Chapter 53 - The New Enemy
The morning at Astra Group began like any other.
The glass doors of the headquarters opened as employees arrived one after another.
Executives moved through the corridors with files in their hands.
Phones rang.
Meetings began.
Business never stopped.
And at the center of it all...
Aadhira sat in her office, reviewing a report.
Shanaya stood across from her, holding a tablet.
"The Singapore expansion is ahead of schedule," Shanaya said.
Aadhira looked through the figures.
"Good."
"There is one more thing."
Aadhira looked up.
"What?"
Shanaya placed the tablet on the desk.
"Mr. Vikrant Malhotra has contacted us again."
Aadhira's expression immediately changed.
"No."
Shanaya almost smiled.
"I thought you'd say that."
"I already gave him my answer."
"He says he's willing to change the terms."
"I don't care."
Shanaya nodded.
"I knew that too."
Aadhira closed the file.
"I don't do business with people I don't trust."
Shanaya leaned against the desk.
"You rejected one of the most profitable proposals we've received this quarter."
"And?"
"Nothing."
Shanaya smiled.
"I just wanted to hear you say it again."
Aadhira's lips curved slightly.
"If money was the only thing that mattered, business would be very easy."
Shanaya nodded.
"Fair enough."
Neither of them noticed the man standing several kilometers away, staring at a photograph on his desk.
---
SOMEWHERE IN MUMBAI
Vikrant Malhotra threw the file across the table.
"She rejected me."
The man sitting opposite him remained silent.
Vikrant's jaw tightened.
"Do you know how many companies would fight for a partnership like this?"
His assistant carefully replied,
"Yes, sir."
"And she simply said no."
He stood and walked toward the window.
Aadhira rathore.
That name had been irritating him for weeks.
He had approached her with an extremely profitable proposal.
He had offered her everything she could possibly want from the partnership.
And she had rejected him.
Not because of the money.
Not because of the terms.
Because she didn't like his character.
That was what had infuriated him the most.
She had looked at him as though she could judge his character.
As though she were better than him.
Vikrant's fingers tightened around the glass in his hand.
"She thinks she can decide who is worthy of doing business with her."
His assistant remained silent.
Vikrant turned.
"Find out everything about her."
"We already have information about Astra Group."
"Not the company."
He stared at him.
"I want Aadhira."
---
ASTRA GROUP
Later that afternoon, Aadhira walked out of her office.
Shanaya followed her.
"You have another meeting in twenty minutes."
"I know."
"And you're supposed to have lunch."
Aadhira glanced at her.
"That sounds less important."
"It isn't."
Aadhira smiled faintly.
Before Shanaya could respond, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Finally!"
Aadhira turned.
Naina walked toward them.
She was wearing a stylish outfit, sunglasses resting on her head and a handbag hanging from one shoulder.
Aadhira smiled.
"Naina."
"You've been avoiding me."
"I've been working."
"Same thing."
Shanaya laughed.
"I'll leave you two."
"Traitor," Naina said.
Shanaya walked away.
Naina immediately linked her arm through Aadhira's.
"Come."
"Where?"
"Lunch."
"I have a meeting."
"Cancel it."
"No."
"Then reschedule it."
Aadhira sighed.
"You haven't changed."
"Neither have you."
Naina looked at her carefully.
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
"And I'm usually right."
Naina shook her head.
"One day I'm going to lock you in a room and force you to rest."
Aadhira laughed softly.
"Try."
"I will."
For a few minutes, the world felt normal.
No family drama.
No business threats.
No enemies.
Just two old friends talking.
Naina had been one of the few people who had remained beside Aadhira when almost everyone else had turned away.
She had never asked Aadhira to prove herself.
Never demanded explanations.
She had simply stayed.
And Aadhira valued that more than she ever said aloud.
---
Across the street...
A black car was parked.
A man inside watched them.
His eyes remained fixed on Naina.
"That's her?"
The man beside him nodded.
"Yes."
"Who is she?"
"Naina Kapoor. Fashion entrepreneur. Aadhira's closest friend."
Vikrant smiled slowly.
"How close?"
"Very."
He leaned back.
"Good."
His eyes followed Naina.
"Very good."
---
That evening, Naina left her office alone.
She checked her phone while walking toward her car.
A message from rohan appeared.
Where are you?
She smiled and replied.
Going home. Why?
His reply came almost immediately.
Nothing. Just checking.
Naina rolled her eyes.
"Overprotective idiot."
She put her phone away.
She unlocked her car.
Before she could get inside...
A voice came from behind.
"Ms. Kapoor?"
Naina turned.
A man stood several feet away.
"Yes?"
"I need to speak with you."
Naina frowned.
"About?"
He stepped closer.
"It concerns Aadhira."
Naina immediately became cautious.
"What about her?"
Before she could react...
Someone grabbed her from behind.
Naina struggled.
"What the-"
A cloth was pressed over her mouth.
Her vision blurred.
She tried to scream.
But the world quickly faded into darkness.
Her phone slipped from her hand.
It hit the ground.
The screen cracked.
The last message visible on it was from rohan.
Call me when you reach home.
The car drove away.
And Naina disappeared with it.
---
LATER THAT NIGHT
Aadhira sat in her living room.
Arjun was beside her, going through some documents.
Her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Kabir.
She answered.
"Hello?"
There was silence.
Then Kabir's voice came through.
"Aadhira..."
Something in his voice made her straighten.
"What happened?"
"I can't find Naina."
Aadhira's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
"She was supposed to call me after leaving her office."
"And?"
"Her phone is switched off."
Aadhira stood.
"When did you last speak to her?"
"About an hour ago."
Arjun immediately looked at Aadhira.
He could see the change in her expression.
"Aadhira?"
She held up a hand.
"Where is her car?"
"They found it near her office."
Aadhira's eyes hardened.
"Found it?"
"Her car was there."
Kabir's voice cracked.
"But Naina wasn't."
Silence.
Aadhira's fingers tightened around the phone.
"Send me everything."
"I already did."
"I'll handle it."
"Aadhira-"
"I'll find her."
She ended the call.
Arjun stood.
"What happened?"
Aadhira looked at him.
"Naina is missing."
His expression immediately turned serious.
"What?"
"I think she's been kidnapped."
Arjun moved closer.
"We'll find her."
Aadhira didn't answer.
Her mind was already moving.
Who?
Why?
And most importantly...
Why Naina?
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
You rejected my offer.
Aadhira stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Now you will understand what rejection costs.
Her eyes became cold.
Arjun watched her carefully.
"Who is it?"
Aadhira didn't answer immediately.
She remembered the man.
The business proposal.
The way he had spoken.
The arrogance behind his smile.
Vikrant Malhotra.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
Another message appeared.
Your friend is alive. For now.
Aadhira's expression became unreadable.
Arjun stepped closer.
"Aadhira."
She finally looked at him.
"They took Naina because of me."
Arjun's jaw tightened.
"This isn't your fault."
"I know."
Her voice was calm.
Far too calm.
She looked back at the message.
The fear was there.
Buried deep.
Because Naina wasn't just her friend.
She was one of the people who had stayed when everyone else had left.
And whoever had taken her...
Had made one very serious mistake.
They had touched someone Aadhira loved.
Aadhira picked up her phone.
"Find him."
Arjun stared at her.
"Who?"
Aadhira's eyes hardened.
"Vikrant Malhotra."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
No panic.
Only determination.
Because whoever had decided to hurt Aadhira through Naina...
Hadn't understood one simple thing.
Aadhira didn't run from enemies.
She hunted them.
To be continued...