chapter 22

Pari's POVI know.I know that soon, I would witness the aftermath of the memories I was about to unravel before him. Vikrant wasn't the kind of man to sit and watch the show unfold. He was never a bystander. He was the storm that erased everything in its path.Staying with him for almost two years, I knew him well enough to claim one thing with certainty that his most prized possession was not his wealth, not his empire, not his power. It was control. Control over situations, control over outcomes, and most importantly, control over the people he cared about.And I was one of them.The moment he realized he had lost control over a part of my life, over something that had hurt me without his knowledge, he would be ruthless. He would be unforgiving. Not to me, but to the world that dared to leave its scars on me.I felt the weight of his stare, sharp and demanding, as if he could already see the storm brewing in my mind. My fingers curled into fists on my lap. My heartbeat was erratic, loud in my ears, yet my voice came out in a whisper, fragile and raw."It happened when you were away for two months..."I let out a shaky breath, my mind dragging me back to the place I never wanted to return to. The dimly lit corridors, the suffocating air, the scent of expensive cologne mixed with something vile."There was a man," I continued, my throat tightening around the words. "He envied you. Every man did. But he... he was different..."And just like this I let myself slip into the deep rooted memories which were capable of tearing me apart.The brothel had always been a place of power struggles, silent wars fought in dimly lit corridors where the currency wasn't just money, it was control, dominance, and submission. Vikrant had defied every rule of that world, bending it to his will, making it clear that I was his and his alone. Unlike the other men who came and went, indulging in their pleasures without restraint, Vikrant had marked his territory without ever laying a finger on me. And that, more than anything, had made him a target.The men who frequented the brothel never liked him. He was an outsider, a threat to their unchecked authority. He did not grovel for the owner's favor, nor did he lower himself to play by their unspoken rules. He had power, not just in wealth, but in presence. And that power made them envious. Furious. RestlessI had always known that resentment simmered beneath their forced smiles, but as long as Vikrant was there, they couldn't touch me. They wouldn't dare. Even in his absence, his name alone had been a shield, keeping wandering hands at bay.But two months was too long.Two months was enough for that hatred to evolve into something darker, something more dangerous. It was enough for whispers to turn into plans, for desire to turn into obsession, for the need to hurt him to become the need to break me.And then, there was him.He wasn't like the rest. The others resented Vikrant, but he hated him. He wasn't satisfied with just watching from the sidelines while Vikrant commanded respect that wasn't given to men like him. He wanted to take something from him, something precious. And there was only one thing Vikrant had ever claimed as his.Me.I was the easy target.That night was the coldest I had ever felt, not just in the air around me but deep in my bones, in the pit of my stomach where fear curled like a serpent.Like every other night, I had finished my work, exhausted yet relieved that the day was finally over. I was preparing to sleep when Mohini Mausi entered my room.At first, I thought it was just another routine conversation, perhaps about the accounts or the chores left undone. But the moment I saw her expression, I knew something was wrong."Be ready," she said, her voice eerily calm. "Someone has paid a huge amount to be with you tonight."My entire body went rigid.She couldn't be serious. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear my own voice as I whispered, "What?"She didn't waver, didn't even look at me with sympathy. As if she were merely delivering a message and not shattering my world.Panic clawed up my throat. My eyes widened in horror. "Are you crazy? Do you even care about your life?" My voice shook, disbelief crashing over me like a tidal wave. "Sahab made it clear-"Mausi raised her hand, signalling me to stop and I did."Screw that," she scoffed. "Your Sahab isn't going to find out. Just spend one night with him, and no one will ever know."I shook my head firmly. "No. I won't."Her face twisted with irritation."Hey!"I flinched as she suddenly raised her voice, her hand gripping my hair in a tight fist. A sharp yelp escaped my lips as pain shot through my scalp."You think too highly of yourself, don't you?" she sneered, yanking my hair harder. "Why should he be the only one to enjoy your body? Other customers should get their share too."She shoved me back, and I stumbled, my eyes burning with unshed tears."Sahab will be furious, Mausi," I warned, my voice shaking. "Don't provoke him."" Chal chal. Taiyar reh."