HOUSE OF LIES

7

At 4 AM, Rajveer sat at the edge of the sofa , dressed in his crisp office attire, sipping his usual strong black coffee. His gaze kept drifting towards Nandani, who lay asleep on the bed, her soft snores filling the quiet space. She looked peaceful, almost childlike, and the sight of her brought a warmth to his otherwise guarded expression.

“Adorable,” Rajveer whispered under his breath, a rare, soft smile tugging at his lips.

Unable to resist, he got up and moved towards her, carefully pulling the comforter higher to ensure she wasn’t cold. His hand lingered for a moment as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. A deep tenderness washed over him. For her, he'd break the world if needed.

Satisfied that she was warm, Rajveer walked towards the door, careful not to make a sound.

“Kuwar Sa, Advit Kuwar Sa has planted a spy in the house,” Bahadur's voice echoed from behind him as he stepped out.

Rajveer’s demeanor shifted instantly, his warmth replaced by cold calculation. His jaw clenched, but his voice remained calm, almost chillingly so.

“Let him think he’s ahead. Just make sure Nandani is safe,” he paused, his eyes darkening with resolve. “And fetch that bastard. Take him to the basement of my secret house.”

“Ji, Kuwar Sa,” Bahadur bowed in agreement, knowing full well the consequences awaiting anyone who dared to cross Rajveer.

As they approached the main door, a soft voice from behind made Rajveer halt mid-step.

“Are you... going somewhere?” Nandani’s sleepy, innocent tone broke through the silence. She stood at the top of the stairs, rubbing her eyes, clearly unaware of the sheer vulnerability in her appearance—dressed in just a top and shorts that left little to the imagination.

Rajveer turned slowly, his protective instincts kicking in immediately. His eyes scanned her from head to toe, then flicked over to Bahadur. A silent signal passed between them, and Bahadur quickly looked away and hurried out of sight, bowing respectfully as he left.

Rajveer’s gaze softened as he looked at Nandani again, though his mind remained alert. “What are you doing here, cupcake?” he asked, his voice low and affectionate.

“I couldn’t find you,” she mumbled, pouting in that way that always melted his heart.

For a brief moment, Rajveer was lost in her, mesmerized by her innocence. But the sound of approaching footsteps pulled him back to reality.

“Bhai Sa, are you heading to the office?” Abhimanyu’s voice interrupted as he appeared around the corner.

Rajveer's posture stiffened, and without missing a beat, he quickly shrugged off his black blazer, shielding Nandani behind his tall, broad frame.

“Bhai Sa, I was just going to greet Bhabhi Sa,” Abhimanyu said, confused by Rajveer’s sudden movement.

“You head to the office. I’ll be there soon,” Rajveer replied, his tone sharp and final. In one swift motion, he scooped Nandani up into his arms, wrapping her in his blazer to cover her bare skin.

As he carried her back to their room, he could feel her relax against him, already half-asleep again. By the time they reached the bed, she was softly snoring once more, lost in her dreams.

Rajveer laid her down gently, sitting beside her as he ran his fingers through her hair. His expression darkened as he took in the sight of her swollen eyes and dried tears. She had cried all night, tormented by nightmares, and Rajveer had stayed awake, watching over her the entire time.

He leaned down, kissing her forehead tenderly. “Biwi, you can roam around naked in this room , but not outside , because if somebody see you like this , i might plug his eye balls out , so lets not make this world blind ?”

He brushed a finger gently against her cheek, his heart heavy with both love and vengeance. "I swear, that bastard will cry blood for what he did to you." His voice, though low, was filled with venom as he watched over her, silently promising to make anyone who harmed her pay dearly.

With one last glance at her peaceful form, Rajveer stood up and left the room, his mind already filled with the dark plans he would set into motion. Nandani’s safety was his priority, and no one would escape his wrath.