Standing at the threshold,
Rocky’s laughter vanished the moment Vidhyut entered.
Pratham and Rocky alike felt the air thicken with dread as Vidhyut’s presence loomed.
Vidhyut, expressionless, met Pratham’s gaze as he strolled in, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
Dressed in a simple black ensemble, Vidhyut appeared calm, almost relaxed. Yet his aura was as dark and cold as ever—a palpable chill that seemed to lower the room’s temperature, as if a spectral frost had settled in.
The moment Vidhyut stepped inside, suffocating tension filled the space. The guards, Rocky, and Pratham all felt as if the oxygen had been siphoned from the room.
Pratham only snapped out of his fear when Vidhyut stood directly before him, just two paces away.
Pratham drew a deep breath, composed himself, and with a face heavy with guilt, dared to meet Vidhyut’s icy stare.
Vidhyut’s blue eyes burned with unmistakable, deadly intent—he made no effort to conceal it.
Pratham, unable to bear the weight of that gaze, lowered his head and murmured, “Vidhyut Bhai, I’m sorry. I let you down. I couldn’t keep my promise. I am truly, deeply sorry. If you wish, you can take my life. I won’t utter a sound.”
Vidhyut’s expression remained unchanged. He said nothing.
Silent and severe, Vidhyut watched Pratham, his quietude more ominous than any threat—the calm before a storm.
After a long, heavy pause, Vidhyut’s cold eyes flicked toward Rocky.
Vidhyut rarely needed words to command his subordinates. A single glance sufficed.
Rocky, understanding the silent order, slipped out of the room.
While Rocky was gone, Vidhyut continued to stare at Pratham. Pratham, in contrast, kept murmuring apologies, his voice trembling.
When Rocky returned, Pratham fell silent. His handsome face was now devoid of all expression.
Pratham’s gaze drifted to Rocky’s hands.
Rocky carried two iron rods, glowing red with heat.
Rocky approached Vidhyut and said, “Boss, I brought what you asked for.”
Without a word, Vidhyut took the rods.
Pratham knew what awaited him. He pressed his lips together and closed his eyes.
Without hesitation, Vidhyut pressed the searing rods into Pratham’s thighs, his face as cold as stone.
The rods pierced through, but Pratham made no sound.
He kept his lips sealed, though two drops—not tears, but the water of pain—escaped the corners of his eyes.
Vidhyut’s wrath was not yet sated.
He twisted the rods deeper and said, his voice icy, “I trusted you, solely because of her. I gave you her responsibility. You betrayed that trust. You failed, and because of you, I lost her—forever. Tell me, is death punishment enough for your mistake?”
Even through the agony, Pratham answered softly, “No. What I did was not just a mistake—it was a sin. Death is too small a punishment.”
Vidhyut’s cruelty did not waver. He twisted the rods deeper still.
Despite the torment, Pratham did not cry out. Perhaps the pain in his heart eclipsed that of his body.
Niraj, who had just regained consciousness, looked at Pratham and recoiled in fear.
Blood streamed from Pratham’s thighs, bits of flesh falling to the floor.
Niraj trembled at the sight. He tried to speak, but when his eyes met Vidhyut’s, his voice and breath caught in his throat.
Pratham, weakened by blood loss, was on the verge of collapse. Before fainting, he whispered, “What will you do with Maya? You won’t hurt her, will you? Vidhyut Bhai, I admit—what I did was a sin, not just a mistake. But Maya knows nothing of this. She is innocent. Everything that happened is my fault, my stubbornness. Only I am to blame.”
At the mention of Maya, Vidhyut’s face darkened.
He stared coldly at Pratham and said, “Why would you think that? Do you believe I would harm my wife because of someone as worthless as you? Maya has been my wife for six years. I searched for her like a madman. Now that I have her, I will love her so fiercely that she will forget everything else in my arms.”
His voice was laced with obsession, passion, and madness.
Relief washed over Pratham’s face. He was at peace.
Finally, Pratham fainted—not from pain, but from relief. Vidhyut released the rods and left without another word.
Five minutes later, Sanjeev, lurking in the corner, asked Rocky, “Rocky, there’s something I don’t understand. Why doesn’t Vidhyut Sir just kill him? If he truly loves Lady Boss, why not eliminate his rival? Who is this Pratham, anyway?”
At the words ‘love rival,’ Niraj and Rocky both stared at Sanjeev as if he were insane.
Sanjeev, uncomfortable, snapped, “Hey! Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not crazy!”
Rocky smirked, punched Sanjeev on the back, and said, “Idiot! Do you even know who Pratham is?”
Ignoring the pain, Sanjeev pressed, “No, I don’t. That’s why I’m asking! Tell me, who is he?”
Rocky savored the suspense, then pointed at Pratham and said, “Pratham. His full name is Pratham Arya.”
Sanjeev was stunned.
Rocky continued, grinning, “Pratham is Lady Boss’s twin brother. He’s just a few minutes younger. Lady Boss has another brother—Rohit Kashyap. You may have met Rohit Sir. He’s three years older than Lady Boss and Pratham, about the same age as our boss.”
The revelation hit Sanjeev like a shockwave.
Those two men he had mistaken for Maya’s lovers were actually her brothers.
“Damn it,” Sanjeev muttered.
Rocky’s eyes narrowed. Now he realized Sanjeev had also thought Rohit was a rival.
Angrily, Rocky grabbed Sanjeev’s hair. “You fool! Our Lady Boss is pure as the Ganges. How dare you think such things?”
Flustered, Sanjeev pulled away. “What was I supposed to think? Given what I saw, my thoughts were natural. I didn’t know everything like you do.”
Rocky released him. Sanjeev had a point.
Meanwhile,
Vidhyut returned to his room. Maya was gone; only Ayansh slept on the bed.
The pillows around Ayansh were slightly askew.
With detached calm, Vidhyut straightened them.
Finding the balcony locked, he left the room.
A servant informed him that Maya had gone to the indoor pool.
Vidhyut made his way there.
As soon as he saw Maya, his steps faltered.
__________________________
What will happen next…?
To Know…
To be continued…
Dear Readers,
I have started a new story, “A Bride Beneath The Veil.” If you would like to read it, you're most welcome. I’ll be uploading daily chapters from now on, for both stories…
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His Enigmatic bride
Mystery / ThrillerVidyut Singhania is a name that strikes fear across the globe. Known as a ruthless devil, his mere presence sends shivers down spines, including those of his own family. But after a catastrophic car accident leaves him in a coma, everything changes...
