54| Mindplays.
"Hide baby hide, the night's alive"
Tara's breath catches in her throat when aashika cocks the gun at aayansh, her eyes neither does her hands waver a little.
She pushes her fingers to the trigger in precision when tara rushes close to aayansh.
But before aashika can shoot, aayansh grabs tara's wrist and pulls her to his chest in front as in a sudden jerk, he turns.
Bringing his gun up from his blazer, he shoots at aashika's hand, causing her gun to fall on the other side.
By now, family members and some staff have already reached here, their faces drowned in terror and disbelief.
Tara's still behind Aayansh, covering her ears with palms, opens her eyes only to find aashika caressing her hand due to the sudden shock.
"What is happening here?" Rithvik panics, giving a slight glance to the gun lying on the ground before looking back at aashika.
Tara steps toward aashika, her eyes burning with pure rage as she yells "Have you lost your goddamn mind?"
Then Aaryan growls, "Aashika how dare y-"
Aayansh cuts them off in a calmly cold, intimidating voice "No one will raise voice on my sister."
They all stare at him with confusion, but none dares to question further. While a small smile curls Aashika's lips, which she instantly buries into her facial expressions.
"She tried to kill y-" Before tara could complete, Aayansh clamps his hand around hers, making her turn back at him as he heads inside the palace, without being bothered of the drama going on or just held here.
"Sister?" Aaryan mutters into himself, baffled in confusion.
Aashika, avoiding their sight, picks her gun and makes her way inside as if nothing happened.
Here Anika-Aaryan, Rithvik-Meera, Riva and Rivaan are standing frozen at their places, still processing the instance played.
"What the hell just happened?" Anika grunts to Aaryan who's in some deep thinking, "That girl tried to kill our son, I'm telling you Aaryan, it's high time to throw her out from here. Waise bhi she's of no use to us now."
He doesn't reply.
She shrugs her jacket off, standing in front of the mirror. Eyes carrying something lethal, she splashes some water on her face, her mind playing the memory of last night.
F L A S H B A C K [ IN THE PARTY ]
As Aayansh Tara enters the dimly lit party hall, slow murmurs fill the space. Tara's eyes roving around with curiosity when Aayansh says "Stay here, I am coming."
"Where are you going?" She murmurs out of nervousness.
"I'll be back, relax" He assures, kissing her hand and she nods before he disappears in one direction.
Aayansh steps into the ground floor's lobby, his footsteps echoing within the quiet surface when a voice rumbles from behind him.
"Finally you're here."
He doesn't turn, acknowledging it's Aashika.
His face remains cold as she steps in front of him, murmuring "I know you know everything. I am aashi not mannat, why did I do this drama all these years, what I want, everything right?"
She pauses, staring at him, her eyes flooding with thousands of emotions "But you're still unaware of a few things Aayansh."
"You were young, you haven't seen" Her voice gets heavy for a second, but she composed herself. "But I was right there. On your 8th birthday, all that happened with mom in front of my eyes-I saw everything."
Aayansh looks into her eyes, his knuckles white as if he's holding a lethal storm into him, which would end up with destruction and blood.
"I don't know about you" Aashika admits, "But I want revenge, you might not feel for mom anymore. I don't care. Just don't come in my way this time-" She warns.
A moment of deadly silence follows.
"My brother has really become heartless," she spits, noticing his cold conduct.
"Revenge doesn't need a heart" He says, his voice dangerously calm.
"True" A bitter smile makes its way on aashika's face, "But I need my brother."
Aayansh doesn't answer, scanning the pain in her eyes calmly when she says "Well, I should go. Tumhari wife ko family se introduce bhi toh karwana hai."
She chuckles before leaving from there.
Aashika lifts her eyes up to her own reflection in the mirror. Then she walks to the portrait she had made?- The dark shadow with a cruel, unrealistic smile.
The same person from her own family, who's behind all her suffering, her mother's death.
Brutal murder... or suicide?
He or she's living between them, normally, watching everything or maybe plotting.
