The morning began like any other.
Sakshi lay curled under her blanket, dreaming peacefully, unaware of the chaos the day would bring. But downstairs, Nisha was already prepared for battle.
"Sakshi! Utho!"
No response.
Nisha sighed, picked up a pillow, and went inside.
"Sakshi… get up, beta. Holiday hai iska matlab ye nahi ki din bhar soogi!"
Still nothing—just Sakshi pulling the blanket over her head.
Nisha called backup.
"Aarav! Come here, wake your sister!"
Aarav smirked, marched in, and shouted,
"Didi! Earthquake! Jaldi utho!"
Sakshi shot up instantly, hair messy, eyes half-open.
"Aarav!!"
Nisha laughed.
"Achha, ab utho. Brush karo."
Reluctantly, Sakshi got ready, tied her hair in a messy ponytail, and sat beside Aarav to watch Shinchan—her comfort, her weakness, her childish escape.
They were laughing when Viraj rushed in, phone in hand.
"Nisha, office se emergency call aayi hai. Aaj jaana padega!"
In the hurry, he forgot his lunch on the table.
Nisha sighed.
"Yeh bhi na… Sakshi, Aarav, tum dono lunch le jao. He'll be hungry."
"Me? Why me?" Sakshi groaned.
"Because you're his daughter," Nisha said firmly.
And that was it—Sakshi had to go.
At the Office
The building was breathtaking.
Tall, shining, intimidating.
Sakshi and Aarav were awe-struck.
They reached Viraj's floor, handed over the lunch, and as usual—Sakshi scolded her father.
"Papa, you HAVE to take care of yourself!"
Viraj laughed embarrassedly while Aarav slipped away after receiving a phone call. Feeling awkward after Sakshi's scolding episode, he didn't even notice where she went.
Sakshi stepped into the hallway, phone buzzing with notifications.
Probably messages from Pihu and Ishu.
Scrolling, she walked without seeing—
THUD.
Her body collided with a hard chest.
She slipped.
Her balance broke.
But two strong arms caught her instantly.
Her eyes squeezed shut in fear.
And when she opened them…
Her blood froze.
The man whom she had seen in udaipur .
The man who killed without blinking.
He was here.
Holding her.
His grip tight, possessive, unmoving.
Sakshi trembled violently .she was shivering.
"L-leav… leave m-me…" she whispered.
He didn't.
His hold tightened.
He said nothing—just watched her, studied her. Seeing her he chuckled dangerously.
"Sir , please le.... leave" sakshi whispered unable to complete her sentence
Then finally, with a voice cold enough to freeze her breath—
"You've seen something you should not… miss."
Her heart dropped.
"Sir p-please… I won't tell anyone," she said in one desperate breath.
"I don't know your name, I will forget everything… just leave me…"
A dark chuckle left his lips.
He leaned closer.
"Forget it? You think you can forget something I don't want forgotten?"
She shook her head, tears spilling.
His smirk deepened.
For a moment, he loosened his grip—barely.
And she used that second.
She pushed him away and ran.
Ran like her life depended on it.
Her sobs echoed through the hallway.
Her steps stumbled.
But she didn't stop until she reached the stairs, rushing down blindly
Riyansh didn't follow.
He simply stood there, watching her flee.
Watching her fear devour her.
Watching the door slam behind her.
A slow, dark smile curled on his lips.
"She thinks she can run," he whispered, amused.
His eyes sharpened with something dangerous.
"She has no idea…"
Because this wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.
Sakshi ran down the stairs, breath broken, chest aching, tears slipping uncontrollably. Her legs felt weak, but fear kept pushing her forward.
Her hands were still trembling when she stepped into the lobby.
Just then—
"Didi?"
Aarav.
He ended his phone call and finally noticed her. His eyes widened when he saw her red eyes, wet cheeks, and shaking hands.
"Didi… kya hua? Why are you crying?"
Sakshi wiped her tears quickly, trying to steady her breath.
"N-nothing… bas… I slipped a little, that's all…"
Aarav frowned.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded, though her body screamed otherwise.
Without questioning further, Aarav held her hand gently—something he rarely did—and guided her outside.
Sakshi didn't look back.
Didn't glance at the hallway.
Didn't dare.
She just wanted to go home.
Inside the auto, she kept staring out the window, her mind replaying everything.
His eyes.
His voice.
His grip.
His smirk.
Her heart raced every time she remembered his face inches away from hers.
Aarav kept glancing at her nervously.
"Didi… you're still shivering. Should I call Papa?"
"No," she whispered, hugging herself.
"I'm okay… bas thodi ghabrahat ho rahi hai."
A lie.
A big one.
She wasn't okay.
Not even close.
At the Same Time — In the 16th Floor Office
Riyansh was still standing where she had left him.
His men stood behind him silently, waiting.
His jaw clenched.
His eyes darkened.
The girl who ran from him—
trembling, fragile, terrified—
had left a mark.
A mark he didn't want to fade.
Without turning, he spoke.
His voice was quiet.
But deadly.
"Find out who she is."
His men straightened immediately.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Name. Address. Family. College. Everything."
His eyes narrowed.
"And I want it today."
"Yes, Your Highness."
He finally exhaled, a slow, dangerous smile appearing on his lips.
"She thinks she can disappear."
He closed his eyes, remembering her face.
"Let's see how far she can run."
Outside the Office
The auto stopped near their home.
Aarav paid the fare and helped Sakshi step down. He was confused, worried, but said nothing—he simply stayed close to her.
As soon as they reached home, Nisha asked,
"Arre Sakshi beta, kya hua? Chehra itna sad kyun hai?"
Sakshi forced a tiny smile.
"Kuch nahi… thoda headache hai…"
Nisha nodded sympathetically.
Aarav watched her quietly, knowing something was wrong… very wrong.
Sakshi went straight to her room, closed the door, and leaned against it.
Finally letting out a shaky breath.
Her body still felt his grip.
Her ears still heard his voice.
Her mind still replayed the moment she saw him.
She didn't know his name.
She didn't know his world.
But she knew one thing—
He wasn't letting her go.