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The darkroom echoed with the screams of a person who was being tortured miserably. Some men wearing a black tuxedo had surrounded him with a stern expression on their faces as if his screams did not affect them. A man sat in front of that person who was shrieking in pain as he cut his fingers mercilessly. He took a dagger and stabbed it right in his chest making the suffering man scream the last time. He threw the dagger which made a heart-wrenching sound and walked out of the room. He wiped his blood-stained hand and changed his shirt which had bloodstains. His eyes were icy blue with no emotions even after killing someone so heartlessly. He looked at Ron, one of his most trusted men who was standing beside him.

"I want his body to be buried today!" The man said in his gruff voice which echoed in the room void of any sound. Ron just nodded his head in the way of yes with his eyes fixated on the floor. Nobody had the guts to speak against his words. He was the Mafia King, who was known to kill any person viciously who did not obey him or betray him.

"Sir, you need to attend your wedding," Ron informed him to which the man just bobbed his head in a way of yes instructing something to his men he left his cabin while his men bowed in respect.

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'Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.'

A girl traced those words written in a book, placing them back on the table. She looked at the dark sky with a lot of questions in her mind. The only thought of getting married to somebody whom she had never met made her feel dreamlike. She had to leave her family but felt no emotions that a bride experiences during her marriage. She was a burden in her maternal house and so they decided to get her married. Her marriage was fixed with a boy of some rich renowned family, is what she had heard from people. The man whom she was getting married to was heartless, who could not tolerate indiscipline is what Rhea, her elder sister said as she helped her get dressed in bridal attire.

Her heartfelt heavy with the only thought of leaving the place where she spent her childhood but she knew these feelings would not be reciprocated by her parents. Her parents hated her from the core of their hearts because she was their first child, a girl. She was allowed to study till 12th class due to the respect of 'Aggarwals' in society. Her marriage was decided when she was six years old, with a boy who was ten years elder than her. As per the deal made, they decided that as soon as she turned eighteen she would have to marry that boy, and here she was all set to marry him.

"Naina.." The girl's mother came into the room breaking her chain of thoughts. Naina was the eldest daughter of Rakesh and Rama Aggarwal. She had a shapely figure with a glossy fair complexion. Her dove-shaped eyes reflected pure innocence which could captivate the hearts of men. Her silky jet-black hairs tumbled over her shoulders adding to her prettiness.

"Chal neeche bula rahe hai tuje." Rama, her mother spoke in an impolite way, to which Naina was used to. She was never respected in the house. Neither did her younger siblings respect her. She was treated like a maid and deprived of all her happiness since she was born. It would be a lie if she said it did not hurt, but she kept her emotions to herself and tried to distance herself from everyone so that they do not get angry or get their mood spoiled because of her.

Naina stood bunching her long yet heavy red lehenga in her fist and walked downstairs while Rama put on a fake caring and happy face. She made her sit next to the groom. The pandit chanted the mantras of marriage while they did all the rituals. Naina stiffened at her position as she looked into the groom's piercing blue orbs and closed her eyes as he put vermillion on her mang and tied the nuptial chain marking her as his. During her vidaai, Rama and Rakesh shed crocodile tears so that the people present there at the wedding will get to know how much they loved their daughter. The groom just left from there while Naina followed him. She stood next to his SUV not understanding what to do as he sat on the driver's seat. He looked at her, fidgeting with her fingers in nervousness.

"Sit." He instructed while she shivered listening to his deathly loud yet calm voice. She sat on the passenger's seat and closed the door. He shifted towards her and made her wear the seatbelt. Feeling him so close she clutched her lehenga and closed her eyes tightly as her breath hitched. He withdrew himself and drove to his mansion which was a six-story building. He got out of the car and stood waiting for her. A maid came running towards the car and helped Naina to get off the car carefully.

 Naina was awestruck seeing the magnificent building. She walked slowly towards him and tilted her head upwards towards him. He looked like a Greek God with a perfect jawline while his hairs were perfectly set. His features were sharp, it looked as if they were sculpted and paired to perfection. He indeed had the best pairs of eyes. He was towering over her, nearly 6.3 feet, making her feel tiny in front of him. "Check me later." He spoke grumpily, making her avert her eyes from him quickly. Some men came towards them and greeted them without looking at them. He instructed them something and then they left.

