Ishaan's phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting the tense moment. With an exasperated sigh, he pulled it out, glancing at the screen before answering. It was Shalini. He cast one last look at Naina before stepping out of the room, shutting the door behind him as he made his way to the living room.

"Hello," he answered, his voice laced with controlled frustration.

On the other end, Shalini's voice was hesitant but concerned. " Where is Naina?"

There was a pause, a heavy silence before Ishaan finally responded, "With me."

Shalini exhaled audibly, the worry clear in her tone. "Why, Ishaan? Why is she with you?"

He switched the phone to his other ear, his jaw tightening. "Because I brought her here."

"Why would you do that?" Shalini pressed, confusion and fear mingling in her voice.

Ishaan's tone turned colder. "Because you can't even take care of your own daughter."

Her tone sharpened with defensive anger. "What do you mean by that?"

He didn't hesitate. "Do you even know where she was yesterday?"

There was a brief pause before Shalini answered, her voice steady but uncertain. "Yes, I know. She went to see her boyfriend."

A dry chuckle escaped Ishaan's lips, filled with mockery. "Oh, so she told you about him?"

"Yes," Shalini affirmed, her voice a bit firmer now.

"It doesn't matter to me," Ishaan said, his tone darkening. "I can't stand seeing her with him. That's why I brought her here. And let me be clear-if you ever let her go back to him, you know what I'm capable of, Ms. Shalini Malhotra."

There was a chilling silence on the line. Shalini knew Ishaan's threats weren't idle. She swallowed hard, her fear palpable. "She's our daughter..."

Ishaan chuckled softly, the sound devoid of warmth. "That's the only reason I'm letting this go. If she weren't your daughter, you wouldn't be on this call right now."

Shalini's breath hitched, her fear mounting. She knew she was dealing with a dangerous man, one who had the means and the resolve to follow through on his threats.

Ishaan remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "And yes, I'll be bringing her back to you today. But remember, nothing should happen to her."

Shalini, still gripped by fear, took a deep breath before asking, "But why are you doing all this, Ishaan?"

Ishaan turned slightly, glancing back towards the room where Naina was slowly stepping out, her movements tentative. His gaze softened as he watched her and said, "Because I like her... and I want to marry her."

Shalini was stunned into silence. The idea of Ishaan Mehra, a man feared by many, harboring feelings for someone was beyond anything she had imagined. "Marry her?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief.

She hesitated before continuing, her concern growing. "You didn't... you didn't do anything to her, did you?"

Before she could finish, Ishaan's voice turned cold, filled with suppressed anger. "It hasn't come to that. But if you send her to meet another guy again, things could get very bad."

Shalini was torn between worry and a strange sense of relief. While Ishaan's intense behavior alarmed her, the prospect of her daughter marrying someone as powerful and influential as him was undeniably appealing. The potential benefits for their family and business were enormous.

Yet, a lingering fear gnawed at her. What if Ishaan revealed the dark secret she and Karan had been hiding from Naina? The secret that could shatter Naina's trust and love forever. Shalini knew she had to tread carefully. Ishaan's unpredictable nature made him both an asset and a threat.

Ishaan ended the call, his gaze shifting back to Naina. She stood quietly, her apprehension evident, yet she didn't move. Her heart pounded as Ishaan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. He reached out, gently placing his hand on her face, his thumb softly caressing her cheek.

"Chale ?" ( "Shall we?") he asked, his tone unusually tender.

Naina's mind raced. Just moments ago, she felt certain he wouldn't let her leave, yet now he was offering to take her back. She couldn't understand his sudden change of heart. Her eyes darted away from him, uncertain and fearful. She didn't respond, her body tense with the conflict of emotions running through her.

Ishaan's hand dropped from her face, but he didn't retreat. Instead, he grasped her wrist firmly, but not harshly, and began to lead her out. Naina followed silently, her steps hesitant. The grip on her wrist was a reminder of his control, yet there was a strange gentleness in the way he held her, as if afraid she might slip away.

After some time, they both arrived outside the Malhotra mansion. Naina glanced at the house, her heart heavy with uncertainty, while Ishaan's eyes remained fixed on her. As she reached for the car door handle, she found it locked. Slowly, she turned her head, meeting Ishaan's intense gaze. Without breaking eye contact, Ishaan effortlessly unlocked the door, his focus never wavering from her.

Naina looked away quickly, her heartbeat quickening, and opened the door. It swung open smoothly, and she hesitated for a moment, pondering how everything seemed so seamless. Little did she know, this was just the calm before the storm-a storm that would change her life in ways she couldn't yet comprehend.

She stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath as if trying to steady herself. Without looking back, she began walking towards the mansion. Each step felt heavier, as if the weight of the unknown was pressing down on her. Ishaan, still sitting in the car, watched her every move, his gaze unwavering, filled with a mix of longing and possessiveness.

He didn't move until Naina disappeared inside the house, not once glancing back at him. As the door closed behind her, Ishaan's eyes shifted to the steering wheel, then up to the sky. He knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy for either of them. Yet, his obsession with Naina pulled him relentlessly, like a force he couldn't resist.

Taking a deep breath, he started the car, his mind racing with thoughts of her. Before driving away, he cast one final glance at the house, a silent promise lingering in his mind. Then, with a sense of both determination and unease, he drove off, leaving behind the mansion but not the emotions tied to it.

Ishaan headed straight to the island, a place he often used for matters that required solitude and control. As soon as he arrived, he could see his yacht waiting for him, with Faris standing by. Ishaan's bodyguards followed closely, maintaining the distance and vigilance required for someone of his stature. Without wasting a moment, he boarded the yacht, and soon, they were making their way to the island.

Upon arrival, Ishaan walked into the facility with Faris right behind him. "Sir, Vansh is securely bound downstairs," Faris informed him. Ishaan gave a subtle nod, acknowledging the information, and continued down the hall.

Reaching the designated room, Ishaan opened the door and entered. He took a moment to observe through a two-way mirror. Vansh was sitting on a chair, unaware that anyone was watching. The mirror allowed only Ishaan to see him clearly. His gaze lingered on Vansh for a moment, calculating, as he raised his hand to signal to the others to stay back.

He walked into the room, and with a calm, almost mocking demeanor, he sat down in front of Vansh. His body language was nonchalant as he casually lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag. "Care for one?" Ishaan asked, offering the cigarette to Vansh. Vansh glared at him, fury radiating from his eyes, but Ishaan simply smirked and continued smoking, the smoke swirling around him. After taking a long pull, Ishaan rested his arm on the table, enjoying the moment, while Vansh remained silent, seething with anger.

Blood stained Vansh's clothes as Ishaan observed him closely. "So, what have you decided then?" Ishaan asked, his voice cool, almost too calm. Vansh's confused eyes met his.

Ishaan's eyes darkened, his tone turning more serious. "So, what's it going to be? Are you going to end it yourself, or should I do it for you?" he asked, the coldness in his voice sending a clear message-Vansh's fate was in Ishaan's hands, and he had no choice but to comply.

Vansh struggled to speak, his voice barely a whisper. "What do you mean?" he asked, his fear evident in his trembling tone.

Ishaan remained silent for a moment, his piercing gaze locked onto Vansh. Then, with a calm yet menacing voice, he said, "Didn't get it, huh?" He leaned back in his chair, taking another drag from his cigarette before exhaling the smoke slowly. The silence in the room grew heavier, suffocating.

Vansh's eyes darted around, searching for any semblance of understanding. He finally stammered, "What did I do? "

Ishaan's eyes narrowed. "You don't know?" His voice was laced with sarcasm, a mocking edge that made Vansh squirm in his seat. "You really have no idea, do you?" Ishaan's tone was low but firm, the kind that sent chills down anyone's spine.

Vansh, desperate to defend himself, said, "She's my girlfriend! What do you expect? Of course, I'll protect her from some unknown person."

Ishaan chuckled darkly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Unknown?" He repeated the word, his voice dripping with contempt. "Where were you when some 'unknown' took her away, adopted her, and raised her under their roof? You weren't there then, were you?"

Vansh's eyes widened. "But I was happy about that," he blurted out. "I even talked to Naina about it."

Ishaan's expression turned cold, his smirk vanishing. He stood up slowly, reaching behind his back to pull out a gun from his waistband. The metallic click echoed in the room as he pointed it directly at Vansh's face. "And why did you hold her waist so tightly?" Ishaan asked, his voice now a deadly whisper.

Vansh's breath hitched, his eyes wide with terror. "What?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

Ishaan stepped closer, the gun still aimed at Vansh. "I didn't want to kill you in front of her," he said, his eyes dark and intense. "She's innocent, after all .... isn't she." A sinister smile crept onto Ishaan's face.

Vansh's mind raced, his body frozen in fear. He couldn't comprehend the depth of Ishaan's obsession, the lengths to which he would go. The realization hit him like a freight train-this wasn't just about protecting Naina. This was about ownership, control, and an unyielding desire that Ishaan had for her.

