Yugarth pov.... 🖤

“Poison…”

The word left my lips in a low murmur.

The corner of my mouth twisted slowly.

My jaw clenched.

Cold realization settled in my mind.

Outside, the road was still wet from the storm. A light drizzle had started again, raindrops striking the windshield in a slow rhythm.

So…

All the men who had been present that day…

Were dying one by one.

I leaned back slightly, exhaling through my nose.

A dangerous smirk spread across my face.

“Interesting.”

Someone was cleaning the board.

Or trying to hide the truth.

Either way—

It meant the game had started.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

The call connected within seconds.

“Ready the jet,” I said calmly. “We’re leaving tomorrow.”

There was a brief pause on the other side, but I had already ended the call.

I never waited for responses.

I didn’t ask.

I ordered.

So....

The board had been set.

And the pieces had already started moving.

The reason I came here was finally fulfilled.

So now… the game of facade had truly begun.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as I drove through the rain-soaked streets. The downpour grew heavier, water splashing under the tires as the car cut through the deserted road.

Thunder rolled across the dark sky.

It had been three days since I stepped into Udaipur.

A city famous for its beauty.

Its lakes.

Its royal palaces.

Its peaceful charm.

I let out a quiet chuckle.

Peace.

What a beautiful lie.

Because cities like this didn’t stay beautiful by accident.

They stayed beautiful because the filth was buried deep… where no one could see it.

My jaw tightened slightly.

Someone here was trying to erase the past.

One man after another… dead.

Poisoned.

Witnesses disappearing like they had never existed.

The corner of my mouth lifted into a slow, dangerous smirk.

Good.

That only meant one thing.

Someone was scared.

And fear always made people sloppy.

The engine growled softly as I pressed the accelerator, the car speeding through the empty street.

Rain blurred the world outside.

I pressed harder on the accelerator, the car slicing through the empty street as rain hammered against the windshield. The road ahead was deserted, the city drowned in darkness and storm.

I leaned back slightly in the seat, one hand steady on the steering wheel while my fingers tapped against it impatiently. My mind was still tangled in unfinished business—pieces of a puzzle that were yet to fall into place.

Then—

Movement.

Something rushed across the road.

My eyes narrowed.

Before my brain could fully register what it was, my foot slammed on the brakes.

The tires screeched violently against the wet asphalt.

The car jerked to a sudden halt.

A dull thud echoed in front of the vehicle.

For a moment, the rain was the only sound.

My jaw clenched hard.

“Who the hell—”

Anger surged through me instantly.

Some idiot had just thrown themselves in front of my car.

My hand moved instinctively.

I pulled the gun from the compartment beside me and stepped out of the car. The cold rain hit my face as I shut the door behind me.

With practiced ease, I loaded the pistol.

The metallic click echoed in the silent street.

My grip tightened around the weapon as I walked slowly toward the front of the car.

My finger rested on the trigger.

“Who is this fucker?” I barked sharply into the darkness. “Got a death wish?”

The rain poured harder, running down my face as I stepped around the hood of the car.

Then I saw.

Author pov.... 💫

Yugarth stepped out of the car, the door slamming shut behind him.

Rain immediately soaked through his clothes, but he didn’t seem to notice.

His jaw was tightly clenched, anger burning beneath his calm exterior. The pistol rested firmly in his hand, his finger already positioned on the trigger as he walked toward the front of the car.

His green eyes were dark… dangerous.

The kind of eyes that warned people to stay away.

The rain poured relentlessly around him as he moved closer to the figure lying in front of his car—the person who had dared to run straight into his path.

He was ready to shoot.

Ready to end the life of whoever had just interrupted his night.

But the moment he actually saw the person—

He stop...

His finger slowly moved away from the trigger.

For a brief second, Yugarth simply stood there.

In front of him was a girl.

She was completely drenched in rain, her white kurta clinging to her body from the downpour. Her breathing was uneven, as if she had been running for a long time.

A soft hiss escaped her lips.

“Ahh…”

She winced as she looked down at her arm.

A thin cut had formed there from the fall, blood mixing with rainwater as it slowly ran down her skin.

Yugarth’s jaw tightened again.

Then the girl slowly lifted her head.

And their eyes met.

Blue.

Her blue eyes locked with his green ones.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The rain kept falling over both of them, blurring the world around them.

But Yugarth didn’t move.

His gaze hardened slightly.

