THE GLIDED CAGE

6

The ride home from Ranveer’s mansion felt like a blur to Ishita. Her mind raced with everything that had transpired, every word Ranveer had said, and the cold, possessive way he had claimed her life as his. His presence lingered with her, heavy and suffocating. Despite her growing fear, Ishita couldn’t deny the strange, magnetic pull between them—a force that terrified her as much as it captivated her.

But she couldn’t afford to get lost in whatever twisted game Ranveer was playing. Aarav was her priority. She needed to protect him, and that meant keeping her head clear and finding a way out of this nightmare. Somehow.

When she finally arrived home, Aarav was still awake, sitting on the couch with his headphones on, laughing at something on his computer screen. For a moment, a wave of relief washed over her. He was safe. Nothing had happened to him—yet.

But Ranveer’s words echoed in her mind: *“As long as you’re with me, he’s safe.”*

“Didi, you’re home late,” Aarav said, looking up as she entered. He pulled off his headphones, flashing her a grin. “Big day at work?”

Ishita forced a smile, her heart aching at the sight of him. He had no idea what danger they were in. She couldn’t tell him. If he knew, he might try to fight back, and that would only make things worse. Aarav wasn’t part of this world, and she needed to keep it that way.

“Yeah, just a long day,” she replied, trying to keep her voice light as she dropped her bag on the table and headed to the kitchen. “How was your stream?”

“It was awesome!” Aarav followed her, excitedly recounting his latest game and the new collaborations he had lined up. His voice was full of enthusiasm, and for a brief moment, Ishita felt a pang of guilt. She was supposed to protect him, to give him a life free from worries—and yet, here she was, trapped in a web of lies and danger.

“I’m glad it’s going well,” she said softly, turning away so he wouldn’t see the worry in her eyes. “But you need to get some rest. It’s late.”

Aarav chuckled. “You’re always worrying too much, Didi. I’m fine.”

Ishita smiled faintly, but inside, her resolve was crumbling. She didn’t know how much longer she could keep up this charade. Every day, Ranveer’s grip on her tightened, and she felt herself slipping deeper into his world. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to stay strong, for Aarav’s sake.

The next day at work, Ishita found it impossible to concentrate. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of Ranveer, the warning he had given her, and the growing tension between them. He was always there—watching, waiting, controlling. Every time their eyes met, it sent a shiver down her spine. His presence was like a shadow that she couldn’t shake.

As the day dragged on, Ishita tried to focus on her tasks, but her phone buzzed with a text that shattered her already fragile composure.

**Unknown:** *"Meet me in my office. Now."*

Her heart sank. She knew who it was. Ranveer.

Ishita took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she gathered her things and made her way to his office. She didn’t know what to expect, but she knew one thing: every time she was alone with him, the line between fear and something else blurred a little more.

When she reached his office, the door was already open. Ranveer sat behind his desk, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. He looked up as she entered, his gaze sharp, as if he could see right through her.

“Close the door,” he commanded.

Ishita did as he said, her heart pounding in her chest. She stood there, unsure of what to say, unsure of why he had called her.

Ranveer stood and walked around the desk, stopping just inches away from her. His presence was overwhelming, his gaze intense. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.

“Ishita,” he began, his voice low and controlled, “I gave you a chance to understand how things work. But it seems you’re still not taking this seriously.”

She swallowed hard, her mouth dry. “I—I don’t understand what you want from me.”

Ranveer’s jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You know exactly what I want.”

Her breath caught in her throat. She backed up instinctively, but Ranveer grabbed her wrist, pulling her back toward him. His grip was firm, but not painful—just enough to remind her that she wasn’t going anywhere.

“You’re mine,” he said, his voice like ice. “And I don’t like it when people try to run from me.”

“I’m not running,” she whispered, though her voice trembled. “I’m just trying to live my life.”

Ranveer’s eyes flashed with something dark, and he pulled her even closer, his breath warm against her ear. “Your life is mine now, Ishita. Every part of it. You can try to fight it, but you’ll only make it harder for yourself.”

Her pulse raced as she struggled to process his words. She couldn’t let him control her like this, but she also couldn’t risk defying him. The stakes were too high, and Aarav’s safety hung in the balance.

“Why?” she asked, her voice barely audible. “Why are you doing this?”

Ranveer’s grip on her wrist loosened, but he didn’t let go. His gaze softened slightly, though the intensity remained. “Because you don’t belong in this world, Ishita. You’re too... innocent. Too vulnerable. And people like you don’t survive here without someone to protect them.”

She shook her head, confusion swirling in her mind. “I don’t need your protection.”

Ranveer’s lips curved into a slight smile, though there was no warmth in it. “You will.”

Before she could respond, the door to the office burst open, and Aarav stormed in, his face red with anger.

“Ishita!” he yelled, his eyes wild with fury. “What’s going on here? Why didn’t you tell me about any of this?”

Ishita froze, her blood turning to ice. How did Aarav find out? What had he seen?

Ranveer’s expression darkened, his cold gaze shifting to Aarav. For the first time, Ishita saw something dangerous in his eyes—a flash of warning, a glimpse of the ruthless man behind the calm façade.

“Aarav, you need to leave,” Ishita said quickly, stepping forward to block his path.

But Aarav wasn’t listening. He was staring at Ranveer, his hands clenched into fists. “You think you can just control her like that? You think I’m going to let you do this?”

Ranveer didn’t move, his gaze never leaving Aarav. “This isn’t your fight, boy.”

Aarav took a step forward, his voice shaking with anger. “It’s my fight if it involves my sister.”

Ishita’s heart raced as the tension in the room escalated. She had to stop this before things spiraled out of control.

“Aarav, please,” she begged, her voice breaking. “Just go. I’ll explain everything later.”

But Aarav wasn’t backing down, and Ranveer wasn’t the type to tolerate defiance. Ishita could see it in his eyes—the cold, merciless man who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone who stood in his way.

Ranveer’s gaze flicked between them, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve made a mistake, Aarav.”

Ishita’s breath caught in her throat, fear clawing at her insides. She knew that tone. Ranveer was about to show them just how far he was willing to go to keep control.

And she wasn’t sure if there was anything she could do to stop it.

To be countinue
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