The man quietly stepped out of the luxurious penthouse, gently closing the massive wooden door behind him. His polished shoes echoed through the dimly lit corridor as he walked toward the private elevator. Within moments, the elevator doors opened into an underground parking area where three men dressed in black suits were already waiting for him. They immediately straightened their posture as he approached. One of them finally broke the silence.

"What's the next order, sir?" he asked respectfully. The man adjusted the cuffs of his gloves before replying in a calm yet commanding voice, "No unnecessary moves. Keep watching every member of the Raichand family. I want every movement, every visitor, every phone call, and every meeting reported to me." The men nodded silently. After a brief pause, another guard hesitantly asked, "And if someone gets suspicious?" A faint smile tugged at the corner of the man's lips. "Let them." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a sealed envelope before handing it to the guard standing closest to him. The guard glanced at it. There was no sender's name, no address—only one word written across the front in bold black letters: Confidential.

"This reaches the Raichand mansion tomorrow morning," the man ordered. "No mistakes." The guard nodded and carefully slipped the envelope inside his coat. Just then, another man spoke cautiously, "Sir... what about her?" For the first time, the man's expression changed. He looked toward the darkness stretching beyond the parking area before answering quietly, "She doesn't even know she's being used." His words left the three men exchanging confused glances, but none of them dared to ask another question. At that very moment, his phone vibrated inside his pocket. He glanced at the screen for barely a second. The message contained only two words—Proceed silently. Without reacting, he locked the phone and slipped it back into his pocket. "Remember," he said as he walked toward the waiting black SUV, "the boss doesn't want blood... not yet." The engine roared to life, and within seconds, the vehicle disappeared into the empty streets. Far away, inside the Raichand mansion, the antique grandfather clock struck midnight. The mansion remained wrapped in complete silence, every room appearing peaceful. But hidden behind those quiet walls, someone had already made the next move in a game that no one had yet realized had begun.

The next morning, the Raichand mansion was unusually lively. The aroma of freshly prepared breakfast filled the dining hall as one by one every family member gathered around the long dining table.

Nayra walked in carrying a basket of hot parathas while Kiaara was already munching on a samosa she had secretly stolen from the kitchen.

The moment Dadi noticed her, she frowned.

"Kiara!" she scolded. "Nashte se pehle hi aadha khana khatam kar diya tumne." (Kiara! You've already finished half the breakfast before everyone even sat down.)

Kiara quickly hid the samosa behind her back and smiled innocently.

"Dadi, quality check kar rahi thi." (Dadi, I was just doing a quality check.)

The entire table burst into laughter.

Even Dadi couldn't stop herself from smiling.

Just then, Ishani pointed toward Kiara's cheek.

"Quality check? Toh ye aloo ka tukda gaal pe decoration ke liye lagaya hai?" (Quality check? Then is that piece of potato on your cheek just for decoration?)

Kiara's eyes widened. She hurriedly wiped her cheek while everyone laughed even louder.

Meanwhile, Riaan quietly sipped his coffee before teasing,

"Isko company me food inspector ki job de dete hain." (We should make her the company's food inspector.)

Kiara immediately glared at him.

"Bilkul! Aur pehla fine aapko milega. Roz sirf coffee pe jeete ho." (Exactly! And you'll be my first customer. You survive only on coffee.)

Aarohi giggled while Riaan dramatically placed a hand over his heart.

"Dekha? Shaadi ke baad sab milke meri insult karte hain." (See? After marriage, everyone teams up to insult me.)

Aarav looked up from his newspaper and said with a completely straight face,

"Late ho gaye tum. Ye toh bachpan se ho raha hai." (You're late. They've been insulting you since childhood.)

For two seconds...

Silence.

Then the entire dining hall exploded with laughter.

Even Vivan, who had been unusually quiet since morning, let out a small chuckle.

Nayra looked at him.

It wasn't a big smile.

Just a tiny one.

But for her...

It was enough.

She quietly served another paratha onto his plate.Vivan looked at it before looking at her.Without saying a word, he broke off a small piece and held it in front of her.