The girl…

Was none other than Aviva.

His jaw clenched once more.

“Marne ka shauk hai tumhe?” he said coldly.

(Do you have a death wish?)

Aviva forced herself to stand, though her body trembled slightly from exhaustion and fear.

Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

“Please… help me.”

Her eyes flicked behind her toward the dark road.

“They’re… behind me.”

Yugarth’s expression didn’t change.

But his eyes shifted past her shoulder.

Footsteps.

Heavy.

Rushed.

Within seconds, four… five men appeared from the darkness of the street, running toward them.

They stopped abruptly when they saw him.

For a moment, confusion crossed their faces.

Then one of them pointed at Aviva.

“Waha hai!” (There she is!)

Another man stepped forward, gripping the iron rod in his hand.

“Side hatt ja,” he said roughly, looking at Yugarth. (Move aside.)

“Yeh hamara maamla hai.” (This is our matter.)

Aviva instinctively moved a little closer behind Yugarth, her breathing still uneven.

Rain continued pouring down.

Yugarth slowly turned his head toward them.

His green eyes were calm.

Too calm.

The kind of calm that made people uncomfortable without knowing why.

For a moment he said nothing.

Then his gaze moved to the rod in the man’s hand.

Then back to the man’s face.

His lips curved slightly.

Not a smile.

Something colder.

One of the men stepped forward through the rain, wiping the water from his face as his eyes settled on Yugarth with a mocking arrogance.

“Ae ladke…” he said lazily. “Isse hume de de… chup chaap. Tere liye yahi accha hoga.”

(Hey boy… hand her over to us quietly. It will be better for you.)

His tone darkened as he continued.

“Iski wajah se tu bhi maara jaayega.”

(Because of her, you’ll get yourself killed too.)

The threat hung heavy in the air.

But Yugarth’s expression didn’t change.

Not even slightly.

As if the words meant nothing to him.

He simply leaned back against the bonnet of his car, completely unbothered. Rain poured down his face and soaked through his clothes, but he stood there like the storm itself belonged to him.

One leg crossed over the other.

His fingers lazily resting against the pistol in his hand.

Then he spoke.

His voice calm… almost bored.

“Aaja…” he said quietly.

(Come.)

“Aur le jaa.”

(Take her if you can.)

Aviva’s eyes widened in disbelief.

For a moment she stared at him, stunned.

Did he just… give her away?

The men smirked, thinking they had already won.

Two of them began walking toward her.

Panic surged through Aviva’s body.

She immediately turned to run again—but before she could take even two steps, a strong hand suddenly caught her wrist.

Yugarth.

His grip was firm.

Unbreakable.

“Chhoro mujhe!” Aviva shouted desperately, struggling against him.

(Leave me!)

Her fear turned into anger.

In frustration, she dug her nails deep into his hand.

Sharp enough to tear through his skin.

Blood slowly appeared beneath her nails, mixing with the rainwater running down his hand.

But Yugarth didn’t react.

Not even a flinch.

Not even a change in his breathing.

“Leave me!” she yelled again, her voice trembling with rage and fear. “You monster!”

Her blue eyes burned as she glared at him.

“Tumhari behen hoti toh uske saath bhi aisa hi karte?!”

(If it was your sister, would you let the same happen to her?!)

“Chhoro mujhe!”

(Let me go!)

Yugarth’s jaw clenched tightly.

The men had already reached them.

Aviva’s eyes widened when one of them stepped dangerously close.

The man looked her up and down shamelessly, a filthy grin spreading across his face.

“Ae ladki…” he sneered.

(Hey girl…)

“Chup chaap chal.”

(Just come quietly.)

He leaned closer, his voice dripping with menace.

“Teri saari akad nikalte hain.”

(We’ll break that attitude of yours.)

His lips twisted into something uglier.

“Phir dekhte hain kahaan muh dikhati—”

(Then let’s see where you show your face afterwards—)

He never finished his sentence.

CRACK.

A brutal punch slammed into his jaw.

The sound echoed loudly even through the storm.

His head snapped violently to the side.

The force of the blow was so powerful that his jaw practically shifted out of place before his body collapsed onto the wet road.

He didn’t even get a chance to scream properly.

Before the man could recover, she stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face again.

“Aukat mein reh kar baat kar!” she shouted furiously.

(Watch your mouth and know your place!)

Yugarth watched her silently.

His green eyes narrowed slightly.

