Never Leaving U ( Completed )

Chapter 8

Recap: Vikram captures Priyanka and ask her the truth.

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Priyanka trembled, her body rigid with fear as she faced Vikram's blazing fury. He stood over her, his patience worn thin, his lethal rage barely restrained.

"Tell me," he commanded, his voice sharp as a blade. "How were you connected with Sahana?"

Priyanka swallowed hard. "Sahana, Samrat, and I studied in the same school and later completed college together. We were inseparable since childhood."

Vikram's jaw tightened. "Why did you stay in Sana Mansion?"

A flicker of sorrow crossed Priyanka's face. "Samrat and I came from a middle-class family. When we were in our second year of college, our parents died in an accident. Sahana took me in, gave me a home. I lived with her, and Samrat would visit or stay over sometimes."

Vikram's eyes darkened. "And Rakshat? Who is he? How does he fit into all of this?"

"Rakshat was our senior in college," Priyanka admitted, her voice hesitant. "He shared a deep bond with Sahana, like an older brother. He protected her fiercely. No one dared to harm her—if they tried, he made sure they regretted it."

A sickening wave of guilt crashed over Vikram. He clenched his fists, cursing himself. The weight of his past words and actions crushed him, flashing before his eyes. Sahana and Rakshat—he had misjudged them both.

His voice was quieter now, but no less dangerous. "How did I become a part of your game?"

Priyanka took a deep breath before answering. "It all started when we were in our first year of college..."

Flashback starts:

May 24, 11:45 p.m.

The city lay under a blanket of darkness, its streets silent except for the few who were awake, caught up in their own schemes and dreams. In the grand Sana Mansion, Sahana slept peacefully in her royal bed, her delicate features illuminated by the moonlight seeping through the curtains.

The mansion stood still, undisturbed until a sudden explosion shattered the silence.

The blast wasn't destructive, but it was loud enough to jolt Sahana awake. She gasped, her heart pounding, and rushed out of bed, calling out for her family. But the house was eerily quiet. No response. No movement.

Tiptoeing cautiously, she reached for the light switch. As the chandelier flickered to life, she gasped.

The entire mansion was transformed. Purple balloons, cascading flowers, shimmering curtains everything was bathed in her favorite color. A large banner stretched across the hall. "Happy Birthday, Princess!"

Confused but overwhelmed with joy, her eyes darted around the room. That's when she spotted a small macaron box on the table, along with a folded chit.

"What's this?" she murmured, picking it up.

The note read:

"Happy Birthday, Sweety! Your first gift is waiting in your room. Go find it."

Excited, she dashed back upstairs and flung open her wardrobe. There, wrapped in a soft purple cover, was a stunning Cinderella gown. She twirled in delight, running her fingers over the fabric. Another note was pinned to it:

"Darling, your next gift is in your favorite place."

No second guesses. She sprinted to the music room, her heart thudding. As she stepped inside, her eyes widened—there, beneath a satin purple cloth, was her most beloved instrument, a veenai.