Hateship

2

Aarohi and Vaani sat together after class, deeply engrossed in discussing the case. They strategized their next move, pouring over the details and evidence they had gathered so far. As the conversation drew to a close, Vaani glanced at her watch and stood up.

"I have to go, Aarohi. My brother is coming to pick me up, and we're heading out," Vaani said, gathering her belongings.

Aarohi nodded, her mind still focused on the case. "Okay, I'll walk with you for a bit."

As they strolled out of the campus, Aarohi's thoughts drifted back to the investigation. She was determined to crack the case, and her mind was racing with possibilities.

After walking with Vaani for a short distance, Aarohi bid her friend farewell and continued on her own, lost in thought.

As she turned the corner, Aarohi's eyes landed on a sleek black car parked in the deserted alley - Vidyut Singhania's car. A thrill of excitement ran through her veins. "God is indeed on my side," she thought, a sly smile spreading across her face.

She quickly scanned the surrounding area, ensuring she was alone. This unexpected discovery could be the break she needed in the case. Aarohi's mind raced with possibilities as she carefully approached the car, her senses on high alert.

Aarohi's heart pounded in her chest as she hid behind the tree, witnessing Vidyut handing over a briefcase full of cash to a mysterious figure. She quickly pulled out her phone and recorded the incriminating evidence, her hands shaking with excitement.

As she attempted to sneak away, her foot slipped on a loose pebble, and she fell, making a loud noise that echoed through the deserted alley. Vidyut's head jerked towards her, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Before Aarohi could scramble to her feet and make a run for it, Vidyut rushed towards her, his grip closing around her wrist like a vice. "What are you doing here?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Aarohi tried to wriggle free, but Vidyut's hold only tightened, his fingers digging into her skin.

"Where are you going?" Vidyut demanded, his grip on Aarohi's wrist tightening.

"Not your concern," Aarohi replied, trying to wriggle free. But Vidyut's hold only intensified.

"You're not going anywhere until you answer my questions," he growled. "What are you doing here? And why?"

Aarohi's eyes locked onto Vidyut's, her determination burning brighter with every passing moment. "I am exposing your corruption, Mr. Singhania. You're not above the law."

Vidyut smirked, his expression dripping with arrogance. "You're playing with fire, sweetheart. Better delete the evidence... it's safer for your health."

Aarohi's anger flared, her voice rising. "Why do you think I would do that? Leave my hand, and I'll show you what I can do."

Vidyut chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "As you wish," he said, snatching her phone and smashing it on the floor.

Aarohi's eyes blazed with fury. "How dare you!"

Vidyut shrugged, his expression unrepentant. "Better luck next time, sweetheart." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Aarohi seething with rage and determination.

Vidyut slid into the driver's seat of his car, his mind still simmering with anger. He turned to his manager, who was seated beside him, and instructed, "Get me her full details. I want to know everything about her."

His manager, a bespectacled man with a discreet demeanor, nodded silently, making a note on his phone. "Name, address, family background, contacts - everything," Vidyut emphasized, his eyes narrowing.

The manager nodded again, his expression unreadable. "Consider it done, sir."

Later that evening, Vidyut sat in his opulent living room, sipping a glass of scotch as he recounted the events to his father, a seasoned politician with a shrewd gaze.

"No mistakes until the election, son," his father cautioned, his voice firm but measured. "The opposition is waiting for any slip-up, any weakness they can exploit. We cannot afford to give them ammunition."

Vidyut nodded, his jaw clenched in frustration. "I know, Father. But this girl, Aarohi... she's a wild card. I don't know what she's capable of."

His father's expression turned calculating. "Find out. Use every resource at your disposal to dig up dirt on her. We cannot let her jeopardize our plans."

Vidyut's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with strategies to neutralize Aarohi's threat. "Consider it done, Father. I'll take care of her."

Meanwhile, Aarohi stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her. She was still seething with anger and frustration, her mind racing with thoughts of Vidyut's smug face and his brazen attempt to silence her.

She grabbed her phone and dialed Vaani's number, pacing back and forth across the room as she waited for her friend to answer.

"Vaani, you won't believe what just happened!" Aarohi exclaimed, her voice trembling with rage. She poured out the entire story, from Vidyut's bribery to his destruction of her phone.

Vaani listened attentively, offering words of encouragement and support. But as the conversation wore on, Aarohi's anger began to give way to exhaustion. She felt drained, both physically and emotionally.

"Vaani, I'm so tired," Aarohi said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, Aaru. Get some rest. We'll figure this out together," Vaani replied, her voice soothing.

Aarohi nodded, even though Vaani couldn't see her. She collapsed onto her bed, her eyes closing as she let out a deep sigh. Sleep claimed her soon after.