Sold to the Thakur's

"Devyani sitting on RIVAN's lap"

Sorry if I got a little hyper last time—it honestly wasn't meant for everyone. I only wanted to scold a few readers who were eating my brain, so please don't take it to heart. It wasn't for all of you.

And thank you so much for all the sweet and supportive comments—I read each and every one, and trust me, I was blushing like a total mess the whole day, lalalalala ???

Anyway, let's dive back into the story...

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SILENCE.

Not a pause.

Not a breath.

Just pure, nuclear-level silence.

Virendra Thakur's spoon stopped midair.

Payal's eyes went round.

Aditya choked on his water.

Aaradhya gasped, trying to hold in a laugh and a shriek.

Jinal's jaw dropped.

Even the servants looked up from the kitchen entrance like someone had fired a gun.

And Rivan...

His jaw clenched.

His hand, which had just moved toward the water glass, froze mid-motion.

His eyes snapped toward her—sharp. Piercing. Dangerous.

Devyani, still hiding half her face, flinched.

She quickly clarified, in her shivering voice—

"Dad....daddy"

Her innocent logic made a few cousins cough to hide their reaction.

Payal looked like she was going to faint trying not to laugh.

But Rivan's expression darkened.

Everyone at the table could feel the heat of his fury, like standing too close to a volcano just before it erupts. And yet... despite the danger, the corners of a few mouths twitched upward.

Who would have thought she—the quiet, scared Devyani—would ever throw such a word at the great Rivan Singh Thakur?

It was Virendra who finally broke the suffocating silence, his voice deceptively calm.

"Devyani... who taught you this word? And why are you calling him that?"

Her eyes darted nervously to Rivan, then quickly down to her plate. She hesitated, fumbling for courage before pointing—ever so subtly—with her gaze toward the very man now glaring at her like she'd signed her own death warrant.

And then, with a voice so innocent it was almost cruel, she murmured,

"He... only... told me... to call... him Daddy."

Every single person's eyes swung to Rivan.

That was it.

His chair scraped back with a violent screech, the sound grating against the marble floor like a warning siren. His breath came slow—too slow for comfort—and the muscles in his jaw pulsed as if holding back a storm.

Rivan's chair scraped against the floor with a sharp screech, the sound alone enough to make the air turn heavier.

He rose slowly, each movement taut with restrained rage, his towering frame casting a shadow across the table. His eyes—dark, unblinking—were locked on Virendra, but the venom in his voice cut through everyone.

"From where exactly did you bring this little... kid, Mr Thakur ?" he asked, the mockery in his tone dripping like acid.

His words weren't loud, but they were enough to make the room feel smaller, suffocating. "Do you—" he leaned forward slightly, jaw clenched, "—really think I have time for this... this circus? For these ridiculous... childish stunts?"

His gaze flicked toward Devyani for half a second, and though he didn't raise his voice, the weight behind it was lethal.

"Was this your idea of a wife for me? Someone who doesn't even know the meaning of the words she throws around? Or—" his lip curled in contempt, "—did you think I needed a joke to keep me entertained?"

The silence was so deep, the faint ticking of the antique wall clock echoed like a drumbeat.

He straightened, his eyes sweeping the table once, freezing each person in place.

"I don't have time for this nonsense," he said, voice now sharp as a blade. "And I will not sit here and play along with whatever pathetic... family drama you're trying to cook up."

With that, he pushed his chair back violently—it almost toppled—and strode out of the dining hall.

The heavy double doors banged shut behind him, the echo carrying his fury through the haveli like a warning that no one dared to follow.

As soon as the heavy wooden doors swung shut behind Rivan, the air in the dining hall shifted. The suffocating tension he'd left behind cracked like a dam—and in its place came a wave of laughter.

At first, it was just Jinal who let out a muffled giggle, quickly hiding her face in her dupatta.

Then Payal snorted, which made Rudraksh choke on his food.

Within seconds, the whole table was shaking with laughter.

Even the usually composed Virendra leaned back in his chair with a helpless shake of his head.

The more they tried to stop, the harder they laughed—some clutching their stomachs, others wiping tears from the corners of their eyes.

Jinal, still struggling to breathe, leaned across the table towards Devyani.

"Bhabhi... please... tell me exactly what he said to you," she managed, her voice trembling with amusement.

Devyani blinked, a little startled by the request.

"What he... said?" she asked, looking around the table as if to make sure she'd heard correctly.

"Yes!" Jinal nodded eagerly, biting her lip to keep from laughing again.

