𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬

Hey guys!
Firstly, a huge thank you for 100+ followers on 카지노후기! 🥳 Your love and support mean the world to me, and I never imagined receiving this much encouragement. You all are the reason both I and this book keep moving forward.

I do have a small request—after this chapter, the next one will take a little longer, around a week. With college studies and events piling up, I want to ensure I give my best to the 온라인카지노게임 while balancing my other responsibilities. I hope you all understand.

That's all for now.

Thank you once again! Love you all, my amazing readers! 💖

***

Arjun walked briskly into the hotel. He hadn't bothered changing his appearance; the late hour meant most people had retreated to their rooms, leaving the lobby deserted. He made his way directly to the room he'd been informed about.

When he knocked on the door to Aisha's hotel room, it was Divyansh who opened it. He leaned against the doorframe, a brow arched in mild surprise. "Why are you here?" he asked.

Arjun didn't respond, merely raised his own brow as if questioning Divyansh's audacity, and walked past him into the room. His gaze swept across the space, immediately taking in everyone present. His eyes searched for one person.

"Where's Aisha?" he demanded, his tone clipped.

Veer, seated casually on the couch, looked up. "She was out for a call," he replied. "She said she'd be back soon, but..." He glanced at his watch. "...it's been longer than we expected."

Arjun stiffened, his jaw clenching as the implications sank in. His sharp eyes turned to the group. "And none of you thought to check on her?" he snapped, his voice like ice. "Do you have any idea who else is staying in this hotel? What if someone took advantage of her being alone?"

A heavy silence fell over the room as realization dawned on everyone. Panic flickered across their faces, and they scrambled to their feet, hurrying toward the door to begin searching for Aisha.

Arjun go behind them. After ten agonizing minutes with no sign of her, he finally pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

It rang just long enough to set his nerves on edge before she picked up. "Aisha? Where are you?" he said, his voice sharp with alarm.

Her response sent a chill through his entire body. "112... Ge-get me..." Aisha's voice was barely audible, broken by ragged gasps for air. "I... I can't... breathe..."

Arjun's heart pounded as he tried to process her words. "Aisha, what's happening? Stay with me!"

"Damn it!" Arjun cursed under his breath. His sharp voice barked orders into the phone. "Keep talking to me, Aisha! I'm coming to you. Tell me exactly where you are!"

There was no answer, only the haunting sound of her labored breathing.

Arjun's mind raced into the hallway, his phone pressed tightly against his ear. He sprinted toward the elevators, trying to recall the layout of the hotel grounds.

"Hold on," he muttered as he get in elevator, his voice softer now, as though trying to will her to hear him. "Just hold on."

When the elevator doors opened, Arjun stepped into the dimly lit lobby, his long strides carrying him swiftly toward Room 112. Aisha's weak words still echoed in his ears, urging him to move faster.

He reached the door and immediately tried to open it, but it was locked. Cursing under his breath, he pounded on the door. "Aisha!" But there was no response.

By now, he had already called the others, and it wasn't long before they arrived.

"Stand back," Saad said curtly, assessing the lock. Both he and Arjun exchanged a glance, their silent communication clear. Together, they braced themselves and rammed against the door.

The thud echoed down the empty hallway. This floor of the hotel had no other bookings, leaving the atmosphere heavy with an eerie silence. With a second forceful shove, the lock gave way, and the door flew open.

A wave of darkness greeted them. The sharp smell of fresh paint hit their noses immediately. They quickly switched on their phone flashlights, the beams cutting through the gloom.

Their movements froze as the light fell on Aisha, lying unconscious on the cold floor.

"Aisha!" Arjun's voice broke the silence as he sprinted toward her, dropping to his knees beside her motionless form. Panic surged in his chest as he tapped her pale cheeks. "Aisha? Wake up! Can you hear me?"

Veer stepped closer. "Bhaiya, we need to get her out of here—now," he said firmly. "The paint smell is too strong. Remember, she can't breathe properly in places like this."

Without a second thought, he slid one arm beneath Aisha's back and the other under her knees, lifting her effortlessly.

