29.A STORM OF SILENCE DECISION

Hello lilies 💗 hope you all are well and good (first thing i want to say that why the reach is going low of the story ? I am trying really hard to make story intresting 🥹 . But previous response was not so good )

And yah ! Don't be disappointed with the scene because it's a story if there is sadness then there will be happiness too so have patience many more things will come in story 🙌

The night after the engagement, Arvika sat on the floor of her dimly lit room, her back against the cold wall. The heavy jewelry had been taken off, but the weight of everything she had lost still pressed down on her chest. The engagement ring gleamed on her finger-a cruel reminder of her helplessness.

But amidst the grandeur, Arvika felt nothing.

Flashback starts in her mind .

She stood at the center of it all, wearing a lehenga, her dupatta draped delicately over her shoulder. The intricate gold embroidery shimmered under the chandelier's glow, but inside, she felt like a doll dressed for sacrifice.

The engagement tray was brought forward.

A delicate ring, crafted with precision, gleaming in the light-her cage in the shape of a jewel.

She felt her heart tighten.

"Put the ring on, Arvika."

Aviraj Roy's voice was calm, but firm. A command disguised as warmth.

Her fingers trembled. Vardhan stood beside her, his black suit crisp, his posture relaxed-as if he had already won.

"What's wrong?" Vardhan leaned closer, his voice dripping with amusement. "Still thinking about running? Try it, and see how far you go."

Her hands curled into fists.

"What do you think you'll get by forcing me?" she whispered back.

His smirk deepened.

"A wife." He smirked and said

Her blood ran cold.

The weight of a hundred eyes pressed on her, waiting. Expecting.

Aviraj cleared his throat, a subtle warning.

Arvika's throat felt dry. Her eyes flickered to the ring.

Her heart screamed NO.

But her hands moved against her will.

With a deep breath, she picked up the ring.

Her fingers hovered over his hand-hesitating, trembling.

A silent war waged within her.

"You can still stop this."

A voice in her head-her own voice, fragile but desperate.

But another voice, colder, harsher, whispered back.

"And go where? Who will save you?"

The room blurred. The sounds faded.

With her soul screaming, she slid the ring onto Vardhan's finger.

Thunderous applause erupted.

The moment felt final. Sealed. Unbreakable.

Vardhan tightened his grip around her hand, as if claiming his prize. His smirk deepened, but his eyes-his cruel, victorious eyes-held something darker.

He leaned in, just enough for her to hear.

"Good girl."

Flashback ends !!

Arvika felt her entire world collapse. Arvika didn't cry.

She just stood there-a queen draped in gold, but chained in iron.

And just like that, Arvika Singh is going to be fully aarvika Roy the surname which she never want .

She didn't want to talks with anyone no more gossips she can bear already a lott happened in her life in just few days then only.

The door creaked open, and Sadhvi her mother stepped inside, holding a plate Arvika didn't look up. She knew her mother's presence, could feel her quiet hesitation.

Sadhvi placed the plate on the table beside her daughter and sat down carefully. A heavy silence stretched between them.

"Arvika..." she finally spoke, her voice careful, as if afraid of breaking her daughter even more. "You haven't eaten anything all day. Please..."

Arvika let out a soft, bitter laugh, still staring at the floor.

"Does it matter, Mumma ?" she whispered. "Whether I eat or not, whether I live or not-does any of it matter to you anymore?"

Sadhvi flinched.

"What are you saying, beta?" she asked, reaching for Arvika's hand.

Arvika jerked her hand away, her eyes blazing with a mixture of pain and fury.

"I'm saying the truth, Mumma," she snapped. "The same truth that you, dad , and everyone else forced down my throat. I was your daughter... but now, I'm just someone's fiancée, someone's future wife. That's all I am to you, right?"

"No, Arvika, it's not like that-"

"Then what is it like?" Arvika interrupted, her voice rising. "Dad was the one who told me love is the strongest thing in the world. That family always stands by you. But tell me, -where was my family when I begged to not be caged like this? Where was my mother and father when I was being sold off like a piece of property?"

