What happens when betrayal mars innocent hearts in love?
What happens when innocence is destroyed and a monster is created?
What happens when judgement is ruled by the burning feeling of retribution?
This is a Quartet (4 part book) and this one bein...
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Ishani froze just as Ajit fainted on the sofa. Every sense of hers went numb with shock and horror.
Her family screamed but all she could register was her dear brother's lifeless body.
"Ms Raijdas, I believe now you know that I don't give empty threats," she heard Rudra say.
As the words registered her whole body started to tremble and she crumbled to the floor.
One by one her tears fell on the floor and a certain kind of peace settled inside Rudra. But it was still not enough. He wanted more for the wounds in his mind were too deep and painful.
Hope is truly a bad thing as it agonises more when broken. In the real sense, it is the terrorist that not only destroys the peace of the mind but also crumbles it in obscurity.
And that's what you need Ishani Raijdas.
His inner demons shrieked with wrath as these thoughts settled on the centre stage of his mind. But as he started to walk towards her, they suddenly became silent and waited with bated breath.
Rudra leant next to Ishani and brought his mouth close to her ear.
"He is not dead, Ms Raijdas. He is just unconscious."
Just as the words left his mouth she shot up to her feet and faced him. She was about to open her mouth when he stopped her.
"But he will die if you don't sign the papers."
Saying this he turned her towards the screen and gestured her to look.
Ishani saw her brother being lifted off the sofa by some men who looked like bouncers. They suddenly disappeared from the screen and she gasped.
"Where are they taking him?" she asked grabbing his coat collar.
But he did not answer her; instead, he just gestured to Manna who pressed a button on the remote and suddenly the screen filled with the image of Ajit being lowered on a bed by the same men. Her gaze travelled all over his body and as she registered the steady up and down movement of his chest, she sighed with relief. But her relief was short lived as Rayna suddenly came out of the shadows and stood next to the bed with a syringe in her hand.
"You see that syringe, Ms Raijdas?"
When she did not say anything, Rudra continued.
"Its poison and I will tell Rayna to inject if you don't sign the papers."
Her face crumbled again as regret of ever coming in contact with this man flooded her mind. She looked at him and then picked up the papers from the table.
"I'll sign the papers but you have to promise me that you'll let him go," she said looking straight at him.
Rudra's forehead bunched with effort as he tried to block her penetrating gaze.
"I promise Ms Raijdas. I'll let your brother go."
"I don't trust you."
Four simple words but still they jabbed hard. He looked at the woman standing with defiance written all over her and instantly he knew she needed more than words to convince her.
"Rayna! Empty the syringe!" he commanded on the phone.
Ishani watched as Rayna emptied the syringe into the nearby wash basin and raised it up close to the camera. Relief coursed through Ishani as her vision convinced her that it was empty.
She slapped the papers back on the table and stretched her hand towards him for the pen.
Rudra brought out his pen and handed it over to her.
For a split second their fingers brushed against each other and they froze. She looked at him and saw that consuming fire in his eyes and he just stared unable to take his eyes off the woman who could make him go up in flames with a mere look.
But as soon as it had come, the fire vanished from his eyes and a threatening coldness took its place.
Ishani instantly looked away and started to sign the papers. The strangest thing was happening inside her. She was numb but still, she could hear her own thudding heartbeats. She was signing away her whole life to him but still, the hope of saving her brother's life was making the sense of loss go away.
Once done, she left the papers on the table and turned towards the screen.
"Now let him go."
Rudra picked up the papers and looked through them. Satisfied, he gave them to Virani and turned towards Ishani.
"Well Ms Raijdas, it's time I started the game."
"Rayna!"
Ishani watched with horror as the woman picked up another syringe from the table and started to go near Ajit.
"You said you'll let him go if I sign the papers," she said with panic, turning towards him.
"Well, Ms Raijdas you shouldn't have trusted me. And I said I'll let your brother go. I never said I'll not kill him."
Screams erupted in the room as Rayna reached him and gestured to the men standing beside the bed. They started to tear the shirt sleeve and stopped the moment the tear reached the upper arm.
"Sir?" the voice echoed through the speakerphone almost like a shot through the mayhem.
Everyone looked at Rudra with fear but he was looking at the woman staring at him with eyes full of pain and hatred.
"Inject!"
"NO!" Ishani screamed and collapsed at his feet.
"Please Rudra, don't do this. Please let him go. I beg of you, please."
"And why should I do that Ms Raijdas?"
"I'll do anything you want. Please don't do anything to him. Please," Ishani sobbed at his feet.
Rayna was about to inject when his hushed command stopped her.
Looking down at her Rudra felt nothing but a painful anger that he had buried inside him for years.
He picked her up and pulled her to him.
"You are willing to do anything?"
"Yes, please let him go. Please," she pleaded again.
"LEAVE US!" he commanded loudly and within seconds the guards forced everyone out.
The room suddenly darkened as Manna closed the door behind him.
"Now Ms Raijdas, what are you willing to do?"
"Anything."
Rudra turned her towards the wall and pushed her to it. As her back collided with it, he pressed his body against hers and lowered his mouth to her ear.
"Can you take away the pain? Can you make me sleep? Tell me Ishani, can you bring them back?"
