by M. V. Kasi
“Not with the risk I’ll be taking by storing those guns in my warehouse, Mr. Grainger. The whole world is on a hunt trying to find the men responsible for the recent terrorist attack in the cafe.”
“We weren’t responsible! We were—”
“Maybe not directly, but the guns used were from the same batch you are desperately trying to sell to me. You need to be more careful about whom you sell your weapons to, Mr. Grainger.”
The man fell silent with no arguments.
Shiv pushed the contract documents towards the man. “One-third the price, and you’ll also pay for the transport.”
The man ground his teeth in helpless anger, but he signed the documents.
Shiv smiled at the man. “Nice doing business with you, Mr. Grainger.”
The man didn’t say anything. He just stormed out of the conference room with an army of guards.
Shiv sat back with a small, satisfied smile. He knew he made yet another enemy, but he didn’t care. The man deserved it even if he hadn’t been directly responsible for the terrorist attack.
He looked out of the window at the view. He was feeling restless. He knew he could place a call to someone from his long list of contacts, and release his pent-up energy in a pleasurable way.
But he knew he couldn’t.
It had been nearly four damn months since he last had a date or even a hookup. And the reason for his dry spell was a certain woman.
He pulled up his phone and opened the pictures in the folder he had saved on his phone.
Sunaina Bhasin was smiling in all of them. Like a bloody creep, he had her followed not just to keep her safe but also to see what she was up to.
She looked utterly captivating in the pictures.
He knew she wasn’t happy with what was happening in her life because she felt trapped. And yet, she was smiling.
Each time he saw her picture, his heart beat unsteadily even though he knew he couldn’t afford such feelings in his life. Not only was it dangerous for her, it would be dangerous for him as well. The more he fell for her, the more they both had to lose.
But he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He recalled every moment he spent in her company, even when she wasn’t aware of him. He wanted to touch and kiss her and feel her in his arms once again. He wanted to do that so badly that he had to talk himself out at least a dozen times not to meet her at her campus.
Not only would she be creeped out, she would hate him if she found out the truth of who he was.
He had to stay away from her. He was getting closer in his hunt, and all of his focus needed to be on that. With another sigh, he closed the folder and got up to leave.
He was about to go down to his penthouse when he received a call.
“Mr. Jaipal, this is Ramesh.”
Ramesh Srivatsav was Narayan Bhasin’s secretary. He was one among those on the devil’s payroll.
“Damodar Mohandas.”
Listening to the name, rage erupted inside Shiv. “Are you sure he is the one?” he asked.
“Yes, Mr. Jaipal. I was there right next to Mr. Bhasin when he spoke to Mr. Mohandas. They are planning the engagement on Mr. Bhasin’s anniversary celebration.”
“Thank you.”
Ending the call, Shiv knew he was on yet another hunt that wasn’t included in his original plans.
CHAPTER 19
When Naina was summoned home on the pretext of her father and stepmother’s anniversary celebration, she found it strange. She had never been invited to any of their anniversary celebrations.
She still came because she had no choice. But very soon, she wished she hadn’t.
“I’m announcing your engagement tonight during my anniversary celebrations.” There was a mean, satisfied smile on her father’s face. “Damodar has always taken a liking for you since your childhood. He has asked me for your hand in marriage many times. Now that you are no longer committed in marriage to anyone, I have agreed to his proposal.”
Naina felt the blood leaving her face. Damodar Mohandas was a predator. He was close to sixty-five years old, and he was the political party president and known to her father for decades. The memories she had of him during her childhood were bad. When no one was looking, he always touched her or pinched her. She had tried to find ways to avoid him, but she was forced to greet him because her father had ordered her to.
“I will tell everyone that he’s a sexual predator. I’m sure there are many girls and maybe even boys whom he has abused.”
A sudden, unexpected slap whipped her face to the side.
“You will shut your mouth tonight! If you dare to spout such nonsense and publicly humiliate me, I will make you regret you were ever born!”
Naina held a hand to her burning cheek. “I already regret it. I regret having a father like you.”
He raised his hand. “Why you little bi—”
Monica intervened. “Darling, please don’t slap her again. We have a party in a few minutes. It’s going to be tough explaining her bruises to the guests.”
Naina’s father glared. “Then convince her to shut her mouth and do as we say!” With that, he stormed out of his office.
Naina saw an ugly glint shining in her stepmother’s eyes. “You have always thought you were above me, didn’t you? You think the world is yours for the taking because you are young and beautiful with a rich, powerful father. But guess what? In a few days, you will be forced to touch the fat, saggy and wrinkled skin of a man thrice your age while he grunts above you destroying your innocence. Then you won’t feel so superior.”
Naina’s stomach turned at the visual. But she didn’t let her fear or disgust show. “That will never happen.”
Monica smiled viciously. “But darling, it is going to happen. I hated it when you were almost engaged to the devils. Even though the devils are evil, you didn’t deserve them. They are in their prime and most sought after. I can’t wait for you to marry Damodar Mohandas. He doesn’t have an heir. He is eagerly waiting for you to provide him one as soon as possible.”
