Arsh:

Aira had pushed me to the edge, crossed every line I had tried to draw. I told her - gave her a way out, a chance to be free. But she didn't take it. Now, instead of facing the consequences, she thought she could run.

Despite all my warning, she had to give it a try. Run from me, try to get away from me.

I did everything to keep myself from pushing her beyond her limits but she had to test me.

She used my little sister against me even though all my family gave her is love. They adored her, considered her a part of the family, went against me for her sake and yet she betrayed my little sister.

And yet all my family cared about was her safety because someone had put a bounty on her to get her killed and I was the one standing between her and certain death.

Someone want her dead, and her own family barely cares.

Things have changed a bit after the previous day. The news is all about the Oberois and their new daughter in law and the speculations about her.

I stared at the camera feed showing her in the room, her knees curled upto her chest, her hands wrapped around her as she sat there on the floor, against the wall. She was scared - I could see it in her eyes, every glance she threw at the door as if expecting me to burst in at any moment. She knew I wouldn't let her go that easily, but she still had the audacity to beg me to release her. As if I could.

It sickened me, how torn I was. My instincts screamed to protect her, to keep her safe. But the whole of me juat wamted revenge - to hurt her somehow and she has given me the chance.

Her attempts to escape me - a part of me wanted her to feel the weight of her actions. I wanted revenge and yet I couldn't let her die.

I want to make her grandfather suffer and with the news of Aira Agnihotri being my wife in the headlines, my sources have told me of his frustration.

After two years of keeping his granddaughter a secret, I brought her in front of the world.

The world wanted to know the reason and Mr. Agnihotri had nothing to say for once in his life.

Her family was coming to India, Vijay Agnihotri had asked of it. He wanted them back home and most of all he wanted to give the world a reason as to why Aira Agnihotri, the granddaughter who was supposed to marry some Neil two years ago turned out to be my secret wife.

I stood in the surveillance room, watching her through the cameras, trying to control my anger. She was frantic now, wringing her hands, her lips moving as if whispering prayers. Fear had a way of making people desperate.

The door behind me creaked open, and Vyom - my right hand man entered, his face grim.

"The assassin who took the bounty," he said, his voice low, "we have got a lead."

I didn't turn to face him. My eyes stayed on Aira's trembling figure. "Who?"

He hesitated. "It's someone new."

My jaw clenched. Of course, it was someone amateur. Someone who had no idea who he was up against.

Not everyone would take up on the risk of killing Arsh Oberoi's wife. Very well, let him try his best then.

I had kept her under lock and key, her every move monitored, for a certain reason. But she had to be smart and make a jump in front of the eyes that are on her.

A step out of my estate and she would have been dead the next second.

Someone had tried to sneak into my territory yesterday, that's how badly they wanted her dead and she, like the idiot she is was walking right into the trap in a futile attempt to escape me.

"I want him found as soon as possible," I said, my voice cold. "No mistakes."

The guard nodded, stepping back to leave, but I stopped him. "And no one touches him. Not until I say so."

He left, and I was alone again, watching her.

Or maybe I should visit her afterall, it's been a few hours since she has been locked down there and yet not a word left her lips for help.

I stepped out of the room, downstairs and then slowly stalked slowly towards the room she was in.

As soon as I opened the door, she almost flinched standing up and turning back to face me, stepping back as soon as her eyes met me.

"You really thought you could run, didn’t you?" My voice was calm - too calm. The kind that makes people tremble. It wasn't loud or aggressive, but I knew it was enough to terrify her. She stood there, backed into a corner, trying to gather whatever courage she thought she had left.

I stepped closer, watching as the light flickered over her face, illuminating the fear she couldn't hide. "What was your plan, Aira? Hmm?" I tilted my head, letting the venom drip from my words. "To use my sister to get away from me?"

Her body jerked slightly at the accusation. I could see her struggling to stand on shaky legs, her eyes wide, lips parted as if she wanted to say something but couldn't form the words.

"I didn't want to involve her, I..." Her voice trailed off, faltering under the weight of my stare. Pathetic.