The fire in her eyes…

The way her chest rose and fell rapidly with anger…

The fearless fury blazing inside her despite everything.

A slow smirk curved at the corner of his lips.

One of the remaining men shouted angrily.

“Teri itni himmat?!”

(How dare you?!)

He lunged forward.

But before he could even reach Aviva—

He was on the ground.

Yugarth moved like lightning.

His fist connected with the man’s face with brutal precision.

The man’s body twisted before he collapsed onto the rain-soaked road.

The remaining three men rushed forward together, anger replacing their earlier arrogance.

For a moment it seemed like they might overpower him.

But Yugarth didn’t even step back.

Instead, he lifted the pistol in his hand.

Not to shoot.

To strike.

THUD.

The heavy metal of the gun smashed straight into one man’s knee.

A loud crack followed as the man screamed in agony, collapsing instantly.

THUD.

The second man fell next, clutching his leg as pain shot through his body.

The third barely had time to react before Yugarth slammed the pistol into his thigh, sending him crashing onto the ground as well.

Within seconds—

All five men were lying on the road.

Groaning.

Broken.

Completely helpless.

Rain poured over their bodies as they writhed in pain.

Yugarth walked toward the men lying helpless on the rain-soaked road.

They tried to crawl away, their bound bodies trembling with pain and fear, but there was nowhere to go. 

He stopped beside them.

Rain poured over his shoulders, running down the sharp line of his jaw.

Slowly, Yugarth placed his foot on one man’s chest, pressing down just enough to make the man gasp for breath.

The man’s eyes widened in terror.

“ please…” he stuttered.

Yugarth looked down at him with complete indifference.

“You’ve lived enough of your life,” he said calmly.

Then—

BANG.

The gunshot split the storm.

The bullet went straight through the man’s head.

His body went still instantly.

A few steps away, Aviva flinched violently at the sound.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She stared at Yugarth in disbelief as he moved to the next man like nothing had happened.

The remaining men began begging desperately.

“Sir please! Galti ho gayi!”

(Sir please! It was a mistake!)

Yugarth didn’t respond.

He simply raised the gun.

This time he aimed lower.

BANG.

The bullet struck between the man’s legs.

A horrifying scream tore through the air as the man collapsed, writhing in agony.

Without even looking at the reaction, Yugarth turned to the next one and fired again.

The same brutal precision.

The same merciless calm.

Aviva’s eyes widened in shock.

What kind of man was this?

She took a step back—

Suddenly—

Two rough arms wrapped around her from behind.

Before she could react, a strong hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back against a body.

A cold blade pressed against her throat.

“AAHH—!” Aviva screamed.

The man she had slapped earlier.

His jaw was swollen and bleeding, but rage burned in his eyes as he held her tightly.

Yugarth turned immediately.

The man pressed the knife harder against Aviva’s neck.

“Unhe chhod de!” he shouted.

(Let them go!)

“Warna ise maar dunga!”

(Or I’ll kill her!)

For a moment, rain and thunder filled the silence between them.

Yugarth slowly lifted his hand and rubbed his temple like he was irritated.

Then he sighed softly.

“I hate noise,” he murmured.

His eyes lifted lazily toward the man.

“Kill her.”

Aviva’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“What…?” she whispered.

The man behind her blinked, confused.

“I said I’ll kill your wife!” he shouted angrily.

A strange smirk appeared on Yugarth’s lips.

“Wife…” he repeated under his breath.

As if the word amused him.

Then he began walking toward them.

Slow.

Unhurried.

The man panicked instantly.

“Ruk ja!” he shouted. (Stop!)

“Paas mat aana!” (Don’t come closer!)

The knife pressed harder against Aviva’s throat.

“Leave me! I’ll leave her!”

But Yugarth didn’t stop.

His eyes remained fixed on Aviva as he kept walking toward them through the rain.

Aviva’s jaw clenched.

Something inside her snapped.

In the next second—

She moved.

Fast.

Like lightning.

Her hand shot up, grabbing the man’s wrist.

CRACK.

A sharp sound echoed as she twisted his arm violently.

The man screamed as his wrist snapped out of place.

The knife slipped from his grip.

Aviva caught it instantly.

In one swift movement she turned, pushing him forward and placing the blade against his throat.

Everything happened in seconds.

Now the man stood frozen in front of her, trembling.

The knife pressed against his skin.

Yugarth stopped a step away.

He raised his pistol and placed it under his chin.

