Bella and Bani comes back to India the very next day. Bella preparing herself how to fabricate to her father about the scandal and Bani wondering where Veer is. Not that she's very keen to meet him again given how much she spwed that night. She has already told off Rohit explaining the previous evening. For now she wants to focus on her work and lay low.

"Are you two secretly meeting people and that's why refusing us to set alliances for you?" Bella's father asks both of them over another lunch.

"No, it's not..." Bani tries to say.

But Avinash Tripathi beats her, "Or is it that you're meeting random people who you're not to be seen or heard with?" His gaze is piercing.

Bella's mother glances at them nervously. Bella even after trying to keep her voice steady, fumbles, "N-no, we're not!"

Avinash Tripathi narrows his gaze to Bella in such a way that the temperature of the room automatically drops and growls in deep rambling voice, "Well, you better not. 'Cause the last thing I need from my unfilial daughter is huddling with dirt causing scandal right before the election and risk my position."

Bani can feel Bella internally recoil beside her. She too looks down at her plate, pressing her teeth together to keep herself steady. She knows that the only reason she's spared from that intimidating glare is because she's not their own daughter. Otherwise the threat was directed at her just as much. Bani Sharma was well known for being very close friend with the Tripathis.

"Look..." Nita Tripathi starts gently and cautiously, "You both are our daughters and we want nothing but good for you. We understand that you are grown up and can decide for your own. We know how easy it is to get dragged into scandals from your profession," Bella's mother purses her lips staring at Bella and Bani, "And we both believe that it's not a good thing to be involved in these. Family values are always important you know!"

"Family values?" Bella scoffs glaring at her mother as her voice raises, "What family values are you talking about, mom?? Have you forgotten how many such scandals your perfect husband had gotten into or do you actually believe that not even one of them were at least true??"

"BELLA!!" Avinash Tripathi roars banging his hand on the table while Bella's mother pales. Bella's father looks like he'll hit Bella any moment.

"We're sorry, uncle...aunty!!" Bani says quickly keeping her gaze fixed at Avinash Tripathi, "I promise this won't happen again. We'll be more cautious about the cameras around us. You don't have to worry anymore."

Bella closes her eyes trying to contain her emotions. Bani looks at Bella's mother taking her hand into her hers and murmurs softly, "We're really very sorry, aunty. Trust me we were not trying to hurt you or go against any values. We know you are just looking out for us. We're not going astray, trust me." She wipes Nita's shredded tears.

"And Bella..." Bani reaches for Bella's hand under the table giving it squeeze to comfort her before muttering gently, "You need to stop with this entitlement that politics has only bad sides. It's not and even if you're not aware but the nation knows what uncle has been doing for them."

"Sorry mom." Bella whispers casting her eyes down.

"And also.." Bani takes a deep breath glancing at Mr Tripathi and says resolutely, "I would request to not bring any alliance for Bella now. Getting her hitched right after such scandalous news will only confirm people's suspicion."

Mr Tripathi seems to ponder a bit before giving a curt nod in agreement, "I wish everyone were as intelligent as you." and walks away throwing a last glare at Bella. Bani hides the sigh of relief.

__________________________________

It's midnight when doorbell rings and Bani can already guess who it is. Getting off the bed quickly she strides towards the door. She stops at the front to part her hair neatly with fingers and takes a deep breath to calm her nerves before opening the door.

Bani freezes as she opens the door. Her expression falters.

"Guess I'm not the one you were expecting, huh?" The man snorts in slurred tone.

Bani's face hardens, "What are you doing here, Abhiraj?" she asks guarding the door.

Abhiraj, Bani's ex sneers, "Why? Did I interrupt something? Are you whoring with someone right now? Is there someone inside?"

Bani's face crumbles in disgust and she snaps, "If you are here to have your pathetic episode again then I'm shutting the door. I don't have time or energy for your bullshit right now."

Bani slams the door but Abhiraj halts it forcefully entering the room and slurs again looking around, "Where? Who is he? Is this the same guy you laid with in those pictures? Damn he must have a lot of cash to get you as his whore, huh?"

Bani scoffs bitterly, "Exactly this! You and your sick mentality is the reason why we didn't work out. To you I'm nothing but a money making object! Also on what right did you come here asking me about who I'm with or not??"

"That's what you are!" Abhiraj growls turning to her, "You're nothing but a fame-hungry slut who feeds on rich people's money luring them with your body! You destroyed all my money and now going behind another man!"

Bani rolls her eyes laughing dryly, "Destroyed your money? I didn't ask you to sponsor me, Abhiraj. And if I remember correctly you were trailing with me because my modelling career was actually giving your agency good profit and you, a fucking asshole was ready to shove me into other men's arms just so you could make money out of me!"

Bani's nostrils flared as she hisses, "Your knickers got twisted when I left your agency and of course the loser that you are lost everything afterwards. So never say that I ruined your money!!"