Devyani hesitated for a moment before repeating, in her soft, hesitant voice,

"He said... call me daddy, stupid girl... go and sleep"

That was it. The dam broke all over again.

Payal nearly fell off her chair from laughing, Rudraksh slammed his hand on the table so hard the spoons rattled, and Jinal bent over, gasping for breath.

"Oh God..." Payal wheezed, "No wonder he walked out like that!"

But Rudraksh wasn't done. Once he managed to compose himself enough to speak, he leaned back, smirking wickedly.

"Bhabhi... you don't stop. Keep calling him 'Daddy.' Only he will love it."

That set them all off again.

Meanwhile, Devyani sat in her chair, her fingers nervously twisting the end of her pallu. She glanced from one face to another, her wide eyes full of confusion. She didn't understand—what was wrong with that word?

In her mind, it was simply something he had told her to call him. Yes, he had said it with anger, but if he'd said it himself, surely it wasn't wrong, was it?

Her innocent eyes darted to the doorway Rivan had left through, still half-worried about his anger. But here everyone was, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world.

"Why are you all laughing?" she finally asked in a small voice, but that only earned her another round of giggles and knowing looks.

She lowered her gaze, deciding not to ask again. After all, if this was some strange Thakur household joke or... another ritual she didn't know about, she would rather keep quiet than embarrass herself further.

Unaware of the word's other meaning, Devyani just sat there, silently vowing to avoid speaking to Rivan for the rest of the day... if only to keep from making him angry again.

DEVYANI POV

my heart skipped. I glanced around the table—and froze.

Aditya... Reyansh...BHAIYYA

They weren't there.

Panic shot through me like a jolt of lightning.

No... no, no, no... what if...

The thought I'd been desperately avoiding clawed its way into my mind—What if he really killed them?

Before I could think, my chair scraped back. I didn't even hear the gasps or the questions from the table. My legs moved on their own, my chest tight, every beat of my heart pounding in my ears. I had only one mission—find my brothers.

The long corridor stretched ahead,intimidating, but I ran. The edge of my pallu clung stubbornly to my face, blocking my sight, making the world a blur. I didn't care—I kept running, each step heavy with dread.

And then—

Something hard stopped me mid-run. No... not something—someone.

I stumbled, ready to fall, but a strong grip caught my wrist in an unyielding hold. My breath caught as my head snapped up. His fingers were like steel, keeping me upright. I didn't even have to see clearly to know who it was.

The same man I'd been running from... now the only thing stopping me from crashing to the floor.

I let out a small gasp, my foot catching on the carpet, and I nearly fell. But before I could hit the floor, a hand caught my wrist—firm, warm, and unyielding.

My breath hitched. Slowly, I tilted my head up. My vision was still hazy from the pallu, but even without seeing clearly... I knew.

It was him.

Pati Parmeshwar ji.

The man whose voice could make my stomach knot in fear. The man everyone seemed to obey.

And now he was holding me still, like I was some runaway child he'd just caught.

My lips trembled, but no words came out. I didn't even know if I wanted to speak—part of me wanted to pull away, part of me wanted to ask a hundred questions at once.

But my throat stayed tight. My small fingers curled slightly in his grip, my heartbeat so loud I thought he might hear it.

Why the hell are you always on the urge to fall, haa?" Rivan's voice was harsh, his grip on her wrist like iron as if he was annoyed just by the sight of her stumbling.

Devyani's lashes fluttered, her breath catching in her throat. She swallowed hard, her trembling lips parting as the question that had been burning her chest finally slipped out in a fragile whisper—

"Where... where is Aditya bhaiya and Reyansh bhaiya? D-did you really... kill them?"

Her eyes were wide, glistening, filled with terror but still so heartbreakingly innocent. She wasn't accusing—she was begging for an answer. For mercy.

For a second, Rivan just stared at her, his sharp gaze cutting right through her naivety. Then his brows narrowed, his jaw tightening as though he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"Why the hell would I kill my own brother and best friend?" His tone dripped with venom, each word making her shrink further into her pallu.

And then—without warning—he yanked her closer by her small wrist, his eyes blazing with a cruel glint. His lips curved in a dangerous half-smirk.

"Yes," he hissed, his voice low, taunting, meant to pierce her fragile heart. "I killed them. Any problem? Now move from my side, always-clingy girl."

Her breath hitched, her body frozen. The world tilted beneath her feet.

But before she could even process his cruelty, his next words fell like a curse:

"And tonight—let me show you how this fucking daddy is."

