𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬

Rajendra stood tall, arms crossed, his cold eyes locked on the broken, bloodied bodies of the Joshi brothers. They lay in a heap, barely conscious, faces unrecognizable, breaths shallow. Everyone around—the Oberois brothers, Rivaan, and the guards—stood still, waiting for her.

Aisha.

She stepped forward slowly, her shoes clicking faintly against the concrete floor. Her eyes held a terrifying stillness, one that made even the toughest guard shift slightly in unease.

She looked at the Joshi brothers without an ounce of pity. Blankly. Silently. And then, with a sudden twist of her lips, she turned to her father.

"Dad," she sighed, then grinned proudly, "I am really, really proud of you. Damn, you actually made them look like the piece of shit they truly are."

Rajendra exhaled, his shoulders dropping slightly as he smirked. "Glad to hear that, princess."

With a lazy gait, hands tucked in her jeans pockets, Aisha strolled toward the bruised bodies. She poked her tongue against her cheek, crouched down before the elder Joshi, and stared into his barely open eyes. He blinked slowly, his lips twitching in pain.

"I really need to see a live show one day," she said softly, mockingly. "How you do these things. I want front row seats."

Rajendra chuckled, "Next time, I promise. I'll call you first, princess."

Even the guards flanking the room exchanged bewildered glances. The father-daughter duo was terrifyingly in sync—an unexpected union of chaos and calm, pain and power.

Aisha leaned in close to the elder Joshi, her voice dipping into a deadly whisper only he could hear.

"So tell me, ex–no, never-my-father... how did you like the hospitality offered by my real one, my DAD?"

He coughed out a sneer, blood dripping from his lips as he hissed only for her to hear, "They'll kill you. They won't rest... until they break you."

Her pupils dilated, the smile fading from her face. Darkness shadowed her expression, a cold void settling into her soul.

"What did he say?" Arjun asked quietly from behind her, stepping forward.

Aisha slowly rose to her feet, brushing invisible dust from her jeans. "Nothing useful," she replied flatly. "He's delusional. And frankly, too weak to talk anymore."

Everyone exchanged glances, but no one questioned her.

Aisha turned to Rajendra. "They're useless to me currently. I wanted some answers, but they're barely breathing. Let's give them a day or two rest."

The others nodded silently, understanding the unspoken decision. One by one, they turned and exited the cell. But Aisha paused at the threshold, her gaze flicking over the Joshi brothers one last time.

"I must say," she murmured darkly, "Welcome to the Oberois' hell, Joshis."

Their eyes widened faintly, a shiver running through what was left of their strength.

With that, Aisha turned, walking out with the others, the heavy metal door slamming shut behind her. Moments later, they were in the car, driving away—towards her and Saad's warehouse.

The entire drive to the warehouse was wrapped in silence.

No one dared to speak—not because there was nothing to say, but because of her. Aisha's hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, her eyes steady on the road. Her silence wasn't loud... it was heavy. The kind that filled the car like smoke—silent but suffocating.

The others exchanged glances.

Arjun caught Divyansh's eyes in the rearview mirror. Veer briefly looked at Rajendra, who simply shook his head. They all knew something had shifted. Something happened back in that cell—something deeper than what she let on. But none of them asked. They knew better. Aisha would speak when she was ready. Pushing her never ended well.

As they neared the warehouse gates, the guards on duty straightened up immediately, recognizing the vehicle.

One of them pressed the remote, and the heavy gates began to slide open.

The second the wheels touched the concrete floor of the warehouse compound, the shift was almost palpable.

Everyone noticed it.

The guards didn't stiffen at her presence—they didn't fumble or salute in fear. Instead, they nodded with crisp respect, moving efficiently into place as Aisha pulled the car into the main bay. One stepped forward, waiting as she got out, while another jogged over to park the car for her.

She handed the keys over without a word, her expression calm, eyes already scanning the place. Not a single person around her showed fear.

It wasn't fear that made them obey her commands. It was loyalty.

Because here, in this space, Aisha didn't have to raise her voice to lead. She didn't have to show dominance—she was dominance. And they followed her not because they feared punishment—but because they trusted her judgement more than their own lives.

Rajendra smirked proudly, observing the subtle way the guards reacted to her. No panic. No second-guessing. Just... faith. Like she had earned it, inch by inch, over time—and now wore it like armor.

It wasn't a throne built on terror.

It was a kingdom carved out of earned respect.

Divyansh jogged to her side, falling into step. "Where are you taking us?"

Aisha was already typing something on her phone as she strode toward the far hallway. "First, I want to check on the man who attacked us," she said flatly. "Then... I'll show you the parcel I received."

Everyone fell into step behind her. No one questioned it.

They moved through the warehouse, the group trailing slightly behind her. Aisha didn't speak, but every movement was precise. Confident. Like this place ran on her pulse.

As they neared one of the reinforced holding cells, the guards stationed there immediately stepped aside, unlocking the door with practiced precision.

Inside, the room was dim. The remaining attackers—the ones who had survived their last ambush—were barely recognizable. Bloodied, bruised, stripped of all arrogance.

Aisha wrinkled her nose at the stench of blood and damp concrete, crossing her arms.

She turned to one of the guards. Her tone dropped, ice lining every syllable.

"Status."

"Nothing, ma'am," the man replied. "They were just foot soldiers. Just following orders from someone. We tried everything but they don't know anything."

Aisha's jaw clenched.

"But I do have suspicions," the guard added quickly. "About someone else. The one you and Saad sir told us to lock in the dark cell... in the lowest level."

Aisha blinked, brows pulling together.

Then she cursed under her breath. "Shit... I forgot about that asshole."

Pressing two fingers against her temples, she took a slow breath and then dropped her hand.

She ran a hand over her hairs, sighed, then waved her fingers. "End them. They're useless now. But don't make it quick. Make it hurt. They came after my family—they deserve to rot."

The guard nodded firmly, already pulling out his comms to issue the order.

Aisha turned on her heel and walked out of the cell. The others followed.

Outside, as the heavy door clanged shut behind them, Rivaan finally broke the tension.

"That man he mentioned," he asked quietly, "was he the last one you punched unconscious?"

She didn't stop walking. "Yeah," she replied simply. "And he's not just some attacker like others."

Her voice dropped lower, colder.

"He's from my past."

