Soft golden lights filled the room. Slow music played in the background, and among the stylish crowd, Avira and Daksh stood out the most.
Avira's smile, the sparkle in Daksh's eyes, and the special energy between them everything felt magical.
A few steps away, Jasmine watched them with joy.
A warm, peaceful smile appeared on her face as she whispered,
"Wow… they look so perfect together. I hope no one's evil eye touches them."
But on the other side of the hall, Rohan Gupta's eyes were on someone else Adhvir Roy.
He signaled a waiter and whispered something to him.
The waiter walked straight to Adhvir and said politely,
"Sir, the boss wants to see you in his room."
Hearing that, a devilish smile appeared on Adhvir's face.
Kabir, who was standing nearby, asked, "What happened?"
Adhvir glanced at Avira she was laughing and enjoying herself with Daksh.
Then he said in a calm but poisonous tone,
"So, I heard you're looking for a job?"
"Congratulations. You got one keep an eye on your sister in law."I'll be back soon. Wait here."
Kabir stood there, shocked. As Adhvir walked up the stairs, he muttered to himself,
"What...? He just gave me a job… to spy on someone? Wow."
"Even enemies don't give such jobs to their friends."
When he turned back Avira was gone.
"Where did she go now?" he said, confused.
While Kabir was talking to himself, Avira had quietly followed Adhvir upstairs.
The private section upstairs had a completely different atmosphere.
It was quieter, colder and Adhvir's presence made it even heavier.
Inside, Rohan Gupta was sitting on a royal blue velvet couch.The room glowed softly with golden light.On a side table, an antique glass decanter poured liquor into two crystal glasses.Velvet curtains, glass chandeliers, a faint jazz tune everything looked classy and elegant.But behind all that beauty, there was a deep silence something dark.
Adhvir opened the door and walked in.The air felt colder with his entry.
Rohan picked up one glass and offered it to him, saying,"I hope you like single malt."
Adhvir took the glass but didn't smile.
His mind was still burning from what he saw between Avira and Daksh.
He said in a low voice, "So tell me, Mr. Gupta… why did you call me here?"
Rohan took a sip and said seriously,
"Your father and I we were not just partners once, but also friends."
Adhvir stayed silent, just took a long sip of his drink and stared at him — calm but unreadable.
Rohan continued,
"There was an old deal between us. It clearly said that if anything ever happened to either one of us, the entire business would automatically go to the other."
"And now… that time has come."
"Your father's health isn't good. So, as per that deal…"
"I'll be taking full control of his business from now on."
Adhvir was quiet for a moment, then said calmly,
"Don't worry. I'll handle it."
Rohan looked at him for a moment and then laughed.
"No, son. You don't understand. According to the deal, I will handle everything now."
"You're too young to stress over this. You should enjoy life."
Adhvir's eyes fixed on him cold, sharp, emotionless.Then, in an almost casual voice, he said,
"Uncle, would you like a chocolate?"
Rohan frowned, confused. "W...What? Chocolate?"
The intensity in Adhvir's eyes was enough to make him stop talking.Rohan reluctantly picked up a piece of chocolate, unwrapped it, and ate it.
As soon as the first bite went down his throat, Adhvir spoke quietly,
"What if you didn't live to see tomorrow?"
Rohan's face changed instantly. "What do you mean by that?" he coughed.
Adhvir poured himself another drink, his voice calm but chilling,
"What if the chocolate you just ate… was poisoned?"
The air in the room froze.
Rohan's eyes widened in fear. His face turned pale.
Adhvir continued,
"This poison is special. Most people drink water after eating chocolate right?"
"So I made sure this one works with water."
"If you drink even a sip of water now… you'll die."
"But if you don't drink anything until morning… maybe you'll survive."
Adhvir stood up. His walk was confident, full of his old arrogance — but his eyes burned with rage.
"You were my father's friend, that's why I'm giving you this one chance."
"But if I ever find out that you were the one who sent him into a coma…"
"I won't hesitate to make your children orphans."
He gave a cold smirk and turned to leave.
Just then, outside the door a small shadow moved.
It was Avira.
She had heard everything the full conversation, every single word.