He shoved her lightly aside and stormed away, his footsteps echoing like thunder down the corridor. Within seconds, the roar of his car split the silence as he drove off with reckless speed.

Devyani stood there, rooted to the ground, her whole body trembling violently. His words replayed in her head, stabbing over and over.

He killed them... bhaiya... Reyansh bhaiya...

Her chest ached so painfully that she pressed her palm against it, as though her tiny heart might shatter and spill out. Tears blurred her eyes, spilling fast as she whispered in disbelief, "No... no... they can't... they can't be dead..."

In that grand haveli, filled with power and pride, the little bride stood all alone—her soft world already crumbling piece by piece.

Her mind kept circling around the same thought—Did he really kill Aditya bhaiyya... and Reyansh bhaiyya? Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered to herself, "Nahi... nahi... woh aise kaise kar sakte hain? Unhe kuch ho gaya toh?"

The garden lamps flickered against her wet lashes as she stood there, not moving. And then, the loud growl of a car engine cut through her fear.

Headlights washed over her, blinding her for a second. She stepped back, covering her eyes with her palm, her heart racing in her throat. The black SUV screeched to a halt right before her, dust swirling around the garden.

The car door opened. Two figures stumbled out. Their hair was disheveled, shirts half-torn, bruises staining their skin, and exhaustion written all over their faces. For a moment, Devyani couldn't even breathe—her chest tightened, her knees almost gave up.

And then her eyes widened.

Devyani stood there in the middle of the garden, her tiny frame shaking as tears streamed endlessly down her face. The moment Aditya and Reyansh stepped out of the car, despite their bruises and exhaustion, both of them instantly forgot their own pain.

"Devyani?" Reyansh's voice broke with worry as he rushed toward her.

"Bhabhi? What happened? Why are you crying like this?" Aditya asked, reaching for her shoulder gently.

But Devyani didn't move. She was frozen, sobbing hard, her words barely making sense through hiccups. "Re...Reyansh bhaiyya... Aditya bhaiyya... died..." she whispered brokenly, choking on her tears.

Both men exchanged a baffled look, their confusion clear. They were right there in front of her, absolutely alive, though a bit battered.

"Who... who told you that? See—look at us, Devyani. We're standing right in front of you," Reyansh said, holding her arms softly.

But her teary eyes only widened more, her lips trembling as she shook her head.

"Now... now I am able to see your ghost..

. haan... aap dono mar gaye... why you both die?

I just got new brothers..." her voice cracked like that of a little girl, her sobbing becoming heavier.

"Now how can I live with that monster alone. .."

Reyansh's chest tightened, his lips curving into a faint, helpless smile at her innocence, but there was pain in his eyes too.

"Devyani... no," he whispered, brushing her tears with his thumb, "we are real, we're here."

But she refused to believe. Her small hands clutched her saree pallu tighter as she stumbled back a step. "No! You are not real! You are ghost... he... he killed you... daddy killed you!" she cried out, her whole body trembling.

At that word—daddy—both Aditya and Reyansh stilled. Their eyes met sharply, an unspoken question passing between them.

Aditya bent slightly to her level, his voice calm but serious. "Who, Devyani? Who is this... daddy? Who killed us?"

Her innocent, trembling lips quivered before she whispered through sobs, "That monster... the one I got married to... he killed you..."

For a moment, silence fell between the two men. And then, despite the heaviness of the situation, both couldn't help but exchange another look—half disbelief, half suppressed laughter. Daddy? Who in the world had taught her this word? And how could she so freely call Rivan of all people daddy?

Still, Reyansh gently shook her shoulders, pulling her closer, his tone more firm yet affectionate. "Devyani... listen to me. We are not ghosts. We are real. Your brothers are right here. Touch and see..."

But still, Devyani stubbornly shook her head, her tears refusing to stop. "No... no... you're ghosts... you are not real..." she whispered again and again, like a child lost in her own fear.

Finally, Reyansh sighed, caught her tiny trembling hand, and placed it against his cheek. "See? Touch me, Devyani... ghosts don't feel warm, do they?"

Hesitantly, she touched his face, then Aditya's arm, her fingers brushing their bruises. Her wide teary eyes blinked in disbelief. "You... you are alive?" she whispered. "You are not... ghost?"

"Nope," both of them answered together, a small grin tugging their lips.

Her breath caught, relief flooding her face, but the next words tumbled out innocently, her voice still shaky— "Daddy didn't kill you?"

That one sentence made both Aditya and Reyansh choke back their laughter. They glanced at each other, biting down grins, their exhaustion forgotten. The way she said daddy—so freely, so innocently—was too much.