That one sentence was enough to make everyone stop for a second.

The weight of it sank in.

Nobody asked anything further just followed her.

They were just a few steps from Saad's office when a door to their right suddenly slammed open with a loud BANG.

Out stormed Neha, muttering curses under her breath, her ponytail bouncing with each irritated step.

"Ugh! What a bitch that man was!" she snapped to no one in particular, waving her hand dramatically.

Everyone stopped mid-step.

Blink. Blink.

There she was—Neha, in all her fiery glory—in the middle of a restricted warehouse and cursing.

Veer, recovering first, frowned and asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Neha froze momentarily, startled by his voice. Her eyes quickly scanned the group—and then she remembered.

Right. The truth was out. No more secrets. Everyone now knew everything.

She sighed, placing one hand on her hip, the other tossing a random file to the floor. "Relax, cardiac boyfriend. I was just attending to a patient."

She paused, then added with a mischievous grin,
"Well... the difference is, this one I was trying to give therapy into giving up on life."

Everyone stared at her.

Vikram and Rivaan raised an eyebrow. Divyansh looked like he wanted to laugh but thought better of it. Arjun and Rajendra... just blinked once and kept his stoic silence.

They weren't used to seeing this version of her. At least, not yet.

Only Aisha remained unfazed. She barely smirked.

Neha turned her gaze toward her and others. "What about you lot? What are you doing down here?"

Aisha shrugged coolly. "Heading to bhai's office. Got a special parcel to open... and apparently, someone's waiting for me."

Neha's expression tightened with curiosity. "Huh. An hour ago, I did hear some voices down there. Mostly cursing. Didn't realize it was something that had you involved."
She stepped forward, cracking her neck. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go."

They all moved in sync toward the darkened hallway, approaching the heavy, reinforced door that led to Saad's private chamber.

Just as Vikram reached for the handle—

CRASH.

A loud noise echoed from inside. Something had clearly been thrown. Hard.

Vikram froze. "Okay... what the hell was that?"

Aisha's expression didn't change, though she sighed sharply.

"Step back," she muttered. "I'm going in first."

Before anyone could stop her, she kicked the door open with a loud BANG.

The entire room fell into silence for a heartbeat.

And then Aisha's voice cut through the chaos like a whip:

"ENOUGH!"

The chaos inside ground to a sudden halt.

Saad froze mid-throw, a chair raised high above his head like he was about to recreate a WWE match. His face screamed, 'I swear I will murder this clown.'

Across from him stood a man with ruffled hair and unapologetic smirk—back turned to the group—arms lazily crossed as if he wasn't two seconds away from a concussion.

But the second he heard Aisha's voice, the man slowly turned around.

And then?

"AISHAAAA!"

Without hesitation, he darted across the room and flung himself at her like a missile, lifting her off the floor and spinning her in a bear hug.

Aisha let out a startled squeak, her eyes wide as she flailed like a cat being picked up without consent. "Kaustav Bhai! Have you met the concept of personal space?! Oxygen? Ribs??!"

The man—now revealed as Kaustav—just laughed, totally unbothered. "What? I haven't seen you in forever, little midget! Don't be dramatic."

"I AM dramatic!" she snapped, trying to slap his shoulder mid-air. "That doesn't mean I wanna be bear-hugged to death."

Neha, watching from the side with an amused smirk, muttered, "Oh, fuck... this is gold."

The Oberoi brothers and Rajendra, however, were not enjoying the show. Not even a little.

And Rivaan? He looked one breath away from dragging Kaustav by his collar out of the room.

Before any of them could intervene, Aisha finally elbowed her way out of the hug and took two dramatic steps back, huffing. "Seriously, Bhai, you couldn't just wave? Or use words like normal people?"

Kaustav grinned, "Nah. Where's the fun in that?"

And then—because this scene clearly wasn't chaotic enough—the bathroom door opened behind them.

Out stepped a gorgeous woman, still fixing her hair.

Spotting Aisha, she squealed with delight, "OH. MY. GOD. Aisha?!"

Aisha turned to her in horror, visibly freezing.

"NOPE," she deadpanned. "Noooope. Not today. Universe, why are you like this?"

The girl squealed and ran toward her like they were in a Bollywood reunion scene. Aisha didn't move. She looked like her soul had left her body.

Neha, now leaning casually against a wall, chuckled, "This just keeps getting better."

Vikram, who had been holding it together with the strength of a thousand monks, finally exploded.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"

His voice boomed across the room.

Everyone paused.

Even Kaustav blinked.

The woman stopped mid-squeal.

Aisha exhaled slowly, clapping her hands together once. "Right. Intros. That's what I forgot."

She turned to her family and Rivaan, all visibly on edge.

With a dramatic wave, she gestured between the two chaotic additions. "Everyone, meet Kaustav Bhai let's just say after coming in Saad bhai's life I meet him and from then he happened to stick with us. And this lady, equally dramatic as him, is his fiancée, Teja."

Kaustav grinned and offered a thumbs up. "Hi, Aisha's bio family."

Teja beamed. "Hi! We've heard so much about you all."

"Wish we could say the same," Arjun muttered coldly.

Before anyone else say anything, Rajendra gently intervened, his tone calm but firm.

"Princess... I think you forgot what we're here for?"

Aisha blinked, then slapped her own forehead dramatically. "Oh hell, yeah. I got completely distracted—thanks to those two clowns," she grumbled, side-eyeing Kaustav and Teja.

Kaustav threw his hands up. "Excuse me?"

Aisha ignored and squinting at Kaustav. "Did you bring it?"

He smirked, stretching. "Your parcel is already in the cell. Delivered with sarcasm and sealed with chaos."

"Perfect," Aisha muttered, cracking her knuckles. "Let's go."

Teja clapped her hands together, walking toward the corridor like a guide. "Follow me, chaos crew."

Everyone groaned but shuffled behind her.

Veer, dry as ever, muttered under his breath, "That's literally what we've been doing since we got here. Just... following. No one ever tells us why."

Everyone ignored him—except Neha, who leaned in and pecked his cheek. Veer's sarcasm melted into a rare, soft smile.

Saad appeared next to Aisha, tone curious but suspicious. "What exactly have you done now?"

She smiled way too innocently. "Nothing major. I just... may have asked him to bring something from Manchester. Or maybe someone."

