Chapter- 46

Eshita’s gaze instinctively drifted towards the man who walked into the room, carrying himself with effortless grace and quiet authority that demanded attention without asking for it. Dressed in a simple yet impeccably tailored ivory kurta-pajama paired with a black Nehru jacket, he looked nothing like the politicians she had seen shouting across television debates.

She couldn’t believe that the man standing a few feet away was Abhiraj Rajvansh. She was seeing him in person for the second time. Meeting him at the office had somehow remained completely professional, without a single conversation exchanged, but seeing him walk into her own home felt entirely different.

If not for the presence of her father and the man himself, she was certain she would have squealed, reacting like every other girl her age who admired Abhiraj, probably asking him for an autograph or singing praises of how much his work had transformed Mumbai, making women feel safer stepping out even at late hours, improving infrastructure, and giving people hope that politics could still produce honest leaders.

“Hello, Mr. Sehgal.” Abhiraj shook Virendra’s hand firmly. “I sincerely apologize for this sudden visit. I hope I didn’t interrupt your family time or inconvenience anyone.”

“Not at all, Mr. Rajvansh.” Virendra returned the handshake kindly. “It’s an honor to have you in our home.”

Abhiraj smiled warmly. “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Sehgal. Sehgal Empires is doing so much for the state through employment, and social welfare. I truly appreciate your contribution towards it.”

“It’s my duty as a citizen of this country. I am just doing what I believe is right. Please, have a seat.” Virendra looked at his daughter. The barely concealed spark in her eyes told the story of its own.

Shaking his head inwardly, he guided her forward. One day, his children would carry his legacy. He wanted them to learn confidence, build meaningful connections, and lead people rather than being shy or overwhelmed by influential personalities.

“This is my daughter, Eshita,” He introduced with quiet pride.

Abhiraj offered her a courteous smile. “Hello, Eshita. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Eshita returned the smile politely before folding her hands. “The pleasure is mine, sir.”

Discreetly stepping back, standing beside her father. He always wanted her to take the lead, not get intimidated by powerful men. Crushes and his business lessons never went hand in hand. His firm tone was reminder enough. She couldn’t even blame him. He was her father, or better yet, the overprotective lion who never allowed anyone near his cub.

Abhiraj’s eyes twitched almost imperceptibly. The mask nearly slipped as his gaze travelled over the girl for a brief second before he casually looked around the house. “Beautiful home, I must say.”

He turned towards Virendra. “Itni subah bina bataye aane ke liye maafi chata hoon. It’s just... I heard about the attack on your family and couldn’t stay back without checking on all of you personally. How is Ekansh doing?”

Ekansh descended the stairs, catching Abhiraj’s question midway. “I am fine, Mr. Rajvansh. You didn’t have to trouble yourself by coming all the way here.” His tone remained polite as he shook hands with the Chief Minister.

Abhiraj shook his head lightly. “There is no trouble at all. It’s my responsibility to ensure the safety of the people I work with. It’s not about business anymore. We can be called friends, I think, after so many meetings, if you don’t mind.”

Ekansh settled down across from him. A soft chuckle escaped his lips. “I don’t mind... and thank you for checking in.”

“I heard about the incident.” Abhiraj’s tone turned serious. “Is there anyone you suspect? I will personally ensure they are found. If there’s any help you need from my office please don’t hesitate.”

“No need for that.” Ekansh answered calmly. “I know who is behind this. Soon the man will be where he deserves to be. We don’t want to trouble you.”

“There is no trouble,” Abhiraj said with a reassuring smile. “Like I said... friends help each other.”

Ekansh nodded quietly. Something about the man felt strangely rehearsed, almost too perfect, and it unsettled him in ways he couldn’t explain. They weren’t close enough to call each other friends. They had barely met a handful of times, all strictly for business. So this sudden concern from Abhiraj felt unusually personal. Maybe he was overthinking. Or maybe his instincts were trying to warn him once again.

Abhiraj looked around once again, the quiet satisfaction lingering in his eyes was clear as crystal, though hidden perfectly behind his composed smile.

“Are you looking for someone?” Virendra asked but sharply.

