Trap

Author’s POV

Days turned into weeks, and with each passing moment, Vivan’s strength returned. The bruises faded, the stitches healed, but the fire in his eyes only grew more intense. The man who once tried to kill his father was about to taste defeat—slow, public, and irreversible.

Today was that day.

The morning sun casts a golden glow over the towering Raichand Industries headquarters. Inside the sleek conference hall, a crowd of industry leaders, investors, and media representatives buzzed with curiosity. Today was the big reveal of a high-profile project led by Ahuja Enterprises—one that had attracted massive market attention and even more significant investments.

At precisely 10 a.m., Vivan Raichand entered the room. His presence commanded immediate silence. Dressed in a sharp charcoal suit, he walked toward the stage with effortless confidence, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Rajat Ahuja, who sat in the front row, smug and self-assured. Raghav stood beside his father, mirroring the same arrogance.

Vivan reached the podium, adjusted the mic, and greeted the audience with a composed smile. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us today. As you're all aware, today's event was set to discuss the much-anticipated collaboration between Raichand Industries and Ahuja Enterprises for their upcoming mega project."

He paused, letting his words sink in. The crowd shifted in anticipation. Ahuja leaned back, a victorious smirk on his face.

"However," Vivan continued, his tone hardening, "after a thorough internal review, I don’t think my company will collaborate with Ahuja Enterprises for this or any future project."

The room erupted into murmurs of shock. Cameras zoomed in, journalists scrambled to take notes, and investors exchanged panicked glances.

Mr. Ahuja shot up from his seat. "What nonsense is this, Vivan?" he demanded, voice rising above the noise.

Vivan's lips twitched into a cold smile. "Oh, it's far from nonsense, Mr. Ahuja. In fact, let me show you why."

The lights dimmed, and the massive screen behind him lit up with spreadsheets, transaction logs, and incriminating documents. The room fell silent as the details became clear: fabricated profits, embezzled funds, and siphoned-off investments under the guise of this very project.

"As you can see," Vivan spoke, turning to the crowd, "Ahuja Enterprises took a significant sum from the market, promising groundbreaking innovations. However, these funds were never used for the project. Instead, they were funneled into offshore accounts and personal assets."

Gasps echoed throughout the hall. Investors began whispering urgently to each other.

"This is slander!" Mr. Ahuja bellowed. "You're trying to ruin me!"

Vivan arched a brow. "Ruin you? No, Mr. Ahuja. You ruined yourself. I simply connected the dots." He gestured toward the documents on the screen. "Every single record here has been verified by independent auditors. Your deception ran deep, but not deep enough."

Ahuja lunged forward. "You're lying!"

The sound of footsteps interrupted his outburst. The doors swung open, and uniformed officers walked in, led by a stern-faced inspector.

"Mr. Rajat Ahuja," the inspector announced, holding up an arrest warrant. "You are under arrest for financial fraud, corporate malpractice, and embezzlement of public funds."

"No! This can't be happening!" Ahuja's voice cracked as handcuffs clicked around his wrists. He turned to the investors. "This is all a conspiracy! Don’t believe him!"

The officers ignored his protests and began escorting him away.

Raghav remained frozen, his face pale as cameras captured every second of his father's downfall. His eyes locked on Vivan, who stood with his hands clasped, watching the scene unfold.

As Ahuja was dragged past Vivan, the older man hissed, "You’ll pay for this."

Vivan leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You already did. And the market’s collecting today."

With that, he turned back to the mic. "Ladies and gentlemen," he addressed the shaken audience, "Raichand Industries remains committed to ethical business practices and safeguarding investor trust. We hope today's exposure serves as a reminder that no one—no matter how powerful—is above accountability."

The room erupted into applause, though most were still reeling from the revelations.

As Vivan stepped off the stage, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. An unknown number. He answered, keeping his voice low. "Who is this?"

A distorted voice came through. "Enjoy your victory, Mr. Raichand. But remember...the game has just begun."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Vivan with a new realization.

The war wasn’t over.

[Court Day]

The courtroom buzzed with hushed conversations as people settled into their seats. The air was thick with anticipation; this wasn’t just any corporate fraud case—it was the trial of Rajat Ahuja, a once-celebrated businessman, now exposed for large-scale embezzlement. And the man sitting on the prosecution's side, Vivan Raichand, was the one responsible for his fall.

Vivan sat with a calm, almost bored expression, one arm draped casually along the back of the bench. His charcoal suit was crisp, his watch glinting under the dim lighting. Beside him, Advika shifted in her seat, her fingers tangled together in her lap. Her anxiety was evident, though she tried to mask it behind a neutral expression.

"I told you to stay home," Vivan muttered without turning his head.

"And I told you," she whispered back, "that I’m not leaving your side."

Vivan sighed but said nothing. On her other side, Agam sat with an alert, wary expression, occasionally glancing at the opposing side.

Across the aisle, Raghav lounged with a cocky smirk, dressed impeccably in a navy-blue suit. His confidence was palpable as he exchanged nods with his legal team. When his gaze landed on Advika, he gave her a knowing, taunting smirk.

Advika’s jaw tightened as guilt twisted in her stomach. She handed over the proof Raghav demanded—the supposed evidence that could sabotage Vivan’s case. And now, Raghav was sitting there, fully confident in his impending victory.