She stares at the canvas quietly, focusing on the person's face, especially at the jaw part. And out of nowhere, a slight smirk twitched her lips.
"Let the mindplays begin" She murmurs into her breath, a slight smirk curling her lips.
"Why are you behaving so weird, aayansh?" Tara grumbles, staring at him who has just stepped out of the closet, wearing his casual trousers. "She calls herself your sister and tries to kill you, and you are so unbothered?"
He keeps his phone on the night stand and turns to her who's standing behind.
Cupping her cheek as he stares into her eyes, noticing the slight redness in them, he questions in a demanding tone "You were crying?"
Silence.
Her eyes get teary again and she hugs him the other moment, nagging like a child "I want my babies back, please, get them back to me."
It takes him not a second to understand what could be the reason for her dull demeanor. His eyes turn cold, he takes a hold of her waist and lets her settle.
"We're supposed to be in bed for this" He bites her earlobe, his lips brush against her shell as he husks "You pinned beneath me, legs wide open and-" He pauses.
Her eyes flick wide with his words, pulling away, she throws a fragile punch on his chest with embarrassment "You're so dirty."
He smirks at her reaction, staring at her crimson turned face when suddenly she feels slight nausea creeping inside her.
She rubs her chest and Aayansh asks "What happened?"
"Nothing" She mumbles, ignoring it.
"Have dinner and sleep" He says in a serious tone, motioning toward the dinner kept on the coffee table.
Tara nods slightly and makes her way to the closet to change, and once she leaves, Aayansh's expression turns cold.
Tara blinks awake, stretching lazily between the tangled sheets. As the evening's memories crash over, she stares at the ceiling for a few moments before swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
Feeling her body heavy, she lets out a slow yawn.
She pulls up her comfortable crocs, her eyes roaming through the room as she finds aayansh standing in the balcony, talking on call.
Walking to him, tara cuddles him from behind, wrapping her arms around his bare chest as she rubs the tip of her nose on his back.
His eyes drop down at her arms, they stay in the same position for a few seconds as he disconnects the call. He grasps her wrist and pulls her in front of him, she lifts her eyes to look up in his.
"This family is so weird" She mumbles, remembering Aashika's unacceptable move.
"You don't need to get into these things" He says, lifting her into his arms in a swift moment as he walks toward the bathroom.
She wraps her arms around his neck, her eyes narrowing "What are you doing?"
"We're going to take a bath" He replies in his usual tone, without looking at her as he pushes the door open with his feet.
Aayansh puts her down in the bathtub and himself also enters after getting rid of his trousers. She's up on him. With one swift move, he separates his T-Shirt from her body and flings it aside, leaving her bare on him.
She closes her eyes, feeling his hands moving throughout her exposed skin.
Aayansh leans in, his lips nibble on her shoulder, making her breathless as he bites on her neck and she gasps.
He sucks on the bit skin sensually.
When his hand moves between her thighs, she mumbles in a barely audible voice, "Aayansh, please no."
He pauses, but doesn't move for a few moments, his face still half buried in tara's neck as he exhales against her skin and murmurs in a calmly dangerous tone "I'll make you pay for this later."
Hearing his words, an unknown shiver crawls through her spine.
After nearly twenty minutes, aayansh stands in the closet, face as usual cold with a towel draped around his torso.
He reaches for one of his usual black shirts from the closet when tara slips in, holding a white shirt as she insists "Aayansh, wear this white shirt, I want to twin my outfit with you."
He tilts his head toward her?- she's in a bathrobe, staring at him with a convincing gaze. His eyes sweep over her for a moment and an evil smirk plays on his lips, she blinks at him, puzzled.
And in the other blink, aayansh grabs her arm and yanks her against his bare chest, leaning on her from behind. His breath brushes against her ear as he murmurs "How about we twin with nothing on, in the room?"
Her eyes flick wide.
"I am serious" She grunts, a soft shade of pink coating her cheeks.
"I am not kidding either" He whispers darkly, biting her earlobe as he opens the knot of her bathrobe, her eyes squirming shut.
