The night inside the Singhal mansion was silent… but not peaceful.
Outside, the wind brushed against the tall glass windows. Inside, power, love, fear, and destiny were colliding quietly.
The heavy wooden doors of the private study closed with a soft thud.
Inside sat Rudraksha Singhal — calm, composed, dangerous.
Across from him sat his son.
Ruhan Singhal.
The heir to an empire built on blood.
"Aakhir kaar tumne usse dhund hi liya."
The words weren't loud.
But they carried weight.
Ruhan didn't lower his eyes.
"Yes, Dad… maine dhund liya. Main usse bahut pyaar karta hoon. Main uske bina apni zindagi soch bhi nahin sakta."
His voice was steady.
No hesitation.
Rudraksha ji slowly lifted his wine glass, swirling the red liquid lazily.
"Hm… toh tum usse apni life mein chahte ho?"
"Yes, Dad. I need her."
The word need echoed in the silent room.
Rudraksha leaned back.
"Aur mere sapne ka kya, Ruhan?"
A pause.
Ruhan's jaw tightened.
"Kaunsa sapna, Dad?"
"Mera sapna. Tumhe underworld ka badshah dekhna. Meri empire tum sambhalo. Maine jo kuch banaya hai… uska kya?"
The air turned sharp.
Heavy.
"Mujhe tum weak nahi chahiye," Rudraksha continued calmly.
"Mujhe tum unstoppable chahiye."
Ruhan inhaled slowly.
"Wo sirf aapka nahi… mera bhi sapna hai. Aur uske liye maine sab kuch kiya hai. Aap jaante hain. Main Aarohi ko kabhi hamare sapne ke beech nahi launga."
Rudraksha's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Tum kuch bhool rahe ho, beta."
Ruhan looked confused. "Kya?"
"Is duniya mein jo tumhare kareeb hota hai… woh tumhari sabse badi kamzori hota hai."
Silence.
"Agar koi ladki tumhari zindagi mein rahi… toh us par maut ka khatra hamesha mandrata rahega."
The truth wasn't dramatic.
It was factual.
"Jaise maine tum logon ko protect kiya… waise tumhe bhi karna hoga. Uski hifazat ke liye tumhe usse door bhi jaana pad sakta hai."
Then came the real question.
"Bolo, Ruhan. Kya tum usse door reh paoge?"
That wasn't a father testing love.
That was a king testing his successor.
Ruhan's eyes darkened.
"Main usse door rehne ke liye paida nahi hua, Dad."
A pause.
"Main uske liye ladne ke liye paida hua hoon."
Rudraksha stared at him.
"Bolo. Protect kar paoge? Ya emotions mein beh jaoge?"
Ruhan leaned forward slightly.
"Apni jaan se zyada main apni family ko chahta hoon. Aur Aarohi meri family ban chuki hai. Main use protect karunga. Kisi bhi keemat par."
No doubt.
No fear.
Just certainty.
For a long moment, Rudraksha didn't speak.
Then…
A small smile appeared.
"Thik hai."
He finished his wine in one smooth sip.
The heir had chosen love.
Now he would have to prove he deserved both love and power.
Meanwhile…
In another wing of the mansion, a completely different battle was unfolding.
Aarohi stood near the bed.
Small.
Fragile.
Lost.
She was surrounded by Zaniya, Ruhi, and Dadi — but still she felt alone.
Zaniya stepped forward slowly.
Her eyes weren't judgmental.
They were protective.
She sat beside Aarohi and gently placed her palm on her cheek.
"Beta… tumhari aisi haalat kaise hui? Maine usse wada kiya tha ki wo tumhara khayal rakhega. Phir aisa kyun?"
Aarohi's lips trembled.
But no sound came.
Seeing her fear, Zaniya turned to Ruhi.
"Baby, Dadi ko lekar bahar intezaar karo."
Dadi instantly protested.
"Nahi. Hum kahin nahi jayenge."
Zaniya folded her hands slightly.
"Mom, please. Ye dar rahi hai. Mujhe akela baat karni hai."
Reluctantly, Ruhi took Dadi outside.
The door closed.
Silence.
Just two women.
One broken.
One burning quietly.
"Ab sab chale gaye," Zaniya whispered softly.
"Ab tum daro mat. Mujhe batao kya hua."
Something in her tone broke Aarohi's control.
She burst into tears.
"Mumma ke jaane ke baad… Papa ne dusri shaadi kar li thi…"
Her voice cracked.
"Wo aunty bahut buri thi… wo mere saath…"
She couldn't finish.
Her body shook violently.
Zaniya immediately pulled her into her arms.
"Shhh… baccha… main hoon na. Batao mujhe."
After years of silence… Aarohi finally spoke.
The loneliness.
The emotional abuse.
The fear.
The waiting.
Always waiting.
Waiting for someone to come save her.
Waiting for him.
Zaniya's eyes filled with tears.
Anger burned inside her — cold and controlled.
"Kisne himmat ki meri bacchi ke saath aisa karne ki…" she whispered under her breath.
Then softly she asked,
"Ruhan pasand hai tumhe?"
The question made Aarohi freeze.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"Kya tum uske saath rehna chahti ho?"
Memories flashed.
His anger.
His possessiveness.
His kiss.
His protection.
His darkness.
Seeing confusion on her face, Zaniya asked carefully,
"Kya usne tumhare saath kuch galat kiya?"
Aarohi immediately shook her head.
"Nahi…"
But her silence after that said more.
Zaniya continued gently,
"Agar tum nahi rehna chahti… main tumhe usse bahut door bhej dungi. Wo kabhi tumhe dhund nahi payega."
That was not an empty promise.
It was power.
Aarohi whispered,
"Roz intezaar karti thi ki wo aaye aur mujhe le jaye… par ab wo Ruhan nahi hai jise main jaanti thi. Kabhi gussa… kabhi pyaar… mujhe samajh nahi aata wo hai kya."
Zaniya smiled sadly.
"Wo aisa nahi tha. Ye duniya use aisa bana
diya."
Then she held Aarohi's face firmly.
"Ek baar soch lo. Kya tum uski zindagi ka hissa banna chahti ho?"
Aarohi closed her eyes.
She saw a fifteen-year-old boy visiting an orphanage.
She saw a five-year-old girl smiling at him.
She saw years of longing.
Years of silent love.
She opened her eyes.
Clear.
Certain.
"Hamesha."
The door clicked softly.
Ruhan stood there.
He had heard only one word.
Forever.
He stepped inside slowly.
His eyes met Aarohi's.
No dominance.
No arrogance.
Just something raw.
"Yeh faisla tumhara hai?" he asked quietly.
Aarohi nodded.
"Ha."
Ruhan's chest tightened.
He turned to Zaniya.
"Main use protect karunga."
Zaniya didn't blink.
"Kisi bhi keemat par?"
"Yes."
"Agar tumhari wajah se iski aankhon mein aansu aaye… toh main tumhari maa hoon, par sabse pehle ek aurat hoon. Main isse bachane ke liye tumhare khilaf bhi khadi ho sakti hoon."
A warning.
Ruhan didn't look away.
"Tab mujhe bhi apne aap se ladna padega."
Silence.
But this silence wasn't weak.
It was powerful.
Decisive.
That night, three hearts made choices.
Rudraksha chose ambition.
Zaniya chose protection.
And Aarohi chose love.
But in an underworld empire…
Love is never safe.
And forever… always demands blood.
Thankyou 💜