Shattered to Be His

39| Without him.

"Main zarurat hun teri, Tu zaruri hai mujhe

Maanta hun bin tere, Hai adhoori mehfilen

Kam nahi jashn se, ye akelapan mera

Saath hai raat din, ab diwanapan Tera"

"Bro please, I'm no longer a little girl on whom you have to keep a check every time, I'm turning twenty one this year for god's sake." Tara's impatient voice fills in the silence of my study room and makes me look at her instantly.

I keep the file I was reading aside and shift my focus to her who is sighing dramatically, her face dulling up and disappointed.

How exactly she knows where I will melt and when she's won.

She sits on the table in front of me, her eyes convincing while I'm noticing her changing gestures calmly.

"You know that I'm the bitch of bitches, so who will dare to even raise an eye on 'Tara Jindal'?

" She flips her hair and I can't help but smile at her actions "Alie and my other friends will be there with me, so I don't need any security.

And above this, India is the safest country itself, you can ask luca uncle, I've talked to him about this. "

I place my hand over her head, caressing her hair gently as I say "This is your life, princess, and your decisions are and will always be my priority. But more than that, your safety matters. So without security arrangements, I can't send you to India,"

The reason for not sending her to India is someone else. She's unaware that I'm involved in the mafia and I don't want her to get into it even, especially after the things sticking to my way. That man is present in the same country, and I can't take any risk on my sister.

"You know what, bro? you are behaving like someone is already waiting to hunt me in India." She furrows, but her words don't go well with me this time.

"What's wrong, young man?" Dad's calm voice casts in from the door as he enters saying "If my daughter is asking for something, you can't deny that."

I sigh, this is what happens when both daughter-father duo teams up against me, leaving me helpless.

Tara abruptly stands up from the table, rushing towards dad as she hugs him excitedly whimpering "I love you so much daddy, more than bro."

I stand up and walk towards them, my face and voice still firm and unwavering as I assert "There's a reason I'm denying, and-"

Dad cuts me off coldly "Tara is going to India, end-of-discussion."

I shake my head in disbelief, but before I could make my way out, Tara holds my hand from behind saying "It's okay young man, kabhi kabhi haar maan jaani chahiye."

A soft smile makes its way on my face at her reaction, mirroring her own as she rests her head on my chest and I surround her in my embrace.

There's a saying in English 'Mistakes are meant to be corrected, not to be repeated'. Can't find anything more relatable than that.

I repeated one mistake again and again by thinking that things would get right once I convince Tara by prioritising her over anything. Be it my being, my self respect and my pride which actually never mattered in front of my family.

I never forced my decisions on her. In this case too, I wanted her to come back after at least knowing everything.

I waited for her.

And now here I'm, on the verge of either losing my everything or getting it back by those means I never wanted.

I'm late, too late for this but that's not something I regret or will ever do because if my princess would have got hurt because of me in any way, that would have been the true regret of me.

It's no longer a matter to think just about this, it's about her life ahead.

Her tear filled broken face is still clear in my head, which aches my heart to the fullest. That's what I never wanted for her, but some circumstances don't fall into your hands, you have to take the command of them by your own.

I stand in front of the cliff, my hands tugging into my pockets as I stare ahead quietly. The cold breeze cheers over my face and at this point, I feel myself a completely different personality.

I would be lying if I say I'm still the same man in front of whom, people used to bow. A part of me is broken, and too fragile to be fixed again as it might scatter if left untouched.

What my sister believes to be love is apparently manipulation.. a trap and she doesn't deserve what all is happening to her.

I was so preoccupied in my thoughts when the sound of notification on my phone catches my attention and I pull it out, my eyes turn cold as I see the text from an unknown number with a blurred picture of dad.

In a vast crowded chamber, the buzz of multiple impatient voices is twirling and filling the surroundings. On one side, some public elites are sitting dressed up formally and the rest of the crowd are media and reporters of the most prominent publication houses throughout the world.