He flips her to his side and stares at her flushed face with intensity, afterbath glow on her delicate skin making her look ethereal, some damp strands of hair clinging to her face.
He brushes his thumb against her cheek, then her lips and leans closer, pecking her lips before detaching, while her breathing has gone fast?-He picks his black shirt and pants before getting back into the room.
Here, Tara stomps her feet on the floor with frustration.
AFTERNOON, 12.02 P.M
Tara steps onto the ground floor in a bottle green camisole and a white skirt, her hair softly curled, tumbling free.
She casts a look around, Meera and Riva are sitting in the hall.
Anika is nowhere in sight.
Ignoring everything, she makes her way to the exit of the palace when her eyes fall on aashika who has just entered. Hatred and rage takes over her mind but she avoids reacting. Exhaling, she heads out.
She's heading to O.R since her studio's interiors and other work are still underway, so there's nothing much to keep her busy. Besides, she just needs to refresh her mind.
Aashika gives a slight glance to her tara, noticing her unpleasant conduct, she walks inside.
"Where is Mrs. Oberoi?" She asks Riva, looking around with a 'Not so concerned' gaze.
"I don't know" She answers, reading the magazine in her hands, "I haven't seen her since last night, And don't try to talk to me"
Aashika ignores her, and notices Meera who's deliberately not meeting eyes with her, as if hiding something. She shakes her head and gets ahead to reach her floor with quick steps.
Here, Riva grumbles to Meera "Mom, why is this mannat still staying here as aashika di? Tau ji jo chahte the wo toh hua nahi, aayansh Bhai has taken everything. So why are we not telling him the truth, he will throw her out of here himself."
Meera snaps, "You better stay out of these matters and focus on your studies."
Riva grimaces at her.
"Boss, as you have invaded Russia, there's a chance some Bratva's members might turn against you. And as per the information, some of them are amassing illegal arms with a U.A.E based company, maybe they're planning something against you." Asher, who stands in front, informs in a low tone.
Aayansh sits the same way, unaffected. In a calm and cold tone as he mouths, "They're plotting a battle, just to end up in ashes."
He presses a cigar between his lips, lights it up and savors it slowly when his phone rings.
Aayansh picks the call, his face stays unreadable as arsh's concerned voice rumbles from the other end "You've made the whole Bratva against you? Do you even realise they're plotting a goddamn war behind your back?"
"Easy, Brother in law" Aayansh says, his voice unbothered as he drags another hit on his cigar "Plotting behind the back and executing the same on face are two different things."
"Giving respect doesn't suit you" Arsh mocks, wondering how on earth Aayansh replied to him without insulting.
Aayansh hits another puff of his cigar, an evil smirk creeping onto his lips as he answers "Just like taking respect is not your thing."
Arsh's jaw clenches but he cools down. In a calm tone, he explains "Invading Russia like this was maybe not a smart decision. You need to understand, going against the world to win isn't necessary every time."
"That's the difference between me and you AJ, you keep up with the world," Aayansh says calmly, crushing the cigar into the ashtray "And I keep the world at my feet."
"And again" He adds, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper "Duniya ke saath chalte rahoge toh duniya se aage nikalna bhool jaoge, that's exactly where you lose."
He disconnects. Leaning his head back on the headrest as he closes his eyes?-His face showing no emotion.
After some time-
AAYANSH'S FLOOR
The cabin is cloaked in absolute silence. There's no one here instead of aayansh and Tara.
Sitting on his chair, aayansh is reading a file with his usual cold face when his gaze shifts to Tara.
Folding her legs, she's on the couch, savoring the brownies kept on the glass table as if she doesn't give a shit to what's happening around her. Her lips are coated with chocolate but she's absolutely absorbed in the delicacy of her food.
He leans on his chair, tilting his head as he stares at her with intensity for a few moments.
Watching her lick the chocolate from her lips, he feels a rough heat igniting within him.
He gets up and walks to her- like a predator.
Realising him near, tara lifts her head to look up at him who's eyeing her with his desireful dark eyes, while her tongue is still working on her lips.