The group moved swiftly through the hallway, their footsteps echoing against the marble floors. By the time they reached her room upstairs. He gently placed Aisha on the bed, brushing her hair back from her clammy forehead.

"Come on, Aisha," he whispered, his voice softer now. "Wake up."

Veer crouched beside her, checking her pulse and breathing. "She's stable," he announced, though his tone remained serious. "But she needs fresh air. Open the windows."

Ayush hurried to the balcony door, throwing it open to let the cool night air flood the room. Radhika handed a bottle of water to Saad, who wet a cloth and pressed it gently against Aisha's forehead.

Finally, Aisha let out a small cough, her eyelids fluttering weakly.

"Aisha," Arjun called her name softly, leaning closer. Relief coursed through him as her grey eyes slowly opened.

"Bhaiya..." she whispered, her voice hoarse and barely audible.

"You're safe," Arjun assured her, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. "We've got you." She nodded.

Arjun sharply turned to the group, his eyes blazing with fury. "THAT'S HOW YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AFTER HER?"

The group froze, heads hanging low, unable to meet his eyes.

He turned toward Saad, his expression hard. "Saad, you, of all people? Are you serious?"

Saad, usually confident and composed, faltered. For the first time, he looked uneasy. "I was texting someone about security for tomorrow," he stammered. "I didn't think—"

"You didn't think? That's the problem!" Arjun snapped, cutting him off.

Before anyone could say more, Aisha's hoarse voice broke the tense silence. "Aditya," she rasped, her voice weak but deliberate. "Where is your phone?"

Aditya hesitated, confused. "It's... it's with me," he said, pulling it out of his pocket.

"Show me the last message you sent me," Aisha demanded.

Frowning, he unlocked his phone and scrolled to his messages. He handed it over. "It's from this morning," he said quietly.

Manvi stepped forward, concern etched on her face. "How did you end up in that room, Aisha?"

Aisha, her hands trembling slightly, held up her phone. She opened her message inbox and showed them a text. "Someone used Aditya's phone to send me this." Her voice grew sharper, anger burning in her tired eyes. "Then they deleted it from his phone."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Gaurav spoke up, his tone cautious. "Who do you think it was?"

Aisha's voice cracked as she snapped, "It was Mr. Joshi! Who else? I bruised his ego today, and this is his retaliation—just like in the past!"

Arjun's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists, but he said nothing, waiting for her to explain.

Vikram stepped closer, his voice low and steady. "Aisha, what do you mean by 'the past'?"

Aisha's breath hitched, and she looked away for a moment before meeting his gaze. Her voice was calm, but the weight of her words betrayed her pain. "I gave up dancing seven years ago. The only time I danced after that was in a club, and that was because I wanted to prove to myself that I am not coward."

She paused, her chest rising and falling as she steadied herself. "Today, I danced to show him that I'm not the same scared girl he broke all those years ago. But..." Her voice wavered slightly. "It brought everything back."

The group listened in shocked silence as she continued.

"Seven years ago, I won a dance competition. I was so proud of that trophy, but Chandra... she couldn't stand it. She told them—Mr. Joshi and the others—to stop me. I refused. I performed again, and I won." Her lips pressed into a thin line, her voice dropping. "That's when they decided to teach me a lesson."

Her hands clenched tightly in her lap, her knuckles white. "They cornered me after the event. They beat me so badly that I couldn't move, couldn't even scream. It was the school holidays, so no one was there to help me. Afterward, they dumped me in a dark, locked room. The smell of paint was everywhere, and cockroaches crawled all over the floor."

Her voice broke, her breath hitching. "I couldn't breathe. I couldn't escape. I stayed there for two days without food or water, slipping in and out of consciousness. By the time someone found me, I was so weak I couldn't even open my eyes. They took me to the hospital..."

Aisha's voice trailed off as she exhaled shakily. "I thought I'd moved on. But today..." Her gaze dropped to her hands. "He brought it all back. Every single nightmare."

The room was silent except for Aisha's ragged breathing.

