AUTHOR'S POV
In a desolate expanse where the wild jungle reigned supreme, shivansh and rudra stood before a sprawling farmhouse confusion, like a subtle shadow, marred both their faces, a rare sight for men usually so composed the stillness of the remote location amplified the uncertainty that hung between them
" Bhai why did ayansh bhai call both of us here? and more importantly, why did he ask you to bring nisha Kapoor? " Shivansh asked, his voice a quiet murmur, thick with bewilderment his brow furrowed, a slight unease settling in his gut
" I don't know either shiv " Rudra replied his gaze distant, lost in thought "But from what bhai said I understood that nisha must have done something she shouldn't have And if this were an office matter he would have handled it there But if he asked to bring her to the basement, it means it's personal "
The word 'personal' hung in the air weighted with a darker more dangerous implication Rudra's jaw subtly tightened, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes
They stepped inside the farmhouse, the heavy door closing behind them with a muffled thud that seemed to swallow the last vestiges of the outside world Their footsteps echoed with a chilling resonance as they headed straight for the basement
Countless guards stood there, their heads bowed in silent deference, their postures rigid with a tension that was palpable even in the dim light Their collective silence was a testament to the gravity of the situation
The basement was plunged in an oppressive darkness, save for a single, flickering bulb hanging precariously from the ceiling Its weak glow cast dancing shadows that distorted the already grim scene
Three men and one woman sat slumped on chairs, their hands bound tightly with heavy, cold chains Their faces were slick with the cold sweat of sheer terror gleaming faintly in the meager light The three men bore numerous gruesome marks of injury on their bodies and blood fresh and dark trickled steadily from their mouths and noses They were unconscious, their conditions dire, their pallor hinting at a brutal ordeal They looked half-dead their bodies testament to suffering
" Rudra sir, p-please, sir, why have I been brought here? What have I done? Please let me go, s-sir, please " the woman cried her voice a raw, choked sob thick with desperation Her body trembled visibly, her eyes wide and pleading
" Once Bhai arrives, you'll know along with us why you've been brought here " Rudra stated, his voice a low, unyielding drone, completely devoid of empathy He watched her with an impassive gaze, betraying no hint of pity
Just then the distinct sound of footsteps echoed through the oppressive silence of the basement, deliberate and heavy Everyone's head snapped towards the door a collective intake of breath
Ayansh stood there silhouetted in the doorway an imposing figure of quiet menace His gaze, piercing and unwavering, was immediately fixed on that women
He entered the basement his movements slow and deliberate his eyes burning with an icy, furious rage that seemed to chill the very air his jaw was clenched so tight that the muscles visibly rippled he never once broke eye contact with nisha as he stopped directly in front of her his presence a suffocating weight
" Nisha Kapoor " he grated, his voice a low dangerous growl his teeth grinding audibly as if trying to restrain a deeper, more primal fury
" S-sir, why have I b-been brought here? what have I done....tell me, please, let me go " she pleaded again, her voice now a desperate whimper her body shaking violently
" You don't know what you've done " he asked, his voice deceptively soft, yet laced with venom
She frantically shook her head fresh tears streaming down her pale cheeks
Shivansh and Rudra stood nearby, the same confusion still etched on their faces though a creeping dread was beginning to mingle with it They had never seen Ayansh quite like this
" I'll tell you what you've done " he declared, pulling his phone from his pocket with a swift predatory movement he played a CCTV footage for her holding the screen so she couldn't avoid it
" This... this is what you've done " he said his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper and her fear intensified to an agonizing degree, her composure utterly shattered a strangled gasp escaping her lips
Rudra immediately stepped forward his eyes falling upon the incriminating footage on Ayansh's phone As he watched, his own eyes usually calm and calculating flared with a sudden intense anger a vein pulsed visibly in his temple
" Tch tch poor girl One shouldn't speak to my brothers' wives with such disrespect May God grant peace to her soul " Shivansh drawled a mock lament in his voice his tongue clicking in a gesture of feigned sympathy He then casually almost lazily, settled onto a nearby couch, a detached observer enjoying the spectacle
" How dare you speak to my Kriti like that " Rudra roared, his voice erupting with unbridled fury the words torn from his throat
" S-sorry, sir, I...I didn't know she was your wife I swear, sir " she stammered, her voice a terrified squeak her body trembling uncontrollably as if gripped by a sudden fever
" She told you she was my wife didn't she? So why did you stop her Tell me, or I'll kill you " Rudra shouted, his voice rising in volume a chilling edge of violence underlying his words
" S-sir, I thought t-they were j-just making excuses to meet you two, but I swear if I'd known..." She began, her voice cracking
But her words were abruptly cut short by a sound that made everyone flinch
