Raised in the cold shadows of a toxic family, YASHNA has learned to guard her heart. Love, to her, is nothing but a mask for manipulation, and trust is a rare commodity she can't afford. That is, until fate throws her into the path of VISHWANTH RAJU...
Ram's patience snapped. He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Of course you'd threaten me," he spat. "It's what your family does best, isn't it ? After all, you're Vishwanth's sister."
The air between them turned electric, the playful banter evaporating in an instant. Maya's face hardened, her eyes narrowing into slits. Without a word, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face. The sound echoed, cutting through the music and murmurs around them.
"Don't you ever," she hissed, her voice trembling with rage, "dare to call me Vishwanth's sister again."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Ram blinked, stunned. He opened his mouth to reply, but Maya wasn't done. She leaned in, her voice dripping with venom. "He's not my brother. He's just my father's son. That's all he is to me."
With that, she grabbed her clutch and stormed off, leaving Ram sitting alone amidst the stares of curious onlookers. The music continued to pulse, but the tension between them hung in the air long after she was gone.
Ram sat there, rubbing his cheek where her hand had landed, his mind reeling from her words. For the first time, he glimpsed the complexity of the woman he thought he knew,and the shadows of the family she so desperately wanted to escape.
............
Maya pushed open the heavy door of the grand Raju estate, her tears blurring the lavish interior. The chandeliers glittered above, and the polished floors reflected her hurried steps as she bolted inside. Standing in the doorway, Viraj watched her with concern etched on his face.
"Maya," he called out, his voice gentle yet firm. "What happened ?"
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
She didn't answer. Her chest heaved as she struggled to hold back sobs, her mascara streaking down her cheeks. Without a word, she stormed past him, her heels echoing in the silent hall.
In the living room, Vishwanth sat sprawled on the plush leather sofa, a cigarette between his fingers. The smoke curled upward in lazy spirals, the embers glowing faintly in the dim light. His sharp eyes caught Maya as she rushed past, her glare burning into him like an accusation.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
His chest tightened at the sight of her tears, his heart racing uncontrollably. But he didn't say a word. He remained rooted, his stoic mask firmly in place. He watched her ascend the staircase, her figure disappearing as she slammed the door to her room.
Viraj stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. His brows furrowed as he turned to Vishwanth. "She's upset. Something must have happened."
Vishwanth stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray and stood. His towering presence filled the room as he fixed Viraj with a steely gaze. "Find out what's going on," he ordered, his voice cold but laced with an unspoken urgency.
Viraj nodded, understanding the weight behind those words. He turned and left, leaving Vishwanth alone in the living room.
............
The night air was sharp and cold as Vishwanth stepped onto the sprawling balcony. The full moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting an eerie glow over the city below. He stared at it, his jaw clenched, the chill biting into his skin. But the cold couldn't temper the fire raging within him.
His mind replayed the image of Maya's tear-streaked face, her silent anger cutting deeper than any words could. He hated seeing her like that, yet he felt paralyzed, unable to bridge the chasm that had grown between them. His hand tightened around the phone in his pocket as he tried to suppress the turmoil brewing inside him.
The device beeped, breaking the stillness. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen. It was Viraj.
"What did you find out ?" Vishwanth asked, his voice as cold as the night.
"It's about Ram," Viraj replied, the sound of traffic in the background. "They had a fight. Maya's crying because of him."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Vishwanth's grip on the phone tightened, his knuckles turning white. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Bring that guy to me. Tomorrow morning."
"Consider it done," Viraj replied before the line went dead.
Vishwanth slipped the phone back into his pocket and exhaled deeply, his breath misting in the cold air. He looked up at the moon again, its serene light mocking his restless soul. The silence of the night offered no comfort, only a stark reminder of the battles he couldn't fight with fists or threats.
Tomorrow, he thought, as his eyes darkened. Tomorrow, this will be settled.
