Aira:

I could barely see through the blur of my tears as the car sped down the deserted highway. The dim lights of the city vanished behind us, swallowed by the night, just like the hope that had been slowly seeping from my heart ever since he appeared at my doorstep.

I was trembling, every part of me resisting the reality of what was happening. I pressed myself against the door, wishing I could somehow escape this nightmare. The leather seat felt cold and suffocating beneath me, the space too small, too confined. My breath came in ragged gasps, the walls of the car closing in on me.

"Mr. Oberoi, please..." I choked out, my voice thick with desperation. "Take me back...please, I don't want to go with you."

But my words fell on deaf ears. Arsh sat next to me, his presence dominating the space, his eyes fixed ahead as if he hadn't heard me at all. His hands gripped his phone, his knuckles white, his jaw clenched in a way that made my heart race with fear.

I wanted to be with my Dad and Mom. I can't even imagine what they must be going through right now.

And Neil? What about him and his family?

"Stop the car, Mr. Oberoi!" I pleaded, my voice rising, panic overtaking me as I reached for the door handle, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. "Let me go! I am begging you!"

I preferred him keeping eyes on me but from a distance. I don't want this, I never did. I don't want him to break down the life I have created in pieces. He has no right to do this to me.

He didn't even flinch. Instead, he reached over, his hand grabbing my wrist in a vice-like grip, pulling me away from the door and forcing me back into my seat. His touch was cold, merciless sending a shiver down my spine.

"You are not going anywhere, Aira," he said, his voice low and menacing, a dangerous calm that made my skin crawl. "I am not letting you go."

I am not his to keep or let go. I don't even know this man who is my husband. He can't just abandon me and claim me whenever he feels like.

I struggled against his hold, my tears streaming down my face, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. "You can't do this to me," I sobbed, my voice breaking. "You can't force me like this...you can't!"

His grip on my wrist tightened, a silent warning that there was no escape and if his scrunched eyebrows were any indication, he was annoyed. "I can, and I will," he replied coldly, his eyes dark and unforgiving as he finally turned to look at me. "Think whatever you want but you don't get to escape especially if you want to be with someone else. I already told you, Aira. You are mine. And you will do as I say."

I shook my head, I could accept anything but being by his side especially when Dad hates him for ruining my life.

"You know what? You do have an option Aira, save yourself from me." He paused, accessing my reaction as I opened my mouth urging him to tell me what was the option.

He smiled, that cold amd callous smile which is just ruthless and I knew already that it was going to be some sick amd twisted option I wouldn't go for even in my next seven lives. "Save yourself from me but then even I won't be able to save your family from my wraith."

My lips quivered knowing very well this was coming and I curled into myself as much I could and shifted away from him.

The weight of his words crushed any remaining resistance I had. I felt trapped, completely at his mercy, and the realization of just how powerless I was made my chest ache with a pain so sharp I could barely breathe.

"I don't want this," I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to make him understand, to beg to whatever shred of humanity he had left. Maybe his heart will melt? "I don't want to be with you, Mr. Oberoi Please... just let me go."

But there was no mercy in his eyes, no sign that my words had reached him. Instead, he simply stared at me, his gaze hard and unyielding, as if my pleas were nothing more than a nuisance to be brushed aside.

"I gave you a choice, Aira," he said, his voice colder than ever. "Actually two,"

"You lost that the moment you went ahead exploring happiness. Now, you will face the consequences." He stated with no expressions on his face whatsoever.

I shivered as his words cut through me, the finality in them hitting me like a physical blow. There was no reasoning with this monster, no way out. He had made up his mind, and there was nothing I could do to change it.

It should be my choice to be with whoever I want but I was stupid to underestimate me. If I would have known that he would act on his words and take me with him if I smiled even once, I would have buried that smile deep in a slumber.

The rest of the drive passed in a blur, my sobs filling the silence, my tears soaking the collar of my kurti. I couldn't stop crying, couldn't stop the wave of helplessness that washed over me. All I could do was stare out the window, watching as the world sped by, my heart breaking with each passing mile.