Abhiraj smiled smoothly. “No Mr. Sehgal. It’s just... your house is really beautiful and warm, especially the temple. The moment I stepped inside I could feel the peace this place carries. Agar aapki ijazat ho toh kya main Maa Durga ke darshan kar sakta hoon?”

Virendra felt an unexplainable urge to deny instantly for some unknown reasons, yet he nodded, not wanting to come across as rude. Maybe he was thinking too much. After everything that had happened with his children yesterday, he couldn’t help but look at every person with suspicion, no matter how influential they were. He was a father first, and a businessman much later.

The air shifted suddenly. The windows rattled against their frames without warning, though there wasn’t enough wind outside to justify it. The diya’s flame danced furiously the moment Abhiraj stepped into the temple room.

Eshita frowned at the unexpected change in the atmosphere. Her gaze met her father and brother’s simultaneously. Both wore the same confused expression, their instincts quietly warning them that something was terribly wrong. The curtains fluttered restlessly as the clouds shadowed the bright morning sunlight, reflecting the dark omen looming inside the house.

Abhiraj removed his hand from his pocket, joining his palms before the Goddess. His gaze fell upon the pooja thali kept before the deity, decorated with kumkum, rice, incense sticks and fresh flowers. Tenderly, he picked up one of the flowers, rolling it lazily between his fingers as if admiring its delicate petals, discreetly concealing every movement from the family standing behind him.

Eshita’s eyes suddenly fell on the tattoo on his hand. The sleek lines, the coiled serpent, fangs of a cobra and its piercing eyes, the design felt familiar. She had seen it somewhere before, but where she simply couldn’t remember.

Abhiraj leaned forward to place the very flower, still faintly stained with Eshita’s blood from earlier, before the Goddess. Deliberately, it slipped from his fingers onto the burning diya.

The flame hissed unexpectedly.

Thick smoke curled upward from the petals, carrying a faint, sweet, almost intoxicating fragrance that spread through the room far too quickly to be natural.

Ekansh’s instincts kicked in instantly. However, before he could react, Virendra collapsed beside him without warning. “Dad!” He lunged forward, catching him before his head struck the marble floor.

Eshita blinked repeatedly, trying to steady herself. Her head suddenly felt unbearably heavy, her vision spinning violently as she slowly lost her balance.

“Bhaiya...” She whispered weakly.

Ekansh tried reaching for her. His eyes burned, his breathing became laboured, and despite fighting every ounce of dizziness, his own body betrayed him. Moments later, he too lost his consciousness.

Silence fell in the room. Abhiraj calmly lowered the hand covering his nose. A cold satisfaction spread across his features.

It was the finely refined sedative powder. It would keep the family unconscious for several hours, more than enough time for him to disappear with his toy.

The door opened. Five men walked in, dressed in bodyguard uniforms, their weapons already drawn.

“Everything clear, sir,” One of them informed after checking the unconscious family.

“Find the girl and bring her.”

Abhiraj commanded turning on his heels, only to stop as his gaze fell upon Eshita. A sinister smirk slowly spread across his lips. “Put her into the car!”

It would be fun to play with the new toy. Soon, the world would mourn for the respected Sehgal family. Because as far as the world was concerned, The Sehgals were about to disappear forever.

✨✨✨

Ekta blinked rapidly as a groan escaped her lips. Every pulse of pain made her head pound, while her hands felt unbearably heavy. The blurred numbness slowly started to fade into focus. The familiar smell of rust, cement, and dampness hit her senses.

She shook her head, trying to clear the haze, when the glimpse of a shadow covering her face the moment she woke up flashed before her eyes once again. Her eyes widened as she took in the surroundings. The cold metal bit into her skin, her hands tied to the cuffs with long chains bolted to the wall, stopping her every movement.

Realization hit her like a freight train. She was back to where she had run away from years ago!

“Hello butterfly!” A familiar icy cold voice greeted her.

Her head snapped up toward the shadow standing near the threshold. She didn’t need to see the face to know who it was. The familiar scent of sandalwood and expensive cologne reached her, and she curled back against the wall unconsciously, fear settling deep within her. He was alive!

After being dragged down the stairs roughly, she was thrown at his feet. Every eye in the room looked at her with open disgust, murmurs spread across the hall. A chill ran down her spine as she awaited her sentence from him. She had made the grave mistake of stepping out of the room and coming to the party; getting caught was an even bigger mistake. Her heart pounded violently in her chest from fear of the upcoming consequences.

