10

Author's pov

The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the numerous screens in front of a man sitting in a chair. His face was partially hidden in the shadows, but his sharp eyes were fixed on the photographs spread out on the table before him.

The photos were all of Aryan Raizadaa, some of him at work, some on sets, some in public events, and a few candid ones, taken without his knowledge. The man picked up one of the pictures and smirked.

Just then, the door creaked open, and a figure entered the room cautiously. The man in the chair didn't look up; he already knew who it was. The intruder who had tried to kill Aryan. The man walked forward and bowed slightly in front of his boss.

"Boss, I did exactly what you asked me to," the intruder said.

Roy finally looked up, resting his elbows on the armrest of his chair. "And?" he asked, his tone calm but authoritative.

"I hacked into Aryan Raizada's phone," the intruder announced, placing a flash drive on the table.

A sinister smile formed on Roy's lips. "Good. Very good." He leaned forward, picking up the flash drive. He knew Aryan would never let him go unpunished if he found out about him, so he had to stay ahead. By hacking Aryan's phone, Roy could track his moves, his plans.

Plugging the drive into his laptop, Roy tapped his fingers against the table impatiently as he waited for the data to load. "So, tell me... what did you find?"

The intruder hesitated. His hands trembled slightly, and a nervous look crossed his face.

Roy narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Boss... that..." the intruder stuttered, swallowing hard.

Roy's patience thinned. "Spit it out."

The intruder took a deep breath and finally said, "Boss, I found... I found videos of Doremon."

Silence filled the room. Roy blinked once. Then again.

"...What?"

"Yes, Boss. Only videos of Doremon."

For a moment, Roy thought he had misheard. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple as if trying to make sense of what he had just heard.

"Aryan Raizada... watches Doremon?" Roy repeated slowly.

The intruder nodded hesitantly. "Yes, Boss. That's all I found. No scripts, no messages, no confidential files. Just hours and hours of Doremon episodes."

A few seconds passed before Roy suddenly burst into laughter. A deep, amused laugh echoed through the dark room.

"This is priceless," Roy said, still laughing. "The great Aryan Raizada... watching cartoons like a little kid."

The intruder forced a chuckle, unsure whether to laugh along or stay quiet.

The intruder shifted nervously. "Boss... what do we do now?"

Roy smirked, spinning his chair slightly. "Nothing... for now. But this information is too funny to waste." He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "We'll let Aryan have his fun for now."

The intruder nodded, though he still didn't understand how watching Doremon could be used as a weapon.

Roy leaned back, staring at the screen filled with blue robotic cats and childhood nostalgia. "Aryan Raizada... you just became a lot more interesting."

■

Inaya sat on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her room her only world for the past two months.

But in this silence, she had realized something.

She had fallen for him.

For Aryan.

Yet, she still pretended. Pretended to hate him. Pretended to be indifferent.

And Aryan... he knew. He always knew.

So, they played their game. Pretending. Acting.

Just then, the door swung open without a knock. Aryan barged in like he owned the place which, technically, he did.

But what made her laugh was his ridiculous stance. Hands over his cheeks, as if shielding himself.

She chuckled. "What are you doing? Afraid I'll slap you again?"

Aryan peeked through his fingers before lowering his hands. "Last time I came in, you hit me so hard I saw stars. I'm just being careful."

She rolled her eyes, amused. "Shouldn't you be in some meeting?"

"I should be," he replied, walking further into the room. His eyes landed on the screen in front of her. A murder mystery was playing.

Without a word, he grabbed the remote and switched off the TV.

"I told you not to watch these kinds of movies," he scolded. "You're a kid, Inaya. Watch something fun. Watch Doremon instead."

She shot him a glare. "I'm not a kid, Aryan."

But he ignored her and turned to face her completely. He expected her to react, maybe throw a pillow at him or, at the very least, another slap.

But she didn't.

That's when he smirked.

"Today, I'm going to free you from these cluthes," he said.

Her eyes widened. "What?"

Aryan chuckled. "Relax. I mean I'm taking you outside. Thought we could spend some time together."

Her expression hardened as she crossed her arms. "I don't want to come with you. And for the record, I don't even want to see your face." She kept her voice firm, playing her part.