" Shut up, Just shut the fuck up Don't you dare utter another word with your filthy tongue, or I swear to God, I'll bury you alive right here in this very place, understood " Ayansh thundered, his voice a raw, primal roar that seemed to shake the very foundations of the basement
His eyes blazed with a bloodlust so intense it sent a jolt of genuine fear through the guards and even through Rudra and Shivansh who had seen Ayansh angry many times before, but never like this
She was utterly terrified, her whole body shaking like a leaf, barely able to breathe
" She doesn't need any excuse to meet me; she has every right she's my biwi, do you hear me? my biwi " he growled his gaze a furious glare that held not just anger but a strange, fierce possessive intensity
The anger in his body was a molten lava simmering just beneath the surface threatening to erupt He was fighting a desperate battle to keep his composure, a raw, almost unfamiliar emotion churning within him
He didn't fully understand why he felt such an overwhelming rage, but all he knew was that this woman, sitting before him, had dared to raise her voice at his biwi, had stopped her, and had spoken ill of her. This, he could not tolerate It felt like a direct assault on his very being
" Consider yourself lucky that I never lay a hand on women, or you wouldn't be alive right now " he stated, his voice chillingly calm now, the calm before an even greater storm
" Sir, p-please f-forgive me, please, sir, please " she cried, her face wet with tears, her pleas desperate and pathetic
" Of course, I'll let you leave here " he said, a slow predatory smile spreading across his face "but I will make sure your life becomes worse than hell itself. You won't find a job anywhere If I don't force you to beg, then my name isn't Ayansh Singhania " He snarled grinding his teeth with a sickening crunch
At his words nisha's sobs grew even more desperate, her body wracked with shuddering cries of despair
" Guards " he bellowed, his voice echoing through the basement and a swarm of burly guards appeared instantly, their faces grim
" B-boss " they chorused, their voices a synchronized rumble, laced with a tangible fear that permeated the air
" Throw this trash out of here I don't want to see her face again " he commanded, his voice cold and final
" Understood, boss " the guards replied their movements swift and efficient as they seized Nisha, who offered no resistance, her spirit utterly broken, and dragged her away
He looked at Rudra, whose eyes were still fixed on her, a lingering anger simmering within them
" Now it's these bastards' turn so, let the games begin my hands are itching to hit someone " Shivansh announced rising from the couch with a playful stretching motion though the glint in his eyes was anything but playful He joined Ayansh and Rudra, a dangerous anticipation in his posture
" My eyes are welling up with tears seeing your love for your wives " Shivansh said, a touch of dramatic flair in his voice, his lips curling into a mischievous grin
" Do you want to die too " Ayansh retorted his gaze a sharp, warning glare
Shivansh immediately clamped his mouth shut, the playful glint replaced by a more cautious one the three then turned towards the three bound men, their expressions hardening
" Bring hot water " Rudra commanded, his voice a low growl a guard promptly brought a bucket of steaming water and without hesitation, poured its scalding contents over the bound men
A collective "Ahhhh!" a chorus of pained screams ripped from each of their mouths as they jolted awake their eyes snapping open in agony
" You've rested enough Khanna's lapdog Now get up " Shivansh sneered his voice dripping with contempt
" Ayansh Singhania How dare you imprison me here? If Khanna sir finds out, he will..." one of the men yelled his voice raw with defiance and pain but his words were abruptly cut short as Ayansh moving with the terrifying speed of a predator seized his throat with a vice-like grip
At this moment he resembled nothing less than a beast unleashed his features contorted with pure unadulterated rage
" You f*cking bastard How dare you utter my name you've grown quite a tongue, haven't you and you're threatening me with that motherf*cker Khanna what can he possibly do " he roared his voice thick with a murderous intent. His grip on the man's throat tightened even further the man's face turning a mottled red
" Bhai bhai, calm down we need him he's the only one who knows where Khanna is " Rudra said, a flicker of genuine fear in his eyes as he cautiously stepped closer to him, his voice was laced with urgency, trying to pull him back from the brink
Ayansh with a guttural sound, finally released the man's throat, leaving him gasping for air
" Even if I die, I won't tell you where Khanna sir is " the man choked out, taking long ragged breaths, his eyes defiant despite his obvious terror
" Aisa kya, to chal teri ye khwahish puri karte hai " he said, a chillingly devilish smirk spreading across his face "Bring the acid "
( Alright then we'll fulfill your wish )
A guard appeared instantly with a bottle filled with clear, viscous liquid Ayansh snatched it from him, and the guard quickly retreated standing at a safe distance his face pale
" Khanna where is he in India " Ayansh asked the man, his voice unnervingly calm, almost conversational a stark contrast to the acid in his hand
" I won't tell " the man declared a stubborn defiance in his eyes, even as his body trembled