Nayra blinked.

"Sab dekh rahe hain..." (Everyone is watching...) she whispered, embarrassed.

Vivan smirked.

"Toh dekhne do." (Let them watch.)

Kiara immediately whistled dramatically.

"Ohooo... romance subah-subah!"

Nayra's cheeks turned bright red while Vivan simply shook his head, trying to hide his smile.For a brief moment No one noticed that beneath the laughter, Vivan's mind was still occupied by the folded paper lying safely inside his pocket.

His smile was real...But his doubts hadn't disappeared.

That night, after everyone had gone to their respective rooms, the Raichand mansion once again fell into complete silence. A cold breeze drifted in through the slightly open balcony curtains, making them sway gently. Inside their bedroom, Aarav was still sitting on the couch, surrounded by company files. His brows were knitted together as he continued reading one document after another. Meera quietly stepped out of the washroom, drying her damp hair with a towel. Her eyes immediately landed on Aarav. A small smile appeared on her lips as she noticed him still working despite the late hour.

She slowly walked toward him and gently tapped his shoulder.

Aarav looked up and smiled tiredly.

"Bas five minutes aur..." (Just five more minutes...) he said before lowering his gaze back to the file.

Meera sighed helplessly.

Without saying a word, she disappeared into the kitchen attached to their room and returned a few minutes later with a cup of hot coffee. She placed it in front of him before signing with her hands,

"Enough work."

Aarav chuckled softly.

"Boss itni aasani se leave nahi deta." (The boss doesn't give leave that easily.)

Meera rolled her eyes dramatically before folding her arms across her chest.

Seeing her adorable expression, Aarav laughed.

"Accha baba... bas ye last file." (Okay... just this last file.)

Meera nodded and sat quietly beside him, absentmindedly flipping through a magazine while Aarav continued working.

Nearly half an hour later...The room had become completely silent.Meera looked up from the magazine.Aarav hadn't moved.She frowned slightly before leaning closer.His eyes were closed.The file had slipped from his hands.He had fallen asleep while sitting.A helpless smile spread across her face.

Very carefully, she removed the spectacles from his face and placed them on the table. Then she gently picked up the file, stacked the remaining documents neatly, and draped a soft blanket over his shoulders.Her fingers unknowingly brushed against his hair.

For a brief moment...

She simply stood there, watching him sleep peacefully.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

Just then...

Buzz...

Her phone vibrated inside the pocket of her cardigan.The sudden sound broke the peaceful moment.She quickly took out her phone.The screen displayed an unknown number.Only one message.

> Tomorrow. 9:00 AM. Study Room. Don't be late.

The smile on Meera's face disappeared instantly.Her fingers tightened around the phone. Slowly...

She turned her head toward Aarav.

He was still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the storm that was slowly approaching his family.

Meera closed her eyes for a brief second. A wave of guilt washed over her.She wanted to ignore the message.She wanted to delete it.She wanted to choose Aarav over the mission.

But...

After a long pause, she quietly locked her phone and slipped it back into her pocket.

A single tear escaped the corner of her eye.She quickly wiped it away before anyone could ever see it.Standing beside the man who trusted her with his entire heart...Meera silently whispered to herself,

"I'm sorry..."

And for the first time...Those words weren't for herself.They were for Aarav.

The afternoon at the mansion was unusually peaceful. Most of the family members were busy with their own work while Nayra and Aarohi sat together in the upstairs lounge, sorting through some old family albums that Dadi had asked them to arrange. Aarohi pulled out one album after another, complaining about how many photographs the family had collected over the years, while Nayra laughed quietly at her. Suddenly, an old photograph slipped from between two albums and fell onto the carpet.

Aarohi bent down to pick it up, but the moment she looked at it, her smile disappeared. "Nayra..." she called softly. Something about her voice made Nayra turn toward her. "What happened?" she asked, walking closer. Aarohi held the photograph between her fingers. It showed the Raichand brothers standing together at what looked like an old family event. Aarav, Vivan, Riaan and Veer were all there, looking much younger than they did now. But there was someone else standing slightly behind them—a young woman with a confident smile.

