Rohit left Akansha and hurriedly slipped out of the ladies' washroom. He checked his watch—it was exactly five minutes.
The janitor boy was waiting nervously. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw Rohit. "Boss, your work's done?"
Rohit smirked, handing him the rest of the money as promised. "Thanks, bud. Take this."
The boy's nerves melted into glee as he counted the bills. Rohit walked away without another word, heading straight back to Ragini.
She was at their table, another bowl of ice cream in front of her, the first one already empty.
"Too much sugar, huh?" Rohit teased, reaching for her bowl.
Ragini playfully smacked his hand away. "The earlier one melted. And you can't touch it."
He shrugged. "Okay, I'll ask for another." He was about to call the waiter when Ragini raised her hand to stop him.
Her voice softened, though tinged with hesitation. "I wanted to thank you for making this evening so beautiful. So… if you don't mind, I'd like to feed you myself." Her face flushed as her gaze drifted to the city lights, unsure of how he would respond.
Rohit smirked, leaning closer with a teasing grin. "Sure, I'm always willing if you want to feed me milk-related things."
Instead of a spoonful, he earned a sharp twist of the ear. He winced theatrically. "Okay, okay, I'll behave."
Ragini smirked, satisfied, and scooped a spoonful of ice cream to feed him.
Rohit smiled as the sweetness melted on his tongue. For all his lives, he had known many women, some who truly cared for him, but this was different. He could see raw, unguarded emotion in Ragini's face.
A pang of guilt stabbed at him for cheating her behind her back, but it lasted only for a fleeting moment.
Personally, he saw women as hidden cards, pawns in his chess game. Though, Ragini was different, someone he recently started to genuinely care for. But that didn't mean he could change his path.
All except her were nothing more than onaholes meant for his pleasure. That small concession made his heart feel lighter. However, he didn't realize how much his new body's instincts were already shaping his thoughts.
He smiled slyly. "We're getting late. How about I feed you now?"
Ragini blinked at the sudden reversal. She checked her watch—it really was late. She handed him the spoon she'd used earlier and kept his.
Rohit raised an eyebrow as they began feeding each other. 'isnt this anIndirect kiss?', he thought, amused. 'What a shrewd lady.'
This time, he let his saliva linger deliberately on the spoon before giving it to her. Ragini accepted it without hesitation, then slyly used her own spoon to taste what lingered of rohit's remain.
"Hey, that was mine," Rohit complained.
Ragini shrugged. "We're getting late. Finish up."
Rohit smirked, catching her little game, but followed along.
They finished the ice cream and left to meet Mr. Chambani before departure.
Mr. Chambani was with his family and looked surprised to see Rohit with his mother, who seemed so young at his side.
Naina giggled, whispering into her father's ear as if she had scored some hidden point. Mrs. Chambani, however, fixed the duo with a sharp glare before stepping forward to greet them with practiced courtesy.
Meanwhile, the youngest son, Nayan, fist-bumped Rohit. "Yo bro, how about playing COD online? I'd like you to be my wingman."
Rohit wasn't a fan of games, nor did he want to mingle much, but not to appear rude, he shared his number with a practiced smile.
Once the greetings were done, Ragini called for Secretary Pathak and Bodyguard Chanu, who were waiting outside.
Rohit winked at Chanu, who responded with a smile while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. With that, the four of them left the venue.
Meanwhile outside the tower,
Sohail was biting his nails, eyes glued to his wristwatch. Right in front of him, a tall, bulky man in his early thirties leaned lazily against a bike, face half-covered with a handkerchief. A headband pressed down his messy hair, his tattooed arms bulging each time he shifted.
Sohail's face was pale with panic. Two of the man's subordinates had him cornered—one gripping his arm tight, the other pressing a knife to his stomach.
The bald one with the blade snarled, patience thinning."Kasím bhai, time's up. Should I gut this rat?"
Sohail yelped, words tumbling out."No! Five more minutes, I swear! Just five!"
The bulky man, 'Kasím', didn't speak. He just shifted his weight on the bike, his silence more terrifying than a threat.
The heavy-bearded thug clicked his tongue."Hope your guy shows before your five minutes are over."
Sohail cursed his fate. He had called these bastards to take revenge on that Korean girl—his plan was simple: track the rich brat she was with, shake him up, find her whereabouts. But now? These animals were far beyond his control, and with every tick of the clock, the danger grew.
They'd arrived two hours late, and now they were acting like he had some magic button to summon the kid. Logic didn't matter—if they got bored, they'd carve him up.
And the worst part? Since Rohit had gone inside Orion Tower, not a single soul had come out. Sohail himself had started doubting if the kid would ever emerge.
He prayed silently, begging God for a way out, for his ties with these devils to be cut clean. And just then—his prayer was answered. Rohit stepped out.
But Sohail's relief froze in his throat. Rohit wasn't alone. He was flanked by two women and a suited man.
Sohail nearly shouted in joy."Boss, they're here!"
Kasím's eyes opened, his gaze following Sohail's pointing hand. Though he knew the target was Rohit, his eyes locked instantly onto Ragini, who walked at the front with effortless poise. Her sleek figure, pale skin, and regal air made his breath hitch.
The woman beside her, in a leather jacket—Northeast, tough-looking—was decent too, but next to Ragini, she barely registered.
As they moved toward the black Mercedes, Kasím licked his lips.'That one's so rare... and also loaded.'
