Chapter Forty Four.
Ira bit her lip, her eyes fixed on the screen of her phone.
Read at 8:15 AM.
But no reply. Kunal hadn't spoken to her since the drive home yesterday, ignoring every apology she had typed out since dawn.
Even Ritika hadn't offered much comfort.
When Ira had confessed the truth to her best friend, the response had been a scolding instead of a shoulder to cry on.
“You can’t build a life on secrets, Ira..especially not secrets involving a man like Devraj.” Ritika had warned.
Ira let out a sigh, grabbing her dupatta and placed it over her shoulder with trembling hands.
She couldn't sit in this room anymore, the walls felt like they were closing in on her guilt.
She hurried down the stairs, her mind racing with ways to make Kunal listen, but as she reached the front door, her mother stepped out from a room..
Her mother’s brow furrowed, her instinct picking up.
"Ira?"
Ira halted mid-step, she turned slowly to face her mother.
"Are you alright? why are you in a hurry? You’ve been acting so strange ever since Kunal dropped you off last night.." her mother said, stepping closer,
"Did... did the two of you have an argument?"
Ira’s shoulders slumped..
"It's just... I hurt him last night, Maa.." she whispered, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"I’m trying to fix it, but he won’t even answer my calls, or reply my text."
Her mother’s expression softened into one of pity. "Kunal isn't the type to hold a grudge against you, Beta. He adores you. What could you have possibly done to make him this cold?"
Ira gulped, her eyes darting around the room, searching for a way to say the words without making them sound as ugly as they felt.
Her mother sighed, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Ira’s ear.
"It’s okay. If you aren't ready to talk about it–"
"I lied to him.." Ira interrupted, the confession tumbling out.
She looked at her mother, her eyes swimming with tears that threatened to roll down.
"Last night... we ran into Mr. Devraj Singh Rathore."
"Devraj Rathore?" her mother asked, her brow knitting together in a deep frown.
Ira nodded slowly, her fingers twisting the edge of her dupatta.
"Okay... but what does he have to do with you lying to Kunal?"
"It’s... it’s a long story, Maa.." Ira whispered, choosing her words, she couldn't tell her mother about the terrace, the fever, or the way Devraj had looked at her, hell she didn't even tell her family why she quit her previous job..
"I spoke to him behind Kunal’s back. I told Kunal I hadn't seen him and lied about something that was given to me by Mr. Rathore, and then the truth came out. Now he thinks I'm keeping secrets."
Her mother’s eyes narrowed, an intuitive glint appearing in her gaze.
"We will get back to why Kunal is angry later.." She stepped closer, her voice dropping into a tone that Ira knew all too well..the tone of a mother who knew she was being told a half-truth.
"But you still haven't told me the real reason you quit that job, Ira. You said you were uncomfortable, and I respected that. But looking at this now... I feel like there is so much more to the story than a simple resignation."
Ira’s throat tightened. She wasn't ready to exhume those memories..the obsession.
"Maa... I–"
The knock on the front door cut her off. Both women snapped their heads toward the entrance.
"I’ll get it." Ira said.
She was grateful for the interruption, desperate to escape her mother's interrogation.
She hurried to the door and pulled it open.
"Hello, Doll."
It was Deepak. He was leaning against the doorframe with a casual grace.
Ira’s face twisted, her fear instantly turned into a defensive rage.
"Why are you here?" she spat.
Deepak didn't answer. He just let a smile spread across his face, his gaze raking over her with a possessiveness that made her feel uncomfortable.
"Ira? Who is it, beta?" her mother called out
Ira turned her head to warn her, but she didn't even get the chance to.
Deepak didn't wait for an invitation, he straightened up and walked past her, stepping into the their home.
"Are you insane?! Get out of here!" Ira hissed.
Her mother saw him and the color drained from her face instantly.
She let out a gasp, her hand flying to her chest. She remembered him.
