~35~

Target: 2k+ votes and 500+ comments (No spam pleaseee)

Congratulations Team India....

~ Private Jet~

Someone was luxurious sitting on his seat when an air hostess came towards him.

"Sir do you need anything.", Her voice was too sweet and sultry. The person put down the mac and scanned her from top to down. He didn't said anything but passed her a smirk and tilted his head a little which encouraged her more. Her hands was about to touch his chest when the another person sitting next to him calmly said,

"Don't touch him if you want to stay alive. And we don't need anything you can go."

The hostess was about to retort back but silently back off seeing his penetrating gaze which made her tremble.

"Wonder why he hired such nuisances.", Trayaksh rolled his eyes and leaned back comfortably.

"Everyone is a nuisance for you except a certain someone.", Vedansh retorted smugly and his eyes shone in amusement as he spoke. Trayaksh didn't even bother to give him a reply and went back to his Mac.

________

Next day

7 p.m.

Rambagh Palace

The whole palace was decorated with lightings and fresh flowers. The guests from the bride side who had arrived for their pre wedding rituals were enjoying the refreshment along with some usual jokes and Masti. Meanwhile all the groom side guests were accommodated in Rathore's 7 star hotel.

Ishika was in her royal suite getting ready for today's mehndi function companied by the best professional makeup and hairstyle artist.

"Should I keep your hair open mam?"

Gently shaking her head in denial she asked them to loosely braid her waist length straight hair. The artist was again about to ask something when a loud knock cut her words and a minute later Ishika's in laws entered in the room,

Ishika immediately stood up from the chair and walk towards them to take their blessings but as she was about to touch the feet of her mother in law she was stopped in middle by a gentle yet firm grip.

"Aap Rathore khandan ki hone wali bahu k sath sath jaipur ki hone Wali maharani bhi h. Aaur aise jhukna aik raani ko Shobha nhi deta"

Ishika just smiled politely and nodded her head in return.

"Aap sb yahan. Ma- baba aapka bahar intezaar kr rhe the."

Abhiraj's grandmother softly caressed her head and replied, "Hum toh bs hmari pota bahu ko dekhne aaye the. Bahut aachi lg rhi h aap. Jldi aa jaaye. Mehendi ka shubh muhurat bs chalu hone vaala h."

Her in-laws smiled at her one last time and left her suite living her to get ready.

Minutes later, Ishika along with her cousins and friends entered in the garden with the blasting music and high energy. All were in jolly mood, cheering and dancing as they led her to the beautifully decorated mehendi stage. The lush garden of the Rambagh was adorned with fragrant marigolds and jasmine garlands, creating a mesmerizing backdrop for the grand function.

Draped in regal emerald green lehenga, intricately embroided with gold work, she looked every bit the Royal bride to be. As soon she took her seat, the great mehendi artisans surrounded her but before they can start her soon to be mother in law interrupted.

"Mehendi ki shuruat toh dulhan ki hone vali saas krti h. Kyun jiji.", Saloni teasingly said and took the cone from mehendivali's hand. But before she can draw mehendi on her hand, Abhiraj's voice boomed in the air,

"Fir toh aapko mehendi nhi lagani chahiye Mrs. Rathore. Kyunki jis hakk se aap meri hone wali biwi ke mehndi lagana chahti h voh toh aapka h hi nhi."

A sudden silence fell over the garden. The dhol beats slowed down and everyone's eyes turned towards Abhiraj who had just shattered the lighthearted convo with his commanding presence. He was dressed in an ivory gold sherwani, his tall frame exuded an effortless authority that was impossible to ignore. His sharp gaze locked on his mother and a cruel smirl crawled over his lips.

Ishika’s breath hitched at the sheer dominance he exuded. Her gaze remained fixed on him, but his eyes, filled with an unsettling coldness, never wavered from his mother. Meanwhile, Jay and a few of their cousins exchanged amused glances at the unfolding drama, thoroughly entertained.

Saloni’s fingers curled around the cone of mehendi as she straightened, masking her momentary unease with a forced chuckle. "Kya keh rahe ho, beta? Main toh bas rivaaz nibha rahi thi."

Abhiraj took a slow step forward, his presence alone enough to make the gathered crowd shift aside, creating a clear path between him and Ishika. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flickered toward his bride-to-be for a brief second before settling back on Saloni.

"Rivaaz sirf tab nibhaaye jaate hain jab rishton mein haq ho. Jo haq aapne kab ka kho diya, uska dikhawa yahan karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." His voice was low, but it carried through the hushed gathering like a quiet storm.

And then without any another word, Abhiraj plucked the mehendi cone from Saloni's hand and leaned in slightly, he passed her a small smirk and whispered, "Meri shaadi mein aap apne hak k liye itna tadpengi jitna mein aapke liye tadpa tha. Enjoy Mrs Rathore."

A tear left Saloni's eye and she immediately left the garden crying followed by her mother in law. Though Mehra's family was a little scared by the dynamics Abhiraj shared with his family but still they have seen his behavior with their daughter.Whatever bitterness he held toward his family, it did not extend to their daughter. And that alone was enough.

Before the tension could escalate further, Abhiraj turned, his entire demeanor shifting as he approached Ishika. Without hesitation, he took a seat beside her, capturing her hand in his larger one.

The moment his fingers wrapped around hers, a wave of cheers and teasing whistles erupted from the younger cousins on both sides.

