Blood stained love

6

Vasundhara’s face softened, and her own tears spilled over. “Beta, Dev was your past. Arjun could be your future. Don’t let old wounds keep you from healing. Don’t punish yourself for something you couldn’t control.”

Kaya stood abruptly, pacing the room. “Maa, you think I haven’t tried to move on? But every time I look at Arjun, I see someone who deserves better—someone unbroken, someone whole. And I can’t give him that. Not now.”

Vasundhara got up, her small frame radiating a quiet strength. She placed her hands on Kaya’s shoulders, forcing her to stop and look at her.

“Kaya, you are not broken. You are my daughter, and you have more strength than anyone I’ve ever known. But strength isn’t about fighting alone. Sometimes, it’s about letting someone else fight with you.”

Kaya’s resolve cracked, and the tears she had been holding back came pouring out. She collapsed into her mother’s arms, sobbing.

“Maa, I’m scared. What if I fail? What if I hurt him? What if I hurt myself?”

Vasundhara held her tightly, stroking her hair. “Beta, life is full of ‘what ifs.’ But if you never take a chance, you’ll never know. And I believe in you. I believe in your ability to love and to be loved.”

Kaya pulled back, wiping her tears but still looking uncertain. “I don’t know, Maa. I don’t know if I can.”

Vasundhara cupped her face, her voice firm but loving. “You don’t have to decide everything today. Just promise me you’ll think about it. Not for me, not for Arjun, but for yourself.”

Kaya nodded hesitantly, her heart heavy but slightly lighter with her mother’s words.

As Vasundhara watched her daughter retreat into her room, she whispered to herself, “Dev may have been your storm, beta, but Arjun... he could be your shelter.”

CHAPTER -

Delhi’s winter evenings were a mixture of chaos and calm. The bustling streets echoed with the honking of rickshaws and the occasional street vendor’s cries. Amidst this cacophony, Dev stepped out of his sleek black SUV. His presence was magnetic, demanding attention even in the crowded lanes of Connaught Place.

Reyansh followed closely behind, his eyes darting nervously. “Dev, this city isn’t like Abu Dhabi. Too many eyes, too many risks.”

Dev shot him a cold look. “Since when did risks bother you, Reyansh? Or is it that you’re losing your nerve?”

Reyansh swallowed hard, trying to mask his unease. “It’s not that. It’s just... this lawyer. She’s smarter than we thought. She’s dug up things no one should have access to.”

Dev smirked, the kind of smirk that could send chills down anyone’s spine. “And that’s why I’m here. To put an end to this game before it becomes a problem.”

As they entered a high-end lounge, the staff greeted them with hushed deference. Dev took a seat in a dimly lit corner, the city lights visible through the glass walls behind him. He tapped his fingers on the table rhythmically, his mind working at lightning speed.

“Reyansh,” Dev began, his voice low and deliberate, “tell me everything about this Advocate Sharma. Every case she’s fought, every mistake she’s made, every weakness she has. I want to know her better than she knows herself.”

Reyansh hesitated. “Dev... there’s one more thing.”

Dev raised an eyebrow, his patience thinning. “Spit it out.”

Reyansh fumbled with his phone, pulling up a photograph. It was a blurry shot of Kaya outside the courtroom, her black coat fluttering in the wind, her face set with determination.

“She’s the one,” Reyansh whispered, his voice barely audible.

Dev froze. For the first time in years, something shifted in his expression. His cold, calculating demeanor faltered, replaced by a flicker of something unnameable.

“Her?” Dev asked, his voice dangerously quiet.

Reyansh nodded. “Yes. Advocate Kaya Sharma. The same girl from five years ago. Your girl.”

Dev leaned back in his chair, his mind a whirlwind of emotions he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years. He stared at the photo, his jaw tightening.

“She’s not my girl anymore,” he said, his voice laced with bitterness. “She’s just a lawyer who doesn’t know when to quit.”

Reyansh shifted uncomfortably. “Dev, if she finds out—”

“She won’t,” Dev cut him off, his tone final. “She won’t even know I’m here. For now.”

