This author's note is to bring to your attention that I am not getting a good response on this book, and I am contemplating taking it down. A vote and comment really encourage the author. If you all canât even provide that, then maybe I should upload the book on a platform where I can earn money. At least Iâll gain something.
When I asked for likes and comments, you couldnât give that, so now I need to focus on my benefit.
Thatâs all for now. If I get a good response on this chapter, I might change my mind, but letâs see. From now on, I wonât ask you to vote. If you want to vote, go ahead, and if I decide to take down the book, I will. Itâs as simple as that.
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RAGHAV
After leaving Divya in Nandini aunty's care, I headed towards my study. The moment I stepped inside, the sight that greeted me made my annoyance flare. Rohan was lounging on the sofa, a glass of whiskey in hand, which he had undoubtedly pilfered from my mini bar.
As soon as he saw me enter the room, he raised the glass in greeting, a lazy grin on his face. I ignored his smug expression and made my way behind the desk, sitting down in the chair with a heavy sigh.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my tone sharper than I intended.
Rohan took a leisurely sip of his drink before answering, "Well, you did ask me to arrange a room for her. And by the way, you should probably thank me for arranging such a lovely room for your woman."
"She isn't my woman!" I yelled, my voice echoing off the walls. Rohan raised his eyebrows teasingly, a smirk playing on his lips. I decided to ignore him.
"Oh really, even after she saved your life?" he said, chuckling.
I took a few deep breaths to control my anger, but the memory of the hospital scene filled me with fury. I glared at him, and he looked at me, confused as to why he was suddenly the target of my ire.
"Why did you give her a bouquet of flowers?" I demanded through gritted teeth.
"What?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.
I took another deep breath and asked again, "Why would you give her flowers?"
"Because that's what we usually give to recovering people," he replied cautiously. He acted like he was walking on eggshells, probably because he knew one wrong word might make him face my wrath.
"Don't," I said curtly, opening the file on my desk.
"What?" he asked again, this time with a hint of frustration.
I clenched the pen in my hand, trying to keep my composure. Rohan was usually perceptive, able to understand everything with just one signal. It was one of the many things I liked about him. But today, he seemed to be playing dumb.
"Don't give her flowers ever again," I said firmly.
He leaned back, the mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "Are you jealous?" he asked, a sly grin spreading across his face.
I decided not to reply. The truth was, I wasn't sure myself. The feelings I had when I saw her with those flowers were foreign to me. Was it jealousy, protectiveness, or something else entirely?
Rohanâs chuckle brought me back to reality. "Wow, you really are jealous," he said, shaking his head in amusement.
I glared at him, feeling my anger bubbling up again. "Just don't do it," I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady
"Don't worry, I won't dare to flirt with your woman," Rohan said with a smirk. I sighed and turned my attention back to the file in front of me. After reviewing it, I signed and handed it over to Rohan.
"Take this to the office," I said, hoping to cut the conversation short.
"You're not coming to the office?" he asked. I shook my head, already bracing myself for his next comment. His eyes gleamed with mischief, and I knew what was coming. "Well, I get it. You're staying home to take care of Divya."
I closed my eyes, trying to control my anger. If it were anyone else, they would have been out the door by now. But Rohan always pushed the boundaries of our friendship. I clenched my jaw and replied, "I'm going to meet Aakash. I
He was discharged from the hospital yesterday."
His expression shifted to one of concern. "Should I come with you?"
"No," I said firmly. "I need to have some personal talk with him."
With that, I walked out of the study, my steps heavy with frustration. Outside, I declined my driverâs offer to take the wheel, taking the keys from him instead. The feel of the steering wheel under my fingers was grounding as I drove out of the main gate.
New York welcomed me with its usual chaos, a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. The drive gave me time to think, to reflect on the past few days. Divya's presence in my life had upended everything, and Rohan's teasing only highlighted the confusion I felt.
Parking the car outside Aakash's house, I cut off the engine and stepped out. The housekeeper opened the door with a smile, not stopping me as I made my way inside. In the grand living room, my eyes fell on Ananya working in the kitchen. When she saw me, she waved and approached with her usual warmth.
"So, what brings you here, Mr. Sinha?" she asked playfully.
"I just came to meet your lovely husband," I replied, and the living room was filled with her angelic laughter.
"He's in his room resting," she said, giving me directions. I thanked her and made my way upstairs. I raised my hand to knock but reconsidered. I thought of annoying him. The action might get on his nerves, which was always so easy to do. Aakash was impulsive and easy to annoy. When we were kids, it was my hobby to push his buttons.
I shook my head at the old memories. We were so close, just like real brothers, but everything changed after her death. Smiling at the memory of our old antics, I shook my head and pushed the door open. As soon as I entered, I was met with a pair of angry blue eyes.
"What are you doing here? And have you forgotten some manners?" Aakash asked angrily.
"Good to see you, brother," I said with a smirk.
He chuckled darkly. "Brother? So you think of me as a brother, and that's why you decided to kidnap my pregnant wife?"