I moved in, a predator cornering its prey. She stumbled backward until her back hit the cold wall behind her. I didn't stop. I wanted her to feel trapped, to know there was no way out.

"But you did," I whispered. My voice was quiet now, dangerous in its softness. "My baby sister trusted you. They all did. They treated you like one of their own, and you?" I was close enough now that I could feel her breath, warm and shaky. She wouldn't even look at me, her eyes fixed on the ground.

"I just..." Her voice was barely audible, a whisper of a pathetic excuse.

"You were just what? Using her like a pawn in your little escape game?" My hand shot out, fingers gripping her chin roughly, forcing her to meet my gaze. Her eyes were wide, brimming with unshed tears, but I didn’t care. She needed to see me. To see what she had done.

"I warned you, Aira," I said through clenched teeth, my grip tightening just for a moment before I released her. She flinched as if burned. "You don’t get to walk away from me."

Her voice cracked as she shook her head, tears spilling over despite her efforts. "I wasn’t... I wasn’t using her."

"You did," I growled, cutting her off, pacing in front of her like a caged animal. I was furious, yes, but more than that worried. "Did you really think I would just let you go?"

She was trembling now, trying to hold herself together, but I saw the panic setting in, saw the way her breath hitched. She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "Please… I can't. I am sorry." Her voice cracked, tears flowing freely.

I laughed - cold, harsh, and cruel. "Too late for that."

I stopped pacing, turning to face her. Our eyes locked, and for just a second, I let her see it. That darkness inside me that went beyond anger. That part of me that craved control, that needed her under my thumb, where I could keep her close, keep her safe - even from myself.

Her lips quivered, her voice desperate. "Please, Arsh… I can't stay here. I will lose my mind. Please don’t leave me here."

Her desperation only fueled my anger, but I held it in check. I wouldn’t let her see how much her fear affected me. How much it affected me to know that she wanted to get away from me so badly.

I stepped closer, my eyes never leaving hers. "You should have thought about that before you pulled this stunt." My voice was cold, emotionless.

She shook her head, sobbing quietly now, but I turned away. I couldn’t afford to be weak. Not for her.

"Behave Aira," I said, my back to her. "Until then, you are staying here."

"Please!" Her voice broke as she took a step forward, reaching out as if she could stop me from leaving. "Don't do this... don't leave me here! I will die in here, I can't…"

I didn't turn back. I couldn't.

Without another word, I walked out of the room, the sound of her desperate cries fading as the door clicked shut behind me.

I strode down the hallway, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. She begged, pleaded - but this was the only way. She needed to learn that she couldn't just run from me, that there was no escaping this life I had pulled her into.

When I reached the surveillance room, I leaned against the wall, watching her through the cameras again. She had sunk to the floor, her hands covering her face as she cried. I clenched my fists, trying to focus on the task at hand.

My phone buzzed, and I answered without looking away from the screen.

"They are trying too hard to reach her," Vyom's voice came through. "At this point she will turn out to be a liability than the source of your revenge."

I stared at Aira on the screen, her form curled up in the corner of the room. "She is not a liability," I said, my voice low. "I don't care how badly the assassin wants to kill her. No one touches her. Do you hear me?"

There was a pause before he responded. "Understood."

I hung up and leaned forward, my eyes fixed on her. Even after everything, I couldn't let anyone else hurt her. She was mine to protect.

Even if I had to break her, I will keep her safe.

********

Arsh:

I had watched her for hours, refusing to eat, refusing to accept the reality of her situation. It was almost laughable how stubborn she was, still clinging to some faint hope that I would let her go.

She really thinks that she has a choice in this. Her choice had been made long ago - when she chose to try and run from me, to betray the people who took her in, my family.

My phone buzzed again.

"Sir, she hasn't eaten for over almost twenty-four hours," Vyom said, his tone cautious. "If this keeps up..."

"I will handle it," I cut him off, the annoyance bubbling beneath the surface.

I hung up, my eyes locked on the screen, watching her. She was curled up against the wall, trembling slightly, her eyes dull from exhaustion and hunger.

