The Innocent Angel Vs The Ruthless Devil

CHAPTER - 26

Rajeev's POV

Deep in thought, I was in my office, trying to figure out how to become the Sarkar of Raichands by escaping this ridiculous marriage thing. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the door burst open, revealing Rupali. I sighed and remarked, "I always thought you might be Piyush's past life sister, and now I think I'm right."

Rupali glared at me, her anger palpable. She looked like she was about to erupt like a volcano. I leaned forward and asked, "Now what happened, Rupali? Did Vikram do something?"

"The problem is Vikram is not doing anything," she snapped.

I was confused by her answer. "I can bet you Vikram is far calmer and especially more romantic than you, and you're saying he isn't doing anything? I don't believe you, Rupali."

She smashed her hand against her forehead in frustration and exclaimed, "Bewakoof! Are you even serious? Do you think I came all the way here to complain about stupid stuff?"

"Yes, you can. You always complain, especially about Vikram. So what do you expect from me?" I shot back, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement.

Rupali took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Rajeev, this isn't about trivial complaints. Vikram let that woman, Riya, go just like that after everything she did. After she insulted him, he didn't even retaliate. I can't stand it."

I raised an eyebrow. "So, you're angry because he didn't punish her?"

"Exactly!" she exclaimed. "She deserves to pay for what she did, and Vikram is just letting her walk away."

"Rupali, you need to understand that Riya did nothing wrong. Don't forget she was framed by that woman named Priya, who is in jail now. And don't forget we made Riya go through hell for things she didn't do. There's no reason for you to be angry at her because she is innocent."

"Rajeev, whatever you say is right—that she is innocent and all—but she doesn't deserve to insult Vikram and threaten him," Rupali's words shocked me.

"What do you mean, Rupali?" I asked. Rupali then explained how Riya came into the company and demanded her resignation, how Vikram teased her about not allowing her to resign, and finally how Riya threatened Vikram that she would tell the world everything and bring down his empire.

I was both shocked and angry after what Rupali said about everything. Shocked because Riya had the guts to come back and bravely demand her resignation, and angry because that innocent kitten blackmailed Vikram, who is my best friend.

"Rupali," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, "Riya has been through a lot. Her reaction is understandable, even if it is extreme. We put her in a situation where she had to fight for her life and her dignity. Maybe this is her way of reclaiming her power."

Rupali crossed her arms, still fuming. "I don't care about her reclaiming power. She threatened Vikram. She needs to be put in her place."

"Look," I said, rubbing my temples, "the situation is more complicated than that. We can't just react with anger. We need to handle this delicately. Let's give Vikram some time to process everything. He's made the right decision to let her go."

Rupali sighed, clearly frustrated but understanding my point. "Fine, Rajeev. But if she causes any more trouble, I won't stay quiet."

"Fair enough," I said. With that, Rupali exited my office.

Leaning back in my seat, my thoughts went back to Riya. To be honest, whenever I think about her, it does something to me—a weird feeling in my heart. It feels like I want to capture her and lock her in my mansion. I don't know what I'm feeling, but I know myself enough to understand that I don't believe in any kind of stupid emotions. 

The urge to lock her up was all I wanted, and seeing the tears in her doe eyes did something to me. But I didn't want to do that because of what she had been through because of us. I sighed frustratedly, saying, "I hope this is the end. I'm letting you go, Riya Sharma because it doesn't take me a second to capture and lock you up with me. But I'm not going to do that because you were innocent, and especially you are not like any other woman I have come across in my life. That is what makes me interested in you because you are so pure and innocent to be with me in my dark world. I hope we never meet again, or else I can't guarantee what might happen to you," I smirked cruelly.

Riya's POV

I woke up to the loud voice of Bhai, who was trying to wake me from my nightmare. Jolting awake, I found myself drenched in sweat. Turning, I saw Bhai's worried face.

"Riya, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I took a moment to catch my breath and nodded slowly. "Yeah, Bhai. Just a bad dream."

He frowned, clearly not convinced. "You've been having these nightmares a lot lately. Are you sure everything's alright?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's just... even though I don't remember what happened, I still get these blur images. It's hard to shake off." I lied to Bhai on his face.

Bhai sat down beside me, his expression softening. "You don't have to go through this alone, Riya. We're all here for you."

"I know," I replied, grateful for his support. "It's just hard to forget everything. The pain, the loneliness... it's all still so fresh."

He nodded, understanding. "I get it. But remember, you're stronger than you think. You've been through so much, and you're still standing. That says a lot about you."

I managed a small smile and hugged him. "Thanks, Bhai."

"Anytime, Riya," he said, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Now, why don't you freshen up and come down? It's already evening, and we can cook dinner together. It might help take your mind off things."

I nodded, appreciating his effort to distract me. "Okay, I'll be down in a few minutes."

As he left the room, I took a deep breath and got out of bed. The nightmare still lingered in the back of my mind, but Bhai's words gave me a renewed sense of strength. I knew I couldn't let the past control me. I had to move forward, one step at a time.

After freshening up, I made my way downstairs. The evening light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the living room. Bhai was already in the kitchen, gathering ingredients for dinner. The familiar, comforting sight brought a sense of normalcy to my turbulent thoughts.

"Ready to cook?" Bhai asked with a smile.

"Absolutely," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease. Cooking together was always a bonding activity for us, a way to create something positive amidst the chaos.

We chopped vegetables, stirred sauces, and shared stories, our laughter filling the kitchen and creating a warm, comforting atmosphere. The rich aroma of our meal enveloped the room, bringing a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a long time. It wasn't a solution to all my problems but a start—a small but significant step towards healing. Surrounded by my family's love and support, I felt a renewed strength, a belief that I could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Yet, in the back of my mind, a lingering fear remained. I prayed silently, hoping that fate wouldn't play cruel tricks and that my path would never again cross with Vikram Mehta and his people. Their presence had brought so much pain, and all I wanted now was to leave that chapter behind, moving forward with the hope of a better, more peaceful future.

But life is unpredictable; we never truly know what tomorrow holds.

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With lots of love

Your Authy

RR