The Kiss That Stopped the World
On the other side…
Atharva stepped into the farmhouse backyard, where Rana and several bodyguards stood in a tight circle.
Two men were sitting on the ground between them—hands tightly bound, black cloths covering their heads.
The air was heavy.
Silent.
Dangerous.
Atharva pulled a chair and sat down right in front of them, his posture calm but lethal.
“Remove it,” he ordered coldly.
One of the guards immediately yanked the black cloths off.
Both men slowly opened their eyes—
—and froze.
Atharva was sitting in front of them… a gun resting casually in his hand.
Pure terror flooded their faces.
Atharva leaned forward slightly, his voice low but deadly.
“How did you get the courage to attack my wife?”
One of the men stuttered badly, sweat already forming on his forehead.
“W-we didn’t know she was your wife… we… we just wanted to scare Veer…”
Atharva’s eyes darkened.
The next second—
Gunshot.
Without a second thought, he shot the man straight in the forehead.
The body dropped instantly.
Dead.
The second man, sitting beside him, was now drenched in sweat, his whole body trembling as he stared at Atharva in absolute horror.
Atharva tilted his head slightly.
“I don’t repeat questions. Just tell the truth.”
The man swallowed hard, voice shaking violently.
“A few months ago… the Vijay Malik you killed… his brothers and sons… they planned the attack on ma’am…”
Atharva’s gaze sharpened.
“Since when has this been planned?”
“F-for about a week… since they found out about your marriage…”
Before the man could even finish—
Another gunshot tore through the air.
The bullet went clean through his head.
Silence fell again.
Atharva leaned back into the chair, eyes closing briefly as if mildly irritated rather than disturbed.
Behind him, the bodyguards quickly lifted both dead bodies and carried them away.
Rana stepped forward respectfully.
“Sir, what should we do now?”
Atharva spoke without opening his eyes.
“Increase the house security. Check every single thing that goes in or out.”
“Yes, sir.”
After a brief pause, Rana added carefully,
“And sir… the weapons shipment is scheduled for today. You should come and take a look"
Atharva slowly opened his eyes and pulled out his phone.
He checked some security cameras of his floor—
Scrolling.Scanning.Looking for Maya.
But she was nowhere to be seen.
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
He was about to check the hall recordings too but rana came with the phone..Then he exhaled slowly.She must be resting in the room..
Not thinking much of it, he stood and left with Rana.
In the house…
Only Dhruv knew the truth.
And he didn’t think it was necessary to tell anyone.
Meanwhile—
instead of going home—
Maya reached Anvi’s hostel.
The moment Anvi saw her, she broke into a wide smile and pulled Maya into a tight hug.
“Come on, pack your clothes. We’re going somewhere else,” Maya said quickly.
Anvi pulled back, confused.
“Why? What’s wrong here?”
“I lied to everyone before coming,” Maya admitted quietly. “If Atharva finds out, he’ll come here too. So come on—we’ll stay in a hotel for a few days… we’ll enjoy… then we’ll go back.”
Anvi’s face instantly lit up with excitement.
“Let’s go!”
Within minutes, both of them left the hostel.
Soon, they booked a hotel room and finally settled inside.
The entire day slipped away in laughter.
Movies playing in the background…
Random conversations…Dancing…Resting, sleeping, Singing…
Endless chatter…
Sometimes drama, sometimes teasing—both of them were extremely happy.
So lost in the moment together…
that they didn’t even realize morning had quietly turned into evening.
And until then—
no one knew anything.
Around 7 PM.
Atharva steps into the house. The entire family is seated in the hall, casually talking among themselves. His sharp eyes sweep across everyone before he speaks, his voice low but edged with impatience.
“Maya didn’t come downstairs today?”
Suman looks up, slightly confused. “No. And she didn’t even order food. I knocked on the door several times, but when there was no response, I thought she must be sleeping.”
Atharva turns to leave, his jaw tightening slightly.
Just then, Dhruv’s voice cuts through the air.
“Bhabhi went to her house, right…? Then how would she be in the room?”
Every head in the hall snaps toward him.
Atharva slowly turns back, his eyes darkening. “What? When?”
Dhruv shifts a little under that stare. “In the morning… She said you had given permission. I even offered to drop her, but she refused.”
Atharva’s temper snaps.
“Then why the hell didn’t you tell me earlier, Dhruv?!”
Dhruv gulps. “I thought… you already knew.”
Atharva’s voice turns dangerously cold, anger simmering beneath every word. “If I had given permission, I would have either dropped her myself or asked someone to go with her. Didn’t that much brain occur to you?”
