Neend toh aa gayi thi,

par sukoon kabhi nahi.

Har raat ek hi khwaab,

har khwaab mein wahi khauf.

Where else, on the other hand... Everything was going surprisingly well in Shekhar's penthouse. A few hours ago, something completely unexpected happened. Something which genuinely left both Shekhar and Kavyashree stunned.

Anya had become fascinated with her new room. She wanted to decorate the doorstep with tiny decorative lights which automatically brighten up whenever someone enters the room. It looked beautiful in her little imagination. She immediately called her mama for help.

"Mama!"

"Mama, come."

"I want this here."

But Kavyashree was busy in the kitchen. She was arranging every utensil, spice box and groceries herself. She didn't trust anyone else to organize her kitchen. After all...She knew Shekhar. He wasn't the type of man who arranged things properly.

Earlier, he would simply rush around, keeping things wherever there was an empty space. Typical man behaviour. Lazy arranging. Hurried finishing. Whatever fits... stays there. But now...He didn't dare.

Not anymore. Because he already knew... Whatever his queen decided...Would remain exactly that way. Without changing even a single thing. Meanwhile...Everything from Jaipur had already arrived. Shekhar's men had brought every luggage earlier.

Kavyashree's clothes. Her important case files. Official documents. Books. Personal belongings. And... Every tiny thing that belonged to Anya.

Seeing all her familiar belongings around her, Anya had already started feeling comfortable inside the penthouse. The environment slowly began feeling like home. When Anya realized her mama still wasn't coming...She puffed her cheeks into a tiny pout.

"Hmph."

"I'll bring Mama myself."

The little girl immediately ran out of her room. Her tiny feet echoed through the hallway. At the same time... Shekhar was standing in the living room, attending an important phone call.

"Yes... postpone the meeting till next week."

Before he could say another word—

Thud! A tiny body suddenly collided with his leg. Shekhar instantly looked down. His four-year-old daughter. Anya. She blinked up at him with her innocent doe eyes. Without thinking for even a second... Shekhar completely ignored the call.

"I'll call later."

He disconnected immediately. His entire attention shifted toward the little girl standing in front of him. He immediately crouched down to his daughter's level.

His forest green eyes softened.

"What happened, sweetheart?" he asked gently. Anya looked at him with her innocent doe eyes.

"I want to decorate the doorstep."

She pointed toward her room.

"I was calling Mama..."

"...she didn't come."

Shekhar glanced toward the kitchen for a brief second before looking back at her.

"Mama is busy, sweetheart."

He smiled faintly.

"Come with me."

"I'll help you decorate the doorstep."

Anya nodded her little head happily.

"Okay."

Shekhar slowly stood up. Just as he did... Anya stretched both of her tiny arms toward him. Her lips wobbled slightly. Then, in her soft little voice, she said something...Something that completely froze him.

"Pick me up..."

A small pause escaped her.

"...Dada."

The single word echoed through the penthouse. Shekhar stopped breathing for a moment. His entire body went still. Inside the kitchen...Kavyashree also paused in the middle of arranging the utensils. She slowly turned her head toward the living room. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved.

Only Anya stood there innocently with both of her tiny arms still stretched toward him, waiting to be picked up. She didn't know... That one little word...Had quietly healed a broken part of Shekhar's heart.

Not Papa. Not yet. But...It was the first name...His daughter had ever called him. And for Shekhar...That was enough. For now.

Shekhar stared at her. His eyes slowly became moist.

"Dada..."

He repeated the word in his heart. Not Papa. Not father. But...It was enough. It was more than enough for him. A smile slowly appeared on his lips. One that rarely anyone had seen.

Without wasting another second, he bent down and carefully picked Anya into his arms. The little girl immediately wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.

As if...She belonged there. Shekhar instinctively supported her with one arm while the other gently rubbed her back.

"You want to decorate the doorstep?" he asked softly. Anya nodded excitedly.

"Yes!"

"The light one."

"The pretty one."

Shekhar chuckled under his breath.

"Alright."

"We'll decorate it together."

From the kitchen doorway, Kavyashree silently watched them. A smile unknowingly formed on her lips. She didn't interrupt. She didn't call Anya back. She simply stood there...Watching the father and daughter she had dreamed of for four long years.

Meanwhile... Anya pointed toward a small box lying near the sofa.

"Dada..."

"That one."

"I want that."