( Leave it. Be ready.)She waved her hand carelessly and left, her footsteps fading into the distance.My heart dropped. My legs felt frozen to the spot, unable to move, unable to comprehend what had just happened.Was this really going to happen?Would my untouched body be tainted tonight?A lump formed in my throat, and my fingers curled into fists at my sides. My entire life had been spent in helplessness, but this was different. This was a violation waiting to happen, a nightmare from which I couldn't wake up.Did I even have the right to refuse?Would anyone listen if I screamed?The walls of this place had absorbed enough cries to know they didn't matter.I hated how powerless I was. How weak. How insignificant. How easily I could be pushed around just because I lacked strength, just because I had no control over my own fate.If only he was here.My Sahab.They all assumed he kept me for his pleasure, that he treated me like his possession. But none of them knew the truth. None of them saw the way he protected me.Vikrant never took anything from me.He never touched me the way they all thought he did.He never forced me, never demanded anything beyond my will.He kept me safe. He kept me hidden like a precious treasure, untouched by the filth of this place.But was that all about to change tonight?Would this be the night I lost the protection he had given me?A shiver ran down my spine, dread wrapping around me like an iron chain.I didn't want to think about it.I didn't want to believe it.And yet, deep inside, fear whispered its cruel truth- I had no escape.Before my own thoughts could consume me, the door swung open with a creak, and my gaze snapped toward the figure standing in the dimly lit doorway.A middle-aged man.The smirk on his face sent a wave of nausea rolling through me. His stomach bulged over the waistband of his too-tight pants, straining against the fabric as he shifted. A cigarette dangling between his fingers, its smoke curling lazily in the air, mixing with the suffocating scent of sweat and cheap cologne.Disgust.That was all I could feel. A deep, visceral repulsion that made my skin crawl.My breath hitched as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a deliberate click.This was it.This was the moment I had feared.I felt sick. My stomach twisted painfully, and I fought the urge to recoil, to run, not that I had anywhere to go. My fingers clenched around the fabric of my dress, knuckles turning white.Did all the other girls feel this way?Had they, too, stood frozen in terror when a stranger walked through that door, knowing what was expected of them?How did they bear it?How did they survive this over and over again?How did they get used to it?Because I knew, with every shattering piece of my soul, that if he so much as laid a finger on me, I might not survive the night.My words died in my throat. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I instinctively stepped backward, making a feeble attempt to shield myself from him. But what protection did distance offer in a place like this?His thick, grating voice shattered the silence."Finally found you."His eyes roamed over me, slow and deliberate, stripping me bare without ever laying a finger on me. I felt utterly naked beneath his gaze, humiliation seeping into my skin like poison.I darted my gaze around the room, searching for an escape. But how foolish I was. There was nowhere to go, no door that hadn't already been locked, no window that offered freedom.He chuckled, a cruel sound that made my stomach twist."Let's see what that man sees in you that makes him so unwilling to share."My heart clenched. My breathing grew erratic. The mere mention of him made my desperation surge. My Sahab.. if only he were here. If only he would show up, I would do anything, anything he asked of me.If only I had his phone number.Tears pricked my eyes, blurring my vision as the man stepped closer. Each movement felt agonizingly slow, each second dragging me further into my nightmare.Then, he reached out.His fingers brushed against my cheek.I recoiled violently, yanking his hand away with a force I didn't know I had. A wave of revulsion crashed over me, my skin burning where he had dared to touch.His expression darkened. His jaw clenched, and I saw the shift, the flicker of anger in his eyes at the rejection he hadn't expected.Then, without warning-SMACK!The sound of his palm meeting my face echoed in the room.Pain exploded across my cheek, white-hot and searing."Ahh!" I cried out, stumbling as his fingers tangled into my hair, yanking me down with merciless strength.I hit the ground hard, my knees scraping against the rough floor."Aren't you too arrogant for a girl in no position to refuse?" His voice dripped with venom. He crouched over me, his shadow swallowing me whole. "I've paid for you, bitch. Be a good girl and let me do my work, otherwise-"A sharp cry tore from my throat."AHHHHH!"Agony shot through me as he crushed my ankle beneath his shoe, grinding it down with deliberate cruelty. My back arched in unbearable pain, hands clawing at the floor as I tried to push him away, but he didn't budge.He leaned in, his breath foul against my skin."Otherwise, I'll ruin you so thoroughly, you'll never forget."I begged, but he didn't stop. My pleas fell on deaf ears as fear clouded my mind, choking me like a vice.With brute force, he grabbed me like a sack of grain and threw me onto the bed. My body bounced against the mattress, and