39
The next morning, I sat up in bed, still wrapped like a burrito in the blanket, clutching my phone as I hit dial.
"Bhabhiii..." I whined the moment Arya picked up the call.
"I was waiting for your call, Katha," she said softly, her voice laced with relief.
"Bhabhi, are you okay? Bhaiya didn't yell at you, right?" I asked nervously.
There was a pause, then she chuckled. "Your Bhairava bhaiya is angry with me, yes... but more upset that I didn't trust him enough to tell the truth."
I sighed in guilt. "I told him not to blame you..."
"He's not blaming me," she said gently. "In fact, I think he's more hurt than angry. But don't worry, he just needed some space-he's downstairs eating chocolate ice cream and mumbling something about 'his pregnant wife being a criminal.'"
I burst out laughing. "That sounds like Bhaiya."
Arya laughed too. "Anyway, I'm okay. You focus on your Agnivanshi husband now. Looks like someone finally accepted their obsession."
I grinned shyly, hugging the phone. "He kissed me, bhabhi..."
"OHHH MY GOD, IT HAPPENED?" she squealed, and I had to pull the phone away before my eardrum burst.
"Bhabhi!! Shh!" I whispered, giggling. "Yes, and he carried me, pinned me, and kissed the soul out of me!"
"Hayeee," she gushed. "My innocent baby Katha turned into a wild sunshine seductress."
"Okay byeee," I laughed, blushing furiously as I quickly hung up.
I dropped the phone on the bed and sighed, grinning to myself. Thank god Bhaiya didn't stay mad at Bhabhi. Well... how can he be? He's whipped. So whipped.
Just then, the door opened, and I looked up.
There he stood.
Dattatriya Agnivanshi. In a white kurta and pants, sleeves rolled up, veins prominent, hair still slightly damp.
Hayeee my husband is so hot, I thought shamelessly, biting my lip.
He took a few steps closer, eyes narrowing playfully.
"Sunshine," he said with a raised brow, "why are you grinning like an evil witch?"
I gasped, completely offended. "Excuse me, Mr. Agnivanshi! Did you just call me a witch?"
He shrugged with a smirk. "An adorable one."
"Hmph!" I huffed and turned my face away in fake annoyance.
He just laughed under his breath, leaned down, and kissed me. Soft, lingering, and with that same passion that made me melt.
I tried to stay mad for about 0.2 seconds, but like always-I melted.
When he finally pulled away, I mumbled, "Fine. I forgive you."
He grinned. "Of course you do. You're madly in love with me."
I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and get under the blanket."
"Bossy," he whispered with a wink, sliding in next to me.
Wrapped up again in our little cocoon, I smiled. The world outside might be a storm...
But here?
Here, I was safe.
With him.
The morning sunlight streamed softly through the curtains as Dattatriya pulled me into his arms, holding me tight like he didn't want to let go. I smiled, soaking in the warmth, the comfort of being his. But then, just as I closed my eyes again...
"Sunshine, I have a meeting to attend. I'm the CM, remember?" he whispered against my forehead.
"Nooo," I whined dramatically, pulling him closer. "Don't go. Cancel it. The country can survive without you for a few hours."
He chuckled, brushing his lips against mine. "If I could, I would. But I'll be back soon, I promise."
I pouted like a kid being denied ice cream. "Promise-promise?"
He laughed softly, nodding. "Promise. And be ready by evening. I'm taking you somewhere."
My face lit up like Diwali. "Where?"
"You'll see," he smirked and kissed me once more before walking out the door.
Just then, my phone rang. I groaned, flopping back on the bed like a defeated soldier. Lana. My PA. Crap-I totally forgot I was a lawyer too.
I picked up, sighing. "Lana, this better be life or death."
"Ma'am," her crisp voice came through, "There's a new case. A woman came in today. She's adamant she'll only speak to you. No one else. She even waited since morning."
I rubbed my temple. "And you're telling me now?"
"She just arrived 10 minutes ago, ma'am. But... she mentioned your name directly."
My brows furrowed. "Interesting. Alright, I'm on the way."
After hanging up, I quickly slipped into a crisp black formal outfit-tailored pants, blazer, the works-and packed my red chiffon saree in a bag, just in case I had to get ready at the firm itself. If I got late, I'd text Datta to pick me up from there.