"Ji aapka naam kya hai?" He glanced at her but did not reply. He held her hand as they walked into the elevator. He stood next to her with his crossed hands. She was hurt as he ignored her and did not care to answer her. But, why was she feeling so upset? She had been always treated like this in her house, she had never met this man who is now her husband. How could she even think that he would behave nicely with her? Was he forced to marry her? Did he love someone else? All possible thoughts crossed in her mind while a lone tear escaped from her eyes.

"Sameer." He said in his usual gruff tone. 

"Huh?" 

"Sameer Maheshwari, naam hai mera." He said, making her look at him with bewildered horror. She gulped a lump of saliva in fear. Feeling her move away from him, he swaddled his strong arm around her petty waist and pulled her towards him. The elevator stopped on the first floor and a man dressed in a black suit entered, he bowed in respect while a woman came following him. Naina looked at the lady who had a bruised line just below her eye and puffy red eyes because of intense crying. Naina felt pity for the lady and wanted to speak but seeing her husband and that man who too had stern expressions stayed quiet.

Naina was scared of realizing that she was married to 'The Sameer Maheshwari', the Mafia King about whom she had heard of for years. He was the cruelest person on earth who did not think twice before killing anyone. He was the leading businessman of India and had been titled as the business tycoon for the last seven years. Nobody could talk against him, else that person would be killed in the cruelest way possible.

Sameer left her waist as his men and the lady left the elevator, making her sigh in relief. As they reached the third floor, Sameer walked out of the elevator while Naina followed him silently with her head fixated on the floor. She walked towards him taking baby steps, shivering like a dry leaf. Sameer pressed his finger against the automatic lock. As the door opened Naina's jaw dropped to the floor, seeing such a luxurious room. The room was big and vacuous which matched 7-star hotel rooms. The color walls were quite dull yet scary. Naina was registering all the features of the room and forgot about Sameer's presence.

"You can change in the bathroom, I have some work. Your clothes have been arranged in the closet by a maid." He said and left the room not waiting for her reply. She took her clothes and went to change as she did not want to disobey him. 

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As Naina came out she looked around the room. She climbed the slab and looked out of the window as she was bored of seeing the boring grey walls of the room. Her life had changed but a thing remained the same, that was loneliness. Even though she was married and had a so-called 'soulmate' he did not even talk to her. 'The First Night' for which brides are usually nervous, excited, or scared was just erased from her life. It was no new thing for her, as she never got anything in life easily and she never expected anything from her. She looked at her red bangles and her mehndi which had an 'S' initial in Hindi. She touched it in a daze as a smile crept on her face. Like other girls, she even wanted a partner who would understand her, spend time with her, and listen to her. 

Even she had some dreams and wishes that she 'wished' her husband would have fulfilled. From her childhood, she had been listening to the taunts of her parents. "Yeh sab nakhre apne pati ko dikhana.." "Apne shauko ko tere pati pura karega hum nahi." She did throw up tantrums when she was a kid and in return, she used to receive beatings, taunts, bashings and slaps. Eventually, she stopped talking to anyone, hiding her feelings, adjusting to things, and not demanding anything from her parents. She became way more mature and responsible unlike kids of her age. The only person who loved her was Nani, who loved and cared for her truly and also protected her from her parents' wrath. She died on Naina's thirteenth birthday making her life more miserable as she got tagged as 'manhoos' for killing her Nani because of her 'manhoosiyat'. Tears brimmed in her eyes and sniffled silently as she thought about her grandmother. Naina wished she was still there with her.

She quickly wiped her tears as Sameer entered the room, "Kal subah taiyaar rehna aap, hume kisi se milne jaana hai.." Sameer said at which she nodded her head in a way of yes, not looking at him as she felt agitated by his presence. Sameer went towards the closet and took out his clothes. Naina peeked at him, she could not help but stare at her handsome husband. Sameer just glanced at her, making her look anywhere but him.

"Apko kuch chahiye?" He asked as he had been noticing her staring at him, she bobbed her head in a way of not quickly feeling embarrassed for staring at him so shamelessly. Without saying a word he went into the bathroom. She heaved in relief and sat on the couch resting her head on the backrest closing her eyes. 

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Sameer sat on the sofa with his laptop while Naina was getting bored of sitting on the couch playing with her bangles and murmuring songs mentally for passing time. She glanced at Sameer and then at the clock which ticked midnight. She wanted to sleep but felt awkward sleeping while he was awake. Never had she sat in her life so idle, in her house she used to work, do all house chores, and write in diaries whenever she got time but here she had nothing to do neither was he talking to her rather he chose to engross himself in his work which he was doing for three hours. She smiled as she saw him winding his work but soon her smile dropped as he left the room. She wanted to speak but stopped herself from saying anything to him, frightened of what his reaction would be. She had heard about him being short-tempered and punishing people. 

