Tonight, I have an important Mafia meeting, but I can't leave her alone when I know someone is hiding nearby, planning to harm her. I walk into her room, where she's folding clothes. My little baby always looks so beautiful. I want to hold her, but I control myself-she still claims to hate me. Deep down, I know she feels for me, though.
I clear my throat. "Angel, stay in the mansion tonight. Don't go out. And if you do, take bodyguards with you."
She doesn't look at me, but I can see the stubbornness in her stance. "I don't need bodyguards, Ash. I'm fine."
"Please, Jaan," I say, stepping closer. "I won't be around to protect you tonight. Just listen to me this once."
Her eyes flash with defiance. "You can't control me, Ash. I won't take bodyguards."
I smirk, my voice low. "Wifey, if you step out without bodyguards, I'll make sure you won't be able to walk for days."
She freezes, confusion flashing across her face. "What do you mean by that?"
I step closer, my smirk widening. "You'll find out if you don't listen to me."
She stands tall, her chin raised in defiance. "I will not listen to you, Ash. If I want to go out, I will go out without any bodyguards."
I step closer, my body now only a few inches away from hers. I can feel her pulse quicken, but she tries not to show it. The tension between us is electric, charged with something far more dangerous than just irritation. I keep my voice low, dangerous. "Why tire your feet going outside, then, wifey?"
Her breath hitches, her lips parting slightly in surprise. I lean in just enough for her to feel my presence, my breath warm against her skin. "Your husband is here. I can make your feet tired right here," I murmur, a dark smirk curling at the corners of my mouth.
Her eyes narrow, but I can see the flicker of uncertainty in them. "Don't you dare, Ash," she warns, but I can sense the challenge in her words.
I tilt my head, studying her carefully. "You'll regret it if you leave without bodyguards, wifey." My voice drops to a dangerous whisper, and I know she can feel the weight of my words, my intention.
I can see the hesitation in her eyes as she tries to hold her ground, but deep down, she knows I'm not bluffing.
"Stay here," I say softly, my hand brushing against the side of her face, tilting her chin up to meet my gaze. "For your own safety, wifey. Because I don't want to do something we'll both regret."
She stands there, still defiant, but I can feel the uncertainty in her eyes. I smirk, savoring the moment of power, before I finally turn on my heels.
Megha called me in the evening, and we chatted about random things. After a few minutes, she excitedly suggested, "Let's go to a speakeasy tonight! It'll be fun."
I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A speakeasy? Don't you think it's a little too... mysterious?"
Megha laughed. "Come on, Niru. It's not what you're thinking. It's a cool little spot with great vibes. And don't worry, we'll be fine."
I hesitated for a moment. I knew Ashtram had told me to stay home tonight, but I had been cooped up for too long. Besides, he had his own plans-probably some boring business meeting, not that he would ever tell me what it was about.
"Fine," I said, finally giving in. "But I'm not drinking."
Megha winked. "Don't worry, I got your back. We'll just have a fun night, no pressure."
I smiled, feeling a sense of excitement bubble inside me. "Alright, then. Let's go!"
As I hung up, I glanced at the clock. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but at least it was a chance to feel something other than the emptiness I had been carrying around lately.
One hour later, Megha pulled up in front of the mansion in her car. I was already ready, dressed in a short bodycon dress that hugged my curves, ready for a night out. As I stepped out of the door, I saw the bodyguards immediately move to follow me.
I halted in my tracks and turned to face them. "You all will not follow me tonight," I said firmly, my voice unwavering.
The head bodyguard stepped forward, looking uncertain. "But sir told us to follow, Mam."
I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms, a smirk tugging at my lips. "I am your sir's Boss also, aren't I? I'm the boss here too, so consider this my command. Don't follow me."
The bodyguard hesitated but didn't argue further. With a small bow of his head, he stepped back, signaling the others to do the same.
Turning away from them, I glanced at Megha, who was already leaning against the car, waiting. "Let's go, Megha," I said, my tone light but filled with an undeniable sense of freedom.
Megha smiled knowingly, opening the car door for me. "I knew you'd do this," she teased, but I didn't care.
We both got in, and as the car drove away from the mansion, the weight of the world seemed to slip away with every mile. Tonight, I wasn't thinking about Ashtram or anything else. Tonight, I was just going to have fun.
As the Mafia meeting drags on, I receive a call from one of my bodyguards, informing me that my Angel, Niranya, left the mansion with her friend Megha and specifically told the bodyguards not to follow her. My jaw tightens at the news. I stand up from my seat, frustration boiling inside me. This is over. Nothing matters more than my Jaan. Why is she so stubborn?
Vedant, noticing my sudden shift, asks what happened.