Amongst these, the target of all of them is Dhairya Jindal who has to confront the media after whatever happened as he didn't have any other choice to save his rest of the reputation.

The reporters and interviewers are encircling him from all the sides even after his security and bodyguards and they're continuously throwing their questions on him.

"How could you betray your own profession, Mr. Jindal?"

"Are you here to cover up your wrongdoings by presenting any fake clarification?"

"What about your son, where is Mr. Arsh Jindal? Did he know about your reality or you were hiding it from him too?"

"You were in this industry for years, now how are you feeling after being dragged out of it?"

Dhairya's expressions are almost faint, a mix of grief, guilt and pain, like he doesn't have any answer to these questions the cruel reporters are hurling onto his face. While the guards are trying to push the media and other people away from him.

A press conference set up has been arranged at the centre but nobody knows what is going to happen or who is doing all this.

But everyone's attention redirects when a black Rolls Royce stops there and especially at the tall enticing personality sitting in it.

The media and reporters rush near it but due to the tight security, they can't approach even close.

Asher opens the car's door promptly and Aayansh steps out, his one hand tugging into the pocket.

He is wearing a three piece black suit, his hair settled and dark aura sharp yet alluring.

A pair of black shades is covering his oceanic blue eyes while seeing him here, media persons and channelers envelopes around him, as 'aayansh oberoi' doesn't make any public appearances usually and his presence is absolutely unanticipated at this place.

The media gets the permission to ask their questions but the crowd around is so much that other people's voices are barely audible when a reporter questions "What is the reason for this sudden press conference, Mr. Oberoi? I mean, any new brand launch or announcement?"

Aayansh removes his black shades, his face unreadable and sharp as he roves his gaze on all of them and answers "The reason of this press conference is-" He shifts his eyes to Dhairya who stands aside helplessly, eyeing him while witnessing his condition, a sinister smirk tugs on aayansh's lips as he announces "Dhairya Jindal's all the properties, companies and their shares will be auctioned here. "

Hearing this, a wave of shock and bewilderment runs within each person present here and it's going live on every known channel too. 'Dhairya Jindal' the name which people used to take with utmost respect and pride is on the verge of losing everything, this is no less than slap crossing their faces.

Each camera and every eye is on Aayansh but ignoring all this, aayansh steps ahead while Asher and his other men are handling the media.

As aayansh enters inside, the elites and known business men present here greet him with respect and one of them, Mr. Rian orlov frowns "Well that was truly unpredictable, Mr. Oberoi, you really give a hard time to your rivals."

Aayansh instantaneously shifts his eyes to him, his conduct cold as he says "I don't prioritise my rivals that much, Mr. Orlov, so addressing him as my rival is just a Bullshit,"

Orlov's mouth shuts while without paying any attention to his response, aayansh sits on his sofa to move ahead with the conference.

Dhairya is sitting at one side, the other people in their respective places and the media are doing their job.

"Is this auction happening with Mr. Jindal's wish?" A reporter asks, her voice low and in check.

"How about you ask this question to him only?

" aayansh smirks evilly, leaning on his sofa and tilting his head slightly to dhairya who is gulping on the thought of how would he answer to this because nothing is in his hands, and if he accepts it in front of all, that will be the biggest matter of shame to him.

He is trapped in a way that if he admits the truth, it will lead to his own dishonour in front of the whole world and if he denies it, he would be proven wrong anyway.

This auction is the only way for him to save himself because if the government takes over or seizes his properties and everything, there's no way possible to get them back.

And he thinks by losing his properties temporarily and hiding all this from arsh, he would save himself from the destruction he had invited.

"So Mr. Jindal, are you yourself auctioning your lifetime earnings like this?" She repeats the question to dhairya and his face pales with shame and embarrassment, while Aayansh is enjoying his changing demeanor.

"Actually" He gathers the courage to speak, his face decent and unyielding as he stares at them "Actually, it's a business related deal, which I can't reveal right now,"

"But your business isn't yours anymore, then how come it's a business deal?" Aayansh frowns deliberately, his head still tilted towards him while dhairya's frustration fuels up.

