mera baap nahi hai but mother's day ko update diya tha toh discrimination nahi kar sakti. So, I guess, happy father's day (dedicated to fathers like Reyansh and Avyan)

-• envy •-

Rudra

Atharva's sudden arrival threatens a lot of my plans. The only thought reassuring me is that she once chose me over him, and if I have to go back to being Rudra just to make that happen again, I would do it in a blink. But I'm not giving up on her. Not when my other option is Akansha Singh.

If thick skin and an empty skull had to be explained with an example, it's Akansha Singh. She's as air-headed as an inflated balloon. And from the day her father proposed an alliance to the Chairman, she has started to believe one day she's becoming my wife.

I hold back a scoff.

I'm not marrying a liability.

I need someone equally strong to stand beside me. Someone equally powerful and influential. And that's Taranya Singh Chauhan. She's the woman who's capable of bending crowns and burning bridges, and she's the only one to make me experience more than rage. Around her, I feel a mirage of emotions, lust being the passionate among them. And I lust after that passion. She makes every part of my body feel alive. I won't lose her, not to someone like him.

Atharva is a soft guy. Like a docile cow. He can swear and snap, but he can't break and bleed. I can do that. I'd do that.

Taranya thinks I'm deceptive. I am. But if she decides to trust me, my loyalty is hers. We both need each other. I know she searches the safe kind of love, and I'm anything but love. But she craves something entirely different. She likes the thrill of chase, she gets off those creepy adventures, and she yearns for a man who can wrap his hand around her throat and choke her until she gasps for air while she's fucked raw. She won't say. Why would she? To be treated violently in bed is not what a sophisticated, regal woman like her should desire.

But she does.

And I can give her that all.

I will give her that all.

To see her crown tilted on her head as I have my ways with her, in all sorts of positions, on every surface possible, until she begs for me to stop, and when I do, cries for more. That's how I want that woman. With her pride outside the threshold, her sharp attitude broken in shards, that smart mouth opening to take me in, the luscious, thick curls fisted in my hands, and that delicious, petite body roving like a fucking boat on my dick.

Fuck.

I fix my pants, my elbow planted on the sill of the window as I pretend to look outside. "Should I turn on the AC, sir?" The driver asks me. I nod curtly. Cold air blasts through the ducts and I sigh in relief.

I need to stop thinking of that woman. She provokes the kind of changes in my body that are too erotic and bold, and which cannot be reversed by a simple shower.

The Rajawat Estate becomes clearer as we drive closer. No matter how many years I spend here, this place never feels welcoming. It never evokes the feeling of home inside you. It's always cold, detached, a museum of evil secrets and gentlemen criminals.

I step out when the valet opens the door for me. Nodding at his polite greeting, I slip the phone inside my pocket and walk inside the palace. My feet comes to an unexpected halt spotting Virendra Pratap descend the staircase.

He ignores me and walks away.

I release the breath I had held and continue upstairs.

In the last two years, things have changed, a lot. Virendra Pratap finally understood I'm not settling on being a pawn in his game. He didn't fancy the idea of me taking the control in my hands. And he absolutely lost it when the Chairman gifted me shares of main corporation that were intended for the real Shourya. Who's actually supposed to be me. It's complicated.

Anyway.

I'm not about dive into the past that's more confusing than a spider's web. In the last two years, I've found out secrets that made my skin crawl in disgust, especially of my own parents. Until now I wanted revenge for myself, but now, I've two more people to avenge for. And I'm not settling for anything less than blood and bones of the people who reduced me to a dirty secret that was shackled to the bars in a dark dungeon for over 12 years. What I got from this world, it's going to receive back, and more.

"Shourya!" I turn around hearing him call me. "I- I need some money." He says from the end of the hall.

"Can we continue this in my room?" I offer.

He sighs and walks over, climbing the stairs behind me as I make my way to the bedroom. He closes the door after entering and waits there while I write him a cheque. "What happened to the money I wired you last week? Lost it all in a casino?" I turn around, stretching my arm forward that holds the cheque in the scissor of my first two fingers.

He snatches it from me.

"You don't get to ask me that. I'm keeping my mouth shut. Just keep that money coming in." He snorts and turns around to leave.

I chuckle.

That stops him, he faces me again.

"My secrets?" I lean on the desk, arms crossed on my chest. "And what are my secrets? That I'm the rightful heir of Rajawat Estate? That it was suppose to be me and not him?"

He smiles mirthlessly. "Correction, you were the only heir. If I wasn't in that accident thirty years ago, today I might have had my own son, and not just pretend that I do." He laments. "Your father ruined everything." He glares at me.

I scoff. "So you kept me alive despite the order you received to kill me off, just to replace me with him when the time's right so you can fool the old man and have everything you couldn't have as his only son?"