Saad gave her a side-glare. "Oh, that sounds healthy."

When they entered the cell, they all froze.

In the center sat a large wooden box, padlocked, slightly scuffed. Like it had been dragged, bumped, and maybe... kicked.

Aisha tilted her head, then narrowed her eyes. "Guys... tell me she's not inside that thing alive?"

Kaustav nodded like it was no big deal. "Relax. We drilled holes. We're not complete monsters." He pointed at tiny, almost invisible pinholes.

Aisha's eyes narrowed into deadly slits. "Oh wow. How generous of you."

Then a muffled scream echoed from inside.

Divyansh visibly jumped. "Wait—is someone actually inside that box?!"

Aisha smirked, patting his shoulder. "Don't panic. That's just our guest."

Everyone watched, completely silent, as she walked over and unlocked the box.
With a swift tug, she flung the lid open.

Inside, a girl sat curled, drenched in sweat, makeup running down her cheeks, bright red hair stuck to her skin like wet threads. Her mouth was tied with a cloth, and her wrists loosely bound in front of her. Her confused, furious eyes darted around as the light hit her.

Aisha tilted her head, inspecting her like an art piece. "Wow. Honestly? This is kind of iconic."

Kaustav and Teja high-fived behind her like proud partners.

Neha, leaning against Veer, whispered with a smirk, "So let me get this straight... she asked Kaustav to kidnap a girl from Manchester. That's new."

Veer stared at the girl, then at Aisha. "Aisha, why her? Who is she?"

Vikram grimaced like he was watching an infection spread. "I already hate everything about this."

Arjun, arms crossed, cold as steel, "Aisha, explain. Now."

Aisha straightened and gave a half-smile. "Oh, no big deal.... just my ex-fiancé's adorable little sister."

Everyone blinked.

Rivaan's reaction was immediate. "He's not your ex-fiancé. He's a walking piece of shit."

Kaustav, arms crossed, nodded. "Unfortunately, he was technically her fiancé. Emphasis on 'was.'" But the second he said it, Aisha gave him a death glare.

Saad rubbed his temples. "Okay. AISHA explain what the hell this girl is doing here and why?"

Aisha rubbed the back of her neck. "Because I... maybe... asked to have her kidnapped?"

Rajendra stepped forward, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Princess..."

She threw her hands in the air. "Okay, FINE! I was mad. Very mad at Kartik, alright? So I asked Kaustav bhai to kidnap his sister. Happy now?"

Everyone just stared at her like she'd lost her mind. Again.

Vikram, his voice laced with suspicion, asked tightly, "And why exactly were you mad at him?"

Aisha opened her mouth... then closed it again.

Then opened.

Then... closed.

Now she knew—once they found out what happened that day, she was doomed. Not because she feared them... but because she knew the storm that would follow.

And that day she just wanted peace. She didn't want bloodshed or broken bones or anyone going full psycho mode for her.

But... the problem was, what she did now wasn't going to bring any peace either. It was going to ignite a war.

Just as she braced herself to speak—

Kaustav blurted it out like he was announcing the weather.

"Oh that! Hah! That bastard met her in this café—Morning Cave, I think?—brought her macaroons. You know, her favorite, chocolate one." He smirked, clearly amused.
"And she, being the biggest chocolate freak on this planet, was about to gobble them up—"

"Kaustav Bhai, shut up—" Aisha snapped, panicking.

"—but then she got a whiff. And guess what? Drugged. The guy tried to drug her. Macaroons were laced. She didn't eat them, thankfully. But yeah, full-blown attempted assault."

Silence.

Sharp. Deafening. Dangerous.

Aisha felt it—the shift in the room. The drop in temperature. The oxygen thinning out.

She slowly turned her head...

Everyone was staring at her.

Not blinking.

Not breathing.

Just... staring.

Like volcanoes seconds before eruption.

Veer's nostrils flared. "He WHAT?" His usually soft eyes turned predatory. The veins in his neck pulsed, and he looked like he was about to tear something apart.

Vikram, who was leaning back moments ago, now stood rigid. Face pale. Lips parted in horror, then clenched in fury. "He tried to drug you?" he asked, voice low... dangerous.

Arjun didn't speak. He just stared at her. Unblinking. Like the world just cracked open beneath his feet. The disappointment in his silence made her want to disappear.

Divyansh, for once, was serious, his usual sparkle gone.

Rivaan, on the other hand, lost all sense of composure. He let out a dark chuckle, but his eyes burned. "That fucking bastard. I should've him the first time."

Saad looked and stepped forward at Aisha furiously. "You didn't think this was worth telling us?"

Aisha tried to speak—again.
But before a sound could leave her lips—

"HOW DARE HE?" a voice boomed.

Everyone turned.

Rajendra.

He had been quiet till now. Standing just behind Arjun. Watching. Processing.

But now?

His fists were shaking. Eyes wide. Chest heaving.

His daughter—his princess—was almost drugged and she hadn't told him?

"How dare he did this to you? And you didn't even breathe a word to me?" he shouted, voice raw with disbelief.

Aisha felt her heart drop. "Dad..."

"Don't you 'dad' me right now!" Rajendra snapped. His voice was thick with emotion. Rage. Hurt. Fear. "You think I let you go away on your own to be safe, and then you're out here getting drugged by some low-life worm?"

"Why didn't you tell us?" Divyansh asked softly, brokenly.

"Because I didn't want this—this madness!" Aisha finally shouted, eyes glossy. "I didn't want to see you all lose your minds. Everything was going well those days it was peaceful. I wanted to handle it myself. I was fine."

"Fine?" Vikram barked. "YOU WERE ALMOST DRUGGED, AISHA."

She whispered, "I didn't eat it. I throw them on his face. I never saw him again after that day."

Before anyone could utter a single word—

Aisha raised her palm, her face all serious. "Not. A word. We'll talk about this later—unless you all want me to forget what I actually brought you here for."

The room fell into instant silence.
Her voice was calm, but that kind of calm that said 'I'm five seconds away from committing another crime.'

Even Rajendra just nodded, his jaw still tense.

Aisha turned on her heels, walking over to the tied-up, gagged girl sitting by the now-open crate.

Kartik's sister. Kashish.

With no expression on her face, Aisha reached forward and yanked off the cloth that gagged her mouth.