"Yes Mr. Jindal, your companies have been proved illegal and sealed by the government, so it can't be a business deal, you are trying to misguide the media, aren't you?" A senior reporter fills in and dhairya takes a deep breath, composing himself.

"So you want to clear up your image like this?" Another reporter adds.

And one by one, they all start casting off their harsh questions on his face, without caring about anything.

But then abruptly, aayansh interrupts "Now it's time for what exactly we are here."

With his command, the actual auction begins and at the first, all the diamond operas of Jindal's throughout the world are placed at stake. The rich elites start claiming by their high to highest prizes.

"800 crore"

"801 (2) (3)"

"945 crore"

"945 (1) (2)

"1500 crore" aayansh interrupts and a minute silence lingers in the surrounding as this is the highest claim until now, so the first stake goes to him effortlessly.

Dhairya's fists are clenched, a mix of embarrassment and fury is coursing through him but other than this, something more dangerous is going on in his mind meanwhile, the event proceeds.

"So finally you are here, Mr. Arsh Jindal? Did you know about your father's frauds or are you also involved with him?" The media again gets mad when arsh reaches there, they start showering their unfiltered questions on him.

"Should we consider that both father and son are involved in these crimes and now trying to clear up your images?"

"Did you know about this auction?" "How are you feeling right now?" "Are you here to save your father or his reputation?"

"You are an inspiring figure for the youth of the country, AJ, then how could your father do this?"

Aayansh's eyes are now fixed at arsh, a slight knowing smirk tugging on his lips while dhairya's guilt and pain gasses up that because of him, his son has to face all this.

'Arsh Jindal' is not only the best known sportsman, but also is the most reputed business man so even any minor thing related to him has been shown up in the headlines, here this is the whole worst case.

The body guards and Aariv who are with Arsh keep the media away from him while he ignores their ridiculous questions deliberately as he's aware that they just need their spicy and catchy headlines.

Arsh gets through the event and without wasting time on any other person, he warns the channellers "Nothing has been proved against my father, so one more question on him and I'll make sure you and your channels get shut before you telecast these fake rumours,"

His voice is cold, enough to admonish them and many of their mouths get shut while a young reporter from them asks "Oh really? Then where were you until now? Why is this auction went smooth so far? Don't you think you are late to shut our mouths, AJ?"

Arsh's eyes instantaneously shifts to her and with the same calculative demeanor, he answers "You are reasonable here, but you must be aware too that bringing out the real information consumes time, other than degrading someone on the basis of fake facts, Miss whosoever you are."

Her face twists with hesitance, but then the other journalist interrupts "So you have the proof to make us quiet? Then please do it Mr. Jindal, we all are waiting for that only."

"Neither we are sitting in the court nor you people are judges, so I know where exactly I have to present the proofs" Arsh replies, making them furrow.

Arsh indicates Aariv to take dhairya away from here and he nods instantly but the media is still not leaving any chance to provoke him. Meanwhile, somehow Aariv takes dhairya with him but arsh is still here Aayansh is enjoying the drama.

"Where is your sister AJ? Did she-" Aayansh cuts the reporter coldly, warning him "Enough, first and last time warning you, my wife is not the part of all this."

The reporter gulps with fear and they all get silent right away as aayansh walks to them, his both hands tugging into his pockets as he gives a slight unbothered glance to all of them and says "Your drama is over, so-leave."

His real motive was never this auction but to insult dhairya in front of the whole world, degrade the reputation he had earned throughout his lifetime in which he succeeded, but somehow arsh saved Dhairya from further humiliation.

The media buzzes off subsequently and now, only arsh, his men and Aayansh are present here.

"Instead of doing these cheap shits, if you have the true guts, then keep my sister out from all this and I'll see what you can do." Arsh warns, his eyes blazing with rage which he's holding.

"Come on, brother-in-law" Aayansh sneers, eyeing him closely "I just showed you what I can do, today I burnt your men, now wait for the day when I'll burn you alive in your mansion."

