So I have started keeping targets!
"Iss zalim duniya ne humein majboor kardiya! (Fake sobs)"

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AUTHOR'S POV

Veeransh's Office....

"Don't make me repeat my words!"

His voice was steady, yet the gravity of his words was enough to shatter her composure.

Sensing the intensity in his voice, the girl abruptly took the file, struggling to suppress her sobs. She quickly wiped her tears and ran out of the room.
Afterall what could you expect her to behaive like, after being kicked out from the biggest company of India.

It was the thirty fifth termination letter of the day.

Seated on a large sofa, Veeransh scrutinized the unexpected plunge in share prices of one of his companies. Fingers running over the laptop keyboard and frowned gaze locked onto the screen, describes the maniac he was holding within.
The atmosphere in the discussion room was frigid, thick charged with the tension of his fury. His expression was a mask of calm, but the intensity of his presence was palpable, instilling fear in those around him. An eerie of silence enveloped the room, where a line of senior management stood with their heads bowed, sweat glistened on their foreheads. As one of them discreetly wiped his brow with a trembling handkerchief.

As soon as his gaze shifted to the team, they instinctively averted their eyes, unable to meet his stare. Breaking the oppressive silence, his gruff voice cut through the air.

"Any more excuses? Anyone?"

It was his speciality, even his most normal countenance was enough, to shut the voices rose to confront him. A signal of unyielding force, he carries. Hence, there was no second thought, that his terrific expressions could kill someone, without any action.

The group was breathing hard, though his the tone seemed casual, but underestimating the underlying threat would be their last mistake.

In a fluid motion, he ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head up, leaned back against the sofa. Crossing his one leg over the other, his eyes closed to continue maintaining an unsettling calm.

"So Mr. Chhabra, how do you plan to justify your blunder that has cost us nothing much, mere 8.5 billion dollars?"

At the mention of the staggering figure, Mr. Chhabra, a man in his mid-forties, quaked on his knees. The ground seemed to shift beneath everyone present, but the most chilling aspect was
HIS SILENCE that flowed. How could be someone so calm after loosing such amount and he was still counting it as 'mere?".

As they all braced for the impending fallout. The enormity of losing such a hefty sum in just a few hours, and the share prices that continued to plummet, weighed heavily on their minds.

"S..sir, w..we sincerely regret the loss, but o..our entire team has been working tirelessly for the past three hours to identify who leaked that footage from our IP address..." Mr. Chhabra stammered, struggling to maintain his composure as anxiety threatened to undermine him. He wanted to elaborate, but it felt as though he had challenged his silence.

With a devastating crash, a reckoning kick smashed the large glass table in front of them. The collective breaths of the team caught in their throats. As in the fit of rage, Veeransh had shattered the table and without giving a moment, seized Mr. Chhabra by the collar, yanking him closer.

"I don't give a fuck about that amount, you get that! But I do when it comes to that footage! Someone has been tracking our data, and you left the folder open because of your damn anniversary?"
He hissed through clenched teeth, tightening his grip, which rattled Mr. Chhabra to his core.

Out of nowhere, Veeransh's phone rang. With a sudden thud, he yanked the man on floor and reached into his pocket, his eyes still burning on that person.

But the anger instantly evaporated as he noticed the number on flashing screen. In the next instant, he dashed out of room, before commanding.

"Two hours, you have two hours, and I want that MMS taken down from every platform. Or I know how to clear the mess around and the mess could very well involve you!"

This was no mere threat; it was a promise that Veeransh always kept. Everyone knew that he wouldn't hesitate for a second to follow through.

Viaan, who stood still there, wasn't saying a single word. The tension was also evident on his face but not because of the loss, for the reason behind it. He was helpless, when he noticed Veeransh's sudden swap in emotions as soon as he picked the call, which pricked something in his mind as he ran behind him.
"What caused him leaving for such a crucial task impending, Is there something more important than that?" His thoughts rebelled.

• • •

"Mr. Raghuvanshi...,"

Dr. Aria Chen, a renowned neurologist from India, slid a file across the table to Veeransh.