The very next second—

"YOU AISHA BITCH! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU TO KIDNAP ME?!"

The screech was enough to make Neha flinch, Saad cringe, and Divyansh actually check if his eardrum was still intact.

Teja, arms crossed, didn't even blink. "Yup. This is why I liked the gag in her mouth," she muttered flatly.

Aisha rolled her eyes so hard, they nearly stayed that way. Then without warning, she raised her hand and slapped Kashish across the face—the sound echoed in the room.

Kashish gasped, more in shock than pain, as her head whipped to the side.

Aisha's voice dropped, deadly soft. "Watch your mouth, Kashish. This isn't your daddy's penthouse. You're in my space now. Try that tone again—I dare you."

Kashish turned back to her, eyes wide with disbelief. Then—classic Kashish—she tried the delusional route.

"What do you think, huh? That I'll stay here for ages? My brother's coming for me, bitch. You're gonna regret this the second he finds out—"

Aisha laughed.

Not a normal laugh.
A dark, cold, chilling laugh that made half the people in the room nervous and the other half interested.

Vikram, who had been casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed, smirked. "God. She really is his sister. Full-on delusional."

"It's genetic," Saad added with a sigh, rubbing his temples.

"Must be a dominant gene," Veer muttered. "Explains the unmatched confidence with zero IQ."

Kashish looked around like she just realized she wasn't at the top of the food chain here.

Aisha slowly walked to the side table, her breathing even, but her eyes—those stormy grey eyes—were on fire. The room was quiet, unnervingly so. No one moved as her hand curled around the dagger, its metal gleaming under the harsh overhead light.

She didn't need to say anything. Her silence screamed louder than words.

Then she turned, stepped toward Kashish, and in one fluid motion, tipped her chin up with the blade, her movements calm—too calm.

"Let's play a little game, hmm?" Aisha said softly, a hint of cruelty seeping into her tone. "It's old-school. Classic Q&A."

Kashish glared, but the flicker of fear in her eyes betrayed her. Before she could open her mouth, Teja stepped forward and slapped her hard. The sound cracked through the air like a whip.

"Speak only when asked and stop glaring bitch," Teja muttered, voice like gravel.

Aisha smirked, the blade still against Kashish's skin.

"Now tell me, darling, where is Chandra?" she asked coldly.

Kashish tensed. The room immediately shifted. The air grew heavier.

From behind, Arjun's brows furrowed. "Wait...what's the connection between her and Chandra."

Aisha didn't break her gaze. "After Chandra's release from jail, she disappeared. But I tracked her. Found her hiding in this bitch's house in Manchester."

A pause. "And now someone's protecting her."

Aisha continued. "Let's circle back, shall we? Where. Is. Chandra"

Kashish gave a sarcastic little smile. "I don't know."

Aisha inhaled sharply. Eyes closed. Jaw locked. Then she leaned in closer, her breath brushing Kashish's face. "Don't test me. I can hurt you in ways you've never imagined."

Kashish scoffed. "Oh please. The fierce little Aisha? Where was this energy back in college?"

Aisha's eyes narrowed. She let the silence linger, and then— "Back then, I had something called self-restraint. Morals. But now?"

She pushed the blade harder into Kashish's skin, a thin red line forming. "But now? This is my kingdom. And I'm the nightmare you were warned about. Now answer me—where the hell is that bitch?"

Kashish spat, then she hissed, "She's planning to kill you. We all are. Because of you, her family's and my father's reputation is in ruins. So yes, we want your end, Aisha Singh Oberoi."

Without hesitation, Aisha grabbed the dagger and—stabbed it into Kashish's thigh. The scream that tore from Kashish's mouth was pure agony.

Aisha leaned in, eyes like fire.
"Just like that. Yes. Just like that scream. Because your dear father? He'll be screaming the same once I get my hands on him."

No one moved.

To Teja, Saad, Kaustav, and Neha—this was routine. But to the others, it was jarring.

It was the first time seeing Aisha like this.

This wasn't the girl they knew.

And somehow, they were proud.

She pulled out the dagger, wiped the blood on Kashish's white dress. "Now. Who is protecting Chandra?"

Kashish whimpered, pain making her voice shaky but still venomous. "You're so desperate, it's pathetic. That person? Aww, don't worry sweetheart... they're coming for you already. You'll be dragged back, begging for death. And they'll destroy this lovely little family of yours all over again."

The room flared with heat and fury.

Neha stormed forward and slapped Kashish so hard her head twisted to the side. Then she grabbed a fistful of her hair, forcing her to look up.

"You fucking bitch. You don't even know what this place is, do you? What she can do? Who we are? That's why your mouth is running like you've got nine lives."

Rajendra stepped forward slowly, like a storm rolling in.

"Fear, foolish girl," he growled, voice thick with something that sounded like pain and fury intertwined. "Fear the one thing standing between you and the grave—Aisha. And fear us, because we're not leaving her again."

Divyansh folded his arms, his voice bitter and mocking. "Oh, and what about your oh-so-loyal daddy? Pretty sure he's more worried about his reputation than your life."

Aisha finally turned around, her face blank.

"Maybe Kartik does care," she said. "But caring never stopped him from choosing himself. Every. Single. Time."

Kashish's eyes blazed. "My brother will destroy you. You know I've hated you from the starting first day I saw your fucking face in college. If you weren't useful, a benefit to all of us—if you weren't my brother's little desire, you'd be long gone by my brother's hands itself."

Vikram walked over, grabbed her jaw roughly. "Define 'benefit.'"

Kashish laughed, despite the blood pooling from her thigh. "You think her life is some fairytale? It's been a joke since the beginning and always be. She's just a pawn. Not one, but two people are behind her 온라인카지노게임. One wants her dead. The other... wants her alive—but chained. Just like she's always been."

Everything in the room went still.

Aisha's lips trembled. Her voice cracked. "You... you know who they are?"

That hint of vulnerability in her voice—it crushed the others silently.

Kashish smirked, leaning closer. "Aww... Aisha's scared now?"

She straightened her spine and while grinning declared. "Call Bhai. Let him come. Be his. Kneel. Beg. Be what you were meant to be—and maybe I'll talk."

Everyone froze.

Then—a sharp whistle.

A knife flew across the room and buried itself in Kashish's shoulder.

She screamed.

