"The Passion of Veer Singh"

Chapter 6: The Mask Falls

Aisha woke up to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains. Even though Veer's arms were still around her, something didn't feel quite right. It felt as though the warmth and sensitivity of the night before had disappeared. When she looked up at him, his attitude was aloof and chilly.

"Good morning," she said, trembling.

Veer withdrew, silently getting out of bed. He started getting dressed, moving quickly and robotically. With a horrible feeling in her gut, Aisha watched him.

"Veer, is everything alright?" She questioned, attempting to cover up her nervousness.

With stern eyes, he turned to face her. "We need to talk."

Aisha felt her heart skip a beat. "What about?"

Veer crossed his arms when he had completed buttoning his shirt. It was a mistake last night. Try not to overinterpret things."

A pain of betrayal pierced Aisha. "What are you trying to say? I considered—"

With a stern tone, Veer interrupted her. "You had the incorrect idea. Aisha, I took advantage of you. I now have the answer to my question about how far you would go to tell your story."

Aisha's eyes filled with tears. "You're not telling the truth. There was significance to last night. I sensed it.

With a vicious laugh that made her shudder, Veer laughed. "You're not as wise as I assumed. You believe spending a night in bed will make a difference? Aisha, you're just a pawn in this game.

The words struck her like a blow to the body. Aisha's thoughts raced, attempting to make sense of the aloof stranger in front of her and the passionate man from the previous evening. "Why are you doing this?"

With his face just inches from hers, Veer leaned in. "Because I am able to. for the reason that I was curious if you could be broken. And it appears that I was successful."

Aisha flinched back, her heart breaking. "I trusted you."

Veer mockingly said, "That was your first mistake." "And it will be your last."

Aisha's sadness mixed with a growing rage. "This will not get away from you. I'll make you look foolish."

Veer's eyes darkened. "You'll regret trying. Aisha, you're in over your head. Remain back, or you'll discover how dangerous I really am."

Aisha experienced a wave of rebellion. "I refuse to give up. Whatever it takes, I'll find out."

Veer took hold of her arm, causing bruises. "We've alerted you. I'll be less forgiving the next time."

Aisha trembled and was left alone as he rushed out of the room after releasing her. The crushing weight of his betrayal left her sitting on the edge of the bed. She was now suffering the price because she had given in to his seduction and trusted his assurances.

Determined to fight back, Aisha dressed quickly and left Veer's apartment. She needed time to collect herself and decide what to do next. The sight of the gorgeous daybreak felt like a cruel joke on her broken heart as she strolled along Marine Drive.

Aisha went back to her flat and worked nonstop. Determined to reveal Veer's true identity and the wrongdoing he was a part of, she went over her notes. Her determination was strengthened by every fresh piece of information, and the hurt of his treachery turned into a strong will.

Days flew by with so much going on. By contacting her contacts, Aisha was able to piece together the underworld of Mumbai. She found that Veer was more connected to the city's corruption than she had thought, and that his influence was widespread. However, she also discovered supporters—people ready to assist her in exposing the truth.