60| Pleasures, Ruin And The Twist
Aashika sits in the car, phone in hand. She dials Meera's number, her voice slow as Meera picks and blurts out. “Aashi, where are you? And Tara-”
“Tara? She hasn't returned yet?” Aashika interrupts, voice edged with tension.
"What do you mean? She wasn't well, and you took her with you right?"
Aashika exhales, "I'll call you later chachi."
"But beta-"
She disconnects, shifting her focus to the road ahead as she mutters into herself "This girl. I shouldn't have scared her that much."
She drives on, every kilometre fueling her worry?-Tara must be safe. But where's she? Why hasn't she returned to the palace? The questions gnaw at her relentlessly.
Another call buzzes-Enzo, The consigliere of Vaniore dominion where Aashika reigns as head.
He has sent a picture.
Aashika pulls the car aside and opens it, eyes scanning the teenage boy's face in the picture. Clad in black tailored suit, his dark blue orbs and sharp facial features stand out.
Something clicks in her mind.
Without a second thought, she dials Enzo back and as the call connects, she spills "Who's the boy in that picture?"
"You know him, Donna"
"Shut the fuck up and answer!?" She barks with impatience.
Enzo hesitates, "Do you remember Edward. Edward Krov?"
Aashika's jaw clenches hearing this name, "How could I ever forget that fatherfucker-the man who trapped me in my innocence and tried to sell me like I was a fucking merchandise."
"Absolutely, you were just a young girl when you were kidnapped to be smuggled across the seven countries." Enzo informs, his tone dropping serious, "The boy in this pic was also the part of that smuggling veil, and he's-"
"Aayansh!" Aashika cuts in, flabbergasted.
Silence lingers.
Then enzo fills in, "I got this picture from the confidentials of that deal. Possibly, either your brother knew about you since then or he's equally responsible for whatever happened to you."
Aashika's focus is not on enzo's words, she cuts the call and texts someone.
She starts the car again, but the destination is changed.
After around half an hour, aashika's car comes to halt near a cliff. She strides out, face burning with rage as her eyes lock onto the tall figure standing at the edge. The cold breeze whips through his face, his back turned toward her... terrifyingly silent.
"Aayansh?!" She growls.
He doesn't budge.
"Aayansh I'm talking to you," Her fury peaks, "Where's Tara?"
Aayansh's muscles pulsate, but he remains still.
"I asked where's?-"
A shiver runs through Aashika as Aayansh finally turns toward her, eyes bloodshot, muscles taut, his voice icy as he warns- "Stay the fuck-away-from-her."
A terrific silence.
For a moment, tears of hurt glisten in aashika's eyes-a heartburn may be too deep.
"You think I'm her enemy?" She breaks the silence, "I want to harm her? I did scare her, so she'd step away from all this mess on her own." Her voice wavers "Because she's too innocent to be a part of this brutal game."
Aayansh's cold expression doesn't waver a bit.
"And you-" Aashika's voice turn cold, "You knew about me being alive for eleven- -fucking-years? You were the part of that smuggling veil where I was about to be sold as a merchandise?"
Memories crash over her-the moment when Aayansh first saw Aashika after she'd vanished, presumed dead to the world all those years ago.
The ship's chamber is silent, moon's cold glow spills through the tall glass windows, casting on Aayansh's face who stands leaning slightly against the burning fireplace's mantel.
Clad in a black tailored suit. Freshly shaved face, growing broad shoulders and settled hair-his frame carrying the trace of boyhood.
He's playing mouth organ, the same notes scary enough for goosebumps to crawl over anyone's skin. His one hand resting into the pocket, eyes closed, cold face... showing no trace of emotions.
"Edward krov, European smuggler?-He's established unbreakable regime in seven countries?-" Romano's voice crackles, severe but composed “The most feared mafia in the dark world.
Remember this son, if you want power here, you don't do it alone.
No one rules by themselves. We're going to meet him, and you must make him beleive you're loyal to him and his syndicate.”
Aayansh doesn't budge.
No reaction, no movement.
His mouth organ keeps breathing the same unbroken dark melody.
"Also in this world, trust is the bullet waiting for your skull. Never hand it to anyone," Romano clasps his hands behind his back "Anyone but your mentor, me."
The melody lingers, but Aayansh doesn't turn, his dark-blue orbs glued to the rushing waves outside as he murmurs "What makes you different from those 'anyone'?"
"Huh?" A frown tugs at Romano's face.
Aayansh turns to face him, his face blunt as he steps ahead "You call yourself my mentor, yet can't answer a simple question?"
