UNWILLINGLY HIS

Partners

The air inside the room felt thick with unspoken tension. Samaira sat across from Rhea, still reeling from the chaos that had erupted just moments ago. Her thoughts were scrambled, trying to piece together everything she had just learned—or rather, everything that had been left unsaid.

Rhea’s calm demeanor only served to intensify the storm brewing inside Samaira. How could she stay so composed while everything around them seemed to be falling apart?

Samaira’s mind raced, questions tumbling over one another. Why had Advait been so protective of her, even when she didn’t understand why? What was the connection between him and Rhea, and why was she here—sitting in this strange house with people she barely knew, surrounded by danger?

She wanted to ask Rhea more, to demand answers, but a small part of her held back. There was something disarming about the woman before her—a quiet confidence that made Samaira hesitate. Still, her thoughts bubbled over.

“Why did Advait bring me here?” Samaira blurted out, unable to contain the frustration building up inside. “Why did he say I should stay here while he… whatever he’s doing out there? This doesn’t feel like something I can just ignore.”

Rhea leaned back in her chair, sipping her coffee with a relaxed air, as though this were all just another ordinary day. "You’re not here to ignore anything, Samaira. Advait doesn’t bring people into this world lightly. He trusts you." Her eyes glinted, and for the first time, Samaira noticed something sharp in her gaze, something calculating.

“He trusts me?” Samaira echoed, incredulity in her voice. “Why? I don’t even understand what’s going on! I don’t know what any of this means, what you are, what you do.”

Rhea set her cup down gently, her gaze softening just slightly. "I know it’s a lot to take in. But the truth is, Advait talks about you often. More than you probably know. He told me how much you’ve been a part of his life, even when you didn’t realize it." She paused for a moment, watching Samaira’s expression. "He rejected me, Samaira. Because of you."

The words hit Samaira like a slap. "What?" she whispered, her heart thudding heavily in her chest.

"Yes," Rhea continued, her voice smooth, almost sad. "I wanted to be with him. I even asked him once. But he told me no. He said there was someone else, someone he couldn’t let go of. You."

Samaira’s mind reeled, unable to process the depth of Rhea’s confession. “But… but why? Why would he choose me?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She couldn’t fathom it. She wasn’t anyone extraordinary. Just a woman who had found herself caught up in something much larger than her own understanding.

Rhea tilted her head, a small, enigmatic smile playing at her lips. "That’s something only Advait can explain, Samaira. But one thing I know for sure, he has his reasons. And I think you’ll see them soon enough."

Samaira couldn’t help but feel a tightness in her chest, a blend of anger, confusion, and something else she couldn’t quite identify. How could Advait be so blind to her own feelings? She’d been caught in his world without ever truly understanding what it meant. The very fact that Rhea, someone so composed, could feel rejected by Advait stung.

But then, a thought hit her. What if there was more to this than just Advait’s feelings? What if the whole situation was much bigger than she realized? Samaira looked at Rhea, her mind turning over the possibilities.

"So, you’re working with him, aren’t you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, though she knew it was the question she had to ask.

Rhea’s eyes met hers, and there was no hiding the coldness that flashed in them. "We’re not just working together," she said, her voice icy now. "We’re partners, in everything, but only you are the one who holds his heart."

It was the first time Samaira saw the true weight of what Rhea meant. Partner. In every sense. She had been so blinded by her feelings in the past for Advait, so lost in trying to piece together his conflicting actions, that she never stopped to wonder about the people in his life, the ones he worked with. The ones who helped him navigate this dangerous, shadowy world.

Rhea’s gaze softened again, as though sensing Samaira’s growing turmoil. “You’re not as naïve as you seem, Samaira. I can see it in your eyes. You’re already starting to connect the dots, aren’t you?”

Samaira clenched her fists, trying to steady her emotions. "I don’t know what you want from me, Rhea. But I’m not going to just sit here while all of this unfolds. What exactly are you and Advait involved in? What does it all mean?"

Rhea’s smile grew, this time more genuine, and somehow more chilling. "You’ll find out soon enough. But for now, just know this: you’re safer here than you think. They won’t hurt you. Not while Advait’s around."

For the first time, Samaira truly believed Rhea. There was something about her quiet confidence, her assurance, that struck Samaira. But that didn’t mean she was fully convinced. No, there were too many questions still left unanswered.

The sound of a door slamming open echoed through the house, followed by the hurried footsteps of Advait. Samaira’s heart skipped a beat, and before she could even turn to face him, he was standing in the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room. His presence immediately filled the space, making Samaira feel both safe and exposed all at once.

Rhea stood up, her movements fluid. "Everything’s under control," she said, her voice calm but purposeful.

Advait’s gaze flicked between the two women, and for a split second, Samaira swore she saw something flicker in his eyes—something unspoken, something he wasn’t telling her.

"You’re safe here for now, Samaira," Advait said, his voice low, steady. "But we need to talk. There’s more going on than you think."

Samaira stared at him, her eyes narrowing. "Then start explaining," she demanded, her voice firmer than she felt. "Because I can’t keep pretending I don’t know what’s happening."

Advait exhaled slowly and turned to Rhea, his jaw tight. "We’ll need to be careful from here on out. There’s a storm coming."