Nayra stared at the photograph.

"Who's she?" she asked, her brows drawing together.

Aarohi shook her head slowly. "I don't know... I've never seen her in any of the family pictures before." They both leaned closer to examine the photograph. The girl wasn't standing randomly among the guests. She was standing unusually close to the Raichand brothers, almost as though she belonged with them. Aarohi turned the photograph over, hoping to find a date or name, but there was only a faded handwritten note on the back. "A..." was all they could make out before the rest of the ink disappeared.

Nayra's curiosity grew. "Maybe Dadi knows her." She reached for the photograph, but before she could take it, footsteps sounded from the corridor. Both girls immediately looked toward the door. Nobody was there. When they turned back, Aarohi noticed something else written faintly beneath the faded letter. She wiped the dust away with her thumb.

Only three words became visible.

"Our Aahana. Forever."

Both girls froze.

Nayra slowly looked at Aarohi.

"Aahana...?"

Aarohi's face had gone completely blank.

Neither of them knew who Aahana was.

Neither knew why her photograph had been kept hidden among the Raichand family's oldest memories.

And neither noticed the figure standing silently at the far end of the corridor for a brief moment before disappearing again.

The photograph remained in Nayra's hands.

For the first time, a forgotten name had returned to the Raichand mansion.

Aahana.

Meanwhile, across the hall, Riaan was sitting on the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone when Aarohi quietly entered the room. Without saying anything, she walked over and sat beside him, resting her head gently on his shoulder. A soft smile appeared on her face as she finally allowed herself to relax after the hectic days they had been through. Riaan glanced at her and lovingly ran his fingers through her hair. "Aaj shaam ko kahin chalogi mere saath?"

(Will you go somewhere with me this evening?)

he asked softly. Aarohi lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes immediately brightening at the idea. She nodded, then gently cupped his cheek with one hand. "Then be ready... today's our night." (Aaj ki shaam sirf hum dono ki hogi.) she whispered with a shy smile. Riaan raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised. "Oh? Aisa kya plan hai madam ka?"

(Oh? What exactly is madam planning?)

Aarohi simply smiled and rested her head back on his shoulder. "Secret." (It's a secret.) Riaan chuckled and pulled her into a warm side hug, already curious about what she had planned for their evening.

Vivan had been unusually quiet that evening, sitting near the balcony with his laptop open while Nayra sat beside him, occasionally stealing glances at him. After a while, she closed his laptop and pushed it aside. Vivan looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Kya kar rahi ho?" (What are you doing?) he asked. Nayra smiled innocently. "Aaj kaam nahi... aaj sirf hum." (No work today... today it's just us.) Vivan couldn't help but smile. He reached for her hand and gently intertwined their fingers. "Accha? Aur madam ka kya plan hai?" (Really? And what's madam's plan?) Nayra shrugged and rested her head against his shoulder.

"Bas aapke saath thodi der baithna hai." (I just want to sit with you for a while.) Vivan looked down at her, his expression softening. "Itna simple plan?" (Such a simple plan?) Nayra nodded. "Haan. Kyunki mujhe ab samajh aa gaya hai ki happiness ke liye hamesha kuch bada nahi chahiye."

(Yes. Because I've finally understood that happiness doesn't always need something grand.)

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Vivan gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and smiled. "Tum badal gayi ho, Nayra." (You've changed, Nayra.) She looked at him curiously. "Achha ya bura?" (For better or worse?) He leaned closer with a teasing smile. "Pehle se zyada pareshan karti ho." (You trouble me even more than before.) Nayra immediately hit his arm lightly, making him laugh. She tried to look annoyed, but her smile betrayed her. Vivan pulled her into a warm hug, and for a few peaceful minutes, the chaos surrounding their lives seemed far away.

