Here's the 2nd chapter for you all.

We're slowly getting into the plot!

A few more chapters before the main leads meet.

Aadhira's past will be revealed as the chapters progress.

I hope you'll will like this chapter.

Please comment and like

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Udaipur, India

The Panther they called me, not only in the business world I ruled in the day, but also the hell I ruled once shadows crept, engulfing the good and the bad.

Tonight too was one of those nights that made me more of a monster than what I already am.

Mohit Khanna, an employee of mine, he worked well, did all his work before their deadlines neared, nice man.

He even quite a name in my empire, hardworking, honest, loyal. But not everything that appears to be real is the reality, right?

This man is the perfect example of it.

A rat, that's what he is, set solely to burrow loopholes in my empire to ruin it.

Now, now, now, we don't let such rats ruin us do we? That's exactly the reason he is here, in my torture room, or to be more precise, hell on earth.

Not only did he attempt to sell my company's information to my rivals but also cost me a loss of drugs worth 5 million dollars.

The punishment for it?

Worse than de*th. Torture by my hands. And that's exactly where I was headed to before that one nasty prisoner decided it was the right time to interrupt.

Here we go ahead now.

Finally.

One of the two guards positioned outside the room opens the room for me, smell of blood hits my nostrils as soon as I enter, I smile a sick smile.

[Trigger scene ahead ⚠]

Mohit's body lies on the table positioned in the center of the room, arms and legs stretched to an abnormal limit by ropes, a cloth stuffed harshly in his mouth, soaked with blood, cuts scar every part of his skin, hooks pierce his skin in various places that hurt the most.

I enter the room, put in my leather gloves and a mask.

Then with predatory steps I start walking towards him. I put up a glass jar filled with iced chilled water and splash all the water on his face, his eyes jolt open, wide, filled with tears, he tries screaming once he realizes it's me, but the cloth in his mouth muffles those sounds.

I pull that out, his scream fills the room, making a melody harmonious enough to rival the best melodies to exist.

I drag a chair and sit down near him. His eyes track my every movement.

Its been 2 days since he had been here, no food, only sips of water, and treatment of course to keep him alive for time enough so that I get the name I want, the man behind all of this.

Stupid, stupid man. He refuses to speak.

But we can't let that be the case for long now can we?

I pick up the nail puller pliers and pull out one nail, he screams.

"Tell me the name" I ask calmly.

No answer, just another scream when another nail is pulled out.

"Name"

"I-i-i don-don't k-k-kno-know" he whimpers, some blood oozes out of his mouth from the place where I pulled out a few teeth of his earlier.

"Who gave you orders?"

"A-a-a ma-mask-masked man-n"

Progress.

"Hmm, and what exactly was you job?"

"N-nothing just give them in-inf-information" he says this time before I pull out another nail and he screams like a mad man.

"Anything else?"

"N-n-no pl-please le-leave me"

"Sure"

Hearing this he attempts a smile but only manages to stretch his face a little before he winces in pain.

Fool

I take out my gun from the waistband of my pants, that goes unnoticed by him.

Must be dreaming of freedom, huh.

I stand towering above him and aim my gun at him, his eyes widen, almost at the verge of popping out of their sockets.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU SAID YOU WILL SET ME FREE!!"

"Did I?"

"Yes you did"

"Hmm that's exactly what I am doing right now"

Before any more filth comes out of his mouth, I aim the gun at his forehead and shoot him, finally setting him free.

After finishing him off I take out my gloves and mask and go to the attached bathroom to clean up myself and change into another fresh pair of clothes similar to the ones I was wearing earlier during the day.

"Sinha, Sinha" I call my PA, Rahul Sinha after I come out ready to go home.

He enters the room 2 seconds later.

"Yes boss"

"Clean this mess"

"Yes boss"

With this being done I start walking out of the room, as soon as I take a few steps ahead my phone starts ringing.

Maa, the name says

I pick up the call immediately.

"Kab tak aa rha hai beta?" came her soothing voice from the other side.