Arsh's eyes narrow as he responds in an unwavering tone, "Trust me, by the end of all this, the only thing you'll be doing is begging for death in front of me."

"Ends aren't decided at the beginning, Arsh Jindal" Aayansh's deep voice dripping severity and intent "And here I began it, so only I'll end it in my way."

"End it by lies, like you just did?" Arsh frowns.

"I don't lie, better ask that father of yours how much of a lie it was.

" Aayansh presses a cigar between his lips, his tone mocking "And remember one thing, I don't live any dual life like you.

The world knows who and exactly what 'aayansh oberoi' is, so you can definitely do whatever helps you," He finishes off, wearing back his black shades as he makes his way out.

Things are just getting more and more messed up for Dhairya Jindal, people are demanding for him to be completely banned from international markets as they believe he'd corrupt their field too.

His first and final court hearing has been scheduled after two days but the media is complicating the things further by telecasting some of his old and recent interviews.

He is sitting in his room calmly, his face is unreadable but the guilt and fear drowning him is clear when someone places his hand on his shoulder. He turns his head slightly to arsh as arsh assures "Don't worry Dad, all these blames will be proven wrong in the hearing."

Dhairya smiles faintly as arsh sits with him, his voice firm as he presses "But I hope you won't do anything that would make the things worse,"

"I'm not in the state to do anything anymore, son." He whispers, his voice low and heavy.

"You know what you did was wrong, but whatever is happening now is not right either." Arsh exclaims, "Trust me dad, everything will be alright, I will make it."

Dhairya presses a nod and arsh stands up, making his way out when his phone rings. He picks up the call and Aariv from the other side says "Boss, why aren't you doing anything against that man? Whatever is happening with uncle, He even burnt our men alive-"

Arsh cuts him off coldly "Killing innocents is not a task of bravery, Aariv. And who said I'm not doing anything?"

"That means you are up to something?" Aariv frowns.

"What I'm up to, you'll witness that very soon!" Arsh concludes, his voice calm and mysterious, mirroring his facial gestures.

Here dhairya stands up from his place and walks to the balcony as he texts someone, within a few minutes, a notification rings his phone- a name, phone number with a photograph of 'Cadon Riazov'.

The heir of the most dangerous Mafia clan and a known assassin who is believed to have killed many known mafias and VIPs.

Dhairya's face is dripping hatred, keen to take revenge for his insult and whatever is happening with him. He calls on the number and a person picks it on the fourth ring, Dhairya clears his throat and then decently utters "Cadon Riazov?"

"Bark?" That man responds harshly.

Dhairya's jaw clenches at his tone but he doesn't react and presses in "I have a task for you, you don't have to kill anyone. Just give him enough wounds so that he'll regret who and why he messed with."

"Name?"

Dhairya hesitates and gulps before giving the name "Aayansh Oberoi, rest of the details my man will forward you."

"I hope you are aware of whom you are talking about, old man?" He sneers from the other end and dhairya's jaw clenches further.

"Better ask about your prize, if I will have to give you my whole property, I will without a second thought." Dhairya offers, trying to fuel his greed and make him agree.

"And yes! you have to do this by tonight only, at any cost; without coming in anyone's information, understand?" He asserts and listening to his command, that man disconnects the call after giving the agreement to his offer.

Dhairya sighs, somewhat aware of what he's doing but not about the actual consequences of it.

In a five star hotel, a young woman whose face is covered with a black net mask enters. Her deep black eyes glistened with attitude and elegance. The butterfly tattoo over her neck makes it clear that she's tina.. Tina Kapoor- the one who was in that party in the greed of those diamonds.

Tina stops at the reception, taking a room's keys as she makes her way ahead. She arrives at one room and unlocks the door with keys, she steps in and removes her mask and sees Saisha Malhotra who is standing in a towel in front of her.

"My my Ms. Kapoor, you here?" Saisha mocks, sitting on bed casually and Tina passes her a frustrated look as she croaks "Keep your dramatic ass in check, saisha, you very well know why I am here,"

"Yeah right" saisha sneers, making her nails carelessly.

