Ruko... Kaha chale gaye... Bunny kaha gaye tum? Waha mat jao... Ruko!" Avyra called out while running after a fluffy white rabbit.
"Dada ji... Dada ji... Dekho na... Mr. Bunny firse bhaag gaya."
She huffed as she walked towards her grandfather, only to stop in front of him with her hands on her waist.
"Dada ji... Aap firse subah subah drink kar rahe ho?" She rolled her eyes.
Her grandfather immediately hid the beer bottle behind his back as if he had been caught stealing sweets.
"Hahahahaha... Arre, ye toh bas beer hai meri maa. Dada mai hu tumhara... tum meri dadi maa nahi ho. Idhar aao."
She let out an annoyed sigh before walking closer.
"Doctor said no to alcohol."
"Doctor?" He waved his hand dismissively. "Woh toh kuch bhi bolte hain."
"Dada ji..." she frowned. "Doctor aapke dost hi toh hain."
"Exactly." He chuckled shamelessly. "Khud toh chain se jeene nahi deta... har cheez mein restriction laga rakha hai."
She let out an annoyed sigh before walking closer.
"Dada ji, I was playing with Mr. Bunny... aur as always, wo firse bhaag gaya."
"Koi baat nahi, beta. Jab bhook lagegi na, khud hi wapas aa jayega."
"Tum jake Sia ke saath kyun nahi khelti?"
"Wo-"
Before she could answer, a loud laugh echoed through the corridor.
"Hihihihihihi!"
Sia came running towards them with dirt on her knees and the brightest grin on her face.
She threw an arm around Avyra's shoulders.
"Avy... I just beat those boys who said I can't play football as well as them. Maine sahi kiya na, Dada ji?"
"Absolutely, meri bacchi" He laughed proudly. "I love your spirit"
Avyra let out a dramatic sigh.
"Of course... Dada ji always takes your side."
"Kyun na lu?" he chuckled. "Tum dono meri jaan ho."
"Dada ji..." Avyra pouted.
"Nahi..." Sia interrupted proudly. "Main favourite hu."
"Tum?" Avyra gasped. "Tum toh walking disaster ho."
"Haan..." Her grandfather laughed even harder. "Aur main pachhattar saal ka disaster."
The three of them burst into laughter together.
"Avy, chalo park chalte hain!" Sia said excitedly.
"But... pehle Mr. Bunny ko dhoondna padega." Avyra frowned. "What if a snake bites him?"
Sia's smile instantly faded.
"Achha theek hai. Pehle Mr. Bunny ko dhoondte hain."
Without waiting another second, she grabbed Avyra's hand and pulled her towards the garden.
"Jaldi Wo zyada dur nahi gaya hoga."
The two girls ran off together while their grandfather watched them with a smile on his face.
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[ Present time ]ย
A tear rolled down her cheek. Her vision blurred as she gulped, trying hard to hold back her sobs. She quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand before pulling her knees closer to her chest, resting her forehead against them.
"I'm missing you, Dada ji... I'm missing you so much..." Her voice trembled. "I'm not okay... I'm tired of pretending to be strong... pretending to be brave... dealing with these monsters every single day. Aap mujhe bachane aaoge na, Dada ji?" A broken sob escaped her lips.
"That one tiny hope... the hope that one day I'd run away... that I'd finally be free again... it's slowly fading away." She let out a shaky breath. "I wanted to become a successful neurosurgeon... I wanted to laugh with you again... with Sia... Sia, I'm missing you so much. Tum mujhe dhoond rahi hogi na? Pata nahi kya kya kar chuki hogi tum..."
She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.
"I'm no longer ashamed of asking for help... Please... save me from this hellhole. And please take care of my Dada ji. Mujhe pata hai... bina bole bhi tum karogi."
Her gaze slowly wandered around the room.
It was hidden away from the rest of the mansion. A room no one was allowed to enter without permission. No windows. One heavy door that remained locked from the outside. Darkness surrounded every corner, broken only by the tiny blinking light of the CCTV camera fixed above her. It watched her every moment... every breath... every breakdown.
