Chapter 47: Thirty Eight

Abhimanyu and Aavyan, along with Ekansh, entered the headquarters.

Inside, Arnav strode into his headquarters, his guards bowing their heads in respect. His gaze landed on a man tied to a chair, his expression cold and unyielding. A chair was set up for Arnav, and with a calm, dangerous energy, he sat down, his piercing eyes locking onto the man.

"Who told you to plant that camera in her bag?" Arnav’s voice was low, but laced with a deadly edge.

The man smirked. "No one. I did it myself," he replied, his voice weary but defiant.

Arnav’s lips curled into a smirk of his own. "And I don’t like lies. Try again," he warned, his tone cold, his body tense with contained fury.

The man held his ground. "I told you, it was me."

"Why?" Arnav asked, his voice dangerously calm.

"Why?" the man echoed with a dark grin. "To destroy your entire family."

For a moment, Arnav simply stared at him, then broke into a laugh dark, menacing sound that sent a shiver down his guards’ spines. They knew the cruelty hidden behind that laugh, and the room seemed to thicken with dread as he stopped.

The man sneered. "What do you think, Arnav Rathore? Maybe I can't, but the enemy you left behind? The one you don’t even know about? They will. They’ll destroy you and everything you hold dear."

Arnav’s eyes darkened. "Your whole world will crumble. Every single one of your family, every person you care about-they’ll all die," the man added, venom dripping from his tone.

Arnav signaled to his guards, who promptly brought in a set of tools, including knives and other weapons. Arnav’s gaze fell on the man, who was still smirking defiantly.

"You know," Arnav said, picking up a knife, his dangerous eyes fixed on the blade,

"whoever this enemy is, they’ll have to get through me first to reach my family or anything that matters to me. But here's the problem." His tone dropped, turning cold.

"Once they reach me, they won’t be around much longer. I never lose my prey. I devour everything that opposes me."

Arnav's smirk grew darker.

"Yes, there are enemies left out there, and you think I don’t know? I know very well. I like having enemies. The more, the better." His voice dropped to a menacing whisper, his teeth clenched as he drove the knife into the man’s thigh with ruthless precision, drawing a tortured cry from his captive.

"I told them I would be delighted," Arnav said with a deadly smirk, twisting the knife without mercy,

"And when I handle my enemies, I mean it." He pulled the knife out, only to stab the man in the same spot again, the painful cries filling the room. Blood pooled, and the man’s face twisted in agony.

Arnav leaned closer, his face devoid of emotion.

"Isn't it delightful, this treatment for such a thoughtful gesture?" He dragged the blade across the wound, the man’s screams intensifying as blood seeped out.

Leaving the knife embedded in the man’s thigh, Arnav stood up, his hands dripping with blood, droplets splattered across his face and shirt. He glanced at his guards with a chilling glare. The guards looked down, a hint of fear in their eyes.

"You know what to do," Arnav said in an icy tone. "Take care of our guest. And make sure the knife stays where it is." His voice dropped dangerously. "A gift from me to my enemies."

As he walked out, he passed Abhimanyu, Aavyan, and Ekansh, who stood at the entrance, expressionless as they watched. Without a word, Arnav strode past them, out of the building, and into his car, leaving a trail of fear in his wake.

Abhimanyu was ready for the office, but the tense silence between him and Misha continued. She hadn’t spoken to him since yesterday, and though he didn’t fully understand why, it bothered him more than he liked to admit. With a sigh, he walked downstairs for breakfast, taking his seat at the table. His eyes drifted to Misha, who moved around without meeting his gaze. Why did her silence get under his skin so much?

Deep down, though, he knew. Isha had mentioned that Misha had cooked for him the previous night, waiting without eating until he came home. Guilt tugged at him as he watched her set the table, her expression unreadable.

"This food… it’s amazing. Whoever made it deserves a chef’s kiss," Abhimanyu commented, sneaking a look at Misha, assuming she was today’s cook. Aavyan nearly choked, surprised by his usually reserved brother’s unexpected praise, and Isha burst into laughter.

"You mean, Aavyan Bhai and me," Isha grinned, watching Abhimanyu’s frown deepen.

"Yes, Bhai, I cooked today, and Aavyan Bhai helped me," Isha said proudly, and Aavyan nodded with a small smile. And Abhiamnyu felt frustrated and annoyed at his thought to think Misha cooked this how can he, Misha can't cook like this.

"Well, then, hand over that chef’s kiss, Bhai! I also helped this monkey" Aavyan teased, stifling a laugh. Misha, however, showed no reaction, and Dadi Ma and Dada chuckled at their grandchildren’s antics.

"Speak for yourself, monkey!" Isha retorted, glaring at Aavyan, who returned her look with mock sweetness.

"Let me try the masterpiece you’re so proud of," Aavyan said, picking up a spoonful. The moment the food touched his tongue, his face twisted in horror.

