I usually get around 2k reads, but only around 400 votes, so I'm setting a target. If I get more than 800 votes and 70 comments, I will upload the chapter on Friday afternoon; otherwise, it will be on Sunday. I will not delay much but please give your votes. Pleaaasssssseeeeeee....Setting a target also pushes me to write and deliver on time; otherwise, I tend to slack off. So, it's up to you guys when you want the update.

I hope you will like the chapter. Do give your comments, I love them. ❤️❤️

.

.

.

.

.

SHIVANSH'S POV:

We hadn't focused on our project for a long time, so I decided to check today how much work had been done so far and to see if my team, which is currently being led by Advay, is doing a good job or not.

 All the files are at Vedant's cabin, so I went there. I was entering his cabin when I heard Rhea and Inayat talking about something and mentioning my name in the adjacent waiting room. 

I had opened Vedant's cabin door but then closed it again and went near the waiting room to listen to what they were talking about. 

I wouldn't have done that, but since they were talking about me, I felt I had the right to hear them.

But what I heard next made my blood boil in anger. 

Inayat said she likes Vedant.

 Fuck! I will kill him this instant.

 I pulled out my gun. But then a thought crossed my mind that I had made the mistake of making decisions based on partial information before and I couldn't make that mistake again. So I decided to confront him first. 

When they saw me, I asked Rhea to leave because I didn't want her to hear our private conversation. She warned me not to hurt Inayat. Like really, I love her and wouldn't even think of hurting her, not even in my dreams.

I went towards Inayat, and she also started to leave, but I stopped her. She started shouting and telling me that she likes Vedant and hates me. 

Only I know how much I was controlling my anger, but then when it became too much, I said that I would kill Vedant. Then she said that she would kill me if I did so. Like really, she was threatening me. 

I laughed at it because if it meant dying for my Ina, I would happily do so.

But then she started saying all that about Ayesha and everything, and I had to say that she is the one and everything I told her the other day was just to make her jealous. 

I told her that she needs to accept that she loves me. At that moment, we heard a sound, and when we looked at the door, there stood Vedant, one hand on the door for support with his eyes widened, mouth open and brows furrowed.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

INAYAT'S POV:

I heard the door opening and a gasp, and when I looked towards the door, I saw Vedant standing there, looking shocked. Oh shit, I think he overheard us. 

Why does everyone have to hear everything today—first Shivansh, and now Vedant? I looked at Vedant and started moving towards him, but then I felt a sudden pull. 

It was Shivansh. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him, making me fall against his chest. I looked at Vedant again, and his eyes were glassy. He didn't say anything; he just turned around and left.

I tried to free my hands from Shivansh, but he wouldn't let go. I then yelled, "Shivansh, let go of my hands right now." But he just pulled me closer and said, "No, I won't let you go. You belong to me."

Now I was getting very frustrated with his behavior. I gathered all my strength, pushed him back, and shouted, " Shivansh listen carefully, First thing I am not a thing that I belong to you. You have no right to say that. 

And second, I don't love you, Shivansh. Just put that in your fucking head. I. LIKE. VEDANT, and I will be with him. Do whatever you want." 

Saying this, I quickly ran towards Vedant's chamber, but he was not there. I asked his personal assistant about him, and he said that Vedant had gone back home due to some emergency. So, I ran downstairs to the parking. 

He was sitting in his car, about to start it. I ran towards the car, and without saying anything, opened the door and got in, startling him.

Seeing me, he quickly pressed the brake again. After all that running, I was out of breath, so I was just taking deep breaths to calm myself down. After some time, I looked at Vedant, who was looking out the window. I tried holding his hand, but he pulled it back.

 I sighed and said, "Shivansh, can we just go to a calmer place with fewer people?" When I said this, he looked at me again with much more hurt in his eyes. Did I say something wrong? 

Oh shit. Fuck, fuck, fuck.....fuck me, I said Shivansh instead of Vedant. I closed my eyes, clenched my fists, and controlled my frustration. 

Then I looked at him again and said, "Vedant, I'm sorry, but please." He didn't say anything, just nodded and started driving.

He drove us to the nearby Marine Drive and stopped the car in a place that was almost empty, with hardly one or two people around. 

The drive was completely silent. He got out of the car and walked towards the sea, standing there gazing at the sea, folding his arms across his chest.

 I also got out of the car and went near him. I placed my hand on his arm and said, "Vedant, it's not what you think."

He didn't look at me but calmly replied, "I'm not thinking anything, Inayat. But after hearing what Shivansh said, I know there's something you're hiding from me. 

I'm not judging you, but I just want that when we talk, we clear out everything. When you feel comfortable sharing everything with me, come to me. I will wait for you."

