Utsav
"Catch her," I ordered coldly into the phone, my voice low but laced with lethal precision. "I want her alive. She saw something she was never supposed to. And remember-" I paused, letting the weight of my words settle, "-I want her alive, so I can bury her myself."
The man on the other end responded with crisp efficiency, as though death was just another task on his checklist. "Yes, sir."
I took a sip of my whiskey, the liquid burning its way down my throat, but I barely flinched. My eyes were fixed on the velvet night sky beyond the balcony, stars blinking above the Mehrotra mansion like mocking witnesses to everything that had just unfolded.
She saw that.
The warehouse.
My truth.
A world not meant for someone like Maya.
I was already mapping the next move in my mind-deploying two more men to sweep the outer zone, tracing CCTV footage, checking every possible escape route-when a voice sliced through my focus.
"Sir... she came back."
I didn't move right away. Just blinked once.
Slowly, I turned around.
Akash stood at the door, Rohit's junior. The boy looked like he'd seen a ghost-or worse, me. His shoulders were squared like a soldier's, but the way his Adam's apple bobbed and his boots trembled against the floor betrayed his nerves.
I stared at him, silent, letting the gravity of my presence sink into his bones.
Then, in a low voice, I said, "You may leave."
He was about to bolt when something about his demeanor-too stiff, too cautious-made me pause. My eyes narrowed slightly.
He heard.
I was sure of it.
"Wait," I commanded, my tone calm but charged with danger. He froze mid-step.
"You heard something, didn't you?" I asked, taking a slow step toward him, my gaze locking on his. His lips parted slightly, and he frantically shook his head.
"No, sir-n-nothing at all."
Liar.
But a smart one.
I stopped just inches from him, our height difference amplifying the pressure he felt. I leaned in, my tone sharpening.
"Good. You're an obedient man. You know when to speak... and more importantly, when to remain silent."
His breath hitched. I could see the sweat collecting at his temple.
"You didn't hear anything. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir. Absolutely. I didn't hear anything. I wasn't even supposed to be here-just passing by," he stammered, practically tripping over his own tongue as he rushed to make himself invisible.
He turned, eager to escape, when I added one final nail to the coffin.
"And Akash."
He stopped like a marionette caught mid-pull.
He turned his face slightly, his expression etched in dread.
"If I hear even a whisper of gossip-if even the air knows that you heard me-let's just say the consequences will be... severe."
He swallowed hard, nodding.
"Yes, sir. Understood."
Then he was gone, his footsteps echoing down the corridor, faster than necessary.
Cowards.
They always shake in front of power.
But Maya?
She didn't run.
She came back.
And now... the real game begins.
As I stepped into the living room, there she was.
Maya Shekhawat.
The very headache in my life lately-dressed in black, loud in silence, and yet somehow managing to stand there as if she owned the place. She was casually chatting-no, existing-among Aditya, Aditi, and Ishanvi, like she hadn't disappeared without a trace and turned the world upside down in a single evening.
A man stood behind her, arms folded neatly in front of his torso, dressed in a black shirt, expression awkwardly timid. Assistant, most likely. The kind who follows orders too well and lies too poorly.
I crossed my arms, not fully walking into their space-just enough to hear. Just enough to watch. It wasn't like me, I know. I don't hover. I don't listen. I command, observe, and dismiss.
But tonight was different.
Maya stumbled. Her heels wobbled, and the man behind her instinctively reached out to steady her. So... she was drunk. How convenient.
"Ma'am, please sit. You've had too much," he said, trying to sound polite, concerned.
Aditi immediately chimed in, "Yes, Raghav, help her to the couch."
So his name was Raghav. Noted.
He nodded and helped her sit, while Maya giggled like an idiot-slurring, flushed, and clearly out of her senses.
Just what I needed. Perfect.
"Where were you, Maya? We were worried sick, you know!" Ishanvi asked, concern coating her voice.
Maya remained silent.
But the man-Raghav-spoke instead. "I found Ma'am at a club. She went there to clear her mind, I believe. She's been under a lot of stress lately because of Rudra sir. And we all know... she always drinks when she's overwhelmed."
Everyone nodded along like puppets.
Fools.
I knew a lie when I heard one. And this one? This was an amateur performance. The slight tremble in his voice, the way he avoided everyone's eyes-especially mine. That lie was as thin as paper, and I could tear through it with a single breath.
