Ishq hua (Duet 1)

Chapter 11: Fractured pleas

Arsh:

Aira had pushed me to the edge, crossed every line I had tried to draw. I told her - gave her a way out, a chance to be free. But she didn't take it. Now, instead of facing the consequences, she thought she could run.

Despite all my warning, she had to give it a try. Run from me, try to get away from me.

I did everything to keep myself from pushing her beyond her limits but she had to test me.

She used my little sister against me even though all my family gave her is love. They adored her, considered her a part of the family, went against me for her sake and yet she betrayed my little sister.

And yet all my family cared about was her safety because someone had put a bounty on her to get her killed and I was the one standing between her and certain death.

Someone want her dead, and her own family barely cares.

Things have changed a bit after the previous day. The news is all about the Oberois and their new daughter in law and the speculations about her.

I stared at the camera feed showing her in the room, her knees curled upto her chest, her hands wrapped around her as she sat there on the floor, against the wall. She was scared - I could see it in her eyes, every glance she threw at the door as if expecting me to burst in at any moment. She knew I wouldn't let her go that easily, but she still had the audacity to beg me to release her. As if I could.

It sickened me, how torn I was. My instincts screamed to protect her, to keep her safe. But the whole of me juat wamted revenge - to hurt her somehow and she has given me the chance.

Her attempts to escape me - a part of me wanted her to feel the weight of her actions. I wanted revenge and yet I couldn't let her die.

I want to make her grandfather suffer and with the news of Aira Agnihotri being my wife in the headlines, my sources have told me of his frustration.

After two years of keeping his granddaughter a secret, I brought her in front of the world.

The world wanted to know the reason and Mr. Agnihotri had nothing to say for once in his life.

Her family was coming to India, Vijay Agnihotri had asked of it. He wanted them back home and most of all he wanted to give the world a reason as to why Aira Agnihotri, the granddaughter who was supposed to marry some Neil two years ago turned out to be my secret wife.

I stood in the surveillance room, watching her through the cameras, trying to control my anger. She was frantic now, wringing her hands, her lips moving as if whispering prayers. Fear had a way of making people desperate.

The door behind me creaked open, and Vyom - my right hand man entered, his face grim.

"The assassin who took the bounty," he said, his voice low, "we have got a lead."

I didn't turn to face him. My eyes stayed on Aira's trembling figure. "Who?"

He hesitated. "It's someone new."

My jaw clenched. Of course, it was someone amateur. Someone who had no idea who he was up against.

Not everyone would take up on the risk of killing Arsh Oberoi's wife. Very well, let him try his best then.

I had kept her under lock and key, her every move monitored, for a certain reason. But she had to be smart and make a jump in front of the eyes that are on her.

A step out of my estate and she would have been dead the next second.

Someone had tried to sneak into my territory yesterday, that's how badly they wanted her dead and she, like the idiot she is was walking right into the trap in a futile attempt to escape me.