Shekhar walked over and opened the box. Inside were tiny fairy lights, miniature hanging stars, little moon decorations and colourful bells. His brows slightly furrowed.

"So many things..."

Anya giggled.

"I like pretty things."

"I know," he replied softly.

He carried her all the way to her bedroom. The little girl stayed comfortably in his arms, swinging her tiny legs. Reaching the doorway, Shekhar asked,

"Princess..."

"Where do you want to put them?"

Anya immediately pointed her tiny finger.

"There!"

"And there!"

"No..."

She shook her head dramatically.

"Little left."

"No..."

"Little right."

Shekhar obediently followed every instruction. Like a patient student.

"Now?"

Anya tilted her head.

"Hmm..."

"A little more."

From behind, Kavyashree couldn't stop herself from laughing softly. For the first time in years...She saw Shekhar Randhawa—The feared man everyone respected...Being bossed around...By a four-year-old little girl. And strangely... He didn't mind it at all.

Anya watched Shekhar stretching his hand upward to fix the tiny decorative lights. She puffed her cheeks. Then she couldn't hold herself anymore.

"Dada..."

Shekhar hummed while still fixing the lights.

"Hmm?"

Anya placed both her tiny hands on her waist and said with complete seriousness,

"You're so tall..."

"...you'll definitely break the doorway with your head."

For a second...Silence. Then Kavyashree, who was standing near the kitchen door, immediately covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Shekhar closed his eyes. A deep sigh escaped him. Mother and daughter...Same genetics. Same roasting skills.

He slowly turned his head toward Anya.

"You both really enjoy making fun of me, don't you?"

Anya blinked innocently.

"I'm telling the truth."

Shekhar rubbed his forehead helplessly. She wasn't wrong. Not at all. Because...A few months ago...He had actually broken someone's doorway.

A Few Months Ago

Devansh had invited Shekhar to his house after finishing an important mission. Everything was going perfectly. Until...Thud! A loud cracking sound echoed through the house. Devansh slowly turned around. Only to witness... The upper wooden frame of his main doorway hanging at an awkward angle.

Right beneath it...Stood Shekhar. Rubbing the top of his head as if nothing had happened. The entire doorway had cracked...Because of his height. Devansh stared at him in complete disbelief. His eyes slowly travelled from the broken doorway...To Shekhar...Then back to the doorway again.

"What kind of giant did I bring into my house...?"

He muttered to himself.

"Now who's going to fix my doorway?"

Shekhar simply looked at the broken frame.

"...It wasn't that strong."

Devansh looked at him with a blank expression.

"Not strong? My doorway survived storms for ten years. It survived earthquakes. It survived my boss's mens. But it couldn't survive...

He pointed dramatically at Shekhar.

...your forehead."

Sarah, who had witnessed everything from the kitchen, burst into uncontrollable laughter. Even the guards standing outside had to turn away to hide their smiles. Shekhar quietly took out his wallet.

"How much?"

Devansh immediately snatched the wallet from his hand.

"I'll calculate emotional damage too."

Present

Remembering that incident...Shekhar couldn't even defend himself anymore. He simply looked at his daughter.

"You win."

Anya giggled proudly.

"I know."

Kavyashree finally laughed openly this time. The sound filled the room. For the first time...The penthouse didn't feel like a lonely place anymore. It felt... Like home.

Honestly...Shekhar loved the giggling sounds of girls. Anya. And Kavyashree. They had unknowingly brought light into Shekhar's life. A soft smile slowly appeared on his lips. With one hand, he continued fixing the decorative lights above the doorway.

With the other, he securely embraced Anya against his chest. She didn't seem afraid of his height anymore. Instead, she happily pointed her tiny finger here and there.

"Dada..."

"Little left."

Shekhar obediently moved the lights.

"Now?"

Anya narrowed her little eyes, observing it carefully.

"No..."

"A little right."

"Hmm..."

"There!"

She clapped her tiny hands excitedly.

"Perfect!"

Shekhar chuckled softly.

"Anything else, Princess?"

Anya nodded immediately.

"Stars."

"I want stars too."

Without a single complaint, Shekhar picked up another decoration box. From the kitchen doorway...Kavyashree quietly watched them. Her heart felt unbelievably warm. The feared Shekhar Randhawa... Who could make grown men tremble with a single look... Was now taking decoration instructions from a four-year-old little girl. And he looked... Happy. Truly happy. Love is loudest in the words left unspoken.

