Chapter Fifty Three.
The garage smells of thick scent of old engine oil and grinding metal, a familiar comfort that was suddenly shattered by a loud noise from outside.
Mr. Verma wiped his greased-stained hands on a rag, his joints popping as he straightened up from the engine bay of a half-disassembled Maruti.
He frowned and tossed the rag aside and stepped out of the dimly lit garage into the harsh sun.
His heart sank when he saw his son, Raghav, chest-to-chest with a group of men in grey suits.
"You people better get the fuck away from here!" Raghav yelled at them.. "This is our property! We’ve been here for Twenty years!"
"Raghav!" Mahesh called out, pulling his son back by the shoulder. "What is going on here?"
Raghav was vibrating with helpless energy, his fists clenched so tight. He didn't answer, his eyes locked on men with a look of pure loathing.
Mahesh turned his attention to the men.
"Who are you? And why are you causing a scene at my place of business?"
The leader of the group..a man with cold, sterile eyes and perfectly adjusted glasses, stepped forward. He held a folder.
"Mr. Mahesh Verma.." the man said, he extended the folder.
A sudden unnatural chill swept over Mahesh. He looked at the folder, then at the rusting sign of his workshop, feeling the foundations of his life begin to tremble.
"Papa, don't even look at that trash!" Raghav raged, his voice cracking. "They’re claiming they have some legal right to our land! They won’t say who sent them or whose name is on the deed! It’s a goddamn setup!"
Mahesh ignored the shouting, his gaze fixed on the lead suit. He reached out and took the folder.
"You seem much more reasonable than your... son.." the man noted, his eyes trailing over Raghav with a look of elitist disdain.
"Reasonable?" Mahesh whispered, his thumb catching on the edge of the legal seal.
"You have exactly one week to clear the premises.." the man sternly said. "The demolition is scheduled for next Monday. We don't care what equipment or vehicles are left inside. We will flatten everything that remains."
"The fuck you think you’re doing coming back here?! You’re all out of your goddamn minds!" Raghav yelled, his voice cracking with the strain of his fury. He was vibrating, a single thin thread away from burying his fist in the man's face.
The man didn't even flinch. He didn't even grant Raghav the dignity of a glance. Instead, his cold eyes remained fixed on Mahesh Verma’s weathered face.
"I suggest you go through that folder very carefully, Mr. Verma.." the man said. "I believe a man of your experience is... reasonable enough to cooperate. For the sake of your family."
Mahesh didn't speak... The man offered one final condescending look at Raghav before gesturing to his team.
They turned in perfect synchronization, their polished shoes crunching over the gravel as they walked away toward their waiting black sedans.
Mahesh’s hands trembled as he flipped the heavy cover of the folder open.
"Papa! Please tell me you’re not just going to stand there and let them do this!
" Raghav yelled. "They can’t just claim our land! Even if the government wanted us out, they’d have to provide a relocation!
They’d have to compensate us! But these bastards are just talking about flattening the place. It’s illegal!"
Mahesh didn't hear him. His eyes were locked on the bottom of the first page, where the legal seal of a private corporation sat alongside a name that made the blood in his veins turn to ice.
It wasn't the government. It was far, far worse.
The name Devraj Singh Rathore sat there on the heavy bond paper, looking like a death warrant.
Mahesh slammed the folder shut. He looked at Raghav.
"We aren't discussing this here." Mahesh whispered, "We are going home. Now."
He turned and walked back into the garage, clutching the folder. Raghav stood alone at the entrance, glaring at the dust cloud left by the retreating cars.
~??~
Ira smoothed the fabric of her peach anarkali, the matching dupatta fluttering slightly in the breeze as she descended the company steps.
The interview had gone well, better than expected. She could still see the impressed nods of the interviewers, though she knew better than to celebrate before the offer letter was in her hand.
She stepped through the heavy iron gates of the corporate building, her thumb hovering over her phone screen as a message from Ritika popped up...
“How did it go, my love? Tell me they loved you! Tell me!!! so i should prepare if i have to haunt some people!!”
A small, genuine smile tugged at her lips. She began to type a reply, her head down, completely oblivious of her path.
Thud.
It wasn't like bumping into a person, it was like walking into a brick wall. The impact caused her to stagger back.