Then he crossed his arms casually.

A slow smirk spread across his face.

“Little dove,” he whispered.

She drove her knee brutally into the man’s back.

The man groaned in agony.

Behind Yugarth, one of the injured men on the ground suddenly screamed again in pain.

The noise echoed loudly.

Yugarth’s jaw tightened.

Annoyance flashed across his face.

He turned his head slightly.

BANG.

Without even looking properly, he fired.

The bullet went straight into the screaming man’s chest.

Silence fell again.

Yugarth exhaled slowly.

“Saale…” he muttered coldly.

(Idiot…)

“Shaant nahi reh skte thori der.”

Then his eyes flicked briefly toward Aviva.

“Don't disturb my women”

The man in front of her whimpered in pain.

His hand hung uselessly at his side.

She had completely broken it.

Rain poured harder around them as Yugarth finally stepped closer.

Closer to Aviva.

Aviva tightened her grip on the man’s broken wrist, twisting it further behind his back.

A sharp cry tore from his throat.

“Bohot shauk hai na ladki chhedne ka?” she said coldly.

(You really enjoy harassing women, don’t you?)

She twisted his arm again.

The man cried out in pain, his knees almost giving out.

“Please… please!” he whimpered desperately. “Aaj ke baad kabhi nahi karunga!”

(Please… I swear I’ll never do this again after today!)

Rain streamed down his face as fear completely replaced the arrogance he had shown earlier.

Yugarth watched the scene like it was entertainment.

Completely relaxed.

Then he spoke casually.

“Uske liye…” he said slowly, “zinda bhi rehna padta hai.”

(For that… you need to stay alive first.)

Aviva turned her head slightly toward him.

His tone was so calm… so indifferent… that for a moment it distracted her.

Her grip loosened just a little.

And that was all the opportunity the man needed.

With sudden desperation, he shoved Aviva hard.

She lost her balance instantly.

The wet road beneath her feet made it impossible to steady herself.

Her body lurched forward—

Straight into Yugarth.

He caught her effortlessly.

One arm wrapped around her waist before she could fall.

A faint smirk curved across his lips.

Aviva instinctively grabbed onto him to steady herself, her hands clutching the firm muscles of his abdomen through his soaked shirt.

Her breath hitched slightly.

Yugarth’s grip tightened around her waist, pulling her closer to keep her from slipping again.

For a brief second—

Neither of them moved.

Rain poured over them both, soaking their clothes completely.

Yugarth looked down at her.

His green eyes dark and unreadable.

Aviva’s hair clung to her face, rain dripping from her lashes as she tried to regain her balance against him.

Behind them—

The man was running.

Desperately.

Trying to escape down the empty road.

Yugarth didn’t even look at him.

His gaze remained fixed on Aviva.

Slowly, almost lazily, he lifted the pistol.

His arm moved past her shoulder.

And without looking—

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

Three gunshots ripped through the storm.

The running man’s body jerked violently before collapsing face-first onto the road.

Aviva flinched violently at the sudden sound.

Her body tensed instinctively.

For a moment she didn’t move.

Rain poured over them mercilessly, soaking them to the bone.

Aviva tried to steady herself after the sudden chaos, but the wet road beneath her feet made it difficult to keep her balance. Her grip on Yugarth slowly loosened as she attempted to step away.

For a moment, her body swayed.

Before she could fall—

Yugarth’s arm tightened around her waist again, pulling her firmly against him.

The movement was effortless.

Instinctive.

Aviva slowly lifted her face.

Her eyes met his.

And for a moment—

She forgot to blink.

Those eyes.

Deep green.

Sharp.

Cold… yet strangely mesmerizing.

Her gaze drifted across his face unconsciously.

The perfectly carved structure of his features… the strong line of his jaw… the loose strands of wet hair falling over his forehead, sticking to his skin because of the rain.

His white shirt clung tightly to his body, soaked completely, outlining the toned muscles beneath it—the solid structure of his chest and abdomen clearly visible through the fabric.

She just looked at him.

Without blinking.

Without thinking.

Then—

THUD.

The sharp sound of a gunshot shattered the moment.

Aviva flinched violently.

But Yugarth hadn’t even broken eye contact.

His arm had simply moved past her.

He had fired.

Somewhere behind her, the man who had tried to escape screamed in pain.

Aviva immediately pulled away from Yugarth, stepping back as realization hit her.