Perhaps Maya had told him she was stressed about Rudra, maybe even asked him to cover for her. But the club? That was fiction. Crafted poorly.
The thing about kind men like Raghav? They can't even lie without shifting their eyes.
"So..." I finally spoke, stepping toward them. My voice cut through the room like a blade. "You found her at a club?"
All eyes turned toward me-wide with disbelief. The Utsav Mehrotra who never meddles, never asks questions, never cares, was suddenly involved.
But this wasn't about caring.
This was strategy.
It was Maya. The storm in my otherwise well-controlled life.
The girl who should've run far, far away... but walked right back into the fire instead.
"Y-Yes, sir," Raghav stammered, voice barely above a whisper. Timid, but loyal. Loyal to Maya.
"And when exactly did you find her at this club?" I asked, not because I needed the answer-but because I wanted to watch how long they could keep up the charade.
"Around 6 p.m.," Raghav replied.
"Around 7 p.m.," Maya said at the same time.
The silence that followed was heavier than anything.
Caught.
Aditya furrowed his brows. "What?"
Aditi quickly jumped in, trying to brush it off. "Come on, she's drunk. And the difference is only an hour. Maybe they ran into each other somewhere in between. No one checks the time in clubs, anyway."
Aditya and the others nodded in agreement, their brains satisfied with the excuse. They were desperate to believe it.
I wasn't.
She was lying.
He was lying.
And I was the only one in the room who knew it.
"You can leave now," Maya said softly, turning toward Raghav.
Her voice was still laced with intoxication, but the command was intentional.
Raghav simply nodded and made his exit.
Aditi sat beside Maya and touched her shoulder gently. "Girl, we were really worried. You should've at least picked up our calls."
Maya only nodded, eyes drooping, clearly on the verge of passing out. She could barely sit upright.
"She needs rest," I said coldly. "Take her to her room."
The order wasn't open for discussion.
Aditi and Ishanvi rushed to help her up, each taking a side as they led her toward the stairs.
But Maya-she didn't even glance at me.
She avoided my eyes like I was fire and she was drenched in gasoline.
Cowardice? No.
Guilt.
Guilt burns worse than any matchstick.
And as they carried her away, I just watched-arms still folded, jaw clenched.
Poor Maya.
You walked right into the lion's den.
And now... you'll learn what it means to regret it.
"Bhai... what was that?" Aditya asked, narrowing his eyes as he followed me down the hallway. "You care for Maya now?"
"Not even a bit," I replied sharply. "You know me, Aadi. I don't do anything without a reason."
He stopped in his tracks. "And what's the reason this time? Or am I allowed to know?"
"Not yet," I said, voice low but firm. "You're getting married in a few days. Focus on that. Leave the rest to me."
Aditya sighed, frustration simmering just beneath his concern. "Fine, bhai. But please-just one thing. Don't create a scene during my wedding. I want peace, that's all I ask."
I gave him a curt nod, short and precise, before turning on my heel and walking away. My jaw was locked tight, my mind a storm.
The next morning will be wild. Not for me-but for Maya.
A rare smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I shut the door behind me. See you soon, Maya Shekhawat. And let's just say... you won't enjoy our little confrontation.
I lay on the bed, eyes open, staring at the blank ceiling above me. Sleep didn't come.
Everyone has their demons to fight.
Mine?
They're already burning.
And I won't rest-not until I uncover everything that brought me back to India.
-----
The Next Morning
"You?" Maya's voice rang out in disbelief as she stepped out of the bathroom, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders. She was wrapped in a white bathrobe, the fabric clinging to her curves-vulnerable, startled, and very much not ready for what was coming.
I sat casually on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, hands draped lazily on the armrests as though I owned the room.
Which, in truth, I did.
"What happened, Miss Shekhawat?" I asked, my tone calm-too calm. A dangerous edge laced each word as I slowly rose to my feet, slipping both hands into the pockets of my trousers.
"Looks like you've seen a ghost."
And this time, she had.
"N-No, I... I just..." she stammered, trailing off as her eyes darted around the room. She took a deep breath, steadying herself-trying far too hard to appear brave. But I could see through it. Every movement, every flicker of emotion in her eyes told me she was holding on by a thread.
"You just what, Miss Shekhawat?" I asked, my voice low as I began moving toward her. Each step was deliberate, calculated. And with every inch I closed, I saw her body go rigid-screaming internally to run, to escape. But her pride? It rooted her in place.