Naina’s stomach churned again. This time she couldn’t stop herself from gagging. She ran into the bathroom and threw up.
She continued to gag until there was nothing left inside her stomach. Helpless tears filled her eyes as she sat on the floor of the bathroom in her heavy ethnic dress.
She felt hopeless knowing she had to cut her losses. She cannot afford to stay under her father’s domination for the sake of completing her education. She would have to escape without her mother.
She would get a low-paying job and save enough before taking her mother along with her. She knew she wouldn’t be able to afford the comfort and lifestyle her mother deserved, but she would at least not subject her mother to living the rest of her life with strangers.
Deep, helpless regret filled her heart. Wiping her tears, she got up to get out of the bathroom and go upstairs to change and make plans to escape.
But just when she opened the door, she saw a woman.
The woman smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, I was trying to look for an unoccupied bathroom. The ones at the front were full.”
Naina shook her head. “That’s all right. You can use this one. It’s free now.” Tears leaked out of her eyes which she tried to rub away angrily, but she flinched when her hand touched the purple bruise.
“Are you all right?” the woman asked. There was concern on the woman’s face.
“Yes.” She was hardly fine because soon, she would be homeless and also defenseless with no education.
“Your cheek is bruised and swollen,” the woman said softly.
Naina looked at her in surprise, not expecting the woman to mention the bruise. Like everyone else in her father’s social circles, she expected the woman to ignore any form of abuse. “A token of affection from my father. I’m used to it now.” Naina knew she sounded bitter.
The woman looked shocked and angry. “That’s terrible. I’m so sorry. Would you like me to help you in any way?”
<
br /> Naina let out a bitter scoff. “Unless you can make the Home Minister and his current wife disappear from the face of the earth, I don’t think you or anyone can help me. But thanks for the offer to help.”
The woman stared at her. “Who are you?” she asked. “I’m Aditi… Shaurya.”
Naina was stunned. She recognized that name. That last name had been the bane of her existence for two long years. “Oh my God. You are Anirudh Shaurya’s wife?”
The woman nodded.
Naina stared at her. The woman looked normal, and there was also a certain glow about her. “But… but… you seem fine. You don’t look abused or nervous.”
The woman frowned. “What do you mean?”
Naina laughed bitterly. “Until Anirudh Shaurya married you, my father used to threaten me saying he would marry me to the devil as soon as I was finished with my studies. And that the devil would beat me into submission, driving out my rebellion.”
The woman looked shocked.
Naina wondered if it had more to do with compatibility. Maybe if she had been forced to marry Anirudh Shaurya, she might have driven him to abuse her.
“I’m glad he married you.” Naina realized how that was coming off. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. Did he ever… hurt you?”
The woman hesitated. Naina badly hoped that the woman wasn’t being abused. Naina felt responsible. She managed to escape the devil, only for some other woman to become the victim.
“No. He hasn’t hurt me.” The woman blushed making her glow brighter.
Naina felt relieved, and she could decode part of the blush as well. “Hmm… looks like you like the devil.”
The woman blushed again before inhaling a deep breath. “Why did your father hurt you?” she asked.
Naina felt the helpless rage take over. “He wants me to marry some man. Someone rich and powerful and perverted. He’s cruel and much older than me. Someone who will help my father become the next Chief Minister.”
The woman frowned. “Why don’t you run away? Escape to a place where he can’t find you? I can help you with money if you want.”
Naina was stunned and touched. “You would help a stranger?”
“Yes. I know how it feels to be trapped. If you have a choice, get away.”
Naina wanted to tell the woman that she couldn’t escape because of her studies. But before she could say anything, the door to the study opened. A small group of men, including her father entered. Naina vaguely recognized Anirudh Shaurya in the group too.
“What’s happening here?” her father asked with a suspicious frown directed towards her.
Naina knew her father wanted to know whether or not she had told anything to Aditi Shaurya. Naina didn’t want to get the other woman in trouble. In fact, strangely, Aditi threw off nervous vibes all of a sudden.
“I was talking to… Aditi, Papa.”
Naina’s father frowned. “You met Mrs. Shaurya before?”
“No. Today was the first time. We were discussing the designer of my dress. Aditi apparently knows the designer.”
“I see.” Her father continued to frown. “If you don’t mind, please excuse us, Mrs. Shaurya. We have an important meeting here.”
“Of course. Not a problem at all.”
Naina followed Aditi out of the office room. And when they were out of earshot, she introduced herself. “I’m Sunaina.”
“Hello, Sunaina.” They shook hands. Aditi Shaurya looked at her intently. “If you decide to do what I suggested, there is a person who can help you.”
“Who?” Naina didn’t trust anyone.
“I’ll ask her to contact you.”
Naina was surprised. “Her? It’s a woman?” Maybe a woman might feel more empathy and help her mother in case her father decided to retaliate.
Aditi nodded. “Yes.”
Aditi was about to say something when Monica interrupted them.