“Dismiss the waiters.” The cold, commanding voice made her flinch. “Serve the drink!”

It was an order for her. She didn’t need to look up to know whom it was aimed at. Pulling her weak, petite figure to her feet and keeping her head lowered, she picked up the tray with trembling hands. It wasn’t the end, she knew that better than anyone else. Quietly she began serving the guests, making sure not to make a single mistake.

The game started. Everyone took their seats as silence slowly settled over the room. One by one, the girls were pushed forward before the gathering. Ekta didn’t dare lift her head, too scared to see the eyes she could already feel burning into her. But her ears... how could she block them?

“Five crore,” a woman called out casually.

“Ten crore,” a man countered without hesitation.

“Eleven crore,” another man raised the bid.

Ekta flinched at each number that increased. The people behaved as if they were bidding for an object rather than a living human being. Shame, helplessness, and horror twisted inside her as she curled up from within, desperately trying to move around the room.

“Barf khatam hai yahan.” A man barked harshly. “Barf leke aa andar se.”

Ekta recoiled before nodding at once, rushing to bring the ice. She was aware of every tiny detail of the place, firstly because he had forced her to do every kind of work there, and secondly because of her countless attempts to escape, each ending in failure.

Before she could step into the kitchen, her mouth was suddenly covered from behind and she was pulled back into the shadows behind a pillar.

“Shh!” A girl, barely fifteen or sixteen, pressed a finger against her lips. Ekta nodded immediately, and the girl slowly lowered her hand after making sure she wouldn’t scream.

“Yahan se bhagna chahti ho?” She asked in a hushed whisper.

Ekta was tempted to say yes, but the ache radiating through her body made her shake her head. She couldn’t risk being caught again. She was too scared to go through another punishment, another round of torture, another reminder that escaping him always came with a price. She knew the girl. Her name was Tania. Just like her and the others, she too was one of his prisoners.

“Mere paas ek rasta hai.” Tania whispered urgently. “Main wada karti hoon. Koi pakda nhi jayega. Bas mujhe tumhari madad chaiye.”

Ekta looked around cautiously, making sure no one was watching them. She knew the risk was enormous, but not trying wasn’t an option either.

“Kya karna hoga mujhe?” She found herself asking.

“Andar gas on karke chhod do.” Tania said, placing the lighter into her hand carefully. “Jab main tumhe ishara karun isse jala kar neeche zameen par chhod dena. Neeche ke room mein ek rasta hai...”

“Wahan tala laga hai,” Ekta whispered anxiously.

“Yeh rahi chaabi.” Tania slipped the keys into her palm. “Sabhi ladkiyon ke saath wahan se bhaag jana.”

Ekta stared at the keys with wide eyes. Everything seemed planned and perfectly timed, yet she couldn’t stop wondering whether it was too good to be true. “Aur aap?” She asked quietly.

Tania shook her head. “Meri chinta mat karo. Mein bhi aa jaungi. Maine yahan ke number wale locks ki wire kaat di hai. Koi yahan se bahar nhi ja payega. Sirf woh ek rasta hai... woh bhi sirf humare liye.”

Ekta opened her mouth to speak when they heard approaching footsteps. Tania instantly pushed her toward the kitchen door. She stumbled, barely regaining her balance. The moment she turned back to ask question, Tania had already disappeared.

Not having any other option, she did exactly as she was told. She quietly turned on the gas, leaving it leaking before walking back into the hall as though nothing had happened. The crowd remained busy in their glamorous conversations and expensive drinks, completely unaware of what was unfolding around them.

Soon, the room began filling with the unmistakable smell of leaking gas. The murmurs slowly stopped as people exchanged confused glances. Ekta flinched in surprise and shock when one of the girl near Tania’s age suddenly grabbed a glass of alcohol and hurled it against the floor with all her strength. Within seconds, another followed, then another. Chaos erupted. The guards rushed forward, trying to hold them down, but shards of broken glass flew in every direction. Each girl seemed possessed by a desperate determination to fight back, no matter the consequences.

Ekta took a step forward to help them when she was suddenly pulled back. The crushing grip around her arm froze her on the spot.