Romano's throat constricts, aware his manipulation web is a fragile thread he's trying to dangle over this young boy.
A while later, as the ship sways, music floats through its grand hall. At every table, sits a known personality of this crime world, glasses clinks, cigars burned when someone's presence makes their posture stiffen.
Edward krov, armored in a gray long coat, his men standing behind. His gaze wanders around, an evil grin curls his lips.
"????????? ????" He announces in his native language, cheers follows.
| The Feast Of The Victory |
A woman hands him the glass of champagne, when Romano's words catch his attention "Another empire bows tonight, sig?ore."
Edward acknowledges his presence, then his eyes shift to the boy approaching there-Aayansh.
"This little boy's also here?" He chuckles, knowing Aayansh isn't just another face in the crowd, he's one of those few who's carrying the secret of the girls being smuggled across the seven countries tonight.
"So?-" He extends a hand toward aayansh's shoulder "What's your name, young man?"
Aayansh's tone cuts the air, calm but biting "I don't like anyone touching me-" His eyes shift from Edward's hand to his face as he finishes "without my permission."
Edward's hand freezes mid-way.
Romano's breath dries in his throat, bracing for the storm that might follow.
But instead, Edward's grin deepens "The kid's got balls, I respect." He takes a sip of champagne, "Not many would dare speak to me like that, not when surviving in this world is on the line."
He settles on the Chesterfield couch.
Hesitant, Romano lowers himself onto the opposite sofa, where a few other men are already seated.
A man clears his throat, uneasy "Boss, the girls are sedated constantly, still if any tries to fight back or run, what do we do?"
"Break her legs," Edward, leaning back with a winning smirk, says "Once these girls cross the seventh border, they're no longer girls, they're profit."
"Конечно, the mother of all smuggling deals. International. Untouchable, after all it's a work of legend like you." Romano praises, grinning.
"By the way, this girl shipment is straight outta Asia, yeah?" He adds, finger tapping against the glass, "That's what I've been hearing."
Edward's expressions stiffens, then in a cold and asserting voice, he answers "India, majorly. Each girl is a pure-untouched beauty, made to be sold- a pristine product."
Meanwhile, Aayansh who's hearing this conversation. His nerves are taught, knuckles white and eyes red-rimmed... like a predator waiting to strike.
"Well, this night's for pleasure" The lieutenant declares "Bring them!?"
Seconds later, the cargo hall fills with naked women from different countries, trays of drinks balanced in their hands as if part of twisted entertainment.
The pair of beauties slide onto Edward's lap, one undoing his overcoat and the other, his belt followed by pants as they start doing 'IT' then and there.
Not only them, the lieutenant and a few other men are also doing the sexual activity openly.
Meanwhile, Romano gestures to a temptress, sending her toward Aayansh. As in their eyes, Aayansh is just a naive 'little boy' developing hormones, easily fascinated by these things.
Slowly and seductively, the girl steps near Aayansh, aiming to draw his attention toward her as she whispers "For tonight, I'm yours."
Him, who hasn't spared a single glance at her, his icy eyes on the glass in his hand, his voice slow and menacing "Just for tonight?"
A faint frown tugs at the girl's face, then she takes a step closer with a teasing smirk "Um... as many nights as you want."
His lips curl slightly, not in desire, but something darker flicks in his eyes?-disgust laced with a sadistic calm.
"Get used to this son! you're in our world now" Romano interjects, "Go on, take her to a room and enjoy."
At this point, Aayansh's patience is even scarier.
He rises from the sofa and makes his way to the chamber inside, Romano indicates to the girl to go behind him.
The girl trails after Aayansh, her steps laced with a seductive grace.
He doesn't turn, doesn't react, knowing she's following him-until her hand looms over his arm?-his patience breaks.
He shuts his eyes, fingers rake the nape of his neck like a psychopath as he mutters in his breath "I hate anyone touching me without my permission. I-hate-it."
The girl stumbles a step back.
The smuggling is set to move at dawn, cargo has already slipped past six borders... one more crossing and the girls would vanish, sold across seven countries.
The cargo's surface? spilled drinks, smoke in the air, men passed out with the guns still at their side, the taste of last night's sins lingering heavy.
Here, romano enters Aayansh's chamber. His gaze sweeps around, the room is clean with a faint smell of cigar mixed in the air.
His gaze lingers on Aayansh who's pulling up a black leather jacket over his shoulders, back turned to him.
"So-" with a wicked smile, Romano tucks his hands behind him and asks "How was the experience of tasting a woman for the first time?"