I was dressed in the prettiest Suit out there, my mom chose for me. She thought all my days afters this will be filled with happiness but here I am, being taken towards my own doom dressed like a bride but being pushed in the hellfire alone with the devil by my side.

By the time the car reached it's destination, my body felt numb, my mind distant, as if I were floating above it all, unable to fully comprehend what was happening. The car came to a halt, and Arsh got out, his movements calm, deliberate, as he walked around to my side.

I flinched as he opened the door, his hand reaching for me again, his grip firm as he pulled me out of the car. The cold night air hit me like a slap, as my eyes fell on the airport around us. Were we going somewhere? Where thenfuck is he taking me? The reality of what was about to happen sinks in, making my stomach churn with dread.

"Where are we going?" I asked desperately, my voice a broken whisper as he ignored my question and led me toward the jet waiting on the runway. "Mr. Oberoi... don't do this. Please... I am begging you."

He didn't respond, his silence more terrifying than any words he could have spoken. I could see the jet looming ahead, the steps leading up to the door like the entrance to a prison, and I knew if step inside today, I will forever be trapped in his grasp.

I dug my heels into the ground, trying to resist, but he was too strong, too determined. He barely slowed as he pulled me along, my efforts to fight him off futile. My heart pounded with a mixture of fear and hopelessness as the realization dawned that I was truly trapped, with no one to help me, no one to hear my cries.

"Arsh, please!" I cried out loudly, desperation clawing at my throat. "Don't do this, You are hurting me."

At that, he finally stopped, his grip on my arm loosening just slightly. For a brief moment, hope flickered in my chest, a small spark that maybe, just maybe, he would listen.

But then he turned to me, his face inches from mine, his eyes so cold, so devoid of any emotion, that it felt like staring into the abyss.

"You think this is pain, Aira?" he asked softly, his voice laced with a dark, twisted amusement that sent chills down my spine. "This is nothing compared to what I will do if you keep pushing me. Remember that."

His words sliced through me like a knife, extinguishing any last hope I had. I knew then that there was no escape, no way out of the darkness that had swallowed me whole. The man standing before me wasn't someone I knew, even if I felt him in shadows for the padt two years - he was a monster, and there was no reasoning with him.

Numbly, I allowed him to lead me up the steps and into the jet. The interior was as cold and sterile as the man holding me captive, the luxury of it all meaningless in the face of the horror I felt.

As we took our seats, I couldn't stop the tears that continued to fall, couldn't stop the shaking of my hands as I realized that there was no turning back now. I was at his mercy, trapped in a nightmare with no way to wake up.

The engines roared to life, the jet trembling beneath us as we prepared for takeoff. I stared straight ahead, my vision blurred by tears, my heart heavy with the weight of my despair.

This flight was taking me away from everything I knew, everything I loved. It was taking me further into the darkness, into a world where I had no control, no freedom.

And as we lifted off the ground, the world falling away beneath us, I knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

I sat stiffly in the plush seat, my eyes unfocused as they stared out the small window into the black void of night. The tears had finally stopped, but their remnants still clung to my skin, sticky and cold.

He hasn't said a word since we boarded the jet. His silence was more suffocating than any threat he could have uttered. He sat across from me, his gaze fixed on his laptop as he furiously typed away on it.

I tried to match his silence, to find something in it, but all I could feel was fear-a deep, gnawing terror that I couldn't shake. My mind kept replaying his words, the cold finality in them, the way he looked at me as if I were nothing more than a possession he could control at will.

"You have a choice Aira," his voice, low and menacing, echoed in my head, a constant reminder of how pathetic I was. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the memory, but it clung to me like a shadow.

The weight of everything-of him, of this situation-was too much. I felt like I was drowning, trapped in a world where my choices had been stripped away, where I was at the mercy of a man who had none.

"Where are you taking me?" I demanded, my voice trembling despite my efforts to stay composed.

Arsh didn't look up from the papers he was reviewing, his calmness only adding to my frustration. When he finally did meet my eyes, there was a flicker of something dark in his gaze - something that sent a shiver down my spine.