Aryan raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Oh? You don't even want to see my face?" He tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping lower. "Then tell me, Inaya... what were you thinking when you were sleeping with me?"

Her breath hitched.

She had no words.

Aryan watched her, his smirk deepening. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Be ready. I'm taking you outside."

And with that, he walked out, leaving her speechless.

■

Aryan and Inaya stepped out of the house together. The air outside was cold, but neither of them noticed. It had been a long time since Inaya had been outside, yet she didn't even get a chance to take in her surroundings before a loud voice interrupted them.

A guard came running toward Aryan, his face pale and his breath heavy as he struggled to speak. "Sir! We are under attack!"

Aryan's body tensed instantly, his hand tightening around Inaya's wrist. His eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched as he asked, "What? Who is it?"

The guard barely had the energy to reply, but he managed to nod. "Sir... it's Roy."

The moment Aryan heard that name, something inside him snapped. His grip on Inaya's wrist grew stronger, and without giving her a chance to speak, he pulled her along.

"Inaya, come with me."

She struggled, trying to pull away. "Where? Aryan, tell me where we're going!"

But he didn't answer. His entire focus was on getting her out of there. The gunfire and shouts in the background didn't faze him his only concern was her safety.

"Somewhere safe," he finally muttered.

She wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come out.

It looked abandoned from the outside, but as he pushed the door open and led her inside, she realized it was a safe house.

He guided her to a couch and made her sit.

"Look, you stay here. Don't come out. No matter what you hear, don't step outside."

But Inaya wasn't someone who just sat back and obeyed. She immediately stood up. "Where are you going?"

Aryan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled a gun from his pocket, checking the bullets before shoving it back.

When he finally spoke, his voice was colder than she had ever heard before. "To kill that bastard."

Her heart dropped. "No, Aryan! You can't go!" She rushed toward him, grabbing his arm. "Please don't do this. Let's just leave. You don't have to fight him!"

Aryan turned to face her, and for the first time, she saw just how much anger was inside him. "I have to, Inaya." His voice was rough. "Roy is playing with my patience, and I won't let him get away with it anymore. I will go and finish this once and for all."

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "But what if something happens to you?" Her voice cracked as she tightened her grip on his arm.

Aryan sighed. He knew she was scared. And for a moment, his expression softened.

Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly.

"I will be back soon. Don't worry."

She felt his warmth, his strength, but it did nothing to calm the storm in her chest. She held onto him as if trying to stop him from leaving. "Just... please be safe."

He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. Then, with a small nod, he stepped away and turned toward the door.

And just like that, he was gone.

The moment the door shut behind him, Inaya felt her knees go weak. She sat back down, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress tightly.

Her heart pounded in her chest as fear consumed her.

What if something happened to him? What if he didn't come back?

The thought alone made her stomach twist painfully.

And then, suddenly, a sharp pain hit her abdomen.

She gasped, her body curling slightly as she clutched her stomach. The pain was intense, shooting through her like a knife. She let out a small cry, but she immediately bit her lip to silence herself.

Because right now, none of it mattered.

Not the pain. Not her discomfort.

The only thing that mattered was Aryan.

And she could only pray that he came back to her.

■

Roy had finally crossed the line. Attacking Aryan's people, hacking his phone, trying to gain control over his business enough was enough. This time, Aryan was going to end it.

His men were already there, waiting for him in the shadows. A group of ten, all armed, all loyal. Kabir, his most trusted man, stepped forward.

"Boss, Roy is inside. He brought at least twenty men with him. He's prepared for a war."

Aryan let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Let him be. We're ready too."

Kabir nodded in agreement. "Your call, boss. We're with you."

Aryan took a deep breath and lifted his gun. "No one leaves alive except Roy. He's mine."

His men exchanged looks, gripping their weapons tighter, ready for blood.

"Let's go," Aryan ordered.

With that, he pushed the warehouse doors open and all hell broke loose.

The moment Aryan and his men stepped inside, the sound of gunfire filled the air. Bullets tore through wooden crates, sparks flew as they hit metal, and the sharp smell of gunpowder filled Aryan's nose.

One of Roy's men immediately fired at Aryan, but he ducked just in time. The bullet missed him by inches, hitting the wall behind him.

