Ahana was still standing, her eyes fixed on the door from where Aarav had left. She had already changed into casual clothes, her fingers shaking slightly as she tried to calm herself, wiping the tears that brimmed her eyes.

The weight of her fate pressed down on her like an unbearable burden.

“I need to hatch a plan as soon as possible,” she thought, her mind racing. "I cannot stay here like this.

Someday, maybe soon, this monster will kill me, and no one would even know I existed."

A shiver ran down her spine, the image of a cold, merciless Aarav flashing in her mind. Despite her fear, she decided—this was her moment. She had to escape this cage, no matter what.

Washing her face and setting her expression to neutral, she stepped out of the room for breakfast.

In the dining area, Rehaan, Aarav’s younger brother, was happily munching on his food, Varun, Aarav’s best friend, was seated with a calm demeanor, and Aarav himself was cold, his face emotionless as if nothing in the world could bother him.

As soon as Rehaan spotted Ahana, his face lit up.

“Bhabhiiii! Good morning! Aayiye, join us!” he said with a playful chuckle.

Ahana gave him a soft nod, forcing a small smile.

“Good morning,” she said before sitting down opposite them. Varun smiled politely at her, and Ahana returned the gesture, though her thoughts were far from pleasant. Every movement she made felt heavy with the weight of her secret, her heart pounding with the plan forming in her mind.

Aarav’s sharp gaze flickered in her direction. He didn’t say anything, but Ahana could feel the tension boiling under his skin. The memory of their last conversation—the one that broke her spirit—burned in his mind. He chewed his food methodically, refusing to acknowledge her.

The maid served Ahana breakfast, and they all ate in silence, though the air felt thick with unspoken emotions.

Once finished, Aarav stood up, his chair scraping the floor with a grating sound.

Varun followed. "Aarav, we need to head to the office now. There’s an urgent matter to discuss," Varun said, his voice calm but firm.

Aarav gave a stiff nod and walked out without looking back at Ahana. Varun said his goodbyes to the table and followed suit. Just as they were about to leave, Rehaan hurriedly stuffed the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth and shouted,

“Bhai! Varun Bhai! Wait for me! I’m coming with you! I need to meet a friend.” He grinned at Ahana, grabbing another sandwich for the road.

“Sorry, Bhabhi, gotta go! I’ll be back by evening,” he said, flashing her a wide smile before rushing out of the mansion.

Ahana was left alone in the silence of the large dining hall. Her heart, which had been fluttering in panic moments ago, now felt lighter.

“At least Rehaan and Varun Bhai are stable people,” she thought, relieved that not everyone in this household was like Aarav. But the relief was short-lived.

She knew this was her chance. The house was empty, aside from the staff who were busy with their work. But the guards… they were the biggest problem.

In Aarav’s office, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Aarav, Varun, Raj—Aarav’s personal assistant—and Steve, their trusted man in security, sat together, their expressions serious. Rehaan had gone off to visit a friend, leaving the four of them to discuss the pressing matter at hand.

“Aarav, I received information yesterday,” Varun said, his voice as cold as his expression.

“The shipment we’re sending overseas tomorrow—our rivals have their eyes on it.”

Aarav remained silent, but a devilish smirk crept onto his lips.

Raj leaned forward. “I don’t think anyone can touch the boss’s goods while he’s in charge. They’ve tried before, and it was all in vain.”

Varun nodded but didn’t relax. “I know, Raj. But this time, it’s different. Someone inside our team has been spying on us. There’s a rat in our midst.”

The room fell into silence as the gravity of Varun’s words settled in.

Aarav’s smile widened. “No one can touch us, Varun. Don’t worry. I already know who the traitor is. All that’s left is for them to come forward.” His cold eyes turned to Raj and Steve, a silent command passing between them.

Both men understood immediately. “Understood, Boss,” they said, before leaving the room.

Varun smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Well done, Mr. Rathore.”

Back at the mansion:

Ahana was pacing her room, her mind racing. With the house practically empty, this was her golden opportunity to escape. She knew the maids and servants wouldn’t pay her much attention, but the guards outside… they were her biggest obstacle.

“If I’m going to do this,” she thought, “I need to be smart about it.”

She went to the window and peeked out cautiously. The guards were stationed at the main gates, their eyes sharp. It wouldn’t be easy to sneak past them. She needed a distraction, something that would pull their attention away, even if just for a few minutes.

Ahana glanced around her room, her mind spinning through possible ideas. Maybe if she could cause a commotion inside the house, it would draw them in, or perhaps there was a way to use the servants’ movements to her advantage.

Time was running out. She had to act before anyone returned.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Ahana made her decision. Today, she would try to escape the monster’s cage.