Saying the last line, he looked at me for a few seconds and then moved his gaze back towards the sea.

Vedant's silence was louder than words. His eyes, windows to a storm of emotions, reflected pain and hurt.

 I placed my hands on his biceps, gently turning him to face me, our eyes locking. In a voice as calm as I could muster, I began, "Vedant, whatever happened between me and Shivansh is in the past. Can't we just leave it there?" 

My tone shifted to pleading, "I don't want to talk or discuss it anymore."

I withdrew my hands, the space between us thick with unspoken words, and stared at him, willing him to understand my plea. 

The cool breeze and the rhythmic sound of the waves added a strange mix of tension and peace to the moment. 

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Vedant stepped closer, his gaze piercing into my soul as if searching for answers. Finally, he asked the question that made my heart stop, "Do you really love Shivansh?"

I was paralyzed, my heart pounding in my chest. Words eluded me, my mouth sewn shut by the gravity of the question.

 My mind replayed my recent conversation with Shivansh, his confession of love still fresh. I saw the truth in his words but couldn't bring myself to trust him. His past actions were a betrayal, and his confession seemed more like a manifestation of guilt.

Gathering my thoughts, I finally spoke, "No, I don't love him. I used to, but now, I don't have any feelings for him."

Vedant searched my eyes for a long moment, then nodded, looking away. His voice was stern but filled with a fragile trust, "Okay, I believe you. I am trusting you, but let me tell you one more thing, Inayat." he again faced me.

 He leaned in closer still away from my touch, his gaze intense and his smile small and melancholic. "You are the first girl in my life." 

His words confused me, my brows knitting together. He continued, "You are the first girl I ever loved, Inayat, and I can't bear the pain of heartbreak from you. So please, don't ever betray me." 

His voice was barely a whisper, trembling with vulnerability.

Understanding his raw emotions, I smiled softly. "I will not do anything like that. And again, I no longer have feelings for him."

Vedant straightened, turning to face the sea once more, but this time with a smile. "So, are you ready to come to the U.S. with me and settle there, leaving your past behind?"

I took a deep breath, my resolve firm. "Yes, I will come with you and stay with you. I no longer have any relation with Shivansh, and I am willing to give you a chance. But—" 

I paused, sensing the tension rising in Vedant as he turned sharply towards me. "Right now, I don't have feelings for you. I mean, I don't love you, but in the future, as we spend time together, I believe I'll eventually fall for you."

He let out a sigh of relief, nodding. "Okay."

We stood there in comfortable silence, mesmerized by the serene scene before us. The peace that followed our chaotic conversation somehow soothed the turmoil inside me. 

The wind played with my hair, making it dance, while Vedant's shirt fluttered gently. The weather was peaceful, and I wished time would stop so I could just stand here, savoring the beauty of nature and the intoxicating presence beside me. 

Everything felt so relaxing in that moment.

After a long silence, Vedant spoke in a soft, calming voice, "Chalein wapas?"(Let's go back?)

I didn't want to leave, but I knew I had to. Internally, I sighed and replied with a tight smile, "Chaliye."( Let's go)

"A new and fresh start?" he asked, his voice tinged with slight hesitance, seeking assurance.

I looked at him, nodded, and a genuine smile crept onto my lips.

"Inayat?" he asked, his eyes cast downward.

"Yes?" I responded.

Hesitantly, he asked, "Haath... uhm... haath pakad lu?" ( Can I hold your hand?)

Oh my god, he was blushing. I chuckled softly and held his hand, intertwining my fingers with his. He looked at me, then down at our joined hands, a smile spreading across his lips.

We walked to the car, and he opened the door for me. We sat inside, and as we drove away, I felt a new sense of hope and warmth fill the air between us.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

VIKRANT'S POV:

When I ended the call, informing my man about changes in the plan, I turned back and saw Trisha standing in front of me, her eyes wide open, brows knit, and her face a mask of sheer horror. 

My phone slipped from my grip, falling to the ground with a loud thud, snapping us both out of our thoughts.

"What are you doing here, Trisha?" I asked, my tone a mix of anger and forced calmness, my eyes glaring at her, teeth gritting.

She turned her back and went to close the door, making me more curious about what she was trying to do. 

"Trisha, why are you locking the door?" I asked again, this time my voice a bit higher, tinged with irritation. After locking the door, she took a few steps towards me and stood inches away, glaring at me.

 "Vikrant, who were you talking to? Who were you talking about killing just now? What are you, really? Answer me, Vikrant!" She bombarded me with questions, not giving me a chance to speak or explain.

