As Ishaan's hand slid around Naina's waist, pulling her closer, his lips barely a breath away from hers-

His phone buzzed.

A call.

Ishaan's jaw tightened.

His eyes fluttered shut for a brief second as he took a deep breath, controlling the frustration that flickered in his chest. Reluctantly, he pulled back, his grip on Naina's waist loosening as he reached for his phone.

Karan.

Naina sat on the countertop, her lips slightly parted, absently brushing her fingers over them. She wasn't even aware of who was calling or why-her mind was still stuck in the moment before the interruption.

Ishaan's gaze flickered toward her for a second before he finally answered.

"Hello." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

On the other end, Karan greeted him back, his tone steady but firm. There was a pause before he spoke again. "We never wanted her life to turn out like this-just taken away by someone without a second thought."

Ishaan remained silent. Listening. His fingers tapped lightly against his phone as his gaze remained locked onto Naina.

Karan continued, his voice carrying a weight that only a father could hold. "Put yourself in our place for a moment. If you really love her... then we need a proper reception. People have been asking questions-questions we have no answers to. And how do we even tell them that you two are already married?"

A slow, deep exhale left Ishaan's lips. He didn't care what people thought. But Naina's family did.

Karan's voice softened but remained firm. "It may not matter to you... but it does to us. It does to Naina."

Ishaan's eyes flickered down to where Naina's hands were fidgeting in her lap, her fingers twisting together in nervous habit.

Another deep breath.

Then, finally-

"Fine." His voice was low but certain. "Tell me the date. We'll be there."

On the other end, Karan let out a quiet sigh of relief. A few more words exchanged, and then the call ended.

Ishaan slid his phone into pocket and turned toward Naina. He took a step forward.

Naina's gaze slowly lifted to meet his. And in that moment, the air between them felt heavier than ever.

Naina placed both her hands on the countertop, subtly trying to push herself back, but Ishaan was already too close.

And he wasn't stopping.

As she inched backward, he moved forward, the space between them disappearing in an instant.

Her breath hitched.

Before she could go any further, Ishaan's hand gripped her waist-firm, unyielding. In one swift motion, he pulled her forward, lifting her slightly off the counter.

A startled gasp escaped her lips as she found herself pressed against him, their bodies impossibly close.

His grip was possessive, his touch burning against her skin. His eyes, dark and unreadable, locked onto hers, holding her captive without a single word. Ishaan smirked, tilting his head slightly. "You were fine last night, weren't you?"

Naina swallowed hard. Her heart was racing, her hands gripping the countertop to steady herself. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "I need to tell you something."

Ishaan's smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. He arched a brow, a hint of amusement lacing his voice. "What?"

Naina took a slow, deep breath. Her mind was at war-Should she say it? Was it the right thing to do? Fear lingered in her chest, making her hesitate. Ishaan, however, wasn't missing a single one of her reactions. He could read her too well, watching as she struggled with her thoughts.

He raised his hand, gently tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His touch was warm, firm-undeniable.

"Say it, Naina." His voice was low, coaxing, but there was an edge of command to it.

Naina swallowed again. Then, before she could stop herself, she blurted out the one thing she hadn't planned to say.

"I want to do LLB."

Silence.

Ishaan blinked once. Then, with a quiet scoff, he ran his tongue across his lower lip, then biting his lip slightly with his teeth as if suppressing a reaction. Taking a slow breath, he finally said, "That's it?" His smirk returned, teasing yet sharp. "And you were overthinking this much for that? Haan?"

Naina didn't say anything. She bit down on her lower lip, frustrated with herself. This wasn't what she had meant to say at all. She had blurted out something entirely different-a distraction from what was truly on her mind.

Ishaan, however, wasn't fooled. He noticed everything. The hesitation in her voice, the way she avoided his gaze, the nervous tension in her body. He knew Naina wanted to say something else-something bigger. But instead of pushing her, he leaned back slightly, giving her space. He wouldn't force it out of her. He'd wait. Let her think. Let her figure it out. Because sooner or later, she would say it.

Naina's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape-not from Ishaan, but from her own thoughts. She wanted to say it. The words were there, pressing against her lips, a confession that clawed at her chest.

But something stopped her.

Fear.

How could she even think like this?

Her gaze lifted to meet Ishaan's, The memories came rushing back-the sight of her family dying right in front of her. The screams. The blood. The helplessness. And then-that night, when she saw Ishaan kill a man. Brutally. Without hesitation and Those bodies hanging like clothes in that dark hall.

