Vows Of Vengeance

Chapter 6

The morning sun, a timid intruder, struggled to pierce the thick, velvet curtains of Aradhya's hotel suite. The room, a stark contrast to the opulence of her usual world, was a testament to the whirlwind of the past few days. A half-empty glass of water stood as a silent sentinel on the nightstand, a relic of a night spent in restless contemplation. Dark circles etched themselves into the porcelain canvas of her face, a stark marker of the sleepless hours.

Aradhya sat at a small, portable desk, its surface cluttered with documents and a half-finished cup of coffee. The hotel's business centre had become her temporary command post. The sterile, clinical environment of the room mirrored the cold efficiency with which she was approaching the case.

The sharp rap of knuckles against the door broke the sombre tranquillity. Aradhya's gaze, weary yet sharp, moved towards the door. "Enter," she commanded, her voice a low, husky whisper.

Jung, her trusted confidant and efficient secretary, stepped into the room. The stark contrast between the sleek, tailored suit he wore and the casual, almost dishevelled appearance of the hotel room was striking. In his hands, he held a thick, leather folder, its weight promising a wealth of information.

The hotel room, while comfortable, lacked the grandeur and personal touches of Aradhya's usual office. The walls were bare, save for a few generic prints. The soft, plush carpet muffled the sound of footsteps, creating an atmosphere of hushed intimacy. Yet, despite the mundane surroundings, the intensity of the situation electrified the air.

Jung placed the folder on the desk with a soft thud. "Ma'am, your suspicion was right," he began, his voice low and measured. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the casual setting.

Aradhya's eyes scanned the documents rapidly, her expression hardening as she progressed. Jung watched her closely, his own face a mask of impassivity. The room was now charged with an undercurrent of tension.

"I see," Aradhya finally murmured, her voice barely audible. She closed the folder with a decisive snap, her gaze fixed on Jung. "This is serious, Jung. Very serious."

Aradhya browsed through the contents after listening to her secretary.

Pihu Diwan was a woman consumed by ambition. Her world revolved around status, wealth, and power. Mrityunjay Raisinghania, the charismatic and successful heir to the Raisinghania empire, was the ultimate trophy in her eyes. She had been infatuated with him since their teenage years, a fascination that had transformed into an obsession over time.

Driven by her desire, Pihu turned to her mother, Payal, a woman who understood the language of power and influence. Together, they hatched a plan to secure Pihu's future. Payal approached Raghav Diwan, her husband, with a proposition. A marriage alliance between the Diwans and the Raisinghanias could be a strategic move, a lifeline for their struggling empire.

Raghav, a man always on the lookout for opportunities, saw the merit in the proposal. With the Diwan Group on the brink of financial ruin, a strategic marriage was their last hope. He approached Vansh Raisinghania, a long-time friend and the father of Mrityunjay, with the marriage proposal. Vansh, though taken aback by the unexpected offer, saw an opportunity to secure his own son's future as well. Mrityunjay had been consistently rejecting marriage proposals, much to Vansh's frustration. Seeing this as a way to solve two problems at once-helping his friend and getting his son married-Vansh agreed to the proposal.

However, Mrityunjay outright refused when Vansh brought up the idea of marrying Pihu. Determined to make the alliance happen, Vansh resorted to blackmail, threatening to use the Raisinghania Company as leverage. Reluctantly, Mrityunjay agreed, but on one condition: he would marry Aisha, Pihu's younger sister, instead of Pihu. He assumed Raghav would refuse, given that Aisha was only 20, and the marriage would be called off. But to his surprise, Raghav accepted the condition, so now he could not deny as he had kept the condition of Aisha forward.