"Kab se intazaar kar rahi thi ki kaam katam karne ke baad so jayenge. Itni raat ko kaha gaye, abhi konsa office khula rehta hai?" Naina murmured to herself as she lay on the couch, unknowingly and she slept in quite an uncomfortable position.

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"Naina.." Sameer called her with his hands stuffed in the pocket as she was still sleeping. They had to visit someone really important so he had to call her reluctantly. She uttered something which Sameer failed to listen to, so he bent near her to understand what she was murmuring. Sensing a strong scented perfume she opened her eyes and panicked finding her husband so close to her, in a hurry of getting up her soft lips pressed near his lips making his mind go numb for a few seconds. He moved back in jerk and stared at her while she looked at him like a scared kitten.

"I...I am sorry.." She mumbled in a single breath and ran from there taking her clothes from the closet. Sameer stared at her leave and shrugged his thoughts aside as he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," Sameer said in his rough voice.

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S

ameer was speaking to someone on call. Naina came from the room well-dressed as she had noted mentally, Sameer telling that they are going to meet an important person. She did not want to let him and his reputation down so she dressed as elegantly as she could dress. Sameer turned back listening to her bangles clinking. He just kept staring at her, completely awestruck by her beauty. Her kohl-black hair flowed till her waist-length freely and lilac soft lips were beautified using a red matte lipstick. The red saree which had some embroidery work was perfectly draped around her imp-thin body which displayed her curves. She had worn a thin silver chain adoring her wasp-like waist while paired her dress with golden earrings and just the nuptial chain was wound around her neck. The vermillion was put in her partition of hairs which made her look ethereal. Her face touched with a tinge of redness as he was gazing at her. He averted his eyes from her as he heard someone calling him. He mentally smacked himself for looking at a girl like that, which could make her uncomfortable.

"Boss, your car is ready." The man said to which Sameer nodded his head in response and went towards the elevator while Naina followed him. None of them talked throughout the whole journey while Naina kept glancing at him. He just kept driving, not even looking at her, making her conscious about herself.

"Zyada hi sajkar aayi mai shayad.Inhe nahi pasand hoga itna tam jham. Ab kya karu mai, vapas ghar bhi toh nahi ja sakti. Agar yeh gussa ho gaye toh? Bhagwan ji bacha lena aaj please." Naina started getting worried as he had not spoken anything since they left their mansion. He stopped near a mansion that was not big as theirs but was magnificently surrounded by a well-kept lawn.

Sameer parked the car and gestured to Naina to get out of the car. Sameer walked in while Naina followed him silently as usual. She flinched seeing many guards with stern expressions on their faces. She held Sameer's hand as he was walking too quickly and to match his speed was difficult for her in the saree which she had worn. Sameer turned to see if she was okay, as she never held his hand and used to follow him. He somewhere started liking this habit of hers. He just kept looking at her to speak. She looked at him and then immediately lowered her gaze. "Can I hold your hand, please? Mujhe dar lag raha hai.." She mumbled slowly. Sameer just nodded his head a bit and walked towards the door of the bungalow. A maid opened the door while Naina looked at the nameplate realizing that this mansion belonged to his relative as they shared the same surnames.

Sameer loosened his grip on Naina's hand while she did not object as she felt a bit comfortable in this house as there were no guards present except a few maids. She smiled seeing them at which even they reciprocated and continued doing their work. Sameer went towards the chair where a person was sitting facing a window. "Nanu.." Sameer called him in a lowered tone with respect which made Naina look at him in shock. He never used such a polite tone in the mansion. Whereas he used to talk roughly with everyone and even with her though he tried to be calm and patient with her is what she had noticed.

Listening to his voice, the elderly man turned. Though he was about 70s, he seemed to be strong and tough. He too had a serious face. He looked at Sameer and then at Naina who was standing right back of him. Naina smiled a bit looking at him at which he bobbed his head a bit in response.

"I was waiting for both of you. Pehle lunch karle phir baat karenge." The man said and headed along with them towards the dining table. Naina was looking at the interiors of the house in disbelief which were antique and old-fashioned at the same time the paintings which were hung were a bit weird. 

Nanu sat on the main front chair while Sameer sat next to him. Naina just looked at them while Sameer gestured to her to sit beside him. Soon some maids came and served them food. None of them spoke, while Naina was shivering with unknown fear. She looked at Sameer as he was fully focused on eating his lunch while even Nanu did not speak anything. Naina ate a bit and waited for others to finish their food.