In a house with no men to protect them, his presence felt like a dark shroud falling over the room.
Deepak walked right up to her, his smile widening..
"Greetings, Aunty." he said, it was like a mock respect that felt like a threat wrapped in silk.
Ira’s mother looked at her daughter, her eyes wide with terror, before looking back at him.
"What... what do you want? We don't owe your father anything. Every penny was paid back–"
"No, no... don't be nervous, Aunty.." Deepak interrupted, He took a step toward her.
Her mother flinched, taking a step back, but Ira was faster.
She threw herself between them, her small frame acting as a shield for her mother. Her heart was beating fast, but she squared her shoulders, looking the him dead in the eye.
"Why are you here? Leave right now, or I’m calling the police." Ira said.
Deepak stopped. He stared at her for a long beat.
Then, he let out a dry, rasping laugh that echoed unpleasantly to them.
"Do better, Doll." he said smirking, "Police don't scare me. They’re just another bill my father pays."
Before Ira could scream at him again, he turned away, draped himself across their sofa, spreading his arms wide.
"Relax, Doll.." Deepak said. "I just want to have a little chat with Aunty. Why are you so uptight?"
"Who wouldn't be when there’s a criminal sitting in their home?" Ira blasted back. Her fear was still there, but her anger was winning the fight.
Deepak’s face hardened. The playful smirk vanished..
"I said.." he repeated, his voice now a stern, "I want to speak with Aunty."
Ira opened her mouth to protest, but she felt a small, trembling hand grip her wrist. She looked down to see her mother...shaking, but resolute.
"The sooner I listen to what he has to say, the faster he leaves, Ira.." her mother whispered, her eyes pleading for Ira to step back.
Ira let out a frustrated sigh and reluctantly nodded, though she didn't move far.
Her mother stepped into the center of the room, her movements stiff.
"What do you want to speak with me about?" she asked, her voice surprisingly steady despite the way her fingers clutched her dupatta.
Deepak didn't answer immediately. He gestured toward a chair with a regal wave of his hand.
Ira and her mother exchanged a look..a silent conversation of dread..before her mother moved to sit.
She chose the farthest chair possible, perched precariously on the very edge of the cushion.
"Don't worry, Aunty." Deepak said. His eyes followed her every movement. "I won't harm you."
The words were meant to be an assurance, but they sounded like a threat.
I won't harm you... as long as you do what I want.
"So..." her mother swallowed hard. "What is it?"
Deepak leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He stared deep into Ira’s mother’s eyes, his expression devoid of any warmth, any mercy, or any shame.
"I want Ira.." he said.
Ira’s mother froze, her breath hitching in her chest as if the the air had been sucked out of the room.
Ira, standing just a few feet away, felt her world tilt.her eyes widened..
"W... what?" her mother stammered..
"Don't you have any shame?!" Ira whispered, her face twisted in irritation..
"Are you so daft that you think you can just walk into someone's home and make these disgusting statements?" She glared at him
"Name your price. Every woman has one." He smirked and this makes Ira anger riled up threefold.
"Get out! Now!"
She pointed a trembling finger toward the door. But the reaction she got wasn't the one she wanted.
His obsessed gaze fell on Ira.
He stood up, slowly, bone by bone, and Ira felt the instinctual urge to flee.
"Get out?" he repeated. "So I can go back to being miserable? Is that it?" He looked angry, "Is that your charm, Ira? You make men lose their goddamn minds, you drive us to the edge, and then you just tell us to what? GET OUT?!"
The outburst was so loud that Ira’s mother got on her feet, throwing herself in front of her daughter, her arms spread wide.
Deepak let out a psychopathic burst of laughter. He ran his fingers through his long hair, his chest heaving.
"Deepak... listen to me.." Ira’s mother pleaded, her voice cracking. "My daughter is not a prize to be claimed. She is a human being. Please, leave. We have been patient enough."
The mention of patience seemed to snap the last thin of his restraint.