This was the path she had chosen.

I turned and left the surveillance room, making my way to the dark room where I had locked her away. The quiet of it all only made it more frustrating. I wasn't going to stop, Not with her stunt, not with her defiance.

I opened the door, my eyes falling on her crumpled form on the floor. My jaw clenched as I stormed toward her, my footsteps heavy against the cold floor. She didn't even flinch this time, too lost in her misery to notice me until I was towering over her.

"Aira," I said, my voice low and controlled. "Get up."

She lifted her head, her eyes wide, fear flashing through them before she tried to hide it behind a mask of defiance.

I wasn't in the mood for her games.

I strode over to her, grabbed her arm roughly, and yanked her to her feet. She gasped, stumbling as I dragged her toward the door.

"Arsh!" she whimpered, struggling to keep up with my pace. "Let go of me!"

I ignored her, my grip tight as I pulled her through the hallway and into the kitchen. Her body was trembling beneath my hand, but I didn't care. She needed to learn.

I threw her down into the chair at the table, her breath hitching as she landed hard. I walked over to the counter, grabbing a plate of food that had been set aside for her hours ago.

"Eat." My voice was cold, leaving no room for argument as I slammed the plate down in front of her.

She didn't move.

"Aira, don't test me," I warned, leaning over the table, my hands on either side of her, caging her in. She flinched, her eyes darting up to meet mine, but there was still defiance there.

"I am not hungry," she whispered, her voice shaking.

I straightened up, my jaw clenched. "You think I care?" I stepped behind her, my hands gripping her shoulders, pulling her back against the chair. "You will do each and every fucking thing I tell you to, whether you feel like it or not barely matters."

I grabbed the fork and speared a piece of food, bringing it toward her lips. "Open."

She pressed her lips together, her body stiff beneath my grip.

My patience snapped.

I dropped the fork, gripping her chin roughly and forcing her head back. Her eyes widened in panic as I leaned in close, my lips brushing against her ear as I whispered, "You will eat, or I will make you."

She whimpered, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her body was shaking, but I knew the fight wasn't out of her yet.

"Please…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Don't do this."

I let out a cold laugh. "You don't get to beg, Aira. Not after what you have done."

I grabbed the fork again, roughly pressing the food to her lips. "Eat."

She hesitated, her eyes filling with tears, but this time, she opened her mouth, taking the food in.

I watched as she chewed slowly, her eyes glassy with unshed tears, but I didn’t stop. I fed her another bite, then another, my grip on her tightening with each one.

"I won't let you starve yourself," I muttered, my voice harsh. "You don't get to escape this that easily."

Her eyes squeezed shut as she swallowed, her breathing ragged. I could feel the tension in her body, the way her pulse raced beneath my fingers as I held her in place.

I leaned in closer, my breath hot against her neck as I whispered, "I know you don't want to go back in there,"

She whimpered again, her body tensing as I pressed my lips against her ear. "And that's exactly why you will have to."

I could feel her heartbeat hammering in her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She didn't try to move, didn't try to fight me. She knew better.

"You don't get to run from me," I growled, my lips brushing against the side of her neck. "No matter how hard you try."

Her body shuddered, a soft sob escaping her lips. I should have felt victorious, should have reveled in the fact that I had her exactly where I wanted her.

But all I felt was a sick sense of satisfaction. This was barely about the control now. This was about keeping her with me, no matter the cost.

She was mine. To ruin, to protect, to punish, to hold onto - no matter what it took.

I loosened my grip slightly, allowing her a moment to breathe, but I didn't pull away. My lips hovered just above her skin as I whispered, "Your fear gives me satisfaction."

Her sobs were quiet, her body trembling beneath my hands, but I stayed close, refusing to let her slip away again.

"Finish your food," I muttered, my voice low and dangerous. "Then we can talk about what happens next."

She didn't move, didn't speak. She just sat there, her body frozen in fear, and for the first time, I wondered if maybe - just maybe - I had gone too far.

But it was too late to go back now.

She sat there quietly and finished her food.

