Be Mine

47. Two Lost Friends 🫂

Happy reading 🥳

A U T H O R' S   P O V

Adarsh Singh Rathore was a man who thrived on strategy, and as a mafia leader, he knew how to play the dirtiest of games. He wasn’t surprised to see Aditya and Abhiman storm into the abandoned factory. He had anticipated it. In fact, he had set up everything to ensure that even if they arrived, he held the upper hand.

Aki sat tied to a chair in the dimly lit room, her head slumped forward. Above her, suspended by chains, hung a 100kg iron ball. The remote to release the ball rested in Adarsh’s hand. It was his insurance, his trump card. One press of a button, and the ball would crush Aki. He smirked as Aditya’s panicked eyes scanned the room, quickly landing on her unconscious figure.

But as Aditya stepped forward, intent on rescuing her, something unexpected happened. Adarsh’s smug expression vanished, replaced by shock as his gaze locked onto the man standing behind Aditya—Manan Shekhawat. 

"You," they both said simultaneously, their voices filled with disbelief. 

Aditya and Abhiman exchanged confused glances. Aditya moved instinctively toward Aki, his heart racing, but Abhiman stopped him with a firm grip on his arm, pointing to the iron ball hanging precariously above her. 

“It’s too dangerous right now,” Abhiman said, his voice low and steady. 

Manan, however, was far from calm. His eyes burned with anger as he strode toward Adarsh. “What are you doing here, Adarsh? What is this madness?” 

Adarsh straightened, his composure returning. “I’m here to end her,” he said coldly, holding up the remote. “She’s Aditya’s weakness, and in our world, there is no room for weakness.” 

“Dad, no!” Aditya’s voice cracked as he dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “Please don’t hurt her. I can’t live without her. If you take her from me, you might as well kill me too. Because without Aki, there’s no Adi.” 

Adarsh sneered. “I told you to choose. Her, or her life—” 

But before he could finish, Manan grabbed him by the collar, his fury erupting. “You dare hurt her? She is *my daughter*, Akirti Manan Shekhawat! By harming her, you’re declaring war on me!” 

Adarsh froze, confusion flashing across his face. “What? Your daughter? How is that possible?” He turned to Aditya, his face pale, seeking confirmation. 

Aditya nodded slowly, his voice trembling. “Yes. Aki… Aki is his daughter.” 

Adarsh stumbled back a step, the weight of the revelation crashing down on him. “So you mean to tell me,” he said, his voice hoarse, “that your daughter and my son are in love? That they’re going to marry?” 

Manan’s jaw tightened, but he released Adarsh, standing tall. “Yes, they are.” 

For a moment, there was silence. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Adarsh’s face broke into a wide grin. He stepped forward and hugged Manan tightly. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this! Our dream of uniting our families is going to come true!” 

Aditya and Abhiman stared at them, dumbfounded. 

Manan, however, wasn’t smiling. His face hardened as he shoved Adarsh away. “But what if she wasn’t my daughter?” he demanded, his voice trembling with rage. “Would you have killed her, Adarsh? Would you have taken an innocent life just to teach your son a lesson?” 

Adarsh’s expression sobered. “He’s a fool,” he said bluntly. “He’s blinded by love. I told him to focus on the business, to follow in my footsteps. But he refused. I had to do something. She is his weakness, and in our world, weaknesses get you killed.”