"By the way, where is your partner Mr. Tarun Jindal?" Tina cocks her brows.

"That buddha, uh I don't care about where and why he is" saisha admits, "Actually I do, afterall he's a way straight to those diamonds, but that old ass is missing for many days."

Tina rolls her eyes with boredom, and then sitting on the couch, she frowns "So you are thinking by living a luxurious life in this hotel would lead you to the diamonds?"

Saisha's eyes thin before shifting to her as she shrugs, "Absolutely not darling, I was waiting for the right time to pull a right step, and there it is," her voice dripping evil and a wicked smile curling her red painted lips.

"May I know about your 'right step and right time?" Tina furrows her brows.

"Ah, if you have seen the latest news, Mr. Dhairya Jindal is under investigation for illegal activities and other things.

" Saisha stretches her arms "And not surprisingly, we both know who did all this, aayansh oberoi.

Now think mindfully, whatever he's doing with his own father-in-law would eventually make his pretty wife hate him, and I'm adding a spice here by which her trust would completely break on her husband. "

"Exactly how?" Tina asks with curiosity and anticipation.

"Um.. you'll see sweetheart, now listen to the plan ahead. Mr. Jindal wants his daughter back and once Tara Jindal gets separated from her husband, he can easily manipulate her towards him and our way to the diamonds would get clear."

Tina chews her bottom lip, thinking something deep while saisha shakes her head slightly at her response.

It's almost 2 A.M of midnight when dhairya's phone rings again and him, who was sleeping picks it up instantaneously only to find a text from the same number he called last, and it's like 'Your work is done, meet me at the nearest gold mining factory right now.'

His eyebrows twist in suspicion, but he can't take a risk of avoiding the text or sending someone else.

Thinking a while, he finally stands up and changes before heading off. Fortunately, arsh is not in the mansion so he takes the driver with him and leaves for the said location.

After around one and half hours, he reaches the factory and displays himself utterly normal, he indicates something to the driver and heads in without any security.

There's a dim red light casting its glow around and the penetrating silence hovering is enough for someone to reimagine it as their worst dream but dhairya doesn't waver a bit as he makes his way ahead. The surroundings are too dark to make a clear picture of anything and the factory is very vast.

He arrives at the centre of the factory, his chestnut brown eyes scanning the details around as there is no one here. Suddenly, something collides against his feet and he falls on the ground on his knees, leaving a faint scream which echoes there.

He feels some warm fluid dripping at his forehead, dhairya somehow assembles himself and takes it on his finger and his heart skips beating for a moment after witnessing that fluid nothing but fresh blood.. dripping down from the ceiling.

Shuddering with terror, he gathers the courage to look up and his eyes almost gauge out of their sockets.

The same man, 'Cadon Riazov' on whom he had commanded against Aayansh, his body has been pinned up at the ceiling- In pieces.

His eyes are open wide as if he had been brutally tortured before killing.

Dhairya's mind goes blank and he freezes at his place, his body no longer allows him to move even a bit.

Abruptly, a scary tune of whistling echoes there with someone's slow footsteps. Dhairya's terror filled wide eyes shift there right away as he witnesses a tall personality, dressed in all black stepping to him.

"Too bad father-in-law, I just started making your life hell and you are already lying on my feet like this." That man's voice is chillingly calm.

He is no one but Aayansh who is smirking cruelly, enjoying Dhairya's condition. Aayansh sits on his tiptoes in front of him, his eyes darkening with ruthlessness and face is cold.

Tears start wiggling down Dhairya's eyes with fear and his body is literally trembling, at this moment, nothing other than begging for his life comes in his mind.

Aayansh lets out a dark chuckle "Think, just think that if I can make such a brutal condition of your sent dog, then what will I do with you?"

Dhairya swallows the breath he was trying to hold, he joins his trembling hands and begs "I d-didn't ask him to k.. kill you, I j- I beg you, leave me."

