Chapter 13 :
Arnav's POV
"Who the fuck set it on fire?", I yelled over the phone. I didn't listen further but hung up and threw it on the passenger seat.
A relentless throbbing was there in my head and I could clearly feel a searing sensation in my chest. Anger was coursing like wildfire in my veins that I could feel its heat in my fibres.
I don't care how many traffic rules I broke while driving my Mustang at 180 mph. Because right now, all I could see was red. My heart was palpitating because of the unbearable anger inside me.
One of the most important warehouses of mine in Italy had been set on fire by some d!ckhead and my team haven't found the fucker yet.
The irritation and frustration of the marriage shit was already there inside me and these newly erupting problems were getting on my nerves.
What am I even paying them for?
I groaned throwing a fist on the steering wheel.
In a few minutes I reached the head office in Jaipur. It was in an isolated area in between the forest.
Parking my car outside, I slammed the car door prior to walking inside the building.
.
"Did you find the fucker?", I asked once I was in the second floor. It was the top floor, for building a skyscraper amidst the forest was impractical. It was my secret place and it needed to be concealed from preying eyes.
Rehan looked up at me, who was standing behind one of my hackers, who was typing something.
"Yes we have found him. According to the reports sent by the warehouse incharge, the CCTV at the backside was renewed two days ago. So basically, we all are sure that it was hacked because the recordings between two at night and five in the morning shows nothing but black and white dots. But the other secret camera we had put there to check its working condition, recorded everything. A man in an all black outfit like our bodyguards with his face hidden behind a mask was seen roaming around. He wasn't suspected because of the similiar looks. But the golden logo ARM wasn't there on his rifle. Vincenzo had noticed it and informed us", he spoke.
I nodded staring at the screen showing the fucker roaming around.
I narrowed my eyes scrutinizing the body shape and size of that man. He didn't look at all like him. He didn't have that scar on his cheekbone.
"This isn't him", I spoke still staring at the screen.
He hummed, "Yeah he isn't. It's one of his men. But, he's back. He's keeping an eye on us because, after ten years he's back and this shit is just to let us know about his presence and is nothing but a warning from his side. He might be planning for not a mere fight but a bloodshed war. He'll for sure try his best to wipe your family out and now, your wife is involved too. He's gonna set his foot silently till he stabs everyone infront of him and is left satisfied. So we need better planning and backup", he spoke standing beside me.
I groaned.
This bastard had already ruined my life to a great extent but he was just so greedy for more. This wasn't something which infuriated me. The other fact that he was going to try to hurt someone who belonged to me was angering me.
Anika is mine. Mine to ruin, mine to devour and mine to punish. I won't let another man touch even a single hair of hers, especially him.
I gritted my teeth. It was a hell of a frustrating messy shit.
Running my fingers through my hair, I said, "Where's the dickhead now?"
"He's under observation in the quarter area A-36", he spoke nonchalantly lighting the black cigarette in his mouth.
"Smoke here and I'll push up dozens of cigars up your butthole", I warned him, glaring at the burning fire from the golden lighter.
He huffed rolling his eyes, nevertheless, kept them back.
"One more thing. You had said that you wanted to kill him in the open. But for that, let me remind you that the country's owned by Alesseo Romano. So you can't do a murder without his permission and for you to remember, he's a double-edged sword. Taking permission over the phone isn't something he prefers. So basically, you're gonna meet him. That's all for now", he spoke typing something on his phone before tucking it back and looking up at me.
Breathing sharply, I nodded.
"I'll go there after five days", I spoke.
He scrunched his brows, "Why after five days?"
"It's because the wedding ceremonies are yet to be done and in the meantime, if we seem unbothered even after what he has done, he might doubt his step. This will distract him a little to plan for a better step and during that time, we can start looking for him. If we look for him with him knowing about it, he'd hide more", I replied.
He nodded, "As you wish. Youngjae is in warehouse-H for some stuff", he spoke before walking out of the room.
"Keep a track of his moves. Try to locate where he possibly could be", I muttered to the head of the hacking team. He nodded with a bow.
Then I walked out.
.
It was past 6 O'clock and I needed to be there by 7.