“S–sorry…” she whispered under her breath.

Yugarth didn’t answer.

He glanced down at the pistol in his hand, opening the chamber slightly as if checking something inside it.

Then a faint smirk appeared on his lips.

Without warning—

He lifted the gun.

And pointed it straight at her.

Aviva’s eyes widened instantly.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Is he… going to shoot me?

“Wh—”

Before she could finish the word—

“Shhh…” he said .

His voice was dangerously calm.

The kind of calm that felt more terrifying than anger.

Aviva froze.

Completely still.

His finger slowly moved toward the trigger.

Then—

CLICK.

Her eyes shut instantly.

Her body braced for the impact.

She waited for the bullet to tear through her.

But instead—

A scream erupted behind her.

Aviva’s eyes flew open.

Yugarth was still standing exactly where he had been.

Still looking directly at her.

His expression unchanged.

Confused, she looked at the gun.

Then behind her.

The man on the road was writhing in agony.

The bullet had never been meant for her.

Yugarth pulled the trigger again.

BANG.

This time the shot was precise.

Final.

The man’s body jerked once—

Then went completely still.

Silence returned.

Aviva stood frozen.

Her mind struggling to process what she had just witnessed.

Did he just… kill five men in front of me?

And yet—

His face remained calm.

Almost bored.

Yugarth lowered the gun slightly, glancing at it briefly before shifting his gaze back to her.

At that moment—

A loud thunderclap exploded across the sky.

The sound echoed violently through the storm.

Aviva flinched instinctively.

Yugarth began walking toward her.

One step.

Aviva’s legs moved back automatically.

Another step.

She stepped back again.

Her heartbeat pounded loudly in her ears.

Until—

Her back suddenly hit the cold metal of the car bonnet.

She froze.

There was nowhere left to move.

Within two long strides—

Yugarth closed the distance between them.

Now he stood right in front of her.

His tall frame towering over her smaller one.

Rain dripping from his hair… sliding down his face… his green eyes fixed entirely on her.

Aviva pov.... 🤍

He stepped closer until there was barely any space left between us.

Then he leaned forward, placing both of his hands on the car bonnet on either side of me.

I was trapped between his arms and the cold metal behind my back.

The rain kept pouring over us, but suddenly it felt like the air itself had grown heavier.

My breathing became uneven.

My chest rose and fell quickly as I tried to calm myself, but the nearness of him made it impossible.

His presence was overwhelming.

Dangerous.

His voice came out in a low whisper, calm yet commanding.

“Sit inside.”

For a moment I simply stared at him, confused.

“Huh…?”

He repeated, this time a little firmer.

“Sit inside.”

The words weren’t loud.

But they carried the kind of authority that expected obedience.

I forced myself to steady my breathing. Gathering what little courage I had left, I pushed lightly against his arm and slipped out from between the space he had created, putting some distance between us.

He didn’t stop me.

He simply leaned back against the car bonnet, watching me.

Those green eyes followed my every movement.

I quickly adjusted my soaked clothes, pulling my kurta properly around myself, trying to regain some sense of composure.

“Thank you…” I said quietly.

“But I’ll go by myself.”

He didn’t respond.

Not a single word.

He just kept looking at me.

The silence between us felt strange.

Heavy.

I stepped away and walked toward the road where my purse had fallen earlier. It was half wet from the rain. I picked it up, brushing the dirt from it before turning back toward him.

He was still standing there.

Watching.

I walked closer again, stopping a few steps away.

“Thank you… once again,” I said softly.

Then I turned to leave.

But before I could take more than one step—

A strong hand grabbed my wrist.

Suddenly.

Firmly.

Before I could react, he pulled me back toward him.

My body collided straight into his chest.

My breath caught in my throat.

His body was hard, unmoving, while mine felt completely unsteady.

A soft gasp escaped my lips.

His voice came again, calm… dangerously calm.

“Little dove,” he murmured.

“Sit inside.”

“I don’t like repeating myself.”

I immediately tried to pull my hand back.

“No,” I said quickly. “I’ll go myself.”

He leaned slightly closer.

“Shhh.”

His tone dropped lower.

“Sit.”

Just then a loud thunderclap rolled across the sky again, the sound vibrating through the storm around us.

I looked at him for a long moment.

The storm was getting worse, rain pouring down the empty street while thunder rolled in the distance. My mind raced quickly through my options—but the truth was painfully clear.