"You will know when we get there," he replied coolly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

His dismissive tone ignited the panic I had been trying to keep at bay. "I have a right to know where you're taking me!"

"No, Aira," he said, his voice dangerously low as he set the papers aside. "You have the right when I decide you do."

When he decides. The words stung like a slap. "You can't just - "

"News flash Aira, I am." he interrupted, his eyes locking onto mine with a fierce intensity. "Simply because I can. You should have known better than thinking I would actually let you go."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "This is kidnapping, You can't just take me wherever you want!"

He leaned forward, the menace in his expression unmistakable. "Watch me."

The sheer force behind those words stole the breath from my lungs. There was no reasoning with him, no convincing him to let me go. He had made up his mind, and I was powerless to change it.

Tears of frustration and fear welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he had gotten to me. "You can't keep me like this. My family will come looking for me even on the other side of the world."

A cruel smile tugged at his lips. "Let them try. No one can reach until I want them to."

His words, laced with absolute certainty, made my blood run cold. I bit my lip, tears stinging my eyes. The way he behaved, it was as if I had no say in what happened to me, no choice in the matter at all.

"Please, I don't want this," I whispered, the plea slipping out before I could stop it.

He watched me for a long moment, his expression softening just a fraction. "You will learn to want it, Aira."

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady my voice. "No, what do you want from me?"

His eyes narrowed, the brief moment of softness gone as quickly as it had appeared. "It's because of your own family."

"My family?" I repeated incredulously, my voice rising with disbelief. "You are saying they are responsible for this? You are impossible."

He gritted his teeth. "You are my wife now, and that's how it's going to be."

"Your wife?" I spat back, the anger now eclipsing my fear. "Don't forget you forced me into this."

He didn't respond immediately, his gaze boring into mine as if he were trying to make me see something I couldn't. "You are wrong." he said finally, his voice chillingly calm. "Chahe aap maane ya nhi, shadi hui hai hamari and you are my wife."

(Whether you agree ot not, we are married and you are my wife."

I shook my head, refusing to be swayed by his twisted logic. "You are delusional if you think I will ever accept this."

He leaned back in his seat, regarding me with a look that was equal parts amusement and exasperation. "You don't have to believe it, Aira. But you will. In time, you will understand."

The certainty in his voice, the utter conviction, made my skin crawl. He was so sure of himself, so certain that he could bend me to his will. The idea of it terrified me, made me feel like a trapped animal with no way out.

"I need to... I need to get out of here," I stammered, the panic rising again as the walls of the jet seemed to close in around me.

He tilted his head, studying me as if I were some puzzle he was trying to figure out. "There is a room at the back," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You can rest there if you need to."

I hesitated, unsure if I should listen to him - though what choice did I have? Staying here, under his watchful gaze, was unbearable. I nodded quickly, rising from my seat on shaky legs.

My legs trembling as I made my way to the back of the jet. I could feel his eyes on me, burning into my back, but I refused to look at him. If I did, I might lose whatever small semblance of control I had left.

I reached a door at the far end and opened it, stepping into a small room that was likely meant for resting during long flights. It was dimly lit, the soft glow of a single lamp casting shadows on the walls. I shut the door behind me, my hands shaking as I turned the lock, sealing myself inside. I pressed my back against the door, the cool surface grounding me as I fought to steady my breathing.

The room was small but comfortable - a bed, a nightstand, and a small window. I crossed to the bed, turning off the lamp and plunging the room into darkness.

I curled up beside the bed, hugging my knees to my chest. The soft carpet beneath me offered little comfort, but it was the best I could do. I buried my face in my arms, trying to block out everything - the fear, the despair, the overwhelming sense of being trapped.

Sleep was the last thing I expected to find, but exhaustion overtook me, dragging me into a restless, fitful slumber.

˚⋆𐙚｡ 𖦹.ᡣ𐭩˚

When I woke, it was to a different kind of silence. The hum of the jet was gone, replaced by a stillness that was almost eerie. My eyes fluttered open, and I quickly realized I wasn't on the jet anymore.

The bed was much larger than the one on the jet, the sheets softer, and the air smelled faintly of lavender and something else - something distinctly expensive.