"Bhai… this… this can’t even be called food!" Aavyan spluttered, grimacing as Isha glared at him.

"There’s barely any taste! Way too much salt," he muttered, wrinkling his nose. Abhimanyu sighed, feeling his initial assumption slip away. He should’ve known Misha hadn’t cooked; her hand  made food was always delicious.

"It’s not that bad," Isha protested, grabbing a spoonful. Her face fell after tasting it, and Aavyan seized the chance to tease her.

"Not that bad’? It’s practically seawater!" he joked.

"Stop blaming me, you Bandar! You added the salt!" Isha shot back, her full attention now on arguing with her brother.

"Don’t accuse me, Isha Rathore! All I did was cut the vegetables!" Aavyan defended himself, while Dada and Dadi Ma laughed, amused by their playful bickering.

Abhimanyu, however, felt only frustration as he glanced at Misha’s quiet figure. Letting out a sigh, he stood up abruptly, leaving the table and heading for the office without eating, surprising everyone.

"Look, Bhai left without eating because of your pointless arguing," Isha scolded, turning on Aavyan.

"He left because of your so-called ‘delicious meal,’" Aavyan shot back, playfully tapping Isha’s head before heading out himself.

"Oh, you just wait until you get home!" Isha called after him, rubbing her head in irritation. As everyone finished their meal, each headed toward their rooms, while Misha silently left the table, her expression unchanged.

Misha entered her room with a sigh, only to hear her phone chime with a new message. She picked it up, frowning as she read, her face quickly draining of color. Fear tightened in her chest as she gulped, staring at the unsettling words. Suddenly, her phone rang, making her flinch. Her hands started to tremble as she answered, holding her breath, waiting anxiously for the person on the other end to speak.

Abhimanyu sat in his cabin, his mind elsewhere, lost in thought. His friend Vijay walked in, sighing as he took a seat across from him.

"Abhimanyu!" Vijay called, but Abhimanyu didn't respond. He raised his voice, finally snapping Abhimanyu out of his reverie.

"Vijay? When did you get here?" Abhimanyu asked, frowning.

"Just a moment ago. You were so lost in thought that you didn’t notice," Vijay replied casually, leaning back in his chair. "What’s going on? You seemed… distant, even when I called you."

"I don’t know, Vijay," Abhimanyu said, his voice laced with fatigue. "I feel like I can’t breathe if things stay this way."

"You're making things harder for yourself, Abhimanyu. Living in the past isn’t going to help," Vijay advised gently, seeing the toll it was taking on his friend.

Abhimanyu sighed. "It’s not that easy. I felt alive back then. I still live in those memories, and when I look at her… I feel suffocated."

"Forget it, Abhimanyu. That’s the past," Vijay said, his tone filled with concern.

"Forget? Forget what made me feel alive? Forget the happiness I once had, even if I still have questions I need answers to?" Abhimanyu’s voice held an edge of anger, mixed with hurt.

"Abhimanyu, it’s for your own greater," Vijay insisted. With stern tone, Vijay can't see his friend living in his past hurting himself, Abhimanyu turning more emotionless.

"I can’t," Abhimanyu replied, his tone cold and desperate. "Not until I get answers to those questions. The guilt and regret eat away at me every day, and I don’t even know if it was my fault or was it". Abhiamnyu tone was low and his face showing the desperate of his inner turmoil.

Vijay observed his friend in silence for a moment before asking, "What’s bothering you now?"

"Misha… Every time I’m around her, I feel suffocated," Abhimanyu said, staring blankly at the wall. "I don’t know if I’m hurting her or ruining her life along with mine. She didn’t ask for any of this. I think she’s trying to make this marriage work, but she deserves better." Abhimanyu said his tone was filled with uncertain.

Abhimanyu ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his expression. He don’t know if he want her to have better than him or… leave. His thoughts are confusing.

Vijay listened intently before suggesting, "Then befriend her."

"Befriend her?" Abhimanyu asked, frowning.

"Yes," Vijay smiled. "Being friends is a way to hold back your feelings while you figure things out. Seeing her as a friend might make things easier."

Abhimanyu considered this and nodded slowly. "You might be right."

They talked a while longer, but soon Vijay’s phone rang. "I need to get back to the office. I’ll see you tonight at the usual spot?"

"Yeah, I’ll be there," Abhimanyu replied with a faint smile. Vijay turned to leave but paused at the door.

"Remember, Abhimanyu, every relationship starts with friendship. And if things go beyond that, don’t be afraid to go after what you really want, You just might find what you’re looking for." Vijay said with a smirk, leaving Abhimanyu to ponder his words.

Feeling relieved after their conversation, Abhimanyu turned back to his work, his thoughts clearer. Later, he decided to head back to the mansion, determined to finally speak to Misha and put an end to the silence that had been weighing on him for too long.