Sadhvi's eyes filled with tears. She said aggressively "We had no choice, Arvika..."

"No choice?" Arvika let out a hollow laugh. "You had a choice, Mumma . You could have fought for me. But you didn't. Instead, you held my hand and walked me straight into this hell."

Sadhvi broke down, sobbing quietly.

"Beta, I did what I thought was best for you... I wanted to protect you-"

"Protect me?" Arvika's voice cracked. "You didn't protect me, Mumma You betrayed me everything is over but still i will try my best to delay this ! And not to do this marriage ."

Silence.

Sadhvi's shoulders trembled as she cried, but Arvika didn't move to comfort her.

Because something inside her had shattered today.

She had always loved her parents. But tonight, that love had turned into something else. Something bitter. Something close to hate.

__________..___________..___________..__________..

The golden nameplate outside the glass skyscraper read A.S.corporation - The Future of Business", gleaming under the city lights. Inside, everything was just as Vardhan liked it-silent, disciplined, and under his absolute control.

As he stepped out of the elevator, his employees greeted him with nervous smiles and lowered heads. They knew better than to interfere with his mood.

Vardhan strode through the hallway, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor. He had just claimed what was his-Arvika . The mere thought of her helpless expression when she slid the ring onto his finger made his smirk widen. "No one can take her from me now and no one can do anything now ."

His assistant, vyom, hurried behind him, speaking fast.

"Sir, the media response has been overwhelming. Your engagement with Miss Aarvika has become the most trending topic. The merger is expected to-"

"Expected?" Vardhan interrupted, his voice dangerously low.

Vyom swallowed nervously. "I-I mean, the deal is as good as done, sir."

Vardhan nodded. That was the only acceptable answer.

But before vyom could continue, the door to his office flew open with a loud bang.

A woman stormed inside, her heels clacking against the floor, her face twisted with fury.

Tanya Mehta.

Her blood-red dress clung to her body, but her face was filled with rage. The woman Vardhan had once played with was no longer a docile lover-she was a storm ready to destroy.

"You bastard!" she hissed, her eyes blazing as she threw a newspaper at his desk.

The headline screamed-

"Vardhan Roy & Aarvika Singh The Power Couple now engaged last night !"

Vardhan leaned back in his chair, watching her with an amused smirk.

"You look like you're about to cry, Miss Tanya," he mused. "I hope it's not because you thought we had something real?"

Her hands clenched into fists. "You used me. Lied to me. All those nights, all those promises-"

Vardhan chuckled. "Promises?" He stood up, walking towards her. "Tanya, darling, you were nothing but entertainment. Did you seriously think I would marry you?"

Her palm struck across his face, the sound echoing in the room.

Silence.

The office staff outside the glass walls froze, watching in horror. No one-no one-dared to raise their hand against Vardhan Roy.

But instead of reacting with anger, he smirked.

"That's the spirit, Tanya," he whispered, rubbing his jaw. "But you see, slapping me won't change the fact that Arvika is now my fianćce"

Tanya's eyes filled with unshed tears, but she quickly masked it with anger. "You think you've won? You think she actually loves you? You're a monster, Vardhan! She'll never accept you!"

Vardhan's smirk widened. "She doesn't need to love me, sweetheart. She just needs to belong to me. And i will not leave any choice for her ! "

Tanya laughed bitterly, stepping closer. "Mark my words, Vardhan. One day, you'll regret betraying me."

Vardhan only raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to see you try."

(Hey hey you guyss are not rating the chapter hit the star button now 🌟 😕 and not following me on wattpad please do it now )

As she stormed out, vyom cautiously stepped forward.

"Sir... should I handle her?"

Vardhan simply laughed, turning back to the window, looking over his empire.

"No need. I know she will go by herself i am done with her ! "

But what Vardhan didn't realize- that what he was doing the result he also don't know .

__________..__________..___________..___________..

The morning air was crisp, yet Arvika felt suffocated as she stepped into the campus of college .

