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CHAPTER - 14

INSANITY.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rajveer ~

The next morning when I woke up, she was barely hanging at the corner of the bed, with one hand in the air while the rest of her was all under the comforter.

I couldn't help but laugh at her. 

"Aap itna shaant reh sakti hain?" words slipped out before I could control them and I made my way to her, adjusting her to sleep in the middle of the bed so that she does not end up falling before freshening up and leaving her to herself.

(You have the capability to be this peaceful?)

She would refuse to accept it, but the past few days have been heavy on her.

 I made my way into the study, a cup of black coffee in hand, when Dhruv's knocked.

"Ahaan isn't backing down." he said without preamble. "We intercepted a message. He's putting out a bounty on her."

A bounty.

Of course, he was.

This wasn't just about business anymore. This was personal.

"How much?" I asked, voice dangerously calm.

"Two crore." Dhruv replied. "Alive."

I set the mug down with a sharp clink on the table.

Bastard.

I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temple.

 Aadya had no idea what kind of war she had walked into. She was reckless, impulsive, and now? She was a direct fucking target.

"Double it." I muttered.

Dhruv hesitated. "Boss?"

"Double it," I repeated, "but only for information. Anyone who finds her and reports back to me? They get four and to whatever amount he increases, keep on doubling it."

A pause. Then, a low chuckle. "That's one way to wipe out his options."

I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. "He wanted a fight. He is going to get one."

Ahaan thought this was a game, that he could take what was mine without consequences.

What he failed to realise was that I do not lose, I never have.

_______________________________

Aadya ~

The sunlight was literally, directly on my face and the blanket draped over me too heavy.

My eyes fluttered open, momentarily disoriented before everything came rushing back.

Rajveer. His house. The past few days of pure chaos.

I groaned, rubbing my temples as I turned slightly.

I needed my phone, I needed to know what was going on but most importantly, I needed to see Maa and Aarav!

I stretched my arms above my head, letting out a small sigh as I rolled my shoulders. The couch was empty. Rajveer was already up and gone.

I refused to admit it, even to myself, but... a part of me was relieved to know he was handling things.

My Maa and Aarav were safe. Because of him.

And no matter how much I hated being trapped in this house, I couldn't deny that fact.

Didn't mean I'd thank him for it.

I climbed out of bed, heading out of his room where I saw the man Rajveer had appointed to spy over me, Ishaan.

"I need to go back to the room where my stuff is kept, if you could point me to the direction....." I asked him but he looked a little mad when he saw me.

Of course he would be, I managed to confuse him and his men before attempting to flee away from this five star jail.

All he did was point towards the opposite room and I sighed.

I had never been good with directions in general.

By the time I reached the dining area, my mood had soured again.

Rajveer sat at the head of the table, his focus on the morning newspaper, a cup of tea in his hand.

Like he owned the world.

I scowled and sat down across from him, not being able to stop myself from taking a jibe at him, "looking for the targets to put on your hit list for this month? Some politicians, some celebrities maybe?" 

He ignored my taunt but looked at a maid standing a few steps away and just as he did, she stepped ahead and started to serve me breakfast.

"Eat." His deep voice broke the silence. "You will need your strength to keep up with your habit of trying to annoy me."

I stared at the food. Then at him.

"If you're so bothered," I said, picking up a spoon, "you could just let me go."

He didn't even glance up from his paper but taunted me back, "And miss out on my daily dose of frustration? Never."

My grip on the spoon tightened.

Oh, so that's how he wanted to play this?

Fine.

I picked up a piece of toast and bit into it, loudly. 

Exaggerating every single movement, I chewed obnoxiously, making sure he could hear every bite.

Rajveer flipped a page, unimpressed.

I sipped my juice, making a deliberate slurping noise.

Nothing.

I tapped my fork against the plate, clicking it against the surface 

Not even a twitch.

Unbelievable.

This man could probably kill people with his bare hands, but his actual real fucking crime was how unbothered he was.

And that was annoying me to death.

I dropped my fork with a loud clatter. "Tumhare andar actually koi emotions hain ya sab bech khaaye ho kahin?"

(Do you have any emotions left within you or have you sold them all somewhere?)

Rajveer, still calm as ever, took another sip of his tea. "I do have emotions, Miss Sharma." He finally looked up, meeting my gaze with a smirk. "You just bring out the worst ones."