I felt irritation boiling inside me, her relentless questions poking at wounds I'd tried to bury. "SHUT THE FUCK UP, TRISHA!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the room, making her flinch and stop questioning.

I took a deep breath and slowly started to walk towards her. She was scared of me, evident as she stepped back until she was stopped by the locked door. 

I hovered over her, leaning in close. She looked so small in front of me, her mouth parted, and lips trembling with fear. She licked her lips but still looked into my eyes.

"It has nothing to do with you, and it's none of your fucking business. Got that?" I said in a husky voice, trying to control my anger while threatening her. 

Her doe-like innocent eyes were calming my rage. I straightened up, took a deep breath, trying to compose myself, and looked down at her.

 "Stay out of this, or you'll regret it," I warned, stepping back and walking towards the shelf of my files and took out one to read to distract myself from her and her questions.

She started to walk towards me again, stomping her foot in anger and standing before me. I looked up from my file, at her, my head tilted, and brows knit, curious about her daring. 

Her hands were clenched into small fists. I cocked up one brow, silently asking 'what else she wanted.'

"I...I didn't g..get my answer, Vikrant," she stuttered in her soft, little voice. She was scared of me but still had the audacity to ask.

I scoffed before saying, "Didn't you hear me, Trisha? It's none of your fucking business and fucking Stay out of it." My jaw clenched, and my hands folded into tight fists.

As I finished speaking, I saw tears emerging in her eyes, her chin wobbling, and her lips trembling, forming a little pout. But in an instant, she forced back her tears and sniffed before speaking in a stern voice.

"Vikrant, whatever you are doing is wrong. How can you say it's none of my business? I am a human being.

 How can I not react and ask questions after hearing you talk about killing someone? You're taking someone's life. How can you do this?" when she didn't get any answer from me, she sobbed. 

And repeated her question "Vikrant, how can you do this?"

Her questions pierced straight through me, like shards of glass into an open wound. She had lived in the illusion of my goodness, and now, faced with the reality of my darkness, she crumbled before me. 

In her eyes, I saw shattered trust and a desperate plea for reassurance. 

Why did my actions weigh so heavily on her soul? Was it the fear of losing faith in someone she cared about, or the horror of confronting the capacity for cruelty within me? 

I didn't have the answers, only the haunting realization of how deeply I had wounded her.

I was pulled out of my chain of thoughts when she shook my body, asking again, "Vikrant, how can you do this? How can you kill someone?" Her tears spilled from her eyes, which she had tried hard to hold back.

"STOP IT, TRISHA!" I roared, but she didn't let go of my hands. I abruptly pulled my hands back, blinded by anger. 

And again shouted "How can you judge me without knowing my side of the story? You have no right to judge me, Trisha. And YES, I WILL KILL THEM. I WILL TAKE MY REVENGE!" My breaths became uneven from shouting. 

I came closer to her, leaning in, my heart aching from flashbacks of that horrific incident. "You know why?" my voice broke, "Because he killed my parents. He took away my parents from me, Trisha." the last sentance came out as a whisper.

"What do you mean, 'he killed your parents,' Vikrant?" she asked, her voice softening.

Her question made me weak, and I broke down in front of her. My knees felt weak and could no longer support my weight. It felt as the ground was slipping under my feet, I knelt on the cold floor, my chest aching, struggling to breathe.

 I covered my face with my palms, tears streaming down. The pain of their absence haunted me. He took away, them from me and Vidhi.

I felt Trisha's soft touch on my back, comforting me. She took my head and placed it under her chin, trying to calm me down. 

I couldn't bear this pain. "What has happened, Vikrant? Why are you doing this? You're not a bad person. Then why are you trying to be one?"

I lifted my head from her embrace and looked into her eyes. "Because he murdered my parents. He took them from me, and now I want revenge. 

He ruined my life and took away my parents from Vidhi and me. I am left alone Trisha. And I will do the same with them, I will ruin them and will leave them with nothing"

Trisha cupped my face with both hands, her warm touch sending electric jolts through me, making me shut my eyes. Her thumbs wiped my tears away.

 She gently pulled my face closer, pressing her forehead to mine. "I'm here for you, Vikrant. Always by your side. Tell me what happened," she whispered, her breath fanning over my face.

I opened my eyes to see her already looking at me. She withdrew her hands from my face and hugged me tightly. We stayed in that position for I don't know how long. 

After breaking the hug, she intertwined our hands, giving me constant comfort. I told her everything, sometimes sobbing, sometimes seething with anger.

Her unwavering support was a lifeline in the storm of my emotions. I felt the weight of my past, my pain, and my vengeance, but for the first time, I also felt a glimmer of hope.

