Happy New Year in advance, dear lovelies 🎊

I hate to keep you guys waiting but I've Exam on 11th, so might not update until then. Wish me luck

Vyom's pov

[ F L A S H B A C K ]

The brown in her eyes lit up, too bright, that the gleam of the twenty one candles dimmed in front of them.

It took just one cake to brighten up her mood. And it would have taken the effort of just a single phone call and she would have been over the top, however her mother can't even do that. I wouldn't be surprised if she forgot what date it is today.

I vividly remember the day when the eight year old was first brought to Somani residence. A wondrous wildflower in the ground filled with weeds.

Her parents are not less than mine, just a pathetic excuse in the name of it.

My birthday never felt like mine, neither did it for my sister. It has always been an excuse to gather the business associates, a charade to get to their parents through the kids circle. I never had friends of my own. My mother always bugged in about whom I'm getting involved with, be it an acquaintance, a friend or interest in girls.

Apeksha Kamath has been an exception. A secret I've cherished, a friend I always desired for and a person to confide in.

She came with so much light looming around her, so much kindness thronged within and so less expectations. Something so rare in this greedy world. And it instantly got me avariced.

I've always been close to my sister, but sharing the part of the venom I carried within myself for our parents never seemed right. Directioning her perspective or emotions towards our parents based on mine was something I never wanted.

But with Apeksha, my words flew unfiltered, emotions broke past the shackles. I saw a mirror whenever we stood together, a mirror which reflected us both under very similar despair.

A beaming smile tore past layers of my dingy trance, capturing my attention effortlessly. Her hand extended, holding a piece of cake to my mouth, "No excuse for any stupid diet. Okay."

Further not showing any resistance, I silently accepted the cake, "Who am I to defy the birthday girl ?" And the piece of cake felt worth it when her smile broadened a little more.

Happiness does exist in the world. And it takes effort in making someone happy and then feel happy ourselves in their happiness. I did wish to make my parents happy and proud, in hope one day they will at least acknowledge it, even for a fleeting second.

Didn't take long for me to realise I could never make them happy enough if it wasn't molded in their right version. So I ceased wasting my efforts on them, leaving Vamika and then Apeksha an exception.

"And your gift."

As if the shine of the stars twinkling above in the sky coalesced within those brown orbs, her entire face illuminated at the tiny book I handed her over.

"Now about the promise I made earlier."

That halted her chain of thankyou and her gaze instantly darted back on me from her new found treasure.

"But you do remember the promise, right ?" She nods, not waiting for me to complete.

I grabbed a tissue, wiping the corner of my mouth while I pulled out the bottle of tequila.

"I turned twenty one today, so do I get twenty one shots ?"

My one glare was enough and she motioned to zip her mouth, curbing a sheepish smile.

To add more dramatics, she shook the bottle vigorously before removing the cap and liquid squirted out like foam as she gasped and then cheered.

I shook my head as she reasoned with a grin, "They do it like this in the movies."

On her demand, I did take a sip or two to give her company however not much to even reach a level beyond tipsy.

With the first two sips, she babbled like a chatterbox, telling me this is one of her most memorable birthdays. Then she laughed, recalling the stupid things she likes to do with her brother, saying that she misses him.

Her knees buckled on the ground, palming her mouth, continuing to laugh, before tears cascaded down her eyes as she laughed louder which soon converted into sobs. Panic gripped me at the sudden shift of mood.

Taking a few big gulps of the tequila that she had refilled earlier, her wails rang in the ambiance, "Why don't they love me ?"

With quick steps I reached her side, crouching to match her level. Feeling my presence, she lifted her face and our eyes met. Moisture was glistening in those beautiful eyes, as if the rooted soils had finally embraced the rivers.

"Why ? Just because I was born with a vagina, they_ they don't love me." My jaw ticked, the hurt in her voice pricking straight through my chest. "Then why didn't they kill me_ like they killed all after me ?"

My reflexes acted quick, cradling her in my arms before she went slack on the ground. Carefully I pulled her by my side, sitting on the ground, my arms still secure around her small frame.

