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...
By the time Vishwanth returned to his mansion, the oppressive quiet of the estate greeted him like an old, familiar friend. The weight of his dual existence was always there, half businessman, half "Salaar". The world knew him as Vishwanth, the suave, composed tycoon with a successful empire. But beneath that polished surface was Salaar, the underworld don. The ruthless leader of an empire built on blood, fear, and loyalty.
His mansion was a sanctuary of sorts, but it also felt like a cage. He stepped inside, shedding his coat as he walked down the hall. His mansion was vast, cold as always and impersonal, just the way he liked it. His life, both business and personal, was governed by control and precision. There was no room for distractions, no place for weakness except yashna. He had learned that long ago.
As he passed the grand window overlooking the garden, he spotted Yashna sitting on the grass, sketching something intently. The cool evening air stirred her hair, and for a moment, she looked almost serene. A rare sight. She had been different lately, not as cold, not as distant. She still didn't speak much to him, but the hostility was gone. Maybe she had begun to accept the truth: that he was trying to protect her, even if she didn't want his protection.
Yashna wasn't a child, but in many ways, she reminded him of one, her innocence, her vulnerability. He had been protecting her ever since she came into his life, whether she realized it or not. His eyes softened just slightly as he watched her, but his thoughts quickly shifted as he saw Viraj and Jai, his two most trusted associates, standing in the shadows by the far end of the garden.
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The two men were speaking to someone, someone he didn't recognize. The stranger's face was obscured in the dim light, but there was no mistaking the tension in the air. It was the kind of conversation that needed to be private, the kind that was always about something serious.
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Vishwanth's instincts kicked in immediately. He didn't need to hear the conversation to know what was going on. This wasn't a friendly exchange; it was business, his own business. His mind shifted into gear, cold, calculating, and ruthless. The moment he stepped into this world, he became a different man.
He moved toward the trio, his steps deliberate and measured. As he approached, Viraj and Jai straightened, acknowledging him without a word.
The stranger didn't flinch. He must have known who he was dealing with.
"Who's this ?" Vishwanth's voice was low and commanding, every word dripping with authority.
The stranger looked up, his eyes flashing with nervous recognition. The moment his eyes met Vishwanth's, he knew the weight of the man standing before him.
"Business," the man said simply, holding out a small envelope.
Vishwanth took it without a word, his gaze never leaving the stranger's face. He opened it with practiced precision. Inside was a single sheet of paper, its contents revealing everything he needed to know.
The message was clear: The time for negotiations was over. Salaar's empire was expanding once again.
Vishwanth's lips curled into a cold, almost imperceptible smile. He wasn't in "Vishwanth" mode anymore. This was Salaar's world, where blood was the currency, and loyalty was the only thing that mattered.
It was time to act.
The storm was coming, and Salaar would be ready.
..........
Vishwanth had just finished inspecting the details in the envelope when Viraj walked towards him quickly, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a rare urgency. There was a noticeable tension in his stride, something off, something that immediately put Vishwanth on alert.
"Vishwanth," Viraj said, his voice low but rushed. "We've got a problem. It's about Tanya... and Rahul."
Vishwanth's eyes narrowed, his instincts immediately flaring to life. He was about to ask what it was, but the gravity in Viraj's tone stopped him cold. He wasn't sure if he was ready to hear it.
"Rahul's dead," Viraj continued, his words hanging in the air like a heavy weight. "They found him this evening. It's... it's a suicide."
Vishwanth's chest tightened, but his face betrayed nothing. There was no flicker of shock in his expression, no rise of emotion, he was still the calm, calculating man he always was.
"Suicide ?" he asked, his voice is smooth, controlled, like he hadn't just heard something that could change everything. He was a master of masking his emotions, even when the news hit hard. Rahul had been a player in the game, Tanya's boyfriend, someone who had ties in more places than one, even if his relationship with Tanya hadn't seemed to hold much weight in Vishwanth's eyes. But the fact that someone connected to her had died like this ? That raised alarms.
Viraj nodded, his jaw tight. "Yes, the cops found a note. They're calling it a suicide, but....." He hesitated, clearly unsure of how to proceed. "It doesn't feel right, Vishwanth. Too many things don't add up."
Vishwanth's brow furrowed slightly, but his voice remained steady, like he was discussing a business transaction. "What do the cops say about it ?"
Viraj shook his head. "They've confirmed that it's suicide, but we don't know if it's truly the whole story. The investigation is going on. There was no sign of a struggle, nothing to suggest foul play. But the note, there's something off about it. I can't shake it."
Vishwanth paused, his mind running calculations faster than a man could blink. Rahul wasn't a saint, but he wasn't weak. He had too many connections, too many alliances, for this to be a simple act of despair. A person like him didn't go out like that. Not without something bigger behind it. Moreover he is a starkid with 2 elder generations with connections in industry.
Then Jai, who had been silently listening in the background, stepped forward. "This is bigger than just Rahul," he said, his voice laced with a low, knowing edge. "Tanya's involved, no doubt. She's a major player in this, always has been. But the question is : Why ? Why is someone going after her people ? And why the hell are they targeting Yashna ?"
At the mention of Yashna's name, Vishwanth's blood turned cold, and for the first time that night, a flicker of emotion crossed his face, a flash of anger that was almost imperceptible but enough to shift the air in the room. His fists clenched involuntarily, the sudden surge of tension making his body rigid. He didn't let his anger show, but it was there, dark and consuming.