“Naina! My dear…”
Naina hated the interruption. She wondered if Damodar Mohandas had arrived at the party. Her stomach turned yet again imagining standing next to him or even being forced to hold his hand as her father announced the engagement.
Monica looked at her with fake concern. “Where have you been, Naina? I’ve been looking all over for you?”
“Why?” Naina didn’t hide her disgust and hatred.
The fake smile flickered on Monica’s face. “To introduce you to my friends, silly,” she said. “Come, everyone is eager to meet you.” Monica even threw a glance at Aditi. “Mrs. Shaurya, come join us too.”
Surprisingly, Aditi Shaurya smiled. “I would love to.”
The evening was torturous as expected. Naina was forced to converse with people she didn’t really care for or liked. The only thing that was a saving grace was that Damodar Mohandas didn’t show up at the party agitating both her father and stepmother.
That night when she went back to her room, Naina seriously hoped that Aditi Shaurya’s contact would come in handy to escape in the near future. She had run out of choices.
Or did she?
She recalled wanting to meet the stranger and ask for his help. And if he wants an affair in return, she would willingly agree to it.
She looked at the time on the clock. It was well after midnight. The club might be open, but he might not be around. She would have to wait until the next day or the day after to go and meet him.
With her heart thudding once again in anticipation at the thought of meeting her stranger, she slept peacefully that night.
CHAPTER 2 0
“I doubt if anyone would truly believe that a man would be bruised black and blue all over the body if he were poisoning himself.”
At Vijay’s statement, Shiv shrugged.
They were at Shiv’s penthouse, watching the news flashing on television. The sudden suicide of Damodar Mohandas, an aging powerful politician, apparently shocked the nation. The sixty-five-year-old man confessed to his ‘sickness’ in his suicide letter and apologized to all the victims whom he had abused over the years.
Anirudh shook his head with an amused smile. “Why don’t you just marry the girl and be done with it? The Home Minister won’t stop getting his daughter into alliances, and you won’t stop killing those men.”
“Those two men were criminals and perverts.”
Vijay raised his eyebrow. “Are you saying if she’s paired up with a decent man, you would be fine with it?”
Shiv’s jaw clenched automatically at the thought. He didn’t hurt innocents. If Naina had been tied to a decent man, he knew he would have no choice other than to let her be. “Her father will push her into alliances only if they benefit his political ambitions.”
“You would benefit him the most at this point,” Anirudh reminded. “Especially with the things that are to come.”
Shiv didn’t say anything. He knew he was still not done obsessing over Naina. She still was always in his thoughts. When he found out the Home Minister made an alliance with Damodar Mohandas, he knew the old pervert’s time had come. He had the old man killed on the day Naina was supposed to get engaged to him.
But his friends were right. He was too involved in stalking Naina than focusing on his personal mission. He knew it would be hard to stop himself from wanting to see her and meet her. It was next to impossible to keep away from her.
He was going to leave the city. Until he was done with his personal mission, he had to maintain distance. And once he was done, nothing would stop him from claiming her.
PRESENT
One year later…
CHAPTER 2 1
“Stop! Don’t come near me! Or I will kill you!”
Shiv looked at the beautiful woman in front of him whom he had to claim much earlier than expected.
In her traditional clothes, Naina looked every bit furious and rebellious as she did during their wedding ceremony early that morning. In contrast to her, he was wearing the same three-piece suit that he had worn nearly two days ago.
/>
He was tired as hell. He had spent the last forty-eight hours trying to reach the city while making arrangements for the wedding at an inhuman pace.
All he wanted right then was to change into fresh clothes and pull Naina close and kiss her passionately before holding her and falling asleep.
But his wife had different plans—plans to stab him. And based on the way she held the knife in her hands, she looked as though she might succeed in killing him.
With an internal groan at the massively fucked-up situation, he shed his suit jacket and threw it on a nearby chair. When he began unbuttoning his shirt, he saw Naina’s eyes dropping to his chest. Her breaths came out faster as she stared.
Even though he was tired as hell, his body awakened at her fearful yet heated look.
“Come here,” he ordered softly, hoping she would soften a little.
But at his soft command, she pulled her eyes away from his bare chest and stared at him disbelievingly. “I’m not joking. I’m serious. I’ll kill you if you touch me!”
“Will you?” he asked, smiling darkly. One thing his fiery wife would soon discover about him was that he never backed away from a challenge or threats.
“Yes!” she said in desperation and panic. “I will stab you and kill you!”
He continued to smile darkly and didn’t stop the slow and steady stalking towards her.
She continued to take a few steps back, but soon her back met with the glass wall of the bedroom. She looked cornered and hunted, and her chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared at him.
“I hate you,” she whispered before raising her knife higher and aiming it towards his chest.
He caught her hand and stopped it midway. He was pissed. She was really about to stab him.
He knew she had attacked him in anger and fear rather than hate. And people did some really fucked-up things in a moment of passion.
Or maybe he was in denial that she might actually hate him.
She had told him she hated him right after their wedding ceremony. He didn’t believe her then. And when she spit on his face, a dark, possessive desire had filled him. He had kissed her to prove her wrong.