Time slowly passed. The father and daughter continued fixing little decorations here and there. The whole room had become Anya's chaotic little world.

"Dada."

"Moon here."

"No..."

"Not there."

"There."

"And the star beside it."

Shekhar quietly followed every single instruction without complaining.

"Hmm."

"Like this?"

Anya tilted her tiny head and observed carefully. She smiled brightly.

"Perfect!"

Meanwhile...Inside the kitchen... Kavyashree had already finished preparing dinner. She occasionally peeked toward the bedroom and smiled seeing the father-daughter duo busy in their own little world.

She softly shook her head.

"They're exactly the same."

She murmured under her breath. After all...Anya had inherited a part of Shekhar's stubbornness too. Once the decorations were finally finished...Anya jumped excitedly in Shekhar's arms.

"Dada!"

"We did it!"

Shekhar looked toward the decorated doorway. A faint smile appeared on his face.

"We did."

Just then...Kavyashree's voice echoed from the kitchen.

"Princess lunch is ready."

Anya immediately looked toward the kitchen. Then back at the lights. Then again toward her mama. Her little stomach made the decision for her.

She giggled.

"I'm hungry."

Shekhar chuckled softly.

"So am I."

He carried her toward the dining table. Summer vacation had already started. There were no school classes for Anya. No homework waiting for her. Only days filled with laughter...Decorations...And slowly building memories with the father she had only recently found.

Once she finished her dinner...Her little chaotic world would slowly grow quiet. Just like every child...She would become sleepy...Rub her tiny eyes...And drift into a peaceful sleep.

After decorating the whole doorway, Shekhar sat down with Anya on the dining chair. The little girl was already rubbing her sleepy eyes. Kavyashree served dinner. Anya opened her mouth obediently. But instead of Kavyashree...

Shekhar took the spoon.

"I'll feed her," he said softly. She smiled faintly and continued arranging the table. Shekhar patiently fed Anya one bite after another. The little girl was too sleepy to even eat properly. Her tiny head kept falling against his chest. Every few seconds, her eyes closed. Then opened again. She fought with her sleep while chewing slowly. Finally...Halfway through her meal...She completely gave up.

Her tiny body relaxed in Shekhar's embrace. She had fallen asleep. A little grain of rice was still stuck near the corner of her lips. Shekhar swallowed hard. His heart softened. Carefully...He kissed the top of her hair.

Then, using his thumb, he gently wiped away the little grain of rice from her lips. Without making the slightest noise...He lifted her securely into his arms. She looked so tiny. So fragile. As if she trusted his embrace without even realizing it. Slowly, he walked toward her bedroom. He quietly pushed the door open.

The room was peaceful. He carefully laid Anya down on the soft bed. Her tiny chest rose and fell gently with every peaceful breath. She let out a small whimper in her sleep and instinctively buried her face deeper into the pillow.

Shekhar stood there silently...Simply watching her. Just then...Golden rays of sunlight slipped through the window and landed softly across Anya's sleeping face. Without thinking...He walked toward the window. And gently pulled the curtains together. The room became dim and peaceful once again. He returned to the bedside. Carefully pulled the light sheet up to her little chest. Making sure she wouldn't feel cold.

Then, he leaned down. And placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep well, Princess..."

He whispered so quietly that even the wind could barely hear him. He slowly stood up. Not realizing...That the bond between a father and his daughter...Was quietly growing stronger...One little moment at a time.

Shekhar quietly closed Anya's bedroom door. The soft click echoed through the silent hallway. As soon as he turned around...Kavyashree slowly walked toward him. She gently held his hand.

"Are you okay?"

She asked softly. Shekhar lowered his eyes. For a long moment...He couldn't answer. Instead...He bit his lower lip and suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. Kavyashree immediately wrapped her arms around him. She rested one hand on his back, gently rubbing comforting circles. He wasn't crying. But she could feel...His heart was.

After a long silence...His voice finally came out, barely above a whisper.

"I..."

He swallowed hard.

"I just wanted to see her babyhood memories, Shree."

His grip around her tightened.

"I can't..."

"I missed everything. The first time she smiled. The first time she walked. The first time she spoke. I wasn't there."

His voice cracked.

"I wasn't there for anything."

