1280+words

Dil roya par aankhon ko
rone naa diya
Saari Saari raat 
jage khudko sone na diya 
Itna karte rahe yaad apko
par ess baat ka ehsaas
aapko kabhi hone
naa diya

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Author's pov: 

Ashwin maneuvered his car through the busy streets, his mind clouded with frustration from the day's events. As he sped past, something caught his eye—on the sidewalk, a young woman, radiating kindness, was helping a group of underprivileged children. She was beautiful, not just in appearance but in the way she passionately interacted with the kids, offering them food and comfort. Her name was Anshika, though Ashwin didn't know that yet.

Just as the moment seemed to bring a sliver of warmth into Ashwin's otherwise cold day, an incident flared his temper. Someone nearby, unaware of their surroundings, almost caused an accident, pushing Ashwin to the edge.

"You freaking jerk! How dare you do that? Let them die!" Ashwin shouted, his anger uncontrollable.

Unfortunately, his harsh words didn't reach the intended target but instead hit Anshika like a sledgehammer. Shocked and hurt, she straightened, the warmth in her eyes replaced by disbelief.

"Excuse me? What did you just say?" she asked, her voice tight with disappointment as she stepped forward to confront him.

Ashwin, realizing the misunderstanding but too proud to apologize, felt his ego flare. "Look, it wasn't meant for them! Mind your own business," he said coldly, his tone dismissive.

Anshika's eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and bewilderment flashing in them. "Mind my own business? I'm helping these children, and you insult me like that? What kind of person are you?"

Ashwin, still stung by his own outburst, snapped back. "You're blowing this out of proportion. It wasn't about the kids. It was aimed at someone else."

Anshika folded her arms across her chest, her voice growing firmer. "Blowing this out of proportion? You wished death upon innocent children. How heartless can you be?"

"Heartless? You don't know the first thing about me," Ashwin shot back, his impatience growing. "I don't have time for this."

"It's not about time; it's about decency!" Anshika's voice cracked with frustration. "You're the one who lacks it."

Ashwin's eyes flashed with anger. "I don't need your judgment. I've got my own problems."

"Judgment? This is about basic human compassion. If you can't understand that, then there's really nothing to say." Anshika's words cut deep, her disappointment in him palpable.

"Fine by me. I don't need some self-righteous woman preaching to me."

Anshika's voice shook with fury. "You make me sick. To think someone could be so cruel, so despicable. How could you say that about innocent children?"

Ashwin laughed coldly. "Spare me the melodrama. You're just another person who thinks they're changing the world by handing out scraps."

"Charity case? These are human lives, you heartless idiot!" Anshika raised her voice, the anger bubbling over. "You may not care, but that doesn't make their pain any less real."

"Oh please," Ashwin said sarcastically, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You're acting like you're saving the world. Newsflash: you're not."

"I never claimed to be a savior. But at least I'm not a heartless jerk who revels in other people's suffering."

The tension between them was electric, a clash of values, with neither willing to back down. Anshika's frustration hit its peak as she finally snapped.

"I hope you never know what it feels like to be helpless and in pain like these kids do."

Ashwin scoffed, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Save your pity. I don't need it."

Anshika's gaze hardened, her words sharp as a blade. "You've shown your true colors today, and they're as ugly as your heart."

Ashwin sneered, taunting her with his final insult. "Just like your face."

Anshika didn't hesitate, her retort biting. "And look who's talking, with a head like a potato. Go to hell."

As she stormed off, Ashwin watched her retreat, muttering to himself. "I feel sorry for her future husband."

He got back into his car, shaking his head as he drove away, the bitter exchange still gnawing at him.

At the Office...

Ashwin entered the towering Singhania Company building, his mood darker than before. Viyaan, his younger brother, was waiting for him with a serious expression, pulling Ashwin aside.

"Bhai," Viyaan said in a low voice, "something's wrong in our company. There are irregularities in the financial reports and operations. I think someone's sabotaging us."

Ashwin's brow furrowed, his thoughts shifting from Anshika to the more pressing matter at hand. "Show me."

Viyaan led Ashwin to their private office, where he laid out the evidence—mysterious discrepancies that pointed to someone manipulating the company's resources. The Singhania empire was under threat, and someone on the inside was responsible.

"Got any leads?" Ashwin asked, flipping through the documents.

Viyaan's voice was cold as he said, "Arun. He's been with us for years, but I've had my suspicions."

"Arun? You mean our Arun?" Ashwin's face darkened. Arun had been a trusted employee, practically family.

"We've already got him in the basement," Viyaan said grimly.

Ashwin didn't need any further prompting. His sleeves rolled up, he headed to the basement with Viyaan by his side.

The basement was dimly lit, the cold air heavy with tension. Arun, tied to a chair, was already beaten and bruised, his face swollen from the blows. Varun, another trusted enforcer, stood nearby, his baseball bat still in hand.

"Has he said anything yet?" Ashwin asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Not a word, sir," Varun replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

Ashwin approached Arun, his eyes filled with a lethal calm. "You've been playing games with us, Arun. Time to talk."

"Arun," Ashwin began, his voice low and menacing, "we trusted you. You were part of this family. Who's behind this?"

Arun, trembling and covered in blood, could barely speak. "I swear, Sir, I didn't do anything. Someone's framing me!"

Ashwin scoffed. "Framing you? We've got evidence, Arun. You've been siphoning funds, sabotaging deals. Now, you're going to tell us who's behind it, or I'll make sure this pain is just the beginning."

"I don't know anything!" Arun pleaded, gasping for breath as Varun's bat came down on him again.

Ashwin's patience was wearing thin. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against Arun's ear. "Tell us who's pulling the strings, or you won't walk out of here alive."

Arun, broken and desperate, finally cracked. "It's Vikram Mehra! He's the one orchestrating all of this!"

Ashwin's expression turned cold as ice. "Vikram," he whispered. "I knew it."

Without warning, Ashwin reached for the gun holstered under his jacket. The metallic click of the safety being released echoed in the room.

Viyaan's eyes widened. "Bhai, wait! What are you doing?"

Ashwin's gaze never wavered from Arun's tear-filled eyes. "This is what happens to traitors."

Before Viyaan could stop him, Ashwin pulled the trigger. The deafening gunshot reverberated through the basement, and Arun slumped lifelessly in the chair.

Viyaan, stunned, took a step back. "Ashwin... you didn't have to kill him. We could have handed him over to the police."

Ashwin, his face devoid of emotion, holstered the gun. "The police wouldn't do what needs to be done. This is justice, Viyaan. And this isn't the first time I've dealt with a traitor."

Viyaan stood in silence, torn between his loyalty to his brother and the brutality he had just witnessed. The room seemed darker, heavier—an unspoken understanding passed between the brothers.

Viyaan stared in shock. "Ashwin, we could've turned him over to the police."

Ashwin holstered the gun, his face expressionless. "This is what happens to traitors. You don't betray the Singhania family."

Viyaan shook his head, conflicted. "We're not like this. We don't kill our own."

Ashwin's voice was cold, final. "Sometimes, Viyaan, we have to take matters into our own hands. And this isn't the first time I've done this."

The room was filled with silence, the consequences of Ashwin's actions settling heavily on both brothers as the weight of family loyalty clashed with the moral boundaries they'd just crossed.