Later that night, Vivan finally decided to leave for the office to deal with an urgent matter. Nayra stood at the entrance, watching him put on his coat. "Jaldi wapas aaiyega." (Come back soon.) Vivan smiled and gently touched her forehead. "Promise." (Promise.) He turned toward the door, then looked back at her one last time. "Aur haan, mera wait karna." (And yes, wait for me.) Nayra nodded with a smile. She had no idea that those simple words would soon become the reason she would desperately wish for his safe return.

The car disappeared through the mansion gates. For the first few minutes, everything was completely normal. Vivan sat in the back seat, going through a few documents on his phone while the driver continued along the highway. Suddenly, another vehicle appeared behind them. At first, it seemed like nothing unusual, but the driver noticed it too. He glanced into the rear-view mirror before looking at Vivan. "Sir..." he began cautiously. Vivan looked up. "Kya hua?" (What happened?) Before the driver could answer, the vehicle suddenly accelerated toward them. The driver tried to react, but everything happened within seconds.

The car swerved violently.

Vivan's phone slipped from his hand as the documents scattered across the seat. The driver desperately tried to regain control, but the vehicle crashed hard against the roadside barrier. The sound of breaking glass and metal filled the night before everything suddenly went silent. A few hours after Vivan's accident, the mansion was still unaware of what had happened. Meanwhile

Riaan and Aarohi were enjoying the evening they had promised each other. Riaan had taken her to a quiet little hilltop restaurant overlooking the city. Warm lights surrounded their table, soft music played in the background, and the cold breeze made Aarohi pull her shawl closer around herself. She looked around with a bright smile before turning toward him. "You actually planned all this?" (Aapne sach mein ye sab plan kiya?) she asked. Riaan leaned back with a proud smile. "Of course. You said tonight was ours, remember?" (Of course. Tumne kaha tha na ki aaj ki shaam humari hai?) Aarohi smiled and reached across the table, gently placing her hand over his. "I think I like this version of you." Riaan raised an eyebrow. "Only this version?" (Sirf ye wala?) She laughed softly. "Don't get too excited." (Zyada khush mat ho.) He chuckled and shook his head before ordering her favorite dessert. For a while, there were no family problems, no business troubles, and no secrets—just the two of them enjoying each other's company. After dinner, they walked outside, where the entire valley was covered in darkness and tiny lights shimmered in the distance.

Riaan gently wrapped his coat around Aarohi's shoulders. "Cold?" he asked. Aarohi nodded and moved closer to him. "A little." (Thodi si.) Riaan smiled. "Then stay close." (Toh mere paas raho.) Aarohi rested her head against his shoulder, smiling quietly. Neither of them knew that this peaceful moment would soon become one of the last memories they would have of a perfectly normal evening.

Later, they finally got back into the car. Riaan started the engine while Aarohi connected her phone to the music system. "One more song?" she asked. "One more," Riaan agreed. Their laughter filled the car as they drove through the quiet mountain road. Suddenly, Riaan's smile disappeared. His eyes caught something ahead—a massive truck coming toward them far too quickly. "Aarohi..." he said, his voice suddenly serious. She looked up. Before either of them could fully react, the truck swerved into their lane.

Riaan immediately turned the steering wheel.

The car avoided the direct impact but lost control near the edge of the road. Aarohi grabbed his arm as the vehicle skidded dangerously close to the cliff. "Riaan!" she cried. He reached for her hand and held it tightly. "Don't panic. I'm here." But the car continued sliding. For one terrifying moment, neither of them could do anything.

Then the vehicle broke through the roadside barrier.The car lurched forward and began sliding toward the slope below.Aarohi's hand remained locked in Riaan's.And somewhere far away, another phone suddenly lit up with a message:

"The second one is done."

The sender remained unknown.

( Sorry for late update pr yarr ye mere gaon me light to aise jati hai just like kirti leave the Raichand mension yarr eak to ye sawan ka vrat upper se light gayab hai 😭 please pray for me ki msi servied kr lu bss aaj ki raat yarr 🙃 )

Btw ye btao aage ke liye exited ho like abb hoga the real game suru 😁 don't curse me for upcoming chapters kyunki mai kuch bhi kr lu bina trauma likhe mujhe chain kaha

LOVE YOUHHHH