 Trisha's presence was a balm to my wounded soul, and as I poured out my heart, I realized that maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this darkness.

As I finished pouring out everything about my parents, my eyes remained fixed on the floor, feeling numb and drained of all emotion.

 Trisha's arms enveloped me in a tight embrace, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold emptiness inside me. I could feel her body trembling with sobs, and I held onto her as if she were my anchor in a stormy sea. 

Tears streamed down my face unchecked, each one a testament to the pain that had haunted me for so long.

After what felt like an eternity in her embrace, Trisha lifted my chin gently, guiding my gaze to meet hers. 

Her eyes, usually so full of warmth and understanding, now reflected a deep sorrow tinged with determination. She pressed her forehead against mine, her lips brushing softly against my forehead in a gesture of comfort. 

The intimacy of that moment sent a shiver down my spine, reminding me of the fragile humanity that connected us amidst the turmoil.

When I finally opened my eyes, Trisha was standing beside me, offering her hand for support. I looked at her hand, then at her face, which bore a soft, reassuring smile. 

Returning her smile faintly, I placed my hand in hers and allowed her to help me stand. Without a word, she guided me to the bed and sat down, patting her thighs gently, a silent invitation for me to lay my head on her lap.

It took a moment for her gesture to register, the weight of her unspoken comfort sinking in. With hesitant movements, I eased myself onto the bed and slowly rested my head on her lap. 

Trisha's hand began to stroke my hair with a gentleness that spoke volumes of her compassion. The rhythmic motion was incredibly soothing, and despite my inner turmoil, I found myself closing my eyes to savor the rare moment of peace she offered.

After what seemed like a lifetime of shared silence, Trisha spoke softly, her voice breaking through the stillness like a whisper of reason amidst chaos. "Vikrant, your father sacrificed his life to save him." 

The mention of my father's sacrifice pierced through the haze of my emotions, stirring a mix of sorrow and unresolved anger within me. I turned to face Trisha, searching her eyes for understanding.

She smiled gently, her touch a balm against the turmoil raging inside me. "Are you going to let his sacrifice go in vain like this? Will you waste his sacrifice by seeking revenge, Vikrant?" 

Her words resonated deeply, challenging the darkness that threatened to consume me. I furrowed my brows, trying to grasp her meaning amidst the turmoil of my thoughts.

"Try to understand what I'm telling you, okay?" Trisha continued, her voice gentle yet firm. I nodded slowly, silently urging her to continue.

 "Right now, you feel compelled to seek revenge for a reason. But what if he too had his reasons? What if there's a misunderstanding between you two, Vikrant? You can resolve it by talking to him."

My mind raced with conflicting emotions, grappling with the complexity of her words. "Okay, let's say he's in the wrong," Trisha reasoned softly, her words like a lifeline in the storm. 

"But Vikrant, you're not the one to administer any form of punishment. You should have patience with the creator of you and this world. Karma will come back to him, but don't let yourself and your morals be tainted by committing a crime."

"No!" I erupted, sitting up abruptly beside her. Trisha flinched slightly, instinctively moving away. 

Regaining control of my emotions, I continued more calmly, "Trisha, I don't know what to do anymore. All I know is that this fire of vengeance can only be extinguished with his blood. I won't let him find peace.

 I'll ruin his life just as he ruined mine. Even if it costs me my life in the process, I won't regret it. My sole purpose now is to destroy him and make him regret everything he did to me." My breathing became uneven as I poured out my heart.

Softly, Trisha placed her palm on my cheek, her touch grounding me in the midst of my turmoil. "Vikrant, just think about Vidhi for once," she implored gently. 

"She only has you as family. God forbid, what if something happens to you in this pursuit? What will happen to Vidhi, Vikrant?"

The mention of Vidhi struck a chord deep within me. She was my sister, my responsibility. The weight of my actions and the potential consequences began to sink in.

 Trisha's words echoed in my mind, urging me to reconsider, to think beyond my pain and anger.

"I... I don't know, Trisha," I admitted softly, tears welling up in my eyes once more. "But I can't let go of this hatred. It's consuming me."

Trisha sighed, her eyes reflecting both concern and unwavering determination. "I understand your pain, Vikrant. But sometimes, letting go takes more strength than holding on."

Her words hung in the air, stirring something deep within me. Could I find the strength to let go of my thirst for revenge? Could I face my demons and choose a path that didn't lead to more darkness? 

The battle within me raged on, torn between the desire for justice and the longing for peace.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Did you like the chapter?

And please do vote..🙏

And also let me know your honest views on the story..

And do follow my Instagram ID : ritiiwrites24 for spoilers and more

Thank You...💞