At Aarav's Office:

Author's POV:

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Aarav's modern office.

The walls were adorned with art pieces that exuded power and success, mirroring the man himself.

Aarav sat at his desk, engrossed in a report, his brow furrowed in concentration. Across from him, Varun shifted in his seat, sensing the tension in the air.

After a moment of silence, Varun finally broke the stillness.

“Do you really like Ahana? Do you have any feelings for her?” His voice was steady but laced with concern.

Aarav’s hand froze over the file, and he slowly looked up, his expression cold and unreadable.

“I do not have feelings for anyone. I only love my work.” The finality of his words echoed in the room, leaving Varun feeling unsettled.

“Then please, just release her,” Varun urged, leaning forward, his voice earnest.

“Don’t use her for your stupid motives. You can achieve your goals without dragging her into this mess.”

Aarav clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

“That’s my problem and my agenda, Varun. Once I decide, I will get what I want by hook or by crook.” His tone left no room for further discussion, a stark reminder of the lengths he was willing to go to fulfill his ambitions.

Varun sighed, the weight of his friend’s stubbornness heavy in the air.

“I just don’t want to see you hurt her or yourself in the process,” he said quietly, knowing that Aarav’s resolve was unyielding.

Just then,

Aarav’s phone rang, cutting through the tension like a knife. Both men exchanged wary glances; it was his bodyguard calling. Aarav’s expression shifted as he answered, the color draining from his face as he listened. Varun felt the air thicken with anxiety.

“Let’s go,” Aarav said, his voice low and dangerous, a storm brewing behind his calm facade.

Meanwhile, Ahana:

As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting a golden hue over the city, Ahana ran with frantic urgency. Her heart raced as she navigated through the crowded streets, desperation propelling her forward. She needed to escape the suffocating grasp of her circumstances.

Spying a temple in the distance, she made her way toward it, her instincts guiding her. The temple stood as a beacon of hope amidst her chaos.

Inside, she approached an elderly shopkeeper who was arranging offerings. The woman looked up, her eyes filled with concern.

“You look troubled, dear. What brings you here?”

“Please,” Ahana gasped, her voice trembling. “I need some water.”

The woman handed her a small cup, noticing the fear in Ahana’s eyes.

“Are you alright?” the shopkeeper asked, her voice gentle.

“You seem scared.”

Ahana managed a grateful smile, the kindness of a stranger warming her heart.

“I’m… I’m being followed. Is there a bus that can take me somewhere? I don’t want to stay here.”

The shopkeeper shook her head. “Today, no buses are running. You should stay in the temple or come home with me for the night. It’s safer.”

Ahana hesitated, weighing her options.

“Thank you, but I think I’ll stay here.” She stepped into the tranquil space of the temple, the cool air wrapping around her like a comforting embrace.

Standing before the deity, she closed her eyes and whispered,

“Bhagwan ji, why does this happen to me? I need to escape this place and not return. Please, show me a way.”

She sank to the ground beside a pillar, staring up at the sky as clouds drifted by. Thoughts raced through her mind,, her phone was left behind, she had no money, and the reality of her situation settled heavily on her shoulders.

“Mai yaha se dour k kitna hi bhangungi,” she thought, frustration welling up inside her.

She absentmindedly opened her Mangal Sutra, a symbol of her forced marriage, and tucked it into her jeans pocket. Memories of betrayal by Shiv and the impending wedding to Aarav flooded her thoughts.

“Why was she always caught in such impossible situations?”

At Aarav's Mansion:

Aarav and Varun arrived at the mansion, the tension palpable. The grand entrance loomed before them, a stark reminder of Aarav’s power and control.

Inside, Rehan ,his brother and Raj, Aarav’s trusted personal assistant, awaited them, their expressions mirroring the unease in the air.

“Gather everyone—guards, maids, servants,” Aarav commanded, his voice sharp as a knife, slicing through the murmurs of concern in the room.

