Sanskar took a few moments to collect himself, his expression still reflecting the turmoil of emotions that had just transpired. After a brief pause, he began to get ready, slipping into a maroon-colored three-piece suit that accentuated his chiseled features. The attire added a touch of sophistication to his already imposing presence, making him look undeniably handsome.

However, despite his polished appearance, Sanskar's eyes retained a hint of coldness, a glimmer of detachment that suggested he was still grappling with the intensity of his emotions. The warmth of the moment with Swara seemed to have been tempered by a deeper, more guarded part of him, leaving an intriguing contrast between his fiery appearance and icy gaze.

Sanskar's gaze fell upon the invitation card lying carelessly on the tea table, and his eyes locked onto the names printed on it: "Swara Bose With Vivian Mehta". A surge of anger and possessiveness coursed through his veins as he saw someone else's name attached to Swara, the woman who had unknowingly stirred something deep within him.

His fingers clenched, crumpling the invitation card in a fit of rage. The sound of the paper tearing seemed to echo his turmoil. Sanskar's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with thoughts of Swara belonging to someone else.

He swiftly picked up his phone and dialed a number, his fingers moving with a purpose. "Rahul," he said, his voice low and even, but laced with an underlying intensity.

Sanskar's grip on the phone tightened as he listened to Rahul's words. "Did you get the information?" he had asked, his voice firm.

"Yes, boss," Rahul replied, "his name is Vivian Mehta, working as a manager in a bank. He lives with his parents and brother."

Sanskar's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. The more he learned about Vivian, the more he disliked the idea of Swara being tied to him. A plan began to form in his mind, and he could feel his determination growing. "Find out more about him," Sanskar instructed Rahul, his voice cold and calculated. "I want to know everything."

Swara walked into Rahul's cabin, a sparkle in her eyes, and a playful smile on her face. "Arey, I'm here to give full information about my fiancé," she said, her tone teasing. "He is pretty hot, he is not like my boss, khadoos and boring."

Rahul looked taken aback as Swara snatched the phone from his hand. "Vivian knows how to treat a woman with respect and how to bring a smile on my face, unlike someone," she said, her gaze flashing with mischief.

The implication was clear - Swara was comparing Vivian favorably to Sanskar, and the jab wasn't lost on Rahul. He watched as Swara continued to taunt, her words hanging in the air like a challenge.

Sanskar's face contorted in rage as he hurled the phone across the room, watching as it shattered into several pieces upon impact.

The phone lay there, its screen cracked and dark, as if protesting the sudden violence with a dramatic "Mene kya kiya?" (What did I do?)

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As Lakshya navigated the car through the isolated building's entrance, the structure's aged facade seemed to whisper tales of abandonment. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the silence was oppressive. Yet, when Manik emerged from the backseat, dressed in a sleek black three-piece suit, his cold demeanor seemed to match the building's eerie atmosphere.

He walked towards the lift, his footsteps echoing off the walls, and pressed the button. The doors slid open, revealing not the expected floors above but a descent into the basement. The contrast was striking – the tidy and clean environment below ground was a world away from the neglect above.

In the basement, guards sat hunched over laptops, their faces illuminated by the screens as they worked with focused intensity. The air was crisp and controlled, a far cry from the musty smell above. Manik's presence seemed to command Attention, Power and Authority, as if he was a man accustomed to being obeyed and respected. His cold face and composed demeanor only added to the aura of control and dominance that surrounded him, making it clear that he was a force to be reckoned with.

As Manik walked further, the only sound was the echo of his footsteps, a deliberate and measured pace that seemed to heighten the tension. Lakshya stood at the doorway, a smirk spreading across his face as he gazed upon the goons lying on the cold floor, their bodies shivering with fear and pain. The visible bruises and marks of torture stood as a testament to their rough handling.

Manik's eyes scanned the scene, his expression one of genuine admiration. "Looks like achi khatirdari ki hai tumne, Lakshya. I'm impressed," he said, his voice dripping with approval.

"Now tell me who sent you to hurt my Jaan?" He questioned.

The goons' laughter was manic and unsettling, their eyes gleaming with a mix of defiance and desperation. One of them spat out blood-stained phlegm onto the floor, a crude display of their unyielding loyalty. "You think you will torture us and we will betray our boss? No way," one of them sneered, his voice laced with a stubborn resolve.

Their words hung in the air, Manik's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he studied the goons, searching for any glimmer of weakness. The silence that followed was heavy with anticipation, the only sound the labored breathing of the tortured men.

The other goon's smirk was a fleeting moment of triumph before the unthinkable happened. With a sudden, almost synchronized movement, three of the goons raised their hands to their lips, and their eyes gleamed with a mix of defiance and desperation. They bit down on their rings, releasing a hidden compartment that contained a lethal poison.

The sound of their labored breathing turned to convulsions, their bodies contorting in agony as the poison coursed through their veins. The air was filled with the sound of their choking, gasping for air, as they succumbed to the deadly dose. Manik's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze fixed on the goons as they slumped to the ground, lifeless.