Reyansh ruffled her head lightly. "No, Devyani... why would he kill us?"

Aditya added with a teasing smirk, "Haan, and if we don't go inside soon, your daddy will come again and give us more work."

Both burst out laughing, while Devyani only stood there confused, wiping her tears with the edge of her pallu, not understanding what was so funny about that word. All she felt was relief—that her brothers were safe, alive, right in front of her.

Both Aditya and Reyansh walked her inside, gently holding her arms on either side as if she was the most fragile thing in the world. Her face was wet with tears, pallu sticking to her damp cheeks, eyes red and swollen.

The moment they entered the hall, the entire family turned in shock. Plates were left untouched, conversations forgotten. Virendra rose from his seat immediately, his towering figure and sharp eyes pinning Reyansh and Aditya.

"Why is she crying?" he demanded, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade.

Reyansh, without hesitation, replied with a crooked smile, "Because her daddy tried to kill us, and she thought we are dead."

For a second, the hall froze. Then Virendra exhaled sharply, the sound almost like a growl, his jaw tightening. He muttered under his breath, "This boy must be on something..." His glare shifted briefly toward the door through which Rivan had stormed out earlier.

Turning back to Devyani, he softened his voice just a fraction, though his command was clear. "Devyani... stop calling him daddy, hmm? You can call him Rivan. It's better that way."

Devyani's lips trembled, as if she wanted to protest but was too small against the weight of his authority. All she could do was nod faintly, her lashes still damp.

Virendra bent slightly, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead—a gesture rare and tender from the Thakur—and without another word, strode out of the hall, leaving everyone stunned at the exchange.

Devyani sat quietly for a while, her big eyes darting from one face to another as the family chuckled and whispered among themselves. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the joke—her words, her innocence—but to her it was no joke at all.

Her mind was spinning restlessly. Not pati Parmeshwar ji... not daddy... then what should I call him? The thought tangled itself inside her head like a knot she couldn't undo. Every time she tried to think clearly, another voice of laughter echoed, making her cheeks burn hotter.

Jinal covered her mouth to hide a giggle, Payal exchanged mischievous glances with Rudraksh, and even Reyansh had that teasing smile lingering. Devyani's fingers twisted the edge of her dupatta nervously.

Finally, unable to bear the eyes on her and the laughter buzzing around like bees, she rose silently from her place.

Her small anklets jingled faintly as she hurried down the corridor, her pallu fluttering behind.

She only wanted to hide, to escape into the four walls of her room where nobody would laugh at her confusion.

Why is everyone laughing? What is so wrong in what I said? she wondered, her heart heavy. The more she thought, the more muddled it became. And with every step, her mind repeated the same question over and over—what should I call him?

She pushed open the door to his room and slipped inside, closing it softly behind her, her little world of confusion and innocence shutting away from the chuckles of the haveli.

It was past noon when the clatter of dishes echoed faintly from the kitchen.

Devyani stood at the entrance for a long moment, her small hands clutching the ends of her saree nervously.

The fragrance of ghee and spices lingered in the air, reminding her of home—but here, in Thakur Haveli, everything felt too grand, too polished, too alien.

When she stepped inside, Yashodha immediately noticed.

"Arrey, Devyani beta, what are you doing here? You don't need to come in, the cooks are already making lunch."

But Devyani shook her head, the stubbornness of a child flashing in her teary eyes. "No... I will make something. Please, let me..." She moved past, her tiny anklets chiming against the cold marble floor.

Yashodha tried again, softly this time, "Par bacche no one expects this from you. You are not a servant here, you are the daughter-in-law of this house."

But Devyani's heart didn't accept it. Her innocent mind whispered over and over—they're nice now... but what if they stop loving me later? What if they think I'm lazy? What if they hate me? That thought alone squeezed her chest painfully.

So, without answering further, she picked up a rolling pin with trembling fingers, her eyes fixed on the dough as though her entire dignity depended on this task. Her lips quivered, whispering under her breath, If I work, they won't hate me... they won't throw me away...

Her stubborn little form—draped in an oversized bridal saree, hair falling loose on her face, trying so hard to roll the roti straight but failing—looked almost heartbreakingly innocent.

Yashodha sighed deeply, her eyes moistening. She didn't stop Devyani this time.

Lunch was a quiet affair at first, but the moment everyone tasted the food Devyani had made, the atmosphere changed.

Smiles spread across faces, one after another, like ripples in water.

Even the elders, who rarely praised openly, gave soft nods of approval.

One by one, hands were raised in blessing.