"I just came out of the bathroom and saw you sitting in my room like this-without permission. Of course, I'd be startled or cautious," she retorted, trying to sound composed. Her voice didn't shake, but I could hear the underlying tremor in her breath. She was scared. And still... still she dared to speak back.
"Oh," I said with a tilt of my head, hands tucked in my pockets as I towered over her. "So, it was just the surprise that made you alert?" I smirked faintly, leaning in just enough to make her flinch.
Impressive. She didn't run.
Either she was braver than I thought-or more foolish.
"Let's cut the act," I said, voice dropping an octave. "Where were you yesterday?"
A beat of silence.
"I need the truth, Maya."
She swallowed hard, and I saw the slight bob of her throat-her nervous system betraying the calm facade she was trying to maintain. Her gaze flicked to mine. Vulnerable. Green. Wide with fear she was trying so desperately to suppress.
"I-I was at the club," she finally said. "Just like I told everyone yesterday evening."
Liar.
Her voice was too soft, her tone too rehearsed. And those eyes? They held everything except truth. She was lying to my face. And she thought I'd fall for it?
Fool.
I took another step toward her, and she instinctively stepped back.
Then another. And another.
Until her back hit the wall-and I was right in front of her, caging her between the cold plaster and my presence.
"I said," I murmured, my voice deadly calm, "I want the truth, Miss Shekhawat. Don't make me repeat myself."
Her breath hitched, eyes widening as the air between us grew heavier. I could see the conflict in her-the urge to escape warring with the fire of her pride. But her mind? It was blank. Scrambling for an excuse, searching for a way out.
And failing-completely.
Because in this room, right now?
She wasn't the one in control.
I was.
"Wha-what are you talking about?" she stammered, but to my amusement, didn't back down. Her sheer audacity almost made me smirk.
"I told you I was at the club yesterday," she added quickly, trying too hard to make me believe the lie she had so carefully rehearsed.
"Oh?" I raised a brow, stepping even closer, my presence pressing down on her like a storm cloud. "So, you were at the club... from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.?"
I wasn't asking out of concern. No. I knew she was lying. And the thing about liars? They stumble the moment they run out of lies.
She flinched ever so slightly.
"First... first I went home. Spent some time with friends and then-"
Her words halted, swallowed by panic. Her eyes widened in horror as I pulled out my phone and played a grainy black-and-white footage. There she was-caught on camera-at the warehouse. Hiding. Behind a rusted metal door.
My eyes didn't leave her face.
I reached out, grabbing the loose ribbon of her bathrobe, slowly, deliberately, and closed the remaining distance between us. My grip wasn't harsh-yet-but it spoke of dominance. Of control. Of a man who didn't like being deceived.
"So?" I asked softly, voice like velvet over blades. "Any explanation?"
She tried to step back.
Wrong move.
I grabbed her wrist mid-motion and twisted it behind her back, pinning her once again against the wall. She gasped, her breath ragged, her skin brushing against mine.
"Ah ah," I murmured, tightening my grip. "I'm not done with you, Miss Shekhawat."
Her wide eyes met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw genuine fear flash in their depths. My expression, however, remained unreadable. Cold. Controlled.
"I... I just..." she trailed off again, her mind scrambling for an excuse.
I twisted her hand slightly-not enough to break, but enough to make her wince.
"Please," she whimpered, voice trembling, "please stop..."
"Why?" I hissed. "Because you thought you could just waltz into my life and start following me around like a desperate spy?"
For the first time, I felt the thin threads of my temper start to unravel.
"Give. Me. A. Reason," I demanded, each word a command slicing through the air like a whip.
"I-I'm sorry," she choked out, breathless. "I didn't mean to harm your secret. I just... curiosity got the better of me. Please, let me go..."
Pathetic.
"Why should I?" I snarled. "First, you sneaked into my room. Stole a photo. And now this? Why, Maya? Why are you doing this? I want the truth."
My grip tightened. She whimpered again, pain clouding her features.
"I... I was curious, Mr. Mehrotra," she finally breathed out, eyes brimming with a blend of panic and something else-something I couldn't yet name. "Your aura... it pulls me in. It attracts me so much I lost control. I followed you. Recklessly. Stupidly. Because I wanted to date you, Mr. Mehrotra!"
Silence.
My grip loosened ever so slightly as her words registered.