For a second, she felt exposed. What if someone was watching her right now? What if they saw her crying... falling apart... and laughed?
"My life was never perfect. I lost both my parents..." She smiled bitterly through her tears. "But I still had my Dada ji... Sia... her family... my friends... I was a top student... I had dreams."
Her lips trembled.
"How did my life become this?"
"How did I end up here?"
"Kidnapped... trafficked to an island ruled by the mafia."
A sigh escaped her lips.
"And what's wrong with that man..." she muttered quietly. "He's so... so weird. So unpredictable."
"I can't tell if he wants to kill me... kiss me... or keep me."
She lowered her gaze.
"But..."
"At least he hasn't hurt me... not yet."
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"My Dada ji is Colonel Adhiraj Singhania... He has enough resources to find me. I won't be stuck here forever... No matter what, he'll find me. He has dealt with something like this before... He'll definitely find me. I won't rot here forever... I'll see you soon, Dada ji... Sia..."
A small smile found its way onto her face. Suddenly, she felt confident. Why wouldn't she?
Her Dada ji was Colonel Adhiraj Singhania... the man people feared, respected, and trusted with impossible missions. Finding her wouldn't be impossible for him.
She took a deep breath. For the first time in days... She felt a ray of hope.
Just then, she heard the door unlocking.
Her head snapped towards it. She rolled her eyes, letting out a quiet scoff.
Now what does that unpredictable man want?
Resting a hand on the bed for support, she slowly got to her feet.
But the moment the door opened...
Her expression fell.
Two unfamiliar men stepped inside, exchanging a brief glance as if silently confirming their next move. Ekagra said not a single soul would enter this room...
Then who are they?
Their presence alone was enough to send uneasiness crawling beneath her skin.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Jawab do... Did Ekagra send you here?" she questioned again when neither of them answered, unknowingly taking a few steps back.
"We are here to show you what real hell is."
Their deep voices filled the room.
"What do you mea-"
Before she could finish, a pair of rough hands gripped her arms.
"Chhodo mujhe Kaha le jaa rahe ho? Maine kaha mujhe chhodo!"
She screamed as they dragged her out of the room.
For the first time... She wished it was Ekagra instead. He was unpredictable. He was dangerous. But somehow... She knew he wouldn't let anyone touch her.
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Her head throbbed as a sharp pain shot through it.
"Ugh..."
A groan escaped her lips. Her vision remained blurry, taking a few moments to adjust as she tried to understand what was happening.
"Damn bastards... They hit my head so hard," she muttered under her breath, letting out a frustrated huff.
Blinking a few more times, she finally managed to focus. The two men stood a few feet away, talking to a group of unfamiliar men. Her brows furrowed. This wasn't the warehouse. It was somewhere else.
A dockyard.
The salty smell of the sea lingered in the air while huge cargo containers stood stacked one after another. Several trucks were parked nearby, and armed men guarded every possible exit.
A shiver ran down her spine. The girls... The terrified faces she had seen in the warehouse flashed before her eyes. One by one... They were taken away. Her heartbeat quickened. Is this where they bring them before shipping them away...? She lowered her gaze. Her hands weren't tied. Neither were her legs.
Still...
She remained motionless, pretending she hadn't regained consciousness yet.
For now... It was better this way.
She closed her eyes, still on high alert, when a loud screech echoed through the dockyard.ย
Before she could even open them-
Thud.
A man dropped to the ground, his body twitching for a brief moment before going still.
Blood slowly pooled beneath his neck.
Is... is he dead?
"Ek... Ekagra?" She whispered...
He got off his bike, casually cracking his neck from side to side.
Did he just throw the knife? She couldn't even tell. She swallowed hard.
"Motherfuckers..."
The intensity behind his voice sent an involuntary shiver down Avyra's spine.
The men standing there looked as if they'd piss themselves at any second.
"B-Boss... We-"
Thud.
He didn't even let the man finish.
The knife pierced straight through his throat.