He peeked out, aimed, and fired one clean shot. The man fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

Kabir and the others spread out, taking cover behind metal barrels and stacks of cargo, returning fire with precision. Bodies were dropping on both sides.

A man with a knife charged toward Aryan from the side. Aryan barely had time to react before the blade came swinging toward his face. He dodged at the last second, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it sharply. The knife clattered to the floor, and Aryan didn't hesitate he pulled the trigger, shooting the man in the stomach.

The man gasped, falling backward, his body twitching before he went still.

More of Roy's men rushed in. Two of them fired at Aryan, forcing him to roll behind a stack of barrels. The moment they stopped to reload, Aryan jumped out, firing two shots one to each of their chests.

Kabir's voice rang out. "Boss, more coming from the back!"

Amidst the chaos, a slow, deliberate clap echoed through the warehouse.

Aryan turned his head and spotted Roy standing at the top of a metal staircase, looking down at him with a smirk.

"The great Aryan Raizada, always causing trouble wherever he goes," Roy said, descending the steps slowly.

Aryan pointed his gun at him. "Your game is over, Roy."

Roy chuckled, shaking his head. "You still don't get it, do you?"

Before Aryan could react, Roy's remaining men surrounded him and his team, guns aimed at their heads.

Kabir cursed under his breath. "Boss, we're outnumbered."

Roy smirked. "Drop your guns. Be smart about this."

Aryan's grip on his weapon didn't loosen. He could feel the tension in the air, his men waiting for his command.

Then, without a warning he fired.

The bullet hit Roy's shoulder, making him stumble backward. His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of rage.

And just like that, the fight erupted once again.

Aryan's men took advantage of the distraction, lunging at Roy's remaining men. Gunshots rang out. Fists collided. Knives slashed. Blood splattered across the cold warehouse floor.

Aryan, ignoring the chaos around him, sprinted toward Roy, tackling him to the ground. The two men rolled across the floor, fists flying.

Roy punched Aryan in the ribs, making him grunt in pain. But Aryan didn't stop. He grabbed Roy's head and slammed it against the concrete floor.

Roy groaned but wasn't done yet. He reached into his boot, pulling out a small dagger. With a sharp movement, he slashed it across Aryan's arm, drawing blood.

Aryan hissed but barely flinched. He kicked the dagger out of Roy's hand and threw another punch at his face. Roy's head snapped to the side, blood trickling from his split lip.

Just as Aryan was about to end it a sudden explosion of smoke filled the warehouse.

The thick white smoke burned Aryan's eyes and made it impossible to see. He coughed, waving his hand in front of his face, trying to find Roy.

"Boss!" Kabir's voice came from somewhere in the smoke. "Roy's escaping!"

Aryan's heart pounded. He turned frantically, searching for him. But by the time the smoke cleared Roy was gone.

The only thing left was the faint sound of car tires screeching in the distance.

Aryan stood there, breathing heavily, his knuckles bruised, his body aching. His men had taken care of most of Roy's men, but their leader had slipped away.

Kabir ran up to him. "Boss, are you okay?"

Aryan wiped the blood from his mouth and clenched his jaw. "That bastard ran. But not for long."

Kabir sighed. "What now?"

Aryan's mind was already elsewhere. "I need to get back."

Kabir frowned. "Back? To where?"

Aryan didn't answer. His thoughts had drifted to Inaya. He had left her alone. And after tonight, there was no telling what Roy would do next.

Without another word, Aryan turned and walked out of the warehouse.

The fight wasn't over. Not yet.

■

The moment Aryan realized Roy had escaped, he didn't waste a second. His men were still trying to assess the damage, some gathering intel while others cleaned up the mess left behind at the warehouse. But Aryan had only one thought in his mind, Inaya.

He got into his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he sped through the empty roads. His heart was pounding against his chest, not because of the fight, not because Roy had slipped away, but because of the thought that Inaya was all alone.

What if Roy sent his men after her?

What if she was hurt?

What if something had happened to her while he was fighting his own battles?

The fear clawed at him as he finally reached the safe house. He pushed open the door, and before he could say a word, Inaya ran to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his body.

