"How could I be so damn careless? How could I leave without checking whether she was dead or alive? I fist my hair in frustration. SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!. Aliya survived. And now she's under SP Bhosle's 24/7 surveillance. Reaching her won't just be difficult-it'll be nearly impossible. Aliya... why did you make this so difficult? I never hated you. I loved you. Hell, some part of me still does. But you made one mistake-you looked too closely into my darkness. My father discovered I poisoned my teacher. So, I had to silence him too. Abhimanyu tried to take Mukti from me, and she killed herself. Was that my fault? I laugh bitterly. I leaked the video, yes. But you filmed her private moment. So, tell me, who was the real culprit? I pause. So, I punished you. A death for a death. My fists tighten. But you survived. DAMN! And then there's Manik...the great Manik Malhotra. Always protecting the so-called Notorious 5 bond. My foot! I stomp angrily. He thought taking the blame would protect everyone. Instead, he only made me hate him. I smile coldly. Nandini is just an excuse. The truth is, I don't want Manik to be happy. I don't want him loved. I don't want him trusted. My voice drops to a whisper. He deserves to be alone. Unloved. Trapped in darkness...I let out a twisted laugh. And then I remember...Aliya is alive. My smile disappears. And as long as she's breathing... my secret is still in danger."
Suddenly, Dhruv sits bolt upright. A thought strikes him.
"Wait..."
His eyes gleam.
"Why kill Aliya when I can silence her without taking her life?"
A sinister smile spreads across his face.
"She has a cousin... Saniya. Probably still studying at that boarding school in Connecticut."
He picks up his phone.
"Just wait, baby. Once I see you in that hospital, I'll know exactly how to keep you quiet."
He dials the hospital.
"Yes, reception? This is Aliya Saxena's husband. How is she?"
He listens.
"Good. One request. The moment she regains consciousness, inform me before anyone else. I'm her husband. I have the right to see her first...even if it's midnight. Understood?"
A pause.
"Yes. This is my personal number. Call me immediately."
He disconnects. His smile fades as his mind races. Then he suddenly rushes to his bedroom. He tears through the drawers until he finds an old photograph. Aliya stands with her parents, uncle and aunt; a little kid is held in her arms. Saniya. Aliya's only surviving blood relative. After the massive accident that killed both couples, Aliya had become Saniya's guardian. Saniya was still a child then. Now she studies in Connecticut, and Aliya visits her every month without fail. Dhruv slowly circles Saniya's face with a red marker. His smile returns.
"Thank you, Saniya..."
He slips the photograph into his pocket.
"...for saving your sister from death."
Then he heads toward the locked room. Abhimanyu. Dhruv unlocks the door and peeks inside. Abhi lies unconscious on the couch. The untouched food sits beside him. Dhruv exhales in relief.
"Just a few more days, Abhi."
He steps inside.
"You're still too valuable to lose. But you can't stay here anymore."
His eyes narrow.
"SP Bhosle is sniffing around like a bloodhound. So, I have to move you."
He turns toward the door.
YOU ARE READING
Brute's Paradise
FanfictionThis is the sequel of the book 'Angel's Brute'. It starts from one and a half years after Manik flew away to Manhattan with Nandini and Rishav. However, have their lives changed? Has the brute become sane or his obsession for his angel has increased...