Panic surged through me as I sat up quickly, my eyes darting around the room. Where was I? How did I get here?

My eyes fell on an unfamiliar sitting on the bed and I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

"You are awake?" The older woman, her expression gentle and kind, asked softly, her voice soothing. "How are you feeling?"

I couldn't answer her. My mouth felt dry, my throat tight with fear. "Where... Where am I?" I finally managed to croak out, my voice trembling.

"You are home dear," she replied kindly. "You fell asleep on the jet."

I fell asleep. I was at his house, deep in his territory. I had been taken and placed in a prison.

I struggled to process what she was saying, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear. "Who are you?"

The woman's expression softened with concern, and she glanced back towards the door. "Geet, Geet Oberoi. I am Arsh's mother."

My eyes widened after finding out who she was. I could ask his mom for help. Couldn't I?

She will surely understand me.

"Please, help me. I don't want to he here. Please take me back to my family." I gushed out the words barely holding myself in as her eyes softened and she brought her hand to my face, gently caressing my cheeks. "You are safe here Aira, no one will hurt you."

I nodded, my hand grasping hers, "Please, help me." I whispered, "Please... I need to go back to my family. I can't stay here."

Her face fell slightly, her smile fading. "I know you are scared, dear. But - "

Before she could finish, the door creaked open, and my heart stopped as more people entered the room. The first were two young women, both beautiful and poised, who exchanged a look as they noticed me. They were followed by a young man, his expression serious and his presence commanding.

And then he walked in.

My breath hitched, and I instinctively shrank back into the bed. My entire body went rigid, every muscle tensing as he entered the room. His gaze was cold, indifferent, as if my presence was nothing more than an inconvenience. But I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, even though every fiber of my being screamed to look away, to run.

He wasn't alone. An older man and woman, who had the same air of authority as the others, followed behind him.

I could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me, but all I could focus on was him. The fear I felt was suffocating, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. My hands gripped the sheets tightly, my knuckles turning white as I tried to keep myself from trembling.

"I don't want to be here," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. But the room was so silent that everyone heard it. Before anyone could sav even a single wors, I spoke up, "He... he brought me here against my will. Please... I need to go back to my family."

The room fell into a heavy silence. I could feel the weight of their gazes, see the way their expressions shifted - some with surprise, others with sympathy. But no one spoke. No one moved. It was as if my words had turned them to stone but I could see one thing, if I was right there was a slight anger and disappointment in their eyes.

Finally, one of the men whose features looked similar to Arsh's, stepped forward, gently squeezing Arsh's mom shoulder as she looked up at him and he blinked his eyes, perhaps trying to assure her.

I glanced at him guessing he was Arsh's father, then back at Arsh, who was still staring at me with that icy indifference. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes, something dark and unreadable, but it vanished just as quickly.

"We need to talk. Now." The oldest man spoke up, his tone firm, and his voice carrying a note of authority.

Arsh looked towards the old man and gave him curt a nod.

"Meet us in the study." His father added, regarding him with a hard look.

Arsh's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. He turned and left the room, his father and grandfather following closely behind along with the two other men.

I turned my eyes back to his mother, who was watching me with a mixture of sadness and something else I couldn't quite place. The other two women exchanged glances, their expressions difficult to read, but I could see the pity in their eyes, the way they noticed how scared I was, how terrified I was of him.

"Please," I begged again, my voice breaking. "Please, let me go. I don't want to be here."

His mom shifted closer, her hand reaching out to touch mine, but I flinched back instinctively. Her eyes filled with pain at my reaction, but she didn't pull away.

"I am so sorry, bachha," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But there is nothing we can do right now."

Her words crushed the tiny spark of hope I had left. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to let them fall in front of these strangers.

I was trapped here, in this house, surrounded by people I didn't know, bound to a man I feared more than anything. And there was no way out.

Mom Dad please help me. I don't want to be here without you all by my side.

Drop your votes and comments please.

I will update the next chapter pretty soon 🎀

I know Arsh is pretty much of a jerk right now but don't worry Aira will give him full competition.