hall, making the empty space feel even more silent.
She held the remote in her hand but her attention wasn’t really on the TV.
Her brows slowly frowned.
“Where did everyone go?” she murmured to herself.
The mansion felt too empty.
Even the staff had left.
She had tried calling Vipul earlier, but he hadn’t picked up.
“Even Vipul isn’t answering the call,” she muttered, slightly annoyed.
Her eyes moved toward the large glass window beside the hall.
Outside the mansion, she could see several guards standing around the property.
“Why are there so many guards outside?” she thought, feeling slightly confused.
Just then—
A hand suddenly tapped her shoulder from behind.
“AAH!”
Tara jumped from the couch in pure shock, nearly dropping the remote.
Behind her, a man burst out laughing.
It was Vipul.
“Darr gayi?” he said, still chuckling at her reaction.
Tara clutched her chest dramatically, glaring at him.
“VIPUL!” she yelled. “Tum pagal ho kya?!”
Her heart was still racing.
“Do you have any idea how scared I just got?!” she said angrily.
Vipul raised both hands in surrender, still smiling.
“Okay, okay… relax,” he said.
But Tara was still glaring at him like she might throw the remote at his head.
Vipul came and sat beside her on the couch, still smiling at her dramatic reaction. Tara, however, crossed her arms and pouted, turning her face slightly away from him.
“Okay, sorry,” Vipul said, raising his hands a little in surrender.
Tara glanced at him from the corner of her eye but didn’t say anything.
Then suddenly her curiosity returned all at once.
“Vaise jiju kaha hai?” she asked quickly. “Aur didi bhi nahi aayi? Aur itne saare guards bahar kyun hain?”
The questions came out one after another without a pause.
Vipul blinked and stared at her for a second before shaking his head with a small laugh.
“My love… breathe for a moment,” he said, leaning back against the couch. “Itne saare sawaal toh police bhi nahi poochti.”
Tara crossed her arms immediately.
“Oh really?” she said. “Then start answering before I actually call the police.”
Vipul chuckled softly, shaking his head at her dramatic tone.
“Drama queen,” he muttered under his breath.
But deep inside… he knew she was asking the exact questions he was trying to avoid answering.
“Arre… boss had some important meeting,” Vipul said casually, trying to sound normal. “And as for ma’am… I don’t know about her. Maybe she’s busy with some work.”
Tara stared at him suspiciously.
Vipul quickly continued before she could ask more.
“And about the guards…” he added, pointing toward the windows, “someone attacked boss recently, right? That’s why security has been increased.”
Tara’s expression softened slightly as she remembered the incident.
“Oh…” she murmured.
For a moment she stayed quiet, processing it.
“Still,” she said after a second, narrowing her eyes again, “something feels weird.”
Vipul forced a small smile.
“Nothing weird,” he said quickly. “You’re just overthinking.”
Tara studied his face carefully, as if trying to catch him lying.
Vipul leaned back into the couch, pretending to focus on the TV.
But inside…
he was hoping she wouldn’t ask any more questions.
--------
The moment the woman was dragged inside the room, she violently jerked her hand free from the grip holding her.
She immediately turned around.
In front of her stood a tall man dressed completely in black. Just like everyone else at the party, he was wearing a mask that hid most of his face. Only his eyes were visible through the dark fabric.
Sharp. Intense.
“Who the hell are you?” she snapped, her voice filled with warning.
The man didn’t answer.
Instead, he slowly took a step forward.
But before he could move any closer, the woman reacted instantly.
In one swift motion, she placed one foot on the nearby table. The slit in her black gown opened along her thigh, revealing a concealed holster strapped to her leg.
Within a second, she pulled out a gun.
The metallic click echoed in the silent room as she pointed it straight at him.
“Don’t move,” she said coldly.
The barrel of the gun was now aimed directly at his chest.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The dim light of the room fell across their masked faces.
And a tension in the air that could explode at any second.
“one more step !” she snapped, tightening her grip on the gun. “and I’ll shoot you!”
Her voice echoed sharply in the dim room, filled with pure warning.
But instead of reacting with fear…
The man chuckled.
A low, amused sound escaped from behind his mask, as if the situation in front of him was somehow entertaining.
The woman’s eyes narrowed instantly.
“Did you just laugh?” she said dangerously, the gun still pointed directly at his chest.
The man tilted his head slightly, studying her.
Then, completely calm, he spoke.
“Can I marry you?”
For a moment…The room went completely silent. The woman blinked, clearly not expecting that answer.
Her finger tightened slightly on the trigger.
“Are you insane?” she said in disbelief.
But the man only leaned casually against the wall, completely unfazed by the gun aimed at him.
“Maybe,” he replied lazily. “But a woman who pulls a gun this fast… definitely deserves a proposal.”
His eyes held a teasing glint behind the mask.
“And honestly,” he added, glancing at the weapon in her hand, “I think this is the most romantic way someone has ever threatened me.”
“You fucking bastard!” she snapped, her patience finally snapping.
Before he could react, she reached forward, trying to rip the mask off his face.
But he was faster.
In one swift motion, he grabbed her wrist.
The gun slipped slightly from her aim as he pulled her sharply toward him. Before she could react, he twisted her arm behind her back and turned her around.
Her back collided against his chest.
The sudden movement knocked the air from her lungs.
“Leave me!” she demanded, struggling against his grip.
But his hold tightened.
One of his hands locked her wrist firmly behind her back while the other rested dangerously close to her waist, keeping her completely trapped against him.
She could feel the warmth of his breath near her ear.
Her heart started beating faster part anger, part something she couldn’t name.
For a moment he said nothing.
Then he leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped to a soft whisper right beside her ear.
“Jaan…” he murmured.