"Khush raho, devyani" rekha said warmly.

"May you always bring sweetness in this house," added Amrita.

Before Devyani could even lower her gaze in gratitude, small boxes wrapped in colorful paper appeared in front of her. little tokens from each member of the family.

Her eyes widened in alarm. "N–No, please... I don't want... I can't take these..." She tried to push them back, her hands trembling, her voice breaking with sincerity. But no one listened. The gifts were placed near her, lovingly, stubbornly, until finally a servant carried them away to her room.

Devyani didn't even look at them again. Maybe they are forbidden... maybe I don't deserve them... what if touching them angers someone? she thought, her heart squeezing with confusion. For her, gifts were not treasures—they were unknown, heavy things, burdened with rules she did not yet understand.

Later, she spent time with Yashodha. The older woman's lap felt warm, her hands gentle as they caressed Devyani's hair.

For the first time in years, she felt something she had long forgotten—like a mother's comfort.

She closed her eyes, letting herself breathe, afraid that if she moved, the moment would vanish.

But soon, the sun sank, shadows stretched across the Haveli, and lamps began to glow in the corridors. The chatter of the house softened into night. With hesitant steps, Devyani walked back toward the room that was now hers—her heart heavy with confusion, her eyes flickering with unspoken fears.

Her fingers curled into her saree as she pushed the door open.

Inside, silence awaited her.

The silence... and him.

Devyani sat cross-legged on the giant couch her little fingers clutching the edge of her saree so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

The entire Haveli outside her room had gone silent.

Not a single laugh, no footsteps, not even the clinking of utensils in the kitchen.

Only the distant hoot of an owl now and then—and the rustle of the night wind slipping in through the balcony doors.

Her heart beat faster with every passing minute. Midnight was coming closer. Her "pati Parmeshwar ji," as she still thought of him, had stormed out earlier, and he hadn't returned yet. She was alone in this massive room that looked nothing less than haunted to her innocent eyes.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, trembling. What if one of those ghosts comes for me tonight? What if they don't like me sitting here in their place?

Her big eyes darted around the room. Every shadow seemed alive. The curtains swayed like a hand waving at her. The antique mirror in the corner gleamed faintly, and she almost convinced herself a pale face was watching from inside.

Still, she sat there, waiting. Waiting for the door to open. Waiting for her monster-husband to return. Waiting for the moment when her fear would no longer be of ghosts... but of him.

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Devyani PoV

I was sitting quietly in the room, hugging my knees, trying not to think about ghosts or that scary promise of night.

My mind went to the gifts everyone gave me during lunch.

They all smiled so much, so lovingly, and even though I didn't want to take them, they still forced me.

The boxes were still lying on the table, unopened.

Why not open now? I thought. Maybe it would make me less scared.

I picked the first small box—it had Aditya bhaiyya's name written on it.

Slowly I opened it and inside... there was a little key.

I frowned, then noticed a tiny toy car attached to it.

A car! My lips curved into a shy smile. Such a small thing, but so pretty.

I held the car between my fingers, rolling its tiny wheels, and my heart danced.

I'll play with this car later... I never got to play with toys like this before. .. It felt like a dream coming true.

Then I took Reyansh bhaiyya's box. Another key.

.. but this one had a little house hanging with it.

My eyes lit up instantly. "House!" I whispered softly.

My heart filled with excitement. Now I can play ghar-ghar with this!

A house and a car, both are mine now! I giggled softly, hugging both the keys as if they were treasures.

Then came Dadi's gift. I carefully opened it and inside was a pair of gold-colored bangles.

They sparkled in the lamp light, looking so shiny and heavy.

I loved bangles, but I tilted my head and thought, I don't like gold color much.

.. maybe tomorrow I'll tell Dadi to give me another color. Why waste this one?

For the first time in the day, a little laughter bubbled in my chest. I touched the car, the house, and the bangles, feeling like a child with new toys. In my little innocent world, these weren't just gifts... they were pieces of a happiness I had never known before.

Next, I picked up the gift from sweet uncle. I was excited—maybe it was something soft to eat, like laddoos or chocolates. But when I opened it, my smile slowly faded. Inside... there were papers. Just plain papers.

I blinked and touched them carefully. Paper?

But why would uncle give me paper? For a second, my lips pouted.

Then I thought maybe... maybe it was for studies.

Yes, everyone always says girls should study, maybe uncle wanted me to read.

But when I looked closely, I saw so many words already written inside—long words, short words, sentences I couldn't understand.

I tilted my head in confusion, murmuring to myself, Maybe it's for learning.