She wanted to... what?
Date me?
My jaw clenched as I stared at her in disbelief. Of all the things she could've said... this?
She'd seen the footage. Seen the fire. The fear. The darkness. And yet... she had the audacity to want me?
"Either you're too brave," I said in a low voice, "or too much of a fool. You saw that, and yet you came back. And now you say... you want to date me?"
My tone darkened.
"Are you insane, Maya?"
Because only someone mad-or recklessly drawn to danger-would look at a man like me... and still want in.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Mehrotra," she whispered, her voice trembling but firm.
I stared at her, still in disbelief.
How could a woman be this foolish? Walking straight into the lion's den... and asking to stay. She wasn't just dancing with danger-she was begging to be burned by it.
My grip on her wrist tightened once again, this time enough to draw a sharp gasp from her lips. She winced but didn't break eye contact. Stubborn girl.
"Stop saying that," I growled, my voice like ice cracking under pressure. "Love is nothing but a perfect disease-it eats away your mind, corrupts your soul, and makes people die for illusions. And you..." I leaned in, my breath ghosting over her cheek. "You have the audacity to stand here and say you want that? You're a fool, Maya."
She flinched, but her spine didn't bend.
"I'm warning you," I hissed. "Next time I see you near me, you won't even know what I'm capable of doing to you."
She swallowed hard, but then... she dared again.
"But Mr. Mehrotra-"
I cut her off, my tone turning lethal. "I have eyes on you. On your every move. If I even sense something suspicious..." I paused, letting the weight of my words sink into her skin. "I will kill you. Remember that."
I turned to leave, satisfied that I'd finally made my message clear. But then-
"I have proof, Mr. Mehrotra."
Her voice rang out, fragile yet defiant.
I stopped mid-step, my back still turned to her.
"I have a video," she continued, a quiver in her tone, "of what you did to that man in the warehouse. If you don't date me... I'll expose it. It'll ruin your precious 'gentleman' reputation."
Silence.
Slowly, I turned around. My footsteps echoed like thunder as I approached her again. Her courage had bought her more danger than she could imagine.
I reached into my pocket and drew a small, concealed knife-silver, elegant, and deadly. In one swift motion, I placed it gently against her neck. Her breath hitched. Her emerald eyes widened in panic.
"Wrong move, Miss Shekhawat," I murmured coldly. "I could slit your throat right here. Cut your pretty little body into pieces and have them dumped where no one would ever find you. Do not test me."
But her stubbornness refused to waver.
"I... I just want to date you, Mr. Mehrotra. Nothing else," she said, gathering every last shred of courage she had. "I promise I won't tell anyone. But if you say no... I will expose the truth. You can't find the proof-I've hidden it."
The audacity.
"You think I can't control that?" I sneered. "You think I can't buy the media? Silence the scandal? Manipulate the narrative?" I chuckled darkly. "You want war, emerald? Fine. I'd love to watch you try."
A dangerous smirk curled on my lips.
A smirk ghosted across my lips as I reached forward-not to strip her, but to tug lightly at the robe's tie. Just enough to make her flinch. Just enough to make her feel exposed. Power wasn't in cruelty-it was in making her understand how small she was in my world.
Poor squirrel standing half exposed in the world built by wolves
"You can't even win against your own clothes," I said, stepping back, voice laced with cruel amusement. "What makes you think you can win against me... in my world?"
I slid the knife back into my pocket.
"You're nothing but a pawn now," I whispered. "A puppet in a game you don't even understand. And I-" I turned on my heel, "-am the devil holding the strings."
And just like that, I left her there.
Defenseless. Drenched in fear.
But it wasn't just power that moved me-it was the delicious chaos she brought with her. A girl like her, soft and reckless, entering the world of monsters thinking she can tame one. I should've broken her already. And yet... something made me pause. Not because I pitied her, no. But because part of me-some twisted, buried part-wanted to see just how far she'd go before I destroyed her.
She had declared war.
And I... was ready to burn her in it.
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"Do let me know your thoughts about this chapter in the comments section. If you liked it, please don't forget to vote. Your single vote is enough to give me the courage to keep writing more.
And please, don't judge the characters solely based on the starting chapters. There's so much yet to unfold. Especially Utsav - I know his personality might seem negative at times, but trust me, he's about to go through a powerful journey of transformation.
Let the story breathe a little before forming opinions. Big twists are coming."
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