I gasped. "So flattered."

Rajveer leaned back slightly, his amusement evident.

I crossed my arms, tilting my head. "Are your other prisoners this lucky?"

His smirk widened. "No. Just you."

Idiot.

I huffed, stabbing a piece of watermelon with unnecessary force.

"You are so so so irritating." I muttered under my breath.

"And yet, you're still here."

"Not by choice."

Rajveer simply shrugged, like that detail was insignificant.

I didn't know why he was always like this - calm, controlled, unreadable but I wanted to break that calm. Just once.

Just to see what it would take.

For the next few minutes, we ate in tense silence.

Well, I ate in tense silence.

Rajveer continued reading the newspaper, looking infuriatingly relaxed.

He had that signature Ranawat arrogance, the kind that said, I don't care what you think, I run this world anyway.

I couldn't take it.

"Do you actually enjoy controlling everything?" I asked, tilting my head. "Or is it just a side effect of being a mafia overlord?"

Rajveer turned a page. "It is a necessity."

I scoffed. "Of course it is."

"Unlike you, Miss Sharma, I do not have the luxury of making impulsive decisions without consequences."

I rolled my eyes. "Right. Because not being a criminal or trying to expose one is a crime in your world."

That shut him up while all he did was glare at me for a second before going back to his newspaper.

Ha! I won this one!

"I want to see Maa and Aarav. You cannot keep this away from me like this Rajveer, stop being a monster and take me to them, do you have any limits to your urge to be a controlling freak?" I asked him again, breaking the silence in the room once again but just as I was done speaking, the maid who was still standing dropped a spoon accidentally while she looked at me with this horrified expression.

"Dekho, dekho zaraa kaise daraa ke rakha hai apne staff ko tumne. Haye re bechaari." I couldn't stop myself from getting up and offered her a glass of water.

(Look, look, see how you've terrified your staff. Poor thing!)

She shook her head in a no and took permission from Rajveer before excusing herself and left me alone with him.

Rajveer lowered the newspaper, his lips twitching and I could literally sense that there was something extremely sarcastic coming out of there.

"Miss Sharma," he drawled, resting his elbow on the table. "Agar aapki aaj ki social service ho gayi ho, toh bethne ki zehmat karein."

(If your social services for the day are done, then take a seat.)

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Mujhe nahi baithna hai."

(I don't want to sit.)

He raised a brow. "Aapko kya subah subah ladne mein mazaa aata hai?"

(Do you enjoy fighting the first thing in the morning?)

I dropped into my seat dramatically. "Haan haan, bas ek yahi toh kaam hai meri life mein ab, tumse ladna."

(Yeah, yeah, this is the only thing left to do in my life now, fighting with you)

"Voh toh hai, vaise bhi aapne khud ke hi pair pe kulhadi maari hai warna aap iss time apne office mein hoti, jo shayad aapki pasandeeda jagah hai." He said, smirking.

(That is true, after all, bur you've shot yourself in the foot. Otherwise, you'd be in your office right now, which is perhaps your favourite place.)

I rolled my eyes so hard I was surprised they didn't get stuck in the back of my head.

"Now, tell me something," I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the table. "Why have you been stopping me from seeing my own family?"

Rajveer took a slow sip of his tea before answering. "I haven't."

I blinked. "What?"

He set the cup down, his smirk deepening. "I never stopped you from meeting them."

I stared at him. "Then why the hell did I have to beg you like some kidnapped hostage?"

He shrugged. "You never asked."

My jaw dropped. What the fuck was wrong with him?

I could not even believe what I then just did.

I picked up a piece of toast and threw it at him.

It hit his shoulder before landing in his lap.

Rajveer stared at the toast. Then at me.

I folded my arms, lifting my chin. "Kya? Ab kya tum mujhe phaansi ki sazaa doge iske liye?"

(What? Are you going to hang me to death for this?)

A long pause. Then—

He chuckled.

A deep, low sound that sent shivers down my spine.

"Why are you hell bent on proving yourself to be a kid, Miss Sharma?" He asked, dismissing me as if I had not just thrown a fucking toast at him and then, he stood up and walked out of the dining room, leaving her thoroughly frustrated.

But my problem was still not solved. I had to, had to, had to see Maa and Aarav.