In his cabin, she sat across from him, her face filled with apprehension. Removing her glasses, she took a deep breath and began.

"The samples of the medications you sent contained a high concentration of drugs typically prescribed to patients who are prone to panic attacks triggered by past trauma or experiences. However, that's not the main issue..."

She hesitated before Veeransh urged her on.

"I am here to hear you out, Doctor. Let's not waste each other's time."

"S..sir, I know you love your wife, but the truth is that according to the reports of the salts we found in her medicines, we can assume that she could pose a danger to you and your family..."

"What nonsense!" Veeransh shouted, unable to control his fury, he slammed a hand on the table.

"I...I apologize, sir, but you can't dismiss the reality that your wife is mentally unstable. As I mentioned, past traumas can cause her to react dramatically when faced with triggers, sometimes leading to irrational violence. If it escalates, she may not recognize or care about who's around her-be it her own family or anyone else-and this could endanger both her and you."

"Enough, Doctor! How dare you label my wife as mentally ill based on a few medications?"

Veeransh was losing his grip; naturally, he could not tolerate such accusations against someone he loved fiercely.

"I...I understand, Sir. But this is simply what I can infer from the nature of these medicines. Of course, I am not certain since I haven't met the your wife, but let me know if you've ever noticed signs of her being easily agitated, else you found her being so scared of something, or if she zones out completely during arguments, displaying unusual behavior."

The doctor continued to speak, but Veeransh seemed to drift into his thoughts, compelled to consider her words.
For the first time , he felt unsettled at the possibility that what the doctor claimed might hold some truth. Memories flooded back-like the first time he found Nia covered in blood during that torrential rain after her suicide attempt, or the moment she had pointed a gun at his chest and she fell in his arms, when he got to know that she killed that shooter, Or just yesterday when he found her in such state.

"I would request you, If you good make an appointment of your wife with me, only then I would be able to know the whole matter" Doctor pleaded.

Effortlessly ignoring her as if he didn't hear her, In a calm tone Veeransh suggested.
"You may leave now!"

Leaving no chance for any further discussion he dug his eyes back into his laptop.
With an off face, the doctor left the cabin.
Whereas Viaan who had intentionally heard everything was shocked to the core. He immediately wanted to go and confront Veeransh but thinking something he stoned on his tracks.

__________________________________

Vijay ji and Sumitra ji were seated in the living area, enjoying their tea time, while Ananya and Agastya were engaged in a playful chase around the room. He ran ahead of her, clutching the TV remote, while Ananya threw everything she could grab at him in an attempt to stop him.

"Anu, Agastya, why are you two acting like children? Don't run or you'll get hurt!" Anjali scolded as she entered with a tray of snacks from the kitchen.

"Gadhe, Suar, Chilgoze kahin ke , mujhe remote de!" Ananya shouted chasing after him as he leaped onto the sofa.

("Donkey, pig, pine nut, give me the remote!")

"Oh hindi picture ki sadi huyi naagin, bandariya, chudail kahin ki, jo karna hai karle, par remote toh main nhin dene wala!"
Agastya teased, crossing his arms over his chest as Vijay ji snatched the remote from him, and winked at Ananya, As she excitedly leaped forward and hug him.

("Classic Hindi movie character, a monkey, or a witch, do whatever you want, but I'm not giving it up!")

"Thank you Dada Sa, warna yeh suniyo jaisi shakal wala praani, mujhe movie hi nhin dekhne de raha tha!"
Ananya smirked, scrunching her nose at him. In response, Viaan tugged at her hair and stuck out his tongue. The moment she winced in pain while trying to manage her hair, he quickly snatched back the phone.
("Thank you, Dada Sa, or this creature with a face like cartoon wasn't letting me watch the movie!")

"Abb bol chuhiya!"
("Now speak up, you mice!")

"Youuuuuu cockroach!"
Ananya exclaimed as she lunged to reclaim the remote. Both of them tumbled onto the sofa, pulling each other's hair in a comical struggle until the button got pressed under their weight, and the TV screen suddenly lit up.

