Veins Of Obsession

CH - 19 ( The Return of Naira )

Years later, as the drama between Saanvi and Ishaan unfolded, Naira’s name resurfaced. She was no longer the woman who had been destroyed by betrayal. Now, she was someone who moved in the darkest corners of the underworld—a player with her own agenda, seeking to manipulate events from the shadows. Her messages to Saanvi, the anonymous tips, the secrets she revealed were all part of a bigger game.

Naira: (in a shadowy corner of an unnamed club, watching the chaos unfold) “They think they can play this game without me? Foolish. The stage is set, and it’s time I take back what’s mine.”
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For Saanvi, the realization of Naira's connection to Ishaan, her father's betrayal, and the twisted web of revenge hit like a tidal wave. She understood now why Ishaan had chosen her, why he had pursued her so relentlessly. But the revelation did not weaken her resolve—it sharpened it.

Saanvi now knew the real reason why Ishaan wanted to marry her. She saw the flicker of vengeance in his eyes every time he looked at her, and yet she felt something deeper—a connection that went beyond revenge. She had learned about Naira’s past, about the humiliation, about the Mehta family’s fall, and she had made her own plans to turn the game around.

The ghosts of their families’ pasts loomed over them, and as their wedding approached, they both understood one thing—only one of them would come out on top, and neither was willing to lose.

Their story wasn’t just about love or revenge. It was about legacy, betrayal, and a power struggle that had lasted for generations. Naira’s fall had set this war into motion, and now, with both families on the brink of a new era, the game was about to reach its deadly climax.

Who would win—the Mehtas, seeking to reclaim their honor, or the Mehras, fighting to protect what was left of theirs? Only time, and the hearts of two fierce adversaries, would tell.
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Time passed in a haze of business meetings and sleepless nights. Saanvi was drowning herself in work, using every spare moment to piece together the hidden truth behind the Mehta-Mehra feud. Her investigation into Naira’s past revealed layers of deceit, and the deeper she dug, the more it looked like the Mehra family might not have been responsible after all. But with no proof to clear her family’s name, she found herself trapped in a web of doubt and desperation.

Meanwhile, Ishaan’s demeanor grew colder and more detached with each passing day. The warmth he’d once shown her, even if it was a façade, had vanished entirely. Now, he was distant and curt, an icy barrier shielding his true thoughts. Yet, despite the frosty tension between them, Ishaan’s obsession with Saanvi only intensified. The more he pushed her away, the more he found himself consumed by thoughts of her—wondering what she was doing, what she was thinking. It infuriated him how she had wedged herself into his mind, a distraction he didn’t want but couldn’t ignore.
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One evening, the silence in the Mehta mansion was shattered by an unexpected arrival. Naira stepped into the grand foyer, her expression hardened by years of bitterness and betrayal. The once beloved member of the Mehta family had returned, but not with warmth or nostalgia—she returned with vengeance burning in her eyes, her anger directed squarely at the Mehra name.

Naira: (her voice a low, dangerous whisper to Ishaan) “You let a Mehra into this house, into our family, Ishaan? Have you forgotten what they did to us, what they did to me?”

Ishaan glanced at Naira, his own expression unreadable. But behind his indifferent gaze, he was unraveling. Despite his obsession with Saanvi, he couldn’t shake the bitterness that Naira’s past had ingrained in him. He felt torn—between the cousin he’d vowed to avenge and the woman he was starting to see in ways he refused to admit.

Ishaan: (calmly) “I haven’t forgotten anything, Naira. Saanvi is here for a reason. The Mehras deserve to suffer, and I intend to see it through.”

Naira’s anger softened into satisfaction, yet she was still suspicious. She could sense something different in Ishaan’s tone—a sliver of hesitation. But she brushed it off, hoping her cousin hadn’t fallen prey to the very woman he was meant to destroy.
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Saanvi and Naira’s Encounter

Days passed, and tensions mounted until Saanvi found herself face-to-face with Naira. The air between them crackled with tension; both women knew they were adversaries, bound by a history they didn’t entirely understand.

Naira: (with venom) “I’m surprised you even dare to show your face here, Saanvi. Your family destroyed mine… and yet you live here, pretending as if you belong.”

Saanvi: (holding Naira’s gaze, her voice unwavering) “Believe what you want, Naira. But don’t forget that assumptions without proof are what led us here in the first place. Whatever happened to you… I will find the truth, even if it means uncovering my own family’s secrets.”

For a moment, Naira looked taken aback, but her resolve hardened. She wasn’t going to let Saanvi’s words shake her. She would see her vengeance through, no matter what.
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Three Months Later - The Tension Between Saanvi and Ishaan

Three months passed, and in that time, Saanvi and Ishaan barely spoke outside of formal exchanges. They lived like strangers, each focused on their own battles. But every time they crossed paths, unspoken words hung heavily in the air. Ishaan would steal glances at her when he thought she wasn’t looking, hating himself for the flutter of worry that tugged at him every time she stayed late at the office or appeared tired.

On the other hand, Saanvi’s nights were restless, plagued by flashes of memories. She couldn’t stop thinking of Ishaan—how he’d smiled that one time, how he’d stood protectively beside her. She tried to convince herself it was all part of the act, that there was nothing real between them. But the feelings continued to nag at her.

Saanvi: (sighing to herself, thinking) “Ahh, stop thinking about this, Saanvi! You can’t let yourself be affected by a man who despises you. He’s blinded by revenge. That’s all there is to it.”
___

In his study, Ishaan sat alone, the dim light casting shadows across his face as he swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand. His thoughts drifted to Saanvi, unwillingly pulled to the forefront of his mind.

Ishaan: (whispering to himself) “She’s more than just a pawn in this game… No. I can’t let this weakness consume me. She’s just a means to an end. And yet…”

The memory of her laughter, her fierce gaze, the way she’d stood her ground against him—it all stirred something within him. It was maddening, the way she occupied his thoughts.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Saanvi walked in, her steps hesitant.

Saanvi: (mockingly) “Lost in thought, Mr. Mehta? I didn’t think you were capable of anything beyond cold calculations.”

Ishaan looked up, his gaze hardening, but he couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his lips.

Ishaan: (leaning back in his chair, voice low) “And yet, you seem to think about me just as much, Mrs. Mehta. Isn’t that ironic?”

The banter between them was electric, each word laced with both mockery and something else—a connection they couldn’t ignore.

Saanvi: (scoffing, crossing her arms) “Don’t flatter yourself. You’re nothing but a distraction, an annoyance I’ll have to tolerate… temporarily.”

Ishaan: (smirking, stepping closer) “Oh, but you do more than tolerate me, don’t you? Admit it, Saanvi… you’re as drawn to this as I am.”

Their faces were inches apart, the intensity between them palpable. But just as quickly, Saanvi turned away, masking her emotions with a defiant glare.

As they moved forward in this tangled game of revenge and attraction, both Ishaan and Saanvi were unaware of the dark figure watching them from afar. Someone who knew their every move, every weakness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
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