Aayansh doesn't flinch, clearly unbothered to his words, his expressions blunt and actions steady.
He shrugs into the jacket properly, rolling his shoulders as if settling it in his own skin as he answers "The girl you sent wasn't that good, uncle." He turns to face Romano, "Next time, send a woman who can endure me-at least a few hours."
Romano flinches, eyes thinning in disbelief and confusion.
He lets his gaze wander around, searching for the girl as he questions "But... where's she?"
Silence, Aayansh doesn't answer, straightening the collar of his jacket.
Then the lieutenant's urgent voice cuts through the stillness of the cargo hold. "Chief, there's a girl's body drifting against the cargo's edge."
Panic erupts-thinking this might be the indication of the enemy's attack.
Romano stiffens, as though cement has been poured straight into his spine.
Meanwhile, a small and sadistic grin tugs on Aayansh's lips.
He'd allowed the girl to follow him last night, because for him she was nothing but a pawn to use as a distraction.
He slips a hand in his pocket, pulling out a folded paper- unfolding it to reveal a girl's picture-in her early twenties.
The girl he's been searching for nine years...dead to the world, alive in the chaos... his sister.
Aashika Oberoi.
Outside, the deck explodes into chaos. Shouts overlap with curses, guns snapping up as men scatter toward the rails.
"Mother fuck, Government raids?!" someone barks, voice rough with panic, boots slam against the iron floor.
Untouched by the frenzy around him, Aayansh rests the gun at the small of his back. Eyes cold and sharp as he heads off the chamber, steps unhurried.
A sudden blast erupts on the upper deck, panic surging faster than fire through dry grass.
The eighteen girls-who were about to be smuggled in seven different countries-are hidden beneath a tarpaulin in a shadowed corner of the cargo hold. The only hint of their presence is a faint sensor blinking under the canvas?-No one on deck notices it as the havoc tears around the hull.
Amid the chaos, Aayansh enters the hull. Outside the tarpaulin, two men stand guard for extra security, their stances stiff and hands never far from their weapons until a gunshot echoes through the hull, the two guards snap alert instantly.
Their eyes dart around, hands flying to their guns as one of them mutters "C'è qualcuno lì."
As ordered, one of them set the entire tarpaulin ablaze, ensuring the girls inside cannot escape, nor can anyone claim them... not even in death.
Flames roar in the ocean, but no scream rises under the burning tarpaulin... the girls inside are drugged so heavily they can't feel their bodies, don't even remember their names.
Aayansh storms into the burning tarpaulin, smoke hazing the way ahead but his stride doesn't falter.
"Chi sei, ragazzo?" One of those men barks from behind Aayansh, raising his gun straight to his head but before a shot can ring, Aayansh pivots in a blink, slamming the man's face against the iron wall. His skull cracks under the force.
He makes his way inside, flames and smoke clawing at him. The Entrance is locked with a code, and as he's one of the few who knows the secret of this smuggling veil, with a swift flick of his fingers, the lock clicks open.
Those eighteen girls are chained inside, swallowed by the haze of fire, smoke filling their lungs but they're unaware how their bodies are burning to death slowly.
All these girls are purely untouched-beautiful-virgins.
Aayansh's cold eyes search through the smoke and flames, desperate, looking for the girl he's here, his sister.
Suddenly, a flicker of movement cuts through the smoke. His hand grips his gun right away, one blink when he shoots in the left side... and the lieutenant aiming at him crumples to his knees.
He doesn't glance back, focusing on finding Aashika in the crowd... until his eyes land on her... curled in the corner, barely conscious.
The sight of her in such a state makes Aayansh's blood boil beyond control. His knuckles clenched, fury flooding in his veins.
He crouches down slightly, flames descending from above, licking his skin as he forces his way closer.
Twenty-one-year old aashika lies slumped, drugged beyond awareness. Her body doesn't move, numb even as the fire inches closer until Aayansh perches on his tiptoes beside her, wrapping his arm around her frail frame and lifting her to stand fully on his support.
He holds her tight in his arm, passing through the smoke and flames while she drifts, unaware of herself, drugs numbing her senses.
The lieutenant's muffled cries fuels Aayansh's rage.
His fingers clench around the barrel of his gun, one arm cradling aashika carefully as his predatory gaze locks on the lieutenant.
He's about to tear into him with bullets when a broken, trembling voice cuts through the chaos from behind, "D-don't kill... my husband, please leave him. You too... have someone you love in your arms."
Lieutenant's wife, who was here to look after these girls.