"Aapko kuch chahiye?" Nanu asked Naina in a serious tone, as he had noticed her not eating properly. She nodded her head in a way of no like a kid. Nanu bobbed his head in a way that was okay and continued eating. While Naina looked at the weird paintings feeling uneasy. Sameer looked at her through the corner of his eyes but did not speak anything in front of Nanu.

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"Sameer aaj yahi rukh ja tu aur aap bhi yahi rukh jana Sameer ke saath." Nanu said at which Sameer and Naina agreed. Naina was still scared of Nanu as he did not speak much and even if he tried to speak with her, his stern voice made her scared. Nanu went to his room while Sameer walked upstairs. Naina quickly followed him, "Itna tez mat chaliya na.." Naina complained as it was getting difficult for her to match his speed. But, soon bit her tongue seeing him just look at her with a piercing look. She gulped in fear and looked down. He intertwined his hand with hers and took her to their room.

"Aap change kar lijiye.." Sameer spoke as he could notice her feeling uncomfortable in a heavy saree. Naina kept looking at him lost in his husky voice. She loved when he spoke, which was a really rare moment for her as he usually spoke to her through gestures, and even if she questioned him he simply nodded his head in the way of yes or no.

"Aapne suna maine kya kaha?" He asked as he saw her lost in her thoughts.

"J..Ji.." She stuttered and rushed towards the bathroom while Sameer looked at her who was standing near the bathroom door thinking something.

"Aap ke kapde cupboard mai hai, mai ne hi rakh diye the.." Sameer said, clearing her doubt. Naina turned back giving a cheeky smile, mumbling a thank you. She went towards the cupboard and took her clothes as she went to freshen up. Sameer just kept staring at her actions with an expressionless face. 

The room was dark as the windows and door were closed when Naina came out of the bathroom. She held her kurti in her fist tightly as she saw a dark figure sitting on the bed smoking. "Yaha aiye.." He said making her jump at her place as his voice was gruff and authoritative which echoed in the room. She took steps towards the bed like a scared baby and sat on the edge of the bed. She palmed her nose and mouth as he let the smoke out in the air. She looked at him who had changed into a black track and white shirt with a few of his buttons opened. The tattoos peeked through his shirt making him look like a sexy hunk.

"Aa..Aap smoke mat kijiye, maine pada tha ki dhumrapan se kark rog hota hai.." She said not looking at him. He did not respond to her nor did he look at her, making her more scared. He tilted his head upwards and let out the smoke in the air. She rubbed her fingers and bent to look at him to check whether he was angry. Sameer held her hand and pulled her towards him, making her gasp for seconds.

"Yeh sab mujhe kyu bata rahi ho?" He asked in a husky voice tugging a hair strand behind her ears.

"V..Woh aap ki sehet ke liye bhuri chiz hai isl..isliye.." She stuttered, not opening her eyes clutching his collar in her fist. Sameer kept looking at her serene face for a few minutes, changing the positions he made her lie on the bed and went out of the room. Naina opened her eyes as he left and sat straight looking at the closed door.

"Gussa ho gaye? Muje nahi kehna chahiye tha unhe kuch bhi."She cursed herself in her mind for saying things to him.

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"Sorry.." Naina murmured as she bumped into someone.

"Kuch kehna chahti ho aap?" A similar rough voice made her shiver.

"J..Ji na...ha.."Naina stammered badly seeing Nanu.

"Daro mat beta, I won't harm you. Apko kuch chahiye tha toh mujhe batao.." Nanu spoke in a bit low tone so that he did not scare her. Naina raised her head towards him trying to see if he was angry or not.

"V-Voh mai mandir dund rahi thi?" She asked, evidently stammering.

"Is ghar mai koi mandir nahi hai." Nanu replied.

"Kyu?"Naina mumbled.

"Is ghar ke koi bhi insaan bhagwan mai vishwas nahi karta ek hatse ke baad." Nanu replied calmly while Naina just looked at him with a confused face.

"Konsa hatsa?" She asked, unable to hold on to her curiosity.

"Sahi waqt aane par Sameer bata dega apko.." Nanu spoke at which Naina just bobbed her head while looking at the weird paintings.

"Aapse ek baat puchu?" She said not expecting an answer from Nanu, as she had been ignored by her parents since she was a child and even Sameer did not respond to all of her questions. Nanu hummed in response, making her smile a bit. Nanu sat on the sofa and gestured for her to sit.