Without a moment's hesitation Ayansh splashed the acid directly onto the man's face
" Ahhhhhh " A bloodcurdling, agonizing scream ripped through the basement, echoing off the concrete walls and chilling everyone to the bone the other two men recoiled, their bodies trembling violently in fear
" Let me go, please, let me go " the man sobbed, his voice now a desperate, agonized wail, his face melting under the acid
But Ayansh remained unmoved, his expression cold and impassive
" We're asking you one last time If you value your life tell us where Khanna is and we'll let you go " Rudra said, his voice hard, gripping the man's hair in his fist pulling his head back to meet his gaze
" I won't tell " the man insisted, his defiance fading, replaced by sheer terror
Ayansh again grabbed his throat with brutal force " You know I have absolutely no patience, and you're testing my limits I'm asking one last time tell me where Khanna is " Ayansh asked, his voice now a poisonous whisper, promising unimaginable pain
" I won't tell " the man stubbornly repeated, and at that Ayansh's last shred of patience snapped With a furious roar, he emptied the entire bottle of acid into the man's mouth
" Ahhhhhhhhh " The man shrieked in an excruciating prolonged agony, his body convulsing. And then, without a word Ayansh raised his gun and shot the remaining two men their bodies slumping lifelessly
The loud reports of the gun echoed deafeningly in the enclosed space, causing all the guards, and even Rudra and Shivansh, to flinch and momentarily recoil in a shock that transcended their usual hardened demeanor
" GUARDS " Ayansh roared at the top of his voice, his voice raw and filled with a terrifying authority
" Y-yes b-boss " the guards stammered, their voices trembling with fear
" Throw this garbage in the dustbin and clean this place I don't want to see a single drop of these bastards' blood " he commanded, his voice cold and final as he gestured to the bodies
" Bhai calm down Control your anger a bit. We'll find Khanna " Rudra said to him, his voice gentle now, as he tried to calm the storm raging within him
" Make sure you find out where he is quickly, Rudra " he said, his gaze fixed on Rudra, a chilling warning in his eyes Rudra nodded, a silent promise
Just then, Shivansh's keen eyes caught sight of a faint smudge of blood on Ayansh's palm " Bhai, how did you get this injury " he asked, his voice filled with concern
Ayansh looked down at his palm, and a sudden, vivid memory of the incident in his office flashed through his mind His hand clenched tightly into a fist crushing the small injury Without a word
he turned and strode out of the basement, his steps heavy Rudra and Shivansh watched him go, a shared understanding passing between them
Ayansh walked directly to his car, pulling off his coat and tossing it onto the backseat with a rough gesture The faint sound of something falling caught his attention He looked down and saw it – a broken piece of Ayesha's bangle, the one he had found in his office
He himself didn't know why he had kept that broken piece with him all this time he picked it up, and upon touching it, all his burning rage seemed to melt away, like ice in the sun His eyes, which had been red with fury and icy cold just moments ago softened becoming gentle and distant
He leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes Memories of Ayesha, crying on the stairs her words echoing in his mind flooded him he slowly opened his eyes, started the car and drove away from the desolate farmhouse
In the Basement
" Bhai, Ayansh bhai is always angry but wasn't he even more so today I mean it was a different kind of anger in his eyes, wasn't it " Shivansh said to Rudra, a slight tremor in his voice as he recalled the scene
" Yes, today even I was scared of bhai's anger " Rudra admitted, a small nervous laugh escaping him " He was truly something else "
" Okay, bhai, I'm going home Are you coming " Shivansh asked, eager to put some distance between himself and the recent events
" No, I have some work at the office You go home " Rudra replied his mind already shifting to the next task
Shivansh nodded in agreement, and both then left the chilling silence of the basement, leaving the remnants of the violence behind
ON THE OTHER SIDE
at Ayansh's Office he burst open his office door the sound echoing loudly in the suddenly quiet space and stepped inside. He took a few steps forward
His gaze still clouded, until his eyes landed on the lunchbox sitting innocently on his table He stopped abruptly, his body freezing he stared at the box for a moment a strange flicker of something unreadable in his eyes
Then slowly walked towards the table He sat on the couch, he opened the lunchbox and the inviting aroma of the food wafted up to his nostrils, a comforting presence in the tense atmosphere
He served the food onto a plate, his movements surprisingly gentle, and took a bite the moment the food touched his tongue he was utterly lost in its exquisite flavor A faint almost imperceptible warmth spread through him chasing away some of the cold fury
" There must be some magic in biwi's hands how can anyone cook so well " he whispered softly to himself
Softly?
Yes!
Okay!
A profound tenderness a vulnerability he rarely showed he mused to himself
The ghost of a smile touching his lips, and continued eating He ate with such a serene calm that looking at him, no one would have guessed he had just committed three brutal murders
To be continue........
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