Ahana stood in her room, staring at the balcony. Her eyes trailed down the drop to the ground below. It was a long way down, and fear gripped her heart. “How am I supposed to escape from here?” she muttered to herself, feeling her options slip away. The balcony offered no easy escape, and her mind raced with doubt.

“If I jump, I’ll probably end up in the hospital—if I survive at all! Niche jaane se pehle Mai upar hi pohoch jaungi” She clenched her fists in frustration, cursing Aarav under her breath.

“This Aarav Rathore… he’s turned my life into a nightmare!”

But just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a spark of determination flared in her chest. She wasn’t going to give up. Not now. There had to be a way out of this suffocating cage. Then an idea came to her—rope. If she could find a rope, she could use the pipe next to the balcony to climb down safely.

“I just need to find one,” she thought, her mind scrambling for a solution. “The storeroom! There must be something in there.”

Moving quickly, she tiptoed out of her room, making sure no one was around. The mansion was eerily quiet, with only the faint sounds of the maids busying themselves with their tasks. Ahana hurried down the stairs, her pulse racing. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the storeroom, where she had previously noticed old supplies piled up.

Pushing open the creaky door, Ahana slipped inside and began her search, rummaging through boxes and shelves, her movements swift but quiet. After what felt like an eternity, she spotted what she had been hoping for—a sturdy, thick rope tucked in the corner. Relief washed over her as she grabbed it, dust clouding the air as she pulled it free.

Clutching the rope tightly, she raced back to her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Her hands trembled as she tied the rope securely to the balcony railing, checking the knot twice to make sure it would hold. Her breathing was heavy, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. But she had no choice. It was now or never.

Glancing down at the ground one last time, she took a deep breath and whispered a prayer under her breath. Slowly, carefully, she climbed over the balcony, gripping the rope tightly as she used the pipe beside it for balance.

The rope scraped against her palms, but she didn’t care—she was too focused on getting down without being caught.

It took every ounce of her strength to keep herself steady, but after a tense struggle, her feet finally touched the soft grass of the lawn. Her legs wobbled, a mixture of fear and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm her, but she couldn’t afford to rest. Not yet.

She crouched down, scanning her surroundings. The gate was in sight, but two guards stood watch, their eyes sharp as ever. She bit her lip, her mind racing. She needed a distraction. Something to pull their attention away from her, even for just a few minutes. An idea suddenly formed in her mind.

Straightening her clothes and calming her breathing, she emerged from the shadows, putting on her best act.

“Suniye! Aap log!” she shouted,

waving her arms as she approached the guards.

The two men instantly stiffened, turning toward her in alarm.

“What happened, Lady Boss?” one of them asked, stepping forward with concern etched on his face.

Ahana let her voice quiver, feigning terror.

“M-Mere kamre mein koi hai! Someone’s in my room! I-I’m scared... Please, go check. I think someone’s trying to harm me!”

The guards exchanged a quick glance, confused. How could anyone have gotten into her room? But seeing the fear on Ahana’s face convinced them. They nodded, heading inside to investigate.

“Don’t worry, we’ll check it out,” one of them assured her.

As soon as they disappeared into the mansion, Ahana's heart leaped. She didn’t have much time. Without a second thought, she bolted toward the gate, the large iron structure looming before her. Her hands fumbled with the latch for a second, but it gave way, and she pushed it open. The cool breeze hit her face as she slipped out, leaving the mansion behind.

Once outside, she didn’t stop running. The road stretched out before her like an endless path to freedom, and she pushed herself forward, her feet hitting the ground hard and fast. She had no plan, no destination—only the instinct to get as far away from Aarav Rathore as possible.

The further she ran, the more her panic subsided, replaced by a sense of relief. The mansion, the guards, Aarav’s looming presence—they all began to fade into the distance. But fear still gnawed at the back of her mind. He would come looking for her. That much she knew.

As she rounded a bend in the road, her breath coming in ragged gasps, she realized that she couldn’t run forever.

She needed a place to hide. Somewhere Aarav’s men wouldn’t think to look. Her eyes scanned the area—a cluster of trees to her left, an old abandoned building up ahead, and further down, the faint glimmer of city lights. She had to decide quickly.

With her pulse still racing, Ahana ducked into the cover of the trees, hoping the thick foliage would buy her time to think. She leaned against the trunk of a large tree, catching her breath, her body trembling from the adrenaline. She was free, but only for now. Aarav would soon realize she was gone, and when he did, he wouldn’t stop until he found her.

“I need to stay ahead of him,” she whispered to herself, steeling her resolve. She wiped the sweat from her brow and forced her body to move again. “I won’t go back. Not ever.”

As she pressed forward, the sun began to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the road ahead. Ahana knew her fight for freedom had only just begun.

Ends..

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