"Yeh aise paintings kyu lagaye gaye hai? Of murder, guns, blood itne darawne paintings kyu lagaye hai?" Naina asked him.

"Yeh saare paintings Sameer ne banaye hai when he was sixteen years old," Nanu replied to her with a serious face, making her shocked. "Aisa kuch ho gaya tha jiske vajah se Sameer puri tarah badal gaya." Nanu said calmly, noting Naina's expressions.

"Aisa kya hua tha?" Naina asked.

"Jab sahi samay aayega woh aap ko khud bata dega." Nanu replied. Naina was thinking something which was disturbed by the pendulum clock struck at 5 p.m.

"Mai aapke liye chai banakar lati hu..." Naina said getting up from the sofa. 

"Uski koi zarurat nahi hai beta, aap Maheshwari khandan ki bahu ho, aap ko kaam karne ki zarurat nahi hai." Nanu spoke.

"Ji bas panch minute mai bana dungi, vaise bhi kal se maine koi kaam nahi kiya. Agar mai ghar mai aise karti na toh bohut maar padti." She spoke in a jovial tone but her voice quivered at the end. Nanu kept looking at her changing expressions. She quickly shrugged off her thoughts and plastered a smile on her face. She asked Nanu the direction towards the kitchen. 

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Sameer came into the mansion and saw the most unexpected scene of his life. Naina was giggling while Nanu just listened patiently to her innocent talks. As she saw Sameer she stopped speaking while Nanu gestured Sameer to sit. "Sameer tu Naina se baat nahi karta,nahi uski baaton ka jawab deta hai. Aisa kyu? I need an explanation for this." Nanu said in a strict tone. Sameer just glanced at her while Naina shivered as a scared kitten seeing him glare at her.

"Sorry Nanu, aage se aisa nahi karunga." Sameer replied and left to his room not before glancing at her. 

"Nanu voh pakka chilayenge, apne aisa kyu bola?" Naina said, shivering badly.

"Dar mat aisa kuch nahi hoga. Agar kuch galat kare toh mujhe batana I will talk to him." Nanu calmed her. 

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Naina peeped into the room to find Sameer but when she did not find him, she sighed in relief. She entered the room and kept his coffee on the table but at the very next moment shrieked in fear as Sameer pulled her arm, pinned her to the wall and palmed her mouth. As soon as her eyes met his icy blue eyes she shut her eyes tight.

"M..Mai sach keh rahi hu maine nahi kiya Nanu se aap ki shikayat. Sachi, aap ki kasam." She spoke shivering like a dry leaf while tears trickled down her cheeks as his grip on her hands was tight. Sameer just stared at her, he had killed many people but had never got affected by their screams and cries. He stepped back, leaving her hands, and looked away as he wasn't able to see her in tears. 

"Maine sachi nahi ki shikayat. Maine unhe yeh baat batayi lekin shikayat ke taur mai bilkul nahi. Mera vishwas kijiye." She spoke slowly looking at her hand which had turned red due to his grip. He went to change trying to avoid her tears which did affect him. Naina sat on the bed wiping her tears carelessly with the back of her palm, hugging the pillow. 

On the other side, Sameer took a cold shower running his fingers through his silky locks. There was something different about this girl, he thought. He had never cared about anybody's emotions except his Nanu. He used to kill people mercilessly. Their screams made him relax but when she cried he felt his heart clench. He felt restless and for the first time, he regretted hurting someone. He tried shrugging off his thoughts but it remained prevalent in his mind. Wearing his shirt with the first few buttons opened and tracks, he came out of the bathroom wiping his wet hair. He took a first aid box that was kept on the table and sat in front of Naina while she shifted away in fear. He held her hand and applied ointment making her whince.

She was too fragile and delicate, he noted mentally as he saw a reddish-blue bruise on her hand just because he held it a bit tightly. Sameer sat on the other side of the bed taking out his cigarette. He lit it with a lighter but remembering Naina's words he kept it aside. Naina was looking at him but averted her eyes as he turned his face towards her.

"I am sorry." He said while she looked at him. Even he was confused by his behavior. In his life, never, did he apologize to anyone. She just mumbled okay and kept staring at him while he took his laptop and started working.

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"I want everything to be done properly. There should be no mistake in executing our plan. If our plan backfires, I'll lose my men and I don't want that to happen. Am I clear?" Sameer spoke in an authoritative tone at which his trusted men nodded their head in a way of yes.

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