"I'll tell you later," I say, already tracking Niranya's location. Thankfully, she hasn't removed the pendant I gave her-it has a tracker inside. As I check the location, a sense of dread fills me. Speakeasy.
"Ved," I say, turning to him. "Both Niranya and Megha are at a speakeasy."
Vedant's expression hardens as he stands up, ready to go. "Let's go, then. We're not letting them get into any trouble."
We both head out, our minds focused on getting to our women.
The atmosphere inside the speakeasy was a mix of low, pulsating music and the murmur of hushed conversations. The dim lights added an air of secrecy, making it feel like a place hidden from the world-an escape for those who wanted to forget their troubles for a while. The walls were decorated with vintage posters, and soft jazz played in the background, creating a relaxed ambiance.
Niranya and Megha settled into a booth near the back, away from the crowd, the soft light casting shadows on their faces as they talked. Megha, always the more adventurous one, was scanning the menu while Niranya sat back, her mind occasionally drifting as she glanced around, uncertain if this was the right thing to do.
Megha looked up at her friend with a teasing smile. "You know, you look like you could use a break from all that seriousness. Just relax, okay?"
Niranya nodded but couldn't help feeling uneasy. She could feel the weight of the night pressing on her. She thought about Ashtram. His intense presence always left an imprint on her mind, even when she tried to push him away.
The booth was cozy, and the warm glow of the dim lights made the place feel intimate, though Niranya still couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in her chest. The soft clink of glasses and low murmur of conversations surrounded them, but Niranya felt out of place. She fidgeted with her phone, occasionally glancing at Megha, who was chatting animatedly with a few others across the table.
Niranya's thoughts wandered to Ashtram, the ever-present tension between them, and her defiance that had led her here. She had never been one for places like this, and the idea of drinking was even more foreign. Yet, here she was, in the speakeasy, sitting with Megha, her mind conflicted and her heart uneasy.
After a few moments of silence, Niranya couldn't hold it in anymore. She leaned forward, her voice quieter than usual. "Megha... why do people drink? What's the point?"
Megha looked at her, a playful smirk crossing her face. She swirled her glass before taking a sip. "Well, some drink to celebrate happiness, others to forget their troubles. Some just enjoy the taste, but honestly? It's mostly about the feeling. The rush, the ease it brings. It helps people forget, even if for a little while."
Niranya hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of her water glass. Her thoughts were jumbled, and she felt the weight of everything-the tension with Ashtram, her defiance, her confusion. Maybe just tonight, she could forget. Maybe just tonight, she could pretend that nothing was as complicated as it really was.
"You should try it, just once," Megha urged with a gentle smile. "Forget everything. Just for tonight."
Niranya hesitated for a moment longer, her gaze falling on the glass of wine that Megha had been sipping. The idea was tempting-just for a moment, to forget the mess her life had become. She let out a slow breath, then reached out and took the glass Megha offered her.
The cold liquid felt strange in her hand as she held it up to her lips. A part of her knew it was a bad idea, but another part of her, the part that wanted peace, wanted to surrender to the moment. She took a small sip, the taste of the wine unfamiliar and smooth, as the alcohol began to settle in her chest.
"See?" Megha said with a grin, watching her carefully. "Nothing to worry about. Sometimes, a little drink is all you need to forget."
Niranya took another sip, her thoughts drifting, wondering what Ashtram would think if he knew. Would he be angry? Concerned? She quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing on the warmth beginning to spread through her as the drink made her feel lighter. Maybe, just maybe, this would help her forget... at least for a little while.
The music thumped around them, the energy of the speakeasy building. Megha grabbed Niranya's hand, tugging her toward the dance floor with a wide grin. "Come on, let's dance! You're too serious for tonight!"
Niranya giggled, her steps unsteady as she followed. "Dance? Why not, I'm already... I'm already dancing," she slurred, a mischievous smile on her lips.
Megha laughed, spinning around dramatically. "That's the spirit! Let's forget about everything!"
The two women fell into the rhythm of the music, their movements becoming looser, carefree. Megha twirled, laughing loudly. "See, this is what you needed! No worries, no rules! Just dance!"
Niranya's arms flew up, her body moving with the beat. "I love this! Why... why does it feel so good to just... let go?"
"Because," Megha shouted over the music, "life's too short! You gotta live it, forget everything, just... dance!"
They laughed together, spinning and swaying, the alcohol making them feel weightless and free.
As Niranya and Megha swayed to the beat, caught up in their carefree moment, a sudden presence loomed behind them. Before either could react, a strong hand gripped their shoulders, pulling them back with a force that made the music around them fade into silence. The tension in the air thickened, leaving a chilling uncertainty about what would happen next.
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