1.

Abhiraj's POV

I woke up to someone shaking me lightly. I open my eyes and see my boy, Zar staring at me with bright, shining eyes. His tail wags.

I smile and run my hand over his head. He melts under my touch, pressing his head closer.

"Let's go my boy" I say getting up.

I walk into my lavish bathroom yawning. The cold water wakes me up instantly. After my morning routine I put on my gym clothes and head to the home gym. Zar walks beside me, his steps matching mine.

It's my daily routine. I wake up at six and work out for two hours. Zar always stays with me. He never leaves my side.

He is my everything after Dev.

I found him ten years ago when I was nineteen. He was injured lying in a deserted forest where no one dares to go. I cleaned his wound, thinking I would leave him there. But he followed me. Since then, he has never left me.

He is my shield. He protects me from things I don’t even see coming. He is like me. A devil. He doesn’t show mercy on his prey.

My boy got his father's anger issues.

He is not trained but no one can say that. He is professional. A little devil after me. His fur is white, with a black stripe running down his body.

I glance at him while running on the treadmill. He sits there watching me, his Blue eyes sharp.

"Wanna go to the office today?" I ask.

His tail starts wagging furiously.

He loves going to the office but I rarely take him. For some reasons.

"Speak" I say without looking back. My assistant stands behind me.

"Sir, the Royal Club owner is threatening us. He said he'll demolish your entire existence" Varun reports.

Zar growls. A deep menacing sound. He takes a step forward, eyes locked on Varun.

"Zar" I say firmly, stepping down from the treadmill. His growl fades but his muscles stay tense.

"First I'll meet him today. Then I'll handle the rest" I say. Varun nods and leaves.

"Let's take a bath" I tell Zar.

He walks beside me to our bathroom. First, I bathe him. He sits still, letting me wash him. Then I take my shower and get dressed.

I step out of my room, all ready.

"Good morning dude" Dev greets coming from behind.

"Good morning. And you're late" I say.

He nods walking with me and Zar.

"I was working on something important" he says. I nod. We sit at our usual place.

The house helper serves breakfast. Serves Zar's food too. Zar jumps around me, nudging my leg. He doesn't like the food.

"Eat this and at night, I'll give you your favorite dinner" I say. Zar’s ears perk up. His eyes shine with excitement.

Our mansion is huge. Every corner screams expensiveness. The marble floors, the high ceilings, the chandeliers. But apart from me, Zar and Dev there is no one here.

We three are alone.

But we are enough for each other.

Thinking this I finish my breakfast while talking to Dev. Then we step outside.

The guards open the car door for me and Zar. I sit inside. Zar jumps in too. Dev gets in his own car.

The moment Zar steps out of the house, his attitude changes. He looks intimidating. Dangerous. His Blue eyes turn sharper.

I don’t take him everywhere. But he decides whether he wants to go or not.

And after what Varun said about the club owner, I know Zar is ready to tear him apart.

He is just not showing it.

I run my fingers through his fur. He lowers his head, placing it in my lap. He never lets anyone touch his head. Not even Dev. Only me.

"Inform the club owner that I’m coming" I tell Varun. Varun nods and starts texting someone.

"Be calm when we go there okay?" I say to Zar. He gives me a look. You do that first. I smirk.

We reach the place. I step out of the car. Dev is already there. I start walking with Dev and Zar. The guards follow us.

The club is busy. Workers are cleaning the floors, wiping tables. The smell of alcohol and sweat lingers in the air.

I stop looking around. Suddenly someone falls at my feet. I glance down. The guards hold him down. His body trembles. His face is pale.

"Sir, please! Please leave me! I’m really sorry! I didn’t mean anything I said! Please, sir! Forgive me!" he pleads his voice shaking.

Before I can say anything, Zar lunges.

His sharp claws tear through the man’s skin. Long, deep scratches cover his arms and chest. Blood spills. He screams.

Zar’s teeth hover over his throat, ready to bite.

"Zar" I say my voice firm.

He freezes. Looks at me. Then steps back standing beside me. I smirk.

"You were saying you’d demolish my entire existence?" I say tilting my head. "Go ahead. I’m here."

The man looks at me his eyes half-closed from pain. He can’t even speak properly.

"I....I’m sorry sir" he stammers.

Dev steps forward. Bends down to the man’s level.

"Think before messing with him" he says. Then without blinking he shoots the man’s leg.