Rivaan stood at the back, hand still outstretched, face livid, he whispered, "I won't aim for the shoulder next time."

Aisha rolled her shoulder back and let out a humorless chuckle.

Then she pulled out her phone.
Dialed.
Kartik's number.

Meanwhile Kartik who sat at his desk, sleeves rolled up, tie loose, stress and exhaustion written all over his face. Finding his sister had worn him thin—mentally, physically. So when his phone lit up with Aisha's name, his breath hitched.

He picked up immediately.

"Hello? Aisha?" His voice was cautious, confused.

On the other end, Aisha smiled faintly, her eyes never leaving Kashish. She tilted her head, her tone honey-laced and deceptively soft. "Hey Kartik."

He blinked. leaning back in his leather chair. His eyes narrowed, but a subtle smile curled his lips. "What's up? You... called me? That's unexpected."

He sounded intrigued—caught off guard, maybe a little too eager.

Back in the room, Aisha smirked as her gaze dropped to Kashish, who looked ready to interrupt, but Teja, sharp and silent, shoved a cloth into her mouth and yanked her head back. Her muffled protest only made Aisha's grin widen.

She smirked and spoke into the phone with a sweetness that had everyone in the room pausing. "I called to apologize."

The people in the room froze, raised an eyebrow in curiousity.

On the call, Kartik's shoulders relaxed. He sighed in relief, eyes momentarily closing as he sank further into his chair, letting himself believe—for a second—that she was finally bending.

He softened. "It's okay, A—"

But Aisha cut him off, voice still honeyed. "Oh no, Kartik. I'm extremely sorry. I shouldn't have done what I did that day."

Kartik smirked again, his fingers drumming against the desk—cocky, confident, falling for the illusion.

Until she said, in that eerily calm, flat voice, "I shouldn't have thrown it on your face... I should've shoved it in your fucking mouth, you bastard."

The entire room froze.

There was a half-beat of silence.

Then—

Rajendra let out a deep chuckle, eyes gleaming with pride followed by others too who were enjoying every damn minute.

Kashish, gagged and bleeding, her eyes screaming hatred.

On the other end, Kartik froze mid-smirk. His fingers around the phone tightened. His jaw locked. The air around him thickened with rage.

"Aisha," he said slowly, teeth clenched, hands gripped the edge of the desk.

Aisha's voice dripped through the speaker—mocking, sweet, and layered with venom.

"Tsk tsk, Kartik," she cooed. "Don't be so angry. I mean, I haven't done anything that bad... Oh—wait. Sorry. I did. You just don't know what yet."

Kartik froze. His heartbeat thudded against his ribcage. Her tone wasn't a bluff—it was bait. And deep down, he knew... whatever she was playing at wasn't going to end well for him.

His lips parted slightly, unsure of what to say—but she didn't give him the chance.

"I heard you've been all worked up since yesterday," Aisha continued, voice light and taunting. "Looking for someone, hmm?"

Kartik's breath hitched. His fingers tightened around the phone as the pieces slowly began to fall into place. His silence gave him away.

Aisha's smirk widened on her face like a slow poison spreading through her veins.

She crouched beside Kashish, who was gagged, bound, and glaring daggers at her, but Aisha looked down at her like she was studying a particularly irritating insect. Her fingers brushed a strand of hair away from the girl's bruised cheek.

"Aww, Kashish," she whispered like a lullaby, "Wanna talk to big bro?"

Kartik, still on the call, bolted up from his chair, the sound of the chair crashing behind him echoing through his office. "AISHA! Don't you dare touch my sister!"

Aisha's eyes sparkled. She tilted her head and faked a pout. "Aww, the bastard big brother being all protective over his little bitchy sister? That's actually... kinda cute."

Her tone dropped into pure sarcasm on the last word. In the background, several chuckles echoed.

Then, slowly, Aisha ripped the gag from Kashish's mouth.

Kashish screamed, her voice shrill and filled with rage. "Bhai! Come fast and kill this bitch! I can't stand her anymore!"

The room collectively flinched at her tone—high-pitched, furious, grating.

Vikram winced, hand flying to his temple. "Ugh, bitch, forget handling Aisha—we can't even handle your annoying voice."

Everyone burst into laughter—except for Kashish, who growled in frustration, and Kartik, who stood stunned in silence, the phone trembling in his hand.

Aisha stood, poised, eyes locked on her phone's screen as Kartik's voice continued to echo.

"Don't worry, Kartik," she purred, voice as smooth as velvet but layered with cold venom. "She won't get hurt. Yet. That depends on you."

There was a pause.

Kartik frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

Aisha didn't answer.

Instead, Arjun, who had been silently watching her from the corner of the room, stepped forward. His eyes were calm—too calm.

He gently took the phone from her hand and said into the receiver, his voice deep and low, "Now listen, Kartik—and listen carefully. We all know how much you cared for Aisha and thought that we even believed, for a moment, that you weren't like your father. But don't take us for fools."

There was a beat before his voice dropped even lower. "Your sweet little sister confirmed it all. You had your hands with those who are behind Aisha."

On the other end, Kartik shut his eyes, his fingers digging into his temples. He felt the world closing in. "I don't know—" he tried to say.

"Fucking start talking, boy!" Rajendra's voice boomed in the background now, rough and furious. "Before my daughter gives your sister the best goddamn hospitality she can offer."

In the same moment, Aisha stomped her boot down on Kashish's wounded thigh—not with rage, but with chilling precision. The scream that tore from Kashish's throat wasn't just pain.

Kartik flinched. His breath came out harsh, uneven.

"I don't fucking know anything, you old man!" he spat, his voice cracking. "I just want her. That's all I ever wanted."

Those words lit a different fire in Aisha.

She snatched the phone back from Arjun, her jaw clenched so tight her cheek twitched. Her voice was like a blade—sharp and fatal, "I dare you to disrespect my father again."

"Your father may be old..." she paused, her lips curling into a wicked smile, "...but mine is still strong, still sharp—and still handsome, you pathetic bastard."

Rajendra chuckled darkly from behind, pride glinting in his eyes, while shook their head seeing her protectiveness.

Kartik, on the other side, laughed bitterly. "Aisha, I don't fucking care what those people want. If helping them means I get you, making you mine... then yes. I am with them."