For a brief moment, everyone's attention shifted to the screen, and Ananya and Agastya paused in their antics, captivated by the headlines displayed:

"A dramatic plunge in The Raghuvanshi' s share prices has sent shockwaves through the market. Board members have called for a meeting, demanding the replacement of the president of AR Enterprises, or they will resign as investors in the company."

The news headlines were accompanied by a flurry of sensational details, each modified by various media channels eager to deliver the juiciest news possible.

"Now its all upon Veeransh Raghuvanshi. What will his next step be? what outcomes can we expect from this meeting?

But what caused the sudden downfall? Stay tuned on this number one news channel of India, where we will be delivering you the darkest reality The Raghuvanshis.
Let us show you the leaked video from their own company, where Mr. Amar Raghuvanshi is clearly seen involved with a college student, the footage is likely to have been taken from the Hotel Seven Wonders.

The content has been censored to prevent the identity of women, but it is evident that the individual in this video is..."

"Shut the screen I said !What are you even watching? This media has gone crazy, airing everything!"
Vijay Ji shouted.

Reacting to his voice, Agastya abruptly turned off the TV. Where filled with anger, Sumitra Ji immediately stood up and asserted her authority with a commanding tone.

"Come to the office with me right now!"

It wasn't a request but a command, an order that brooked no refusal. She gracefully adjusted her pallu before leaving the living area, followed by Vijay ji, his solid presence a formidable force, daring to break the every single finger raised to challenge their dignity.

Meanwhile, a pair of eyes observed everything, a malicious smirk playing on the lips of the shadow descending the stairs. Her aura was dark, venemous screaming vengeance in each graceful step.

As soon as Ananya spotted this figure, she rushed over and clung to her, sobbing.
"B...bhabhi, did you see what rubbish they're saying about dad. All of this..."
(Bhabi for sister in law)

Indeed it was Nia, wearing a facade of concern. She gently stroked Ananya' s back to soothe her, as she gestured
"Listen bacha, don't cry... Everything will be fine, okay? Now look at me."

As she released their embrace and gazed at her, Nia cupped her face and wiped her tears.
Although Nia might be the cause behind unfolding the chaos, the one happier than anyone, but seeing Ananya in distress tugged at her heartstrings, prompting her to offer comfort.

"Now you go to your room and study, alright? You have your brother and bhabi here na? we will fix everything," she reassured her.

Ananya felt uplifted by Nia's comforting words and maternal demeanor. Their was a genuine concern, a promise in her words that Ananya wanted to believe. A broad smile broke across her face as she hugged Nia tightly. However, Nia felt frozen. Desperately wishing to embrace her fully but unable to. Her hands hung in the air, left unwrapped as Agastya approached.

"This is so unfair! Where am I supposed to go?" Agastya pouted sadly, shooting them an incredulous look.

Nia couldn't help but smile at him and gestured for him to join them. That small invitation was all he needed, as he leaped over Ananya from behind and embraced both of them tightly.

But who thought what was brewing in her mind. With a forceful smile she swallowed her hatred, as she shrugged in her mind. Her eyes boring in the huge family portrait hung on the wall.
"Afterall Karma always slaps you back, harder than ever. See, how these innocent kids are now bearing the punishment for your sins!"

"Just the wait of few hours, and your entire being will be trampled beneath the tip of my heel!"
A spark glistened in her eyes.

• • •

As the sun began to set, a strange atmosphere enveloped the surroundings. The usual air of nonchalance had given way to an unsettling silence, with tension and darkness creeping into every corner of the expansive Raghuvanshi Mahal.

Nia eagerly counted the steps in her expansive, dimly-lit room, the soft red sunlight illuminating the golden decor. She paced back and forth, glancing out at the main door through the trees in the garden from her balcony. Her eyes flitted between her phone and the gate, as if she were anxiously waiting for a call. Biting her nails in nervous anticipation, a smile spread across her face when the ringtone echoed through the dark space.

Without giving the caller a chance to speak, she answered excitedly, "Tell me he was out of the country!"

But all she received in response was silence, prompting her to raise her voice slightly. "Answer the damn question, JD!"