Meanwhile, at Arjun’s Villa

Kaya was pacing the living room, her hands clutching a stack of legal papers. Arjun watched her from the kitchen, chopping vegetables with a precision that matched his meticulous nature.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the carpet,” he teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Kaya shot him a look. “Arjun, this isn’t a joke. The hearing is in two days, and Reyansh’s lawyers are pulling every trick in the book to delay it. I need to be ready for whatever they throw at me.”

Arjun walked over with a plate of freshly cut fruits, placing it on the table. “And you will be. You always are. But you also need to breathe, Kaya. You can’t fight the world on an empty stomach.”

She sighed, reluctantly picking up a piece of apple. “You sound like Maa.”

He grinned. “Someone has to. Your Maa isn’t here to scold you, so I’ll do it.”

Kaya gave a small smile, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “Thanks, Arjun. For everything.”

Arjun hesitated for a moment, his usual carefree demeanor giving way to something more serious. “Kaya, you don’t have to thank me. I’m here because I want to be. And because I... care about you.”

She looked up, surprised by the intensity in his voice. “Arjun—”

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. It was a message from her mother: Beta, stay safe. This place can be dangerous, and people like Reyansh don’t play fair.

Kaya’s face hardened. “I need to go over these files again.”

Arjun sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Be the unstoppable Advocate Sharma. But at least let me make dinner. You’re eating properly tonight, whether you like it or not.”

Back at the Lounge

Dev sat alone now, Reyansh having left to handle some “damage control.” He sipped his whiskey slowly, his mind replaying the photograph of Kaya over and over.

Five years had passed. Five long years of burying her memory, of convincing himself he didn’t care. But seeing her face again had ignited something dangerous—a mix of anger, regret, and an ache he couldn’t ignore.

“She’s just a lawyer,” he muttered to himself, as if saying it aloud would make it true.

But deep down, Dev knew better. Kaya wasn’t just a lawyer. She was the one thing he could never control, the one person who had walked away from him.

And now, she was standing in his way.

For the first time in years, Dev felt unsure. Not about what he needed to do, but about how much of himself he would lose in the process.

Next day,

The air inside the Delhi High Court was thick with anticipation. The gallery buzzed faintly as people whispered among themselves, waiting for the case to unfold. Reyansh walked in confidently, his sharp black suit tailored to perfection. His smirk was smug, a man basking in the belief of his inevitable victory.

Dev followed behind him, his gait slow and deliberate. He wasn’t here for showmanship; he didn’t need it. His aura was enough. Every step he took exuded power, silencing even the faintest murmurs. The room seemed to shrink around him, as if his presence demanded its full attention.

Dev scanned the courtroom as he sat in the third row, blending with the spectators. His dark eyes were focused, almost hawk-like, but there was a flicker of something uncharacteristic—concern.

“Where is she?” he muttered under his breath.

Reyansh turned to him briefly, catching the words. “Who cares? She’s not here, and that’s all that matters.”

Dev shot him a look so cold it could have frozen the entire room. “I wasn’t asking you,” he said flatly.

Reyansh swallowed and quickly looked away, adjusting his tie nervously. No matter how close he was to Dev, no one ever dared to cross him.

The judge entered, a sharp rap of the gavel bringing the courtroom to order. The opposing counsel rose, presenting their case in a robotic tone, listing technicalities and loopholes that would render Kaya’s petition invalid.

Reyansh smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Game over,” he whispered to himself.

But Dev wasn’t listening. His eyes were fixed on the empty chair at the petitioner’s table. The absence of Kaya gnawed at him in a way he couldn’t explain. She was stubborn, relentless, the kind of person who wouldn’t miss a hearing no matter what. So why wasn’t she here?

His mind spiraled with possibilities, each more troubling than the last. Was she hurt? Was she threatened? Or had she finally given up?

No, he thought to himself. Not her. She doesn’t back down.

The judge began to speak, his tone firm. “Since the petitioner has failed to appear and no representation has been made on her behalf, this court is inclined to dismiss the petition.”

Reyansh smirked, victorious. He turned to Dev, expecting a nod of approval, but Dev’s expression was unreadable. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched, but his face betrayed no emotion.