Abhiraj's drunk eyes turns red as he makes an animalistic curse before lurching at Bani, "You fucking slutty bitch-"

Bani is ready to defend herself but before she can act, a revolver hits Abhiraj right at the back of his head and he groans loudly clutching his head in pain. Bani sees Veer kneecapping Abhiraj grabbing his both hands behind his back in one hand and the other one grabbing his jaw tightly....too tightly that Bani can actually see red staining on the lining of Veer's nails.

"I'll personally tear apart your tongue for the number of times you called her that." Veer growls grinning but it's the psychotic glint in his eyes that makes Bani stumble few steps back in terror.

Abhiraj tries to break free but Veer only guts him harder. The guy whimpers as Veer's nails dig more into his skin making him bleed more and he hisses, "I would do that right here but-" he looks at Bani, "- she won't like it."

"Veer...!" Bani's voice is just above the whisper.

"Urghh! W-who the fuck are you??" Abhiraj manages to cackle and then tries to glance at Bani, "Is this the guy you're fucking?"

The reaction was immediate. Bani sees Veer twisting those wrist and hears the cackle of bone breaking. Abhiraj cries out and Veer drawls into his ear, "How I want to break your neck right here but no...that will be too easy of a death for a piece of shit like you. I need to see you wriggle in pain and blood in your eyes when I pull them off! Or maybe try making sound when I yank that tongue off, huh?" Veer laughs like a lunatic looking murderous.

"Veer ..!" Bani squeaks this time covering her mouth with her palms in horror, "What are you doing?? You'll kill him!! Let go off him!"

"Let go of him??" Veer snorts icily staring at her, "This fucking son of bitch walks up to your place, calls you names, tries to harass you and you still want me to let go of him?"

Bani stands on her ground couraging herself to speak up, "I certainly do not want you to kill him. He's gone beyond his limit today and I will file a restrain order against him. But you don't need to take the law in your hand for me. I can defend myself."

"And how so?" Veer stares at her in mock curiosity, "Listening to his shits and giving your melodramatic speech?"

Bani's jaw tightens. She points her fingers at the door angrily and hisses, "Get out! Get out of my house right now! Leave him here! Or else I'll call police right here handing both of you over to them!"

"Yeah?" Veer chuckles as if found something very funny before hardening his jaw and then takes out his phone leaving Abhiraj's and snaps, "Get here right now."

Within 30 seconds Mahir shows up and Veer gruffs, "Take him to our basement and wait for me."

"No!" Bani shouts. He brows furrowed with alarm as she glares at Mahir sternly, "You are not taking him anywhere with you. Both you and your boss leave my place right now!!"

Mahir snorts, "Tough! You're not my boss. And I don't listen to anybody but my boss."

Grinning wickedly Mahir drags a groaning Abhiraj out with him. Bani watches Veer in shock and disbelief. Veer gets off his knees straightening his sleeves as if nothing happened. There is a vague fury in his eyes.

"Who the hell do you think yourself? Who gave you the permission to interfere in my personal life?" Bani whispers as tears threaten to fall off. She's hurt. She is hurt that Veer didn't even bother to care about what she wants. It's like she's back to Hawai beach watching another man die because Veer wanted so. Another man dead because of her.

Veer doesn't say anything. He keeps fiddling with his shirt button. Bani marches to him in fury and jabs her finger on Veer's chest saying, "You don't get to get away with this! I'll call the police and tell them everything that happened in my apartment. I'll make sure you pay for trying to kill another person!!"

Veer smirks tilting his head, "really? Then go ahead! Go call the police, I'll be right here." He pushes Bani towards her bedroom and hisses evilly, "I'd love to see who has the gut to stand up against me!"

The new surge of anger makes Bani blind. And right there all she wants is to hurt Veer. She laughs hollowly, "Actually you and Abhiraj are cut from the same cloth, you know? There's isn't much difference between you two. Both are always trying to subdue people beneath you showing your power! Both are just as rotten inside!!"

Bani sees the smirk falling off Veer's face replacing with cold scowl. He yanks Bani towards him with so much force that she collides with his chest. Veer hisses on her face, "Same, huh? Is that so? Is that why you abandoned me in the blink of an eye but can't do the same with him for all this time? If that's so then why is your all hatred only towards me and zero for them?"

Bani pales. Veer's eyes hold nothing of the venom his words did just now. Veer bends down to eye level with Bani and mutters coldly, "Don't compare me with others, Bani. No matter how rotten I am inside, I never disrespected you. You said to leave you alone and I did. If I want I can hold you accountable for multiple things too but I'm not. Be thankful for that at least!" and saying this Veer walks out of the apartment.

Bani stands there stricken. The confusion of what just happened and what Veer said has her mind reeling. What did he mean by that he could hold her accountable for many things too? That night Bani spends staying up.

___________________

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