Chapter 5: 2.

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙫

In the evening, Advika woke from her nap and took a hot shower to calm her mind and try to be a polite person, which wasn't her natural inclination but she was making an effort.

Keyword: trying.

After her shower, she dressed in a simple kurti and leggings, applied a small diamond bindi, and went downstairs.

She was heading to the temple as she did every day. Upon arriving, she bumped into someone who was about to fall but quickly caught the woman's hands and steadied her.

"I am sorry, it's just that I... I'm so sorry," the woman said while adjusting her saree.

"No worries, aunty. Actually, it was my fault. I am so sorry. You are older, and older people don't need to apologize, okay?" Advika said, smiling and showing her dimples.

"Beautiful," the woman expressed.

"Thank you, aunty. Apko lagi to nahi na kahi?" she asked while checking the woman's legs for any injuries.

("You're not hurt anywhere, are you?")

"I am Vaishnavi, Vaishnavi Singh Rathore. What's your name?" the woman asked, ignoring the previous question.

"Advika."

"Advika? What's your full name?" she asked, curious.

"Advika, Advika Rajvanshi," Advika replied, trying to remain calm.

"Rajvanshi? I think I know them. Are you the daughter of Rudransh Rajvanshi?" she asked, surprised.

"Um, yes. But aunty, I am getting late for my prayers. Bye, take care," Advika said hurriedly, walking away before her anger could build up at the mention of her family.

Meanwhile, Vaishnavi Rathore was mesmerized by Advika's beauty and caring nature. She decided to look into this matter deeply. She was waiting for her car.

Inside the temple, Advika finished her prayers and came outside with a lot of prasad(a type of food which is taken after devoting to God), food, and small gifts. Children came running and took all the items from her hands.

One child asked, "Didi Aap roz yaha aate hai prayer karte hai hame chize dete koi idhar aata hai to hame dekhta bhi nahi phir aap kyu?? aur wo bhi akele kya aap kisiko dhundhne aate ho?"

("Didi, you come here every day to pray and give us things. No one else even looks at us. Why do you come alone? Are you looking for someone?")

Advika stiffened at the question but composed herself, flooded with past memories.

𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬

Fifteen years back, a child was running with prasad in his hands.

"Maan, Maan, wait! Maan, you will fall, and where are you taking my prasad? Maan, wait!" a girl was running behind her best friend, who loved to irritate her.

"Wait, Adu. You've already tasted it, right? Now I want to give this to those children who don't even get to taste it. Come, they will be so happy, and looking at them will bring me peace," the boy said, taking her with him.

The girl smiled and decided to come here until her last breath.

𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 ~

Advika composed herself and replied,"Ha dhundhne aati hu mein kisiko, Sukoon , Sukoon milta hai muje apki smile ko dekhke"

The child kissed her on the cheek and ran away.

( "yes I come looking for something it's peace. I find peace in seeing your smiles.")

Advika stood and met the eyes of Vaishnavi Rathore, who was watching her. She smiled, and Advika smiled back before leaving. She went straight to her room, took out a small piece of paper with a burned rose drawn on it, and cried angry tears, her eyes red with memories. The paper had been in a pendant given by her best friend, which she lost while saving him.

Meanwhile, in Rathore Haveli, Vidyut was sitting on his bed, holding a pendant in his hands.

"Na mene tumhe kabhi dhundhne ki koshish ki, na tumse kabhi mulaqat hui. Ek nishani chhod kar chali gayi tum. Teri ek jhalak ke mohtaaj na ban paye hum," he whispered with a heavy heart and tears in his eyes. He lay down, clutching the pendant, and fell asleep.

(I never tried to find you,

Nor did we ever meet.

You left a keepsake behind,

I remained yearning, but never got a glimpse of you to this day)

A girl was crying and begging, "Please, please leave him! He's not at fault. You misunderstood, leave him, please!" She cried, shouted, and begged, but no one was listening.

Vidyut stood with a gun in his hand, everything a blur around him. Another girl approached and tried to move him little away "Please, please, please!" she pleaded.

He pushed her away, grabbing a pendant from her in the process. A gunshot echoed, and blood splattered across the ground.

"NOOOO!" Vidyut and the girl screamed, but then...

After some time!!

𝙑𝙞𝙙𝙮𝙪𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙫:

Waking up from a terrible nightmare, I am sitting in my balcony holding a guitar in my hand, thinking about life. People know me as Vidyut Ekansh Singh Rathore, a self-made billionaire and the second most powerful businessman in Asia. They see me as a mafia king who commands respect and instills fear. To them, I am ruthless, arrogant, and unyielding. But behind this facade of power lies a man with a story few know.

Life has always been a battlefield for me. From a young age, I understood that the world does not offer mercy; it demands strength. Growing up, I saw how harsh life can be and realized that power is essential for survival. This understanding drove me to build an empire, brick by brick, deal by deal, until I stood at the pinnacle of success.