The gavel fell, and the case was dismissed. The gallery erupted into murmurs, but Dev remained seated, unmoving.

Reyansh leaned in, lowering his voice. “Dev, it’s done. Let’s leave before someone starts asking questions.”

But Dev didn’t move. His eyes were still fixed on the empty chair. His mind was a storm—an unfamiliar chaos that even he couldn’t control.

“Leave if you want,” Dev said, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ll catch up.”

Reyansh hesitated but knew better than to argue. He slipped out quietly, leaving Dev alone in the now-empty courtroom.

Outside the Courtroom

Reyansh lit a cigarette, pacing nervously. The thrill of victory was dulled by Dev’s unusual silence. For years, Reyansh had seen Dev as untouchable, unshakable. But today, there was something different—something human.

He exhaled a cloud of smoke, muttering to himself. “It’s just a lawyer, Dev. Let it go.”

But even as he said it, he knew Dev wouldn’t.

Back Inside

Dev rose slowly, his movements calculated. He walked over to the petitioner’s table, running his fingers along its edge as if trying to grasp an invisible thread of her presence.

“She’s smarter than this,” he muttered. “Something’s wrong.”

The courtroom staff began clearing the room, but Dev lingered, his sharp mind piecing together the puzzle. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through encrypted channels and anonymous tip-offs.

Finally, he stopped. His screen showed a message—anonymous but unmistakably reliable.

*“Advocate Sharma hasn’t been seen since last evening. Witnesses say she left her rental in a hurry.”*

Dev’s jaw tightened. His concern turned into something darker, something that mirrored the ruthless part of him he thought he had buried.

“Reyansh!” he barked as he exited the courtroom.

Reyansh, startled, almost dropped his cigarette. “What happened?”

Dev’s eyes burned with intensity. “Find her. Now.”

Reyansh blinked, confused. “Why do you care? We won—”

Dev grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close. His voice was ice-cold, each word deliberate. “Don’t question me, Reyansh. Just do it. And if you fail...”

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. The threat was loud and clear.

Reyansh nodded quickly, his heart racing. “I’ll handle it.”

Dev released him, straightening his coat. As Reyansh scrambled away, Dev stood there, his powerful aura radiating through the crowd. For the first time in years, he felt something he didn’t know how to handle—a crack in his otherwise impenetrable armor.

“She’s not just a lawyer,” he murmured to himself. “And this isn’t over.”

Evening,

The dimly lit warehouse echoed with the sound of brutal punches and the grunts of men trying to plead for mercy. The air was thick with tension, sweat, and fear. Dev’s face was a storm of unrelenting aggression, his usually composed demeanor now shattered into something primal, something terrifying.

A man lay crumpled on the ground, blood trickling from his nose as he looked up at Dev with wide, terrified eyes. “S-sir…we didn’t touch her. I swear!”

Dev didn’t respond. His fist collided with the man’s jaw again, the force of it sending him sprawling. The man’s cry echoed, but Dev didn’t flinch.

“Did I ask for excuses?” Dev growled, his voice low but deadly. His eyes burned with an intensity that made even Reyansh, standing in the corner, shift uncomfortably.

“Get up,” Dev ordered, his voice like a whip. The man on the ground tried to crawl to his knees, his body trembling.

“I said, GET UP!” Dev roared, yanking the man to his feet by the collar. His fist slammed into the man’s stomach, and he doubled over, gasping for air.

Reyansh finally stepped forward, his tone cautious. “Dev…this isn’t solving anything. We—”

Dev shot him a look so venomous it made Reyansh freeze mid-sentence. “You think this is about solving things?” Dev hissed. “She’s missing. Missing! And you think I’m going to sit around waiting for answers?”

Reyansh swallowed hard. “I’m just saying—”

“Don’t.” Dev’s voice dropped to an icy calm that was even more terrifying than his shouting. He turned back to the man in front of him, his grip tightening around the collar.

“You had one job,” Dev said, his voice almost a whisper. “To watch her. To ensure she wasn’t harmed. But now she’s gone. Tell me…” He leaned in, his voice dripping with menace. “Where is she?”