(When are you coming back son)

"Bas 30 min mein, aur aapko kitni baar kaha hai mera wait mat kara kijiye, mujhe har dusre din late ho jaata hai"

(Just 30 minutes more, and how many time have I said to you all that do not wait for me, I get late often times)

"Haa haa chal chal apni maa ko mat sikha, chup chaap jldi ghr aa main khana garam kar rhi hun, sab log dinner ke liye aa chuke hain"

(Yes yes, come on now don't teach your mother, come home fast, I'm heating up the food, everyone has come for dinner already)

Sighing I replied "Ji maa aata hun"

(Yes, I'm coming)

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After 30 minutes

(Raisinghania Mansion)

My car enters the Raisinghania Mansion, handing the keys to the chauffeur I head straight inside and spot my mother Prachi Raisinghania, my dad Rithvik Raisinghania, my dada ji Pratap Raisinghania, chacha and chachi Rudra and Siddhi Raisinghania, my brothers Dev and Atharav Raisinghania, all laughing at a joke someone might have cracked earlier.

Every eye turn to me as my footsteps echo in the hall.

"Aa gaye bhai" says Dev.

(you've come brother)

"Nahi mera bhoot aaya hai"

(No, my ghost has come back)

"Kya yarr aap bhi humesha sade hue mood mein rehte ho" Dev says sulking as if he is a five years old child and I refused to give him something.

(Why are you always in a bad mood?)

"Jaa jaldi fresh hokar aa main khana laga rhi hun" says chachi before I and Dev start bickering.

(Go freshen up quickly, I'm serving the food)

"Yes"

After 10 min all of us are seated at the dinning table having our dinner.

Just after I finish my food dada ji starts speaking

"Adhikrit"

"Ji"

I know exactly where this conversation is heading

"You are 28 now"

"I know" I reply.

Atharav attempts to hide his laughter behind a fake cough, but fails miserably.

Chacha glares at him

Everyone has stopped eating now, all the focus solely on me and dada ji.

"You need to get married now"

"No" I say immediately and start getting up from my seat.

"Adhikrit" comes my father's voice, raised slightly higher

I turn to face him. "You cannot leave mid conversation like that" he says.

"Why don't you all understand, I don't want to get married. Its that simple, why don't you all get it?" I speak frustrated

"Beta -" dada ji attempts to speak once more but I turn away and start climbing the stairs intending to go to my room.

Before I can cross more than a few steps, maa's voice comes from behind "Kab tak bhagta rahega shaadi se, kabhi na kabhi toh karni hi hai na, abhi hi kar le, 28 ka hogya hai tu, aur ye 2 bacche bhi toh hai, unki bhi toh shaadi karwani hai, aur tumhari shaddi se pehle inki shaddi kaise ho skti hai."

(How long will you keep running away from marriage?, you have to do it someday, do it now, you are 28 years old now, and these 2 children are there too, they also need to get married, but how can they get married before you?)

I stop right where I am, take a deep breath and start moving once again.

Shaddi, why do I need to marry? I am happy, rich, respected, what else do I need? Why to get married at all and get involved in daily dramas? Nonsense.

I enter my room and sit down on my sofa and start checking my mails and tomorrow's schedule.

Around an hour later, I climb on my bed, take my sleeping pills and close my eyes, mentally preparing myself for more drama that will definitely be waiting for me at breakfast.

But, I too am Adhikrit Raisinghania, let's see who makes me get married.

(Adhikrit's bedroom)

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Turin, Italy

At 10 am on sunday of the week I get a call from my best friend, more like my unsaid clingy teddy bear, Avantika Rajput.

"Hello Mam" comes her voice as soon as I pick up the call.

"I'm not you mam" I replied.

"Oh really??"

"Yeah really, now tell me what is it that you remembered me after so long?" I asked teasingly.

"First of all 10 hours 14 min and ...27 seconds is not that long. 'Accha sorry' she mutters in between. "And my dear hot best friend you treat me nothing like you used to" she complained.

Is she drunk?

"What happened" I ask not understanding.

"Meet me once you are free and then I'll tell you that" she says and before I can say anything to her she cuts the call.

I'll tell her about my plans about going to India too when I meet her.

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I reach her house at around 11 am.

I find Avantika seated on the sofa, working on her laptop. She pulls me in a quick forced hug as soon as she spots me entering the hall, I slowly push her away, not because I don't like her, because I can't stand with people so close to me.

She starts speaking as soon as we sit down, taking an hour of my day in her blabbering, with me nodding and humming while she chatters lopsidedly.

After she had blabbered all she had to I finally get my chance to speak.

You do not interrupt Avantika Rajput while she speaks.