Avyra instantly shut her eyes, covering her mouth with both hands.
She had hated violence ever since she was a child.
"Which one of you laid a fucking hand on her?"
His voice was dangerously low.
He didn't wait for an answer.
He grabbed the man by his hair and slammed his head straight onto the ground before repeatedly smashing the gun against his skull.
For a moment...
Avyra forgot how to breathe.
The man's screaming in pain echoed through the dockyard.
The men beside him tried to run-
Only to freeze where they stood.
"Boss... I-It was-"
Bang.
He shot the man straight through the forehead without even looking at him.
Before Avyra could convince herself it would finally stop.
"No... no... don't move."
A grin slowly spread across Ekagra's face.
"I'll get to everyone."
"C'mon..."
He laughed under his breath.
"Keep breathing."
The knife drove straight through the man's palm.
"You guys are no fun!.. I want you awake for this."
A loud scream escaped the man's mouth as Ekagra twisted another man's arm until a sickening crack echoed around them.
Avyra couldn't bear it anymore.
The blood... The terrified scream... The violence...
She wanted to throw up.
Her head spun so badly she could barely hold herself up.
"Don't die too quickly."
He clicked his tongue.
"You guys are too boring... Tsk... tsk..."
Another gunshot echoed.
The bullet tore through a man's leg.
"Stand."
He laughed again.
"Don't make this boring."
The man cried as he desperately tried to force himself back onto his feet.
"S... Stop..."
Her voice came out as nothing more than a whisper.
Barely loud enough to reach him.
A weak attempt to stop the maniac standing before her.
"Y-Your father..."
One of the men cried out in panic.
"Boss... Your father ordered us..."
Bang.
The bullet pierced straight through his chest.
"Tsk..."
Ekagra sighed in disappointment.
"All done already?" He counted pointing at the laying bodies...
A slow smile crept across his face.
"I was having fun..."
Only then...
He turned his gaze towards Avyra.
His eyes darkened for a brief second before he pulled his phone from his pocket, dialed a number, and held it against his ear.
"I've killed hundreds. You're my father. That's the only reason you're still breathing."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but his eyes remained cold.
"Lay a hand on her again... and the next bullet won't care who you are."
His voice came out low but firm.
Did... did he just threaten his own father?
She flinched as he smashed the phone against the wall.
He walked straight towards her.
Bending down to her level, his eyes travelled from head to toe.
What is he looking for...?
Is he checking if I'm hurt?
"This won't happen again, Little Poison."
His voice came out unusually low, as if he still couldn't believe they had managed to take her away.
Slowly, he extended his hand towards her.
Her whole body felt numb.
She just wanted to get out of this place.
This...
This would haunt her forever.
"I'm taking you back to the mansion, Little Poison."
He turned around and walked ahead, already assuming she'd follow.
"Ugh..."
"I thought today would've been a good day."
"I was just spending time with my brothers..."
"Then these fuckers thought betraying Ekagra Rajwardhan was a good idea."
She barely heard a word.
A sudden knot formed in her stomach.
She covered her mouth and hurried to the side, trying to throw up.
"Hey... Hey, Little Poison."
His brows furrowed.
"Are you throwing up?"
She glared at him without saying a word.
"Did you eat something bad?"
He leaned casually against his bike.
"Are you kidding me?" she snapped. "When exactly did you even give me any food?"
As if her stomach had been waiting for the question...
"I didn't?"
He blinked a couple of times, genuinely trying to remember.
"I thought you were a medical student. Blood is nothing for you."
"I am a medical student, not a gangster like you. There's a difference."
His jaw tightened.
"I am not a gangster, Little Poison."
His voice turned dangerously cold.
"Nor a kidnapper."
"I'm something you just witnessed"
"So next time... think before you call me a gangster."
A dry laugh escaped him.
"Do I look like a gangster to you?"
"I'm the fucking Viper."
"This is the land of Vipers."
"Calling me a gangster is an insult, Little Poison."
She blinked at him.
This was the second time he'd been irritated.
First when she called him a kidnapper.