Aayansh's bloodshot eyes drop to aashika for a second, a fresh wave of rage surges through him.
He doesn't turn, raising his gun behind him. In a blink, a shot strikes the woman's forehead. And before her body even hits the ground, two more bullets tear into her husband-the lieutenant's chest-without hesitation.
Aayansh doesn't spare their bodies a single glance, sliding the gun into the back of his jacket, he lifts aashika in his arms and makes his way out of this burning place.
The skin of his shoulders is scorched, the leather of his jacket beginning to melt against him.
He strides forward, entering the hull where bodies lie scattered like refuse, chaos erupting all around.
Aayansh exhales, smoke filling his lungs, face drenched in sweat, eyes bloodshot and burning.
Amid all this, a sharp and venomous voice slices through the smoke from behind. "Bloody deceiver!"
Edward krov, stepping from the shadows, gun trained on Aayansh from behind. Eyes cold.
"Leave the girl," Edward barks, a wicked smirk curling his lips "?-and drop the gun. Now! Little 'Deceiver' boy."
Aayansh closes his eyes, veins standing out on his forehead and arms, fury surging beyond his own control.
He settles aashika against the side wall, then turns to Edward, tossing his gun aside. His gaze locks to Edward's, unflinching and lethal.
Edward steps closer, gun leveled at Aayansh's head, voice raw as he spits, "You don't deserve any easy death-"
In a flash, Aayansh's eyes snap to the shovel lying a few inches from his feet, before shifting back to Edward.
There's no moment to plot, either he loses his life or rips Edward's throat out.
Edward lunges again, reaching for Aayansh's face but Aayansh lifts his right leg, slamming a kick against Edward's chest. Edward crashes backward with a loud thud, his back hitting the ground but he doesn't budge, instantly, a bullet fires toward Aayansh's head.
Aayansh jerks downward the same second, the bullet scorching past, embedding in the iron wall behind.
In one brutal motion, Aayansh grabs the shovel lying near, muscles coiling with rage. Edward raises his gun again, but it's too late.
Aayansh lifts the shovel up, plunging the metal directly into Edward's throat with all his strength. The force is so brutal Edward's head snaps away from his body to the other side, leaving his torso writhing in agony.
A sea of blood swallows the ground, splattering across Aayansh's face, smearing crimson over his features.
He exhales, a sadistic satisfaction settling over his face as his eyes linger on Edward's lifeless body.
A few hours later, it's a cottage, aashika lies in bed-unconscious, a female expert examining her.
Aayansh stands near, his eyes pinned to aashika.
"She's fine now," The woman says softly, "The sedation will wear off soon."
"Can she travel?" Aayansh questions, his voice severe.
"Definitely!"
He asks only so he can send Aashika to India safely, without letting her know he saved her, he knows she's alive. Because maybe, his path has changed too drastically for her to be a part of it.
A path where he doesn't wait for fate to clear his ways, he bends destiny itself to carve them-writing his story where he's the villain, not only of his own life, but of others' as well.
"If you feel ignored," Aayansh says in his usual calm tone, giving a little glance to her "Then be it."
"Sadu pumpkin" She mutters in her breath, frustration across her face.
Aayansh who has heard the word clearly, he ignores.
Aashika straightens, walking to the car's boot and pulling out two beer bottles.
Reaching the front again, she holds out a bottle to Aayansh. He shoots her a cold glance, and she quickly mumbles in excuse "Ghuro mat! I don't usually drink. Just sometimes."
He ignores, without sparing her a glance as he takes the bottle from her hand.
Aashika leans back against the bonnet, "All these years were so tough, so lonely without our family?-You, mom, chachi-chachu-But" She takes a sip before looking back at him "When did you get to know I'm alive? I was so fucking dead to the world."
Aayansh also sips, eyes on the dark above "I don't believe in what the world does," He lets his words settle, "So for me, you were never dead."
Aashika makes a dramatic face.
Then finally, she spills what's actually in her head "Don't you... miss mom?"
Silence.
Her eyes shift to Aayansh whose eyes are close, expressions unreadable and calm.
Aashika exhales, the weight heavy in her chest. She knows how useless this question was, because Aayansh's someone who never lets anyone know what's going on inside him.
They remain silent, aashika's drinking.
"I won't ask where you've kept tara..." she murmurs in a serious tone, "But?-why have you separated her from the palace... and the family?"
Aayansh opens his eyes, voice colder than the night breeze.
"Because I don't want her to witness another chaos."
"Kya karne wale ho tum?"