"I'm going to India"

"WHATTT!!!" she jumps out her place as soon as she processes what I just said

"Yes" I reply

"Are you sure" she asks.

"Why won't I be?" I reply a little confused.

"Umm nothing its just if you're okay with it them that's great. By the way when will you come back?"

"Haven't decided that yet but it'll take some time"

"You know you don't have to go alone right? I can come with you if you want to" she says a little worried

"Avantika, I won't be alone, Nidhi and Luca are coming with me, and don't very I'll be alright there, you don't need to be worried ok?"

"If you have it decided then its fine" she says after a moments pause

"Yeah"

Before anyone of us can speak further, ny phone starts ringing, Luca.

"Heyy, I should leave now, I have a few things to plan"

"So soon? We haven't had lunch yet"

"Next time pakka" I say standing up. Avantika follows, lines of worry still up on her face.

(Next time for sure)

"Are baba tension kyu le rahi, marne thodi jaa rhi main, I'll be back in around a month or 2, after all there's a lot to correct"

(Oh god, why are you getting tensed, its now like I'm going to end up dead there)

"Haa haa jaa na main kyu tension lun, tu bass jaldi aa jaana, mujhe tension mat dena meri maa" she says folding her hands.

(Yes, yes, go, why should i get worried, just come back soon, don't worry me, my mother)

We both burst out laughing at her gesture

"Alright, bye"

"Bye"

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I dial Luca's number once I am seated in my car and start driving.

"Good morning boss" comes his voice as soon as he picks up.

"Morning"

"Boss, the jet is ready, and all the arrangements are done as said by you. We'll leave once you arrive, and I have picked your luggage from your mansion. Inform us when we need to leave."

"Stay right there, I'm coming in 15 minutes. Is Nidhi there?"

"Yes boss, should I give her the phone?"

"No, just wait I'm coming"

"Sure boss"

I reach the airport in 10 minutes and head straight to my jet.

The crew greets me once I enter and within 15 minutes we're headed to the place that holds my memories, nightmares and pain.

It's going to be a long journey ahead!!

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After an exhausting journey of 20 hours and connecting flights from Turin to Delhi and then Delhi to Jaipur, we finally land in Jaipur. Its night time by the time we reach.

The heavy aircraft door swung open. I take a step down the air stairs, with Luca and Nidhi close behind.

The cool night breeze touches my face as soon as I take a step down, a smile unknowing blooms on my face.

Oh to come back to your motherland after years.

(The airport)

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Once we exit the airport, a cab, booked earlier by one of my PA's comes to pick us up, once seated we head straight to the hotel, my hotel.

Thankfully I have many branches of my company here in India too and that's a relief at the moment as we also have hotels and gaming and food outlets, which now are finally going to be used by me.

This is the first time I have set my foot in India in 5 years, even after my company opened many branches here, I never came here, its finally time we set things straight.

I am staring out of the car's window enjoying the late night streets. Calm, home

A biker passing by catches my attention, he passes by our car in a split second before I get a good look at it, I smile remembering the times I used to do the same things, we, me and my past love.

Tears gather in my eyes but I quickly blink them away before anyone notices.

In 5 minutes we reach the hotel, the names Solyent Empire stands out proud atop the building.

(The hotel)

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Success, sweet success. Finally after so much hard work.

"It's so beautiful" says Nidhi staring at the hotel in awe.

"Yes it is" Replies Luca, a small smile blooms on his face looking at the hotel... or maybe Nidhi.

Something in the air.... Finally.

Its been ages since I started noticing Luca's behavior once Nidhi is in his line of sight.

She noticed, I did too.

None said anything, and that's been the case since.

A mad fool in love he is!

The hotel staff greets us as we enter, they apply a small tilak on our foreheads and make us wear garlands, the sweet fragrance engulfs me as soon as the garland is put around my head, I smile once again. Home.

We head to our respective rooms, and I get in the shower the first thing, after an hour I come out wrapped in my bathrobe, feeling fresh as ever.

I head straight to the balcony and sit down on the swing present in the balcony.

I admire the stars and within minutes a flashback from the past pulls me towards it before I resist it.

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Hello readers, firstly thank you for reading this chapter and secondly I hope you guys are finding this to be a read worth your time.

Do tell me in the comments how this chapter was.

Hope you all are doing well!

Thank you for reading!!