A sharp gasp escaped my lips.
"I've been watching you," he said, his voice low... dangerously calm. "You just keep talking, don't you?"
I froze.
His face was inches away from mine. His eyes-bloodshot, burning-looked like they could destroy me right there.
"This is the first time," he continued, his grip tightening, "that you dragged my family into this."
My heart started pounding uncontrollably.
"Do that again..." his voice dropped further, almost a whisper, "and I don't even know what I'll do to you."
Fear rushed through my veins. My body went still.
I lowered my gaze instantly.
I couldn't look at him anymore.
"I don't know what kind of stupid stories you're making in that dumb head of yours," he went on, frustration evident in every word, "but I didn't bring you here in the way you think i did "
My breath hitched.
"And i don't owe you any explanation!
For a second... my mind stopped.
"What does it mean ? Didn't bring the way i think he did???
My thoughts tangled, panic creeping in.
"But now that you're already in this world..."
he said, his tone turning colder-final, like a locked door, "you're not leaving."
Something inside me shattered.
Not leaving...?
My fingers curled slightly, my nails digging into my palm.
"Understood?"
I couldn't speak.
My voice... my strength... everything felt stuck somewhere deep inside me.
"And don't test my patience," he added,
leaning even closer. I could feel his breath now-uneven, restrained... like he was holding something back. "You're just a kid... so behave like one."
Kid.
That word stung more than his grip.
His eyes lingered on me for a moment-intense, unreadable. For a split second... something flickered there.
Anger?
No... something else.
Something he quickly buried.
"And about my identity..." he said, straightening slightly, his expression hardening again, "I don't think you're important enough to know."
Each word landed like a slap.
Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
Not in front of him.
Not like this.
But inside-
Fear. Confusion. Betrayal.
Summoning every bit of courage I had, I lifted my gaze and looked straight into his eyes.
"I'm sorry..." my voice trembled, but I didn't look away this time. "I shouldn't have said anything about your sister."
For a moment, silence stretched between us.
"But..." I continued, my chest tightening, "you got so angry just hearing about her... and what's happening to me doesn't even matter to you."
My throat burned.
"She's your sister..." I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them, "and who am I...?"
His eyes locked onto mine-cold, empty, unreadable.
"Nothing," he said flatly. "Just a girl."
The words didn't just hurt-
They crushed something inside me.
My gaze dropped instantly.
Of course.
Why did I expect anything else?
His grip was still tight around my shoulder, and now the pain started to sink in-sharp, throbbing.
A soft hiss escaped my lips despite trying to hold it back.
That's when he noticed.
As if it had just clicked.
He let go of me immediately.
For a split second, there was something on his face-something close to realization... or guilt
.
But it vanished just as quickly.
He ran both hands through his hair in frustration, letting out a sharp breath, clearly irritated-maybe at me...
I gathered whatever courage I had left and spoke, my voice shaking-
"Fine... I won't question... but please... let me go."
My eyes searched his face desperately.
"You're the one in charge here, right? Then let me go... please."
For a moment, he didn't react.
Then-
"That's not possible," he said, his tone flat.
"You can't leave."
Something inside me snapped.
"Why...?" my voice broke as tears finally spilled. "Why can't I leave...?"
He exhaled sharply, irritation flashing across his face.
Before I could say anything else-
Thud!
His fist slammed hard against the wall beside me.
"WHY DON'T YOU GET WHAT I SAY ??? YOU REBEL KID! - He shouted...!
I flinched violently, my whole body trembling.
Fear wrapped around me instantly.
For a second... even he paused.
Maybe because of how scared I looked.
But it didn't change anything.
I was breaking.
And he was already walking away.
"No..." the word slipped out of my lips as panic took over.
Before I could think, I stumbled forward and fell at his feet, my hands clutching desperately.
"Please... don't do this..." I cried, my voice shaking uncontrollably. "Please let me go... I have my exam... I've worked so hard for it..."
My tears fell onto the floor, unstoppable.
"I can't stay here... I can't... please..."
I was begging now.
Completely shattered.
But he didn't bend.
Didn't even soften.
"That won't be possible," he said coldly.
No hesitation.
No emotion.
Just a final answer.
And then-
He walked away.
Leaving me there.
On the floor.
Crying.
Broken.
Just then, the aunty came close to me.
She gently placed her hand on my head, trying to calm me down.
In this entire place... she was the only one who ever showed me warmth.
I clung to her tightly, sobbing into her shoulder.
"I don't want to stay here..." I cried again and again.
For a moment, even she went quiet-like she didn't fully know how to respond.
But she still held me, slowly calming me down.
"Shh... calm down, beta," she said softly.
Then she helped me up and took me to my room.
She made me sit on the bed and carefully applied medicine on my injured shoulder.
As she worked, she spoke gently, almost like she was trying to make me understand something.
"Look, beta... I don't know why you're so angry with Kabir sahab," she said.
"But he's a very good man."