She chuckled lowly—dangerously. "Did you forget what I told you? I will never be yours. Not now. Not ever."

Her voice turned into steel. "I am—and will always be—Rivaan's."

Kartik gritted his teeth. He hated hearing that name from her mouth.

Aisha kept going, her voice now drenched in fury. "Go ahead. Join hands with them. But remember—this was your last mistake."

She stepped forward, gaze darkening like an approaching storm. "Because the end of you has begun—starting with your sister. I'm done entertaining her annoying existence."

Kashish whimpered softly behind her, blood trailing from her wound.

"If you want her alive," Aisha warned, "Surrender. Speak. And remember this, if I can burn down your father's building sitting just beside you. Killing your sister?" She leaned toward the phone. "...That's nothing."

Kashish turned her teary eyes toward the phone. She was hoping. Praying. That her brother would finally pick her over the madness.

But what she got...

...was hell.

Kartik chuckled. The sound was void of guilt. Void of heart.

"Kill her," he said flatly. "One less burden for me. She's done nothing but ruin everything."

"She told you things? That's where she becomes dead for me. I told her not to open her fucking mouth. Kill her. I don't even need her anymore."

Kashish's eyes widened. Her soul shattered in silence.

"Even if she returns to me," Kartik growled, "I'll fucking kill her myself. She's been a nuisance her entire life."

The entire room fell silent, everyone shocked hearing all this from him for his sister.

But Aisha... she didn't flinch.

She stared at the phone, her voice now ice-cold and deathly calm. "...Fine. But remember one thing, Kartik. The day I get my hands on you—I will end you."

Kartik scoffed, voice laced with delusion and hatred. "Don't worry, darling. The day you see me, you'll be mine. All this time, I used to think, even if I had to take you by force—I'd still treat you like a queen."

His voice dropped to a sickening murmur, "But now? You'll be my slave. My toy. You've earned it, you arrogant bitch—"

CRACK.

Before he could finish, the phone was ripped from Aisha's hand. Rivaan didn't say a word. He just slammed it against the wall, shattering it into pieces.

His chest rose and fell, fists clenched, jaw ticking.

"He breathes," Rivaan whispered through gritted teeth, "only because he isn't in front of me right now."

Aisha let out a sharp sigh, her expression a cold mask of exhaustion and irritation. She turned slowly to Kashish, who was now trembling, shoulders shaking as soft sobs escaped her bloodied lips.

Aisha rolled her eyes, her voice laced with venom. "Fucking stop this drama."

She stepped closer, towering over her. "You really think I buy this act? As if you wouldn't have picked yourself over him if the tables turned."

Her voice lowered, sharp and cold. "You siblings were born for theatrics."

Kashish looked up through teary eyes, her lips curled into a weak glare, but she didn't speak.

Silence.

Aisha's eyes narrowed. Her patience? Wearing thin.

She stepped closer, her boots thudding ominously on the concrete. "Where is Chandra?" she growled. "Who are the people behind all this? Speak. Now. Or I swear I'll show you what pain feels like—and no one will come to save you."

Kashish flinched, her shoulders tense. She swallowed hard and then muttered in a shaky voice,

"We... we used code words. Only code words." Her breathing hitched. "All contact was through messages or encrypted voice calls. Animated voices. No faces. No names. I swear—I don't know who they are."

Aisha's jaw clenched. Her eyes searched Kashish's face for any sign of a lie.

Kashish continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "But one thing I know for sure..." She looked up, a glimmer of fear in her gaze. "...they're coming. Sooner than you think."

Aisha crossed her arms. "How do you know there are two of them?"

Kashish hesitated. Then whispered, "Dad told me." Her voice was bitter now. "The one we're working with? They want to keep you alive. But there's another... someone else. A woman. She wants you dead."

Aisha's brows lifted—just slightly. Her lips parted. But she said nothing.

Kashish nodded, shaky. "He said... she's wanted you gone since the day you were born."

Silence hit the room again like a bomb.

"...The only reason you survived," Kashish went on, "is because the other one insisted. The one who placed you with the Joshis. That's all I know."

Aisha stepped back. Her breathing shallow. Her fists clenched. "And Chandra?"

Kashish gave a faint shake of her head. "She left. They asked for her... she went to them willingly. After that, I haven't heard a word."

Aisha let out a heavy breath, eyes darkening.

"So that's it?" she muttered to herself. Then she looked back at Kashish, who was now nearly slumped in the chair.

"You can rest. For now." Her voice was emotionless.
"Thank your stars you're not dying today. For now. Not because I'm feeling generous."

She turned on her heel.

"But because today's death..." she said, walking toward the door, "...is reserved for someone else."

And with that, she stormed out of the room.

The others stood frozen, watching the fire in her steps, the way her hair whipped behind her like a flame trailing destruction. Then, all at once, everyone followed.

"Where is she going?" Arjun muttered under his breath, already quickening his pace.

Saad, keeping a steady stride beside him, answered without looking back.
"To let it out her emotions."

They trailed her down the metal staircase, the echo of boots against steel ringing through the concrete corridors. The deeper they went, the colder it became—physically and emotionally. The warehouse's lower base was not somewhere anyone visited casually.

As they reached the hallway below, they saw her. Standing motionless.

Aisha stood in front of a large, rusted cell door. Her arms were folded across her chest, her face cold and unreadable under the dim, flickering light. Her presence filled the hallway like smoke—dangerous and impossible to ignore.

She turned her head slightly at the sound of their steps.

"Nobody gets in with me," she said flatly, eyes scanning all of them. "If you want, you can watch from the glass next to this cell. Just don't interfere."

Then she turned to the silent guard nearby. "Bring my baby."

The man nodded quickly and rushed off.

The door to the cell creaked open, and Aisha stepped inside. Before anyone could react, she slammed the metal door shut with a thunderous bang.

From the back, Rivaan frowned in confusion. "Baby?" he muttered.

Teja blinked, stunned. "Wait... she has a baby?"

Kaustav's eyes widened in horror. "She brought a baby here?"

Saad groaned softly, rubbing his forehead. "Not that kind of baby."

He turned toward them with a look that was almost amused. "It's the black panther Vikram gifted her. She named him 'Baby'. Brought him here to make him as dangerous as she is."

Everyone went silent—processing the sheer weight of that casually dropped information.

Vikram smirked with quiet pride. "That's my brat."