I sighed and made my way to the sofa across from the bed, settling in comfortably. Aakash continued to glare at me. "I had no idea she was pregnant," I confessed.
"So if you knew, you wouldn't have kidnapped her?" he taunted.
"You know me, Aakash. I have some principles and morals that I never break," I said firmly. He sighed and leaned back against his pillows, trying to mask his annoyance.
"I'm really sorry... for everything," I said quietly.
"Raghav..." he whispered my name and then looked at me, his eyes filled with longing. "I missed you, my brother."
I sighed, feeling tears burning at the back of my eyes, threatening to fall. I clenched my fists tighter. "One misunderstanding... just one misunderstanding ruined everything," I said, burying my face in my hands. One mistake had destroyed our friendship, our family, everything.
I snapped my head up when I heard him laughing. "Why the hell are you laughing?" I asked angrily.
"You look very funny like this," he said, continuing to laugh. This guy was literally laughing at my misery. I sighed as a small smile crept onto my face too.
"So, me being sad and upset is funny?" I asked.
"Yes, it is. You're so strong and dangerous. Seeing you like this is funny," he said. Aakash was always like this. He could make anyone laugh in any situation or change a tense atmosphere into a lighter one. He was a carefree guy.
He continued laughing, and then all of a sudden, he started coughing, clutching his stomach. I was instantly on my feet, ready to check on him, but he stopped me with a raised hand.
"I'm fine," he coughed. "It's just sometimes my wound hurts a bit," he explained. I sighed in relief as I saw him breathing normally again and leaned back on the sofa.
"I really don't understand how the hospital discharged you with these fatal wounds," I mumbled.
"Probably because technically I own the hospital and plus I have a beautiful doctor wife who will take care of me better than those doctors," he replied casually.
I chuckled, realizing his real motive. "So your real reason is to make your wife take care of you," I asked.
He nodded. "Well, you have no idea how it feels to see her taking care of me and getting worried for me. Probably you'll understand when you fall in love."
Love? I don't think I can ever love anyone. My heart has stopped feeling anything for years. It works only to pump blood. But then again, why does my heartbeat increase seeing a pair of dark onyx eyes with an angelic face? I shook off my thoughts. I didn't want to think about her. Lately, she's been on my mind too much, which is not good for my heart.
Aakash cleared his throat and said, "Well, Iâm glad you came to see me. I was going to meet you once I recovered."
I looked at him, confused. "Why?"
"Because we need to discuss some professional work," he replied, confusing me more because we had no professional relationship at all. He sighed, seeing my confusion, and said, "It's about the underworld."
"Underworld?" I raised an eyebrow in question. He gave me a look that told me I wouldn't like what he was about to say.
"I have decided to leave my position as mafia king," he said, and my eyes widened in disbelief.
"What? Why? Is it because Ananya is pregnant?" I asked.
"Yeah, that's just one of many reasons," he said, straightening up. "Look, Raghav, I was never meant to be a mafia king. It might be in my blood, but I don't deserve it. I'm not capable enough for it."
I nodded, understanding his feelings. It was his choice; after all, this was his life
"Uncle agreed to it?" I asked.
"At first he didn't, but then I told him about someone who could replace me and was way better than me," Aakash replied.
I hummed in response, curious. "Then who is he?" I asked.
Aakash gave me a look that for the second time made me feel like I wouldn't like what he was about to say. I never in my wildest dreams expected this.
"You," he said.
What? I stood up instantly, thinking I must have heard wrong. "It's you," he said again.
"Have you lost your mind?" I yelled angrily. "Who gave you the right to make these decisions?" I demanded.
"No one," he said casually, making me angrier.
"You can't force me," I said sternly.
"I don't have to. You will willingly accept the position," he said confidently.
I laughed at his words. Confidence was good, but right now he was being overconfident. "What makes you think that I will do that?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest and fixing him with a glare.
"Because you are a born king," he said.
I raised an eyebrow in question. "People want power for two reasons. Some want to satisfy their greed, and others want to protect their loved ones. In short, everyone loves power, and for you, power means revenge," he said.
I chuckled at his lame excuse. He really thought he could convince me like this. "You're way better than me in everything. People might think that I am a cold-hearted monster, but that's because they haven't met you. You're worse than me," he said.
"Was that meant to be a compliment?" I asked sarcastically.
"No, it's the truth," he said.
"Try harder. I'm still not convinced," I said, sitting back on the sofa.
"Raghav, I am not capable enough for the underworld. I have my liability that I love more than anything, but you don't have any weaknesses," he said, pausing before adding, "until now."
He was right, but I was still not convinced. "I have already hurt you enough, and now I am taking your right," I said.
"Then it's a good way to redeem your sins," he said with a smirk.
"So now you're going to blackmail me?" I asked.
He sighed. "Look, these positions belong to you. Your mother lost her life because of this mafia fiasco," he said.
