Chapter 24 #2
‘You’re rich, but not very smart,’ Dhruv said before grabbing his throat.
The chain around his palm dug into Viraj’s carotid artery, and his bloodshot eyes widened with primal panic as he choked out, ‘Zero... six... one... zero.’
‘Got it!’ Vihaan yelled from the closet, and a second later, metal cracked sharply against the tile.
Dhruv tightened his grip for a moment, fury surging through him at the realisation that the bastard had used Kashvi’s birthday as the code. He loosened his hand just enough for Viraj to drag in a wheezing breath.
Viraj’s voice dripped with venom. ‘You fucking bastards! You have no idea who you’ve messed with. Whoever the hell you are, I’ll find you, and I’ll make sure you regret this.’
There were too many ways to hurt him. Too many ways to make him understand even a fraction of what he’d done. For one terrifying second, Dhruv wanted to do them all.
He squeezed Viraj’s neck again, reminding him who was in control. ‘You’re going to need better luck than that. But I genuinely hope you try.’
He glanced up to see Vihaan emerge from the closet. Dhruv’s vision was still blurry, but he caught him pointing at his watch, then at the door.
Time was running out.
Dhruv gestured for him to help with Viraj, who began thrashing harder the moment he felt two pairs of hands hauling him upright. They dragged him towards the bathroom while he kicked uselessly against the carpet, fighting them every step of the way.
‘Let me go! Who the hell are you people? Are you husbands or something to those girls?’
‘What did you just say?’ Dhruv asked coldly.
‘There’s always some desperate girl who thinks she can get back at me for fucking her over,’ Viraj said between ugly coughs, the cloth still obscuring his vision.
‘Watch it,’ Vihaan hissed.
Viraj laughed recklessly. ‘You think I don’t get it? You’re not here for money or gold. You came here to destroy my phone.’
Dhruv tensed, and he took confidence from the silence.
Viraj taunted, ‘Did your girls manipulate you into doing their dirty work? Let me tell you two things. One, I won’t let any of you get away with this. Two, no matter what they say, they loved it.’
‘Shut up!’ Vihaan warned, but Viraj only laughed harder, emboldened by his own cruelty.
‘What? Did I hit a nerve? Tell me their names. I might even remember them.’
‘Why do you care?’ Vihaan snapped.
The madness in Viraj’s voice was bone-chilling. ‘So I know which bitch to go after.’
Dhruv didn’t hesitate. Viraj’s manic laugh broke into a grunt as Dhruv slammed him hard against the bathroom door.
‘Are there more copies?’ Dhruv demanded.
Whatever bravado Viraj had clung to vanished instantly. ‘No!’
The chain clinked faintly as Dhruv punched the spot just beneath Viraj’s ribs. A shocked cry escaped him as he tried swinging back blindly, but Vihaan caught him from behind and locked his arms back.
‘That’s for my sister,’ Dhruv said through clenched teeth. ‘If you go anywhere near her again, if you even think about her, I won’t stop at this. I’ll bleed you to death slowly enough that you’ll have time to regret ever crossing paths with her.’
‘Why don’t you just say who she is, huh?’ Viraj sneered. ‘Or are you too ashamed to admit your sister’s a whore?’
Ice-cold fury settled over Dhruv’s senses.
‘You’re worrying about the wrong thing,’ he said, then gave Vihaan a nod. Vihaan immediately shoved the bathroom door open.
Dhruv relished the vicious satisfaction coursing through him as he said, ‘You shouldn’t be concerned about my sister. You should worry about your fiancée.’
Then he drove his knee up in one controlled motion, slamming it hard between Viraj’s legs.
An agonised scream tore out of Viraj, but Vihaan clamped a hand over his mouth to silence him.
The fight drained out of Viraj and he doubled forward in pain. Dhruv jerked him upright and patted his cheek. ‘Consider it an engagement gift from us. Have fun tonight.’
Together, they shoved Viraj into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. Vihaan gave a quick nod towards the main door.
They crossed the suite in long strides while Vihaan peeled off the gloves. Dhruv shut the suite door behind him and hung a Do Not Disturb sign on the handle.
He pushed his hands into his pockets, loosening the chain from around his fist. He took a deep breath, but it did nothing to slow the lingering rush of adrenaline. His whole body buzzed with it.
They turned the corner and spotted a young woman in a heavily embroidered lehenga that glittered under the lights with every step. The red fabric shimmered almost as brightly as her hair.
Her eyes lingered on them. Burgundy curls framed her face, her expression curious and faintly suspicious as she walked past.
Beside him, Vihaan asked loudly, ‘So, what are you getting your wife for her birthday tomorrow?’
‘Uh...’ Dhruv stammered. ‘I don’t know. Maybe a football or something.’
Vihaan made a strangled sound. ‘There’s still time. You can try a little harder.’
‘She might want to take up a new hobby,’ Dhruv muttered, embarrassed.
He waited two seconds before glancing over his shoulder just in time to see the woman turning towards Viraj’s suite.
His muscles tightened as he caught the same panic reflected in Vihaan’s gaze.
‘Our luck just ran out.’
Then they were running.
The corridor somehow seemed longer now. The service elevator stood at the far end, and Dhruv jabbed repeatedly at the call button. Through the blood rushing in his ears, he strained to hear a shout or cry for help.
A soft chime rang.
They rushed into the elevator, and the doors slid shut. Dhruv leaned against the metal wall with a relieved exhale.
Vihaan let out a long breath, dragging a hand through his hair. ‘I need to know. In what world does someone gift his wife a football for her birthday?’
‘You gave me two seconds to catch up with this fake wife and her birthday. That’s the best you get,’ Dhruv shot back.
‘Remind me never to rely on you for gifts,’ Vihaan muttered as they stepped out of the elevator.
The heavy exit door opened with a low creak, and cool night air hit them instantly. Their pace slowed into a jog through the basement parking lot towards Vihaan’s car.
Dhruv followed him, quickly sliding into the passenger seat. Vihaan drove out of the parking area and onto the long road ahead.
The hotel disappeared behind them in a blur of traffic, and Dhruv leaned back against the seat. ‘I’ve got to say, as stupid as your attempt was, that distraction worked. That woman was looking at us suspiciously.’
‘How else do you expect anyone to look at you?’ Vihaan asked.
Dhruv frowned. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
Vihaan adjusted the rearview mirror and angled it towards him with a quiet laugh. ‘See for yourself.’
Even in the dim light, Dhruv could make out the darkening bruise around his right eye. The skin was swollen, and a jagged cut above his eyebrow still bled faintly.
‘Okay, that makes sense. Guess I’m getting rusty,’ he said dryly.
‘I would say so,’ Vihaan chuckled. ‘I manage to knock you flat every time we spar.’
Dhruv shot him a look and flipped him off.
Vihaan shifted, keeping one hand on the wheel while reaching into his jacket pocket with the other. He handed over Viraj’s phone, or what remained of it.
The screen was webbed with cracks, the glass fractured beyond repair. Dhruv saw his bruised reflection staring back at him in uneven, jagged fragments.
‘You can tell Kashvi to relax now. We got it,’ Vihaan said with a faint smile.
Dhruv only hummed, letting his head rest against the seat as his hands trembled from the adrenaline crash. His ribs ached, and every small movement sent pain shooting up his arm. He could already feel a brutal migraine rolling in. Tomorrow would be worse.
And still, beneath it all, there wasn’t a trace of regret.
Maybe it wouldn’t change anything. Maybe she would still choose to push him away.
But maybe, just maybe, this would earn him a goodbye smile.
‘I can’t wait,’ Dhruv said quietly.