The man stammered, tears streaming down his bloodied face. “W-we don’t know! We followed her to the court last night, b-but she disappeared after that!”

Dev’s jaw clenched, his knuckles turning white as he let go of the man, who collapsed to the ground. Dev paced the room like a caged lion, running a hand through his hair. His mind was racing, every possibility flashing before him.

What if she was hurt? What if someone had gotten to her? The thought made his stomach twist in a way he wasn’t used to.

“Find her,” Dev said suddenly, his voice loud and commanding. He turned to the group of battered men lying on the floor. “I don’t care how, but you find her. Check every hospital, every street, every damn corner of this city. And if you don’t…”

His pause was deliberate, chilling. “I’ll make sure none of you see another sunrise.”

The men scrambled to their feet despite their injuries, fear driving them as they nodded frantically and hurried out of the warehouse

Reyansh watched Dev silently as he walked to a nearby table and poured himself a drink. His hand shook slightly as he lifted the glass, a rare glimpse of vulnerability that Reyansh hadn’t seen in years.

“Dev,” Reyansh said softly, carefully. “Why does she matter so much? She’s just a lawyer, right?”

Dev didn’t answer immediately. He stared at the amber liquid in his glass, his mind replaying the courtroom, her absence, her defiance in the past, her voice when she argued with him years ago.

“She’s not just a lawyer,” Dev said finally, his tone quieter but no less intense. “She’s a storm. And storms don’t just disappear. Someone made her disappear, and that…” He slammed the glass down on the table, shattering it. “...is unforgivable.”

Reyansh nodded, stepping back slightly. “I’ll make sure we find her.”

“You’d better,” Dev said, his voice sharp. He turned to face Reyansh fully, his eyes dark and unyielding. “Because if she’s hurt…this entire city will burn.”

One of Dev’s men hesitantly entered, his face pale and nervous. His eyes darted between Dev and the shattered glass on the table.

“S-sir,” the man stammered.

Dev’s gaze snapped to him, sharp as a blade. “What?” he barked, his voice cutting through the room.

The man swallowed hard, wiping the sweat from his brow. “We…we found her, sir. She’s in the hospital.”

The words seemed to freeze the air. For a moment, Dev just stood there, his eyes narrowing. “What did you say?”

The man took a step back, intimidated by the sudden intensity in Dev’s voice. “The lawyer, sir. Advocate Sharma. She…she’s been last seen at City General Hospital. Critical condition some says,”

Dev’s face changed in an instant. The calculated ruthlessness melted away, replaced by something raw—panic, concern, and a fear he hadn’t felt in years.

Without a word, Dev grabbed his car keys from the table and stormed past everyone. “Move,” he ordered, his voice a growl.

“Sir,” Reyansh called out, stepping forward. “Let me come with—”

“I said move!” Dev thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. He didn’t even spare a glance at Reyansh as he pushed the door open and strode out.

Dev’s car tore through the streets of Delhi, the engine roaring as he weaved through traffic with reckless abandon. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white.

Images flashed in his mind—her fiery eyes in the courtroom, her defiance, the way she had challenged him without fear. And now…now she was in a hospital, vulnerable and alone.

His chest tightened. How could this have happened? What had gone wrong?

The thought of her lying in a hospital bed, hurt and possibly scared, made something inside him snap. He pressed harder on the accelerator, ignoring the blaring horns of other cars.

“She better be okay,” he muttered under his breath, his jaw clenched. “She has to be okay.”

Dev parked haphazardly, not bothering to lock the car as he sprinted toward the hospital entrance. The automatic doors slid open, and he stormed inside, his presence commanding attention. Nurses and patients turned to look, startled by the tall, furious man in the black suit.

He approached the reception desk, his voice sharp and impatient. “Sharma. Which room?”

The receptionist blinked, momentarily stunned. “Uh, sir, I—”

“Which room?” Dev repeated, his tone low and dangerous.

The woman fumbled with her computer, typing hurriedly. “Room 207, ICU. But—”

Dev didn’t wait for her to finish. He was already heading toward the elevators, his long strides eating up the distance.