.. maybe he wants me to practice... A small sigh escaped me.

I didn't know what it really meant, but I remembered uncle's words—keep it carefully.

So I folded the papers neatly, hugging them to my chest, and whispered, "Okay uncle. .. I'll keep them safe."

Then my eyes fell on Maa's gift. My heart beat a little faster—because something from her felt so special, like a real maa's love. I carefully unwrapped it and inside... oh! My eyes widened in pure amazement.

It wasn't jewelry. It wasn't clothes. It was a soft, hand-stitched cloth doll, with tiny earrings sewn on its ears and a small red bindi on its forehead. The doll wore a mini lehenga just like mine. I gasped loudly, covering my mouth with both hands.

A doll! A real doll just like me! My eyes stung with tears, but this time they were happy ones. "Maa..." I whispered, stroking the doll's hair. Nobody had ever given me a toy like this. She even smelled like Maa's perfume—as if Yashodha Maa wanted to give me a piece of her warmth to keep beside me.

I pressed the doll to my chest tightly and rocked a little, as if hugging a baby. For the first time since I entered this haveli, I felt something I had never felt before—belonging.

But even after opening all those gifts... my heart wasn't fully happy. I kept looking at the small doll in my lap and the toy car on the side, yet something felt incomplete.

Because somewhere inside me... I wanted him to eat the food I made today. I wanted him to smile even a little. And I wanted him to gift me something too—not because I like gifts, but because I thought maybe... maybe then he wouldn't hate me so much.

But I already know the truth. He hates me. More than anyone in this world.

If I go to him, if I try to talk, he won't smile... he'll probably kill me. My tiny fingers clenched around the doll's dupatta as my eyes welled up. Why would he ever want to give me anything? I am nothing to him—only a burden forced into his life.

Still, my foolish heart whispered softly—what if he didn't hate me so much? What if, just once, he ate the food I made?

But no. I shook my head quickly, wiping the tears that rolled down. No, Devyani... don't think like this. He is dangerous, and you are small. If you go near him, he might get angry again. And when he gets angry, it feels like the whole haveli shivers.

So, I pulled the blanket over me, hugging Maa's doll tightly. "It's okay... you are my gift," I whispered to the doll, pretending she could listen. But deep down, a tiny wish kept beating inside me—maybe one day... my pati ji will give me a gift too.

Then I thought... these gifts are too precious, I should keep them safe somewhere. But where? My small cupboard was already full with the few clothes they gave me. And his side of the room... that's forbidden. I can't touch anything that belongs to him. That's his place, not mine.

Still, I slowly walked around, tiptoeing as if someone would scold me for even thinking like this. My eyes searched for a small, empty corner. And then I found it—a drawer. Actually, there were so many drawers, some completely empty.

For a second, I hesitated. What if he finds out and gets angry? What if he thinks I stole something? My chest tightened at the thought. But then I hugged my gifts close to my chest and whispered softly to myself, "No... I'll just keep them safe here. Not to steal, only to keep safe."

So, I carefully opened one drawer, placed the toy car, the tiny house, the doll, and the papers one by one. My fingers lingered on each of them, as if they were treasures.

When I closed the drawer gently, I felt a strange relief. "Now no ghost or monster can take you away from me," I told the gifts softly with a tiny smile.

But still, in the back of my mind, one fear kept whispering—if he finds out... will he take them away too?

Finally, after hiding my little treasures safely inside the drawer, I spread my small sheet on the floor and tried to sleep. My eyes were heavy, but my heart was not ready. The whole haveli was silent, so silent that even my own breathing felt too loud.

Then suddenly—ROAR!

I froze. My heart jumped into my throat. My tiny hands clutched the edge of my saree as I whispered to myself, "G–ghost? Did ghost come? But... they don't enter the room, right? But pati ji said room is safe..."

But again, the same sound came, louder this time, echoing through the walls. My heart began to beat so fast it hurt. "Oh no... oh no... this is not normal," I muttered, my lips trembling.

Curiosity and fear started fighting inside me. What if it was really a ghost? Maybe if I talk nicely... maybe he will spare me? Maybe ghosts also get lonely and just need someone to listen? My childish mind made me believe that if I negotiated with the ghost, he might let me live.

So, with trembling steps, I lifted my saree properly over my head and tiptoed outside. The corridor was dark and long, the air heavy, my anklets making tiny sounds that felt too loud in the silence.

But there was no one there. The corridor looked empty. Yet the sound... it came again. Deep, terrifying, but not like a ghost's whisper—it was a growl. A growl that came from the far end of the corridor.

