Her Nightmare | 18+

|| Chapter 25 ||

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PARINIDHI

The next morning, a firm knock on the door roused me from sleep, and I found the staff standing there, ready to assist with my belongings.

Swiftly, they arranged everything in my new room, and after freshening up and dressing in a pristine white chiffon saree, I made my way downstairs.

With anticipation bubbling inside me, I reached the living room, eager to learn about Devansh's plans for the day.

Time ticked by as I waited, Anxiety crept in as I wondered if Devansh had already left, but my fears were dispelled when I caught the sound of his familiar footsteps descending the stairs.

Looking up, I saw Devansh engrossed in his phone, dialing a number as he made his way down.

"What's the news?" Devansh's voice pierced through the room, urgency and determination evident in every word.

Though the response on the other end remained a mystery to me, the weight of the conversation was palpable in Devansh's sudden change of expression.

Just as Devansh reached the final step, his gaze met mine. He stumbled, almost falling, but managed to steady himself with a firm grip on the handrail, his eyes never leaving mine.

After regaining his composure, his intense gaze bore into me, urging me to look away in discomfort before he continued.

"Arnav, aside from his brother, who else could possibly shield him? Apply pressure regarding the pending project he has with our company; I'll handle the rest," Devansh commanded, his voice resonating with authority and resolve.

"I need all the details by this evening, no matter what," Devansh stated firmly before abruptly ending the call and taking his seat at the breakfast table.

Devansh kept his conversation minimal over the call, perhaps to prevent me from understanding, unaware that I was already aware of everything.

In the absence of staff, I took it upon myself to serve breakfast, maintaining a respectful distance from Devansh as I did so.

Devansh's voice boomed, "Reshma!" Startled, the entire staff swiftly gathered in the living room.

"Y-yes sir," Reshma stammered nervously.

"Where were all of you? Do I need to send you an invitation to be here?" Devansh's irritation was evident in his tone.

The staff stood trembling, heads bowed in submission.

"I was attending to Anshika baby, Sir," Reshma explained quickly.

At the mention of Anshika's name, Devansh's anger seemed to dissipate, and he took a deep breath, addressing Reshma more calmly. "You go, and take care of Ansh."

Reshma disappeared from the scene, and her abrupt departure left the rest of us feeling uneasy. She was the most senior staff member, and her absence meant there was no one to handle any potential issues. Now that she was gone, I couldn't help but feel anxious about what might happen next.

"Come here, Pari... Parinidhi," Devansh's calm voice cut through the air, heightening my anxiety with every word.

As I walked over, he signaled for me to sit, and I quickly took the seat. Devansh's anger had me on edge, and I was determined not to make any mistakes.

A maid appeared and served me breakfast. "Bring the box," Devansh instructed, and another maid hurried off to get it from his room.

Devansh looked at the staff and gave a stern warning. "This is your last warning. Any more negligence in your duties will have serious consequences."

With that, everyone quickly returned to their tasks.

I was stunned as Devansh slid the box towards me. "This is for you," he said simply, his voice carrying a hint of seriousness.

I stared in shock at the new mobile phone box in front of me. The memory of Devansh destroying my phone after our wedding came flooding back, leaving me torn between disbelief and a glimmer of hope.

In a daze, I watched as Devansh took the phone out of the box and handed it to me. Despite my hesitation, I accepted it, feeling a mix of apprehension and relief.

After breakfast, as Devansh prepared to leave, I stood up. He came closer, looking at me with quiet determination.

Devansh lightly brushed his thumb against my cheek as he said, "I've given you this phone so you can stay in touch with your family. Don't let my decision lead to regrets, Parinidhi."

His voice held a blend of concern and a subtle warning, making me nod in response. Then, he gave me a quick kiss on the lips before leaving, leaving me stunned and confused.

DEVANSH

I settled into the plush car seat, the driver quickly headed toward the office. I leaned back, trying to shake the image of Pari from my mind.

Dressed in a simple white saree, she looked like a modern-day fairy tale princess, and just thinking about her made my heart race.

When I had come down the stairs a moment ago, her presence caught my eye and nearly made me lose my balance. Even if I had stumbled and fallen, it would have been worth it just to think she was the reason behind it.

I had handed her the phone, knowing it was her only way to reach her family, but there was more to it. I worried about her making a mistake, and the thought of my own unchecked anger causing harm haunted me.

It was a harsh truth, but my rage had the power to destroy reason and compassion, leaving only devastation in its wake. In those moments of fury, I had become a force of destruction.

Yet, the return of Anshika and Pari's presence had kept me grounded. Still, a single misstep from Pari could unleash the darkness within me that I despised.

The sound of my phone ringing pulled me from my thoughts. I answered quickly, "Arnav, what's going on?"

"Boss, I've put a lot of pressure on Nityan Dhingra about the upcoming project. He'll be focused on it from now on," Arnav reported confidently.

"Good. And Nirav?" I asked, eager for updates.

"Nirav is like Siddharth Dhingra—he doesn't have a strong background. If I press him, he'll crack soon. I'm going to meet him now and will keep you posted," Arnav said, his determination clear in his voice.

Each update strengthened my resolve, bringing us closer to uncovering the real culprit—assuming it's not Rahul.

Though the thought brought some relief, it also unsettled me. Despite my many mistakes, I had never wrongfully punished someone who was innocent.

If Rahul were innocent, what terrible things would I have to face? The thought gnawed at my conscience, plunging me into a deep fear unlike any I had felt before.

No matter how hard I tried, I knew I could never fully make up for the wrongs done to Pari. Her forgiveness seemed forever out of reach, haunting me until my last breath.

For the first time, I was overwhelmed by a deep fear—the fear of losing my love.

I dialed Sid's number with urgency. "Sid, where are you?" I asked, my voice steady.

"Devansh bhai, I'm out of town. I'll be back by evening. Is everything okay?" Sid's voice wavered slightly.

"Just checking since we haven't talked since the party. Take care," I said and ended the call.

I sent Sid's number to Arnav with a brief instruction: "Check his location."

I couldn't shake the feeling that Sid was hiding something important. Whether out of self-preservation or to protect someone else, the truth was elusive, but I was determined to find it.

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