Aayansh stands up as he turns and rubs the back of his neck a minute, his eyes are close and face cold but unpredictable of what's going inside him, he warns in a deadly dark voice "Now repeat what you said about my unborn child a few hours back,"

Instead of sobs, not a single world leaves Dhairya's mouth and Aayansh growls "Repeat!?!"

His cold voice rips through the deadly silence of this place.

As dhairya looks into his bloodshot eyes this time, a fresh jolt of terror runs down his spine and he starts begging more impulsively, his condition is absolutely pitiful at this moment.

"I- I never mea- meant those words, Tara is my daughter, I can never think of anything wrong for her and your child. That was j-just a mistake, a worst mistake, please leave me, I beg you son." He stutters on his words, his voice almost faint to be heard.

"Leave you?" Aayansh raises his brows slightly, "But I never said I'm going to kill you, did I?"

Dhairya lets out a sigh of relief just when Aayansh points his gun at Dhairya's forehead completing "Neither did I say that I will leave you,"

At this point, he is just playing with dhairya's mind.

Dhairya holds his feet, crying and begging for his life and some sort of mercy but Aayansh's cruel grin deepens and suddenly, a gun shot resounds there, leaving only silence lingering around.

After returning to the penthouse, I took a quick warm shower to relax and now I'm standing in front of the mirror in a bathrobe, drying my hair while my mind is still preoccupied with many things.

Two days have passed and I haven't seen Aayansh, not even a mere clue of his presence. I would be lying if I say this doesn't bother me, of course it does.. But maybe this is better for everyone.

I didn't contact bro or anyone because now distance with me is the only way to preserve peace in their lives and I too keep myself busy in the starting of my music career, just to Prevent the flood of emotions whip over me.

But every corner of this room, this place and even myself is filled with him, his memories which I just want to cut myself off from.

I'm at the point of life where one moment I feel absolutely nothing but numbness and emptiness lingering inside me, still there's a fear that I'll break, this patience would break and then, I won't be able to gather myself again.

I'm weak, so weak like Shattered pieces of a broken glass that cannot be fixed but may hurt others for sure.

I stare at myself in the mirror, what I was and what I'm right now is a completely different picture of me.

After taking a shower and wrapping a white towel around me, I head out from the bathroom late at night as I was feeling uneasy and couldn't sleep because of that.

I quickly step towards the closet but before I can even reach near it, a scream leaves my mouth as I feel someone's presence behind me and the towel from my body drops instantaneously.

I immediately cover myself with the nearest curtain that comes in contact and turn only to find aayansh sitting on the bed and staring at me with a mischievous smirk on his face.

"Aayansh?" I bite out, leaving the breath I was holding.

"Of course wife, Mere alawa tumhe dekhne ya tumhare kareeb aane ki himmat kisi aur mein nahi hai," He says, his eyes scanning me from head to toe and I roll my eyes.

"Aayansh, please bring my clothes from the closet" I urge, feeling my cheeks turning red with embarrassment as I'm standing naked, somehow covering myself from the curtain.

"I'm not in the mood, I want to see my wife like this only." His lips still curl devilishly as he eyes me, leaning casually on the bed, making me more flushed and embarrassed.

Shameless man.

I sigh, making puppy eyes at him as I request "Please Aayansh, please give me my clothes."

He doesn't react and I pause for a minute, then say "I will give you a kiss, I promise."

Aayansh sneers as he fills in "Who wants a kiss when I can have a whole meal,"

"Aayansh please, I'm feeling cold" I cry out, frustrated.

[Suggested bg song- Dil mein chhupa lunga by Armaan Malik]

But my breath hitches when Aayansh stands up and steps towards me slowly with the same devilish demeanor and smirk on his face, I gulp at his glare.

He reaches me, his desire filled blue eyes lock onto mine with an unsaid intensity, sending shivers through me. From my face, Aayansh's eyes drop to my body while my eyes are still freezing at his handsome sharp facial features.