before I could even gather my breath, he was on top of me.I struggled. I kicked, I scratched, my nails digging into the rough skin of his hands as he pinned my wrists above my head. But my resistance was futile. His strength overpowered mine effortlessly, and the more I fought, the more excited he seemed to get.Then he dipped his face into the crook of my neck.His damp breath against my skin sent violent shivers down my spine. His lips latched onto my flesh, sucking, biting, branding me like some wild animal marking its prey.I sobbed. The tears wouldn't stop, but neither did he.And then, I heard it.The metallic clink of his belt buckle came undone.Panic surged through me like wildfire. My mind screamed. My body thrashed. My heart pounded so hard I thought it would explode.No. No. No.The moment his hand moved to his pants, I summoned every ounce of strength I had left.With a desperate scream, I lifted my knee and struck him hard, right where it would hurt the most.A strangled groan tore from his throat as he crumpled, his grip on me finally loosening.I didn't waste a second.Scrambling off the bed, I staggered toward the door, my legs weak and trembling. I turned, breathing heavily, and met his furious gaze as he clutched himself in pain."I DON'T WANT THIS!"My voice shook, but my resolve didn't.His jaw clenched. Rage twisted his face as he pushed himself up.He was coming for me.But I didn't wait.Before he could catch me-I ran.I should have run. I should have escaped the brothel when I had the chance.But the guards were merciless and unyielding. They blocked my way. They didn't listen to my desperate pleas, didn't care about the terror in my eyes. With cruel hands, they shoved me back inside, into the dimly lit living room.My breath came in ragged gasps. I ran like a madwoman, searching frantically for a place to hide.Strangely, for the next ten minutes, I didn't see him. Was he gone? Had he given up? Or was this just the calm before the storm?I knocked on doors, pleading for help, but no one answered. Some girls were asleep, oblivious to my silent screams. Others were lost in their own misery, too occupied with customers to care. Mausi, heartless as ever was in her own world, unconcerned by my suffering.Then I heard him.His voice slithered through the air like a death sentence, coming from the kitchen. My heart pounded wildly as I ducked behind the couch, my hand clamped tightly over my mouth to stifle any sound.He was speaking to a girl. I couldn't hear her response, only his impatient tone. Then, his attention shifted."Where is she?"His question was directed at the guards. My body tensed as I heard their reply, followed by the sound of his footsteps growing closer.I squeezed my eyes shut. Maybe if I stayed still, if I prayed hard enough, he wouldn't find me.But fate was never on my side.I didn't even realize when my pathetic hiding place was exposed.A dark shadow loomed over me.He had found me.He towered above me, his face a twisted mask of satisfaction.No one else was in the living room. The girl in the kitchen had fallen silent.And in that moment, as his cruel gaze bore into mine, I knew-There was no escape.The girl—it was her. The one who hated me the most. The one who had always looked at me with envy and disdain.And now, she had been given money.Money to betray me.The man's grip tightened in my hair as he dragged me across the floor. My cries fell on deaf ears. Neither he nor the girl flinched at my pain.But when I sank my teeth into his wrist, I finally got a reaction. He howled in anger, yanking his hand away.For a fleeting moment, I thought I had a chance.I scrambled to my feet, ready to run-But then, pain.A brutal, merciless kick landed on my back, knocking the air from my lungs. I collapsed forward, my stomach twisting in agony as the force of the blow spread through my entire body.He spat at me.He cursed me.He threw every vile, degrading insult he could muster, but none of it mattered. None of it compared to what I saw next.The girl. the one who had always loathed me, held a hot iron chimta (metal tong) in her hand. The metal glowed a furious red, its heat palpable even from a distance.And then, with a wicked smirk, she passed it to him."You've got too much strength in those legs, don't you? Let me break them for you."His voice dripped with venom, his grip tightening as he raised the burning metal.Terror gripped my heart.This was it.There was no one to save me.The girl moved quickly, her fingers like claws as she grabbed my arms from behind, locking me in place.I thrashed, twisted, kicked but she was stronger, or maybe I was just too weak, too drained from the struggle. My body trembled, fear coursing through my veins like poison.And then, he crouched in front of me.A sadistic grin stretched across his face as he held up the scorching iron chimta, its tip glowing like the embers of hell itself. My breath hitched. My body stiffened in sheer terror."Let's see how much fight is left in you after this," he sneered."No, no, please!" My voice broke, my vision blurred with tears. "Don't-"The moment the burning metal touched my right calf, the world shattered.A blood-curdling scream tore from my throat as agony ripped through me, white-hot and unbearable. It was