“Yeh kya ho raha hai Butterfly?” He asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Ekta felt her tongue go numb. Her voice disappeared, and only a painful hiss escaped her lips. The pressure on her arm increased unbearably, as if he intended to crush the bone itself. She looked up, meeting Tania’s worried gaze. Quietly, she took out the lighter hidden inside her sleeve, letting it slip into her palm without drawing anyone’s attention.

A dark chuckle echoed from behind. He noticed it, “Mere ghar ko aag lagana chahti hai? Koshish kar ke dekh le. Agar main zinda bach gaya... uske baad tera kya hoga tu soch bhi nhi sakti.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks because of both the pain and the promise in his voice. The girls were already running in every direction. The crowd panicked as the smell of leaking gas spread through the room and they realized the doors were locked. Even the sound of gunfire didn’t seem enough to stop the girls, who continued fighting with everything they had.

Ekta took a deep breath. For the first time in years, she did something she had never dared to do, or better yet something she had never found the courage for. Picking up a nearby shard of broken glass, she drove it backwards into his thigh without a trace of remorse. The moment his grip loosened, she stumbled forward, running away from him, his men, and the nightmare that had imprisoned her for years.

The girls waiting near the staircase slammed the iron gate shut behind her the moment she stepped inside. The underground door unlocked, and one by one they rushed outside like birds caged for years finally finding the sky. Some cried in relief, some gasped despite the fresh air around them, while others stood frozen, unable to believe they were truly free.

Ekta froze at the threshold. She was the last one left. The distance between her and freedom was only a few steps away.

She took one step forward when his laugh floated from behind. Her entire body locked in fear. Terrified, she turned. The only thing stopping him from pouncing on her was the chained iron gate they had locked. Otherwise, the rage burning in those amber eyes was nothing short of murderous.

She glanced at the lighter in her hand before looking down at the trail of spilled alcohol near her feet to his feet.

“Koshish bhi mat karna!” He roared, shaking the gate violently. “Darwaza khol de aur mere paas aa ja. Ek mauka de raha hoon tujhe. Iske baad woh bhi nhi milega.”

Ekta swallowed hard, fear clawing at every part of her. For the first time in years, nine year old her met his gaze without lowering her own. Slowly stepping back, she flicked the lighter open. The small flame danced for a brief moment before she dropped it onto the alcohol-soaked floor.

She turned on her heels and ran. His screams followed her through the night, and even the flames consuming the entire mansion, the deafening blast that followed, couldn’t make her look back. She had burned down his kingdom once... only to find herself trapped inside its ashes once again.

“How are you feeling, Butterfly?” He asked softly as he walked inside.

Ekta flinched out of the memories. Keeping her head lowered, her nails dug painfully into her skin. “Bhaiya,” She murmured desperately. She wanted Ekansh. She wanted her saviour to protect her, hold her, help her. She wanted her bhaiya to find her.

Abhiraj chuckled darkly. “I like it. Kuch hi saalon mein rishte bhi baana liye tune. But guess what... tu jisse bula rahi hai... Vo toh ab iss duniya mein hai hi nhi.”

Ekta looked up in shock.

Abhiraj smirked, he took out his phone and threw it near her feet. “Khud dekh le. Ab tune galti ki thi... uski koi na koi saza toh tujhe milegi hi.”

Ekta’s fingers trembled violently as she picked up the phone.

“Breaking News! A massive fire has engulfed Mansion following what authorities believe was caused by gas leak. The explosion reduced the estate to rubble within minutes.”

“The Chief Minister, who had arrived at Seghal Mansion for a scheduled meeting with the Sehgal family regarding an upcoming infrastructure project was also inside the mansion when the explosion occurred.”

“Officials have confirmed that he, along with the members of the Sehgal family, lost their life in the incident.”

A blood-curdling scream tore out of Ekta’s throat. The burning mansion replayed before her eyes on an endless loop. Her head spun violently before darkness swallowed her consciousness. The last thing she saw was the burning home... and the sound of his laughter mocking her mercy. All she wanted was to die. She was done. She couldn’t fight anymore.

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Share your views!!!

Next Update: Thrusday!!

Thanks for reading!!!

 

← Previous                               Next →