Arjun stepped forward and knelt beside her, his movements slow and careful. Without saying a word, he wrapped his arms around her. Aisha didn't cry. She didn't resist. She sat there, staring blankly ahead, her expression unreadable.

Veer's jaw tightened, his voice low and steady. "Joshi needs to be dealt with. He doesn't get to walk away from this."

Vikram nodded, his face hard as stone. "He won't. Not this time."

Aisha apart from Arjun, her voice steady but laced with cold determination. "Don't worry. Starting tomorrow, his life will turn into hell."

Then, turning to the others, she added, "Now, go and get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day."

The group hesitated but eventually nodded, reassured that she was fine. One by one, they left, their concern still visible in their eyes. Only Saad lingered behind, his brows furrowed with worry.

"I will stay back for you," he offered, his voice soft but firm.

Aisha gave him a faint smile and shook her head. "No need, bhai. I'm fine. I promise."

Saad studied her for a moment, unsure, but eventually relented. He stepped closer, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "Alright. Call me if you need anything."

"I will," she replied gently, watching him leave.

After everyone left, Aisha let out a tired sigh and headed to the bathroom. A hot shower was exactly what she needed to calm her nerves and wash away the lingering suffocation of the day's events.

The warm water cascading over her eased the tension in her body, and for a few precious moments, she allowed herself to let go of everything. She stepped out, wrapping herself in a soft robe, her damp hair falling loosely over her shoulders.

Walking back into the room, she immediately noticed something was off. The lights were off—she distinctly remembered leaving them on before heading to the shower.

She sensed it before she saw it—a presence behind her. Her thoughts slipped into Punjabi as she scanned the dim room. Ajj sab nu mere naal panga len da shauk hai... Dekhde ne ki main kinna tolerate kar sakdi aan.

When she felt a hand slide around her waist, she acted on pure instinct.

Elbowing the intruder hard in the ribs, she twisted around with practiced precision. Her grip locked onto their wrist, and with a strength that belied her small frame, she slammed them against the wall, pinning their arm behind their back.

"Who the hell are you?" she hissed, her voice sharp and dangerous.

The person groaned. "Baby, stop! It's me—Rivaan!"

She froze, her grip loosening slightly but not releasing him entirely. "Rivaan?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I came for you!" he said, wincing. "Could you let go now? My arm's not supposed to bend this way!"

Glaring, she stepped back and released him with a shove. "Are you insane? Sneaking up on me in the dark?"

Rivaan straightened, rubbing his arm with an exaggerated pout. "Ouch, baby. Is this how you welcome me? I wasn't sneaking—I came to check on you. Veer told me everything, and I got worried."

Aisha crossed her arms. "Oh really? And switching off the lights and standing behind me like some ghost is your idea of checking on me?"

He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I thought it'd be a nice surprise. Guess I underestimated your... reflexes."

"Surprise?" she repeated, rolling her eyes dramatically. "More like a mini heart attack."

She turned to switch on the lights, muttering something in Punjabi about people testing her patience. As the room brightened, Rivaan's gaze softened. Her robe ended mid-thigh, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders, framing her flushed face. She looked radiant, her glowing skin and relaxed expression making her even more enchanting.

She caught him staring and raised a brow. "What are you looking at?"

He took a step closer, his expression gentle as he cupped her face. "Just making sure you're really okay," he said softly, his thumbs brushing her cheeks.

A small smile tugged at her lips. "I'm fine, Aan," she reassured him.

Pulling back slightly, she glanced at her robe, suddenly aware of how short it was. "Wait here—I'll go change."

Rivaan's lips curved into a mischievous smirk. "I don't mind you staying like this, you know."

Her eyes widened in shock, her cheeks flaming. "Besharam insaan!" she exclaimed, giving him a playful smack on the chest, he chuckled.

Aisha shook her head, hiding her smile as she disappeared into the wardrobe. When she returned a few moments later in her comfortable night suit, Rivaan was sitting on the bed, hairdryer in hand.

"What are you doing now?" she asked, tilting her head.