"Just a day before, he had returned from the USA," the voice on the other end replied.

The words instantly wiped the smile from her face, extinguishing the glimmer of hope she had been clinging to and plunging her world into darkness. The phone nearly slipped from her fingers, but the next piece of information ignited a flicker of optimism, like a drop of water to a parched soul.

She quickly grasped her phone, preventing it from falling, and asked, "B... but what, JD?"

The enthusiasm in her voice wavered, replaced by anxiety as her words began to stumble. Deep down, she silently prayed for her worst fears to be proven wrong. Her ears strained to hear the next revelation.

"But Mr. Veeransh wasn't at the crime scene when all this happened! He isn't involved."

She froze. This was exactly what she needed to hear-she had been hoping he was away during the incident. Overwhelmed with joy, she could hardly believe her ears, questioning whether what she had heard was real as she asked for clarification again.

"W... what did you say? How can you be so sure he wasn't involved?" she stammered, her hands trembling as they gripped the phone.

"When you told me to analyse Bhau's (boss) contact list, I found several suspicious numbers. We called each one to track their locations and gathered details on the callers, which I've emailed to you. But we found no serious clue."

"That doesn't answer my question!" Nia snapped, irritation etched on her forehead.

"Listen Nia, a number had been in contact with Bhau at least twenty times within the hour before the tragedy. But we discovered the call had originated from a roadside STD booth. It took us some time to trace the IP address, but guess what! it turned out the call was made from Mumbai.
Whereas according to our investigation, Mr. Veeransh was attending Mr. Malhotra's success party in Manali."

"Malhotra... Wait, isn't that the same business gathering I was at that night?" Nia instantly asked, as she remembered the same night.

"Exactly. So it is proved that neither he had any contact with Bhau nor was present at the crime scene."

A radiant smile broke across her face, as if the universe had given her a glimmer of hope. She didn't even realized, she had left the call open, oblivious to JD still speaking on the other end. But Nia seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, Sia's words echoed in her mind, and today, she wanted to trust them.

"Nia! Nia, are you there?" JD called out, jolting her back to reality.

"Y...yes, but remember JD, we cannot draw any conclusions yet. Underestimating that video evidence could proved to be our gravest mistake. I want every detail about this family-their business, background, identity, everything, understand?"
Nia commanded, her voice laced with passion, seeking the perfection in her work.

"Don't worry, you can trust me!" JD assured her.

With a forced smile, she replied,

"Bhrosa? Woh toh apni sanson ka bhi nahin Deshmukh ji, aur logon par, rishton par, bharosa karna toh humne bahut pehle chhod diya hai!"

("Trust? I don't even trust my own breaths, Deshmukh ji, and about having faith in relationships or people, that I have quit long ago")

"Leave it, I'll manage." JD answered with a hint of reassurance.

"I know you will, just do one thing, I want this news to be in the every headline, that now this case is going to be reopen, and Nia Singh is going to handle it." Her expressions were once again dark, since whatever she was planning to do wasn't looking auspicious for good.

The call had been disconnected.
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RAGHUVANSHI MAHAL
(10 PM)

Inside, the atmosphere was tense and bustling, charged with an urgency that filled the air. A half-finished coffee mug sat on one side of the table, while scattered papers and files cluttered the other. Nia's eyes were intently glued to her laptop, her attention completely absorbed in what she was examining, racing to type at a rapid pace. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she poured all her focus into the task at hand.

Nia was a talented hacker, a passion she had cultivated during her college years, largely thanks to Sameer. He was the one who initially guided her in cracking basic passwords and accessing information, but over time, her skills had surpassed his, making her an even more formidable hacker.

Frustration flickered across her face as she suddenly slammed the laptop shut. "Shit! How the hell did this video get removed from...? How could I be so foolish as to forget about it!"

• • •

VEERANSH'S POV

As the grand doors of the mahal swung open, My black Range Rover, rolled through the expansive entrance. Followed by Dad's car, the vehicle finally came to a stop. As soon as I stepped out, my eyes were drawn to my room, its light still illuminating the darkness outside. I briefly wondered in a thoughtful concern, why she was awake at such an hour, as the conversation with Dr. Aria replayed in my mind. Lost in my thoughts, we walked into the living area.