But I also knew now that I threw food at him, he is not going to do what I want, even if there is no harm in that.

So, I had no option but to make my way back to the room he had first kept me in, sulking.

That evening, a maid knocked on the door and informed me that Rajveer's parents wanted to meet me.

Why, why?

Why would they want to meet me? 

Suddenly, I felt nervous. I adjusted my hair, then smoothed out my clothes, hoping I looked presentable. I wasn't sure what to expect.

When I entered the sitting room, my heart stopped. I remember them.

I recognized them. I remembered meeting them when I was younger, a few times during visits with my father.

Rajveer's mother, Gayatri Ranawat, smiled warmly when she saw me.

"It's been a long time, Aadya. You've grown up so beautifully." she said, her voice gentle.

I was taken aback. They remembered me too? I hadn't expected that.

"Thank you, auntie." I managed, surprised by her kindness.

Gayatri's eyes twinkled. "You were just a little girl the last time we met. Look at you now."

I smiled awkwardly, not knowing at all what to say.

Rajveer's father, Vikram Ranawat, leaned forward slightly, studying me. "I have seen you on the television quite a lot, young lady. You are good, very good." He said and I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you, sir." I said and he gave me a smile.

Gayatri Aunty patted the seat beside her, urging me to sit down. "I'm sure everything must be overwhelming for you right now, Aadya. But rest assured, you're safe here. You're under the protection of the Ranawat family."

looked at her, unsure of what to make of this.

"I know," I replied, cautiously. "I really appreciate it, specially what you are doing for my family."

She lovingly kept a hand on my head and then offered me the laddoos she had made, telling me how she remembered that I had really liked them when I was little girl.

How could I so no to that?

________________________________

Rajveer ~

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the glass of whiskey. Everything in today's agenda had been taking care of.

Now all I needed was the news of the consignment delivery of the latest batch of rifles to Perth and that would be it, unless someone decided that it was going to be the last day of their life.

My thoughts kept drifting back to Aadya when I saw her sitting and talking with Mom and Dad.

The way she looked so comfortable, so at ease, when I expected her to be the same angry, defiant woman I had been dealing with for days now. I didn't know why it irritated me, but it did.

I had been getting constant updates from Dhruv and Vijay about Ahaan's movements. He was getting desperate, I could feel it.

He wanted her alive but would also settle with having her dead.

I could hear her voice, she was right outside in the lawn overseeing my office and was arguing with someone.

I got up, walked to the door of my study, only to find her sitting on the low wall while Vansh stood in front of her.

She raised her vada pav like it was a treasure. "Vada pav is the best! It's got the perfect mix!Soft, crunchy, and spicy. Samosas are just dry and boring. They've got no taste!"

Vansh, holding his samosa, shook his head. "You're crazy. Samosas are the real deal. Crispy, spicy, full of flavor. Vada pav is just a messy potato in bread. No one even calls that food."

She rolled her eyes. "At least vada pav isn't oily like samosas. Samosas just make everything greasy."

Vansh raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying samosas are bad? The only bad thing here is your taste in food. Vada pav isn't even a proper snack."

Aadya crossed her arms and grinned. "Vada pav is easy. You can eat it while walking, talking, or running away from people. It's the king of street food."

Vansh snorted. "Samosas are the real thing. Vada pav is just a lazy sandwich."

The ridiculousness of it made me almost smile.

But my thoughts soon turned sharp again. Ahaan.

He hated when someone tried to meddle with his affairs and Aadya had done the exact same thing.

Meddled in that bastard's affairs.

And this was turning out to be an annoyance for me.

I could not focus on anything else. Not the shipments. Not the endless political leverage I was building. Everything, everything, was now revolving around her.

She had walked into trouble herself, into my world herself. But the only way I could see to protect her was to pull her deeper into this world. Into my world.

Miss Sharma." I muttered under my breath, barely catching myself as I ran my fingers through my hair.

I turned around, walking toward my desk, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all.

If I wanted her protected, the only way forward was to tie her to me permanently.

Aadya Sharma needed to be Aadya Rajveer Pratap Ranawat.

____________________________

Aadya ~

Today, I had reached three conclusions -

1. Rajveer was an ass.

2. His parents were really warm and welcoming.

3. Vansh, whom I had ta had no taste for good food.

He had left when he got a phone call, leaving me alone with my vada pav which I was enjoying in silence, watching the sunset.