Suman tries to calm the rising tension. “But what’s the big deal? She went to her own house, right?”
Atharva’s next words fall like a bomb.
“Yesterday, the Maliks had Maya attacked. They want her dead.”
The entire room erupts in shock. Everyone rises abruptly from the couches.
Rajvendra immediately pulls out his phone. “I’m calling her house right now.”
He dials quickly, speaking in a tense voice. Within moments, the color drains from his face.
“She… she never reached home.”
A heavy, suffocating silence fills the hall.
Veer’s brows knit tightly. “Then where did she go? Don’t tell me she—”
Atharva cuts in sharply, already on edge. “Who has Anvi’s number?”
Veer, Dhruv, and Nidhi exchange quick glances… then slowly shake their heads.
After a second, Dhruv mutters, “She’s only added on Insta… we don’t have her contact number.”
Atharva shoots them a furious look and immediately dials Maya’s number.
Switch off.
The cold robotic response only fuels the storm inside him.
Without another word, Atharva strides out of the house with fast, dangerous steps, already calling someone else, his face dark with barely controlled rage.
Behind him—
Rajvendra exhales sharply in frustration. “God knows where that girl has gone. Not once did she think it was necessary to inform anyone. Does she even have any sense or not?”
Veer immediately defends her, his tone firm. “Dad, what are you saying? How would she know who our enemies are? She just went to her house.”
Rajvendra snaps back, worry now clearly visible beneath his irritation. “Then why didn’t she reach there? She vanished midway. Just pray she’s safe.”
With that, he too storms out of the house.
Veer and Dhruv quickly grab their bikes and rush out after him. Suman sinks onto the couch, pressing her palm to her forehead, anxiety written all over her face. Nidhi sits beside her, gently holding her arm, trying to steady her.
Meanwhile…
Maya and Anvi lie comfortably on the soft hotel bed, completely relaxed, watching a movie on the TV.
Both of their phones were deliberately switched off.
Atharva speaks sharply into the phone, his voice cold and lethal.
“Block the whole damn city.I want her at any cost.”
He had already alerted police control. Within minutes, the entire city machinery was in motion.
Every surveillance camera was being scanned for Maya.
Rajvendra rushes to Maya’s house, urgently trying to gather information about Anvi’s hostel.
Veer and Dhruv were moving from one hotel to another, personally checking each one.
Everywhere… Maya’s pictures had been distributed.
The distant wail of police sirens begins to echo across the city. Streets grow tense. Checkpoints appear. Officers move with urgency.
But Maya…
There was still no trace of her.
—
Meanwhile, Maya and Anvi’s attention also shifts toward the sound of the sirens. Both of them slowly walk toward the window and peek outside.
Maya frowns slightly. “What happened, yaar? Why are there so many police cars roaming around?”
Anvi shrugs carelessly. “Who knows, babe… something must have happened. Why should we care? Come on, let’s watch the movie.”
Maya groans, stretching her arms tiredly. “Yaar, I’m exhausted watching movies all day…”
Anvi raises a brow. “Then what should we do?”
Maya’s eyes suddenly light up. “Let’s go out somewhere?”
Anvi immediately stiffens. “And if someone sees us, the call will go straight to jijuu!”
Maya rolls her eyes dramatically. “That’s why we stayed in the room all day. Now it’s night… who’s even going to notice? We’ll just wear masks.”
Anvi’s face instantly brightens with excitement. “This is actually so fun… sneaking out like this!”
Maya grins. “Yesss. Let’s go.”
Both of them quickly put masks over their faces, grab some cash and phone, and quietly slip out of the room.
—
Meanwhile…
Atharva was also personally covering multiple hotels. Because Maya’s phone was switched off, tracking her location was taking far too long — and his patience was running dangerously thin.
The entire city was now under tight surveillance.
Checkposts everywhere.
Every car… every truck… every train…
Maya was being searched for across the city.
By now, Rajvendra, Kabir, and Arun had also joined the search.
—
Maya and Anvi step out onto the road, fingers loosely intertwined as they walk. They are just about to cross when—
A black car speeds past them like a storm.
It was Atharva.
But because of the dark tinted windows, the girls fail to notice. And Atharva, his focus locked ahead, doesn’t notice them either.
Maya jumps back slightly. “Oh my God! Looks like someone’s out to kill people. The way they’re driving—”
Anvi waves it off. “Leave it… come on. Let’s go to the park first. Fresh air, then food.”
Maya nods. “Done.”
—
After some time, the two enter a nearby park. The night air was cool, calm… almost deceptively peaceful.