He smiled, motioning for her to sit. "Come here. You'll catch a cold if you go to sleep with wet hair."

Aisha blinked, momentarily stunned, before sitting in front of him. He gently gathered her hair, carefully running his fingers through it as he dried it. The warm air from the dryer and his tender touch were calming, and she found herself leaning into the sensation.

As he worked, Rivaan couldn't help but smile at how small and delicate she looked, sitting so quietly in front of him. Meanwhile, Aisha's heart melted a little more with each gentle gesture, her eyes stealing glances at him in the mirror.

When he finished, he unplugged the dryer and ruffled her now-dry hair. "All done. Now baby, you're safe from colds."

Aisha's heart swelled as she stood and motioned for him to lie down on the bed. He raised a brow, clearly curious, but complied. Once he was settled, she climbed onto the bed, pulling the duvet over both of them.

To his surprise, she leaned forward, resting herself lightly against him. Her head nestled against his chest, and she tilted her face up, her lips curling into a smile.

She whispered. "I love you."

Rivaan's eyes immediately softened, his hand gently cupping her face as he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "I love you too, Pixie."

She reached up, her small hands cradling his larger face, her fingers brushing against his beard. With a playful grin, she rubbed it lightly.

He raised an amused eyebrow. "And what exactly are you doing?"

Her smile turned cheeky. "Just... this beard makes you all hot and manly."

Rivaan smirked, his thumb tracing her cheek. "Oh, really?"

She nodded enthusiastically, her grin widening. "Absolutely. Total heartthrob vibes."

He sighed, shaking his head fondly. "You're unbelievable." Then, his tone grew serious, his eyes searching hers. "Tomorrow... it'll be the last day of this drama, right?"

Aisha's expression hardened slightly, her playful demeanor replaced with quiet determination. "Yeah," she said, her voice firm. "The last day of this ridiculous marriage act... and the beginning of their destruction."

He nodded, his jaw tightening. "Good," he said with conviction. "Because I can't stand seeing you with that guy anymore. Tomorrow... I just hope I can keep myself in control."

Before he could say more, Aisha suddenly leaned up and slammed her lips against his, catching him off guard. Pulling back slightly, she whispered against his lips, "I'm all yours, Aan."

Her words ignited something deep within him. Rivaan's eyes darkened with an overwhelming possessiveness, his hand sliding to her waist and pulling her closer. "All mine," he growled, his voice low and dripping with obsession.

He captured her lips again, this time fiercer, more relentless. His kiss was filled with passion, a mix of love and the undeniable need to claim her as his. Aisha felt herself melt under his touch, her hands gripping his shoulders as he deepened the kiss, his lips moving over hers with an intensity that left her breathless.

Not breaking the kiss, he shifted their position, rolling her beneath him. His hands framed her face as he took complete control, his lips trailing fire as they left hers and found her jaw, then her neck. Each kiss was possessive, marking her as his, while his warm breath against her skin sent shivers through her.

Her soft moan escaped as his lips found the sensitive spot on her collarbone, and Rivaan smirked against her skin, his voice a husky whisper. "Say it again, Pixie."

Her hands tangled in his hair as her breath hitched. "I'm yours, Aan... all yours," she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.

"That's right," he said, his lips grazing her ear before returning to hers, this time gentler but no less consuming. The kiss lingered, a heady mix of love and dominance, leaving her heart pounding and her body tingling.

When he finally pulled back, both of them were breathless, their eyes locked in a heated gaze. Rivaan brushed a thumb over her swollen lips, his expression softer now but no less determined.

"You're mine," he repeated, his voice unwavering. "Always mine."

Aisha's lips curved into a smile, her fingers brushing his cheek. "Always," she promised, her voice steady despite the warmth in her chest.

He kissed her one last time, this time slow and deliberate, before shifting to pull her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as it began to slow.

"Sleep, baby," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Only if you stay," she whispered, her fingers clutching his shirt.

"Always," he vowed, holding her tighter as they both drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.