The bearded man tried to act smart, leaning in."Boss… kid ain't alone. Better to back down, no?"
The bald thug smacked the bearded one on the head."Idiot. We'll follow the brat home. Pick him off later when he's alone. Ransom will be bigger if we know his nest."
Kasím's hand shot out, smacking both of them hard."Baldy, has your brain melted or your eyes gone blind?"
The two thugs froze. The bearded man chuckled nervously, but Kasím's stare shut him up.
He grabbed both their faces, forcing them to look.
"Forget the kid. Look at 'her'. That woman is a printing machine. Every night, and we'll make more money than years of ransom."
The bearded man drooled, nodding eagerly."Boss' vision is sure peak.. Premium stuff. Her skin's like cream."
The bald one scratched his head."But bhai, our job was the kid. Grabbing her for 'sale' will bring too much heat. Might turn out a big scandal if a rich madam like her goes missing."
Sohail's heart sank. He knew exactly what "selling" meant in their mouths. His stomach turned. He'd only wanted Rohit roughed up, maybe kidnapped—something safe, something that'd end with ransom. But this? This was a suicide pact. Touching that woman, who clearly belonged to wealth and power, was madness.
But what could he do? These thugs weren't listening to him anymore.
Kasím shook his head, voice calm and final."No beauty like that slips by me. Our organisation isn't some back-alley crew—we've got power, backing, protection. We'll bide our time, track her, and take her when it's ripe."
The bearded one rubbed his palms."And boss… before selling, we get first taste?"
Kasím smirked, patting his shoulder."Only After me."
The bald man still hesitated, squinting at Ragini as Rohit helped her into the car."Boss… What if, she's not even related? Could just be some office lady hiring a young stud."
The bearded man barked a laugh."Yeah, like gigolo service deluxe!"
Kasím slapped both across the head."Shut it. Doesn't matter who's who. If the chance comes, we take all of them."
The bearded one stroked his beard greedily. "That Northeast chick ain't bad either. Good warm-up before the main item."
Sohail's voice broke in, small and trembling."Bhai… my part's done, right? Can I leave now?"
Kasím didn't even look at him as he started to approach his van."Pick him up. We still need to reward the kid for his service."
The two thugs turned toward Sohail with ugly grins. His blood ran cold.
Inside, he screamed: No. No, no, no. Hell no.
Back inside the Mercedes,
Rohit's fingers curled gently around Ragini's hand. He kept his gaze on her, studying the stillness of her face. In contrast, Ragini turned toward the window, her eyes fixed on the blur of buildings and lights passing by.
Through the rearview mirror, Rohit saw Chanu focused on the wheel, her expression blank and loyal as ever.
He understood Ragini's act—it was her way of maintaining composure in front of her driver. If she truly wished to break away, she would have pulled her hand back by now.
The realization left Rohit both amused and touched. 'Does this mean she's accepted my proposal?' The thought warmed his chest.
Just then, the car gave a sudden jolt and rolled to a halt.
They had only been on the road ten minutes when they reached the flyover, and the sight ahead was a wall of unmoving vehicles. The flyover was jammed, more crowded than usual, horns blaring in frustration.
Rohit frowned. "Is this normal? The place looks too packed today."
Chanu's brows knitted. "Happens sometimes… but I fear the worst."
Ragini lowered her window and called out to a passerby trudging down the opposite lane. "Excuse me, how long has it been stuck like this?"
The man's face was tight with irritation, but the moment he saw her, his voice softened. "Two hours, madam. You'd better call home—it won't clear anytime soon."
Chanu clicked her tongue. "Shitty crap! Exactly what I didn't want today."
The AC hummed, offering comfort, but Rohit noticed the faint crease of unease on Ragini's forehead. Perhaps it wasn't the heat—it was the thought of being stuck here with no certainty.
His eyes drifted to the right, where a subway entrance yawned open. A few stragglers were still heading down the steps.
"What if we take the subway?" Rohit suggested. "We just need to get past the flyover. After that, we can call an Uber."
Chanu hesitated. "But, sir, you don't know the stops."
Ragini turned, a small spark of approval in her eyes. "It could work. There are five stops before we reach Central Delhi."
Chanu's voice tightened. "But madam—your security. Leaving the car here like this…"
Rohit cut her off with a half-smile. "Fear not. I'd rather die than let a single scratch come to her."
Both Ragini and Chanu glanced at him, then shared a knowing smile before laughter escaped them.
"If you say so, young master," Chanu sighed, unlocking the car.
Ragini, still amused, brushed her hand lightly against Rohit's chest. "Let's go, my hero."
He felt a rush of awkwardness at her teasing tone. To cover it, he quickly opened the door and added, "Don't forget the packages. They're on the deck."
Behind the wheel, Chanu chuckled and flipped the mirror down, catching the reflection of his red ears.
Rohit rolled his eyes and stepped out.
Unbeknownst to them, a van stood parked at a distance, its tinted windows hiding four men inside. They had been trailing since the tower.
The bald man in the back, holding Sohail at knife point, nudged his companion. "Boss, look—the door's open."
The bearded driver smirked. "And they're heading to the subway… leaving the girl behind."
Kasim's lips curled into a slow smile. Their prey had practically delivered itself. What began as a routine tail had turned into an opportunity. The roadblock was certainly a blessing.
Only one question remained: whom to take first?
The boy and the woman stepping into the subway, where timing would matter. Or the lone girl left behind in the car, easy to pluck from the crowd's behind.