Kavyashree closed her eyes. Her own tears gathered. She understood his pain. No one could return those four years. No one could bring back the moments fate had stolen from him. Time had already moved forward. The only thing they could do now was make new memories. She gently cupped his face. Making him look into her eyes. Her voice was soft. Filled with love.

"We still have her, Shekhar. We'll watch her grow together. We'll celebrate every little achievement together. You haven't lost everything. You've only arrived late."

She slowly rested her forehead against his. Then whispered the words straight from her heart.

"I'm ready..."

A small pause escaped her.

"If you want another baby, Shekhar, we'll build those memories together. We'll experience everything together. And this time, You won't miss a single moment."

Shekhar froze. His eyes searched hers. Not because of her words... But because she had silently accepted a future with him. A future. As husband. As wife. As parents. Together. Shekhar looked into her eyes for a long moment.

Then, in a low voice, he asked,

"Are you sure?"

He hesitated.

"I mean... your hea—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Kavyashree gently placed her finger on his lips.

"Shh..."

She slowly shook her head.

"I just want to see you happy. I just want to see your smile.

Her eyes softened.

If I can't give you another baby, then why am I here, Shekhar? I know some situations might become complicated for me. But..."

She cupped his face gently.

"I can't compare any pain with losing you. You're the only man who ever took my heart. And, the father of our daughter."

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"I know very well. You're going to become a wonderful father for Anya."

She rested her forehead against his.

"We can still live happily like this. So... Don't worry about me."

Shekhar stared at her silently. Something inside him snapped. His eyes slowly darkened. He leaned closer.

"So..."

"You've become this bold now?"

His deep voice rumbled near her ear.

"Keep talking like that, I'll make sure, you won't be able to walk straight."

Heat instantly rushed to Kavyashree's cheeks. But instead of becoming shy...She looked straight into his eyes. A mischievous smile curved on her lips.

"Oh, really..."

She deliberately paused.

"Honey?"

A low growl escaped from Shekhar's throat. The challenge in her voice only fueled the possessive man inside him. His arm immediately wrapped around her waist. Pulling her flush against him.

"So you want to test my patience?"

He murmured dangerously. Kavyashree only smiled. Completely fearless.

"Maybe. I do."

The room suddenly fell silent. Only their heartbeats remained between them.

Shekhar suddenly swooped Kavyashree into his arms, making her gasp in surprise.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked, voice trembling with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

Shekhar’s lips curved into a dark, predatory smile as he carried her toward their bedroom.

“Oh no, sweetheart,” he murmured, voice low and rough. “Being innocent now, are we? This is exactly where it all leads… after what you did to me.”

He pushed open the bedroom door and headed straight for the attached bathroom, the air still warm and steamy from earlier. They hadn’t freshened up yet.

Kavyashree looked up at him with that same mischievous, fearless glint in her eyes.

“Well… it really works on you,” she teased softly. “Which is great for me. Anyway, we could save water together too.”

Shekhar growled against her earlobe, the sound deep and dangerous, sending a shiver down her spine. He was already painfully hard, straining against the tight black jeans.

He needed to get out of them immediately.

The bathroom was still filled with warm steam from the earlier shower. The moment Shekhar carried Kavyashree inside and closed the glass door behind them, the air grew thick with heat and anticipation.

He set her down slowly, letting her back press against the cool tiled wall. Water droplets from the lingering steam clung to their skin as he caged her in with his powerful arms on either side of her head.

His forest-green eyes burned into hers — dark, hungry, and full of restrained desire.

Without a word, he leaned in and captured her lips in a slow, teasing kiss. It started soft, almost torturous in its gentleness, his mouth moving against hers with deliberate patience. He sucked on her lower lip, then traced it with his tongue before deepening the kiss, tasting her like he had all the time in the world.

Kavyashree’s hands slid up his bare chest, fingers tracing the hard muscles and scars as she kissed him back, matching his slow burn. A soft moan escaped her when he tilted his head and kissed her deeper, more possessively.

Shekhar’s hand moved to her waist, pulling her flush against him. His other hand slid into her wet hair, gripping just enough to tilt her head back so he could trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down the side of her neck. He sucked lightly on her pulse point, then grazed his teeth over the sensitive skin, making her shiver.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he growled against her throat, voice low and rough.

His hips pressed forward, letting her feel how hard he still was. The steam made everything slicker, hotter. He kissed her again — slower this time, more sensual, his tongue teasing hers in a lazy, addictive rhythm that left her breathless and aching.