The servants trembled at his tone, fear evident in their wide eyes. They had seen Aarav’s wrath before, and they knew better than to provoke him. The bodyguards lowered their heads, their posture submissive, knowing the storm that was about to break.

Aarav summoned the guard who had reported Ahana’s absence, his tone icy. “How could she elope from here with this much security?”

Varun interjected, disbelief evident in his voice.

“She’s been under constant surveillance. How did she manage to escape?”

Rehan and Raj exchanged worried glances, the confusion evident on their faces. Aarav’s expression remained unreadable, but inside, his mind raced with possibilities. What could Ahana have done to slip through their fingers?

One maid finally spoke, her voice quaking with fear.

“Saab, madam toh balcony se niche utarke bhaggayi.”

The revelation stunned Varun, Rehan, and Raj into silence, while Aarav stood motionless, his expression steely. A mix of anger and a strange sense of loss began to brew inside him.

“Check the operating room for CCTV footage. Half of you check the roads,” Aarav ordered, already moving toward his laptop, his mind focused on tracking Ahana.

As he analyzed the footage, every moment of Ahana’s escape unfolded before his eyes. The video showed her agility and determination, a stark contrast to the helplessness she felt just moments before.

Aarav’s jaw clenched tighter with each scene, frustration boiling beneath his calm exterior.

“Why did you have to run, Ahana?” he thought, grappling with an emotion he couldn't fully grasp.

Did Aarav truly care for her, or was this merely a matter of control?

Rehan and Raj exchanged glances filled with concern, but Varun remained still, contemplating the repercussions of Ahana’s decision.

Would this act of defiance push Aarav further down a dark path?

Meanwhile, at Shiv's House:

In stark contrast to the chaos at Aarav's mansion, Shiv lounged on his sofa, exuding a sense of control. The opulence of his surroundings seemed to amplify the smug satisfaction on his face. His assistant, Dev, entered the room, a sense of urgency in his steps.

“Sir, we have a situation,” Dev said, his voice tense. “Ahana mam,, has eloped.”

A devilish smile crept across Shiv's face, and he laughed darkly, the sound echoing in the lavish room. The chaos unfolding in Aarav's life filled him with glee.

“Finally, a chance to take control of the situation.”

Dev watched in confusion, shocked at his boss's reaction.

“Sir, this could escalate. Aarav Rathore will not take this lightly.”

Shiv waved his hand dismissively.

“Let him search. He’s lost her, and now she’s mine.” An evil grin spread across his face, filled with ambition and malice.

“Go and get ready. We need to find her first, before Aarav does.”

Dev nodded, apprehension gripping his heart. He could sense the impending storm, and it frightened him. “What do you plan to do once you find her?” he asked,,

Shiv with a evil smile looks at Dev and says,,

“Ab wo sirf meri hogi, Aarav Rathore,” Shiv replied, his eyes gleaming with wicked determination.

“Tu usse ab nahi khoj payega. Mai usse shadi karunga.” The words dripped with malice as he envisioned the power he would wield.

As Dev left to prepare for their search, Shiv leaned back, relishing the thought of outsmarting Aarav. The game had begun, and he was determined to win at any cost.

Back at the Temple:

Meanwhile, Ahana sat in the temple, her heart racing with uncertainty. The prayers she offered felt both desperate and hopeful. She had never felt so alone, yet surrounded by the ancient walls that had witnessed countless stories of struggle and faith.

“Bhagwan ji, mere sath aisa kyun hota hai?” she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Kya maine kabhi koi galti ki?”

The weight of her predicament felt overwhelming, but in that moment of vulnerability, she also felt a flicker of resolve.

“I won’t let them control my life anymore. I deserve to be free,” she thought, her determination igniting a fire within her.

With a deep breath, Ahana opened her eyes and looked around the temple. The flickering candles cast soft shadows, creating a serene atmosphere. She thought of Aarav,, his cold demeanor, the way he had looked at her with intensity.

Did he care for her, or was she just a pawn in his game?.......

To be continued:

Ends.

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