My other two bestfriends, Dev and Agastya, were throwing a bachelor party at a VVIP club owned by me.
I pinched my nose bridge trying to minimise the frustration because Anika was also going there with her friends. Here I am, wanting nothing but a good fvck right now but the tugging feeling inside me was reluctant to let me do something like that.
I don't know why I didn't want to have infidelity after being engaged to her.
I'd slept with many in my life till now and never felt guilty about it. I was heartless and I knew that very well. I was the one who had restrained her from having an extra affair and not the other way around.
Then why the fvck do I feel reluctant from doing something like that?
This wasn't some type of romantic feeling to name but I didn't know what it exactly is. I hated her and even her presence near me made me feel disgusted.
Gritting my teeth, I drove my car inside my parents' place. Parking it inside the wide parking room, I got out of the car prior to throwing the keys to one bodyguard and walked out of the room.
Within this one year, a lot of things will happen—a life would be ruined, many trusts would be broken and mainly, the land of war will bathe in the blood of either me and my men or his and his men.
I never let my family get hurt even if I never cared about anyone else.
For me, it was either kill or die.
As soon as I stepped inside, I was met with my family in the main hall of the mansion.
Everyone was there and the moment I came in their view, all of their eyes turned to me.
But a pair of eyes seemed very familiar.
Black orbs.
Those rare glistening black orbs were owned by none but Anika Roy Chowdhury.
The moment I saw her, my gaze fell on the dress she was clad in.
She was wearing a black thigh length strapped bodycon. The sweetheart neckline revealed enough of her cleavage revealing the puffiness of her bosoms. Hair wasn't tied up and the black Louboutin heels just enhanced her looks.
If she hadn't been my subject for revenge, then she'd have been my tonight's good fvck. But she wasn't someone to let herself be touched by just any man. She was too fierce to be touched by someone and they weren't burnt.
I smirked. It'll feel good after breaking such a tough woman who was just so vulnerable infront of me.
•
Anika'sPOV
I was happy. And that's what's forbidden for me.
Happiness was always short lived in my life and the moment it exceeded its limit, I'd to bear the consequences.
I don't know how but his family got to know about tonight's bachelor party. They even got to know that I and Arnav were going to the same party. My other two bestfriends, one is Vidhi, whom I call Vid, happened to be in a relationship with Dev, Arnav's bestfriend. Another one is Esha.
The more I try to stay away from him, the more the curse I had got years ago brought him closer to me.
I got a call from maa this afternoon where she asked me to go to the party with her son. According to her, the more we stayed close, the sooner we'll be comfortable with each other and fall in love.
Love my foot. I pitied her for being unknown to the reality. I had denied her proposal politely but she was just so adamant about sending me with her son that I had to give in and here I am, sitting with his family waiting for his graceful presence.
His spiteful words hurt me even if I tried to avoid the pain. I had heard such things for really long and for a while everything had calmed down. But after he entered my life like a storm, everything went back to square one.
I sighed.
I was nodding at something maa was speaking to Aisha when the sound of the heels of boots echoed inside the hall.
I didn't need to turn around to see the owner. The shivering feeling itself told that he's here.
But still I turned around.
I saw him walking inside the hall, clad in a white shirt with rolled up sleeves and black trousers. The black coat was resting on his right hand.
For the very first time after meeting him, I saw him in informals. The first three buttons were undone, while his hair remained a bit messy. Several tattoos ran from his left hand wrist to his neck. The other hand had lesser tattoos than the right one but still, it was adorned with ink.
The grey orbs stopped at me the moment he noticed my presence before he ran his gaze over my body.
Tearing away by gaze, I focused on maa as she spoke to him, "You're home."
He nodded, "Yeah."
"Okay then. Go and get fresh. Anika has been waiting for you since the last one and half hour", maa spoke smiling at me. My eyes widened.
I arrived just fifteen minutes ago. The fu—freak.
I wanted to rebel but the moment my eyes fell on his face, I felt fire erupting inside me.
His soft lips had a faint smirk while his gaze stayed put on my face.
"I'll be ready in twenty minutes", he said before going upstairs.
Biting onto my inner cheek, I held back the curses I was about to spit out.
"Anika beta, I want to know if you're free tomorrow", maa spoke turning towards me at her place.
