"No! I will never be your slave... never!"
With a defiant cry, Pakhi snatched the contract and shredded it into a dozen pieces. In a fit of desperate rage, she hurled the scraps of paper at Akash's face and bolted toward the door. But before she could even take her first step to freedom, Akash's hand shot out. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back so suddenly that she lost her balance.
"Aah!" she gasped, the air knocked out of her.
"I told you... do not move without my permission," he growled, his voice low and threatening.. "So, what made you think you could run away?"
As he spoke, his grip on her wrist tightened, his fingers digging into her delicate skin like iron shackles.
"Aaah, leave me! You're hurting me!" she cried out, her face contorting in pain.
Akash stared down at her tear-stained, hurting face. He looked down at her with a cold expression.
"This is nothing yet, Pakhi Rajput," he whispered darkly. "This is only the beginning."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sudden sound of the door shattered the heavy silence.
Akash's expression didn't change, but he abruptly released her. The sudden loss of his grip made Pakhi stumble forward, the air rushing back into her lungs in a jagged sob. She scrambled away from him, her legs shaking so violently she nearly collapsed.
Pakhi looked down at her wrist, her eyes blurring with hot, stinging tears. The marks of his fingers were already visible on her wrist.
But Pakhi refused to grant him the satisfaction of seeing her break; she wiped the moisture from her eyes, scrubbing away the tears before they could fall.
At that exact moment, the door pushed open and Aman stepped into the room. Aman could tell something had gone wrong just by looking at her.
Avoiding her gaze, he walked straight to the desk to face Akash.
Akash, who had already retreated to the leather sofa, flicked his gaze up. He arched a single, cold eyebrow at Aman and asked in a voice like ice, "The task I gave you... is it finished?"
"Yes, Sir," Aman replied quietly.
He pulled a thick red file from his grip and slid it across the table toward Akash. "Here it is. Every detail on Miss Pakhi—her family, her history, and their business... everything is inside."
The words hit Pakhi like a physical blow. Her breath hitched. Without a second thought, she lunged forward and snatched the file from the Aman's hand before Akash could even touch it. Her fingers were still trembling from the pain of his grip, but she didn't care.
She ripped the file open, and her heart stopped.
There, on the very first page, were photographs of her whole family. A thick lump formed in her throat, making it impossible to swallow.
Who is this man? she thought, her mind spiraling. How did he get all this in just a few minutes?
Pakhi slowly raised her eyes to look at Akash. His expression had darkened, a look of absolute, lethal triumph settled on his face. In that moment, she suddenly understood something important. This man wasn't just a threat to her life. He was a shadow hanging over everyone she loved.
Pakhi clutched the file against her chest as if her life depended on it. Without looking back, she bolted toward the exit, as she ran.
"Miss Pakhi—!"
Aman's voice rang out behind her, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. She ran until the heavy doors slammed shut, leaving a hollow, ringing silence in the room.
Aman's voice rang out behind her, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. She ran until the heavy doors slammed shut, leaving a hollow, ringing silence in the room.
The office grew deathly still.
Akash leaned his head back against the sofa and closed his eyes. Seeing him so eerily calm, Aman remained frozen, unable to read the darkness behind his master's silence. But behind Akash's closed lids, Sonia appeared. Her laughter, her voice, and every sun-drenched moment they had shared began to flicker in his mind like a broken film reel.
The memories took hold, dragging him back into the past—
On the other side,
Pakhi reached the ground floor of the building. Her heart was still hammering wildly against her ribs, and though her hands wouldn't stop shaking, she forced herself to keep moving. She shoved the red file deep into her bag—hiding it away as if it were a deadly poison that had to be kept out of the world's sight.
She flagged down a taxi with a frantic wave.
"Airport," she managed to say.
Her voice was thick with urgency and fear, but it carried the weight of a final, desperate decision.
As the taxi lurched forward, Pakhi stared out the window. The bright, blurred lights of the city began to fade behind her, she felt more scared with every second. She couldn't stay in this city for another minute.
She knew staying in this city was no longer safe.
Subconsciously, she tightened her grip on her bag, clutching it as if she were holding onto her very survival.
While in India,
India | 9:00 AM,
The soft morning sun had already begun to fill the room with golden light.
A girl stood before the mirror, carefully styling her hair as if today were a milestone she had been waiting for. She ran a comb through her hair, her movements deliberate and calm. From the other side of the door, a warm, familiar voice called out—
"My Princess, are you ready?" her Aunt's voice drifted through the door, warm and familiar.
"Yes, Aunt. Just five more minutes," Tanya replied, a small smile playing on her lips.
She took one final look at her reflection. For the first time, she had traded her usual wardrobe of trendy jeans and short dresses for a simple, pristine white salwar-kameez. It felt symbolic—she said quickly. She packed her bag with focused energy and headed downstairs.
As she entered the hall, the morning chatter died down. Her aunt, uncle, and grandmother all stared in a state of stunned silence.
"Good morning," Tanya chirped, breaking the spell.
"Tanya, are you ready?" her father, Samar, asked as he stepped into the room.
She turned to him, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Yes, father. I'm all set. But why is everyone looking at me like they've seen a ghost?"
"Sis... your look is just so different today," her younger brother, Yash, blurted out.
Anita, her aunt, stepped forward and placed a protective hand on Tanya's shoulder. "Different isn't bad, Yash. Our Tanya looks absolutely lovely. Beauty isn't about the length of your dress; it's about the grace you carry."
Yash crinkled his nose in a mock pout. "But Mom, I brag about having a hot sister at school! Everyone is jealous. If I introduce her to my friends looking like this, they'll think I was lying!"
The hall erupted in light laughter.
"No one is going to make fun of you, Yash," Tanya laughed, ruffling his hair. "Besides, if anyone dares to say a word, I'll break their jaw. You're supposed to be my bodyguard, remember?"
"I'm not a bodyguard!" Yash shot back with a confident grin. "But I can definitely protect you by pretending to be your boyfriend."
"Alright, that's enough, Romeo," her uncle interjected with a chuckle. "Go to school before you're late."
A short while later, Tanya sat in the back of the car as her father and uncle drove her toward the campus. The "Freshers" banner at the college gates loomed large, symbolizing the freedom she craved.
"All the best, beta," Samar said, his voice thick with pride. "If you face any trouble, the Dean is a close friend of mine. Just give him my name."
Tanya smiled, her voice radiating self-assurance. "Thank you, Father, but I'll be fine. I can take care of myself; I'm a grown-up now. Besides, I don't want to use your influence. I want to move forward on my own terms. I want people to know me by my own name."
Samar looked at her with a sense of pride and satisfaction. "Alright, as you wish. But if you ever find yourself in a major crisis, do let us know. We might be able to help."
Just then, the car pulled up in front of the college. "Tanya, here's your college," Samar announced.
"Okay Father, I'm heading in."
"Take care of yourself," Samar said warmly.
"I will, Father," Tanya replied as she stepped out, and her father drove off toward the office.
As the car pulled away, Tanya took a deep breath and stepped into the bustling courtyard. It was Tanya's first day. A massive banner reading "Welcome Freshers" hung over the main gate. Her college life had officially begun.
She hadn't walked very far when a boy suddenly stepped out and blocked her path.
"Please move aside," Tanya said in a calm but firm voice.
Instead of moving, the boy stepped even closer. Tanya glared at him, frustration building inside her. What a strange, mad person. Can't he hear, or does he just lack common sense?
Tanya was about to snap at him, but in the next heartbeat, the boy lunged forward and kissed her.
When he kissed her, Tanya froze in shock. Her eyes widened in absolute shock.