Veins Of Obsession

CH-6 (leaving for Bangalore)

Saanvi paced through her modern, sleek office, her fingers grazing the edge of her polished mahogany desk. Her face was calm, but her mind was racing. The upcoming meeting in Bangalore was critical—she had to review important documents with her legal team, papers that could make or break an impending deal. There was no time to waste, and she refused to let any distraction—especially Ishaan—get in her way.

Gathering her things, she instructed her assistant to keep an eye on the company while she was away, her tone brisk and authoritative. “Make sure everything runs smoothly. I don’t want a single misstep while I’m out of town.”

As she walked towards the exit, she noticed something odd—a shadow that had lingered at the periphery of her senses for days seemed to have vanished. Saanvi shrugged it off; she had more pressing matters to deal with than paranoia.

__________________________________________

The mysterious observer, hidden in plain sight for weeks, had been about to follow Saanvi to Bangalore. He was always just a few steps behind her, unnoticed and unseen. But then, something more urgent caught his attention—a cryptic message flashed across his phone: "The Mafia Queen is back in Bangalore."

He froze, feeling a thrill of excitement and dread. The Mafia Queen—an elusive figure known only for her ruthlessness and meticulous execution of every task—had returned, a figure so feared and respected that even the smallest whisper of her arrival made waves. Her name carried weight, though no one had seen her face.

He hesitated, torn between his mission to watch Saanvi and the inevitable curiosity pulling him towards the city where the infamous Queen had reappeared. The Queen's movements took precedence, and he reluctantly abandoned his surveillance of Saanvi, slipping away into the shadows with a new target in mind.

___________________________________________

Across town, Ishaan was finishing a meeting when his parents called him into the study. His father’s expression was stern, his mother’s gaze expectant.

“Ishaan, you need to accompany Saanvi to the airport,” his father said without preamble. “She’s leaving for Bangalore, and you’re her fiancé. It’s your responsibility to see her off.”

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “I’m sure she’s perfectly capable of getting to the airport on her own.”

His mother’s eyes narrowed slightly, a silent warning. “You will go, Ishaan. Make an effort. It’s important.”

Realizing there was no use in arguing, he forced a smile and nodded. “Fine, I’ll take her. But don’t expect her to be pleased about it.”

The drive to the airport was tense. Saanvi sat in the back seat of Ishaan’s sleek black car, staring out the window with a distant look. Ishaan, ever the provocateur, glanced at her in the rearview mirror, enjoying the challenge of making her crack.

“You know, Saanvi,” he began smoothly, a teasing note in his voice, “it’s not every day a soon-to-be bride gets a personal escort from her loving fiancé. Aren’t you lucky?”

Saanvi didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, I feel positively blessed,” she said dryly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “How did I ever manage without your generous presence before?”

Ishaan’s smirk widened, delighted by her sharpness. “I’m sure you’ll find my company... indispensable soon enough.”

Saanvi gave him a sideways glance, arching an eyebrow. “Right. Like a paperweight—nice to look at but ultimately useless.”