How could she forget? Suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears.

How could she even consider asking him to do the same for her?

Ishaan saw the tears forming in her eyes and frowned slightly. He stepped closer, placing his other hand on her waist, pulling her against him as he asked, "What happened?"

Naina swallowed hard, fighting the lump in her throat. She turned her face away from him.

That hurt him.

He had done everything-everything-to break her walls, to make her look at him the way he looked at her. And yet, here she was, pulling away from him again. His jaw clenched. His patience was wearing thin. Why? Why did she keep avoiding him? Why did she still not accept him?

Leaning in, his voice dropped to a low whisper, "What do I have to do to make you like me?"

Naina remained silent.

He pressed further. "Tell me, Naina. What will it take?"

She still didn't look at him. But in a quiet, almost fragile voice, she finally said, "Give me time."

Ishaan's fingers twitched against her waist as he clenched his jaw. Time Time for what? To forgive him? To accept him? Or to one day leave him? His teeth pressed together as he forced himself to stay calm. "How much time?"

Naina, still holding back her tears, turned to face him with her small, sorrow-filled eyes. "How can you say all this so easily, Ishaan?" she whispered. "Don't you see? That you do everything for yourself. You never think about how others feel."

Ishaan stared at her, his breath heavy.

"You want me to like you." Naina's voice trembled. "But how do I forget?"

"How do I forget that I saw you kill someone?"

Ishaan's grip on her waist loosened. He exhaled sharply, his hands falling away from her as he took a step back. Running a hand through his hair, he turned his back to her. He stayed silent - Holding his frustration. And then slowly turned back toward her, slowly, and placed both hands on the countertop beside her, caging her in again. This time, there was a different fire in his eyes. "What do you want me to do, Naina?" His voice was dangerously low. "Let those who betray me walk free?"

Naina, heart pounding, she shook her head. Ishaan leaned closer, his lips just inches away from her cheek. "Should I spare the ones who would stab me in the back? Tell me, Naina."

She gritted her teeth in frustration and turned close her eyes tightly.

Ishaan caught her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were unreadable as he said, "I am not God." His voice dropped even lower, almost a growl. "But even God punishes demons." Naina's breath hitched as he continued, "Every person I've killed... deserved it."

Her nails dug into her palm as she whispered, "But taking a life... that's not your decision to make, You can't just kill people, Ishaan!" Naina's voice rose, her eyes brimming with tears. "That's what the government is for. You're not the law."

Ishaan gripped Naina tightly, his jaw clenched as he stared into her eyes. His blood was boiling, surging through his veins like a wildfire. Naina, trapped in his hold, could see the reflection of a man who had lost count of how many lives he had ended—how many souls he had erased from existence. His dark, raging eyes bore into hers as he spoke, his deep voice laced with a dangerous calm. "Do you really think I care what the law or the government says?" His words were slow, deliberate, and filled with an unsettling certainty. Naina held his gaze, feeling the heat of his anger. She saw the storm brewing within him—the barely restrained fury of a man who had always played by his own rules.

Ishaan leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower, more intense. "I create my own laws, Naina… and you—" his fingers brushed against her cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "—are part of them."

Naina swallowed hard, fighting back the ache in her chest. She could feel the possessiveness in his touch, the finality in his words. Then, with quiet, unwavering certainty, Ishaan added, "Whether you accept me or not, your fate is already written… and it begins and ends with me."

Naina, suppressing her anger, spoke in a quiet yet heavy voice, “The more you try to own me, the more hatred you’ll plant in my heart for you.” There was pain in her every word—soft, yet piercing.

Ishan didn’t respond. His jaw clenched, his eyes darkened, and before she could say another word, he pulled her into a kiss—a fierce, possessive kiss, filled with frustration and a desperate kind of sorrow. His grip tightened around her chin, holding her in place as if punishing her for her words. When he finally pulled away, his breathing was heavy, his fiery gaze locked onto hers. He said nothing. Just stared at her, his anger burning silently between them. And then, without another word, he stepped back, turned around, and walked away—his footsteps heavy as he ascended the stairs, leaving behind an air thick with unspoken emotions.

Naina took a deep breath, trying to gather her emotions, and slowly sat down on the chair beside her. But as soon as she did, silent tears escaped her eyes. She couldn’t understand why she was crying—why she was letting the weight of everything push her down like this. It was as if she was deliberately feeding the hatred between them, making things worse. Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t erase the painful memories that haunted her. Her entire life had been filled with nothing but suffering, and the rare moments of happiness she had experienced only made her feel more fragile. She was afraid that if she accepted happiness, it would slip away just as easily as it had come.