My eyes widened as I whispered, "W–why ghost sounding like... like animal?"

Still, my feet carried me forward, slowly, towards the place where the sound was coming from.

I went slowly... one tiny step at a time, holding my dupatta tightly like it could protect me. My little feet made soft taps on the cold floor. Then I noticed... one room at the very end was open. The light inside was off, darkness swallowing the whole place.

Still, my feet didn't listen to my scared heart—they just kept moving. It was like they already knew the way. "Why am I walking here? Why, Devyani, why?" I scolded myself under my breath, but still... I went.

As soon as I entered, the light above suddenly flickered ON.

I gasped loudly and clutched my chest. "Ohhh wowww!

Am I having magic?" My eyes sparkled despite my fear.

"Devyani, you have power... yes... power like flying people in movies!

" I spun in a little circle, half forgetting my fear for a moment.

A giggle escaped me. "Now nobody can scare me. .. I'm magical!"

But then...

A sound.

A low, deep sound... right next to my ear.

My smile vanished instantly. My throat went dry. I gulped so loudly I thought even the ghost could hear. The sound wasn't far... it was so close, so close that the hairs on my neck stood up.

My hands started trembling. "D–did I enter ghost territory?" I whispered to myself, barely able to breathe.

I forced myself to turn. Very, very slowly. My dupatta brushed against my cheek as I turned my head, heart thudding so hard it hurt.

This was it. My last moment. The ghost would kill me now, for entering his secret room.

My lips moved in a shaky prayer, "Bye world... Devyani is going to die..."

I turned... and my whole body froze.

There was a giant. A giant big... big... BIG... black... creature. My eyes went round as laddus. "Ohhh babaaaa re..." I whispered.

A dog.

A big... black... angry... dog!

His eyes glowed at me like two lanterns in the night, and his chest rumbled with such anger that my knees knocked together.

Dead. I was officially dead.

"I hate dogs..." I whispered, trembling. "They bark... they bark soooo loudly that whole night becomes torture! And they... they bite too. Yes! They bite villagers' boys... I heard it from Raghu bhaiyya!" My lips wobbled as tears filled my eyes.

I tried to step back quietly, slowly, but the monster-dog took two big steps forward.

"Please... please don't kill me," I whispered to him with folded hands. "I'll... I'll even give you my toys, promise..."

But instead of becoming my friend, he opened his massive jaw and let out a ROARRRRR—so loud that my soul left my body for a second.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" I screamed so loud even the walls shook.

And then... I ran.

I ran with all the power my tiny feet had, my anklets jingling like alarm bells.

But the demon-dog wasn't done.

He ran too. Behind me. His paws thundering like drums of death.

"Daddy save meeeee!" I screamed, tears flying from my eyes as I sprinted.

The corridor suddenly became the longest road in the world. My breath was burning, my heart hammering, and I cried louder, "Pati ji's room is sooooo far! Till then... till then I'll be eaten alive by this dog! Haaaye Devyani... today is your last day!"

The long corridor echoed with Devyani's terrified scream, her anklets clinking like frantic bells of doom as she ran blindly. Behind her, the thunder of paws grew louder, shaking her very soul. Her heart screamed only one thing—survive.

And then, in that desperate moment, she saw a shadow at the far end. A man. A presence. A savior—or perhaps another danger. But her trembling mind didn't stop to think.

With every ounce of fear, she leapt forward.

She collided into someone's chest with such force that even his strong frame stumbled back. In blind terror, she clutched him, nails digging through fabric, arms locked around him like iron chains, her body trembling violently.

That someone... was none other than Rivan Singh Thakur.

Rivan, the man who never allowed a soul to touch him, the man whose very presence commanded distance. Yet here he was, staggering backwards, almost falling from the sudden impact.

And before he could steady himself, the impossible happened.

He actually fell, his tall frame hitting the floor with a heavy thud—his cold pride momentarily shattered by the sheer desperation of the girl clinging to him.

On top of him, Devyani buried her face into his chest, sobbing, shaking uncontrollably, her fists fisted into his shirt as though letting go meant certain death. Her voice broke into raw screams, muffled against him, "Save me! Save me! Don't let him eat me!"

For a man who despised even the faintest touch of a woman, Rivan Singh Thakur found himself frozen. Not from disgust... not from rage... but from the unfamiliar weight of a fragile body trembling against him, clutching him as if her life depended on it.

For the first time, Rivan didn't know whether to push her away... or to hold her tighter.

Her fragile frame pressed against him as though she had merged with his very body.