Ishika’s gaze lifted to meet his, her heart pounding as she drowned in the weight of his stare. For a moment, everything else faded—the music, the guests, the whispers.

It was just them.

"How are you wifey?", Abhiraj whispered in an amusing tone seeing her shocked to which Ishika just stare at him for a moment before looking away. He was amused at her antics and gripped her hand a little firmly and with a slow deliberate moment, he lifted the cone and began tracing "A" on her ring finger.

Just as he wrote his initial on her ring finger, a burst of colourful fireworks exploded in the sky, his and her cousins hooted loudly, while the relatives present there went into the shock and came back. The dhol beats started echoing back in the garden, the cousins were all dancing around the couple teasing Ishika who had her head down in shyness whole moment.

Abhiraj leaned towards Ishika and mumbled slowly, "Yarr aisa toh koi gunah bhi nhi kia tumne jo tumhe apni aankhein jhukani pad rhi h."

Abhiraj spoke too seriously that Ishika'a breath hitched for a moment and when she came back into the senses, she glared at him fiercely. "Shut up."

"Aise ghur k jaan lene ka iraada h kya jaann? ", Abhiraj smirked and teased her to which she glared at him harder.

" Yeh jo mehendi vaale hath h na. Do minute bhi nhi lgenge aap k muh pr chaapne mein. Toh apna yeh muh bnd hi rkhiye. Smjhe aap.", The mehendi artist gasped dramatically, nearly dropping her cone at Ishika’s audacity. No one dared to speak to Abhiraj Singh Rathore that way. Yet here she was, completely unfazed.

"Darta nhi hu mein aapse.", Abhiraj traced his thumb over her palm which was in his hands and passed her a teasing smirk enjoying her frustration. He knows now she will go all silent and will curse him in her mind which was a really good source of entertainment for him.

Ishika huffed, yanking her hand from his grasp and extending it toward the other mehendi artist, completely ignoring him.

Before Abhiraj could react, Surya appeared at his side, his expression serious. In an instant, the playful spark in Abhiraj’s eyes vanished. He cast a final glance at Ishika, silently assuring her, before standing up and following Surya to a secluded corner of the palace.

As they stepped into the dimly lit corridor, the distant echoes of dhol beats and laughter fades, swallowed by an unsettling silence.

Abhiraj turned to Surya, his sharp gaze locking onto his assistant. “What is it?”

Without a word, Surya handed him a tablet, the screen already lit up with a breaking news report. Abhiraj’s gaze flickered down. The bold red headlines sent a chill down his spine.

"Rajasthan CM Shivaay Singh Raizada Found Dead—Cause Unknown."

For the first time in years, Abhiraj felt a momentary stillness settle over him. Shivaay—his closest friend, a man who had stood beside him in power, in war, in silence—was gone.

His grip on the device tightened, but his face remained unreadable. He quickly scrolled through the article, his sharp eyes absorbing every word. No official statements. No preliminary reports. Only speculation, whispers, and a dangerous void where answers should have been.

“This was not a natural death,” Surya said, his voice measured but firm.

Abhiraj didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. He knew it. Felt it in his bones. Men like Shivaay didn’t just die. Not like this. Not without a reason.

Then, Surya passed him a folded envelope. "This arrived an hour ago. No trace of the sender. It was delivered directly for you."

Abhiraj tore it open. His eyes moved over the short, calculated message.

"Come alone. To the place closest to your heart. Midnight."

His jaw tightened slightly. Whoever sent this knew him too well. Knew his past. Knew what mattered to him.

Abhiraj folded the letter with slow precision, slipping it into his pocket. He turned to Surya. "Arrange the convoy. I leave in fifteen minutes."

Surya hesitated. "Sir, the Mehendi function is still ongoing. Your absence—"

"She must not be disturbed," Abhiraj cut in, his voice cold, final. "Ensure that no one notices my departure."

Surya turned slightly. "Sir, if this is a setup—"

"If it is a setup," Abhiraj cut in, his tone even, unreadable. He met Surya’s wary gaze. "I want to walk straight into it."

Surya gave a crisp nod. "Understood, sir. The convoy will be ready."

Without another word, Abhiraj turned, his steps unhurried yet heavy with purpose.

Within minutes, a fleet of black SUVs was in place—silent, untraceable. The engines purred low, waiting for their command. No sirens. No unnecessary attention.

Whoever called him out here… better pray they came with answers.

Because if they didn’t?

Then tonight, the killer wouldn’t just be exposed. He would be erased.

___________________

रात में ही जागते हैं

ये गुनाहों के घर

इनकी राहें खोलें बाँहें

जो भी आए इधर

ये है गुमराहों का रास्ता

मुस्कानें झूठी हैं

पहचानें झूठी हैं

रंगीनी है छाई

फिर भी है तन्हाई

___________________________

After a very long time...

And yesssss Shivaay is DEAD..

PLUS THE PERFECT FACADE- STORY OF TRAYAKSH CHARACTERS ARE PUBLISHED. DO CHECK THAT OUTT

AAUR ISS BAARIIII MERI GALTI NHI THI WATTTPAD GLITCH THA..

ISS WATTPAD KI AMMI KI TOH......

MAAF KRNA GUSSA AA RHA THA WATTPAD PR

👉👈

But still I hope you love it

Your Author

Ori

🩷