Chapter 35 :

20 December, Friday, 2024

Arnav's POV

One should always expect the unexpected, and that's exactly what I've been doing for years. It helps me a lot.

I found out a while ago that the woman Win Seok was actually working under someone known as RRJ. It took me two months to find out because of the web that woman had set before dying. It was actually a mess I couldn't see. Two of my main warehouses were caught on fire and three ships sailing towards South Africa, Japan and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have disappeared. And all these are controlled by someone I know.

I didn't let my guards down without any intention. Because when everything happened as I wanted and predicted, disappeared from such places which on being traced in the map actually formed the letter 'A'. Then it means it's either someone with the initial 'A' or someone who's using someone else's identity.

It's actually weird and fishy that I couldn't track the person who's actually sending their people who're entering my clan without getting caught. As per Vincenzo and Ren, there's someone who's so close to me is doing all these. Otherwise it's nearly impossible to work under my nose.

Who could it be?

My most trusted people in the business world are Rehan, Vincenzo and Youngjae. No one handles things other than them then who the fucking audacious person is that?

I swear if I find them, I'll wash my hands with their blood. So much daring of them to mess with me and think about escaping. Ever since I've returned from the business trip, things have gotten messier. I fixed a huge deal with an Italian lawyer to bring out a co-counsel which would be known as ARM & LA CO-COUNSEL. The other person is Lorenzo Amato. This law firm would help in expanding both of our businesses and at the same time would be beneficial for our mafia business.

He's a powerful gangster with enough name and fame in Italy.

The cassiere and the street boss of my clan are present in my cabin right now along with Ren and Youngjae.

"Sir the transactions were between someone who controls the person named RRJ. And the amount transacted was fifty million dollars in the past three months, exactly during the time you were away", spoke Tom, the cassiere.

"Yes sir. And there's been some commotion in the area 65 in the west of Paris. I personally went to check and found this", said Mike, the street boss.

He handed me a transparent plastic pouch containing a silver chain with a locket with a red sapphire in it. It didn't look ordinary or normal. It was in the shape of a tear drop and a small black diamond was on its head. The chain part was like any other chain but it turned into a twisted style towards the middle portion and exactly in the middle was a knot followed by a weird and hard to understand type style of the chain. The ending portion was back to normal again. I was about to keep it down when a faint black mark under the sapphire caught my eye. It was in black but the deep blood red colour of the sapphire didn't make it clear. It was written in some other language. I presumed it as a name initial for now. It was mysteriously beautiful but it had something connected to everything happening. I could feel it.

"Did you find anything else?", I asked handing back the pouch.

"No sir. This was the only thing found under the bushes. It'll be sent for DNA and fingerprint analysis, chemical composition testing and to test the wear patterns and unique features. The chain details mean something along with the mark under the sapphire. The results would be out within this week", Mike spoke, his tone stern.

"You carry on with that. And Tom, keep tracking the route the money followed through the transaction accounts and places the accounts were made in. And keep two copies of the file of today's capital of the deal. Send one to Lorenzo", I spoke as both of them bowed and left.

Once the door closed, Youngjae spoke up.

"Sir I have a doubt", his tone was hesitant.

I motined him to speak with my right hand.

"Sir I have doubts about young Mrs. Rai Mehrotra"

°

Anika's POV

"Ma'am are you sure it's good to let him know about it?", asked Ryle standing beside me. Her tone was monotonous but the tension was lingering around it.

I nodded, "It is. Yes he's powerful and it'll be found out just in the snap of his fingers but it'll make things easier for us. Yumi has already invaded the clan and it won't take her time to take her usual step", I smirked thinking about Mrs. Suzume. She might be the player but I'm the coach. I'll set the steps she takes and she won't even know about it.

But the real problem is that, I'm unable to find the connection between Nishant and Yumi and both are linked to Dravid. And there's someone superior to them who's been hiding for years. He needs to be pulled down because he's the main root.

But who's he? He's someone everyone knows or else he wouldn't have known as much as he knows about Arnav's family.

Is it actually Ajay Singh Rathore? I was sure that it was him until the meeting last month in Hotel Lunar Leaf in room no. 1499.

Flashback

September 9, 2024

11:50 a.m.

I sat on the couch, my legs crossed with my hands clasped on my thigh. The middle aged man dressed in black suit and pant sat in front of me, a black piece of paper in his hand. Last time it was his son and this time it is him. And since it's him, it's our final meeting.

It is the father of Vikram Singh Rathore-Ajay Singh Rathore.

And he's my father too.

I was unknown to this secret kept under layers of clothes in my mother's wardrobe until I found it out through a piece of paper one day. I was furious and hurt that I was given up by my own parents and I was made to believe that my foster parents were the real ones. I was kept in the dark. And this made me confront my parents. I questioned them and asked to let me meet my real parents only to know that my mother had passed away after giving birth and it was just my father left behind.

And I found out that Vikram was my biological brother and not Maya di as my biological sister. She was the single girl child of the Roy Chowdhury family I grew up in. I'm grateful to my foster parents for never making me feel outcast or unwanted. They never let me doubt if I had any blood related relation with them. They were too kind to be hated by me for hiding the truth about my actual parents. I couldn't even get angry with them but I was upset.