"I am sorry, I wasn't–"
As she looked up, The apology died in her throat...
Standing before her was a man who looked like he had stepped out of a nightmare.
He was dressed entirely in black, a black shirt unbuttoned just enough to hint at a broad, powerful chest, and dark trousers.
But it was his face that stopped her heart. A scar cut across his eye that looked ghostly white, as if blind, unlike his other eye that's blue.
He didn't look annoyed or surprised, he was staring at her with a smirk that suggested he had been waiting for this exact moment.
"I... I'm so sorry, Sir. I..i Wasn't looking at my way." she stammered, her voice trembling.
She tried to sidestep him, but he moved tok stepping directly into her path again.
Ira’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the strap of her tote bag, her phone clutched in her other hand.
"Um... can I help you, Sir?" Ira asked, her brow furrowing . Her heart was beating against her ribs.
"The name is Samar." he said, "Samar Khurana." He extended a hand toward her, a broad hand with prominent veins that suggested a life of violence and survival.
Ira looked down at his outstretched palm, then snapped her gaze back to his scarred face. She didn't take it.
"No.. Um..Excuse me,Sir...but I have somewhere I need to be." She looked at him weirdly and didn't wait for a response.
She stepped around him walking away..
Behind her, Samar’s extended hand slowly curled into a white-knuckled fist. His jaw tightened, a pulse thrumming in his temple.
In three long strides, he was on her.
His hand shot out, his fingers wrapped around her upper arm with a bruising force. Ira let out a pained whine as he jerked her around to face him. The sudden violence of the movement sent her dupatta sliding off her shoulder.
"No one ignores me.." he hissed, "No one."
Ira’s fear flashed instantly into anger..
"And what impression of mine gave it away that i was looking for a conversation with you? Get your hand off me this instant, or I will scream loud enough to bring this entire street to a halt!"
Samar’s expression shifted, a flicker of dark amusement crossing his face, though his grip didn't loosen.
"For such a delicate-looking lady, you sure have a sharp tongue."
"And for such a scary man, you sure act like a pathetic fool!" Ira snapped, and for the first time, Samar looked genuinely stunned.
"Who in their right mind handles a stranger like this?" Ira continued, her voice rising with feistiness. "You blocked my path, I made it clear I wasn't interested, and yet you’re still pushing. What part of no is too complex for you to understand, Mister?"
Samar stood frozen, his hand still clamped on her arm, staring at her as if she were a puzzle he couldn't solve.
He had expected a victim, a piece of bait to use against Devraj. He hadn't expected a tigress who would bite back.
"Get your hand off me.." Ira snapped..
She wrenched her arm back with every ounce of strength she possessed, finally breaking his grip. She didn't wait for an apology, she turned fix her dupatta, her peach anarkali swirling around her ankles as she walked away again..
"Ira."
She halted, her heart dropping into her stomach. She turned back slowly, her green eyes widened.
How does this man know my name?
"Surprised, are we?" Samar smirked.
Ira gulped, but she refused to let the fear anchor her.
"I must say, you really are living up to the descriptions.." he said, taking few steps toward her. The scent of his expensive, spicy cologne hit her.. it was heavy and suffocating.
Ira glared at him, taking two deliberate steps back. "There is something called personal space, Mr. Khurana. Or are you too daft to understand what a boundary is?"
Samar’s jaw tightened, his teeth gritting together with a soft audible click. He didn't like being talked down to, especially not by Devraj’s woma he was supposed to be hunting.
"Red hair, green eyes, a sharp tongue, and enough fire to burn a man alive.." he sneered, his gaze raking over her with hatred "You are definitely the one."
"Crazy man..." Ira mumbled under her breath. She turned to walk away again, but that final snub snapped the last thread of Samar’s restraint.
He lunged. His hand tightened around her arm again, but this time his fingers dug into her flesh with a bruising force.
He jerked her back toward him, his face inches from hers.
"Stop walking away from me!" he hissed. "Your little charms might work on other men, Ira, but they don’t work on me!"
"Ah! That hurts!" Ira cried out, her face twisted in genuine pain. "Let go of me!"
It happened in a blurred second, a fist slammed into Samar’s jaw.