Vivan noticed the tension in her posture but didn't comment. He tapped his thumb against his knee, waiting for the real show to begin.

The judge entered, and everyone stood. The proceedings began with the prosecution presenting their case. Vivan’s legal team detailed the fraudulent transactions, the forged documents, and the offshore accounts linked to Ahuja Enterprises. The evidence was solid, but then came the defense’s turn.

Raghav's lead attorney stood with a smug smile. "Your Honor, we have irrefutable proof that these allegations are false and that the evidence presented by the prosecution is fabricated."

Gasps rippled through the courtroom. Advika’s breath caught in her throat as Raghav shot her a victorious glance.

The defense began projecting documents—ones Advika had secretly passed to Raghav—showing contradictory figures and transactions that supposedly exonerated Ahuja Enterprises. The lawyer went on for twenty minutes, presenting statement after statement that painted Vivan's case as weak, manipulative, and baseless.

Raghav sat back, arms crossed, convinced the victory was his. He looked towards advika who was sitting lowering her head thought he is feeling guilty and he smirked looked at her condition

"Raghav’s lawyer, Mr. Kapoor, stood. "Your Honor, the evidence clearly shows that Raichand Enterprises engaged in fraudulent activities to manipulate the market and sabotage Ahuja Group’s reputation. We have financial statements, internal emails, and transaction records to support our claim."

He handed over a thick file to the judge and directed the projector toward the screen. "As you can see, these transactions align with accounts linked to Raichand Enterprises."

The judge reviewed the documents while murmurs spread through the courtroom. Vivan shifted in his seat, confused. He had never seen those records before.

Defense Lawyer (Mr. Mehra): "Your Honor, the defense believes these documents are fabricated. The company has no such transactions in its records."

Judge: "Do you have proof to support this claim?"

Mr. Mehra looked toward Agam, who gave a slight nod. "Yes, Your Honor. Permission to present counter-evidence."

The judge allowed it.

Agam walked toward the witness stand and inserted a USB into the court’s display system. Footage from a hidden camera appeared on the screen. The video showed Raghav’s men entering a bank late at night, accessing secure records, and manipulating the transactions.

Gasps echoed through the courtroom.

Defense Lawyer: "These men were hired by Mr. Raghav Ahuja. We also have forensic reports confirming these documents were fabricated using his personal laptop."

Prosecution Lawyer: "Objection! This footage could be doctored."

Judge: "Objection overruled. The evidence will be examined."

"What...what is this?!" Raghav's lawyer stammered.

Mr.mehra turned to the judge, his voice steady. "Your Honor, the defense's documents were digitally manipulated. We have proof from cybersecurity experts who tracked the software's origin directly to Ahuja Enterprises."

The judge leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. "Is this verified?"

Mr.mehra handed a folder to the bailiff. "All verified, including timestamps of when these files were altered.

The defense team scrambled, whispering furiously among themselves. Raghav’s face is drained of color. His gaze darted to Advika, confusion. Advika met his stare...and winked, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

Realization dawned on Raghav: she had tricked him. The documents she handed over were doctored from the beginning, designed to trap him.

"You...you played me," he mouthed.

Her smirk deepened.

The judge banged the gavel. "Order in the courtroom! The court finds the evidence presented by the defense to be falsified and holds Ahuja Enterprises and its representatives accountable for attempting to obstruct justice. Mr. Rajat Ahuja is hereby convicted of financial fraud. Mr. Raghav Ahuja will be taken into custody for presenting falsified evidence and participating in criminal conspiracy."

The officers moved in swiftly.

"No!" Raghav jumped to his feet. "This isn't over! You’ll regret this!"

Raghav lunged toward her, but the officers restrained him.

As he was dragged away, Agam returned to his seat. He leaned toward Advika and whispered, "You played well bhabhi?"

She bit her lip. "Thanks for playing along."

Agam chuckled softly.

The judge declared the session adjourned. As the crowd dispersed, Advika finally exhaled the tension she'd been holding.

Vivan offered her his hand. "Let’s go home, Mrs. Raichand."

She took it, her heart lighter than it had been in days.

The war wasn't over yet—but today, they won a crucial battle. She has now decided to tell him the whole truth.

The prison cell was dimly lit, the walls suffocating with silence. Raghav sat on the cold bench, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his knee. His eyes, sharp and calculating, fixated on the rusted door.

A guard appeared, unlocking the door with a metallic screech. A tall figure stepped inside, face obscured by shadows. No greetings, no formalities. Just the crackling tension of shared understanding.

Raghav didn’t move. He didn’t need to. The man already knew everything—about Advika, her past, her motives, and the revenge she sought.

Raghav leaned forward slightly, the faintest smirk curling his lips. The man handed him a folded piece of paper. Raghav unfolded it, reading the single line written in bold, sharp letters:

"By tonight, it will all be over."

Raghav's grin widened.

No words were exchanged. None were needed. The man turned and left as silently as he had come.

And Raghav leaned back, exhaling slowly.

The storm was coming. And this time, Advika Raichand wouldn’t survive it.

~Taash ka patton ki,

Yeh aakhri baazi hai!!

Ab tak toh inka pyaaraa bach gya,

Par yeh toofan nahi aandhi hai~

Chapter updated

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