They all moved into the adjacent cell, which had a wide, reinforced glass wall facing into Aisha's. From here, they could see everything inside.

The lights inside flickered on slowly, revealing a bleak and eerie sight.

A man sat shackled to the cold cement floor, his wrists and ankles bound with heavy chains that dug into his skin. He looked broken, eyes swollen, mouth bloodied.

Aisha stood a few feet away, arms by her sides, calm but radiating danger.

But not the Aisha they knew.

She stood still—her expression unreadable, her eyes void of all warmth. The air around her seemed to twist with something sinister, cold, and mechanical—like even her soul had gone still.

Neha's voice broke the stunned silence. "Now you'll witness why the underworld fears her. Why they call her 'STAR' with more reverence than dread."

Everyone had heard the whispers—the rumors of a girl who walked through blood and shadows with no fear, no guilt.

But this was different.

This time, her brothers... Rivaan... Rajendra... were seeing it with their own eyes.

And it wasn't just fear that gripped them.

It was heartache.

The moment they saw her face, something inside each of them twisted painfully.

And then... there was Rajendra.
Her father.

His heart splintered.

She stood in front of that man like a phantom from hell. The daughter he once imagined twirling in her tiny dresses, giggling as she asked, "Dad, do I look pretty?" —
The little girl who would cling to his leg, terrified of the dark, begging to sleep beside him for just one more night —
The same child whose smile could light up his entire world, pure and untouched by cruelty...

But he never get to witness that.

Now, in her place stood a figure so unrecognizable, it made his knees weak.

No innocence. No fear. No soul.

Just a body—calculated, mechanical, and chilling.
A living weapon.

His throat went dry as he stared through the glass, his hand subconsciously pressing to his chest like it could stop his heart from shattering further.

"She shouldn't have become this," he whispered under his breath, a tear threatening to fall.

Neha didn't turn to him. Her arms were crossed, her face tight. "She didn't choose this," she said coldly. "Life made her. And none of us were there to stop it."

Kaustav stepped away, looking toward Saad. "Saad, we need to leave now—some urgent work in Bandra. But I swear, I'll come back tomorrow."

Teja nodded too, her voice soft. "We'll see you soon."

Saad sighed but didn't argue. "Fine. Come... tomorrow, then."

Before leaving, Teja stepped up to Neha and gave her a tight hug, whispering,
"Make sure one of her brothers stays with her tonight. She's going to break the moment this rage fades."

Neha nodded with a knowing look. "I will. Don't forget, we still have gossip left."

Teja smiled faintly and parted, nodding once before walking away with Kaustav.

As the others returned their attention to the glass, the show had begun.

Aisha had stepped closer to the bound man, pulling a thin blade from her belt. Her fingers didn't tremble. Her eyes didn't blink. She was no longer a girl.

She was vengeance in flesh.

Everyone watched—not with judgment, not with fear—but with a pain so raw it was hard to breathe.

Because they finally saw her...

Not as STAR.

But as the little girl left behind by the world—forced to become her own nightmare to survive it.

As I stepped into the cell, the door slammed shut behind me with a sharp clang—a sound that echoed through the cold silence like the ringing of a death bell.

I stood there for a moment—still, quiet. My gaze fixed ahead.
I didn't blink. I didn't breathe too loud.
I didn't need to.
Everything in me had already gone still... dead, almost.

Across the cell, he was chained to the wall—head low, shoulders hunched, like a tired animal. But as my boots tapped softly against the concrete floor, he stirred.
He looked up.

And there they were.
Those eyes.

Ice-blue. Soulless.
People call them beautiful. Enchanting, even.

To me, they were a curse.
A constant in every nightmare. A flash in every memory I wish I could erase.
The color of fear.
The color of him.

I didn't let it show—not the tension crawling under my skin, not the weight pressing on my chest. I reached slowly to my belt, fingers wrapping around the cold metal of the blade. My hand didn't shake. It never does—not anymore.

When his lips curved into that smirk, that same twisted grin I remembered too well...
My stomach turned.
Not out of fear. Not anymore.
Out of hate.
Pure, bone-deep hate.

I stepped closer.

He wasn't just a man.
He was the first shadow.
The other one who taught me that monsters weren't imaginary.
That sometimes... they whisper your name like it's a secret, then destroy you when no one's watching.

He was the first to stain me. He was the actual first one to Molest me.

Eight years old.
Eight.
And no one knew. No one saw.

And now here he was—still breathing.
Still smiling like the world owed him something.

I tilted my head slightly, blade at my side, calm... detached.
From the outside, I probably looked empty. Cold.
Like I didn't feel a damn thing.

But inside?

Inside, the little innocent girl was screaming.

But I didn't let it out.
Not yet.

My jaw tightened as I stepped closer, the sound of my boots echoing like a countdown. He was still smirking—cocky, amused, stupid. But I didn't stop. I crouched down in front of him, slowly folding my legs, sitting like I had all the time in the world. Like this was a game.

And maybe it was.
My game.

I smiled.

Not the sweet kind. Not even the fake kind.
It was unhinged.
A smile meant to haunt.

The smirk finally slipped from his face—uncertainty creeping into his eyes.

I twirled the blade between my fingers lazily, the metal catching the dim light with each flick. Then, like a soft lullaby from hell, I began to sing.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star..."

My voice was soft. Gentle, even. But it wasn't a lullaby anymore. It was a warning. A countdown.

He looked confused at first, brows furrowed. But I didn't stop.

"How I wonder what you are..." My tone dropped, cold and detached, almost whispering now.

I tilted my head slightly, eyes never leaving his.

"I wonder that too," I said. "What you are?. Because once, I thought you were human. Now I know better."

I took one step closer, the blade dancing between my fingers. "Let's find out what I've become, shall we?" I smiled. "Twinkle, twinkle, little STAR..."

His lips parted. The color drained from his face.

"Oops," I murmured. "That's the difference, isn't it? The STAR... is big now."

His eyes widened, body tensing.
Recognition hit like a bullet—straight to the chest.

I watched fear rise in him like a tide. Crawling up his spine.
It tried to hide behind a mask of pride, but it was slipping—fast.

"No..." he breathed. "It can't be..."

I crouched slowly, until we were eye to eye.

