Aarohi And Dev

CHAPTER 14

Dev POV

My eyes remained fixated on her departing silhouette, unable to tear away.

No matter how hard I tried to convince myself it was just an attraction, my gaze yearned for her presence, as if my very breath depended on it.

Just as I longed to have her in my sight every minute, every second, Aman disrupted my reverie with news that the man we had been seeking was rumoured to be attending the party.

Even as I sought to divert my attention, I delved into conversations with the man present. Yet, beneath the surface, the urgency of my vendetta lingered. Akash Sahani's cryptic parting remarks echoed in my mind, signalling that my quest for retribution was far from complete.

It was a stark reminder that while I may have made progress, my adversary remained two steps ahead, heightening the stakes of our deadly game.

After leaving us alone to talk, Aman made his way off.

In an attempt to extract vital information, I found myself negotiating with the man before me. Promising lucrative business opportunities and assistance in resolving their accounting embezzlement crisis, I sought to strike a mutually beneficial deal.

However, my underlying motive remained fixed on uncovering the identity of Akash Sahani's accomplice, a crucial piece of the puzzle in my quest for revenge.

His sudden movement and trembling body betrayed his fear as he hastily rose from his seat and began to walk away, adamantly claiming ignorance regarding any pertinent information.

Despite my efforts to coax out the truth, it seemed he was determined to keep their secrets hidden, further complicating my pursuit of vengeance.

As I made my way inside the ballroom, a resounding slap echoed through the air. My head snapped in the direction of the sound, and what I saw ignited a fury within me. My teeth clenched in anger, my fists tightening at my sides.

I couldn't care less about the reason behind Malhotra's action. The only thing that mattered to me was how dare anyone lay a hand on her.

I saw her eyes, they seemed to plead for love and understanding, silently asking to be taken away from that moment. Yet there she stood, in front of her father, bending her self-respect to apologize.

Observing their interaction made me question the nature of their relationship. It wasn't typical like that of other father-daughter duos.

Aman's words brought me back to the present, prompting me to consider, "What kind of father doesn't even listen to her reasons for her actions?"

I inquired sharply, "What are you talking about?"

He explained, "The man standing next to her father attempted to misbehave with her a few moments ago. She slapped him, but instead of supporting his daughter, her father is standing up for his partner and slapped his daughter in front of everyone."

The only thing resonating in my mind was that a man dared to misbehave with her, in my territory. I felt the urge to take immediate action against him, but I knew he deserved a punishment far worse than what I could deliver at that moment.

"Her fiancé is standing there as well, yet he's not standing up for her. Strange," he further remarked.

As she left the event with her friends, I knew I needed to calm my anger before unleashing it in front of innocent bystanders. Yet, as I settled in my room, I couldn't shake the memories of her sadness, her hurt, her hopelessness, and above all, her loneliness at that moment.

Why does my heart yearn for that which belongs to another, seeking the gaze of eyes that behold another's soul, longing for a heart already claimed by someone else,  wishing upon the moon that adorns another's sky? It's as if I'm chasing a dream of a happy ending that eludes me, reaching for the light that ignites another's heart, reaching out for a hand that never reaches back to mine.