Kavyashree’s fingers dug into his shoulders as she arched into him, lost in the slow, teasing torment of his mouth and body.

The water from the earlier shower still dripped from the showerhead in soft drops, mixing with their heated breaths.

This was only the beginning.

Shekhar’s kisses trailed lower, slow and deliberate, as he dropped to his knees in front of her. Steam curled around them like a veil, the warm water still dripping lazily from the showerhead above.

He looked up at her with those intense forest-green eyes — dark, hungry, and completely focused on her. Without breaking eye contact, he hooked one of her legs over his broad shoulder, spreading her open for him.

Kavyashree’s breath hitched.

He leaned in and pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss directly to her core. Then his tongue dragged slowly through her folds, tasting her with a low, satisfied groan. He licked and sucked on her swollen clit with devastating precision, alternating between gentle flicks and firm suction that made her knees buckle.

Kavyashree moaned loudly, her hands flying to his hair. But Shekhar didn’t let her move. His strong hands gripped her hips tightly, pinning her against the tiled wall so she couldn’t buck or grind against his mouth. He held her completely still, forcing her to take every slow, torturous stroke of his tongue.

“Ahh— Shekhar…” she cried out, voice echoing off the walls.

He growled against her pussy, the vibration sending sparks of pleasure through her body. His tongue plunged inside her, fucking her with deep, sensual strokes while his nose brushed against her clit. He was relentless — devouring her like she was the only thing that could satisfy him.

Kavyashree’s thighs trembled violently around his head, but his grip on her hips never loosened. She was pinned. Helpless. Forced to feel every single sensation as he ate her out with single-minded obsession.

The steam, the heat, the wet sounds of his mouth on her — everything blended into pure, overwhelming ecstasy.

She was completely at his mercy.

And Shekhar had no intention of stopping anytime soon. Shekhar’s grip on her hips tightened like steel as he devoured her.

His tongue worked her with merciless precision — long, slow licks followed by sudden, hard sucks on her swollen clit that made her cry out. He kept her pinned firmly against the tiled wall, not allowing her hips even an inch of movement. She was completely at his mercy, legs spread wide, one draped over his powerful shoulder.

Kavyashree’s head fell back against the wall, moans spilling from her lips uncontrollably.

“Shekhar— ahh!”

He growled against her soaked pussy, the vibration shooting straight through her core. His fingers dug deeper into her soft flesh, holding her exactly where he wanted as he plunged his tongue inside her again and again, fucking her with it while his nose rubbed perfectly against her clit.

Every stroke was deliberate. Every suck possessive.

He was claiming her — owning every whimper, every tremble, every drop of her arousal that coated his tongue.

“You taste so fucking good,” he rasped, voice dark and rough, barely pulling back enough to speak. “This pussy is mine. Say it.”

Kavyashree could barely form words, her thighs shaking violently around his head.

“It’s— it’s yours…” she moaned brokenly.

Shekhar’s eyes flashed with dark satisfaction. He doubled down, sucking harder on her clit while sliding two thick fingers deep inside her, curling them ruthlessly against that sensitive spot.

Kavyashree shattered.

Her orgasm hit her like a storm — violent, overwhelming, ripping a raw scream from her throat as she came hard on his tongue and fingers. Her walls clenched around him, soaking his hand and chin, but he didn’t stop. He kept licking and fingering her through it, drawing out every last tremor until she was a sobbing, oversensitive mess.

Only then did he rise to his full height, towering over her. His lips and chin glistened with her release. His forest-green eyes were almost black with lust as he looked down at her trembling form.

He wrapped one hand around her throat — firm, possessive, but careful — and tilted her head up.

“You’re not done yet, sweetheart,” he growled against her lips, voice dangerously low. “I’m going to fuck you until the only thing you remember is my name.”

Kavyashree shivered, her body already aching for more.

She was completely, utterly at his mercy.

And she craved every second of it. Shekhar didn’t give her time to recover.

He lifted her effortlessly, pressing her back against the warm tiled wall. Water from the showerhead cascaded over them as he lined himself up and thrust into her in one deep, powerful stroke.

Kavyashree cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders as he filled her completely. The piercings dragged against her sensitive walls with every movement, sending sparks of overwhelming pleasure through her body.