I didn’t have any.

When I had run earlier, I had taken a different route in panic. I didn’t even know where exactly I was now. The streets were silent and deserted, and walking alone in the middle of a storm like this wasn’t safe either.

And the weather wasn’t on my side.

I took a slow, steady breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

Then I nodded.

The moment I did, he released my wrist.

Immediately.

As if the contact meant nothing to him.

He stepped away from me and walked toward the car without another word.

For a second I stood there, watching his back through the rain, before quietly following him.

He got into the driver’s seat.

I walked around the car and reached for the back door, intending to sit behind.

“Sit in front.”

His voice stopped me.

Firm.

Without looking at me.

I paused, then nodded silently.

“Okay.”

I closed the back door and opened the passenger door instead before sliding into the seat beside him.

The car door shut with a heavy sound, muffling the storm outside.

“Address,” he said simply.

I told him where I lived.

He started the engine.

The car hummed to life as the headlights cut through the rain-soaked darkness ahead.

For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.

I suddenly felt the cold more intensely.

My clothes were completely soaked from the rain, the wet fabric clinging to my skin uncomfortably. The cold air inside the car made it worse.

The AC was running.

I rubbed my arms slightly and turned toward him.

“Can you please switch off the AC?”

He didn’t say anything.

But his hand immediately moved toward the control panel.

Just as he reached for the switch—

My eyes fell on his hand.

The cut.

The one I had made earlier when I dug my nails into his skin.

A thin line of blood had dried along the scratch, the skin slightly torn where my nails had dug in.

Guilt flickered through me.

Without thinking much, I lowered my gaze and opened my purse quietly.

Inside was a small bandage.

I pulled it out and unwrapped it.

His hand rested loosely on the gear shift as he drove, completely focused on the road ahead.

Silently, I reached forward.

Carefully, I placed the bandage over the cut on his hand.

My fingers barely touched his skin as I pressed the adhesive into place.

The moment it was done, I immediately withdrew my hand.

Almost as if I had done something wrong.

I turned my face toward the window, pretending to watch the rain sliding down the glass.

For a moment there was silence.

Then I felt his gaze shift.

He turned his head slightly, looking at me.

Then at the bandage on his hand.

Then back at the road ahead.

But he didn’t say a word.

A few minutes later, the car slowed down in front of my house.

The familiar gate came into view through the rain-covered windshield.

He stopped the car.

For a moment I thought he might say something… maybe ask if I was alright or at least wait for me to get inside safely.

But the moment I opened the door—

He was already driving away.

The car disappeared into the rain within seconds, its headlights fading into the darkness of the street.

I stood there for a moment, watching the empty road.

Then I slowly exhaled.

“Strange man…” I murmured under my breath.

The rain was still falling lightly as I hurried toward the door and rang the bell.

Within seconds the door opened.

My father stood there.

The moment he saw me, his eyes widened slightly.

“Aviva beta!” he said with concern.

I forced a small smile onto my lips.

“Hi, Dad.”

Before he could say anything else, my grandmother appeared behind him.

“Aviva beta, bahut late ho gaya tu.”

(Aviva dear, you got very late.)

“Ji…” I replied softly.

I stepped inside, trying to act normal.

There was no way I could tell them what had happened tonight.

Not after everything I had just seen.

Dad looked at me carefully.

His concern deepened when he noticed my condition.

“Beta, are you okay?” he asked gently.

His eyes moved over my drenched clothes.

“Tu poori tarah bheeg gayi hai.”

(You’re completely soaked.)

Then he frowned.

“Aur tera phone kyun nahi lag raha tha?”

(And why wasn’t your phone reachable?)

For a second I hesitated.

“Wo… woh…” I said, pretending to think.

“Mausam bahut kharab hai na… shayad isliye network nahi aa raha hoga.”

(The weather is really bad… maybe that’s why there was no network.)

Dadi shook her head softly.

“Chal andar aa ja,” she said warmly.

(Come inside now.)

“Kapde badal le. Phir main khana laga deti hoon.”

(Change your clothes first, then I’ll serve dinner.)

I nodded.

“Ji, Dadi.”

Just before walking inside, I instinctively looked back toward the street one last time.

The road was empty now.

Only the rain and dim streetlights remained.

Dad noticed.

“Kya hua?” he asked.

(What happened?)

I quickly shook my head.

“Kuch nahi.”

Then I walked inside the house, quietly closing the door behind me.