He laughed again..a dry rattling sound that held no joy..and began to stalk toward them.
Every step he took forced them further back.
"You know..." he started, his voice calm now. He dragged the sleeve of his leather jacket across his nose, a twitch in his jaw suggesting he was high on more than just obsession.
"My father told me to stay away from you. He even threatened me. And I tried... I fucking tried to listen. He even gave me girls that look just like you."
He stopped just inches away, his bloodshot eyes boring into Ira’s eyes behind her mom.
"But every time I close my eyes... every fucking time... all I see is you."
The confession wasn't romantic; it was a death sentence. The naked sickness in his eyes made Ira’s stomach turn and sick.
He wasn't seeing her as a person.. he was seeing an addiction he couldn't kick.
Who do I call? The thought screamed in Ira’s head. Her fingers were tight as she gripped her phone behind her back. With trembling thumbs, she hit the speed dial for Kunal.
Ring... ring... ring...
She prayed, Please, Kunal. Pick up. Forget the argument, forget the secrets. Just pick up.
But the line kept ringing. Kunal didn't answer.
Oh God, please, she whispered silently, her eyes darting to the front door, then back to the unstable man looming over her mother.
Please... not now.
"I just want her. Please... just give her to me," Deepak whispered. His voice had lost its edge, replaced by a desperate, unhinged plea that was a thousand times more terrifying. He wasn't a gangster in that moment.. he was a starving man begging for a fix.
"Please, Leave.. Like I said, My daughter is not a prize to be claimed. She is a human being.." Ira’s mother said.
"I don't care!" Deepak’s face contorted, his eyes bulging "And stop SHIELDING HER FROM MY SIGHT!"
He reached into his waistband. In one motion, he pulled out a matte black handgun and leveled it directly at Ira’s mother’s forehead.
Her mother froze, her eyes widening until the whites showed all around.
"No!" Ira gasped, she moved, throwing herself in front of the barrel, her small frame a fragile barricade between the bullet and her mother.
Deepak’s hand was trembling with desperation. A sick smile broke across his face.
"See? That was so easy. Come here, Ira... come to me."
Deepak’s own phone suddenly was screaming in his pocket. He let out a growl and snatched the device out with his free hand.
"What!" he yelled into the receiver, the gun still wavering near Ira’s face.
Whatever the person on the other end said was enough to make his bloodshot eyes flicker.
"Papa, I’m in the middle of something!"
He listened for another second, his jaw clenched. "Fine!"
He hung the call. The immediate threat of the gun lowered, but the hunger in his gaze remained.
He stepped into Ira’s space, the smell of cigarettes, alcohol, and something chemical..
"You will be my queen... okay?" he whispered with a desperate, lopsided smile that made Ira’s skin crawl with disgust.
"Wait for me. I have to go now... I... I’ll miss you. But I can wait."
He leaned in, his lips reaching for her forehead. Ira flinched, stepping back.
Deepak’s smile faltered, a flash of hurt crossing his dark face, but he didn't force it.
He tucked the gun back into his pocket, his movements jerky and unstable.
"Wait for me.." he repeated, before turning on his heel and heading out the front door.
The moment the door closed shut, the air rushed back into the room.
Ira and her mother collapsed into each other’s arms, sobbing into the fabric of their clothes, their bodies shaking..
"I... I need to call your father.." her mother whispered, her face ashen as she pulled away with trembling limbs.
Ira watched her mother stumble toward the other room, her own legs feeling like lead.
She looked down at the phone still clutched in her hand. The screen was dark. No missed calls. No texts. Kunal was still silent.
She stood in the center of her living room, now in a deep thought.
She was caught between a madman who wanted to buy her for some sick addition, a billionaire who is obsessed with her and wanted to cage her, and a fiancé who wouldn't even answer her calls or messages.
What is my life turning into??, I just want a peaceful one with my Kunal..
She sighed and began walking towards the door.
I need to see him.
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