Like a buzzer, loud and painfully shrill, her words echoed in my ears and my hold tightened around her, afraid she would fall apart.

"My absence will make no difference," She hiccuped.

"They are stupid, little swan." I began softly and her innocent gaze settled on me. "There are eight billion people in the world and yet I covet your presence the most."

"Sacchi ?"

(Really ?)

Ruffling her hair, my hand skidded down on her cheek, thumb wiping away the streak of tears, "Mucchi."

(Really.)

The adorable chubbiness of her cheeks lifts as a broad smile blooms on her face. Something akin to a shiver course through my spine as her palms find their way to cradle my face.

"You are special," her voice wobbles, prolonging with the slur, analyzing my face, already cradled between her palm, with curious gaze. "My favou_rite. Everything."

The smile on my lips was abruptly captured by her soft lips, freezing my entire body, coursing me numb.

⌛

Possessing a composed stance, my body remained unfazed but mind alert, all ears to the motion of the maddened man dashing in my direction.

His loud shriek shot up to crescendo driven by adrenaline echoed in juxtaposition, whatever weapon he had on himself cut through the air, coming in my direction with full force. With quick motion, I dodged the attack and the man went clashing with thin air.

My hand swiftly moved to the pocket knife in my pants pocket, pulling it out as it went jabbing straight on the man's shoulder, followed by an impactful kick on the shin that forced him to tumble on the grubby floor.

He cried out with the abrupt pain, now withering on the dirt he always belonged to. Overlooking his whimpers, I walked closer while my attention went to the blood splashes on my sleeve and knuckles and the dust on my once polished shoes, and an annoyed disappointed grimace contours my face.

I don't like violence. It's dirty, catastrophic and too loud and usually too bloody. Expensive suits, polished cabins and soft typing of the keyboard is my usual preference. Or it's just like the second skin I wear, like a snake. The real me is using the shield of the second skin I drape myself in.

Letting out a sigh, my shoes step on his bleeding shoulder that was wounded beforehand and I press harder. A lazy content smile touches my lips when he wails in agony, begging for mercy.

But I still don't like violence.

A bunch of armed men and women, dressed in black, march in my direction, getting on action and dragged the fucker away to put him back in shackles.

Getting out of the bloody shoes, I stepped into the new pair that was placed in front of me by one of them.

Someone handed me over tissues so I could wipe the traces of blood from my hands and even sanitized it furthermore, but they still lingered, forever engraved.

A ghost of a smile touches the seam of my lips as I notice the hunch man scurry in haste to wipe the blood from the floor, his gait intimidated and body trembling. With his good eye, his gaze met mine, face going blanch immediately as his body shook like a dry leaf at my sight.

Even with both eyes intact, his vision of judgement was shitty, that's why I took the initiative and gouged one of his eyes out to give him a new vision. As a constable, he was good at bootlicking so once I made him lick the blood, making him taste the belonging of something filthier than him.

By now he must have realized how his mother must feel after being beaten. And he wouldn't look at such divine existence and make her feel like a slut. In fact he would never look at her again or next time I'll make him gag on the remaining eye.

I unclipped the cufflinks, handing the piece of diamond to them. Taking the fresh shirt they brought, my step moves to the washroom.

Wearing the shirt, I stepped out and a familiar gloved hand forwarded my cufflinks. My graze travelled up as I took the cufflinks, waving a hand in dismissal as Isuel stepped closer to help me.

"Where is he ?" I inquired, cuffing the cufflinks.

"Boss is caught up in a meeting. He couldn't make it tonight."

Humming in response, I check the time on my phone, using it as an excuse to avoid her lingering stare.

"Are you going to finish him ?" She asks, not an emotion twitching on her poker face.

"Killing is not my job and you know that."

Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, the change so fugitive to even notice.

Isuel is one of the best Assassin we have in here, trained in killing and mastered with her knives. Along with speaking English, Italian and Russian, since she is half Indian half Korean, she even has the knowledge of Hindi and Korean too.