Yugarth's pov..🖤

The moment she stepped out of the car, I pressed my foot harder on the accelerator.

I didn’t wait.

Didn’t look back.

The car shot forward through the rain-soaked street, the headlights cutting through the darkness as the storm continued to rage outside.

For a few seconds, the only sound inside the car was the engine and the rain hitting the windshield.

Then my gaze dropped.

To my hand.

The bandage.

The one she had quietly placed over the cut earlier.

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel before I slowly lifted my hand.

I brought it closer to my face.

The faint scent of her perfume still lingered on the fabric.

“Little dove…” I murmured under my breath.

A strange smirk curved on my lips.

I closed my hand slowly, curling my fingers into a fist.

“You’re mine.”

The words slipped out in a low whisper.

My jaw clenched tightly.

The muscles in my face hardened as another image flashed through my mind.

That man.

His filthy hands grabbing her from behind.

His knife against her throat.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened dangerously.

“How dare he…” I muttered coldly.

“How dare he touch what belongs to me.”

The memory replayed again in my mind—

Her struggling.

His hands on her.

A dark anger slowly spread through my chest.

I dragged the car sharply into another road, the tires screeching slightly against the wet asphalt.

Within minutes, I turned the car off the main road and drove toward an abandoned building standing alone in the darkness.

The place was quiet.

Empty.

Exactly the kind of place where screams disappeared without leaving a trace.

I parked the car and stepped out.

The rain had slowed, but the storm clouds still hung heavily in the sky.

Inside the building, dim lights flickered.

My men were already there.

And so were they.

The same men from earlier.

Tied to iron chairs in the center of the large empty hall.

Bruised.

Broken.

Barely conscious.

The moment they saw me walk in, their bodies began trembling.

Fear.

Pure fear.

I didn’t say a word.

Instead, I gestured slightly to my men.

“Pakdo unhe.”

(Hold them.)

Two of my men stepped forward immediately, tightening their grip on the ropes that held the men in place.

As I walked closer, the memories replayed again in my mind.

That moment.

When one of them had grabbed her.

His filthy hands touching her.

My blood boiled.

I picked up an iron rod lying nearby.

The cold metal felt heavy in my hand.

My eyes fixed on the man sitting in the middle.

He was still alive.

All of them were.

I hadn’t killed them on the road.

Not yet.

Slowly, I stepped closer.

Without warning, I kicked his legs apart violently.

The man cried out in fear.

Then—

CRACK.

The iron rod slammed straight between his legs.

A horrifying scream echoed through the hall.

He thrashed against the ropes, his entire body shaking from the pain.

My grip tightened on the rod.

“How dare you…” I said slowly.

“How dare you touch her.”

Then I struck him again.

Harder this time.

The rod crashed down brutally.

Blood splattered across the floor.

The man screamed louder, his voice breaking into desperate sobs.

“I didn’t know!” he cried out in agony.

“Mujhe nahi pata tha woh aapki biwi hai!”

(I didn’t know she was your wife!)

My jaw clenched tightly.

The word echoed in my head.

Wife.

Without hesitation—

I struck him again.

His scream echoed even louder this time.

Then I dropped the rod.

My voice was cold when I spoke again.

“Acid.”

One of my men immediately stepped forward, placing a bottle into my hand.

I slowly pulled on a pair of gloves.

The men tied to the chairs began screaming the moment they understood what was about to happen.

“No! No please!” one of them begged.

But I had already opened the bottle.

The sharp chemical smell filled the air instantly.

I stepped closer to the first man.

And poured the entire bottle over him.

The moment the acid touched his skin—

His scream tore through the building.

A horrifying sound.

His flesh began burning instantly, the skin blistering and melting as the liquid spread across his body.

But I didn’t stop there.

I moved to the next one.

And then the next.

Each of them screaming.

Begging.

Crying for mercy.

None of it mattered.

By the time I finished, the entire room was filled with their dying screams and the sickening smell of burning flesh.

Their bodies twisted violently against the ropes as the acid slowly destroyed them.

I pulled off the gloves calmly.

Then tossed them onto the floor beside them.

My expression didn’t change.

Not even slightly.

Without another word, I turned around and walked out of the building.

Behind me, their screams slowly faded into silence.

I slid back into the driver’s seat and slammed the car door shut.

