A LOVE WRITTEN IN SHADOWS

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Counterstrike

The sun had barely risen over the city when Devansh's phone lit up with an alert from Rajesh. It was one he'd been expecting, yet it arrived sooner than anticipated.

"He's moving fast," Devansh thought grimly as he scanned the message: "Raghav's inner circle has regrouped. Reports of him strategizing with new associates came in just now."*

Devansh met Rajesh in the penthouse boardroom, where Kabir had also arrived, tension thick in the air. Rajesh tapped his laptop, pulling up live footage from a secured source showing Raghav entering a nondescript building with a group of men in suits.

"He's doubling down, likely leveraging connections we haven't identified yet," Rajesh explained, pausing the footage. "He's with someone we recognize—Mihir Dhanraj. A corporate broker with a shadowy reputation. Mihir's the type to clean up messes for a price, and he's close to some powerful underworld players."

Devansh's jaw clenched at the sight of Mihir's face on the screen. Mihir's presence confirmed that Raghav had rallied forces quickly and was wasting no time in gathering weapons of his own.

"So he's trying to buy time, cover his losses," Devansh noted, his gaze dark. "Which means he'll likely come for us directly once he's done. We need to keep pressing while he's distracted. Kabir, I need you on the inside—find out what Mihir is planning for him. But be cautious; this needs to stay clean."

**Kabir nodded, understanding the gravity. "I'll reach out to my contacts tonight. Raghav won't see it coming. I'll get inside Dhanraj's circle."

That evening, Devansh returned home after hours of high-stakes planning. Despite the tension building in his mind, the sight of Saanvi waiting in the living room with Saira asleep on her shoulder brought a sense of calm he hadn't felt in days. She looked up, eyes soft but questioning. She had noticed his absence more than usual.

"Everything alright?" she asked gently, worry flashing across her face.

"It will be," he assured her, stepping closer to press a kiss to her forehead. He didn't want her to know the extent of the chaos yet, but he also knew she deserved honesty.

"Raghav's retaliating faster than we planned. But we're ready. Kabir is infiltrating his side, and Rajesh and I have an eye on every move he makes."

**Saanvi's expression turned serious, a hint of fear in her eyes, though she nodded, trusting him completely. "Promise me you'll be careful, Devansh. I can't lose you, especially not now."

**He reached out, pulling her close. "I promise. Raghav's not going to win this."

In the days that followed, Kabir successfully wormed his way into Mihir Dhanraj's network, gathering fragments of conversations and elusive hints about Raghav's escalating plans. Information trickled in slowly, but by the end of the week, Kabir had intel on a clandestine deal between Raghav and Mihir. They planned to strike back at Devansh in a manner that would implicate him publicly, potentially using staged "evidence" to ruin his reputation.

"We need to stay ahead of this, Devansh," Kabir warned as they met in a secure location later that night. "If they succeed, it could destroy your credibility before we can strike back."

**Devansh nodded, his face set in determination. "Then we'll have to counter it before it takes root. Leak just enough of their plan to the right sources—let the media catch wind that Raghav is using manipulation tactics and that he's retaliating against supposed competitors. We need to control the narrative before he does."