Advik :-
The moment I stepped out of her room, I knew something was wrong with me.
Very wrong.
I shouldn't be thinking about her.
Not the way I was.
Not with this kind of heat crawling under my skin.
But all I could see was the way her body had fit against mine when she backed into that cupboard.
The way her breath hitched when my chest brushed hers.
The way her heartbeat fluttered so fast I could feel it.
I've never felt that kind of pull.
Never felt my heartbeat jump because a girl looked up at me with wide, angry eyes and trembling breath.
And I've definitely never felt... desperate.
Pathetic.
God, she was small... but she wasn't fragile.
Not really.
She had this stubborn fire- like she'd rather break her bones than bend for me.
That only made it worse.
Her face kept flashing in my mind-those big eyes glaring at me, the softness of her cheek under my fingers, the way her lips parted when she sucked in a sharp breath.
And her waist...
The memory of my hand grabbing her there burned like a brand.
My fingers nearly circled around her completely- she was that delicate.
Her scent, sweet and maddening, still clung to my shirt.
I had girls before.
Plenty.
Some I didn't even remember the next morning.
They smiled too easily, flirted too loudly, touched too desperately.
But Reyna...
There was something dangerous about the way she looked at me—like she hated me, feared me, and still couldn't look away.
And the worst part?
I couldn't look away either.
When she tilted her head up, breathless, cheeks flushed, hair falling over her shoulders- I felt something tighten in my stomach.
Something I had no business feeling.
Something close to... desire.
Desire I had never felt this deeply before.
Not even with girls who willingly threw themselves into my bed.
The moment I stepped away from her, my body felt irritated, restless- like I had walked away from something I shouldn't have backed off from. I don't know why but... a part of me wanted her closer. Closer then she was, something more intense.
This- whatever the hell this was- felt raw.
Instinctive.
Uncontrolled.
And I hated it.
I forced myself to walk toward the hall, jaw locked, expression cold.
But inside, every part of me was replaying the moment she pressed into me.
Rajveer's voice cut through the heat in my head.
"So, beta... did you like the house?"
I didn't even hear him at first.
Because at that exact moment, all I could think of was how close her lips were to mine.
How soft her skin felt.
How her body molded to mine like it was meant to be there.
"Advik," Kabir snapped, "Rajveer is asking you something."
I blinked hard, ripping myself out of the memory.
"Sorry, Uncle. I... didn't hear you."
Rajveer laughed.
"I think he got lost in the beauty of our house."
I forced a polite smile.
If only he knew...
I wasn't lost in the house.
I was lost in his daughter's damn body pressed against mine.
Even as conversations continued around us, every now and then the moment replayed—her scent, her breath, her soft chest rising too fast when I came close.
And that damn ache of guilt when she flinched.
Kabir finally stood. "We should leave."
I nodded, grateful for the escape.
We said our goodbyes- handshakes, polite smiles, empty words.
But even when we stepped out of the Rathore mansion...
I wasn't leaving empty-handed.
I was leaving with a memory I didn't want,
a guilt I didn't expect,
and a feeling I didn't understand.
By the time I sat in the car, one truth dug itself deep into my chest like a curse:
I've had flings. I've had bodies.
But I've never wanted someone like that.
Never felt that kind of instant, violent pull.
Never felt this stupid... hunger.
I gripped the steering wheel harder.
This wasn't attraction.
This was a problem.
A problem named Reyna Rathore.
Kabir kept glancing at me the entire drive back.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
I ignored him the way I ignored the heat still lingering on my skin.
Finally, he spoke.
"Advik... you're quiet."
"I'm always quiet," I replied flatly, staring straight ahead.
"This is different," Kabir said, voice firm but thoughtful. "Something happened in that house?"
My jaw clenched.
Too tight.
Too fast.
"No," I answered, maybe a little too sharply. "Nothing happened."
Kabir didn't look convinced.
He raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you look... distracted?"
Because your so-called ally's daughter is messing with my mind.
Because I can still feel her breath.
Because I can't stop seeing her pressed against that cupboard.
But I wasn't about to admit that.
"I'm fine," I said coldly. "Stop overthinking."
Kabir studied me for a moment, then sighed and let it go.
"Alright. Go home. Rest. I'll see you in the morning."
He got down at the farmhouse gate.
I didn't.
The second he closed the door, I pressed my foot harder on the accelerator.
Rest?
Sleep?
Not a chance.
Not with her image burning behind my eyes like a brand I couldn't scrub off.
I needed something stronger.
Sharper.
Something to drown the fire she had lit in my veins.
So I turned the car toward the only place that could help-
The club.
The loud, dark, sinful place where the lights were low and people didn't ask questions.
Music thumped through the floor when I walked in.
Bass. Sweaty air. Alcohol.
Bodies pressed against each other without thought or guilt.
Perfect.
I headed straight to the bar.
"Double whiskey," I said.
The glass hit the counter in seconds.
I downed it in one go.
The burn felt good.
Not enough.
"One more."
This time, as I lifted the glass, my mind betrayed me-
Reyna's face flashed again.
Her eyes.
Her breathless voice.
Her body trembling against mine.
I slammed the drink down harder than necessary.
I needed to erase her.
To erase this... desperation she had dragged out of me.
A soft voice broke through the fog.
"Rough night?"
I turned.
A girl.
Tall. Beautiful. Confident.
Her hand resting lightly on my arm, eyes scanning me with interest.
Normally, I wouldn't even need to try.
Girls like her came to me willingly.
Tonight was no different.
"You want company?" she asked, lips teasing a smile.
I stared at her.
She was perfect.
But she wasn't Reyna.
Good.
That's exactly what I needed.
"Yeah," I said, voice low. "Sure."
She smiled wider and slipped closer, her fingers brushing my wrist.
The contact didn't spark anything.
That was the whole point.
As she leaned in, whispering something in my ear, I let myself sink into the moment.
Into the music.
Into the noise.
Into anything that wasn't her.
Anything that wasn't Reyna Rathore's scent, her eyes, her voice, her body-
I needed a distraction.
A shield.
A wall.
And this girl-
this nameless, willing, perfect stranger was exactly the kind of forgetting I was craving tonight.
Reyna :-
Sleep?
I don't even know if I actually slept or just kept blinking through the night.
Every time I closed my eyes...
he appeared.
His breath on my face.
His stupid smirk.
His body pinning me to the cupboard.
His fingers on my cheek-
the pain, the anger...
and something else I still couldn't name.
I tossed.
Turned.
Buried my face in the pillow.
Nothing worked.
"Ughhhh..." I groaned.
Why was he in my dreams?
Why was he in my head?
He wasn't special, sweet or even someone I liked.
He was-
my enemy.
The same reason my car was gone.
The reason my gun wasn't with me.
The same man who called me bitch without blinking.
The same idiot who pinned me to the cupboard like he owned the air I breathed.
And yet-
My stupid mind kept replaying it all.
"I hate him," I muttered to the mirror while brushing my hair.
But the annoying heat on my cheeks said otherwise.
I stepped into the shower hoping it would clear my mind.
It didn't.
His stupid face followed me under the water too.
By the time I came out wrapped in a towel, one thing was clear:
I need therapy. Or holy water.
Then-
Voices floated up from the hall.
Familiar ones.
A very familiar one.
My heart jumped.
" IRA "
I rushed to change into a fresh kurti and ran downstairs.
There she was.
Standing near the sofa, still dragging her giant suitcase behind her, her brown hair tied in a loose bun, looking effortlessly perfect after a long flight.
"IRAAA!" I screamed.
Before she could even put her bag down, I threw myself at her.
She laughed and hugged me back tightly.