For a moment, Aryan just stood there, feeling her warmth, feeling the way she clung to him like she never wanted to let go. Slowly, he raised his arms and hugged her back, resting his chin on her head.

"Are you scared, princess?" he asked softly.

She pulled away just enough to look at his face, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"It felt like I was the one dying," she whispered.

Aryan swallowed hard. He could see it in her eyes the fear, the worry, the exhaustion of constantly living under the shadow of his dangerous world. And then, what she said next completely shocked him.

"Leave all this, Aryan."

His brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

She took a shaky breath, gripping his shirt like she was afraid of what she was about to say. "Leave this lifestyle. The one that scares me every day and night. We never know from which side the attack will come. I don't want to live in fear anymore. I'm scared, Aryan. Please, leave all this."

Aryan exhaled, shaking his head. "Inaya, at this moment, you're in shock. That's why you're talking like this. Just relax, okay? Everything will be fine."

She wanted to argue, to tell him that it wasn't just today's attack that scared her it was every day, every night, every moment. But she could see in his eyes that he wasn't ready to listen. So, she stayed silent.

He kissed her forehead gently. "Let's go home. You need rest."

■

Back at Home

Aryan brought her back to the house, making sure she was comfortable. He just wanted to spend time with her, to forget about the bloodshed and the war waiting for him outside.

They sat together for dinner. Inaya was barely eating, her mind still stuck on what had happened. But Aryan was trying to act normal, as if everything was fine.

Inaya took a deep breath and placed her fork down. Her fingers curled into her lap as she gathered the courage to say what had been haunting her for months.

"Aryan, I need to talk to you."

He didn't look up immediately, still chewing his food, but he noticed the change in her tone. Finally, he met her gaze. "What is it, princess?"

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I want you to leave this life... The mafia, the bloodshed, everything."

Aryan's jaw tightened slightly, but he leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "We already talked about this, Inaya. You're just shaken up because of what happened today."

"No, Aryan, it's not just today," she said firmly. "It's every day. Every single day, I wake up fearing something might happen to you. Every time you walk out that door, I wonder if you'll come back. I can't live like this anymore."

Aryan exhaled through his nose, rubbing his fingers against his temple. "You knew who I was from the beginning."

"Yes, I did. But I fell in love with Aryan, the man. Not Aryan, the mafia boss."

His eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he masked it quickly. "This is who I am, Inaya. I can't just walk away. It's not that simple."

She leaned forward, frustration evident in her eyes. "It is simple, Aryan! We can this world behind and start over, a life that isn't built on violence and revenge!"

Aryan let out a bitter chuckle. "You think it's that easy? You think I can just announce to the mafia world that I'm done, and they'll let me walk away? That's not how it works, Inaya. The moment I step back, we become targets. You become a target."

Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to back down. "Then fight for a way out, Aryan!"

His fists clenched on the table. "You don't get it, do you? There is no way out! The only way this life ends is in blood!"

Inaya flinched at his words but held her ground. "Then I don't want to be part of it."

Silence.

Aryan's breath hitched slightly, and for the first time in a long time, fear crossed his face fear of losing her.

"What are you saying?" he asked.

Her lips trembled. "I'm saying... if you choose this life, you'll lose me, Aryan."

And for the first time, he didn't have an answer.

That's when his phone rang.

He picked it up, and the moment he saw the caller ID, his jaw tightened. Roy.

Without hesitation, he answered.

"You really think you can escape from me?" Aryan's voice was cold, his grip on the phone tightening.

A mocking chuckle came from the other end. "You and your empty threats, Aryan. You think this ends here? You think you've won?"

Aryan's eyes darkened. "From generations, your family and mine have been enemies. If not me, then my next generation will end you. This is not over."

As soon as he said those words, a small clatter made him turn.

Inaya had dropped her spoon. Her hands, which had been resting under the table, slowly moved to her belly.

But before she could say anything, Aryan turned back to the phone.

"Enjoy your last days, Roy. Because next time, you won't escape."

He cut the call and tossed the phone aside. He was too consumed by anger to notice the way Inaya was looking at him, the way her fingers rested on her stomach, the way her breathing had changed.

Little did he know, tonight was the last time he would see her.

To be continued

And boom....

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