My heart skips a beat when suddenly aayansh removes the curtain from over me in a single stroke, leaving me completely uncovered in front of him.

I close my eyes tightly but before my hands could reach my bossom to hide myself, Aayansh grabs both my wrists and slams them on the wall behind us, making me gasp.

I can feel his eyes devouring my face as I whimper slowly "Aayansh please, mat karo,"

The rush of butterflies in my stomach isn't helping at this moment and my ear and cheeks are heating up with his nearness.

Aayansh leans on my face further, his breath warm against me as he husks in my ear "I haven't done anything yet, but you need to see what happens when you try to hide yourself from me."

In an instant, Aayansh lifts me up in his arms like I weigh absolutely nothing. My eyes flick wide and I start throwing my legs as he heads towards the bathroom and I snap "put me down, you shameless."

He ignores, reaching inside Aayansh almost throws me in the bathtub. I stare at him with narrow eyes while the evil smirk on his face is indicating something else which I'm not able to grab. Aayansh starts unbuttoning his shirt and my mouth falls open, assessing his sinful intentions.

_?_?_?_?_?_?_?_?_

After almost one and a half hours, Aayansh brings me out of the bathroom in his arms, I'm wearing a bathrobe while he's wrapping a towel around his waist. I can't decline how much hot he looks shirtless and with wet hair scattering over his forehead, water droplets from which dripping over me.

"I won't sleep with you from tonight!" I croak, turning my head towards the other side.

"Great, we are going to do more interesting things than sleeping anyway," Aayansh smirks, putting me down as we reach the closet and I sigh.

Truly No one can win against him in flirting and twisting things in his favour.

Aayansh's phone rings, giving a slight glance to me, he picks it up while I quickly take out my new nighty set to wear. I look at myself in the mirror, it's revealing and short with a black net and inner thigh length and looks elegant yet sexy on me.

But I pause as I feel his arms around my waist as he nuzzles his face in my neck from behind, kissing and nibbling on my skin hungrily as he whispers "Wifey main tumhe khaa jaunga,"

"Bade tharki ho tum" I snap, trying to move away as he whispers, licking my earlobe sensually "only for my tempting wife."

"Ma'am, excuse me, Ma'am" Lucie's voice brings me out of my world and my eyes directly lay on her who stands at the door with the dinner's trolley and her head bowed.

"Your dinner" She motions towards the dinner and without standing, I say "I don't want to eat anything, you can go."

"Ma'am please" she requests and I urge "Lucie, go!"

"You have to take the medicines too, please ma'am, sir will kill me if he finds out that you haven't eaten anything." She pleads and I sigh.

How he has made everyone scared of him.

I permit her to get inside and she arranges the dinner on the coffee table, unwillingly, I stand and sit on the couch to have it. Lucie stands nearby as she has to give me medicines after this. Once I'm done with my dinner, lucie gives me the medicines asking "Ma'am, can I say something please?"

I nod slightly, pressing a smile as she fills in, "You know, Sir!

earlier he used to come home very rarely.

. um like in months or sometimes once in a year, as if this is not his own home but someone else's.

But ever since you entered his life, he comes here for you, only you.

As if 'You are his home', you truly completed a part of him. "

Lucie's words did something to my heart, I feel a surge of emotions inside me. I don't want to be so emotionally vulnerable, but can't help.

I don't let off come outside what's going on in me and neither react to anything as she gives me the medicines and then, leaves the room.

I lay in the bed, trying my best to cop up with the things just drowning me more and more. It's eating me from inside, hollowing my being.

I turn again again, but sleep is far away from me and the only thing around me is silence, loneliness. I hate this, but again this is better than moving back to that toxic relation.

I don't know since when I'm changing positions to comfort myself, but nothing helps when a sound from the door grabs my sight.

As I see aayansh heading into the room, I turn my head towards the other side while him, he doesn't even glance at my side.

Like I'm not here, like I don't exist in this world. My eyes snap back to him who is ignoring my existence as if I was never a part of his world, my heart clenches at his behaviour.

