DRISHYE'S POV
After securing my Rose in the saferoom, I descended down the stairs. The constant banging on the front door echoed through the bungalow while my team had already secured their positions. They were already on standby, armed, waiting for a single nod from me to knock them down, mercilessly.
The banging grew louder with each passing moment. I inferred that they wouldn't dare break in.
I could feel my blood throb in my temples.
"Noor, unlock it."
I commanded Noor. She was already positioned a few steps away from the main door, to unlock it or counter them as required.
The door swung open with a metallic click and a woman crashed on the floor. We all took target at her, downright, pointing our guns at her head.
I knew who she was and it didn't take me a moment to lock my target with my gun.
But noticing her unarmed, I signalled my teammates to drop down and relax.
"Krisha!"
Noor exclaimed, trying to hold her and bring her to feet.
Heat surged through my brain. I could feel my veins protrude and the rush of blood to come to a boil.
She was panting, eyes darting between me, Noor and everyone else. Her clothes were wrinkly and messy.
"Drop your plans."
The audacity!
"Drop your plans, RD."
She tried to order in a trembling voice, choking on her spit but audacity prompted me to place my finger on the trigger. She was startled a bit but there was no surprise on her face. She was expecting this. Very well!
The fear in her gaze only fueled my hatred.
"You should have picked a different enemy., Krisha"
"Give me a chance to explain, at least."
She pleaded, struggling to stand on her feet.
"Drishye, don't act out of anger."
Veda's voice cut through and I gave it a thought, before stepping back.
"You got ten minutes. Convince me or you're dead the eleventh minute."
I growled in a voice that made her flinch. She has messed with the wrong man.
Her gaze flickered to the gun still aimed at her head and she didn't waste a second.
"Aahana is absolutely safe. But, if you guys tries to invade, her life's at stake."
I didn't blink. My mind was already racing through the possibilities-was this a bluff? A trap?
She stopped to swallow hard and then, continued.
"Vinesh only wants the papers signed for now. That's all. Even if it means using Aahana as leverage. He has no idea about me being the mole in his team, for now. So, don't ruin it by giving him an idea of your potential."
It ached my heart thinking about the poor little baby. She deserves none of this. Her father is inhumane to do this to her, his own daughter!
"And what about you?"
I asked in a flat tone.
Her lips parted but no sound came.
My fingers flexed on the gun.
"Jade!"
I called out, loud and clear.
"Yes, sir!"
She responded, almost immediately.
"Check her throughout."
Jade stepped forward without hesitation. Her eagle eyes scanned Krisha from head to toe while she stood there watching her test her.
Jade pulled out a metal detector from one of the combat bags that were lying on the desk and grabbed her by the arm and forced her upright. Krisha winced but didn't protest.
"No taps. She's clear."
Jade confirmed and stepped back.
"Speak. Or you're dear, Krisha!"
I ordered.
"Vinesh has just stepped out, is in the colony, at home. I made a quick exit to inform you. He somehow feels that there's a mole in his unit even though he's still unaware and hence, I disappeared to come out clean in front of him. But the best part is he didn't suspect me. So, I-"
I saw her eyes drift to my right and enlarge in surprise and the next moment, I felt a strong tug on my coat and a slap on my face.
...
AUTHOR'S POV
The walk to the bungalow took a good few minutes while the rain continued drenching them to their bones.
As he stepped inside the house, Chhavi lifted her head slightly. Where is everyone?
The house was eerily silent. No sign of Krisha. No one else.
Drishye didn't seem to care. He carried her upstairs, despite the injuries he refused to acknowledge.
He reached a room, pushing the door open with his foot before stepping inside. The moment he placed her gently on the bed, she felt a pang of something, a loss. The loss of his warmth. When did I get so used to him and his presence around him?
Her saree stuck to her skin, soaked in the harsh drizzle. She wanted him near her. Even she was surprised as this though surfaced her mind.
Drishye knelt before her, carefully lifting her injured feet onto his lap.
Chhavi hissed as he reached for the first-aid box on the nightstand.
He silently cleaned her wound, applying antiseptic while she shifted on the mattress, feeling the sharp stings.
"Why do you keep hurting yourself, hmm? Don't you understand it hurts me too?"
He asked, softly while his hands busied themselves to wrap the fresh bandage around her feet.
She swallowed. Leaning down, she placed a hand over his shoulder.
"Drishye."
"Don't touch me until you stop running from us and willing to respect my love for you."
He pushed her hand away, not so harshly. He could never be harsh with her.
She felt her heart clench. I've hurt him.
