After Advait left Samaira heartbroken on the day that was supposed to be the happiest of her life-their wedding day-her world shatters. Picking up the pieces, she barely manages to rebuild herself when her family insists she marry Aarav, a successfu...
Advait’s car screeched down the narrow street, its headlights cutting through the dusk like blades in the night. Samaira sat silently in the passenger seat, her mind racing with confusion and unease. The world outside seemed to blur as the speed of the car intensified. The air inside felt thick with unspoken words, and Samaira couldn't shake the feeling that something dangerous loomed ahead.
The house they pulled up to wasn’t grand in the way Advait’s mansion was, but it was far from ordinary. A sleek, modern design—shadows dancing across the walls, casting an eerie sense of foreboding. It stood there, almost out of place, like something waiting to reveal its secrets.
Advait didn’t waste any time. He stepped out of the car swiftly, opening the door for Samaira. “Stay close,” he said, his tone low, urgent.
She followed him, heart pounding. It felt like a warning. As they approached the front door, it opened without hesitation. Standing in the doorway was a woman—Rhea. Her sharp gaze swept over them, her lips curving into a knowing smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“What is she doing here?” Rhea’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. There was no warmth, no welcome. Just a clear question, demanding an answer.
Advait’s eyes darkened, and he sighed, frustration evident in his features. “I didn’t have the time to drop her back before coming here. She’s with me.”
Rhea’s gaze flicked to Samaira briefly, sizing her up, her expression unreadable. Then, turning back to Advait, she nodded, though her eyes still held a note of suspicion. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
Advait’s eyes softened as he turned to Samaira. “Samaira, this is Rhea. An old friend—and an ally of mine. Rhea, as you know she's Mrs. Advait Singh Shekhawat.”
Without another word, Rhea stepped aside, motioning for them to enter. Samaira followed Advait through the dimly lit hallway, the air thick with something that felt like secrecy, like danger just beneath the surface.
The study room they entered was large, cluttered with papers, blueprints, and a variety of electronic devices—each item seemingly out of place, like it was meant for something far darker than what it appeared. At the center of the room, a large package sat on the desk, an aura of urgency surrounding it.
“It came earlier than expected,” Rhea said, her tone cool and detached, though Samaira could hear the faint tremor of uncertainty in her voice. “That’s why I called you here. We both know what this is—and how important it is. I couldn’t take any risks. But I don’t understand why it arrived so soon.”
Advait’s eyes narrowed. “It wasn’t supposed to be here yet?” His voice dropped, as if the very notion of the package’s premature arrival meant something far more serious than it appeared. His fingers brushed against the package, as though trying to decode it with nothing but his touch.
“No,” Rhea replied quietly, shaking her head. “It’s too soon. I’ve already taken precautions, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s not right. They know we’re here.”
The tension between them grew palpable, a silent storm brewing in the room. Samaira felt it in the pit of her stomach, her unease deepening. She wanted to speak, to ask what they were talking about, but the words wouldn’t come. The growing silence was suffocating.
Before anyone could say another word, the window beside them shattered with a deafening crack. The air was suddenly filled with the sharp, violent sound of gunfire. Samaira froze, her heart leaping into her throat as Advait’s arm shot out, grabbing her and pulling her against his chest. His body shielded her, his arms locking around her tightly as the bullet sliced through the space where she’d been standing just a fraction of a second earlier.
A scream died in her throat. All she could hear was the pounding of her own heart, the blood rushing in her ears. She was pressed against him, his warmth radiating through her, grounding her—yet in that moment, she was acutely aware of how fragile their reality was.
Rhea moved with cold precision, shutting the curtains as another round of gunfire rang out, the sound deafening. A guard burst into the room, panting, his eyes wide with fear. “Sir! There are more of them—too many to handle. We’re outnumbered.”
Advait didn’t flinch. His eyes flicked over to the guard, his expression a perfect mask of calm. “They know this is where I am. They’ve been planning this. They’re trying to trap me here.”
Samaira’s chest tightened. Trap him? She barely had time to process the words before Advait slowly released her from his protective hold, his hand brushing against her shoulder as he pulled away.
“Stay calm,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but it carried an authority that made her breath catch in her throat. “Don’t worry. Just stay here with Rhea. I’ll sort this out.”
Samaira’s mind was a whirlwind of questions. Her lips parted, wanting to speak, to demand answers, but no words came. All she could do was nod, though her heart pounded in her chest. Advait’s gaze flicked toward Rhea, the silent command clear.
Keep her safe.
Rhea nodded with an eerie calmness, her eyes locking with Advait’s for a split second before she turned toward Samaira. “Come with me,” she said, her tone almost gentle. “Let’s have a little chat.”
Samaira had no choice but to follow. As they entered another room, Rhea casually poured herself a cup of coffee and offered one to Samaira. The clink of the porcelain cup against the saucer sounded impossibly loud in the silence.
“Care for some?” Rhea asked, her voice smooth, almost mocking. “I know things are... tense. But really, there’s no need to panic.”
Samaira’s heart was still racing, her mind refusing to calm. “Are you serious?” she snapped, her patience finally snapping. “Advait is out there, fighting for his life, and you’re sitting here drinking coffee like it’s just another day?”
Rhea’s smile was cool, unbothered. “It’s nothing like what you think, Samaira. This... this is just another part of our usual work. You’re not involved in this. For now, just sit tight. Drink your coffee.”
Samaira’s frustration boiled over. “Who are you really, Rhea? And who are they—these people trying to kill us?”
Rhea’s expression softened, just a touch, as if she were indulging Samaira’s curiosity. “All in good time. Advait will explain it to you when he’s ready. For now, though, let’s talk about you, shall we?”
Samaira blinked in confusion. “Me?” She felt exposed, vulnerable, but Rhea’s casual demeanor made it clear that Samaira’s presence here wasn’t a coincidence. She wasn’t just a passive bystander in all of this.
Rhea leaned back in her chair, studying Samaira with a predatory gaze. “Yes. I’ve always wondered about you. You’ve intrigued me. And now, it’s nice to finally meet the woman who has managed to capture Advait’s attention.”
Samaira stiffened, her pulse quickening. “What do you want from me?”
Rhea’s smile widened, a cold, calculating expression. “I’m just getting started.”
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