✨

It was finally the day this ridiculous marriage charade would come to an end, and with it, Aisha's long-awaited plan to bring destruction upon the Joshis and the Rastogis would unfold.

But before that, a flying water bottle zoomed through the air, narrowly missing Rivaan's head as he ducked just in time. The bottle smashed against the wall, leaving a dent as Rivaan stood up, hands raised in mock surrender.

Vikram's expressiondarkened, his jaw clenched as he grabbed another water bottle from thenightstand, his knuckles whitening. "What the hell are you doing in her room,Rivaan?" he growled, his tone dangerously low. 

"Relax, bro." Rivaan shrugged, completely unfazed. "I slept here."

Veer's jaw dropped. "You what?"

Rivaan tilted his head innocently. "I mean, I was tired, she was tired—"

"Don't you dare say it!" Arjun warned, stepping forward like an angry father catching his son sneaking out. "Was it on the same bed?"

Rivaan smirked. "Well, obviously. I can't resist her."

Aisha groaned, dragging her hands down her face. "Why are you like this?"

Another bottle flew through the air, this time hurled by Saad, who was glaring daggers at Rivaan.

"I will kill you," Saad muttered darkly.

Divyansh crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes like a disapproving elder. "Listen, I don't care if you're older than me or whatever. She's still a baby to us!"

Aisha scoffed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Baby? Seriously? Hypocrites, all of you! Let me ask you this—why do you all get to have your suhaag raat moments last night, but I can't even cuddle with my boyfriend?"

Her eyes swept across the room, landing on a few telltale hickies. Everyone froze, shifting uncomfortably as Aisha folded her arms and smirked. "And by the way, you might want to hide those before lecturing me."

There was a flurry of movement as collars were adjusted and scarves mysteriously appeared out of nowhere. Some even resorted to covering their necks with their hands, looking anywhere but at Aisha.

Rivaan, never one to miss an opportunity, sauntered over to her with his signature teasing smirk. "Baby," he whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "you're not completely innocent either. You might want to cover up too."

Aisha's jaw dropped as her hand instinctively flew to her neck. Her glare him before she suddenly declared, "No kisses or hugs for a week!"

The smug look on Rivaan's face vanished in an instant. "What? No! You can't be serious."

The room erupted in laughter, with a few snickers aimed at Rivaan, who looked like a puppy that had just been denied treats.

Arjun, ever the peacemaker, stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Aisha's shoulder. "Aisha, look. It's not that we don't want you to live your life or be with him. It's just... for us, you'll always be a little girl. We're just trying to protect you."

Aisha's expression softened as she looked up at him. "Bhaiya, don't worry. Rivaan can't do anything I don't allow. And for the record, I'm still a virgin."

She turned to Radhika, a sly smirk tugging at her lips. "Right, Radha? You're still pure too, right?"

Radhika froze like a deer caught in headlights, her hand flying to scratch her neck nervously as her gaze darted to the floor.

Aisha's jaw dropped, her face morphing into a mix of shock and disbelief. "Wait... you're not?!"

Her eyes immediately darted to Vikram, who was leaning casually against the wall, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

She pointed an accusing finger at him, her voice rising. "You—you fucked my best friend?!"

Vikram shrugged, his smirk growing even wider. "She's my girlfriend," he said matter-of-factly, his tone completely unapologetic. "And yes, I can do that." Radhika's cheeks flamed as she smacked his chest.

Aisha crossed her arms, scowling. "Well, fine! In that case, I'm going to screw your best friend. Just you wait and watch!"

The room fell deathly silent, every face contorting in a mix of shock and horror. Aisha paused, her own expression shifting as realization dawned.

"Wait..." she muttered, her face scrunching up. "That didn't come out right."

✨

The wedding hall buzzed with low murmurs, a sense of unease rippling through the guests. The tension was palpable, thick enough to choke on.

The Joshis glared venomously at Aisha, who sat beside Kartik with an air of complete indifference. She looked every bit the defiant bride, clad in a striking black lehenga that screamed rebellion. It wasn't the traditional red they'd demanded, and the deliberate insult sent waves of anger through the room.

