A/N:-
Violence scene ahead! You can skip it you want

Subhra gazed out the tall window of her cabin, taking in the cityscape as sunset approached. But the sun itself was hidden, shrouded in a veil of grey clouds.

With a heavy sigh, she released the tension building inside. Her heart was a tangled mess of emotions, unfamiliar and unsettling.

Her mind replayed that morning's events, weighing the pros and cons of confiding in Adwait. The image of his eyes, shifting from calm to turmoil, lingered.

One moment, life seemed perfect; the next, doubts crept in.

Lost in thought, Subhra didn't notice Atulya's arrival until her voice broke the silence.

"What are you thinking about?" Atulya asked, holding the office door ajar with her foot, her hands occupied with a tray bearing two steaming cups of freshly brewed coffee.

Subhra turned, a faint smile on her lips.

Atulya settled into the chair opposite Shubhra, placing the tray on the desk. "When did you come back?" Shubhra asked.

"This morning," Atulya replied casually, sipping her coffee. "The matter's finally settled."

Shubhra narrowed her eyes. "What took you so long? It's almost half a month."

Atulya smirked. "Men, you know. They'd never admit a woman's better than them."

Shubhra chuckled. "True!"

Atulya's grin widened. "By the way, I got a gift for you!"

Shubhra straightened in her chair, curiosity piqued. "What?"

Atulya's smirk turned mischievous. "I got the one who delivered that package to you."

"I also got him, but he was just a simple delivery boy doing his job!" Shubhra waved her hand in dismissal.

"I know! I'm talking about the one who sent it!" Atulya said, regaining Shubhra's attention.

"Who is it?" Shubhra inquired, narrowing her gaze, her expression serious. Whoever he was, knew too much about her.

"Vihaan Singh Rajvansh!" Atulya responded, setting her coffee cup on the table.

"Are you sure?" Shubhra thought about the name, unfamiliar with it, but then the surname "Rajvansh" clicked. So, it's them. She wondered why and how they were connected to her.

Her mind wandered with possibilities, and a headache began to emerge. Just great, another thing to add to the list. She glanced at Atulya, who was casually playing with a paperweight.

"I've got his second-in-command for you," Atulya grinned. "He works directly under Vihaan. I was about to teach him a lesson on your behalf, but I thought, why not ask if you'd like to join the fun?" She tossed the paperweight in the air, catching it with her eyes now on Shubhra.

"Hmm, I definitely need to release some tension." Shubhra smirked, a glint in her eyes.

"By the way, what were you thinking before I entered? You looked quite lost!" Atulya queried, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

Shubhra hesitated, preferring to keep her thoughts private. She liked maintaining an air of mystery, even among friends. Her ability to keep others guessing was a hallmark of her success.

Atulya and Riva were more than partners; they were close friends. Shubhra knew intimate details about their lives, shared willingly over trust-built conversations. She listened attentively, rarely revealing her own plans.

Atulya's probing continued, her tone playful. "Tell me, did you fight with your husband?" A mischievous glint danced in her eyes, her smile teasing."Come on, spill the beans," Atulya coaxed. "You know you two are the hottest topic lately. Even our allies crave gossip. They've tried every way to extract info from me."

Shubhra sighed, resigned. "It's something like that," she admitted, her shoulders shrugging.

Atulya's eyes widened, anticipation building. "What happened?"

Shubhra broke the lingering silence, her voice measured. "I told him about Ariv and the DNA test..."

Atulya's eyes bulged, her mouth agape. "Damn! What did he say?" she exclaimed, brows shooting up.

Shubhra's hands clenched into fists. "I'm getting the cold shoulder. He's avoiding me. Haven't seen him at home for two days, claiming he needs to wrap things up before the wedding... but I know better."

"Well, what are you going to do? Your wedding is in a week, and you're arguing, but I understand his point too. I'm sure he'll make the best decision; he always does," Atulya said, a hint of pride creeping into her voice.

Shubhra's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing, but she let it slide. "I'm not blaming him. I know he has the right to do that, but..." She sighed, trailing off.