I stepped out of the mansion-and halted.
What the hell?!
Three black SUVs.
Six armed bodyguards.
I blinked.
Bodyguards?!! Hyee? What in mafia-Hogwarts hybrid life is this?
I marched straight to the car, got in, and dialed His Highness CM Mafia King Husband Extraordinaire-aka Dattatriya Agnivanshi.
He picked up on the second ring. "Sunshine?"
"Datta," I said, through clenched teeth, "Do you want to tell me why there are six bodyguards and three SUVs in front of my house? Like I'm the freaking Prime Minister of Mars?"
He chuckled softly. Chuckled.
"Because you're my wife, and your safety is non-negotiable."
"This isn't safety! This is a full-blown presidential convoy!" I hissed. "I looked like I'm about to start a war with NATO."
"Let them do their job. I don't want a single scratch on you, sunshine. I'll see you in the evening," he said, completely unaffected.
"You're impossible."
"I know. But you love me anyway," he replied smoothly and ended the call before I could yell.
I groaned again, banged my head lightly against the steering wheel, and started the engine. The black convoy followed me silently all the way to my office building-The Queen of Justice.
As I stepped out and adjusted my blazer, the guards formed a silent semi-circle around me. Everyone at the firm turned to look.
Of course they did.
"Katha ma'am is here," Lana whispered to the staff as I walked through the glass doors like a mafia queen disguised as a corporate lawyer.
Only this mafia queen was about to meet a woman whose case, instinctively, I knew-was going to change everything.
I glanced back at the bodyguards standing like statues behind me. "Stay here. Don't follow me everywhere. Go to the canteen and eat something," I ordered sternly.
They hesitated. Clearly they were trained to obey one man only-my dramatic, possessive, over-the-top husband.
"I'll handle your CM. Go now," I added, more softly.
They exchanged a quick look before nodding and silently heading toward the canteen. Good. Even sonic statues need food, I thought, shaking my head with a small sigh.
I pushed open the door to my office, instantly slipping into my no-nonsense Queen of Justice mode.
And there she sat-a young woman. Maybe in her late 20s. Hair tied in a neat bun. Dark circles under her eyes. Wearing a plain kurta and a shawl over her shoulders. But what caught me off guard-
She was pregnant.
Pregnant. What the hell?
Her hands rested protectively over her belly. She had no expression on her face-emotionless, drained... but not weak. Not broken. I walked in, placed my bag down, and took my seat without breaking eye contact.
"You specifically asked for me," I started, voice sharp and neutral.
She nodded.
"Name?" I asked.
"Manya Panday," she replied softly.
I opened my laptop and clicked my pen. "Tell me everything. From the beginning. I want only facts."
She nodded once more. Her voice remained even, but I could sense the trauma behind her tone.
"I married into the Sharma family three years ago.
My husband, Rajeev Sharma, and his parents started torturing me six months after the wedding.
First emotionally, then physically. They wanted more dowry.
Every month something new. Gold. A car. A flat.
I come from a middle-class family, ma'am.
My father's no more. My mother did all she could. But it was never enough for them."
My fists clenched beneath the desk.
"Recently, they found out I'm having a girl. After that..." her hand unconsciously caressed her stomach, "They said I was useless. They beat me. Kicked me. Said if I didn't bring ten lakhs before the child is born, they'd throw me out."
Her tone didn't shake. Her back stayed straight.
"I came here to file a case not for me, but for her," she said, nodding to her belly. "I don't want my daughter to be born into fear. I don't want her to live where women are treated like property."
I stared at her, my face unreadable. Sonic.
But inside?
Burning.
How dare they?
How dare they do this to a woman carrying life inside her?
I closed the file and looked her in the eye.
"I'll take your case," I said firmly. "And I promise you, Manya, I'll make sure your in-laws and husband suffer every single day until the law breaks them. They'll never hurt another woman again."
Her lips twitched into a faint smile. She didn't cry. Not even a tear.
She was strong. Stronger than most.
She stood up slowly and said, "Thank you."
And just like that, she left.
I stared at the door for a moment after it shut behind her. Then I whispered under my breath-
"Your fight's mine now."
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