"And guess my luck!" He laughs. "I'm still living off the scraps." He crushes the cheque in his hand, but not hard enough to tear it.

Because you're dumb.

I wanted to say that aloud but stop myself. He did keep me alive all these years, even if it was for his own benefit. I should be glad he's dumb. That's what helped me gain a control over him so easily.

"I may not be as smart as you folks," he says, referring to me and Yuvraaj, "But I know my old man. He got rid of you, you know why? Because that's how much he hated your father, his own son. And that's how much he hated you. So if I were you, I'd pay myself more just to keep this loose mouth shut." He points at himself. "And let's not forget, it's because of you Shourya is bedridden for the rest of his life."

My jaw locks. "I'm Shourya."

He smiles, shallow. "Not for the world. And the ones you were Shourya for, are already dead. May my brother's and his whore of a wife's soul rest in peace." He sighs looking heavenwards.

I storm ahead and grab his collar. "Careful how you speak about my mother." I growl out.

He chuckles, brushing me off roughly. I clench my trembling hands into fists. I wish I can rearrange his whole fucking face so it matches his grotesque soul. "I suppose you don't feel the same when you look at your half brother?" He tilts his head to the side. "Or should I say my half brother?" He places a hand on his chest and smiles. I look away in disgust. "You must want to kill the Chairman everytime you see him?" I release a sharp breath. "Kill him. One day. So we both will be free." He states coldly and leaves the room.

I slam the door close and rest my head on the frame.

"Are you okay?" Yara, now embodied into a smart speaker that sits on my desk, asks me softly.

"No." I answer. Being honest with him is the best way to shut him up. He doesn't like it when I lie. Because he knows when I lie, and for him, we're more than just master and AI. "Did you check up on him? How is he? Any improvements?" I return to my desk side and occupy the rolling chair.

"I've been monitoring him constantly for the last twenty four hours. There's no progress in his brain activity. Fortunately, the infection didn't damage his lungs. He's not getting better, but he's not getting worse either."

I sigh and rub a hand all across my face. I haven't been able to catch sleep for the last two days. It's been six months since I rescued the old Shourya from Virendra's hostage and got him under my care. And from then, I've been hoping everyday he wakes up. Considering it was me who put him in that state, that makes me the biggest hypocrite.

"Fuck." I whisper.

"Don't blame yourself. The reaction happened because of the medicines he was given. And Virendra Pratap knew what would happen, but he didn't stop the doctors."

I lean back on the chair. "As if I didn't hope he'd never wake up."

Yara falls quiet.

A knock on the door wakes me from the almost dazed state. I sit straight.

"Your Grandfather is home, Young master. He's expecting you in his study."

I grit my teeth, leashed anger causing my molars to grind harder. I've never hated someone as much as I hate the old bastard. But I don't want him to die. Not yet. I want him to be alive as he watches me take all that belongs to him, because that's real death for him. Initially, I was going to keep my secret until the end, so he quietly signs over everything to me, thinking he's leaving behind his heritage to his grandson, or son, if I decide to be honest. But not anymore. Not after finding out what he did to my parents. He's going to know who ruined his entire empire before he dies.

"I'm coming. Prepare the tea for us." I bury the hatred in the depths of my heart and keep the facade of a loving grandson on the surface.

Putting on my glasses, because as of now, it's only Yara keeping me sane in the middle of this catastrophe. I exit my room and head towards the study on the ground floor.

The double doors open, revealing the Chairman on the wheelchair. Three days ago, he had fainted in the bathroom, and broke his ankle. I'm yet to find out what he received in the reports from the hundred different tests they performed on him. He brushed it off as weakness, but I doubt it ends at that.

"Shourya!" He opens his arms, and the shawl slides off his shoulders. His nurse immediately fixes it for him.

I plaster a big smile on my face and walk in. "You didn't tell me you were being discharged today, Dadu?" I kneel in front of him, my hand on his knee.

He threads his bony, wrinkled fingers through my hair. "I wanted to surprise you." He smiles. "You can go. My grandson is here now." The nurse bows and walks out of the room. I get up on my feet, stepping around to hold the handles as I wheel him to the lounge area.

Soon enough, a maid enters with two servings of chamomile tea.

As soon as I sit down to drink, he asks me, "Any progress with the buyout?"

I tongue the inside of my cheek. "Even if we liquidate some of our assets, we still fall short on three hundred million."

"Loan?"

"We've maxed out the limit." I reply.

"So should we give up?" A quiz.

I shake my head. "We need Jumbo Steels. All that we spend on raw materials for our automobiles will be reduced by a great margin if we produce them locally."

"Then what's the solution you've found?" A test.

"Sell off our IT subsidiary to Yuvraaj." I state. "He's willing to give us the amount."

The old man narrows his eyes. "I thought you wanted to take it over as soon as you step into the family business?"