Atulya recognized the familiar silence, a sign Shubhra didn't want to discuss it further. Having worked together for years, Atulya knew when to push and when to back off.

Instead, she changed the subject. "So, are we still going?"

Shubhra's expression shifted, focus returning to the present. "Yes, let's go. I need to release some tension."

Atulya smiled, understanding. "I've got just the thing."

"Hmm, let's go!" Shubhra said, and they stepped into the exclusive elevator reserved for the President.

The doors opened directly into the secretive dungeons beneath the ground. Dim lights cast eerie shadows, illuminating rows of cells. Shubhra's gaze swept the cemented floor, noticing the men dressed in black suits sitting nearby. They swiftly bowed, showing respect.

Atulya led Shubhra to a specific cell, where a silhouette lingered in the corner, obscured by darkness.

"Bring him to the special room," Shubhra instructed, striding down the corridor to a separate room at the far end.

The men in black suits sprang into action, escorting the mysterious figure from the cell.

As Atulya and Shubhra entered the room, a potent disinfectant scent enveloped them. The bright lights, a stark contrast to the dimness outside, pierced the 12' × 15' space.

A thick glass wall separated the room from an adjacent chamber, bathed in a yellowish glow. The once-white paint had turned a gruesome red, scarred by numerous marks.

In the center of the room, a metal chair awaited. Guards dragged an unconscious man, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, and positioned him in the chair.

One guard splashed water from a jug onto the man's face, jolting him awake. His eyes fluttered open, confusion and disorientation etched on his features.

Shubhra observed, her expression unreadable, as Atulya stood beside her, eyes fixed on the captive.

The man, ripped from unconsciousness by the sudden splash of water, gazed around wildly. His eyes widened as he took in the figures before him. "Who are you? Why am I tied up?" he thundered, struggling against the steel shackles.

"Who we are is none of your concern," a voice retorted. "And you're here because you need to talk."

The man's face twisted in defiance. "I won't say a word. Leave me alone!" he growled, straining against his restraints.

Unseen, Shubhra observed from the adjacent room, separated by a thick glass wall. She stepped through the gate, her presence now known.

"Not just you, but your dead family members will rise from their graves to speak," she said, her voice dripping with menace. "Gadodiya."

The man's eyes snapped to Shubhra, fear flickering across his face.

Gadodiya's eyes locked onto Shubhra, his voice laced with defiance. "And who are you, girl? How do you know my last name?"

Shubhra smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You'll know soon, kid."

She sauntered to the nearby table, her movements fluid and deliberate. The two men stationed themselves against the thick walls, frozen like statues.

Shubhra's gaze fell upon the array of instruments on the table. Her slender fingers danced across the metal tools, settling on a scalpel. She lifted it between her thumb and index finger, twirling it with an air of nonchalance.

"Do you know what this is?" she murmured, her voice low and menacing.

Gadodiya's eyes widened, his gaze fixed on the scalpel. A flicker of fear danced across his face.

"It's... a scalpel!" Gadodiya stammered, gulping down his saliva.

"Good," Shubhra purred. "You know its use?"

"It's... for surgeries," he replied, his voice trembling.

Shubhra's smile widened. "Impressive."

Her eyes locked onto his, her voice taking on a menacing tone. "Now, the next question: Who ordered you to deliver that box containing blood-soaked clothes to me?"

Gadodiya's eyes darted, his body stiffening. "Which box?" he asked, attempting to feign ignorance.

Shubhra's gaze bored into his, her eyes flashing with warning. "Don't play dumb, kid." She glided closer, her movements deliberate and predatory.

"I'm not playing with anyone!" Gadodiya protested, his voice muffled by fear.

Shubhra's smile twisted. "We'll see about that.

"I know everything!" Shubhra hissed, her eyes blazing. "The more you deny, the crueler I'll be."

Gadodiya's sweat-beaded brow trembled as Shubhra traced the scalpel's tip along his jawline.

"Uhmmm... uhmmm..." he stammered.