They buy ice creams and settle on a quiet corner bench.Remove their masks and Start enjoying their icecream...
Laughing.Chatting.Completely lost in their own little world.
Soft moonlight spills over them, painting their faces in a gentle silver glow.
They had no idea…
They were no longer unnoticed.
A few people strolling in the park glance toward them — then freeze.
Maya’s photos had already been circulated everywhere.
Recognition sparks instantly.
Without wasting a second, one of them quickly calls the police.
—
The moment the information reaches the police…
It reaches Atharva.
His grip tightens on the steering wheel as he immediately turns the car toward the given address, speed climbing dangerously.
At the same time, the police inform the rest of the family.
One by one…
Everyone starts moving toward that park.
Anvi and Maya, completely unaware of everything unfolding around them, were peacefully enjoying their ice creams.
After a while—
Maya nudges Anvi lightly. “Come on, let’s eat something else.”
Anvi nods instantly. “Yeah! Let’s go.”
The two girls lace their fingers together and begin to walk away from the bench—
—but suddenly, a few people step right in front of them, blocking their path.
Maya and Anvi stop short, both looking at them in confusion.
Anvi frowns. “What happened, uncle? Why are you blocking our way?”
The uncle replies firmly, “So that you two don’t go anywhere.”
Maya and Anvi exchange a quick glance.
Maya speaks, confused and slightly annoyed. “Why? What have we done to you?”
An aunty steps forward gently. “Nothing, beta. But until the police arrive, we can’t let you both leave.”
Anvi’s eyes widen. “Police? Aunty, you must be mistaken… we haven’t stolen anything.”
Maya quickly adds, “Exactly! And we haven’t done anything wrong either.”
The uncle nods calmly. “We know.”
Maya’s brows knit in frustration. “If you know, then let us go na… why are you stopping us?”
And just then—
A sharp, commanding voice cuts through the air from behind—
“Because I said so.”
Everyone’s gaze snaps in that direction.
Atharva was striding toward them his face dark with fury.
Anvi and Maya exchanged a tense glance… then both looked toward Atharva, who was already striding toward them, fury radiating from every step.
The others standing in the park instinctively moved aside, clearing his path.
Maya grabbed Anvi’s wrist.
“Let’s run, Anvi!”
Anvi let out a helpless breath.
“How far will we even run? So let it be now… we’ve already been caught. We can’t do anything now.”
Maya jerked her hand free, stubborn fire blazing in her eyes.
“Then you stay! I am going! Because he will not do anything with u but he won't spare me.”
And before anyone could react—
She bolted toward the opposite side.
Anvi slapped her palm dramatically against her forehead.
“Oh God…”
Maya had barely taken a few steps when—
Veer and Dhruv stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
She froze.
Her eyes flickered once toward Atharva… who was still advancing toward her with slow, dangerous steps.
Maya looked back at the brothers, voice tight.
“Veer… Dhruv… please move. Let me go.”
Veer shook his head calmly.
“No. It’s not safe for you.”
Dhruv added gently but firmly, “Going home is what’s right for you.Please bhabhi come with us..”
Maya’s jaw tightened. She glanced between them, then suddenly turned to escape from the other side—
—and stopped dead.
Rajvendra, Kabir, and Arun were already standing there.
Her breath hitched.
She was completely surrounded.
From a distance, Anvi muttered under her breath, half-annoyed, half-amused.
“I told her not to waste her energy… but madam always has to show off her running power.”
Maya slowly turned back around.
And froze.
Atharva now stood directly in front of her… eyes dark, expression thunderous.
For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Maya’s face— but she still lifted her chin.
“Why are you after me like this? I only asked for a few days’ time… I will come back. Just let me spend some time with Anvi and my family members.”
Atharva’s voice came low. Final.
“Let’s go home, biwi.”
Maya immediately shook her head.
“No. I want to go to my home. I promise I’ll go straight there and nowhere else.”
Atharva’s gaze hardened.
“I am telling you for the last time… let’s go.”
Maya’s temper snapped.
“No means no! Every time things won’t go your way!”
For a brief second…
Atharva scratched lightly at his forehead, like a man controlling the last thread of his patience.
Then suddenly—
He stepped forward.
In one swift move, he grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder.
The entire hall gasped.
Maya exploded, kicking and struggling wildly.
“Atharva! Put me down! I said I don’t want to go!”
Her voice cracked louder as she thrashed.
“Papa! Bade papa! Please help me! I want to stay with you people! Anvi — at least you do something! Atharva, leave me!”