"Arre, Rey! I just arrived! Let me breathe na!"
"I missed you soooo much!" I squeezed her even harder.
"Okay okay, I missed you too, chipmunk." She kissed my forehead.
Mom came out smiling, wiping her hands on her apron.
"You came early! We thought you'd be here by noon."
"Early flight! And I didn't want to wait one minute more," Ira said, hugging Mom next.
Dad appeared from behind the newspaper, beaming proudly.
"My graduate is here!"
Ira rolled her eyes but hugged him too.
"Papa, it's just a post graduation."
"Still counts," Dad said, tapping her head affectionately.
It felt warm.
Soft.
Perfect.
Exactly what I needed after the chaos in my mind. We all sat on the couch and Ira opened her suitcase like Santa Claus.
"So! Gifts time!"
Mom got a silk stole.
Dad got an expensive fountain pen.
Aarav got a gaming headset.
"And for you..." she said dramatically, turning to me.
She pulled out a branded purse.
Elegant. Black. Beautiful.
My jaw dropped. "NO WAY! Iraaaa!"
"You like it?" she grinned.
"I love it!"
I hugged her again, this time almost making her fall back on the sofa.
"This is why I missed her," she laughed, patting my back.
The hall filled with warmth and some typical family chaos- Aarav already fighting Mom for the last of the parathas, Dad telling Ira about the guests who visited last night, Mom fussing about her weight because Ira looked thinner, and Ira rolling her eyes like always.
For a moment...
Everything felt normal.
Safe.
Calm.
Until that stupid face entered my mind again. I shoved him away.
Today was for Ira. For family. Not for... him.
After breakfast, Ira dragged her suitcase upstairs and I followed her like a tail. The moment we stepped into her room- still the same lavender walls, fairy lights, and that huge study table- I closed the door behind us with a click.
Ira dropped on her bed with a sigh.
"Finally. Peace."
I sat beside her, playing casual... for three seconds.
Time for the interrogation.
I walked to her bed slowly, deliberately.
"So..." I started casually, "how was your college's last year?"
Ira blinked, surprised. "Last year? Uh... it was good."
"Hmm." I nodded, pretending to think. "And the graduation ceremony? You had fun?"
"Yess, of course," she said slowly, like she wasn't sure where this was heading.
"And your friends?" I added lightly. "Everyone doing great?"
She nodded again, her eyes narrowing now. She was catching on.
I leaned in just a little.
"And..." I paused, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make her squirm, "how is he?"
Ira jolted upright. "Who... who he?"
I raised a brow. "Di. Please. Not with me."
Her eyes widened, her cheeks already turning pink.
Caught. So caught.
I sat beside her, twisting to face her fully.
"Just say it. You have a boyfriend, don't you?"
She froze like a statue.
"M-maybe... no, no...I...Reyna...."
I smirked.
"Di... I saw your pictures with him."
Her mouth fell open.
"HOW?! My private Instagram-"
"Yeah, yeah, very private," I said, waving a hand.
"Except you forgot one tiny detail."
She swallowed. "What detail?"
"You blocked me..."
I leaned closer.
"But you didn't block our sweet cousin Jiya."
Silence.
Ira blinked. Once. Twice.
Her soul left her body.
Then she buried her face in a pillow and screamed into it.
"Oh my God, Reyna, I'm going to KILL HER!"
I burst out laughing. "You should block her first."
She pulled the pillow down and glared at me, mortified.
"Stop laughing..."
"I can't," I snorted, wiping tears. "You look like a tomato."
She flopped back again, defeated.
"Fine. Yes. I have a boyfriend."
My heart literally jumped.
"OH. MY. GOD. DI!"
She grabbed my hands as if I might explode.
"Rey, calm down- "
"You like him?"
She nodded softly.
"You want to marry him?"
She nodded again, cheeks flaming.
"THEN TALK TO PAPA!" I shouted so loudly she threw a pillow at me.