The engine roared to life as I drove out of the deserted compound and onto the empty highway leading toward my mansion. The night was still wrapped in storm clouds, rainwater glistening across the road under the faint glow of distant streetlights.

After everything that had happened tonight… a strange calm settled inside me.

Not peace.

But something close to satisfaction.

I leaned slightly back into the seat, one hand resting loosely on the steering wheel as the car cut through the silent road.

And then—

Her face appeared in my mind.

Those blue eyes.

Bright.

Defiant.

The way they had glared at those men without fear.

The fire in her voice when she slapped that bastard.

A faint smirk touched my lips.

Her sharp nose… the stubborn lift of her chin… the way her wet hair had clung to her face under the rain.

“Fuck…” I muttered under my breath.

My fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

“You’re mine now, little dove.”

The words left my lips slowly, almost like a promise.

Because I knew one thing clearly—

I was not a hero.

Never was.

Never would be.

Heroes save people.

They protect them… and then let them go.

But I was something else entirely.

A villain.

The kind of man stories warn people about.

And villains don’t save the girl.

They claim her.

A darker smile curved across my lips as the mansion gates appeared in the distance.

“One day,” I murmured softly into the quiet car.

“I’ll take you with me…”

“To my world.”

A world built in shadows.

Where power ruled everything.

Where mercy was weakness.

“And there,” I whispered, my eyes darkening slightly,

“You’ll be the queen of my dark domain.”

A dark smirk played on my lips as the gates of the Rathore mansion slowly opened.

The car rolled inside the massive estate, headlights slicing through the thick darkness that surrounded the property. The storm had weakened, but the air still carried the scent of rain and thunder.

I stepped out of the car and shut the door.

The sound echoed through the silent courtyard.

My boots hit the marble floor as I walked inside the mansion. The place was enormous… powerful… built to intimidate.

But it was also empty.

Most of this house had never known warmth.

Only power.

Only fear.

There were very few people in this world who dared to speak in front of me.

My grandfather was one of them.

But even Rajveer Singh Rathore knew the line he could never cross.

Because power didn’t belong to the old lion anymore.

It belonged to the monster he raised.

Me.

I walked upstairs toward my room, loosening the collar of my wet shirt, rainwater still dripping from my hair.

But just as I reached the top—

A voice came from the darkness.

“Yugarth.”

I stopped.

Slowly turning, I looked toward the sitting area.

There he stood.

Rajveer Singh Rathore.

My grandfather.

Even in his old age his posture was strong… but the tension in his eyes didn’t escape me.

He asked carefully,

“Why are you so late?”

My expression remained cold.

“I was busy.”

Flat.

Emotionless.

No explanation.

I turned again, about to leave.

“Yugarth.”

My jaw clenched slightly.

I stopped and looked back at him.

He hesitated for a moment before asking,

“Are you leaving tomorrow?”

A quiet scoff left my lips.

“Tch.”

Confusion crossed his face.

“What does that mean?”

For a brief second—

Her face appeared in my mind.

Those blue eyes.

That stubborn fire.

The way she stood against those men like she wasn’t afraid to burn.

A slow, dangerous smile formed on my lips.

“Not yet.”

My voice dropped lower.

“I still have unfinished work here.”

My gaze darkened slightly.

“I need to claim something that belongs to me.”

My grandfather’s brows pulled together.

“Who?”

My lips twisted slowly.

“My little dove.”

Silence filled the hall for a moment.

Then he said,

“But I have to leave tomorrow. I have some work in Jodhpur.”

I looked straight at him.

Unbothered.

“No one is stopping you.”

He nodded slowly.

“Then when will you leave?”He asked

I leaned against the railing of the staircase, completely relaxed, like the entire mansion belonged under my feet.

“Not until I take someone with me.”

His eyes hardened slightly.

But beneath it…

There was caution.

Because he knew the man standing in front of him wasn’t the boy he once raised.

“Kuch bhi aisa waisa mat karna.”

(Don’t do anything reckless.)

A warning.

But not a command.

Because commands didn’t work on me.

He turned and walked away down the long corridor.

I watched his figure disappear into the darkness.

Then a low chuckle left my throat.

I leaned against the railing, staring out at the storm clouds beyond the mansion windows.

“My little dove…”

My voice dropped into a dangerous whisper.

“You have no idea what kind of monster noticed you tonight.”

The smirk returned slowly.

“And monsters…”

My eyes darkened.

“…don’t ask.”

“They take.”

.

.

.