Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Advik
“Do you understand?” Viraj asks me, sitting across from me on the armchair like he belongs in this house. My house.
Greesha has gone off to pick Dev up from his place. For the past week, since we returned from the wedding, my apartment has been ground zero for the plan of attack.
I thought all four of us were in this together. Me, Greesha, Dev, and this old-ass Viraj.
But I was wrong. So incredibly wrong that now, I’m told I have no choice but to hide Viraj’s twisted proposal from my woman.
Yes. My woman. That’s who she is. No matter what. Regardless of the long, tortured glances Viraj throws her way—she’s mine.
Even if I can never have her. Even if she decides to leave my life—for good—after this mission.
She’s mine as I’m hers.
But as I replay what Viraj has told me. So tactfully in the absence of Greesha, I fear she wouldn’t have to leave me to find peace.
I’d probably be leaving her first.
Because I have been placed as bait according to Viraj. A well-behaved dog—a pawn—who would be making the dire mistake of talking to authorities about Mehul’s hidden operations.
Apparently, I will have discovered his indiscretions, and will decide to report it to the CBI. Even though the CBI isn’t involved—it will give Mehul enough of a reason to escalate and fall into the semi-weak trap we have laid out.
Fuck. Not we. Viraj.
The low stakes client—Madani Academy—will be the main bait. They’re a small group of distributed educational institutions that serve around 12000 students across Delhi. They also have the highest rate of suicide, unfortunately. Perfect bait. Not as weak as our earlier suggestions. But risky enough.
All I have to do is meet a man named Anil Khurana. The dreaded moniker of CBI. Feared. Revered even. And tell him about other clients Mehul has tried to access—in addition to my volunteer work at Sunrise Homes and my suspicions about his shady activities.
I have to lay all my cards on this incendiary table as a part of my foolish, sacrificial, pre-meditated act.
And apparently, Greesha shouldn’t be given a clue about this minuscule ten-minute meeting. Because as he suspects—she’d object.
Now, if I know anything about Greesha’s feelings for me—which isn’t much—is that she does not want me to endanger myself. I can’t afford another fucking throat punch.
But I also can’t have her blindsided by this. Something about Viraj suggesting it in her absence has my hackles rising. I don’t like that the man has found the perfect escalation for trapping Mehul and has me put on the frontline.
His discreet plan also indicates that he knows Greesha wouldn’t agree to this.
“I’ll meet him,” I finally agree, casually. “But Aadya can perhaps accompany me. She’s my security detail, after all.”
I say Aadya because I don’t want him thinking that I’ve found it easier to call her Greesha these past few months. Aadya is my subtle shield.
His jaw clenches. “I think it’s best if she isn’t given the visibility over this part of the mission. She’s... going to act emotionally about this. I doubt—”
“Act... emotionally? Viraj, I’m her mark. She’s assigned to protect me. Of course, she’ll have an issue with this.”
My retort is met with a cold smirk. “Assigned to protect you by me. I’m the lead on this assignment, Mr. Sharma. Don’t you forget.”
I frown. A tiny smile playing on my lips despite the icy chill numbing my limbs. “Are you hoping I’d die and your path will be cleared?”
He lets out a humorless laugh and leans back on the chair.
My chair. “My path? Listen, kid. I’m only thinking about bringing Mehul down.
Gather enough evidence that RAW can actually indict the asshole.
And once we do, all his assets—including the businesses he owns—will be returned to government custody.
Even temporarily—that’s a fucking win. We want him to show his dirty hand.
Expose himself. So you and I... can stop being the stupid pawns. ”
His reasoning is sound. Admirable even. But I don’t understand why he’s using escalation tactics rather than waiting on a sound trap.
I sigh. “Why can’t we wait for a better trap? Why can’t we find a GenVault client that is actually attractive to him? Then we can—”
“Because he’s swiping kids under the table every fucking day,” he snaps, his voice a mix of anger and restraint. “Every time we do the waiting game, we’ve been losing more kids than we’re catching.”
He shoots up from his chair. Pacing in a way a predator would—not a caged animal desperate for respite.
“If not you...” he steadies himself, turning toward me. “Then I’ll ask Dev. I’m sure he’ll be happy to do this. He’s been wanting this done since forever. Given his kids are in danger too.”
And that... is the main straw. A straw he’s hoping to devise as my last. Dev has kids—a family. And he’s banking on my righteousness to not let Dev take my place.
“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll do it. As long as Greesha knows.”
This time I use her name intentionally. Deliberately. Knowing that even if it doesn’t cause Viraj to visibly flinch—internally he’s doomed for suggesting this plan.
“I’ll... talk to her,” he grits out reluctantly. I’m almost elated at the prospect of him having his ass kicked.
But he’s her superior, apparently. Which doesn’t bode well for the situation.
The door clicks and I watch a smiling Dev walk over to us. Greesha’s grim face accompanying him.
That’s how she’s been. For the past week, she’s been quiet and reserved about how much she lets out. I think some part of her knows that this mission is coming to an end.
“I’ll... talk to her.”
I recall Viraj’s recent words and smirk at him before opening my mouth.
Fuck him for putting us all in this position. “Viraj suggested a new plan.”
“Adv—”
I cut Viraj off and continue, effectively ignoring him.
“I’ll be meeting a CBI rep tomorrow. I’ll spill my guts about my suspicions about Mehul Bedi.
Dev will have Madani Academy as a standby bait for Mehul to escalate.
We will let the asshole bleed into our systems. We will let him gather as much synthetic information about the academy before we. .. well... gut him.”
Greesha pales. And unnatural rage takes over her face as she turns her attention to Viraj behind me. I don’t look at him. I barely care for his reactions.
Instead, I watch Dev frown. His eyes darting between all three of us. As if waiting for a confirmation about this stupid but sound plan.
I don’t keep him waiting.
Instead I smile—the best professional twist of my lips. “All set?”
My gaze falls on everyone in the room for a few seconds. A stifling, tensed silence taking over. I don’t fucking wait.
“All set, then,” I mutter.
And then I walk off to my room without another word.