But what made me feel furious was that my father had left his child like that in the hands of someone else and never tried to even contact me for once. If I hadn't found out about the whole family thing, then I might've stayed in the dark.

Coming out of my thoughts, I spoke, "So Mr. Singh Rathore, are you done with your games or it's still on?", I kept my tone stern despite the storm swirling inside my chest.

His eyes weren't cold but soft. He's been smiling the whole time looking at me, admiration was clearly visible. He must be admiring the person he didn't make. He didn't do anything for who I am today. It's my foster parents who did that. It feels foreign and weird to call them foster because I somehow being unknown to the truth, got attached to them so much that I can't call them non-biological. My biological parents just gave birth to me and that's all.

They must've been in pain and but I can't think of that now. Because I'm in pain too. The agony in my chest is there too and I can't sympathize with someone who has ruined so many lives and is still doing that. That's unfortunately this man infront of me.

"It's not as you think and it seems to be", he replied. I heard his voice for the very first time in my life after hearing it just through phone calls and voice notes.

I can't hate him but I also can't forgive and forget what he did.

"Then explain what it is", I replied calmly.

"I can't. Because for now, we need to let the dust settle", he replied. His words were clear but there was meaning behind the words.

"For how many more years do you intend to wait and let more layers of dust settle on them? Aren't you satisfied after ruining so much that you aren't ready even now?", I asked and this time my voice raised up. I didn't want that to happen but the pain and anger inside me came out. I was already bearing too much by standing this man in front of me who out of the blue turned out to be my father.

He sighed glancing down at his lap before looking up at me. Then he just smiled softly.

"I'm sorry my child, I'm really sorry. I failed as a father. When I should've taken care of you and fought against the world for you, I gave you up. You must be hating me now and I won't ask you to stop that. I can understand you. You know everything about me and your mom but her name.

Her name was Maithili, a form of goddess Sita. She was calm but wise and her devotion towards everything she did was admired by everyone. She was a famous writer. She had even written a book about the wishes and dreams a mother has while she's pregnant and the feeling of how it feels to hold her child in her embrace after birth. Here it is and the pen she had written the book with", he spoke handing me a book and a glass box which had a black fountain pen kept in it. While he was handing over the things of my mother, I noticed how his hands were shaking. His eyes had tears. Maybe he was reminded of his dead wife who I resembled a lot. I had seen her picture once.

"She had told me that if somehow she dies, she wanted me to hand over the very first print of her book and her special pen. She even had her own diary where she had written everything you need to know. And it's the time", he spoke again while handing me a very old red diary. The silk fabric cover was worn out in some parts.

The front cover had her name in golden cursive letters.

All the time Mr. Singh Rathore spoke about maa, I felt another emotion inside me. No matter if I never met her, we had a blood connection. No wonder why my heart was aching hearing about her and the way she used to dream of me. She would've been proud of me today if she had been alive.

Living under the shadow of a family only to know that I was actually an orphan despite having my biological father who left me behind, is hard to believe and go through. Realizing that the person I called maa and papa while growing up weren't actually mine. They also died one day.

Is God seriously kidding with my life? Is this some type of nightmare? I want to wake up. It's suffocating.

I didn't know when my eyes welled up but I had to hold back. I can't cry.

"I'm sorry that you couldn't see her. I'm sorry for everything you had to go through despite not being at fault. I'm sorry", he spoke again but his voice was shaking. It felt awkward to go and console him because everything discovered is so new to me. And being an emotionally independent and cold natured person, I wasn't able to do anything. I always avoid emotional situations and this is the reason why.

"Don't apologise. Whatever was meant to happen, has happened. We can't change anything or bring back the dead. Now since we are alive, we need to continue until life decides to put a full stop. Things aren't good right now. So I'll handle the rest however I can and however it needs to be handled. I'll get going now", I spoke staring somewhere else to avoid stirring up more messed up emotions. My tone was calm and cold.

He nodded while sniffing and wiped off his tears.

"I trust you", that's the only thing he spoke before we walked out. Even if it was a single line, it did impact me.

Trust is a huge thing and putting it on someone is a huge responsibility too. And one thing I knew today that Ajay Singh Rathore wasn't the evil one. It's someone else who's using his identity.

Flashback ends

That was the last time we met and the time when I knew that I had my biological father alive. Everything was overwhelming and so burdensome that I couldn't think of anything else but cried the whole night. He wasn't at home so I had enough time to cry and let out everything.

"Ryle, I'll take my leave now. I have a lot to handle now", I spoke to her while getting up from my chair before walking out of my cabin.

After almost 40 minutes I reached his mansion. I saw his car parked outside the garage. He must be home early today. It's just 5 in the evening.

Walking inside the mansion, I climbed up the stairs to his room. This mansion has just two floors. It's his personal space so he has kept it away from all the business he handles.

I don't know why but I wanted his bed. I want some comfort and it's been a while since I've found comfort in him. He has stopped being rude to me but instead, has been actinh soft and like how a husband should. But that doesn't hide that fact that he has hurt me a lot. He won't gain my forgiveness so soon and easily after everything. I'm not so vulnerable and alone to let him have me so easily.