The silence that followed was oppressive, the only sound the heavy breathing of Lakshya and Manik. The sudden turn of events left them stunned, the goons' loyalty and willingness to die rather than betray their boss a testament to the fear and control exerted by their mysterious employer.

Manik's face turned beet red with rage as he bellowed, "Damn it!" His voice echoed off the walls, making the guards flinch. "Didn't you take all their things? How can you all be so careless?" he shouted at his men, his anger and frustration palpable.

The guards stood frozen, their eyes cast downward in submission. The force gulped collectively, intimidated by Manik's furious gaze. No one dared to speak up or offer an excuse, fearing his wrath. The air was thick with tension, the only sound Manik's heavy breathing as he struggled to contain his temper. His angry eyes seemed to bore into the guards, as if daring them to make another mistake.

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The person sat in the darkness, a devilish grin spreading across his face as he watched the scene unfold on the large TV screen. He seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, his eyes gleaming with malevolence as he observed Manik's anger and frustration.

The camera fitted in the goon's eye had provided him with a front-row seat to the events, and the microchip had allowed him to hear every word, every cry of pain, and every shout of rage. He watched with an unblinking gaze as the goons took their own lives, a twisted sense of satisfaction crossing his face.

As Manik's anger reached a boiling point, the person chuckled to himself, clearly amused by the situation. He seemed to be in control, pulling the strings from behind the scenes, and enjoying the chaos he had unleashed. The darkness of the room seemed to suit his sinister nature, and the glow of the screen cast an eerie light on his face, highlighting his sinister grin.

The person's grin grew wider as he taunted Manik, his voice dripping with confidence and malice. "Avi tum bache ho, Manik Malhotra, (you are still a child Manik Malhotra)" he said, his words echoing with a sinister intent. "I'm an old player here, and by the time you learn the game I'm playing, you all will be trapped in my web, and Nandini Maheshwari will be mine."

His gaze fell upon Nandini's photo, and his eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity. "Enjoy your days, because soon you will see your death," he whispered, his voice barely audible, but the threat was clear. The darkness seemed to close in around him, as if it was a physical manifestation of the evil that lurked within. The screen flickered, and the image of Manik's anger and frustration disappeared, leaving the person to revel in his own twisted plans.

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Manik's anger dissipated, replaced by a calculating grin as he sat in the dimly lit interior of his car. The faint glow of the dashboard illuminated his face, casting an eerie light on his features. "You think fooling Manik Malhotra is easy?" he mused, his voice low and menacing. "You will send goons with a camera, and I won't come to know?"

He held up the tiny camera, extracted from the goon's body before disposal, and a cold smile spread across his face. "You may have started the game," he said, his eyes glinting with determination, "but I will end it." The words hung in the air, a promise of retribution and revenge. Manik's grin grew wider, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity. "Let's play, then."

Lakshya ended the call and turned to face Manik, his expression apologetic. "Sir, the team couldn't track the location of the camera," he reported. "It's highly protected with advanced technology, recently developed in London. It will take some time to crack the encryption and pinpoint the location."

Manik's gaze narrowed, his eyes flashing with impatience. The silence that followed was heavy with anticipation, as if Manik was already planning his next move. "I expected it, tighten the security around Nandu"

Lakshya nodded and quickly made the necessary arrangements, deploying his team of highly trained operatives to surround Nandini. They blended into the crowd, dressed in civilian clothing, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of potential threats.

Their presence was a silent reassurance, a protective shield around Nandini as she went about her day, unaware of the danger that lurked in the shadows. Lakshya's team was the best, handpicked for their exceptional skills and ability to operate discreetly. They would keep Nandini safe, no matter what.

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Swara gazed at her reflection, her eyes taking in the intricate details of her purple lehenga and the golden temple embroidery that sparkled in the light. The purple stone-studded necklace and matching jhumkas added a touch of elegance to her overall look. Her hair cascaded down her back, styled perfectly by the beautician.

But despite her stunning appearance, Swara's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake off the thoughts of Sanskar and the engagement she was about to enter into with Vivian Mehta. Her mother's words, though meant to be reassuring, only added to her turmoil. "Meri beti ko kisi ki Nazar na Lage," her mother said, applying a kaala tika behind Swara's ears, her eyes brimming with happy tears.

Swara's heart felt heavy as she wiped away her mother's tears. "Maa, don't cry," she said, trying to sound convincing. But her mother's words about Sanskar cut deep. "I'm glad you got rid of that unwanted relationship with Sanskar beta, I'm glad your life didn't get ruined, God saved you from a monster."

Swara's eyes blinked rapidly as she felt a pang of guilt. Her mother had no idea that this engagement was all a ruse, a desperate attempt to get Sanskar's attention.

As Swara looked at herself, she couldn't help but wonder if she was doing the right thing. Was it worth hurting her mother, who had always been her rock? The emptiness she felt after Sanskar broke off their engagement still lingered, and the memory of his hurt face haunted her. Despite knowing he was wrong, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she still wanted him. The thought sent a wave of uncertainty through her, leaving her questioning her own motivations.

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Hey readers! 👋

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