In the corporate world and the underworld, I am known for my ruthlessness. I make decisions that others shy away from. I strike deals that others consider too risky. In my world, showing weakness is akin to inviting death. Every move I make is calculated, every action deliberate. I wield power with an iron fist because I know that any display of vulnerability could be fatal.

Yet, beyond the skyscrapers and the boardrooms, there exists another side of me. At home, I am not the ruthless king but a source of warmth and protection for my family. To them, I am a loving son, a caring brother, a dependable protector. Their smiles, their happiness-these are the moments that make my relentless pursuit of power worth it. They see in me a man who can do no wrong, a beacon of love and reliability. It is for them that I fight, for their future that I build my empire.

But life is never that simple. There is a shadow that looms over my existence, a secret that I guard with my life. Years ago, I committed a sin, a grave mistake that I have buried deep within the recesses of my soul. I have convinced myself that no one knows, that my empire and my loved ones are safe. But deep down, I am haunted by the fear that this secret could come to light and destroy everything I have built.

Love, for me, is a paradox. It is my greatest strength and my deepest vulnerability. I live for love and could die for it. It fuels my ambition and grounds my existence, yet it is also the chink in my armor that could lead to my undoing. I can conquer and destroy for the sake of love, yet I know that the same love could be the weapon that ends me.

No empire, no matter how grand, can replace the warmth of a loving embrace, the joy of shared laughter, or the comfort of knowing you are cherished.

Life is a delicate balance between the ruthless pursuit of power and the tender moments of love. It is a dance on the edge of a knife, where every step must be calculated, every move precise.

Every day is a battle. In the boardroom, I face competitors who would love to see me fall. In the underworld, there are enemies who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate me if given the chance.

Yet, when I return home, I find peace in the simplicity of family life. But the fear of my past catching up with me is ever-present. The secret I carry is like a ticking time bomb. I fear the day it will explode and shatter the world I have built. The knowledge that someone out there might know my secret keeps me on edge. It is a constant reminder that my empire, no matter how strong, is built on a fragile foundation.

Despite this, I continue to push forward. I cannot afford to dwell on the what-ifs. I have responsibilities, to my family, to my business, and to myself. I must keep moving, keep fighting, keep building. The road I walk is a treacherous one, but I am determined to navigate it to the best of my ability.

And as I stand at the top of my empire, I know that no matter what happens, I will face it with the strength and determination that has brought me this far. Because in the end, life is not just about power and wealth. It is about the love we give and the love we receive. It is about the connections we make and the lives we touch. And that is what makes it all worth it.

I have a lot of treasured things buried inside my life. Remembering those treasures, I closed my eyes and met with that pair of brown eyes, not knowing how I got drowned in them as I started singing. I was captivated by the memories.

𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬

(Note: Vidyut is singing while remembering the moments)

The same evening, I was going after torturing some assholes and finding satisfaction while still having anger inside me. I bumped into a fragile body.

"Carefu..." My words got buried in my throat when I looked into one pair of brown eyes.

(Talab talab talab, bas teri hai muje)

"Treasure," was the only word I could whisper while looking into her eyes.

(nasho mein Nasha banke)

Before I could say anything, she left while giving a quick nod.

(tu ghulna yuhi)

Her face was covered with a black shawl (chunni), one strand of hair from the left side enhancing her look.

(meri mohabbat ka karna tu haq yeh Ada)

I stood there, looking at her disappearing figure, and my anger was long gone.

𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬~

I abruptly stopped singing when I realized what I was singing. How can I just fall for someone by looking into her eyes?

"Yeah, yeah, like you never fell in love just by having a piece of a pendant," my inner voice mocked.

When I looked into her eyes, I was instantly captivated. Those eyes of hers told a thousand stories at once-of joy, sorrow, dreams, and secrets. It was as if I could see into her soul, and it drew me in like a moth to a flame. I found myself lost in their depths, mesmerized by the way they sparkled with life. Her eyes were a world unto themselves, and I was eager to explore every emotion they held.

I was in my thoughts when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in," I said, and my cutest and sweetest bua(father's sister) entered.

"Bua, namaste. Kaise ho aap?" I asked while hugging her.

(Hello , how are you?)

"Bilkul shoni aur muje pata hai tu bhi shona hi hai... Mein idhar is shone ladke ke liye ek shoni ladki dhundke layi hu." I stopped in my tracks when she mentioned a girl. I knew she was here with a marriage alliance, but am I ready? No.

("Absolutely fine, and I know you are also doing well... I've found a lovely girl for this lovely boy." )

"Kya yaar bua, har bar ek hi chiz. You know na, abhi muje business sambhalna hai, age badhna hai bohot. Agar shadi ke liye na keh du to kya kar loge aap?" I asked, feeling frustrated.

("Aunt, why do you always bring up the same thing? You know I have to manage the business and have a lot of responsibilities. What will you do if I say no to marriage?")

"To tu mera mara hua muh dekhega, MR. VIDYUT EKANSH SINGH RATHORE!" A voice boomed in my room, and I knew the drama was going to begin.

("So, you want to see me dead, Mr. Vidyut Ekansh Singh Rathore?")

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𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪;)

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