"Please, you don't have to do this," Vansh pleaded, his voice shaking.

Ishaan leaned in closer, his face inches from Vansh's. "Oh, but I do," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "And if you ever so much as think about touching her again, you won't live to regret it."

Vansh was left speechless, his heart pounding in his chest as Ishaan stepped back, the gun still in his hand, a cold smile playing on his lips. The room was silent except for the sound of Vansh's ragged breathing, the weight of Ishaan's words hanging in the air like a death sentence.

Ishaan gaze never wavering. "Oh, and does she know that you were planning to marry her just to get your hands on Shalini and Karan Malhotra's property?" His words were cutting, precise. "Ring any bells now?"

Vansh's eyes widened in shock, the color draining from his face. "Sir... actually...?" he stammered.

Ishaan leaned in, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "Do you know who I am? .... I know about everyone's deeds. And you... you're so insignificant that it didn't even take me a day to find out."

Vansh's breath quickened as the weight of Ishaan's words settled in. The room seemed to close in around him, the realization of Ishaan's power and knowledge sinking in.

Vansh's body trembled as the gravity of his mistake dawned on him. He had only mentioned his plans to one friend, underestimating the reach and power of Ishaan Mehra. He now realized that Ishaan's ability to hack into phones and uncover secrets was effortless. His eyes darted towards Ishaan, filled with dread as he stammered, "Sir, listen, there's nothing like that... Naina and I have known each other since childhood. What do you even know about her? She's just an ordinary girl... I can introduce you to much better girls. Please, just let me go."

Vansh's words, spoken in a feeble attempt to save himself, were calm on the surface but struck a nerve deep within Ishaan. For Ishaan, these were the worst words Vansh could have uttered. A mistake of colossal proportions. Ishaan's rage erupted, his usually composed demeanor shattered. He threw the cigarette aside, and step forward with an intensity that made the room feel smaller. "What did you just say? Huh?" His voice was low, but the threat was clear.

Vansh, realizing his error, felt the weight of the situation. He had ignited a fire that couldn't be extinguished, a fire that now engulfed the room in tension. Ishaan's eyes burned with an anger that knew no bounds.

Ishaan leaned closer, his voice a dangerous whisper. "An ordinary girl... huh." His gun still aiming directly at Vansh. Vansh sat frozen, his mind racing for a way out, but he knew that he had provoked a side of Ishaan that few had seen and lived to tell about.

Vansh was at a loss, unable to comprehend what he could do next. After all, he had only called her "ordinary." But Ishaan, in Vansh's eyes, was being irrational-mad, even-for reacting this way. Staring at the gun pointed at him, Vansh felt his courage slipping away. Yet, in his fear, he let his tongue loose in desperation. "I just told the truth," Vansh muttered, his voice shaking. "What is she, really? She's nothing but bad luck. Her whole family died, leaving her behind like a curse.......and.."

With that, Ishaan pulled the trigger. The deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the room, silencing everything in its wake. It was as if time itself had frozen. Blood splattered across the floor, the walls, painting a macabre scene of violence. Vansh's body collapsed to the ground, lifeless, a pool of crimson spreading beneath him.



The room was deathly quiet, save for the faint ringing in the ears from the gunshot. The only witnesses to this gruesome spectacle were Ishaan and his men, who stood silently, their faces emotionless. They had seen it all before -violence was a language they understood well.

Ishaan stood over Vansh's body, his gun still smoking in his hand. His face was calm, almost serene, as if he had merely completed an unavoidable task. He glanced at the blood on the floor, then wiped his hands on a pristine white handkerchief, unbothered by the mess he had made.

To anyone else, this would be a scene of horror, a nightmare come to life. But for Ishaan, it was just another day, another enemy eliminated. He knew the world he lived in, a world where power was maintained through fear and dominance, and Ishaan was a master of that world.

Without sparing another glance at Vansh, Ishaan calmly placed the gun back in his waistband. He turned and walked out of the room, the echo of his footsteps fading into the silence. His men, standing outside, straightened up as he emerged. Ishaan gave a slight nod, signaling them to clean up the mess, before heading back to his yacht. His men followed, leaving the lifeless body of Vansh behind, a stark reminder of the consequences of crossing Ishaan Mehra.

As he boarded the yacht, his thoughts drifted back to Naina. The mere thought of her brought a softness to his otherwise hardened demeanor. She didn't know the lengths he would go to protect her, to ensure she was never hurt again. But Ishaan knew that this was only the beginning. He had set a course, and there was no turning back now.

"Coming back to claim you baby"

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