Now because she called him a gangster.
"Are you going to stand there and cook your thoughts?"
"Hurry up."
"I still have things to finish."
He gestured towards the bike.
โโโโเญจเงโโโโ
Only then...
He turned his gaze towards Avyra.
His eyes darkened for a brief second before he pulled his phone from his pocket, dialed a number, and held it against his ear.
"I've killed hundreds. You're my father. That's the only reason you're still breathing."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but his eyes remained cold.
"Lay a hand on her again... and the next bullet won't care who you are."
His voice came out low but firm.
Did... did he just threaten his own father?
She flinched as he smashed the phone against the wall.
He walked straight towards her.
Bending down to her level, his eyes travelled from head to toe.
What is he looking for...?
Is he checking if I'm hurt?
"This won't happen again, Little Poison."
His voice came out unusually low, as if he still couldn't believe they had managed to take her away.
Slowly, he extended his hand towards her.
Her whole body felt numb.
She just wanted to get out of this place.
This...
This would haunt her forever.
"I'm taking you back to the mansion, Little Poison."
He turned around and walked ahead, already assuming she'd follow.
"Ugh..."
"I thought today would've been a good day."
"I was just spending time with my brothers..."
"Then these fuckers thought betraying Ekagra Rajwardhan was a good idea."
She barely heard a word.
A sudden knot formed in her stomach.
She covered her mouth and hurried to the side, trying to throw up.
"Hey... Hey, Little Poison."
His brows furrowed.
"Are you throwing up?"
She glared at him without saying a word.
"Did you eat something bad?"
He leaned casually against his bike.
"Are you kidding me?" she snapped. "When exactly did you even give me any food?"
As if her stomach had been waiting for the question...
"I didn't?"
He blinked a couple of times, genuinely trying to remember.
"I thought you were a medical student. Blood is nothing for you."
"I am a medical student, not a gangster like you. There's a difference."
His jaw tightened.
"I am not a gangster, Little Poison."
His voice turned dangerously cold.
"Nor a kidnapper."
"I'm something you just witnessed"
"So next time... think before you call me a gangster."
A dry laugh escaped him.
"Do I look like a gangster to you?"
"I'm the fucking Viper."
"This is the land of Vipers."
"Calling me a gangster is an insult, Little Poison."
She blinked at him.
This was the second time he'd been irritated.
First when she called him a kidnapper.
Now because she called him a gangster.
"Are you going to stand there and cook your thoughts?"
"Hurry up."
"I still have things to finish."
He gestured towards the bike.
โโโโเญจเงโโโโ
"Are you going to stand there and cook your thoughts? Hurry up. I have things to finish," he said, gesturing towards his bike.
"I'm not sitting on your bike," she replied hesitantly.
"Fine." He shrugged. "You can walk behind me then. It's only a 45 minutes walk. Hope that's fine with you."
He got on his bike and revved the engine.
The loud sound almost hurt her ears.
She hesitated for a few seconds before climbing onto the bike, keeping both hands behind her, gripping the seat instead of him.
"Hmm... Changed your mind pretty quickly." A smirk tugged at his lips. "Thanks for not wasting another hour convincing you. Otherwise, I would've thrown you into the ocean."
He adjusted the mirror.
"Now sit tight... and don't fall."
The cold breeze brushed against her face. After so many days... She was finally under an open sky. A few dim stars shimmered above them. The endless ocean stretched as far as her eyes could see while the empty road disappeared into the distance.
For a moment... She almost forgot everything.
A sudden brake.
She lost her balance. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Ughhh..."
He let out a dramatic groan.
"Little Poison... I know you want me dead, but stop torturing me."
She immediately pulled her hands back.
"What did I do?"
She frowned
"It's you who can't ride properly. I almost fell."
"Oh..."
He clicked his tongue.
"So now you're telling me I can't ride?"
"I've been riding since I was thirteen, Little Poison."
"I'm a professional rider."
"It's just..."
He cleared his throat.
"My focus wasn't exactly... where it should've been."