"Reyna, stop! You don't understand!"
I sat back, confused. "What's there to not understand?"
Ira inhaled sharply, eyes going sad- sad in a way that hit me inside.
"He's not like us, Rey. He's... normal. A simple guy from Jaipur. My classmate. I met when we were in First year of college."
Her voice dropped lower.
"He doesn't know anything about guns, deals, enemies... this life."
I felt the air shift.
She continued, almost whispering now.
"I don't want him dragged into this dirty world. I don't want Papa to hurt him. And I don't know how Papa will react when I tell him."
For the first time... my strong, calm, responsible Ira looked scared.
I slid closer and hugged her tightly.
"Di... he's our dad. He loves us. He'll freak out a little but... he'll listen. At least give him a chance."
She rested her head on my shoulder, nodding slowly.
After a moment, I stood up and smoothed her hair.
"Okay. Enough. You had a long flight. You need rest."
I picked up my bag and headed to the door.
"I have to submit my assignment, so I'll go to college."
I gave her one last smile before leaving.
"Don't worry, di. Everything will be fine. I'm with you."
And then I walked out...
with absolutely no idea that my day was about to get a thousand times more chaotic-
all because of a certain infuriating man with blue eyes.
Advik :-
{ In the afternoon }
The farmhouse dining hall was quiet-
too quiet for my liking.
The long wooden table stretched across the room like a polished weapon, reflecting the dim amber lights overhead. Shadows clung to the corners, thick and unmoving, as if even they were holding their breath tonight.
Maybe it was because my mind wouldn't stop replaying her.
Reyna Rathore.
Her voice-sharp enough to cut.
Her attitude- infuriatingly addictive.
Her body pressed against mine when I cornered her-
the trembling breath at my throat...
And then that moment-
the flicker of pain in her eyes when she winced,
the sudden guilt that stabbed through me,
a feeling I crushed instantly.
I wasn't supposed to feel anything.
Not for her.
Not for anyone.
I stabbed at the food, eating just to keep myself occupied, when Chachu finally broke the suffocating silence.
"So..." he started, tone suspiciously casual. "How was last night? You look tired. Maybe... she was a little rough?"
I choked instantly, nearly drowning on my own water.
"Chachu!" I sputtered. "No..nothing like that. I was just... at a friend's place."
A lazy grin stretched across his face.
"Advik, I know everything, beta. I wasn't exactly a saint at your age either. So don't waste your lies on me."
Heat crept up my neck.
Perfect.
Exactly the topic I wanted over dinner.
"It's not like that," I muttered under my breath.
But Kabir's amusement vanished.
His tone dropped- serious, heavy.
"From today onward, you have to stop all of this."
I frowned.
"What? Stop what?"
Chachu placed his cutlery down slowly, looking straight into my eyes.
"Because now... I want you to get married."
My fork slipped, clattering loudly.
"What?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm twenty-four. I'm not getting married right now and definitely not to some stranger I've never met!"
But Chachu didn't even blink.
If anything, he looked entertained by my panic.
"This is the only way, Advik," he said calmly. "The only way we can overpower the Rathores."
A cold shiver crawled through me.
"What do the Rathores-"
And then it clicked.
Rajveer's elder daughter.
The questions he asked about her yesterday.
The way he observed their family with that calculating stare.
"Chachu..." I whispered slowly, "what exactly are you planning? 'Overpower the Rathores'? You want to control them?"
A sharp smirk tugged at his lips.
"I don't want peace with them, Advik. I want power. Aarav is too young to understand these things. But you..."
He pointed lightly with his spoon.
"You can secure our future."
My jaw clenched.
"So you want a marriage... not for alliance.
But for dominance."
"Yes," he replied instantly.
"Imagine it- two of the strongest mafia families tied by blood. The entire underworld will kneel."
I stared at him, shock twisting in my chest.
"So you want power... not a relationship."