"State!" Shubhra commanded, her voice icy.

Gadodiya's defiance flared. "I'm not obliged to answer you, you damn girl!" he roared.

Shubhra retreated, her calm, unreadable expression a stark contrast to Gadodiya's fury.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... You're showing loyalty in the wrong place, kid," she said, shaking her head.

Gadodiya's words turned vile. "Just uncuff me, and I'll show you where your loyalty should lie. Women like you deserve to be under me."

Shubhra's chuckle dripped with disdain. "Ufff... This damn bravery, thinking they're better just because they're men."

Her eyes flashed with contempt. "You're no exception, Gadodiya. Your misogyny will be your downfall."

"Shut up, you damn woman!" Gadodiya spat. "Come to me, and I'll promise to save you."

Shubhra's smirk twisted. "Your irony is priceless, kid. Tied up, yet talking trash to me, your captor."

Gadodiya's defiance persisted. "I'm not afraid of you, silly woman. I'm more powerful than you think. You'll know soon, when I take you."

Shubhra's expression remained detached, emotionless.

"You're a brave one, Gadodiya," she said. "I would've taken you under my wing, but alas, you're with my enemies."

Gadodiya's face contorted. "You-"

Shubhra's finger pressed against her lips. "Shhh, kid. No one's coming. Your little tracking device is destroyed. No need to buy time."

Gadodiya's eyes widened, horror creeping into his gaze.

"How... how did you know?" Gadodiya stammered, his voice trembling as sweat dripped from his brow.

Shubhra's smirk twisted. "Oh, the strong man in you is gone, huh?" She raised an eyebrow, her gaze mocking.

The scalpel pressed against his neck, applying gentle pressure. A few crimson drops trickled down, and Gadodiya's breath hitched.

"What do you want?" he asked, voice shaking but still defiant.

Shubhra sauntered to the nearby table, returning with a knife. "I want to send your master a gift."

With a swift motion, she chopped off Gadodiya's fingers. He screamed, his body jerking against the restraints.

Gadodiya's screams echoed through the room, blood gushing from his mutilated hands. Shubhra's face and hands were splattered with crimson, yet her expression remained eerily calm.

She gazed at the dripping blood, her voice devoid of emotion. "Pack his fingers and send them to his boss."

One of the men asked, "What about him, ma'am?"

Shubhra's response was callous. "I don't want to dirty my hands. Finish him off."

As she turned to leave, Gadodiya's eyes widened in horror. He pleaded, sobbing and begging the men to spare his life.

Shubhra paused, her hand on the door handle. A sly smile spread across her face. "Let him make amends."

The man nodded, still confused. "Send him with the box containing his fingers. Ensure it reaches the intended destination."

The two men exchanged skeptical glances, unsure why Shubhra spared Gadodiya. But who were they to question their boss?

Shubhra emerged from the room, her hands blood-stained. Atulya, lounging in a chair, watched with an amused smile.

"How was it? Did your anger subside?" Atulya asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shubhra replied, "To a point."

Atulya stood, strolling over to Shubhra. She patted Shubhra's shoulders. "Next time, save some for me."

Shubhra glanced at Atulya's hands on her shoulders, and Atulya withdrew them, sensing a boundary.

Shubhra glanced at her shoulders, and Atulya withdrew her hands. "Oh, my mistake!" Atulya shrugged, handing Shubhra a tissue from the nearby box.

Shubhra cleaned her hands, discarding the soiled tissue in the dustbin. Though some blood remained on her fingers and palm, she didn't bother to scrub them clean.

"Let's go!" Shubhra commanded.

"I'll stay behind; I have some important work," Atulya countered.

Shubhra turned, her eyes narrowing. "Don't dare miss the wedding," she warned.

Atulya froze, then murmured, "I wouldn't think of it."

Shubhra stepped into the elevator, while Atulya remained, her expression thoughtful.

The elevator opened with a soft ding on the 16th floor, revealing Shubhra's sleek cabin. As she entered, she was greeted by a gathering of familiar and unfamiliar faces.