She looked at him suspiciously.
"What nonsense."
"You just killed people without blinking..."
"And one simple touch almost killed you?"
"Ugh..."
He rolled his eyes.
"Why are you suddenly so chatty?"
"You want to thank me for saving you or something?"
She scoffed.
"Thank you?"
"To you?"
"You are a part time kidnapper and a full time delusional man."
"I'm going to throw you into the ocean."
He muttered under his breath.
"I swear."
The cold breeze wasn't helping. Her eyelids felt heavy. She hadn't slept properly for days.
"We're here. Are you getting down, or are you planning to fall asleep on my bike?"
His voice pulled her back.
She blinked a few times before getting off the bike, looking around.
"This place..."
"Is this the backside of the mansion?"
She asked curiously.
There weren't any guards here unlike the main entrance.
I need to remember this...
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Can't use the front entrance. My brothers might be there."
Her brows furrowed.
"Are you afraid of your brothers?"
He stopped walking and looked back over his shoulder.
"It's called love."
"Ekagra Rajwardhan fears no one."
She stared at him.
"Even you can love?"
The words slipped out before she could stop herself.
His eyes narrowed.
"Ab tum kuch zyada nahi bol rahi, chid chidi aurat?"
She froze.
Chid chidi aurat...
Sia used to call her the same thing.
She quickly shook the thought away.
Walking up to him, she poked his stomach with her finger.
"Don't call me that."
"Ugh..."
He instantly grabbed his stomach, letting out a pained huff.
"Little Poison..."
"I know you want me dead..."
"But this is getting personal."
His tone was still mocking, yet the slight tremble in his voice didn't go unnoticed.
"What happened to you?"
"You've been acting strange ever since-"
Her words stopped.
Blood.
It had soaked through his shirt.
Her brows knitted together.
"You're bleeding..."
He stepped closer before casually undoing a few buttons of his shirt.
The wound looked fresh.
It had opened again.
"When did this happen?"
"My stitches opened while riding to save someone."
His voice came out hoarse.
He reached up, gently tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"How merciless of you, Miss Doctor."
"You left me to die that night."
"Made me chase you through the forest while I was already injured."
"Tsk..."
She remembered that night clearly.
Serves you right.
"Tha-"
Before she could finish, he suddenly stumbled forward, grabbing her arms to steady himself.
His face had gone slightly pale.
He was struggling to stay conscious.
"Follow me, Little Poison..."
"Let's get inside."
This time... She followed without arguing. The mansion looked much darker than before. Maybe because it was already past midnight. There weren't many guards around the back entrance either. Her gaze wandered around before suddenly stopping.
He had collapsed onto the stairs.
A low groan escaped him.
"Hey..."
She immediately rushed towards him.
"Let me help."
The wound looked deep. Someone must've stabbed him.
"Where's the first aid kit?"
He slowly lifted his hand, pointing towards a wooden cabinet nearby.
She didn't waste another second. The wound needed proper treatment.
A first aid kit wasn't enough.
But for now...
She had to stop the bleeding. She returned within moments. Helping him sit up, she gently cleaned the blood with cotton. Her movements were careful.
even if a part of her believed he deserved this pain... before anything else, she was a medical student. Humanity always came first.
She kept dabbing around the wound when she noticed... His eyes hadn't left her even once.
She frowned.
"What are you grinning at?"
A lazy smirk appeared on his face.
"This is the first time..."
"You're not attacking me."
"You're actually treating my wounds."
Her brows furrowed as she avoided looking at him.
She remembered everything clearly. So what? He deserved every bit of it.
"Your face says you're proud of it, aren't you, Little Poison?"
"The first day we met, you smashed my head."
"Then you left me to die in the forest."
"You tried to stab me."
"You even hit my face."
He clicked his tongue dramatically.
"That's the cruelest thing anyone has ever done to me."
She pressed the ointment a little harder against his wound.
"Ouch... Ouch..."
"Little Poison, that hurts..."
"So what?" she replied without even looking at him.
"Even you know you deserved every bit of it."