"I am free tomorrow maa. But may I know why?, I asked clasping my hands on my lap.
"Uh, it's actually I need to go to a boutique owned by my one friend who'll design your wedding lehenga. So you need to select the designs and give your size", she spoke.
"It's so humble of you maa. I'm really touched by your concern but I'd like to say something", I spoke hesitantly glancing at the stairs through which he had gone upstairs.
"Yes beta, what's that?"
"Actually maa, I had designed my wedding lehenga a few years ago. I wanted to wear something I had designed. It just contains all my dreams and wishes woven through threads. So I—uh, I wanted to wear that", I said hesitantly, watching her reactions closely.
She didn't let her smile fall but it widened, "That's really a surprise beta. I actually love the idea of weaving your dreams and wishes on your wedding lehenga. I knew you were talented but this, it's beyond appreciable with just some words. You can actually wear that. Have you thought about the jewelry?"
I shook my head, "No I haven't. I didn't get time to do that", I replied.
"Okay then. I'll fix the jewelry you'll wear but according to your choice. Tomorrow we are going. Hope you won't mind?", she spoke.
I shook my head, "No maa I definitely won't. We're going for sure", I replied with a smile.
Since I was getting it, I'll have her as my support for one year. I sounded selfish but the void of motherly love in my heart was being filled by her.
Will she get hurt if I let her in? Will something happen to her if I took the happiness she was giving me? Will she die too—No. I shouldn't be thinking about this. I need to calm down.
I looked down at my trembling hands.
I can't panic. If I do, I'll be too embarrassed to face them. And if Arnav sees this, then he'll find another reason to taunt and mock me. He might use this weakness of mine against me in future.
He was a man who can find out someone's weakness too easily. But I'm Anika Roy Chowdhury. I don't show my weaknesses.
People say that we need to turn our weaknesses into our strengths. But how am I supposed to do that with this illness?
The sudden throat clearing caught my attention.
I looked up to see him dressed in a deep grey shirt. But he was not looking normal in it.
The shirt was tight-fitting. The thin silky material was exposing his buffed busts and the muscular biceps. The sleeves were rolled up and a silver watch is around his left hand wrist. A silver chain was around his neck and a few silver rings were there on both of his hands.
Not just the shirt, but the black trousers were tight too. His thighs were totally exposed and to say, the trouser's material was just wrapped around them. A black belt with the shining silver belt buckle was wrapped around his slim waist.
Since I've already scrutinized so much, let me tell you that even his black boots were shining too.
I silently laughed sarcastically at myself.
I was staring at the one who had pledged to destroy me till my existence won't be found. He won't kill me, not even abuse me, but what can I expect when Lucifer himself had decided to punish me?
No matter how cruel he was called, he loved his family a lot. He'll hurt me like no one had ever done because I'd hurt his family.
I deserved it.
My eyes met his. He had tied his hair as usual but the aura was darker today.
A certain uneasiness was lingering on his face. I don't know why but my guts weren't stable today. It had been twisting since morning.
Breaking the eye contact, I stood up and spoke to maa and papa, "Maa, papa, I'll get going now. I'll see you tomorrow maa. Bye everyone and have a good night", I left after wishing and waving at everyone.
.
Silence—it's something that's soothing and peaceful for some. It provides solace and peace to the mind and soul.
And for some, it's just too painful to deal with. Emptiness ringing inside the heart while the eerie silence scratches the soul till it can stand up no more.
But I was stuck in such silence where I was in pain but I found solace in it too. It was like how I loved dancing in the rain. I tried to find peace amidst chaos just so that I survived and paid for my sins. I wanted to rest in peace at least after my death. I don't want to burn in hellfire.
The silence inside the car just reminded me of nothing else but the feeling of something horrible was coming. And the silence inside my heart wasn't helping either.
To ease the tightness in my chest, I looked outside the window.
The city kept glowing and shining even late at night and now it was just evening. The city Jaipur, called 'The Pink City of Rajasthan', glowed in its own glory. From its traditions to cultures to rituals and art forms, everything was eye catching. It wasn't called 'The Land of Kings' for nothing.
Since we lived in the main part of the city, people weren't too traditional here.