A loud cry echoes in the club. Dev is not my joyful Dev right now. He is Dev Malhotra right now.

"Throw him in the center of the city" I order my guards. "Let people see what happens when someone crosses me And take him there with respect"

The guards understand what I mean.

I turn around. Walk out with Zar and Dev. We get into my car. This time Dev sits with me.

"When are we planning to kill him?" Dev asks.

I know who he’s talking about. The enemy who tried to attack me a few weeks ago. The one I’ve been torturing. It’s not over yet.

"It’s just the beginning. Let him feel a little more pain. Then we’ll see" I say. Dev chuckles.

"My business partner was telling me his daughter wants to meet you" he says.

I know he’s teasing Zar. Zar hates any girl around me.

"Roar! Roar!" Zar growls his tail swishing angrily. I chuckle. This time darkly.

"What do you say now Mr. Malhotra? Do you want me to meet her?" I ask smirking.

Dev shakes his head glancing at Zar.

Our car stops. I step out and bid Dev goodbye. He leaves for his work.

People distance themselves from me the moment I enter. Their eyes drop. Their voices tremble as they greet me.

They fear Me.

They fear Zar.

I step into my private lift and press the 50th floor.

My building is a masterpiece. Designed by world-famous architects. Its structure has won awards. The most unique and expensive industrial company in all of Asia.

The doors open. I step out and walk towards my office. I handle mafia work more than business.

I come to the company only three or four days a week. The rest of the time, I look after my kingdom.

The kingdom of ASR.

A kingdom I built myself.

I sit in my chair. Zar jumps onto his favorite couch. He loves coming here.

"Sir, today we have to finalize the business deal with Ms. Roy" my assistant says.

I open the file. Today is going to be a hectic day. I have almost ten meetings to attend.

"Is everything ready for that meeting?" I ask. He nods.

"Then inform me when everyone is here" I say checking emails.

"Sir everyone is already here" he says.

I look at him. Then get up from my chair.

"Let's go then" I say. Zar walks toward me.

"You also want to come?" I ask. He nods. He understands everything. His mind is sharp.

"Okay come" I say. We head toward the conference room.

The moment I step inside, everyone stands to greet me. I walk to my chair. The head chair. Beside mine is Zar’s special chair.

The meeting starts. I feel her gaze on me. Ms. Roy. The entire time. Beside me, Zar glares at her. He hates women around me.

He never likes it when a woman tries to get close to me. Ms. Roy is my age. A successful woman But her success was given by her father. She didn't build everything from scratch.

"I hope you are satisfied with our presentation and are ready to collaborate with us" Ms. Roy says.

I lean back. I think. This deal won't benefit my company. It will benefit hers And everyone in this room knows it.

"Let's sign the deal" I say picking up the pen and signing the document.

"Congratulations Mr. Rajvansh on our collaboration" Ms. Roy says standing up.

She extends her hand for a handshake. I don’t take it. I just nod and walk out of the conference room with Zar.

He jumps a little while walking in front of me Excited. I reach my cabin and sit in my chair. Zar roams around, restless.

"Sir, Ms. Roy wants to meet you" I hear Varun’s voice. I nod allowing her to enter. She steps inside stopping in front of my desk.

"Can I talk to you?" she asks. I don’t look at her. Still busy with my work.

"Speak" I say. She huffs.

"It’s not about business and you know exactly what I’m talking about" she says. I know.

"Please give me a chance. I’ll prove that I’m the one meant to be your life partner" she says.

Now I look at her. Zar, standing behind her, glares. He suddenly runs toward her and roars. She backs away, scared.

"Zar, come here" I say. He comes to me. I massage his head.

"This is the last time I’m warning you" I say looking at her.

"If you talk about anything other than business, I won’t stop my boy from eating you alive."

She shivers. Her face turns pale. She walks out, scared yet angry.

"Hahaha" I laugh as Zar starts licking my face. It’s his way of saying he loves my attitude.

The entire day passes in meetings. Checking reports. Handling everything.

Mira’s POV

"Jiya wake up fast! We are already late for college" I say while fixing my hair.

"What? You didn’t wake me up?" she shouts jumping out of bed.

She runs toward the washroom almost stumbling on her steps. I smirk.

We still have one hour before college But I lied. She takes forever to get ready. I start cleaning the room.

Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Mira Rao, 23 years old. I live with my best friend or you can say sister.