He fucked her hard against the wall — deep, relentless thrusts that made her moan and tremble. One hand stayed wrapped around her throat, squeezing just enough to make her feel owned. The other gripped her thigh, holding her open as he pounded into her.

“You feel so fucking good,” he growled against her neck, teeth grazing her skin. “This pussy was made for me.”

Kavyashree could only moan his name, lost in the brutal pleasure as he took her again and again, the sound of wet skin slapping echoing in the steamy bathroom.

After she came for him a second time — shaking and sobbing in his arms — Shekhar carried her out of the bathroom, still buried deep inside her. He laid her down on the bed and continued fucking her with the same dominant intensity, hips snapping forward in powerful strokes.

Kavyashree was a mess beneath him — moaning, crying, completely overwhelmed.

But then something shifted.

With a sudden burst of boldness, she pushed against his chest. Shekhar let her, curious. She flipped their positions, straddling him.

Before he could react, she reached for the handcuffs she had left on the bedside table earlier — her police-issued ones.

With a mischievous, breathless smile, she clicked one cuff around his wrist and secured it to the headboard.

Shekhar’s eyes darkened with dangerous lust as she cuffed his other hand.

“Now…” she whispered, voice husky as she hovered above him, “it’s my turn.”

The rest… was history.

Where else...On one side... Love was slowly blooming between Shekhar and Kavyashree. Perhaps...Preparing themselves for another little heartbeat in their lives.

.

.

.

But, on the other side... Darkness had already begun moving. Anirudh quietly entered one of his oldest underground basements. The place where countless enemies had screamed for mercy. The place where betrayal always met its end.

Right now...Everything was empty. Not a single prisoner. Not a single chair occupied. Only silence. Rows of surveillance screens illuminated the dark room with their blue glow. Anirudh's men had already reached there before him. One by one, they were trying to trace the mysterious self-destructing message. Finding the exact location. Finding the sender. Finding the stalker.

Nearby, Devansh stood with folded arms, carefully monitoring every screen. His sharp eyes never left the footage. Every second mattered. Meanwhile...Sarah was no longer inside the city. She had already reached the border route where their luxury shipment vehicles passed every week.

That entire route...Belonged to Anirudh. No outsider dared cross it without permission. And if someone did...They never returned alive. Sarah quietly supervised every vehicle entering and leaving the route. Checking every shipment. Every driver. Every container. Something had changed within their organization.

Responsibilities had shifted. Perhaps...Devansh and Sarah had exchanged a part of their duties. Or perhaps...Anirudh had simply sensed that something much bigger was approaching.

Whatever it was...One thing had become certain. The enemy was no longer hiding. The hunt had finally begun.

A sudden vibration broke the deadly silence inside the basement.

Anirudh's phone lit up. One of his men. He immediately answered.

"Yes?"

Heavy breathing came from the other side. The man's voice was filled with pain.

"B... Boss..."

"We..."

A painful cough escaped him.

"...some unknown men took Ma'am."

Anirudh's eyes darkened instantly.

"What?"

The man continued with difficulty.

"They attacked me. They almost killed me. They disguised themselves as me and took Ma'am with them."

His breathing became weaker.

"Boss, I'm sorry, I couldn't protect Ma'am, I'm..."

Another painful cough.

"I'm sorry..."

Before another word could leave his mouth—

Bang!

A loud gunshot echoed through the phone. The call immediately disconnected. Silence. Dead silence. Anirudh slowly lowered the phone from his ear. His entire world narrowed into a single sentence. Ishika... had been kidnapped. Another nightmare.

Another person trying to snatch her away from him. No. Not again. Never again. Around him. Devansh froze. Every member inside the surveillance room had heard the entire conversation through the speakers. No one dared breathe. No one dared speak. The atmosphere became suffocating. Then. Anirudh slowly lifted his head. His expression held no emotion.

Which was far more terrifying than anger itself. His black eyes had turned completely cold. Every vein along his jaw stood out. His fingers tightened around the phone until the screen cracked beneath the pressure. His voice came out calm. Too calm.

"Lock every exit."

No one moved. He spoke again. This time colder.

"I said. Lock. Every. Exit."

The entire basement instantly burst into action. Men rushed toward their stations. Weapons were loaded. Vehicles started. The surveillance screens changed one after another. Devansh looked at Anirudh. For the first time in years. He felt genuine fear. Not because Ishika had been kidnapped. But because, the monster Anirudh had buried long ago had just awakened once again.