Behind them, Anvi watched the dramatic scene unfold… eyes sparkling despite the chaos.
Inside her head, she sighed dreamily—
“Say whatever you want… jiju is extremely romantic. Hayeee… when will I find a man like this…”
Unbothered by Maya’s protests, Atharva carried her toward the car with firm, unstoppable strides.
Veer and Dhruv immediately followed behind.
—
Rajvendra straightened his coat calmly.
“Alright. We should leave too.”
Arun hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“Bhaisaab… if you don’t mind me saying something?”
Rajvendra nodded. “Yes?”
Arun continued gently, “Maya is our child too. If she wants to stay with us for a few days… why won’t you let her?”
Kabir supported him.
“Yes, what’s wrong in that?”
Rajvendra’s expression turned serious, voice measured but heavy with authority.
“She is safest in our house — everything we are doing is for her well-being.”
He paused deliberately.
“Now she is not Maya Raghuvanshi… she is Maya Raisinghani.”
His gaze sharpened.
“Atharva Raisinghani’s wife.”
A loaded silence fell.
“That should be enough for you to understand.”
Kabir and Arun fell quiet, unable to respond.
Rajvendra turned and walked away.
…followed slowly by Kabir, Arun—
—and Anvi.
On the road—
Maya shouted, her voice trembling with fury, “What do you think of yourself? Who even does something like this? My parents were there… everyone was standing there… and you just picked me up in front of all of them! And on top of that, I had somehow managed to run away… and you ruined everything in a single moment!”
Atharva didn’t reply. His jaw tightened, eyes fixed ahead, and instead of answering, he simply pressed harder on the accelerator. The car surged forward, the engine growling into the tense silence.
Maya snapped, frustration spilling over. “Why aren’t you replying now? Say something! Atharva Raisinghani… have you lost your tongue?”
Atharva’s grip on the steering wheel hardened, knuckles turning pale. His voice dropped low—dangerously calm.
“Maya… if one more word comes out of your mouth…” he said slowly, eyes darkening as the city lights streaked past the windshield, “…I will start fucking you right here, in the middle of the road… and you won’t be able to do anything.”
On the road—
Maya snapped, eyes blazing with disbelief. “Is there a ‘C’ written on my forehead that I’ll believe anything you say?”
Atharva turned his head slowly toward her, his gaze sharp and unreadable. “Did you doubt me?”
The moment the words left his mouth, he slammed the brakes. The car screeched to a halt right in the middle of the road.
Maya’s eyes widened in shock.
Before she could say another word, Atharva suddenly reached out, his arm sliding around her neck as he yanked her straight into his lap. In the next second, his lips crashed onto hers.
Outside, the cars behind and ahead of Atharva’s vehicle began stopping one by one. Within moments, traffic had started piling up.
But Atharva didn’t care.
He kept kissing Maya relentlessly—intensely—leaving her no space to even breathe properly. His grip tightened as he fully captured her lips, biting down possessively.
Maya’s hands pushed weakly against his chest, tapping in protest… but Atharva, being Atharva, was utterly unconcerned with anything around him.
Horns began blaring from every direction.
The traffic was completely jammed. Cars had bunched together, the road effectively blocked just because his car stood in the middle. Amid the chaos, one car near Atharva’s kept honking continuously.
Annoyed, Atharva finally pulled slightly away from Maya. Without a hint of hesitation, he reached for his gun—then fired a shot into the air outside the window.
Silence fell instantly.
Everyone around froze in fear. One by one, the drivers began backing their cars away, keeping their distance.
Atharva turned his dark gaze back to Maya. “Come now.”
Maya swallowed, still shaken. “Atharva… let’s go home.”
His lips curved faintly, dangerously. “We haven’t had sex yet. What made you think I was giving you an empty threat?”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you… please, let’s go,” Maya said quickly, her voice softer now. “It’s a bit uncomfortable here…”
Atharva studied her for a long moment, eyes glinting with something wicked.
“If I agree to what you’re saying,” he murmured slowly, “what will you do special for me?”
Maya stared at him, confused. “Special… like what?”
“Anything,” Atharva replied smoothly. “Something that makes me listen to you.”
Maya hesitated… then finally whispered, “You can decide.”
“Sure?” he asked
She nodded slowly.
A devilish smile spread across Atharva’s face.
“Great then…”
Atharva pressed the accelerator, driving the car toward the house.
Only after they left did the traffic finally begin to move again.
A deep, satisfied smile rested on Atharva’s face… but Maya’s mind was in complete turmoil. His words kept echoing again and again in her head.
What was his next step going to be?