For a long time, she sat there, drowning in her thoughts, before finally resting her hand on the table. She lowered her head, gazing blankly at the flower vase placed in front of her. It was filled with fresh roses, their fragrance lingering in the air. She hadn’t even noticed them before. Ishan had placed them there—for her. It was his way of reminding her that she was precious to him.

The house was eerily silent. It was just the two of them here. She was beginning to feel the weight of loneliness. Why was it just them? Why was there no one else? She didn’t know the answer, but she knew it was because of Ishan. He wanted to have her all to himself. As she remained lost in thought, she suddenly heard the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. Her heart clenched. Ishan was coming down. She stiffened slightly, unsure of what to expect. Was he still angry? Would he say something? Do something?

But before she could react, she heard the footsteps fade away. He was leaving, Naina lifted her head slightly, turning to look toward the living room, but there was no one there. Ishan was gone. A few seconds later, the distant sound of an engine roaring to life reached her ears. She turned her gaze toward the glass window, watching as Ishan’s car moved past the gates, disappearing from sight.

Ishaan drove straight to his private island, his grip tight on the steering wheel as rage boiled inside him. His foot pressed hard against the accelerator, the car slicing through the morning like a bullet. His mind was consumed with a single thought—fixing everything between him and Naina. The distance that kept creeping in, the invisible wall between them, it all needed to end. But no matter how much he tried, his world—his dangerous, bloodstained world—kept pulling them apart.

As soon as he reached the dock, he didn't slow down. He stepped out, his movements sharp and furious. His men stood at attention, ready to assist, but one look at his face had them stepping back. No one dared to interfere when Ishaan was like this. Without a word, he unlocked his Aston Martin AM37, a sleek and luxurious two-person speedboat, and powered it toward the island. The hum of the engine roared through the silence of the water as he cut through the waves. Behind him, his bodyguards followed closely in their electric boats, their presence barely registering in his mind.

By the time he reached the island, Faris was already waiting at the shore, his usual composed stance in place. Ishaan barely acknowledged him, storming past without a word. His steps were quick, each one fueled by restless energy as he made his way to the underground basement.

The moment he stepped inside the dark, high-security room, his eyes scanned the walls. Lined up in perfect order were dozens of imported, high-end firearms—each one deadlier than the last. Without hesitation, he grabbed a gun, loaded it in seconds, and fired at the thick stone wall in front of him. Bang! The sharp sound echoed violently in the confined space. But one shot wasn’t enough. He fired again. And again. Each pull of the trigger was laced with frustration, with the unbearable weight pressing down on his chest.

His breathing was heavy, his jaw clenched as the last bullet left the chamber. Without missing a beat, he reloaded and continued, unloading round after round into the wall. The cracks in the stone deepened, dust rising with every impact. But no matter how many bullets he fired, the storm inside him refused to calm.

Ishaan kept hitting the wall for so long that he lost track of time—minutes turned into hours, and yet no one dared to stop him. Finally exhausted, he stepped back and dropped onto a couch, tilting his head against the backrest, staring at the dark ceiling above.

Faris, who had been waiting outside in silence, stepped in cautiously. Without a word, he held out a cigarette toward Ishaan. Ishaan glanced at him briefly before shifting his gaze to the cigarette in his hand. Slowly, he took it, bringing it between his lips. Leaning forward slightly, he waited as Faris flicked the lighter, the flame illuminating the tension in the room. As the tip of the cigarette ignited, Ishaan leaned back against the couch, inhaling deeply before removing it from his lips.

His anger was still simmering, burning just as fiercely as the cigarette between his fingers. He exhaled a slow stream of smoke before speaking in a low, controlled voice. “I need information about someone.”

Faris, watching him closely, nodded. “Who, sir?”

Ishaan took another drag, his sharp gaze locked ahead. As he exhaled, he finally answered. “You’re going to Kashmir. There’s only one person who can tell us what we need to know.” He knew Naina must have confided in someone—Shanaya. She had to know the truth about the man who had hurt Naina. Ishaan wasn’t going to let that person go unpunished. “You’ll go to Pahalgam,” he continued, his voice steady but carrying an undeniable edge of menace.

Faris gave a small nod, understanding the weight of the task given to him. After receiving further instructions, he quietly exited the room.

