A few days passed. An under-the-table war was brewing between the Phantom and the Police, yet on the surface, everything appeared normal in the city.
Today, a massive 'Charity Event' was being held at the city's largest convention center. Maintaining her fake identity as a simple 'NGO worker,' Naina arrived dressed in a modest white saree. She stood near the stage, busy arranging funds. Her beauty, her simplicity, and a strange, hidden charm in her eyes could make anyone lose their heart to her.
Ranjeet Singhania was also present. Ranjeet was the only son of the state's biggest industrialist and mafia-funder. Wealth, intoxication, and arrogance—these three things dominated his mind. His gaze fell upon Naina, and he froze. In his entire life, he had never seen a woman so breathtaking.
Accompanied by two bodyguards, Ranjeet approached Naina. "Excuse me, beautiful lady," he said with sheer insolence, swirling the wine glass in his hand. "My name is Ranjeet Singhania. I can donate 10 crores to this petty NGO of yours all by myself. But I have one condition."
Naina, who possessed the inner power of a Chief Minister, began to feign slight fear. She adjusted the pallu of her saree. "What is the condition, sir?"
Ranjeet stepped forward and suddenly grabbed Naina's wrist. "The condition is that you have to be mine. Marry me. I will keep you like a queen."
Naina's blood boiled. A street-level brat with money was daring to lay a hand on the Chief Minister of the state. She wanted to order her security detail right then and there to gun this man down in the middle of the crossroads. But she couldn't blow her 'normal life' cover; Aryan would find out.
Like a perfect actress, Naina forced tears into her eyes. "P-Please let go of my hand. I am married. I love my husband very much. We have a small and happy life."
Ranjeet burst into laughter. "Your husband? What does that insect do? He probably works some petty job or runs a shop. With one gesture from me, your so-called husband's corpse will be found on the street like a dog. You don't understand who you are standing in front of! I get what I want."
For the woman inside Naina who loved Aryan boundlessly, this was impossible to endure. Someone called Aryan a dog and expected to stay alive? Naina looked into Ranjeet's eyes. For a split second, Ranjeet saw an entire ocean of death and destruction in the eyes of that innocent NGO worker. He flinched for a moment.
"Do not bring my husband into this, Singhania ji," Naina said in a very steady, chilling voice. Then, she immediately resumed her crying act, wrenched her hand away, and ran from the spot.
Ranjeet shouted after her, "You won't escape! By tomorrow, you'll be at my feet!"
Naina went into the convention center washroom. She locked the door and stood before the washbasin. There were no tears on her face now—only a terrifying, cold expression. She pulled her secret CM phone from her purse and called her Chief Secretary.
"Hello, Madam CM," the voice answered.
"Singhania Industries," Naina's voice was like ice. "Open every file on Ranjeet Singhania and his father. Have the Anti-Terror Squad raid their godowns. Their bank accounts must be sealed within the hour. Before 12 midnight, I want to see Ranjeet Singhania begging on the streets. And in tomorrow morning's news, register a fake encounter case against both of them."
"B-But Madam... the Singhanias provide a huge fund to our party. It will cause issues in the elections..."
"I said BEFORE 12 MIDNIGHT," Naina said, not shouting, but with a ruthless coldness. "If he sees tomorrow's sun, I will transfer you to a place where you won't even be able to breathe. Understand?"
"Yes, Madam! It will be done immediately!"
Naina hung up. She washed her face with cold water, looked at herself in the mirror, and smiled. 'He calls my Aryan an insect? Now you will see what happens when the sky falls. Whoever comes between my and Aryan's normal life, I will erase their very existence from this world.'
11:00 PM.
Aryan and Naina were lying comfortably in bed at home. Naina had her head on Aryan's arm, reading a book. A news channel was playing in the background.
The news anchor was shouting: "Breaking News! The Singhania family, the city's biggest business magnets, has been hauled into custody. Illegal weapons were found in their godown. Ranjeet Singhania was brutally beaten by the public during his arrest..."
Aryan, who had already learned through his informants that Ranjeet had harassed Naina today and was planning to kill him tonight, was slightly surprised by the news. 'How did this happen? How did the police get into action so quickly?' But then he figured Ranjeet must have crossed paths with someone else powerful. 'Good thing he got caught, otherwise he would have been in pieces by my hands tonight.'
Naina lowered the TV volume and gave Aryan a very sweet, innocent smile. "Look Aryan, bad things eventually happen to bad people. God sees everything, doesn't He?"
Aryan smiled and kissed Naina's forehead. "Yes, my life. Those who do evil are always destroyed."
They both continued to smile within a beautiful lie. One thought she had sent her husband's enemy to the jaws of death (through legal, albeit ruthless, means), and the other thought some unknown angel was helping them. Their love grew deeper with each passing day, and their lie, more dangerous.