like fire had crawled beneath my skin, consuming every nerve, every inch of flesh it touched.I kicked, convulsed, pleaded, anything to escape the searing pain but the girl held me down with a cruel determination. My nails dug into her arms, but she didn't budge.The stench of burning flesh filled my nostrils, thick and nauseating. My skin sizzled beneath the heat, and my screams grew hoarse. It was endless. Torturous.He pressed it harder.I thought I was going to die.And maybe, in that moment, I wished I would.Pari's POV ends...Vikrant's heart sank. She had narrated every horrifying detail without shedding a single tear, as if she was forcing herself to stay strong, to not break. But he saw the tremble in her hands, the stiffness in her posture, the way her lips parted slightly as if she was struggling to breathe.He was shocked. No—shattered.A storm raged inside him, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. The weight of her words crushed him, suffocating him. He could barely keep his voice steady, but when he finally spoke, it still faltered."T... then?"His own voice betrayed him.She swallowed, trying to ease the dryness in her throat."They... came. Mausi and the others. She was terrified of what would happen if you found out. She ordered the guards to throw the man out. I was sent to the hospital, and when I returned, she threatened me never to breathe a word of this to you. In exchange, she promised that no man would be sent to me again."Her voice wavered, and Vikrant noticed the way she bit the inside of her lower lip, a desperate attempt to hold herself together. But he knew. She was about to break.Before she could react, he shot up from his place and she wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, clinging to him as if afraid she might fall apart.Without hesitation, he placed his hand on her head, feeling her tremble violently against him. And then, she shattered.Heart-wrenching sobs tore from her throat, her body shaking with each cry she had suppressed for so long. His jaw clenched, his hold tightening around her. He wanted to say something but no words would be enough to erase the pain she had endured.So he just held her, letting her cry, vowing silently that the world would burn for what had been done to her.Vikrant stood still, his arms locked around her fragile frame, absorbing the tremors that wracked her body. Her sobs were muffled, but he felt every shudder, every gasp for breath. His heart clenched painfully. He had never seen her this vulnerable, not even on the day he took her away from that wretched place.He ran his fingers through her hair, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of her head. "Pari..." His voice was hoarse, strained with the effort to keep his fury contained.He wanted to ask her why she never told him, why she suffered in silence when he would have torn the world apart for her. But none of it mattered now. He had failed her. He hadn't been there when she needed him the most.Pari tightened her hold on his shirt, fisting the fabric as if afraid he'd vanish if she let go. "I tried to forget," she whispered, her voice breaking between hiccups."I buried it deep, thinking it wouldn't matter be.. be..because... because I wasn't touched in the worst way. But it did matter. It br.. broke me."A sharp exhale left him, his grip on her tightening. Not touched in the worst way? Did she really think that made her pain any less significant? That her suffering was any less horrifying? His mind replayed every word she had spoken, every detail that had clawed at his soul like a merciless storm.Pari's words replayed in his mind, each syllable fueling the inferno in his chest. I buried it deep... I wasn't touched in the worst way... But it did matter. It broke me.His breath came slow and measured, but his eyes burned with the kind of rage that could set the world on fire. He had built his empire with ruthless precision, had controlled every aspect of his life with an iron grip except for the one thing that mattered most.Pari.She had suffered while he was away. She had been burned, beaten, violated in ways words could never fully capture. And he had not been there to stop it.But he would make up for it now.There would be no quick deaths. No simple punishments.For every tear Pari had shed, they would bleed.For every moment she had felt powerless, they would beg for their own end.For every scar they had left on her, he would carve their agony into their very souls.The storm outside raged on, but it was nothing compared to the darkness that had taken root in Vikrant's heart.This wasn't just revenge.This was retribution." Pari.."He called her name once he realised that she was calm enough to answer." Hmm."She hummed dryly." Kaun tha vo aadmi."( Who was that man?)Her movement stilled and she waited for a few seconds before slowly breaking the hug. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand then said while looking up at his face." Sarthak."And his lips curved into a small sinister smirk.Sarthak was about to wish he had never been born.His family would mourn his death- fate.It was not just a wish, it was a certainty. And no one, no one, would stand in his way.⋆༺✷༻⋆Read more chapters in scrollstack as early access