The silence between them crackled like a live wire. Aaradhya held her ground, refusing to be intimidated by the man standing dangerously close. Siddharth Rathore's presence was overwhelming—but not enough to make her look away.
Siddharth studied her, his dark eyes filled with something unreadable. Women usually reacted in two ways around him—fear or admiration. Aaradhya, however, showed neither. And that… intrigued him in a way he wasn't prepared for.
A slow smirk played on his lips. "You have guts."
Aaradhya tilted her head, unfazed. "And you have an ego. A big one, it seems."
For a split second, something flickered in Siddharth's gaze—surprise. No one talked to him like that. Not his business rivals, not his enemies, and certainly not a woman.
Reyansh appeared at the terrace entrance, clearing his throat. "Boss, we should leave."
Siddharth didn't move. His eyes remained locked on Aaradhya. She had challenged him without even trying.
He stepped back finally, his gaze still lingering. "You'll see me again, Miss Malhotra."
Aaradhya didn't blink. "I don't think so."
His smirk deepened. "You will."
And with that, Siddharth Rathore walked away, leaving behind a lingering tension in the air.
Aaradhya exhaled, turning back to the city lights. Something told her this wasn't over.
---
Rathore Mansion: The Monster and His Thoughts
Siddharth sat in his dimly lit study, a glass of whiskey in hand, his mind restless. It wasn't just about the fact that she ignored him—it was the way she did it. With absolute indifference, like he was just another man in the crowd.
It bothered him.
Reyansh entered, watching his boss with curiosity. "You don't usually care about women."
Siddharth's grip tightened around the glass. "She's different."
Reyansh chuckled. "She's an actress. They all pretend."
Siddharth's jaw clenched. No. Aaradhya wasn't pretending. That's what made it worse.
For the first time in his life, a woman had not just rejected his attention—she had erased him from her world.
And that? That was unacceptable.
He didn't realize his fingers had tightened so much that the glass cracked.
Aaradhya Malhotra had caught the attention of the wrong man.
---
Aaradhya's Apartment: The Past That Haunts
The rain poured heavily outside, lightning flashing across the Mumbai skyline. Aaradhya stood by the window, hugging her arms to herself. Rain. The one thing she could never escape.
Her mind drifted back to that night—the screams, the blood, the way her father's lifeless body had fallen on the wet ground.
She shut her eyes, breathing deeply. Don't break, Aaradhya. You're stronger than this.
A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts.
It was Arjun, her bodyguard. "Ma'am, everything's secure."
She nodded. "Thank you, Arjun."
But deep down, she felt it. A storm was coming. And this time, it wasn't just in the sky.
---
Elsewhere: A Shadow Watching
In a dark alley, a man flipped through Aaradhya's photographs—Vihaan.
His fingers traced the images, his lips curling into a sick smile. "Soon, Aaradhya. Very soon."
His obsession was only growing. And with Siddharth now in the picture, things were about to take a deadly turn.
---