Her footsteps were slow, hesitant-like an outsider stepping into an unfamiliar place.

Students turned to look at her, whispers spreading like wildfire.

"That's her -here she is Aarvika."

"Did you see the news everywhere ? Vardhan really engaged with her !"

"Poor girl...or may be lucky ? He's is rich after all and dashing too ."

"Don't know how she trapp him "

Arvika clenched her fists, shutting out the voices.

She didn't care what they thought. She was here for one last thing.

As she reached the campus corridor, rushali stopped her .

For a moment, her chest tightened. Rushali, her best friend-the one who always stood beside her, the one who cheered for her.

Would she really stopping her now ?

Rushali met her eyes, and instead of pity or judgment, she simply smiled.

"Are you going to keep standing there, Miss lemon bomber ?" she teased.

A strike

The name she heard let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She immediately lost in the thought that how she was fighting with a egoistic man and now how she is silent for her own life . But She still had her friend.

"You're impossible," Arvika muttered, faintly smiled.

Rushali linked arms with her. "And you look like you haven't slept in days. What's wrong?"

Arvika wanted to say everything.

That she felt like a prisoner in her own life. That she wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. That she hated her parents for not saving her off .

But instead, she forced a weak smile. "Nothing. Just here to submit my final project."

Rushali didn't push. She never did-she simply walked beside Arvika, as if nothing had changed.

Arvika didn't care. She had learned to tune out the noise.

But there was one silence that she couldn't ignore.

Kartik.

He stood near the entrance, surrounded by a few friends, but his eyes never once met hers.

He had seen her. She knew he had.

Yet, he turned away-as if she didn't exist.

Something in her stomach twisted painfully.

This wasn't the Kartik who had always been there for her, fought for her, challenged her.

This was a Kartik who had given up on her.

Rushali appeared beside her, sensing the shift in her energy.

"He's been like this since engagement how he can handle all these ," she murmured.

Arvika swallowed hard, keeping her face blank. She had expected this.

But expecting it didn't make it hurt any less.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and walked past Kartik-as if his silence didn't affect her.

But it did.

More than she wanted to admit.

As she made her way to class, she stole one last glance over her shoulder.

Kartik still hadn't looked at her.

And for the first time in a long time, Arvika felt truly alone.

_________..___________..__________.._________

The cold, sterile silence inside Naksh's office was almost suffocating. The dim lighting cast sharp shadows across the expensive wooden table, highlighting the ruthless precision with which Naksh Singhania Rajput operated.

Rudra, seated across from him, adjusted his wristwatch, feigning casualness. But inside, his mind was racing. Something was off.

He finally decided to ask.

"I tried to reach out to Mr. Mehra this morning." His voice was steady, but his gaze sharp, watching Naksh closely. "No one seems to know where he is."

Naksh didn't even look up from the document he was signing.

Rudra exhaled sharply and leaned forward. "I asked around, Naksh. He hasn't been seen in two days."

This time, Naksh finally looked at him.

And Rudra instantly regretted pushing further.

Because in Naksh's dark, piercing eyes, there was no hesitation. No concern. No remorse.

"That's because," Naksh said, flipping the page of his document as if this was a casual business discussion, "he's dead."

Rudra stiffened.

He let out a short, humorless laugh, leaning back. "You're joking, right?"

Naksh's hand stilled for a fraction of a second.

And then he looked up again, this time fully meeting Rudra's gaze.

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

A sudden, cold chill ran down Rudra's spine.

He had seen Naksh handle business deals with ruthless efficiency, but this-this was different.

This wasn't just business.

This was a statement.

Rudra clenched his jaw. "What the hell happened?"

Naksh sighed, setting his pen down with an eerie sense of calm.

"He wasn't loyal." He spoke as if reciting a fact. "He tried to outsmart me. Tried to take what was mine."

A beat of silence.

And then Naksh leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the armrest, his voice indifferent.

"So I removed him."

Rudra couldn't believe what he was hearing.