Her words made me freeze a little.
"I've been working in his house for almost twenty years," she continued, "and I've seen him. He's genuinely a good person."
"He's actually the one who has been trying to shut down this brothel for a long time... but Navya madam doesn't agree."
I looked at her, confused.
"In fact," she added, "he usually doesn't even come here. Today... it was the first time he came in so long, and even stayed here."
That made my thoughts spiral.
Then she said something that hit me even deeper-
"Navya is the owner here. And no, beta... no one is ever forced here. No one was ever brought here against their will."
I went silent.
My mind started shaking with confusion.
"And Kabir..." she said softly, tying the bandage, "he takes care of everyone here."
She continued gently, still calming me down.
"Beta... I don't know why Kabir babu brought you here," she said softly, "but I do know one thing-he will never do anything wrong to you."
Her voice was steady, full of experience.
"I am fifty years old... and from everything I've seen in life, I feel he is not a bad man. He is just... helpless."
I looked at her, confused, my breath still uneven.
"And I also feel..." she hesitated for a second, then continued, "that he has left his own world behind and come here. There must be a reason... a very deep reason."
Her eyes studied me carefully.
"And somehow... I feel that reason is connected to you."
My heart skipped.
"Trust him. Stay calm. And most importantly... take care of yourself."
Then she added quickly, as if remembering something important-
"And I'm here, beta. Kabir sir himself brought me from his house to stay here... for you."
I froze.
"You get angry quickly because you're still young," she said softly, patting my hand. "But don't hurt yourself like this."
Before I could say anything, my eyes filled again and I broke down silently.
She held me once more, trying to steady my shaking body.
Just then, a worker came to the door.
"Ma'am... food has been sent by Kabir sir," he said.
I looked up slowly.
A tray was placed in front of me.
And everything on it...
was my favorite food.
"I don't want to eat..." I said weakly, pushing the tray away.
Aunty sighed softly. "Keep it here, beta... you'll eat later."
I shook my head. "No... I don't want it."
She looked at me for a moment, then said gently-
"If your mother asked you to eat... would you refuse her like this too?"
That one sentence-
It broke something inside me all over again.
Tears welled up instantly.
"My mother... isn't there..." I whispered, my voice trembling. "She left me when I was a child..."
Before I could say anything more, she pulled me into a tight hug.
"It's okay... it's okay, beta," she murmured,
holding me close.
Her warmth... felt unfamiliar.
Yet comforting.
"From today," she said softly, stroking my hair, "I'll take care of you... like a mother."
My chest tightened.
No one had ever said that to me before.
"Now come on... eat something," she added,
wiping my tears with the edge of her saree.
This time... I didn't refuse.
Slowly, I picked up the food and started eating.
Every bite felt heavy... but I forced myself.
In the middle of it, my eyes suddenly shifted toward the door.
For a second-
I saw a shadow.
Someone was standing there.
My heart skipped.
"Who's there?" I asked, my voice low.
The shadow disappeared instantly.
Aunty turned slightly, then said casually, "Probably a worker, beta."
But something didn't feel right.
After I finished eating, she gave me medicine.
"This will help with the pain... and your cramps too," she said.
I frowned slightly. "How do you know...?"
She chuckled softly.
"Beta... at my age, these things are easy to understand."
I looked at her, a little surprised... a little embarrassed.
But deep inside-
My mind was somewhere else.
That shadow.
Was someone really there... was it kabir...?
Or was I just imagining it?
After taking the medicine, Aunty gently said,
"Rest for a while, beta... I'll be back."
I nodded weakly and lay down on the bed.
My body felt heavy... my eyes slowly closing.
But before I could drift off-
The door creaked open.
I looked up.
Navya.
My breath instantly hitched.
She walked in slowly, her heels echoing against the floor, her eyes fixed on me with pure hatred.
"So..." she smirked, crossing her arms, "you think you're very smart, don't you?"
I stayed silent, my fingers tightening around the bedsheet.
"You really think Kabir will save you?" she stepped closer. "Or are you planning to trap him... hmm?"
Her words felt like poison.
"I'll make sure you pay for this," she whispered, her voice turning dark. "In such a way... that you'll beg for death."
Fear wrapped around me.
Tears welled up in my eyes again.
Before I could move, she suddenly grabbed my hair harshly, forcing my head back.
A cry escaped my lips.
"What did you do to him, huh?" she snapped. "What magic did you use on Kabir?"
Her grip tightened painfully.
"Did you offer yourself to him-"
Before she could finish-
I pushed her hand away with whatever strength I had.
"Think before you speak!" I said, my voice shaking but firm. "There's nothing like that between us!"
For a second-
Silence.
Then her face twisted with rage.
How dare you? She screamed in rage
Her hand shot up in the air.
I flinched instantly, closing my eyes, raising my hands to shield my face-
Waiting for the slap.
But it never came.
A second passed.
Slowly... I opened my eyes.
Kabir.
*****************************************