Meanwhile, Aisha's gang were scattered across the hall, some disgusied, waiting for her mysterious plan to unfold. She hadn't told anyone the details, keeping them on edge. Outside the venue, Rajendra sat in his car, his laptop propped open as he monitored the live feed from hidden cameras.

Aisha leaned toward Kartik, her voice low but cutting. "Did your men get it?"

Kartik shook his head, guilt written all over his face. "No... Dad ramped up security. I swear I didn't know he'd go this far. I tried, but—"

Aisha's sharp glare cut him off. Her voice was low and lethal. "So, you mean to tell me this whole farce is happening?"

Kartik looked away, unable to meet her gaze. A scoff escaped her lips. "Well, I warned you, didn't I? You're about to see my worst." Her words sent a shiver down his spine, his head snapping toward her in confusion and fear.

Raising her hand, Aisha gestured toward Gaurav, who handed her a phone. Aisha dialed a number and brought the phone to her ear, her lips curling into a dark, humorless smirk. "Start."

What followed was chaos.

Phones began ringing of Joshis' and Rastogis', the sharp tones cutting through the tense silence. Mr. Joshi was the first to answer, his confident demeanor shattering as he listened to the frantic voice on the other end. His face turned ghostly pale, his hand trembling as the phone slipped from his ear.

Moments later, Mr. Rastogi stood up abruptly, his booming voice filled with disbelief and panic. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN EVERYTHING IS BURNT?"

Kartik turned to Aisha, horror etched into his face. "What did you do?" he whispered.

Aisha didn't bother looking at him. She simply shrugged, her smirk widening. "There's an old saying: Jab na bache ka bass tabh na baje ki basuri." She finally met his gaze, her eyes gleaming with something cold and unrelenting. "You couldn't get those documents from the office, right? So, I did the next best thing. I burned the entire building."

Kartik stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.

Before he could respond, Aisha stood and gestured to Radhika and Aditya. The lights dimmed, and a projector screen unfurled.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced, her voice ringing out clear and authoritative. "Let's start the real show, shall we?"

All eyes turned to the screen, and the room fell into a stunned silence as the reel began to play. The opening news clips were enough to send the Joshis and Rastogis into a frenzy. The headlines spoke of frauds, scams, and lawsuits.

The first blow was a breaking news segment: Gaurav's father filing a case against Chandra for his role in Sohail's death, revealing how the Joshis had covered up Chandra's crimes, including the actual target was Aisha who was saved by Sohail who sacrificed his life.

Gasps and murmurs broke out across the room as the screen shifted to expose the Joshis' long hi온라인카지노게임 of fraud. Images of stolen jewelry designs and testimonies from threatened business owners painted a damning picture.

Mr. Joshi stood frozen, his usually arrogant expression replaced by pure terror.

The Rastogis weren't spared either. The screen transitioned to their embezzlement schemes, insider trading, and corporate theft. Aisha's smirk deepened as she watched the color drain from Mr. Rastogi's face.

And then came the final act, the pièce de résistance.

The screen displayed surveillance footage from a hotel, recorded on the night of the engagement during the Diwali party. The video showed Mr. Joshi dragging Aisha into hotel, his hand striking her across the face. His voice could be heard, cold and threatening, as he told her she had been sold to the Rastogis, or else he would have killed her.

The screen flickered to the next recording—a heated conversation between Mr. Rastogi and Aisha in Divyansh's office. The footage captured every detail of his deal with Joshis of buying Aisha, laid out with arrogance and precision.

By now, the two families looked like they wanted to melt into the floor.

Chandra, sittingnearby, collapsed into her chair, her legs giving out beneath her.

Aisha's gang stood frozen, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. None of them had anticipated that she had been meticulously planning this destruction from the very first day.

Still smirking, Aisha whispered darkly under her breath, "Tsk-tsk. They're panicking already? This is just the beginning. I'm going to drag them through hell, one excruciating step at a time."