"What makes you think I didn't respect your love for me?"
She asked, sighing.
He exhaled. Standing up, he closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.
"Because loving you has made me suffer. You made me suffer. You betrayed me by choosing another man. You-"
She cut him off and confessed.
"Your love- it...it sends chills down my spine. You did the unthinkable."
His lips curled into a dark, bitter smirk but didn't budge the sadness in his eyes.
"To make the man you chose over me 'cheat'- it's unthinkable to you, sweetheart? My lovely Rose?" He leaned in, fanning his breath over her trembling lips. "Then I'm sorry to break this to you that before Krisha, Vinesh Joshi had been bedding a different woman behind your back, every night. Since your alliance got fixed. Even on the day of your wedding."
She shook her head, lowering her eyes, in slow motion as if the leftover remains of her already crashed world was crumbling in front of her eyes but this time, she wasn't as shocked.
Drishye chuckled darkly, stepping back.
"Oh, my sweet, naive Rose..."
He leaned closer, his breath warm now seeping into her lightly parted lips.
"I didn't make your husband cheat, Miss Rosy. I simply gave him the opportunity. And he took it- without hesitation."
Her stomach twisted painfully and more tears gushed down her face.
Drishye sighed. He couldn't see her hit her rock bottom yet, he couldn't help but let her know the reality of her namesake marriage she had held dear for over a decade.
The betrayal she thought she had understood now felt even more grotesque, more real. She had fought for that marriage, sacrificed for it.
Drishye's hand lifted, cupping her cheek as his thumb wiped away a tear that had slipped free.
Chhavi trembled, when his skin met hers. Drishye studied her face, tracing his thumb on the path of another.
"Why are you telling this to me now?"
Her voice was laced with anguish of a woman who spent her youth on a marriage of pretence.
His fingers flexed against her skin as he heaved a heavy sigh.
"Why did you never approach me and let me know without any ruckus?"
She continued questioning.
"Would you've believed me?"
Her gaze dropped.
"Tell me, Rose. Would you've believed me?"
"I wasn't strong enough to fight Vinesh Joshi during your marriage. I was a nobody. And, had the nineteen years old boy ran to you with the accusations about your soon to be husband, would you believe him?"
She bit her lips.
"You would have never."
He stepped back.
"It's not like that..."
"Not like what?! You couldn't accept your feelings for me! Your own feelings for God sake! You'd have accepted this incredible truth? That too from a teen? Wow!"
She didn't reply immediately. Her fingers scracthed the surface around her nails, while she thought hard to form words.
"I..."
"Miss Rosy! You! You didn't dare to validate your feelings!
"You think I never tried to fight for us?"
She mumbled under her breath, barely audible.
"What?"
Drishye leaned forward, trying to catch her words but she simply shook her head, eyes refusing to meet his.
Suddenly, they both heard a knock on the door whichsnapped them both out of the emotional haze and the next moment, the door creaked open with a click with Krisha peeked in awkwardly, her eyes darting between the two.
"Um... I'm sorry for interrupting."
She said, shifting her weight from one foot to another, clearly sensing the tension that hung thick in the air.
Drishye didn't move. Chhavi quickly wiped at her cheeks and looked away.
Krisha took half a step in, then paused again, glancing around as if reconsidering what she was about to disclose.
Drishye sighed.
"Speak, Krisha."
She froze, halfway out.
"Y-Yeah?"
He raised an eyebrow at her, prompting her to speak.
"Right, right."
The words shakily rolled out of her tongue. She slowly stepped towards Chhavi while Drishye watch her dos o. Her eyes flicked to him for a second before she knelt beside Chhavi, lowering herself to her level.
She cleared her throat softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm sorry."
She apologized, not attempting to look into her eyes.
She noticed the bandaged feet, the wet clothes, the way her fingers still twitched with barely contained emotion.
"You don't have to talk to me," Krisha added quickly, "I just wanted to let you know that I'll not let anything happen to your daughter."
Chhavi's fingers stilled.
Slowly, she looked up. For the first time, their eyes met- her's red0 rimmed and Krisha's- full of guilt.
Drishye stood still behind them, arms crossed, jaw tight, watching the two women in front of him talk for the first time.
"You don't have to be sorry about anything. He's responsible for everything."
The silence that followed was uncomfortable, sharp-edged. Krisha opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again.
Giving a tiny nod before looking back down and standing up, she walked to the door.
She spun on her heel slightly before stepping out and disclosed.
"Please brief in with Jada, RD. The plan has taken a one-eighty turn."
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving behind a room heavy with everything unspoken.
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