He leaned back, smiling like a man who'd already won the war.
"Exactly."
I swallowed, frustration boiling under my skin.
"And you expect me to agree."
"You must," Kabir said firmly. "If you want the Raichand name to rise above everyone else in the mafia world, this is the sacrifice required."
Sacrifice.
The word settled on me like a weight I couldn't shake off.
For the first time in years...
something inside me felt wrong.
Uneasy.
Coiled too tight.
And then, uninvited-
a face flashed in my mind.
Reyna.
Why was the only face I could think of... the wrong sister?
Kabir watched me quietly. Too quietly.
The kind of silence that comes before a trap snaps shut.
I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, heart pounding with a mix of irritation and confusion. My head hurt, my body was exhausted, and my mind kept replaying Reyna like a broken reel.
I shouldn't have come to dinner.
Kabir finally spoke, voice slow... careful... sharp.
"Advik, listen to me."
I didn't respond.
So he continued.
"You think marriage is about age? About love? About compatibility?"
His laugh was cold.
"In our world, marriage is a weapon. A shield. A currency. And you being the next Raichand head- need that weapon."
I clenched my jaw.
His words were hitting nerves I didn't want touched.
Chachu leaned forward.
"You saw Rajveer, didn't you?"
His eyes narrowed.
"The respect he commands. The fear he creates. The loyalty he holds."
I said nothing.
But I had noticed it.
Even yesterday.
Kabir didn't stop there.
"And what do we have? Land? Guns? Influence?"
He shook his head.
"We need more. We need the Rathores. If we merge our bloodline with theirs... Raichands become invincible."
The word invincible echoed in my head.
A part of me, a dark part-
liked that sound.
Kabir studied my face, then smirked slightly.
"You are my heir, Advik. My hope. The one who will take Raichand legacy to heights I never could."
I swallowed.
"I know you think I'm forcing you," he said, voice softening.
"But I'm preparing you. Training you. Giving you the throne."
I stared at the table.
Throne.
Legacy.
Power.
All things I had been raised to value. He continued, lower, almost whispering:
"If you marry Ira Rathore... no one will dare look you in the eye without fear."
Something shifted in my chest.
Not for Ira.
Not for marriage.
But the idea of control...
dominance...
authority...
It was intoxicating.
Kabir didn't miss my reaction. He pressed harder.
"And tell me, Advik... what has this bachelor life given you?"
He gestured at my tired, hungover face.
"A new girl every night? A hangover every morning? Is this the future you want?"
I flinched slightly.
Because he wasn't wrong.
"And last night..." he continued, "you didn't even enjoy yourself, did you?"
My mind flickered-
Reyna's eyes.
Her trembling breath.
Her pain.
Kabir mistook my silence for frustration about some other girl.
"And one day," he said calmly, "this lifestyle will get you killed. Or used. Or destroyed."
He leaned back, delivering the final blow.
"But if you become Rajveer Rathore's damad... no one will ever dare touch you."
And that...
That landed exactly where he wanted.
Power.
Authority.
Security.
Respect.
Things I understood.
Things I was taught to crave.
Marriage wasn't a romantic bond.
It was a strategic move.
A battlefield.
And in this world, the right move meant survival.
I exhaled slowly.
"So..." I said finally, voice low, dark.
"You want me to meet Ira."
Kabir's smile spread- slow, victorious.
"Yes. Just meet her. That's all."
I hesitated.
Then nodded once.
"Fine," I said.
"I'll meet her."
Kabir's eyes gleamed like a man who had just won a war.
"Good, beta. Very good. I knew you'd understand."
I didn't answer.
Because even while saying yes, even while agreeing to meet Ira, my mind betrayed me;
It showed Reyna.
Her lips.
Her anger.
Her stubborn fire.
Her body against mine.
Her breath on my skin.
And something inside me whispered-
If I have to marry a Rathore...
why does it feel like I already chose the wrong one?