For a moment, I felt almost... calm.

But then, I felt it.

A presence.

I didn't even need to look up.

 I knew exactly who it was. His presence was impossible to ignore. That heavy, controlling energy he always carried with him. I could practically feel his eyes on me before I even turned around.

Slowly, I turned my head and met his sharp gaze. Rajveer stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, looking down at me with that annoying, calm expression he always wore.

"What do you want now?" I muttered, already annoyed by his mere existence.

His gaze didn't waver. He took a moment, then spoke, his voice low but serious. "There is only one way to make sure your family stays protected from Ahaan."

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Ahaan. I swallowed, suddenly not feeling as calm as I did just moments ago.

I couldn't hide my hope, my desperation. "What?" I asked, my voice softer now, almost pleading. I needed to know. I needed an answer, something that could guarantee their safety.

"You and I will have to get married."

I froze.

I swear, time stopped for a second. The world didn't move. I just stared at him, trying to process what he just said. My mind was in total chaos. "What? I didn't catch that properly." I blinked, shaking my head. 

His expression didn't change, but I saw that glint in his eyes. He didn't look like he was kidding. In fact, he looked almost annoyed.

"You heard me right," he said, his voice blunt. "This is the only way to make sure your family stays safe from Ahaan. And do not flatter yourself Miss Sharma, I am not exactly thrilled with the idea either."

I jumped from the wall in was sitting on.

This was the worst joke I'd ever heard.

I stared at him, my mind struggling to wrap around his words. My heart pounded in my chest, disbelief threatening to choke me. "Tum khud ko sunn bhi paa rahe ho Rajveer? Yeh mazaak lag raha hai kya tumhe?"

(Are you even listening to yourself, Rajveer? Do you think of it as a joke?)

He didn't flinch. His gaze was unwavering, cold as ever. "I am as serious as I can be, Aadya."

I shook my head, unable to believe him. "This is absurd!" I snapped. "You cannot just...."

"I did not say that I am thrilled about this either." he cut me off,  a slight edge to his voice.

He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Do you really think I want to marry you? I'm the one getting absolutely nothing out of this, nothing at all."

I blinked at him, dumbfounded. "What are you talking about?"

He tilted his head, looking me over with that same calculating look he always had. "Instead of getting any benefit out of this marriage, I will be stuck with a five-foot-two-inch woman who is stubborn as hell, does not even try to listen to logic even when if comes to her own life and loves acting like a  goddamn child."

I gaped at him, my mouth falling open. "Excuse me? Acting like a child?" My voice rose with disbelief and frustration. "I am not the one who's forcing a marriage, this is crazy!"

Rajveer crossed his arms over his chest,  "You are right. You're not the one forcing it. But I am the one who is doing everything to protect you and your family. And yet here you are, making fuss over something that could save their lives and yours. Why? Because you are too damn proud?"

"You think I want this?!" I shouted, throwing my hands up in exasperation. "You think I want to be stuck in this mess? You think this is my dream? To marry you and be part of this mafia game? I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask for you to—"

"Miss Sharma" he interrupted, his voice dangerously low, "you only have two options. Either you marry me, and I make sure your family is safe, or you sit back and watch them live in constant fear. This is not a fairytale. This is a choice between life or death. And the sooner you realise that, the better."

I was beyond furious, my heart beating erratically in my chest. I tried to storm past him, but before I could make it a step, he grabbed me by the waist, pulling me back with ease.

"What the hell?!" I shouted, trying to shove his hands off me, but he didn't budge. He picked me up like I weighed nothing, holding me tightly against him.

"Let me go Ranawat." I kicked my feet in frustration, desperately trying to wriggle free, but it was useless. I couldn't get away.

He held me even tighter, his face unreadable, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "Your tantrum is not going to change your situation, Aadya." 

"Put me down!" I screamed, my fists hitting his chest, but it barely made a dent. "This is insane! You can't just—"

"Shh." His voice was calm, but there was no kindness in it. "We're done here. You've made your point."

I was beyond furious. How could he do this to me?

The grip around my waist didn't loosen, and I was stuck, unable to do a damn thing about it.

Hey guys! This is the next chapter. I hope you all like it. To unlock the next one, at least 130 comments are required on this one.

I love you all. Until next time. Byee!!