According to what my mother had told me, our great-grandfathers were one of the famous rulers of Rajasthan.
So basically I was a royal blooded woman. But it doesn't have much value in today's time.
And as I, somehow expected, Arnav was a royal blooded man too.
If he had been the king of Rajasthan, then I'd have been his queen for revenge. It sounded good and enthralling but in reality, it was much more painful than one can think of. I'd have held no value, not even a bit more than my maidens because this revenge thing would've spread throughout the kingdom.
But since we're living in 2024, the privacy would be maintained and I at least had some value, if it mattered.
My thoughts came to halt when I felt the car stopping with a sharp jerk.
Thanks to God that I didn't hit the dashboard.
Shooting my head towards him, I almost yelled, "What the fuck did you do just now?"
He didn't reply but kept glaring at the windshield. I glanced there to find no one.
As I was about to speak more, he responded, "Why? Were you scared? Were you scared that you'd die, doll?"
I remained silent.
He looked at me with his cold gaze, "It'd have been so good if you had died there in place of my brother. My life would've been less messier. Why are you even alive? Because all you do is hurt everyone around you and snatch their happiness"
It shouldn't but it did hurt because the pain was undeniable. The pang in my heart and the familiar tide of guilt surged through my veins. It stung that I was despised so much, for my death was wished over my life and still I was alive like a shameless.
I wanted to but I couldn't. I couldn't kill myself. Like a coward, I'd so many times tried to burn myself, cut my wrist and what not but failed every time. So, I'm alive.
My eyes stung with tears. I broke the eyes contact and stared outside through the windshield.
"I'm sorry. I did try, but I couldn't. I'm sorry", I whispered ignoring the tight knot in my throat.
Opening the car door, I got down once I had wiped away my tears.
I can't cry like a vulnerable woman. I've already been tagged as an unwanted wife, an unwanted daughter, an unwanted girlfriend and an unwanted...piece of shit. Now I don't want to be tagged as a vulnerable woman seeking attention.
I felt his gaze on my back but it was my least concern at the moment.
Showing my black VVIP card to the bouncers standing on either side of the entrance to the club, I waited to be allowed inside.
One of them opened the doors and I walked in.
The place was filled with the stinging smell of alcohol and sweat. The burning smell of cigarettes and cigars were add-ons. Bartenders were preparing drinks shaking those glasses while men and women at the counter were all over each other. The sound of people talking mixed with the blasting sound of music forming some not understandable notes.
Some made out naked on the couches while some just laid there drunk on the counter.
Ignoring the nauseous feeling, I walked upstairs to the VVIP part. Through the VVIP rooms one could see everything happening downstairs but no one could see what's happening upstairs. Many illegal deals were done there.
As I walked in, I was welcomed by Vid and Esha. Vid was on Dev's lap while Esha sat there glaring at them.
As much as I knew, the person sitting beside Dev was Agastya Singhania, one of the richest business tycoons in Asia and the businessman of the year 2024. He was here too. Heard that he was Arnav's another bestfriend.
As I stepped near the semicircle black leathered sofa, all of their attention got dragged towards me.
Vid quickly got up along with Esha before engulfing me into a warm hug.
I smiled and hugged them back. Once we detached, Vid spoke, "You're 20 seconds late."
I raised my eyebrows leaving an airy chuckle, "But that 20 seconds covered up a bit more romantic time with your boyfriend", I said as she widened her eyes.
"Where's he?", asked Esha. The smiling face she had hurt me. It didn't hurt for any other reason but the fact that she was unknown to the existence of a contract for my marriage.
The guilt for still being alive burnt me more with the fact that I was hiding something from my bestfriends who had known each and every thing about my life.
I never hid anything even if confidential, from them. I knew that privacy mattered, but the bond we four, including Rooh, shared was something that is so true and pure.
I and Esha had known each other since we were in diapers and in class 8, we met Vidhi and Rooh.
I was about to speak when the familiar coldness and the strong smell of cologne reached me.
I turned around, even before I could stop myself, to meet his eyes fixed on mine. The words he had said earlier echoed in my ears.
This time, each and every word had pierced my heart regardless of the fact that I despised him too and his usual words didn't affect me much.