Hey Pearlies, Is Brutal Beast your first book or did you read any of my previous books?
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Harshad's room is extremely spacious and boring. It's so empty that I doubt if anyone is living in this room. There's no trace of life in his room. No paintings on wall, no plants in room, no showcase on tables.

His room is an exact opposite of the entire mansion. If everyone here wears black Harshad's wardrobe is filled with white clothes just like his room, bedsheets, and the flooring.

"If I stab you here the room will get bloody. Shall we go out?" I questioned him.

"Stab me?" He questioned.

"Yes, to perform internal surgery I have to stab your arm, right? I am not performing external surgery." I explained.

"Forget about it, Nandini. I have something important to ask." He pulled a chair for me to sit and he sat on the corner of his bed. "Remember, Manik said you are financially poor, how much of it is true?"

"Poor and me? I am princess Nandini Murthy." I laughed. "Manik has lost his brain, heart and gall bladder long ago, that's the reason he speaks unrelated things."

Harshad's eyes brightened. "What properties do you have? Where are your mines located? What other business does your father operate?"

"What are you speaking Harshad? I have no idea of these things, at the mansion I look after my ducks. That's it!" I shrugged.

"Then why did you say you are not poor? You just said Manik lied about everything."

"Yes, because I am rich in family values, blessings, traditions and good manners. This makes me a lot, lot, lot of riches. My father always said my big smile equals to most expensive diamond." I ended it with a big smile.

"Idiot daughter got idiot father!" He murmured and stood up from the bed.

About whom is he speaking? I don't know anyone named Mr. Idiot! Who could it be?

"Think properly, Nandini. Have you ever been to any other place other than your mansion?" Harshad questioned slowly.

I smiled. "Yes. My ducks behind the mansion at the yard..."

My words were interrupted with Harshad's loud voice. "To hell with your ducks! I am giving you final warning to think if you have any value to yourself, if not..."

"If not?" I questioned getting afraid of his presence.

"If not, there will be no marriage between us. It will be your fault for upsetting me and breaking your dead father's promise. You couldn't be worthy of your father's name." He said pointing a finger at me.

Nobody spoke to me in a loud voice let alone threatening me with that tone. I am making even a soft hearted person like Harshad angry! Why am I so bad person?

"I don't know, Harshad. Sorry!" I looked at my fingers putting my head down and gulping the thick emotion stuck in my throat.

He calmed down and sat infront of me once again at the same place he was earlier. "Don't be sorry, it's not your fault for being born as an idiot. Maybe it's a curse in my life to look after an stupid woman like you, but it's alright, I won't back off. I will help you." He gave a reassuring smile.

Even a stupid person like me have a chance to live, all thanks to good people like him in the world.

"But I don't know anything about property, Harshad. All these things were looked after my father. But why do we need all these? We are not like the Mafia Boss, right? We can move to America and live a honest life following our parents values."

"Alright, listen to me carefully. Mainland is different from here, and they need money to work unlike here where you leeched off your father's money. So, tell me if you have any money so that we can live in the mainland." He said with anger slowly emerging from his voice.

"Don't get angry, Harshad. What about the 25 million from Alya? Alya gave me that money to runaway from here and you took it from me to convert the black money to white right?" I said clapping my hands together.

"You still remember it?" He sighed. "I did convert the money but now I don't seem to remember where I have kept it. I lost them."

I gasped.

"That's not our money, Harshad. That's Alya's. I want to return it back to her." I said getting worried.

"No need, Alya is getting married to Manik and he is loaded. This amount will be nothing for her after marriage." He said and my heart lightly winced at the thought of their wedding.

Why must everything revolve around Manik!

"But still it's her money, Harshad. We have to find it." I tried to encourage him.

"You worry about everyone except me, right? Do you even value your father's promise? I am getting afraid about my married life with you. Will I be safe with you?" He questioned making me worry.

"Sorry, sorry, I won't speak about it. What about my mother's jewellery and my clothes? They are atleast 50 million worth. Navya took these with her and they will be in her room. I didn't even touch them as I am princess who lives with self respect. But you can sell them since you need it." I explained him about the alternate source.

A smile rose on his face making me happy. "There now we are talking! What else do you have?"

"That's it! It's more than enough for us right? Remember, you said 1 million is enough to live in mainland to buy a house? Which means we still have more money with us and maybe we can buy ducks there with all the remaining money."

"No, it's not enough. We need 1 million every day to live in mainland. That's why I am trying to make ends meet. All your money will be finished by one month. If there's no money then people will kill you." Harshad explained how America works and I am having second thoughts of going with him after marriage.

I feel safe here under the protection of Manik's Empire.

"Then shall we stay back here, Harshad? We could live here happily in our house with Niyonika, Manik, Alya, Cabir, and we have lots of vegetables in this empire. Let's not go anywhere."