"Nothing seems to affect you anyway."
"Then shut your mouth."
He let out a low groan.
"You're becoming meaner."
"What was that?"
"Was it your father you threatened?"
"You ask too many questions."
"But yeah... That was my old man. And I love my old man."
She looked at him in confusion.
"So... that's how you people joke?"
His smile disappeared.
"Who said I was joking?"
His voice came out low. Serious.
A chill ran through her.
He'd actually kill his own father...
This man is a complete psycho.
"Tell me..."
"Where is this place?"
"Who are you?"
"And what exactly is going on?"
A broken laugh escaped him.
"You really are curious, aren't you, Little Poison?"
"This..."
He glanced around.
"This is a Vipers Island. Ruled by the Vipers."
"A legacy that's existed for decades. Passed down from one generation to the next."
"And this mansion... Is the heart of it. This is where the Vipers Club operates."
"Four heirs. Four pillars. The men who rule the underground."
"The Secret Society."
A dangerous smirk slowly appeared on his face as his eyes shamelessly travelled over her face.
She had guessed it already. Nothing about them was legal.
"What about the government?"
"The police?"
"Don't they- "
A laugh escaped him before she could even finish.
"Hahaha..."
"Are you serious, Little Poison?"
She frowned.
"They don't interfere. Not the government. Not the police. No one."
"They're powerless against us."
His fingers slowly brushed along her jaw, making her freeze.
"Outside this island... We're heirs of the most powerful business families. Power. Money. Influence. We have everything."
"Even they survive because of us. So they stay away... And mind their own business."
She stared at him. Every word he spoke slowly crushed the little hope she still had of escaping this place. She stared at him, every word slowly crushing the little hope she still had of escaping this place.
She took a deep breath, shaking her head almost immediately. No... she couldn't lose hope. This couldn't be the end of her. While dressing his wound, she slowly realized how quiet he had become. His eyes were closed, his breathing steady. Frowning slightly, she reached out and gently patted his cheek.
"Hey... Hey..."
No response.
Her gaze lingered on him for a few more seconds before slowly shifting towards the door.
A chance.
Maybe not to escape this island... Maybe not to escape this nightmare... But at least to learn something. To find a way.
Her heart pounded against her chest as countless thoughts clashed inside her mind. What if he wakes up? What if someone catches me? What if I lose the only chance I'll ever get? She swallowed hard, her fingers curling into her palm.
Staying here... Waiting for someone else to save her... That was never an option.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, stealing one last glance at the unconscious man before taking cautious steps towards the door, determined to gather whatever information she could before it was too late.
๐หหณยทห ึดึถึธ โ๐นโ ึดึถึธหยทหณห๐ ึดึถึธ.
Helloooo, my lovely readers!! ๐ท
First of all, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter ๐ We finally got to see Ekagra's unhinged side, Avyra witnessed something she'll never forget, and these two still managed to argue every chance they got. ๐ญ
โ ๏ธ Spoiler Alert: The upcoming chapters are going to be WILD. ๐ More smut, more plots, more twists, chasing into the woods, and finally... Rooh, Avyra, and Ekagra face to face. Trust me, things are only going to get crazier from here. ๐คญ
Now, can I say something?
Thank you so much for every single read, vote, and adding this book to your reading list. Every notification genuinely makes my day. ๐น
But. why are you all so silent? ๐ญ It literally takes just a few seconds to leave a comment.
Talk to me. Tell me anything. What did you like? What you didn't? What should I improve? What do you want to see more of? More Avy & Ekagra? More brotherhood? More Raghav & Sia? Anything!
As a new author, I genuinely need your feedback. Sometimes seein
g zero comments makes me wonder if I'm doing a good job or if no one is enjoying the story. Your comments motivate me more than you know. ๐
Also. updates are going to be regular now! Would you guys like 2 chapters every week? Let me know.
Thank you for reading. See you in the next chapter. ๐
๐หหณยทห ึดึถึธ โ๐นโ ึดึถึธหยทหณห๐ ึดึถึธ.
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