She pauses for a moment, then picks up a piece of brownie in her hand and brings it close to his mouth.
But he takes it from between her fingers and places it back on the plate, leaving a hint of confusion in her eyes.
He hooks a finger between cleavage, peeking through the camisole she's wearing as he drags her up onto her knees on the couch, her hands landing on his chest as she blinks at him with hesitance.
Feeling the heat of his finger between her cleavage and noticing the way his intense gaze is ogling her, she murmurs "Now don't say you're hungry for me."
Aayansh's dark eyes drop to her lips.
"I am starving," His voice is a menacing whisper as he leans closer to her face, his lips ghosts against her lobe as he says, "For you."
Blood rushes to her cheeks with his deep voice and words, more with his dominant actions.
She stiffens, caught in the heat of his gaze.
When without giving her a moment to process, he captures her tender lips into his mouth, her hands reaching to tug his hair as he claims her with an insatiable hunger. He kisses her roughly, like a man starving for years, swallowing every sound trying to escape her lips.
His one hand slides up her inner thigh beneath the skirt, his fingers digging into her skin while with the other arm, he lifts her off the couch.
"Aah.aayansh" She whimpers.
Her petite form squirming with the shift.
Tara's legs instinctively wrap around his torso.
She kisses him back, moving her lips against his with the sync. She moans his name between the kiss, again and again.
He pulls away the moment she runs out of breath, her hands clutching the fabric of his shirt and her face has turned crimson as she whimpers for air.
"I want you, right now" He husks against her swollen lips, staring at her face with the same intensity.
She gazes into his eyes for a quiet moment, then presses her lips to his. Her back arches as he devours her ruthlessly, his lips moving to her jawline and neck, placing sloppy kisses on her throat and she tilts her head.
Her breathing heavy, eyes squirms shut as she gives herself to him.
Wrapping one arm around her waist and picking her off the couch, Aayansh's face buried in her neck, kissing and nibbling on her collarbone-he carries her to the private room on the floor.
He pushes the door open with his knee, reaching inside and pinning both her wrists above her head as he presses her to the bed, hovering over her small frame. He bites on her cleavage while she's moaning her soul out.
Aayansh rips the clothes off her body and tosses them aside, while she's staring at him with those big eyes of hers filled with both craving and fear.
He maintains eye contact, letting the fear and anticipation sink into her as he gets rid of his shirt. He unbuckles his belt, getting rid of his pants when she breathes "Aah-yahnsh.. be gentle, I can't handle you."
"Only you can handle me." He hovers over her and pecks her lips before spreading her legs open for him.
-AFTER AROUND THREE HOURS-
With one final, powerful thrust, Aayansh pulls the orgasm out from her body for the sixth time, leaving her trembling and an absolute mess beneath him.
She digs her nails into his shoulders, her breath coming in rags as he finally empties himself inside her. His warm liquid flowing over her swollen cunt as she squirms, her throat is too tired of screaming and moaning his name.
Their sweat drenched bodies entangled as he whispers against her lips, "Open your eyes, Jaan."
She blinks her eyes open, locking with him. Her brown hair scattered over the pillow, face has turned crimson with exhaustion and she's looking so adorable like this. Like an undone angel- flushed and fragile.
Some strands of hair clinging to her face, Aayansh tugs them behind her ear when she whimpers "I am tired aayan, I w-want to sleep."
He presses a kiss against her forehead, then shifts her to the other side carefully as he gets up. A moment later, he returns with a loose T-shirt, slipping it over her exhausted body before murmuring "Sleep."
She shuts her eyes while Aayansh wears his pants and shirt. Casting a glance to her as he checks his phone from the night stand as he heads off the room, shutting the door behind.
?
A helicopter cuts through the night like a quiet storm, wind whipping the dust into frantic spirals as it hovers down until the skids slam onto the concrete.
Aayansh steps out of it, the wind brushes against his cold face. His muscular, broad frame draped in a black shirt with initial two buttons undone, pants and a black overcoat. Hair not perfectly settled, eyes cold and sharp.