Today had been exhausting; the chaos was evident on everyone's faces. Dad was visibly the one being most restless after everything that unfolded. However, I believed wholeheartedly that all the accusations and the MMS scandal were nothing more than a malicious plot to tarnish our family's name. I noticed Dad pass by me, when I opened my mouth to speak, he headed straight to his room instead.

I stood rooted in place, his fury weighing heavily on my heart. Guilt consumed me over, after what happened in the meeting today. I grappled with my thoughts, a hand landed softly on my shoulder. I didn't turn; I assumed it was Dadi Sa, but without showing any regard as if I didn't acknowledged her, I ascended the stairs.

For a fleeting moment, my mind considered heading directly to my study, but an unsettling reminder of yesterday's incident crept into my mind - her scary face as she collapsed into my arms. Shaking off the memory, I found myself outside the door of my room, but my hesitation holding me back from turning the knob.

Ultimately, I decided to leave, not wanting to ignite an argument after the whole hectic day, especially when I knew trying to win an argument against a woman, so do when she is your wife, and particularly when she is my strong-willed advocate, indeed the idea would be futile.
As I subconsciously cursed my fate.

Just Then, I was jolted from my thoughts by a piercing scream from within the room and without a second's hesitation, I flung the door open, the sudden noise echoing as I shouted, "Nia!!"

My eyes restlessly scanned the room, as my anxiety deepened to see the condition. It was a mess: papers strewn across the floor, some thrown onto the table, the bed a disheveled heap with the sheets partially hanging off. Just as I was about to rush to the bathroom, my gaze transfixed on an unbelievable sight.

My eyes nearly about to pop out, whereas my mind completely blank, unable to reciprocate the scene just playing in front of me.

There she was, my intelligent, fierce, and vengeful wife, who boasts of being one of India's top lawyers, hanging upside down over the sofa!

I couldn't see her face, but her slender milky waist, and fine legs, peeping out from white kurti and blue pajamas was unmistakable, the fabric had slipped slightly due to her awkward position.

"Oh, hello! Is this the time for yoga? Get up and go to sleep!" I mocked, just as I stepped forward, she called out to me.

"Come help me, you idiot! I'm not in the mood for any yoga right now!" she yelled.

With a mix of irritation and concern, I turned to face her as once again I grappled with the sight before me. She seemed to be the clumsiest girl on the earth to me.

"Oh god! This girl never leaves any chance to seduce me. What am I thinking, Veeransh... Shame on you!" My thoughts spiraled as her voice rose, almost a scream by then.

"What kind of husband you are, who can't even help his wife?!"

Her words struck a chord, igniting something within me. Against my better judgment, I moved towards her. Briefly looking at her for a while, I shook my head in disbelief.

I bent to slide the sofa, out from her side, when my another arm immediately wrapped her waist, before her head could hit the ground as in another second, she dangled in my embrace.

I wouldn't be lying if I say she was so small in arms, so small that how I effortlessly carried her as gentle as I could, like if she was a delicate flower.
Truly, her looks always contradicts her personality, Or say the personality she has, but doesn't shows up to the world.
Her aura is always tense, ready to fire, and bossy when at the another time she behaves like a naughty child.

Looking into her face, I couldn't help but be mesmerized. She had fashioned her hair into a messy bun, supported with a pen, strands falling delicately across her features.
But it was just the wait of another second when she faced to look at me, and my heart thundered. Being entranced by her deep-alluring almond eyes, it was difficult to tear your gaze from.

However, reality hit me hard as I recalled the promise I had made to myself, a little bit also coupled with the fear of her short temper, Quickly, I averted my gaze in guilt.
I carried her to the bed and gently laid her down, rushing to the wardrobe area, keen to maintain my distance. Through the time I could feel her eyes on me, which were awkward for me to be in.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

Do let me know of you liked the chapter ✨

Get ready for the biggest truth to be unveiled in the next chapter 💫

Will Nia think of giving him a chance?

💙 Lots of Love💙