The crack of bone against knuckle echoed and Samar staggered back, his grip on Ira finally breaking as he reeled from the impact.
Ira stumbled, clutching her throbbing arm, she looked up, and for the first time in her life, the sight of Devraj didn't bring fear.
Samar slowly massaged his jaw, the copper tang of blood filling his mouth. He spat a crimson trail onto the pavement and let out a humorless chuckle as he stared at Devraj.
"Well, well... He finally leaves his den." Samar rasped, his eyes gleaming with a manic sort of glee. "Oh wow. He’s actually here! I’m honored, Devraj. Truly."
Devraj didn't move, his broad shoulders shielding Ira completely from Samar’s gaze. He looked furious.
"Stay away from her." Devraj said.
Samar’s smirk only widened, turning into an ugly grin.
"Or what? Huh?...Tell me, Devraj, who in their right mind would ever want to stay away from a woman like this?
Are you? Can you even look at her without wanting to burn the world down?
" He let out a taunting laugh, his eyes darting frantically, trying to catch a glimpse of Ira, who was peeping behind Devraj’s massive frame.
Devraj shifted, cutting off his line of sight instantly.
"Fuck off, Samar. Go back to the gutter you crawled out of before I decide to bury you in it."
The insult hit its mark. Samar’s face petrified into hatred. The playful malice vanished.
"I will make sure I see you on your knees, Devraj." Samar spat, pointing a trembling finger at the billionaire's chest. "I will strip everything from you."
Devraj’s expression didn't even flicker. "I’ve been waiting for that day for a long time, Samar. But hear me clearly.. if I ever, ever..see you within a mile of what is mine. I won’t just kill you, i will make it slow and agonizing, I will make sure you’re begging for a quick death.."
Samar growled, then he leaned to the side, his eyes locking onto the small space where Ira was curiously peeping from behind Devraj's side.
He winked at her, his lips curling into a disgusting possessive sneer.
"I have to admit, Devraj... she is one hot–"
The sentence died in a sickening crack.
Devraj didn't wait for him to finish. His fist moved like a blur of lightning, connecting with Samar’s nose this time.
The force of the blow sent Samar stumbling back, blood spraying across his black shirt.
"I won't say it again.." Devraj hissed, stepping over the reeling man, his eyes burning.."Stay. Away. From. Her."
Samar wiped a streak of blood from his lip..
"I have my eyes on you, Devraj. On everything that belongs to you." he hissed. He spared one final glance at Ira..a look that made her skin crawl..before turning.
He climbed into his black sedan and drove away, the screech of his tires echoing through the street.
Ira stood frozen, her heart still beating. She looked at Devraj’s broad back, the expensive fabric of his suit jacket pulled tight across his shoulders.
"Um... T... thank you, Devraj." she whispered.
Devraj turned slowly. The rage hadn't left his face, it had simply settled into a cold mask. His amber eyes raked over her, searching for injuries, before settling on hers.
"What are you doing here, Ira?" he asked.
"I... um, I came for an interview." she stammered, gesturing vaguely toward the corporate building behind them.
Devraj gritted his teeth, the muscle in his jaw ticking. The thought of her wandering the city alone, vulnerable to animals like Samar, made his blood boil.
"Can’t you just come to me?" he asked, his voice tight as he fought to keep his exploding temper in check.
"Why must you make this so difficult?"
Ira’s brow furrowed, her natural defiance flickering back to life.
"Um... I can handle my own life, thank you. I don't need to come to anyone. I have to go now. Thank you for helping... again."
She turned to leave, her heart racing for an entirely different reason now.
Devraj’s hand shot out instinctively, his fingers twitching with the desperate urge to seize her waist and pull her flush against his chest.
He missed her scent, the soft scent that was fading from those fabrics he stole from her.
He wanted to lock her away where the sun couldn't even find her, let alone a man like Samar.
But he stopped himself. He watched her walk away, his chest heaving as he fought the obsession inside him that screamed at him to claim her right there.
He fisted his palms so hard a low growl vibrating in his throat.
The moment his men had called to say she had left the house, he had abandoned a multimillion-dollar meeting without a word. And the sight of Samar’s hand on her... it had nearly pushed him over the edge into a permanent madness.
Now he has one more problem to handle.. Samar..
????