I clenched my fists in anger. Now he had me where he wanted. He knew my mother was a touchy subject and was going to use it to his advantage.
"Look, Raghav, I am not blackmailing you. I am just giving you a glimpse of reality," he said.
"Reality?" I chuckled. "It's better if you don't talk about reality," I said. The one who was born with a golden spoon in his mouth and loved by his parents has no right to talk about reality.
Aakash's expression turned serious. "I understand what you're feeling. But this is not about privilege. It's about responsibility. The underworld is a dangerous place, and it needs someone strong, someone who can lead with both power and intelligence. That's you, Raghav. Whether you accept it or not, this is your destiny."
I looked away, wrestling with the turmoil inside me. "Destiny," I scoffed.
"If you become the mafia king, he will definitely come for you. After all, your lovely father killed his wife for these positions. This is a perfect opportunity to get him out of the hole he's hiding in. It will be a wonderful trap," Aakash said, knowing very well that now I wouldn't be able to say no. He had almost convinced me.
I wanted that man at any cost. He destroyed my life, and now I would destroy his. But the problem was that with all my resources and power, I was still incapable of finding him.
"Oh, come on, stop thinking so much. You don't have to work much. My dad is already handling India. All you have to do is handle the Russians and Italians. And from what I know, you're quite a friend of them," he said.
I sighed, knowing that this decision would change my life forever. Whether it was for good or bad, only time would tell.
"Fine, I will accept the position, but only on one condition," I said. He raised his eyebrows in question. "You will help me find my father and also support me in everything," I said.
"Deal," he said with a smile. Just then, the door of the room was pushed open, and Ananya walked in with some refreshments. I stood up to leave.
"Where are you going? At least eat something," she said.
"Next time, Ananya. I am in a hurry right now. Anyway, we are family now, so I will visit more often," I said, smiling at Aakash before walking out.
I didn't have any important work, but I was still in a hurry. Because now I had someone at my house that I was quite intrigued with. She was like a rare species that I would love to study.
I reached home at record time and found the house quiet. Probably everyone had gone for their afternoon nap. I decided to grab a shower to relax my tense muscles.
But when I entered the room, I wasn't prepared for the scene in front of me. I found her standing in the middle of my room. "Didn't I warn you not to enter my room without my permission?" I roared.
It's not that I had something valuable in my room. I just valued my privacy a lot and hated those who went against my orders. She slowly turned around, and to say she looked scared would be an understatement.
She took a step back as I advanced towards her. Soon, I had her backed against the nearest wall. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized she had nowhere to go now.
Before she could think of running away, I caged her against the wall by placing both of my hands on either side of her head. She instinctively pressed her palms against my chest to keep some distance between us. She gulped nervously as I brought my face dangerously close to hers.
"Didn't I warn you not to enter my room without my permission, and also about the consequences?" I whispered.
She was looking down, avoiding any eye contact with me, which I didn't like at all. I grabbed her chin between my index and thumb, pulling her head up. Her onyx eyes met my grey ones, and I could see fear in her gaze.
"Didn't I warn you or not?" I asked. She nodded her head timidly. "Words," I roared.
"Yes," she mumbled.
"Then what are you doing here? Aren't you scared about the punishment?" I smirked at the way her body trembled in fear. She was in serious trouble.
"I am sorry... please... leave... it won't happen again," she stammered.
"Trust me, it won't happen again after you are punished," I whispered in her ear. She gulped nervously, her heartbeat audible in the silence of the room.
She looked like prey, and I, the predator, was ready to pounce. Anyone in my position would have taken advantage of her, but I just wanted to play with her. She looked so cute when she was scared, the way her eyes widened in shock and the way she blinked innocently gave me immense joy.
"Please leave... I promise it won't happen again... and it's my first mistake... so please, leave me," she stammered, her voice tinged with desperation as she attempted to push me away. But I remained unmoved, an immovable force against her feeble resistance. She gave a frustrated sigh.
As my hand gently cupped her cheeks, her innocent eyes blinked up at me, and her soft skin yielded to the touch of my rough fingers. A slight smile played on my lips as my thumb caressed her cheek before tracing the outline of her soft lips. The shock in her widened eyes was palpable, evidence of the effect our close proximity was having on her. Despite her innocence, she couldn't deny the undeniable tension between us.
But before the moment could fully ensnare us, a groan of pain escaped my lips as she forcefully pushed me away. My eyes fell on her retreating figure as she literally ran out of my room. She ran like the devil was behind her, but she had no idea that she was already in hell.
As I inspected the blood staining my thumb, a result of her unexpected action of biting me, a dark smile twisted my lips. Placing the injured digit in my mouth, I tasted the metallic tang of my own blood, savoring the bitterness of our newfound entanglement.
Little did she know, our encounter was just the beginning of a captivating saga, one that would unfold with each passing moment under the same roof. It was a story waiting to be written, and I, for one, was eager to see how it would unfold.
It was going to be interesting sharing the same roof with her. It would be an interesting stay for both of us.