His mind flashed back to all the interactions he had with Mr. Mehra-the man had been ambitious, sure, but he never thought Naksh would eliminate him this way.

Rudra cleared his throat, masking his unease. "And no one knows?"

Naksh gave him a knowing smirk. "Would we be having this conversation if they did?"

Rudra inhaled deeply, his mind whirling.

He had always known Naksh wasn't a man to be crossed, but this-this was another level.

A reminder.A warning.

Rudra was still processing what Naksh had just admitted about Mehra's brutal end, but before he could dwell on it further, Kaden walked in, flipping his phone in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Well, well, well... The world's buzzing with some breaking news."

The office was silent. Too silent.

The only sound was the faint ticking of the clock on the wall, each second stretching painfully long. Kaden leaned back on the couch, arms crossed, watching Naksh carefully. Rudra stood near the desk, waiting-both of them sensing something was about to unfold.

Naksh had gone completely still. His fingers had stopped tapping, his eyes fixated on the phone screen where Arvika and Vardhan's engagement photos flashed. The bright lights, the smiling faces-the image of her standing beside Vardhan, wearing the ring.

A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Kaden caught that. "Oh, now that's interesting," he murmured.

Naksh leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. He tilted his head as if observing a puzzle, his voice coming out smooth, low, dangerous.

"50% shares ?" He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "That old man is either too confident... or too blind."

Rudra frowned. "What do you mean?"

Naksh's smirk deepened. He flicked the phone screen off, tossing it back to Kaden. "Power is a tricky thing, Rudra. Give it to the wrong hands, and it will slip right through the fingers like sand."

Kaden narrowed his eyes. "So, you're saying Arvika can't handle it?"

Naksh stood up slowly, buttoning the single button of his coat, his movements precise, controlled. He walked to the window, looking down at the bustling city, the golden lights shimmering in the dark.

"She is not the problem," he mused. "The problem is... does Vardhan know what he has just invited into his house?"

Rudra stiffened. "You think she will turn against him?"

Naksh turned slightly, his gaze meeting Rudra's with an unreadable expression. "Do I?" he repeated, his voice deceptively light.

Rudra clenched his jaw. "Naksh, if you have something in mind, just say it."

Naksh chuckled. "Now, where's the fun in that?"

Kaden sighed dramatically. "Oh, come on. We know that look in your eyes. You're planning something."

Naksh finally turned fully to face them, his smirk still in place, but now his eyes carried something sharper, something more dangerous.

"Let's just say... things are about to get more interesting."

Rudra exhaled sharply. "You are impossible."

Naksh gave a slow shrug. "And yet, you stand here, waiting to know what I'll do next."

Kaden groaned. "Fine, keep your secrets. But at least tell us-are you going to ruin Vardhan, or do you just enjoy watching the chaos?"

Naksh's gaze darkened slightly. "Ruin? No." He stepped closer, placing a hand on the desk. "Destroy? Maybe."

The air in the room shifted.

Rudra looked away, knowing he wouldn't get any more answers from Naksh. He had seen this before-the way Naksh worked. He wouldn't reveal his move until the time was right.

But Kaden-Kaden was still watching Naksh, intrigued. And Naksh knew it.

As Rudra turned away, Naksh took a step toward Kaden and muttered something low, calculated, just enough for Kaden to hear.

"Keep an eye on Arvika."

Kaden blinked. "What?"

Naksh smirked, straightening his sleeves. "That's all you need to know for now."

Rudra turned back, narrowing his eyes. "What are you two whispering about?"

Naksh tilted his head. "Nothing that concerns you, Rudra."

Kaden grinned. "Oh, but it's going to be fun."

Naksh turned back to the window, his smirk never fading.

Because in his mind, the game had already begun.

(Well well now i think it's enough for today hints i gave in this chapter now are you guyss curious about the coming story 😉??)

Don't worry guyss i will not disappoint you I too don't want the story going slow so I am posting every day lengthy chapters and daily updates if it's possible for me now the next chapter will be post on Monday if not tomorrow !

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