As the chaos unfolded in the hall Aisha quietly slipped away. No one noticed her leave; all eyes were glued to the screen, the unraveling of two once-powerful families playing out like a grim spectacle.

By the time she reached her room, her smirk had faded into a look of cold determination. She moved with precision, pulling off her lehenga and replacing it with ripped jeans and an oversized hoodie. Her movements were brisk but deliberate as she dialed a number on her phone.

The call was answered immediately. "Yes, ma'am," came the voice on the other end.

"Give the phone to Meet," Aisha ordered curtly.

There was a brief shuffle before a soft, nervous voice came through. "Hi, Di."

Aisha's voice softened. "Did you see the news?"

"Yes," Meet replied, hesitating.

Aisha's tone grew gentle. "So, tell me, what do you want? Do you want to go back to them, or should we stick to what I've decided? It's your call."

Meet's voice trembled, but the words were resolute. "I want to join the boarding school, Di. I don't want to go back to those filthy people. Ever."

Aisha smiled faintly. "Good. Your admission's already done. You'll get settled soon. If you face any issues, call me or the man beside you. And, Meet... concentrate on your studies and hobbies, okay? Don't worry about the money. I'll handle everything. I have more than enough"

"Okay, Di," Meet whispered, her voice tinged with relief.

Aisha ended the call and exhaled deeply. Her features hardened again as she turned to the mirror. Staring at her reflection, she let out a weary sigh, brushing back a strand of her hair. For a second, her grey eyes betrayed the weight of everything she carried, but the moment passed quickly.

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a folded sheet of paper. Unfolding it, she stared at its contents for a long moment before placing it deliberately on the dresser. Her eyes lingered on it, unreadable. Then, grabbing a lipstick, she scrawled something across the mirror in bold, blood-red strokes.

Satisfied, she set the lipstick down and glanced once more at her reflection. Without a second thought, she grabbed her bag and slipped out of the room.

Taking the hotel's back exit, she found one of her guards waiting. He handed her the keys to her bike without a word.

Before starting the engine, she glanced at him, her voice low and commanding. "Don't follow me."

The guard hesitated but nodded, knowing better than to argue.

Moments later, the sound of her bike roared through the quiet alley. Aisha sped into the night, the city lights blurring around her, her thoughts a whirlwind of fury, pain, and resolve.

✨

The group moved quickly down the hallway, tension thick in the air. Divyansh broke the silence, his voice edged with frustration. "How did none of us notice she wasn't in the hall?"

Neha sighed. "She was probably waiting for the right moment to escape those people. Can't say I blame her."

Arjun, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly spoke, his tone resolute. "I've decided. I'm telling her the truth tonight."

That got everyone's attention. Vikram turned to him sharply. "You're serious? You're ready to do that now?"

Radhika looked confused. "What truth?"

Manvi, Gaurav, Ayush, and Aditya, nodded, their curiosity building as they walked.

Veer's calm voice cut through the murmurs. "You'll find out. We'll all tell her together."

The weight of his words hung in the air as Saad swiped the keycard to Aisha's room. Pushing the door open, he called out, "AISHA!"

The silence inside was deafening.

The room was empty.

Kavya checked the closet and bathroom, returning with a worried expression. "She's not here."

Rivaan cursed, already pulling out his phone. "Where the hell is she now?"

Before he could make the call, Divyansh's shaky voice stopped him in his tracks. "Guys..."

Everyone turned to where Divyansh stood, pointing toward the mirror. Written across it in bold, crimson letters were the chilling words:

"DON'T FIND ME."

Confusion and dread rippled through the group.

Arjun's sharp eyes caught a folded piece of paper on the dresser. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate, as if bracing himself for what he might find.

Unfolding the paper, his eyes scanned the contents. The air around him seemed to shift as his expression turned ghostly pale. His hand clenched the note tightly, his voice breaking the silence:

"No fucking way..."

The room felt colder, heavier, as everyone stared at him.

"What is it?" Vikram demanded, stepping closer. "What does it say?"

But Arjun didn't answer. He just stood there, his breathing uneven, the paper trembling in his hand.

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