Left alone, Ishaan sank further into the couch. His hand rested on his forehead as he stared up, trying to tame the violent storm brewing inside him.

At night 🥀

Naina wandered through the dimly lit corridors, Gem clutched tightly in her arms. The house was eerily silent, each step she took echoing like a ghost of a whisper. She had never truly explored this place—every attempt left her feeling uneasy, as if invisible eyes followed her every move. Tonight was no different.

She glanced around, absorbing the details she had often overlooked—the grand chandeliers casting faint glows, the luxurious carpets muffling her steps, the towering windows veiled in thick curtains. Every inch of the house screamed wealth and power, yet it carried a chilling emptiness.

As she walked further, a strange sensation prickled the back of her neck. A feeling—no, a certainty—someone was watching her.

Her breath hitched.

She turned swiftly.

Nothing.

The hallway stretched behind her, empty and still. Yet, the sensation lingered, curling around her like a cold breeze. She swallowed, willing her heartbeat to slow. When will Ishan come? Naina wondered.

She forced herself forward, entering a vast hall she had never seen before. The room was grand, bathed in shadows, with tall mirrors lining the walls. A single chandelier hung from the ceiling, its golden light barely cutting through the darkness. And in the center, an elegant black piano sat untouched, a silent relic of the past.

Naina hesitated before stepping closer. Something about the piano intrigued her, as if it carried a story waiting to be told. Slowly, she placed Gem down and settled onto the bench. Her fingers hovered above the keys.

A deep breath.

Then, a hesitant press.

A single note echoed through the emptiness.

Encouraged, her fingers moved again, weaving an uncertain melody. The sound was soothing, unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. She closed her eyes, allowing herself a rare moment of peace—

Then, a sound.

A throat clearing.

Her fingers froze.

Her eyes snapped open, darting toward the mirror in front of her.

And that’s when she saw him.

A man—tall, imposing—stood by the doorway, watching her with quiet amusement. He was dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit, the kind that screamed influence. His dark hair was slicked back, and his sharp features held a cruel, knowing smirk. But it was his eyes that made her blood run cold—dark, calculating, filled with something twisted.

Her stomach twisted in dread.

Slowly, she turned to face him.

“Yes?” Her voice barely rose above a whisper.

The man tilted his head, studying her as if she were an object, not a person. Then, his smirk widened. “Ishaan has good taste,” he mused, his voice smooth yet laced with something venomous.

Naina’s pulse pounded in her ears. Who was he? And more importantly—how did he get inside?

Before she could react, he took a step closer.

Then another.

His slow, deliberate movements felt suffocating, each step shrinking the space between them. The air around him was heavy, filled with an unspoken threat. His presence alone sent fear curling up her spine.

She instinctively backed away, her hands gripping the edges of the piano. “Stay away,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He chuckled—a deep, unsettling sound. His gaze roamed over her, dark eyes filled with a sick satisfaction. “Why so scared?” he taunted, taking another step.

Panic seized her. Before she could move, his hand lashed out—fingers tangling in her hair, yanking her forward. She gasped, her scalp burning. “L-Leave me!” she struggled, hands clawing at his wrist, but his grip was ironclad.

He only laughed.

“I've waited long enough for this,” he sneered.

Then—slap.

The impact was brutal. Her head snapped to the side, a sharp sting blooming across her cheek. A metallic taste flooded her mouth as the corner of her lip split, blood trailing down her chin.

Her vision blurred.

Before she could recover, he grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her forward.

Her forehead crashed against the piano.

Pain exploded in her skull. A strangled cry left her lips as she collapsed onto the bench, her body trembling. The world spun, her head throbbing in agony.

“P-please…” she choked out, tears blurring her sight.

But he wasn’t done.

Another slap. Harder. The force of it sent her sprawling onto the cold floor. Her head hit the ground with a dull thud, sending another wave of pain crashing through her.

Dazed, she struggled to push herself up, but he was already crouching beside her.

His fingers brushed her bloodied cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear in a mockery of affection. “This is just the beginning,” he whispered, his breath hot against her skin.

Naina whimpered, shrinking away.

His smirk deepened.

“Tell your lover…” he leaned in closer, voice dripping with menace. “He made a very big mistake messing with me.”

Then, just as swiftly as he came, he stood up, straightened his suit, and turned away—leaving Naina crumpled on the floor, the echo of his words cutting deeper than any wound.

Hope you like it Words - 3688