Not anymore.

"There's no point dragging a deadbeat. Rajawat Innovations saw a tremendous drop in stock market when the gamma virus went viral last week. I think it's better to get rid of the rotting branch than wait until it corrupts the whole tree."

He nods. "That sounds about right. I'll call the board meeting next Monday. Good work." He smiles at me.

I finish my cup of tea and leave him alone when it's time for his afternoon nap.

Yara turns on automatically as I enter the room, shifting from glasses to the smart speaker.

"Yara, the gamma virus -"

"10 million users have uninstalled our software in the last twenty four hours. Should I delete it now? The loss will be huge."

"No." I state. "Not until the buyout is official. The loss might be huge, but it'll be recoverable."

"Okay."

I grab my phone from the nightstand and call Yuvraaj. He answers on the third ring. I skip the pleasantries and jump to the point. "He's calling a board meeting on Monday to sell off Rajawat Innovations." I'm barely able to hold back the smile on my face.

"Congratulations on your first win. I'll get in touch with my lawyers and get the contract ready." He says and hangs up. His words ring back in my head.

My first win.

Rajawat Innovations.

Soon to be renamed as, Esther.

My hidden star, that'll glow the brightest when the time is right.

I wonder what Taranya is doing right now. Is she thinking about me? Or is she thinking about Atharva? She shouldn't. If she doesn't want to break his heart once again. Because at the end of the day, it'll be me, occupying her head, her heart and the space between her legs.

Blood rushes to my groin just at the thought of her.

I toss the phone on bed and head inside the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes, I look down at my length, hard and needy, and ignore it as I turn on the shower and switch it to the lowest temperature possible.

My phone starts ringing halfway through so I've to finish off quickly. I wrap a towel around my torso, use another to dry my hair and step out of the bathroom. The phone starts to ring again so I walk around the bed and pick it up, closing my eyes in annoyance reading the name on screen.

I exhale sharply and answer the phone. "Yes, sweetheart?"

"What are you doing?" She asks softly.

"I just took a shower." I drop the towel aside and sit down.

"Oh, shower in the middle of a day?" Her tone turns suggestive. "What were you thinking of? No wait, who were you thinking of?" She purrs.

Tara.

She might not like my answer.

"Nothing. I was in the gym for the last hour." I lie.

"Oh," she sighs in disappointment. "You're so not exciting, Shourya. Don't you ever wish to do something naughty once in a while?"

Not with you, that's for sure.

I fake a chuckle. "I guess I'm just too busy trying to be a good grandson."

"That you already are." She snorts. "Anyway, I called you because I'm confused what to wear tomorrow. At first when Dad told me about the invitation, I didn't want to go. You know what happened between us. I had no idea someone can be so cruel. God, even the thought of her puts me in a bad mood. I hate her!" She whines like a kid. I pinch between my brows in stress. "Okay, let's not think about her. I know you don't like her too." I nod leisurely. "So, what should I wear? I've three gowns. One has a slit, one's off-shoulder, and one's backless."

"Colours?" I indulge her.

"Green, Blue and White."

"Not white." I command. "Choose between the other two."

"Okay," she obliges almost instantly. "So the off-shoulder one? My designer says I've the sexiest neckline."

"Yeah," Whatever.

"Alright, I'll send you the photos once I try."

"Don't." My voice comes out cold and uninterested. Shit.

"Why?" She mumbles.

"I want to see it on you when you're physically around me."

"Oh," she chuckles. "So, tomorrow?"

"Yeah." I reply. "I've some work, I'll call you later." Just as she says okay, I hang up and put the phone aside, falling on the bed with a thump, eyes on the ceiling before I close them.

I spend the rest of the day napping, working on Yara and getting updates on old Shourya's health every two hours.

The next evening, a flurry of designers and make-up artists barge into my room to get me ready for the party. Things like these annoy me. I'm a man. What else except for some gel in my hair and a cologne on my body can you put on me? Turns out, a lot.

"Please keep your head straight."

I glare at the woman through the mirror. She lowers her eyes, focusing back on the task in hand.

An hour later, I get into the backseat of a black Maserati that takes me to Singh mansion, where I pick up Akansha as my date. "How do I look?" She asks, turning towards me, flaunting her bare shoulders. They are dusted with some sparkly powder that makes them shine in dark. Tara should do this. But then I won't be able to bury my face in that warm heaven. And it'll also attract unnecessary male attention. So, maybe not. "Shourya?" Akansha places a hand on my thigh.

I refocus. "You look stunning." I smile, subtly removing her hand from my leg as I nod at the driver to start the car.

"Thank you!" She beams. "You look hot, by the way. Black is really your colour."

I know.

"Thanks."