"Call me if needed."

We exchange a curt nod and I walk out of the base, using the private elevator that brings me to the ground floor from under the ground.

For the world the bungalow looks abandoned, unbeknownst that it's now the devils' roost where filths are dragged and penanced. Neither deserted or deafeningly silent, rather haunted by the ghosts we create, echoing with their screams.

Once in my car, I drove back to the penthouse feeling guilty for leaving her alone on our very first day, but it was an emergency. I had to fill in for Singh's absence.

The sensor signalled no movement inside the house which meant she was still sleeping soundly after I sneaked out.

Not much effort was taken by my side to slither back inside without making it obvious. By now it's too attuned in my system. Inside the spare bathroom, I took a quick shower to wash away any remnants.

Twisting the doorknob silently, I step back inside the bedroom before closing the door after me. The room was washed in darkness, with the only source of light being the moonlight peeking through the gaps of the curtains framing the large sliding windows.

Surfing across the room, my gaze eventually settled on her and there she was, sleeping on my bed, carefree and putting her trust in me, unaware of what a vile snake I'm. A charade, a deception, someone who wears a second skin to disguise the darkness within.

Clenching my fingers, I had to remind myself that I just can't walk to her, lay next to her and then pull her in the confines of my arms so I could sleep beside her while she sleeps on my bed.

Growing protective towards her came naturally as we spent more and more time together, however I didn't realise when it started to change into possessiveness. So fanatic that could cross the seams of turning obsessive.

"Just one kiss. All it took was one kiss to unfurl me."

I didn't know how to face her after she kissed me, so I quickly left after I brought her passed out self back to the servants quarter. I dreaded her reaction, loathing the thought that she might distance herself, though thankfully nothing of short happened since she forgot it all.

But I couldn't forget it even after trying so much. The more I strived to forget it, the more it flashed in my thoughts, repeated in dreams, not once but daily. Again and again. And still does.

And it got me overwhelmed since a part of me felt angry, albeit a bigger part of me was getting addicted. She kissed me every night in my dreams and then days later, I saw myself kissing her back. It escalated and she began climbing on my lap as we kissed and later I would find myself flipping her beneath me as we continued to kiss.

This dire attraction, unforeseen lust threw me off-guard. I felt horrible and stopped visiting her altogether.

But how could it be just insignificant lust when oftentimes I would see us holding hands, embracing each other ? When in my dreams she would look at me with those innocent eyes crammed with an emotion so strong that left me gasping, threatening to blind me, and yet I got greedy for it.

Apeksha Kamath is a forbidden rose. Delicate and divine. She was never supposed to turn the bane of my every craving, the envision of every desire.

A forbidden rose that could never thrive in the mist aerating the obsessive darkness.

Yet I crave it.

Lies are destructive weapons and secrets are dangerous. But hidden truth, they are fatal; a lie never spoken out loud, a fact that was buried without shrouding in the fabric of secrets.

I'm no lies, no secrets but a hidden truth that can't be discovered. A truth she would never look up to, let alone loving it.

And I'm crammed with, an embodiment in itself of such hidden truth which she would hate me for.

Not wanting to disturb her sleep, I kneel by the edge of the bed she was sleeping closer to, leaving the other side all vacant. Is it for me ?

"Can you imagine a future with me, little swan ? Just for a moment, even if it's unfeasible." I whispered, voice pained, almost inaudible.

With soft strokes, my fingers caress through her natural wavy night-like dark hair.

One second of spending extra in her vicinity or even glancing at her a moment longer, weakens every cell in my body, threatening to crumble the resolve I worked so hard to build.

And it's alarming since I'm not a man who wavers on composure.

"You push me out of control, little swan," my fingers curl around her hair strands, eyes not wavering from her angelic visage. "And all I have is a little shred of control left, before I no longer remain the gentleman you so admire."

Chapter Words- 2526

P.s :- I like my men obsessed

Seeing off this year with the beginning of Vyom's pov

Signing off
~T.R