I stood there, staring at her crumpled form as her sobs echoed in the room. It was pathetic really, how she thought she could manipulate me with her tears. But deep down, a part of me was... uneasy. She hadn't eaten or slept properly since I locked her in there. Her refusal to take care of herself was becoming a problem, one I couldn't afford.

"Let's go," I quietly said, my eyes fixed on her.

She didn’t move, her body trembling as she curled tighter into herself. I reached down and grabbed her arm, pulling her up with more force than necessary. She let out a small gasp, her eyes wide as she struggled to stand.

"I told you to get up," I repeated, my grip tightening around her arm as I yanked her out of the table. "Time to go back."

She stumbled, her breathing uneven, and I could feel her trembling beside me.

"Please," she whimpered, her voice breaking. "Not there... please don't... I can't. It's too dark."

Her words barely registered as I continued down the hallway, determined to get her back in there. But then, I felt her body go slack, her legs giving out beneath her as she tried to resist. Her panic was visible, and I could hear the sharp gasps as she struggled to breathe.

"Arsh... please," she whispered, her voice so faint it was barely audible. "The dark... I can't... please don't..."

Her breath hitched, and I stopped, turning to face her. Her eyes were wide with terror, her skin pale as she struggled to draw in a breath. I realized then that this wasn't just her fear. She was genuinely terrified.

Her chest heaved, and her hands clawed at her throat as if she couldn't get enough air. Her eyes rolled back, and before I could react, her body went limp in my arms.

"Aira?" My voice cracked, panic flooding me as I caught her before she hit the ground. "Aira!"

I crouched down, cradling her head in my hands as I tried to get her to respond, but her body was completely still, her breathing shallow.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. I had pushed her too far. I didn't think she would break like this. Not like this.

Without another thought, I scooped her up in my arms, her fragile body feeling weightless against mine as I carried her through the hallway. My mind raced, panic clawing at me as I barked orders to Vyom who entered through the main doors just as I reached the stairs.

"Get Abhimaan!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty halls as I made my way upstairs to my bedroom. "Now!"

I kicked the door open with my foot, carefully placing her on the bed. Her face was pale, her breathing still shallow, and I could see the fear still etched into her expression, even in her unconscious state.

"Aira," I whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her face as I crouched beside the bed. "Come on, wake up."

But she didn't move.

After a few minutes, the door opened behind me, and Vyom rushed in, followed by Abhimaan. "What happened?" He asked, quickly moving to Aira's side.

"She fainted," I said, my voice tight with worry. "She has been... she has been under a lot of stress."

Abhimaan glared at me but focused on examining her first, checking her pulse and breathing as I paced the room, trying to calm myself down. I had never seen her like this before. So fragile. So breakable.

"She had had a panic attack," Abhimaan said after a few moments, looking up at me with a frown. "Her body is exhausted. She needs rest, and I suggest you stop whatever you are doing that is causing her this kind of distress."

I clenched my fists at his words. This wasn't supposed to happen.

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded through gritted teeth. "She will be fine Arsh, but she needs rest and care. She is severely dehydrated, and her body seems like it has been pushed to its limits. I will give her something to help her sleep, but you need to keep her calm."

I stood there, watching as he administered the medication and gave her fluids. My mind raced with guilt, anger, and something else I didn't want to even acknowledge.

Abhimaan attempted to say something but stopped himself as he got up and collected his stuff, "Arsh, you are being way too harsh."

I gritted my teeth barely sparing him a glance as he shook his head and walked out after exchanging a worried glance with Vyom.

After he left, I sat by her side, staring at her as she slept. She looked so small, so vulnerable lying there in my bed. I had wanted to punish her, to make her pay for what she had done to my little sister, my family. But now... now I didn't know what I wanted.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I buried my face in my hands.

What the hell had I done?

Tume sbne bola ye year ends hone se phle ek chapter update kr doon so here is Mera thoda sa early surprise for you all 🎀

Cause mai trip pr hoon aur thoda sa busy 😭

Hopefully you will like it. 🫶