We share a 1BHK apartment in a decent area. We’re both orphans. We never saw our parents. An orphan lady raised us but she passed away three years ago.

Since then, we’ve been living on our own. The owner of our apartment is a kind lady. She lives next door with her husband.

Jiya and I are in our final year of college. In two months, we’ll be working.

Right now we do part-time jobs at a café to manage expenses. Sometimes it’s hard.

"Why did you lie to me?" Jiya asks hands on her waist.

"Because you always wake up late and because of you we both get late" I say.

She huffs and sits beside me. I hand her a coffee. She takes it and sips.

"Today we’ll get our salary!" she says jumping and looking at the calendar.

"Oh yes!" I say suddenly excited.

"Let’s go now. We’ll eat outside tonight," she says. I nod eagerly.

I grab my jacket and shoes, and we leave the house. We take the bus. There’s less crowd today.

"I was thinking… I should start finding a boy for you" she says sitting beside me.

"Then do it already Mumma" I say dramatically. We both laugh. She’s like my mother sometimes.

"That Rishi is after you believe me" she says. I give her a disgusted look.

Rishi is our college’s heartthrob that’s what everyone thinks But for me he’s just a chapri.

"No babe he looks at you with those eyes like he'll eat you alive" I say and she hits me.

"I'll die single but never date a man like him" she says and I laugh.

She leans her head on my shoulder. "I was planning that we should go somewhere for a day out. It's been so long since we went anywhere and after some time, our exams will start, and we will be busy in that"

I nod. "Where will we go though?" I ask and we start thinking.

"Forest picnic" we both say together and start laughing.

"Then we will go there tomorrow because tomorrow is a holiday" I say and she nods.

There is a small forest outside the city. Only a few people know about that place. It is really peaceful there.

We enter the college and walk toward our class. The moment we step inside our college’s biggest bitch oops not just college the entire country's biggest bitch starts showing her colors.

"Hey orphans" she says laughing with her friends.

"Who are you?" I ask and they look confused.

"I'm Neha Agrawal" the bitch says.

"Ohh you are Neha? Sorry we didn't recognize you because you have tons of makeup on. Your real face is hidden behind it" Jiya says and everyone in the class starts laughing.

We sit in our usual place.

She bullies us because we are orphans yet we still top the college. Neha is good too but not better than us.

"Good morning" our professor comes in and the class starts.

We have only two lectures and by 12 PM we are free. Then till 2 PM we study in the library. After that we go to the café.

Our class ends and we both come out, making our way toward the library.

At noon

We are coming to our café but stop seeing a crowd next to it. No not a crowd—guards. A bulk of guards.

"What is happening there?" Jiya asks dragging me closer.

"Is that Zar?" I ask seeing a white tiger. I know him. He is the pet tiger of ASR. He is famous, the shield of ASR.

"Yes yes! He is my favorite, Zar!" Jiya says excitedly.

Zar is looking at a man with anger. I follow his gaze and my eyes land on the man.

ASR. The mafia king.

He is really dangerous, a man with a sharp brain. Never mess with him. He is threatening a man who is kneeling before him.

Though he is a mafia king, he helps needy people. Many call him their leader. But he never shows it. Only those people know what he has done for them.

"I wish I also had a pet like Zar" Jiya says clicking his picture.

I give her a "are you serious?" look.

"Then he'll eat you on the spot before you even play with him" I say chuckling. She pouts.

"Wait wait! See there’s your crush!" I say hitting her back in excitement.

"Oh my God! Dev Malhotra!" Jiya whispers her mouth hanging open.

She is a crazy fangirl of Dev Malhotra. The youngest businessman in Asia. Also the best friend of ASR.

"I wish he would look at me" Jiya says hopefully.

I smile at her silly thoughts.

"Girl come out of your lala land" I say, watching them leave with their guards.

"You are so bad. You know I like him so much. I just want him to notice me once" she says and I pinch her cheeks.

"You deserve someone better. Not those mafia" I say. She smirks.

"You don't know! Those mafia men are so good. But how would you know when you just want a simple, loving guy who doesn’t hurt people" she says dramatically. I hit her.

We go inside our café to start our work.

I never like mafia men or their world. I believe in a simple relationship. My man should be decent. With a decent job. Not involved in fights and crimes.

Let's hope for the best and see what the future holds for me.

With that thought, I focus on my work. Attending customers. Serving them their orders.

I hope you all like the chapter! By the way I missed you all so much😭💗🌎✨