The car drives through the electronic iron gates of imperial Veer Mahal forty minutes later. I shift closer to the window, locating the third floor immediately. Her room faces the river, so I can't see it from here.

Akansha locks her arm around mine when we step out of the car. The attendees bow, and the women in sarees sprinkle rose water on us as we step through the doors. Another man guides us down the corridor and in the direction of the main living room.

"Mom and Dad. I'll just go and meet them." Akansha says, her eyes locked in a distance. I nod and deftly remove my arm from hers, finding the Chairman fairly easily, surrounded by prominent businessmen and the eldest pair of Chauhan siblings. I make my way there.

"There's my grandson." He announces my presence to others.

The crowd parts and they welcome me with smiles. "You can wait in the corner." I tell the nurse as I replace her. She nods and steps away. My eyes meet Yuvraaj's, he holds the contact for a second longer before forcing a smile at something the old man says.

"Where's the man of the match though?" Someone asks.

"He's-" before Vivaan can finish, the lights dim, and a spotlight beams on top of the staircase.

My breath hitches in my throat as Taranya comes into the view, Agastya on her side, and the two descend the staircase together. She smiles at the crowd as they applaud for her brother, but that's before those bluest blue oceans find me in the room.

God, help me.

Under my intense gaze, blood rushes to her cheeks, her eyes demure, and she lowers her gaze to the floor. I clench my jaw. White has never looked so colourful before.

A smirk wins me over.

As soon as she reaches the end of the staircase, her brother is swallowed by countless congratulations and good wishes. She steps back in consideration of his moment.

I nod at the nurse to take her place as I quickly sneak away from there.

But before I can reach her, Ayush comes and takes her with him. I stop abruptly in my strides, watching her walk, the sexy slit revealing her toned legs everytime she takes a step forward. I could watch her walk forever if it means I get to see those long legs bare for a fleeting moment.

The celebration commences after Agastya uncorks a bottle of champagne.

I'm subjected to stand beside my date and watch her from distance like an audience. It annoys me. The way everyone gets to speak to her so freely, touch her on the arm, compliment her openly, I want to do that, and more. God, I want to do everything to her.

"My heels are killing me." Akansha complains.

"You should sit."

"No, I want to dance with you. It'll start soon."

That's how I'm forced to give my first dance of the night to someone else. Taranya graces the dance floor with her brother. It settles me. So when Akansha finally gives up prancing in those giraffe heels, I take that chance to slip away and approach Taranya.

Janet, her best friend pats her on the arm when she sees me coming.

Taranya turns around, and swallows visibly. I hold back a smile of triumph. I love my effect on her.

When I'm a step apart, just about to reach her, someone else slides in between us. "Dance with me?" Atharva Saxena.

Her eyes flicker past his shoulder towards me. Something uncomfortable swirls in my chest witnessing the look of determination in her eyes. As if she's dying to prove something wrong, someone wrong.

The melting blues freeze, before she lifts her dainty arm, and slips the slender hand into his larger one. "Of course. It'd be a pleasure." A smile at him. Then a glance at me.

He turns, the smug copper eyes holding me in a staredown before he looks away and leads her to the dance floor.

Taranya follows him, slowing down when our eyes clash again, and I intentionally brush my knuckles against hers when she walks past me.

I watch her dance with him. I watch him wrap an arm around her waist to pull her closer. I watch as she interlaces her fingers with his. I watch them sway to the music. I watch her smile up at him. I watch him whisper something in her ear. I watch as she blushes. I watch everything. Until I feel her every action, every movement, every glance stab me in the chest, until it cuts open the layers of rationality and limits, until I'm compelled to stride over and snatch her from his arms and back into mine, where she belongs.

"Don't!" Someone grabs my arm and I look down, realising I had already taken a step forward. "Don't create a scene. Everyone's watching." I look to my right. Her best friend shakes her head at me.

My fist trembles in uncontrolled rage. I turn around, unable to look at them anymore. A few long, deep breaths, until I'm thinking rationally again. I need to take it calmly. I need to seek an opportunity.

So I bide my time, until she's out of willing eyes, and in some corner drinking a glass of juice.

"Shourya!?" She yells in a whisper when I drag her out of the party hall. "Shourya, leave me! What the hell are you doing? Shourya, someone might see us! Shourya-" she gasps as I open the door to a familiar room, where she saw me the first time and yank her inside, slamming the door close.

"Have you lost it!?" She screams at my face.

"Yes!" I roar, step forward and pin her to the door. "Make me sane again."

She flinches. "Sho-Shourya, listen to me-"

"Marry me."

Whoops. Leaving you on a cliffhanger again.

Also, I've deleted the spoiler I wrote in Tempter. I know, terrible planning. But I realised timing and everything doesnt match. Hence, don't consider the deleted part anymore.

Don't forget to vote and comment. Makes my day.