"You think I'd stay a ghost forever?" I whispered. "You thought I'd stay buried in the past? That the little girl you used to toy with would never come back?"

He shook his head in disbelief. "You're not... You can't be STAR..."

I leaned in just enough for him to feel the weight of my words.

"But I am," I said, voice low. Deadly.
And I meant every syllable.

Because STAR wasn't a name I gave myself.
They made me this.
He made me this.

"Oh, don't do this," I sighed, rolling my eyes like I was bored—like this was just another day.
"You used to love hearing that poem, didn't you... Master?"

I spat the word like it was acid on my tongue.

He flinched.

Good.

I stood slowly, letting the tension hang, before crouching again in front of him.
The blade twirled lazily in my fingers—its edge now dangerously close to his face.

"You used to love that song," I whispered, my voice hollow. "Made me sing it... while you—"

My jaw clenched. My smile didn't.

—while he played with me.
Treated me like a toy.
Touched me in ways an eight-year-old should never be touched.

I remember how I cried.
Begged him to stop.

But he never did.
Because that was my punishment, right? For not finishing my homework.
Because he was my tutor—a seventeen-year-old monster wrapped in a teenage boy's skin.

They call that age reckless. Naive.
But he wasn't reckless. He was calculated.

His obsession with that damn poem... it never made sense.
Not back then. Not when he made me sing it, over and over, even when I was broken, begging.
Even when they... ruined Kaki.

I didn't understand back then.

Not until years later. The night I was molested again. The one infamous night everyone saw me broken and blamed me.

The night that drunken bastard who molested me opened his mouth and told me everything.

The night I finally realized it wasn't just one moment.

It was three.

Three traumas I experienced all over again that night.

Four monsters. One song.

Nobody knows what really happened that night.
But I do.

And that poem?
That twisted, beautiful poem?

It became my curse.
My nightmare.

But then I did something they never expected—

I turned it into a weapon.

They used to smile when I sang it.

Now they shiver when they hear it.

Already two are down, one is shivering here and the last one is still roaming free.

I leaned closer to him, my lips ghosting his ear.

"Let me show you what that little eight-year-old girl you broke has become."

And before he could blink—

SLASH.

I drove the blade deep into his arm.
He screamed.

Loud.
Ugly.
Weak.

I watched, unfazed, even bored. Like I was watching someone spill wine on the floor.

"You scream like a bitch," I said flatly, pulling the blade out slowly, letting the blood drip to the floor like paint on canvas. "Let's see how long you last before you beg."

With that, I began.

There was no hesitation in my hands—no mercy. Only a storm. Those cursed days played in my head like a broken recorder, each memory fueling my rage. I picked up a rusted iron pipe and swung. His scream ripped through the silence. He cried. He begged. But why should I care? When I cried, who listened?

No one.

So I didn't stop.

Then came the whip—leather laced with spines. With every lash, he bled. With every drop, I felt a sliver of justice. I remembered Kaki. I remembered her screams. I remembered how she bled. How no one came to save her. And now? Now, I wasn't going to save him.

I grabbed the pliers and crouched. His eyes widened in terror.

"No, no—please don't—" he stammered.

I tilted my head. "Then tell me—who's behind me? Who wants me dead?"

He shook, sniffling like a coward. "I don't know her name... she's just a woman. She's the one who's been planning your destruction for years. We were all just... following orders."

I froze.

"And?" I echoed, voice hollow.

"She's smart," he continued, sobbing. "I just joined the gang before I became your tutor. That's how I knew about you... the poem... the blame for the dead maid—"

I screamed, the pliers sinking into his finger. "SHE WAS MY KAKI!"

One finger. Then another. And another.

No remorse. No guilt. Not anymore.

Because STAR doesn't feel.

To be honest, asking about the woman behind it all was pointless. She was too calculating. She wouldn't fall so easily. But him?

He was mine to break.

I picked up the hammer. He whimpered, eyes darting, body trembling.

I aimed low.

"Recognize this fear?" I asked.

Then I brought the hammer down on the one part of him he thought made him powerful.

He screamed—a scream that no doubt echoed through the silence outside. I laughed, dark and cruel, watching him squirm, watching fear devour him. The irony was delicious.

Fisting his hair, I yanked his head back. "Do you like what your little toy has become?" I hissed.

He sobbed.

I shoved him back and pulled out my STAR dagger—etched with the mark I made mine. I twirled it in front of him. He knew it was over.

I stabbed his thigh.

"That's for touching me."

His shoulder.

"That's for ruining a little girl's innocence."

His arm.

"That's for making me feel disgusting every damn day of my life."

Tears burned at the edges of my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. He didn't deserve to see that part of me. Not anymore.

I stepped back and knocked once.

The door opened.

My panther—my beautiful, deadly baby—stepped in. I scratched behind his ear, and he purred, snuggling into my palm. The man's face went pale. He knew.

I smiled, dark and proud. "Baby," I whispered, "that man is one of the monsters who hurt your momma. Will you finish what I started?"

He nodded. So smart. So loyal. So trained.

Then, I turned to the other wall—the one-way glass where everyone stood watching. Every single one of them stood frozen, shocked beyond words.

Except Saad bhai.

He didn't flinch.

He just stood there. Still. His eyes on me—not with fear, not with pity... but with something deeper. Like he was trying to understand. Like he was asking what did that man did to you?

But he won't get the answer.

No one will.

They won't hear a thing. The walls were built thick, soundproofed for this very moment. My pain, my screams, my 온라인카지노게임—locked in with him.

That monster's gone. And with him, that part of me dies too.

I'm not going to tell them.

Not because I'm too broken to say it.

Because they don't deserve to bleed from wounds that were never theirs to carry.

They don't need to know I studied harder than anyone else not to achieve anything... but to run. To run far away from the hands that touched, the eyes that watched, the punishments that came when I made even the smallest mistake.

They don't need to know that I chose silence because screaming never worked.

They don't need to know that I stopped being a child long before I even knew what childhood meant.

My family has suffered enough.

I won't let my truth become another burden on their already breaking hearts.

I don't want them to carry my darkness.

That's mine to bear.

Then... I felt a nudge. My baby panther. He came back to me—blood on his fur, mouth stained red, eyes calm. He curled up beside me, like he knew it was done.

The third monster was gone.

I felt peace.
A little cruel.
A little cold.
But mine.

I smirked.

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