His men standing around with their heads bow, acknowledge his presence.
"Welcome, King"
Aayansh looks at the man standing in front of him- Volkov Bratva-Current pakhan [head]of the organisation, draped in a brown long overcoat.
"Finally, you chose negotiation over the war," Volkov pressed, smirking.
"Who said I am here for negotiation?" Aayansh lets out an evil chuckle, making Volkov flinch.
His tone is cold and sarcastic. "Territories can never be won through negotiations, Volkov."
Volkov's jaw tightens with the realisation of his years of planning being ruined.
He had been plotting against aayansh since the day Aayansh conquered Russia.
Bratva was the leading power of Russia, which meant Bratva had to bend in front of Aayansh which they never intended to accept.
So Volkov wanted Aayansh to free Russia and establish peace, thinking he would agree to this if they amassed war against him.
7.41 P.M
Handing the keys to one of the managers-Alia- Tara gets out of her studio and walks to the car which has been there to pick her up, she forwards her hand to open the door when her eyes fall on aashika who's sitting in the driving seat.
Tara stops, giving her cold shoulders.
"Come on Tara," Aashika snuggles, trying to divert Tara's mind "You don't need to get scared of me like this."
"Excuse me, are you really this delusional or you're pretending to be?
I am not scared of you." Tara murmurs, her voice lacing a heartburn "And what do you expect, you will raise a gun on my husband and I'll hug you in return?
You know what? You can't do a shit against him, actually no one can do a shit against my aayansh-"
"Correct, no one can do anything against you and my brother" Aashika laughs at the way she's complaining, "Now please will you sit, ma'am?"
Tara hesitates, but she's in no mood to argue so she sits in the passenger seat, avoiding aashika's sight.
Aashika starts the car and they cross some distance with absolute silence.
Then, staring at the front, aashika says "You know what, you always remind me of my mom."
Tara turns her head to her whose face is unreadable.
"She was exactly like you, innocent, kind hearted" She adds, and Tara pauses.
"Mrs. Aaina oberoi-" She murmurs with curiosity, "Why does no one talk about her in the family? There's not even a single photo of her in the palace? And why did she suici-"
"You should avoid speaking when you don't know the things" Aashika cuts her off, her voice calm "She didn't do any suicide-" She breathes.
A flick of confusion takes over Tara's eyes as she questions "Then-?"
GLIMPSE FROM THE NEXT CHAPTER
Tara takes a step away from Aayansh, her body is trembling and eyes wide with terror and tears as she stares at him. He's drenched in blood, face smeared crimson, blood drops dripping down his knuckles and his eyes- Bloodshot red?-inhuman.
He's looking like a demon carved out of her worst nightmare.
His bloodshot fixed at the person lying on the ground, almost dead, almost. Begging and writhing like an insect being crushed beneath the feet, his trembling body pooled down in his own blood.
Tara remains frozen at her place, watching him. Her own saree is stained with blood as she shivers, trying to form words, Aayansh's name, but nothing comes out.
"Aa-aayansh... d-don't.. I'm your-" The person thrashing on the ground whimpers with unbearable pain, but Aayansh's cruel, calmly sadistic gaze doesn't resemble an ounce of mercy.
His merciless, cold eyes doesn't waver away from that person's body as he hands the gun to aashika who's standing near him. Her eyes brimming tears of pain, suffering and memories.
She has the right to snatch the last breath from the person who snatched everything from her. Her childhood, her mother, her innocence.
She takes the gun from his hand, pointing it at that person. Her merciless gaze floods with hate and disgust as she shoots constant three bullets to his throat and screams filled with pain and suffering Echoes.
Aashika removes her eyes from his torn apart body, splattering blood everywhere as he writhes. And seeing anyone in this disgusting condition is impossible for a human.
While Aayansh? His blood-red eyes never stray from that person's body, even when Tara's quiet sobs reach his ears, he doesn't look at her for once.
...............................
Please note: You had to wait four days even after the target completion, that's why I didn't any target on this one.
Btwww how was the chapter??
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