But that's only what I wanted.

I'm seeing him after two days but genuinely, it feels like eternity.

Aayansh straightly goes to the closet and after a few minutes, he comes out wearing a black jacket and pants. I stand, walking towards the couch and pretending to take some water from the jar.

He's still not looking at me.

My side eye and attention is on him while I step towards the couch when my knee gets a hit from the corner of the table and I was about to fall on it, but somehow I didn't and my hand instinctively move to my belly with the sudden shock as I let out a sigh of relief.

At the same moment, I hear a loud-sharp sound and see him who has punched on the mirror in front of him, blood drops dripping down his knuckles to the floor and my eyes get wide.

Broken glass pieces scattering on the floor with his blood drops but as I take a step towards him, he heads off the room without looking at me once.

I keep staring at him until he completely disappears from my sight.

My fists clenches, exactly like my heart as an unwilling tear sheds down my cheek.

"I don't know Rivaan sir, but boss is actually behaving strangely, exactly like before." Asher who is heading towards Aayansh's floor with the lift, informs Rivaan on call.

Rivaan sighs from the other end, and then he shrugs "Bhai was about to go Russia for an important project, why didn't he go?"

"I have no idea about this, and you are aware that only boss knows what he does and why he does that." Asher says and Rivaan agrees, as he reaches near aayansh's cabin, greeting Rivaan, he disconnects the call. He bows his head and asks for the permission to step in.

"Come in," Aayansh permits in his usual cold tone and Asher walks in with a file as he sees Aayansh who is sitting on his chair, turned towards the other side of Asher.

His blazer lies on the crown of the chair and the initial two buttons of his black shirt are undone like always as he asks "Since when are you working for me?"

Confusion takes over asher's face and he frowns, but then quickly replies "Four point five years, Boss."

Aayansh turns his chair towards Asher and eyes him, noticing the cold sweat drops gleaming on his forehead and his changing conduct.

His face is unreadable and cold as he says "So you must be aware, Khud ko Jaanne ka mauka mai kisi ko nahi deta," His hand instinctively moves to grab the paper weight "kyunki itni Jaan pehchaan kabhi kabhi Jaan par aa jati hai, right?"

Asher gulps, realising his mistake as he immediately apologizes "Sorry boss, Rivaan sir was asking so I told him. I won't repeat this till my last breath."

"Better for you," Aayansh says, pressing a cigar between his lips as he commands "Increase my wife's security, now I won't be around her every time. And she shouldn't get to know about all this, clear?"

Tara's pregnancy has not been known both in the media and mafia world because many hold the wish to end king's heir, but certainly don't have the courage to even raise an eye on his wife.

Still Aayansh doesn't want to take any risks regarding this, yet he's strengthening Tara's security more than before.

"Got it, boss" Asher acknowledges and leaves from there.

?After a Moment?

Aayansh is still in his cabin, his fingers moving on the laptop's keyboard with expertise but it's clear and something is distracting him and snatching his focus towards it.

Aayansh shuts the laptop close and rests his head on the crown, as he closes his eyes, Tara's face comes in front of him.

After a few minutes, he opens his eyes and turns on the large screen ahead with the virtual of the cameras fitted in every corner of the penthouse.

His eyes freezes at Tara who is getting ready to go somewhere, she is combing her hair while being in some deep thinking. Aayansh's own face is unreadable, but his eyes are speaking many unsaid things.

Just when his phone rings, keeping his eyes on the screen, aayansh picks the call and puts it on the speaker as a girl from the other end informs "King, AJ has pulled his step."

This girl has the same butterfly tattoo over her neck.

Here Tara is now in the car, heading to her studio as today is her final recording.

She's wearing a baby pink knee length comfortable dress and her hair is falling free over her back.

Her ears are covered with headphones as she's listening to the music while enjoying the view out when a notification comes in her phone.

Disconnecting the headphones, she pulls out her phone to see the notification and her eyes flick wide after seeing it, it's a video.

A video in which Aayansh is getting intimate with some other girl.