His Bride

10 | Weak ?

Dhruv's Pov

"Her name is Netra Mehta?" I repeated, trying to mask the sudden storm raging inside me. The name itself carried weight, its ordinariness overshadowed by the legacy it belonged to.

"Yes," the Chief confirmed, adjusting his glasses with deliberate precision.
"The eldest daughter of Devanath Mehta, the man who single-handedly built Mehta Enterprises into an empire."

Devanath Mehta. A man whose name evoked both awe and unease in anyone who understood power. He wasn't just a businessman—he was a force, a master of strategy and ruthlessness, who dominated with an iron grip. And yet, even the strongest succumb to time. Six years ago, his reign ended, leaving behind a dynasty and a family cloaked in secrecy.

I leaned back, my arms crossing as my gaze bore into the Chief. "I thought he only had a son."

The Chief smirked knowingly, an expression that unnerved me. "No, Mr. Chauhan. He had a daughter too—Netra Mehta. The eldest."

This revelation caught me off guard. Aarav Mehta, the prodigal son, had always been the face of the empire. The world never mentioned a daughter. Why?

"Are you certain this information is accurate?" I pressed, my skepticism deepening. Families like theirs didn't hide heirs without reason.

"Hundred percent true," he replied with quiet confidence. His tone shifted, calculating. "Find her, Dhruv. Prove she's alive, and the RAW weapons deal will be yours."

The offer was tempting. Too tempting. "Give me time," I said, dismissing the Chief with a nod.

Once the room emptied, I sat back, staring at the file in my hand. A single name—Netra Mehta—now represented the center of a dangerous web of secrets. I had to know the truth.

"Dhruv," Arjun's voice cut through my thoughts. I glanced up at him as he entered the room, his face grim.

"What is it?"

"There's a way to confirm if Arushi is really Netra," he said, his tone steady but cautious.

My brow furrowed. "How?"

"Send our men to her house," Arjun suggested. "If she's Netra Mehta, she won't stay passive—especially if we make it about her daughter."

"What?" My voice hardened, disbelief sharp in my tone.

"It's a test," he argued, his calm demeanor unwavering. "We don't harm anyone. But if we rattle her cage, she'll show her true self."

I clenched my jaw, the suggestion leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Logical but cruel.

"Fine," I conceded after a tense pause. "But if anything happens to her or her daughter, you'll answer for it."

Arjun nodded, his faint smirk hinting at satisfaction. "Understood."

Later That Night

The air was heavy with tension as we assembled near Arushi's residence. My men were in position, their training evident in their silence and precision.

"Not a single scratch on her or her daughter," I reminded them, my voice cold and firm.

"Yes, Boss," they replied in unison.
I stayed in the shadows, watching as they moved in. Through the comms, I tracked their progress.

"She's in the living room, Boss. Target secured."

I exhaled, forcing myself to stay calm.

"She's not resisting," another voice chimed in. "She's... weak."

Weak. The word felt wrong, discordant with the picture of Netra Mehta I'd begun to piece together.

"Where's the child?" the team leader asked.

"In the bedroom," someone replied.
Then I heard it—a sharp, panicked cry that echoed through the comm. My heart clenched.

"Proceed carefully," I warned.
But before they could respond, chaos erupted.

"What the—!" someone shouted, panic thick in their voice.

"She's not weak anymore! She—"
The line went silent.

I moved quickly, entering the house with my heart pounding. Inside, the scene was chaotic. My men—trained operatives—were being dismantled by Arushi. Or rather, Netra.

Her movements were brutal, efficient, each strike calculated to incapacitate. One man lunged at her, and she twisted his arm until it snapped. Another charged, only for her to counter with a vicious kick to his knee, sending him sprawling.

Her eyes burned with fury as she stood protectively in front of her daughter. "Stay away from her!" she roared, her voice a command that froze the room.
Her daughter, trembling but unharmed, clung to her leg, tears streaming down her face. The sight of that terrified child only fueled Arushi's rage.

One of my men panicked, reaching for his gun.

"Don't," I growled, stepping forward.
But it was too late. In a blur, she disarmed him, the gun clattering to the ground as she struck him hard enough to knock him unconscious.

The living room was unrecognizable—furniture shattered, blood streaking the floor. My team was defeated, groaning and broken at her feet.

Netra Mehta / Arushi Mehara stood in the center, her chest heaving, her presence a storm. Her gaze locked onto me, and in that moment, I saw the truth.

"Arushi," I started cautiously.

"Don't you dare call me that," she spat, her voice sharp enough to cut.

I raised my hands, signaling my surrender. "We weren't going to hurt her," I said, though the words sounded hollow.

Her laugh was bitter. "You think that makes a difference? You broke into my home, terrified my child, and now you want me to trust you?"

I stayed silent, knowing anything I said would be futile.

"Leave," she ordered, her voice low and deadly. "Take your men and go before I finish what I have started."

Her threat wasn't empty. I nodded to my conscious men.

"RAW Chief is searching for you. He's in Rajasthan. Be careful," I said quietly before turning away.

As we retreated, I couldn't shake the weight of what I'd witnessed. Netra Mehta wasn't just dangerous—she was unstoppable. And for the first time, I wasn't sure I'd come out of this battle unscathed.