She refused to budge, clenching him tighter with every shiver of fear.

Her long dark hair spilled wildly across his face, carrying a raw, innocent scent he had never allowed himself to notice in anyone.

The tickle of those strands, the warmth of her breath against his neck—it was all far too close, far too dangerous.

The once untouchable Rivan Singh Thakur lay pinned beneath the most delicate creature he had ever seen, and for the first time, he didn't immediately shove her away.

Her small hands clutched his shirt desperately, her entire trembling frame sprawled across his chest as if his heartbeat was the only anchor keeping her alive. The closeness was suffocating, and yet, strangely grounding.

Rivan let out a low exhale, tilting his head back against the floor. His eyes flickered over her pale, terrified face hidden in his chest. He could hear her heart hammering, feel the uneven rhythm against him.

Finally, with that trademark composure that could chill anyone to their bones, he drawled—voice calm, edged with irony yet strangely soft:

"Now tell me... do you plan on standing up anytime soon? Or is your grand idea to sleep on me like this the whole night?"

His words weren't harsh, nor mocking as usual. Instead, there was a quiet patience in them—a man who knew she was terrified yet still refused to let his own vulnerability slip through.

"Nope!" she sobbed stubbornly, refusing to move an inch. "He's going to eat me... "

Her small fists clutched his shirt tighter, soaking the fabric with her tears until the chill reached his skin. Rivan exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening as he tried to steady his own control.

"If you won't get up," he warned in a low, stern voice, "then I'll eat you myself."

That made her flinch and instantly lift her trembling face. Her body shifted suddenly, settling right into his lap while he was still lying flat on the floor.

Her eyes were swollen red, her nose just as red from crying—like a terrified child, yet with an innocence that pierced something deep within him.

"You... also going to eat me?" she whispered, her lips quivering.

Rivan's gaze lingered on her—too close, too vulnerable, too dangerous. His throat bobbed as he forced a smirk that came out darker than he intended.

"Hmm," he murmured, voice husky, "you look... delicious to me now."

She shifted slightly, innocently adjusting herself on his lap, but that tiny move sent a sharp jolt through his core, a shiver running straight into his abdomen. His fists clenched against the floor. She had no idea what danger she was creating just by being near him.

Rivan gulped hard, pushing down the heat threatening to rise. He snapped, his voice rougher than before, laced with a warning—

"Get the fuck out."

But Devyani, in her stubborn fear, shook her head violently, tears streaming.

"No! See... your haveli has a big dog roaming around," she cried, voice breaking, "he will eat me!"

Her sobs echoed down the silent corridor. And Rivan Singh Thakur, the man who never allowed anyone close, was left with her trembling body in his lap, her fear chaining him down in a way he had never imagined.

"Big dog?" Rivan's voice was half incredulous, half irritated. His sharp eyes narrowed at her. "Are you serious right now... big dog?"

He exhaled heavily, already knowing the truth behind the sound. But before he could even speak more, Devyani's wide, terrified eyes darted toward the corridor again.

The noise came once more—deep, rumbling, almost like a growl. Her body stiffened instantly.

And before Rivan could react, she launched at him again, clutching his neck so tightly that the sheer force dragged him backward. His back hit the floor with a hard thud.

Her face buried itself into the crook of his neck, trembling violently as though that fragile hideout would somehow save her from being torn apart.

Her muffled whisper tickled against his skin, broken with sobs—

"He'll eat me... h-he'll eat me..."

Rivan froze. Her warm breath fanned over his throat, her trembling body pressed to his chest. The scent of her hair, the innocence of her blind trust—it all messed with his senses.

His jaw flexed, fighting himself. Every muscle in his body screamed to push her away, yet his arms moved on their own, steadying her tiny frame against him as if shielding her.

The mighty Rivan Singh Thakur, who had never tolerated a woman's touch, lay on the cold floor of his haveli with a trembling Devyani wrapped around him like his very life depended on her.

Devyani blinked up at him with her wide, tear-glazed eyes. Her lips trembled as she stammered, voice barely above a whisper—

"W... where?"

For a moment, Rivan just stared at her, the innocence of her question hitting him like a punch he wasn't prepared for. His jaw clenched, but his tone came out deep and commanding, each word cutting the air—

"Kisses are meant for lips... not for cheeks."

Her eyes flew wide, her breath hitched.

The meaning of his words dawned on her, and in an instant, her cheeks turned crimson. She jerked her face back, shaking her head furiously.

"Chiii... gande bacche!"

(Eww... dirty boy!)

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