He shook his head. "Money is the only problem to live in the mainland but you will have freedom which you will never get inside the empire. Manik is a dictator who will manipulate anyone for his wishes. Every second here is like holding a double edge sword. I want you to keep you safe despite my safety, Nandini."

What should I do? I am not understanding anything happening here? I just want to sleep and eat while everyone does the work. I just don't like being an active member of any work.

"Then how can we get so much money, Harshad. Shall we kidnap a billionaire from mainland and demand unlimited food?" I suggested remembering my father's business.

He kidnapped a lot of people and bought many things and the fun part was when my father used to bribe me with a lot of icecream to not roam around during his business hours. I would eat till it melted and fall asleep with tiredness.

"That's impossible! The security is different in mainland. Anyways, stop giving any ideas and tell me something, what did Manik give you?"

"Heartbreak!" I said absentmindedly.

"What?" He sighed and pulled my chair closer to him. "Manik surely have given you something for sleeping with him all these days right? Something expensive for your service." He winked at me.

I didn't understand. Why would Manik give me something for sleeping with him? Is he afraid of darkness? But our room was always dimly lit, then what service? Ah! Maybe for picking up the towel from the floor. But he never gave me anything.

"He never gave me anything, Harshad. Infact, I did not even miss a single day to provide the service to him. My every morning starts with this service, at first I felt so wierd to even touch it but later on it became my duty. No matter how many times I tell him he just goes on his way. I am tired of it. I am a princess for heavens sake who never did anything of such sorts!" I kept complaining about Manik and his behaviour of throwing his towel to the floor.

"I don't want the details, Nandini. Just tell me how much did he pay you. Normal guards itself pay atleast half a million for the women who provide them services and I am sure Mafia Boss would pay you in billions. Did he give you cash? Cheque? Diamonds? Tell me, I can't wait!" He said rubbing his hands on his knees.

"I could get diamonds for my service? I didn't know that, Harshad. All these days I have done for nothing. You could have told me the first time and I would have done it twice or thrice in a day and earn enough for mainland." I pouted.

Wait! If Manik didn't pay me for picking his towel shall I pick Niyonika's towel from the floor and earn it?

Eww! Nandini, what's happening to me, I am a princess and I should not do all these works. Let's see if I can earn through my surgery in mainland instead of towel picking services.

"For free? You are telling me all these nights you spent sleeping with him got you not even a single dime? How's that possible? Manik pays his workers properly then why didn't he pay you?" He paused. "Unless he doesn't see you as a worker or you are hiding the money. Both are little off to believe."

I gave a sarcastic laugh. "Nights? We hardly slept at night. It was always early morning and that explains my late breakfasts. And for your doubts, Manik doesn't have any feelings for me, he is manipulating, self centred person who thinks about only himself. Next, I have no reason to lie to you, Harshad. I don't even know I can earn money for my service until you told me a few minutes back. Now I am thinking to provide this service for Niyonika and earn something."

He choked. "Are you bisexual?"

I frowned. "What does it have to do with my service? Niyonika is elder and lonely person who would benefit from my service. Anyways, I am not going to provide this service to earn money as I am a princess who needs to maintain her elegance. I am going to perform surgery on billionaires and earn money. Beleive me, we will earn our living wage of one million per day as you said earlier." I smiled narrating my business plan.

He stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "I prefer to put my fingers between the door hinges and slap it a thousand times than speaking with you." He stood up. "Now, it's still not late. Go to Manik, ask him 5 Billion, 50 kg Gold Bars, and 5000 acres of sandalwood trees. Demand it from him, it's your right. He might disagree and negotiate so agree with whatever he gives for now and demand from him later on."

I left my mouth ajar unable to comprehend his words. "5 sandals, billion acres bars, and 50 notes money." I tried recalling all the information he gave me.

"Argh!!! Dammit!!" He threw all the pillows to the floor. "You don't even deserve to live, you are one stupid, and lunatic person I have ever met. You should be kept in a museum or in a zoo."

I got afraid of his behaviour and tried to take my steps back but he pulled me towards him by my arms. His nails were digging to my arms and I winced loud but he did not care. "Listen to me carefully, I am not so simple as I look and I wouldn't hesitate to bring your fate as your maid. Ask Manik to pay you 5 Billion in a week or else there would be no wedding happening between us." His nails getting deeper to my sensitive skin and fresh tears flowed from eyes. "Got it?" He yelled into my face.

I agreed and nodded my head while he pushed me to the hard floor and the chair hit my forehead. I cried in pain but he did not even spare a glance at me.

...

How's the update?

Harshad's colors are coming out!

What will Nandu do now?

Who want 5 sandals, billion acres bars, and 50 notes money 😂

Do you have any ideas for Manan scenes you wish to read?