Her face turned pale, her body froze in shock.
Then suddenly, her hand trembled and a small photo frame slipped from her grip, falling to the floor.
The sound was faint but enough for Adhvir.
He stopped.
Slowly turned his head toward the sound.
His steps became slow… heavy… intense.
Avira's heart started beating faster with every step he took toward her.
The silence of the corridor grew sharper full of tension and fear.
Avira could already sense that Adhvir might have heard the sound. His approaching footsteps grew faster — heavier.
Panic rose inside her chest. Without wasting a second, she walked away as quickly and quietly as she could.
Before the door could even swing open completely, Avira had already slipped into the next room, her heart pounding violently inside her ribcage.
She pressed her hand against her chest, breathing fast, whispering under her breath,
"I have to tell Jassie… I can't stay quiet like this. He's dangerous — and he's a doctor! No… no, I can't hide this anymore. I have to tell her."
She reached for the doorknob, ready to leave, when she suddenly froze.Someone was standing right in front of her.Her heart skipped a beat.
"God, Daksh! You scared me," she exhaled, clutching her chest.
Daksh chuckled softly. "Apologies for scaring such a beautiful angel. Anyway, your mom's been calling me non-stop. You should talk to her once."
Avira nodded and took the phone, her tone instantly softening as she began talking to her mother.
The party was coming to an end.The crowd had thinned out, people were saying their goodbyes laughter fading into the cool night air.
But Avira's heart still felt heavy, uneasy.
Still on the call with her mom, she reached where Jasmine was standing and smiled.
"Hey… it's getting late. I'm leaving."
Jasmine frowned slightly. "You're going alone? Wait, I'll ask the driver to drop you."
Avira smiled politely and shook her head. "Don't worry. I've booked a cab. It'll be here any minute."
Jasmine sighed. "Fine then. But please, call me once you reach home. Don't forget, okay?"
Avira hugged her softly, whispering a warm goodbye but her eyes… they were searching for someone else.They were searching for Adhvir.
She looked around the lawn, the drinks counter but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he go?" she thought, the question echoing in her mind.
Then she shook her head and brushed off the thought.
She walked out of the party area.The weather had changed.
Cold wind brushed past her skin as she stood at the corner of the lawn, waiting near the gate where the cab was supposed to arrive.
She glanced at her phone two more minutes.
And then… the first drop of rain touched her face.
Avira tilted her head up, looking at the sky.
The drizzle turned into a downpour within seconds.
Her hair clung to her face, raindrops sliding down her cheeks like tears.
"Oh, God… really? Now it has to rain?" she muttered in frustration and turned around to head back
But stopped dead in her tracks.
Four men stood in front of her.
Their eyes scanned her, up and down, slowly like predators circling their prey.The wet fabric clung to her skin, and she could feel their gaze burning through her.
Meanwhile, inside the party hall, Daksh asked, "Where's Avira?"
Jasmine replied casually, "Oh, she just left."
Daksh froze. "And you let her go? Oh, God!"
Without another word, he rushed outside.
Back near the gate, one of the men stepped forward his gait lazy, his smirk filthy.
Avira instinctively stepped back.
She wasn't trembling, but her eyes had gone sharp, alert.
She wasn't the kind of woman who'd panic easily she knew how to read danger.
The man was about to say something when suddenly…
A car screeched to a halt right in front of them.
The headlights sliced through the rain, and the sound of the tires echoed across the wet ground.
The men turned sharply.
The car door opened and Adhvir stepped out.
His expression was ice.Brows furrowed, jaw tight.
Without a word, he strode straight toward the man who had looked at Avira.
And before anyone could react
His fist connected brutally with the guy's face.
The impact was so strong that the man fell flat, nose bleeding instantly.
The other three froze in fear, stumbling backward.
Adhvir pointed at them with a deadly calmness.
"If I ever see you again," he said, his voice low but sharp as a blade, "you won't live to regret it."
Then, without a second thought, he took off his suit jacket.
The white shirt underneath clung to his body — drenched, outlining his muscles — but he didn't care.
He walked up to Avira and draped the jacket over her shoulders.