Opening the door, I stepped inside and plopped down on his bed. It's very soft and bouncy.

My legs kept hanging from the bed while I spread my hands to feel at ease. I let my eyelids fall while I decided to take some rest.

Not so later the sound of door opening echoed inside the room. He must have come out of shower. I didn't want that sexual tension arise between us because I know I'd fall weak so I kept my eyes closed.

"When did you come?", he asked. I thought he'd ask why I was here.

"Just now", I replied.

He didn't speak anything and kept doing his routine before I felt the bed sinking beside me.

Opening my eyes I sat up on the bed and faced him.

"You want to say something?"

He nodded, "Why don't you change and take rest here? You can wear whichever cloth you like of mine", he replied. I was a bit taken aback by his words because he isn't like that. Seeing me all silent, he spoke up, "I know it's weird of me to act like this. I did tell you that I hated you but things have changed drastically. I can't seem to hate you anymore. I had thought that my hate would be there forever for you but I realised that I couldn't hate you anymore.

Yeah what you did to Dhruv was really very wrong but it happened in the past. Even Dhruv isn't holding onto all those things then who am I to keep hurting you for that? Yeah I had talked to him about it and he admitted that he doesn't hate you. He was hurt but he's long forgotten it now.

I want to move on and give us a chance. So will you let me do it?", he stopped. All the while he was staring at me softly like ever even if I didn't show any emotion or reaction. I don't trust anyone like that but he looks too sincere to ignore. I want to live a happy and peaceful life but in this life, I've got enough responsibilities to fulfill.

"Are you serious or is this another trap?", I spat out. There was hurt visible in his flickering grey orbs. I can't trust him so soon and so easily to fall for his words. Even if one part of me wanted to believe it, the other part denied to do so. And I'm in support with the other part because he needs to realize what he has done to me.

"No this is not. I know I've caused you enough pain to make it hard for you to believe me. But it's fine. I've created this mess so I'll be the one to clear it. I'll apologize to you till the day you finally accept me. It might be the day when I take my last breath but I'm fine with it if I can die with peace after gaining your forgiveness. My each and every word might seem like a lie but I'm not lying. I'm a man of words and if I happen to not work on my given words, here's the knife-", he handed me a knife taking it out from the bedside stand, "-you can kill me with it. Stab it in my heart because it now belongs to you and no one else is allowed and stab my throat because that's where the words I spoke formed."

He didn't touch me at all but kept staring at me.

Is he really serious? I still feel like he's lying but we can give a second chance. Can't we?

If I give him one, will he change or will he make me regret it?

"You need to prove it before I decide whether you deserve a second chance or not", I replied calmly.

He nodded, "I'll go any extent to prove you that. You might think that not everyone deserves a second chance and I might be one of those. Numerous doubts must've raised in your mind and I won't object to that. But I promise to prove them wrong. I'll prove you that I deserved that second chance and you didn't do anything wrong by letting me have that chance", he spoke.

It felt like I was sitting in front of a totally new Arnav Rai Mehrotra and not the one who had sworn to ruin me; who used to burn in the fire of revenge to hurt me.

I don't know what I should do so that I don't regret it later on.

"What if I leave you after the contract ends?", I asked.

"Then I'll do everything to keep you with me", he replied calmly but that calmness held possessiveness. It was new.

"What if I don't want to stay and go away?"

"I'll beg you to stay"

"What if I still go away?"

"Then I'll let you go but that'll be the last day you'll see me breathing"

This answer was unexpected. My breath hitched at my throat seeing his orbs darkening. He was serious about everything he was speaking and it was evident.

Whatever I'm going to ask now might trigger him but why would I care? All I care about is it's his turn now to face what he made me go through.

"You're saying all these shits after hurting me for months? You locked me in the room, chained me up, made me eat allergic food on my very birthday, I saw you with your best friend on your lap and her clothes were far from proper, you insulted me, then at business parties ignored me totally and walked around with your bestfriend like she was your wife, forget about the rights as your wife, you didn't even let me have the rights a human has, pointed at my character numerous times, blamed me of infidelity on my birthday and what not?", I yelled on his face.

It hurts damn it fucking hurts. No matter how much I suppress, it fucking hurts. It'd have been better if he hadn't been so confusing. He should've remained cold.

"Why are you so confusing huh? At the start you were hurting me and then after two months why did you change? You'd get soft at times but after than again you started hurting me. You'd make me sleep in the verandah, keep me under rain at the rooftop, threaten to tell my family about what I did to Dhruv just because I refused to keep silent. Who do you think I am? Your possession? Your doll? A rag doll? Am I?", I asked, but hot tears streamed down this time. I cry everytime I'm in either pain or angry. Maybe I'm both this time.

He was about to say something but I showed my palm.

"Now time will tell everything and don't worry if my nose is bleeding. I'm enough to clean it up", I replied standing up on my feet before I walked out of the room.

It hurts but it doesn't weaken me. I believe it and I know I ain't wrong.