दूर रहकर भी जो धड़कनों के पास हो,वो एहसास हो तुम,
मेरी बरकत और मेरी मुस्कुराहट,की तक़दीर हो तुम,
मेरी कायनात जिसमें सिमट जाये,वो आइना हो तुम,
तेरी हर नवाज़िश मेरी इबादत,मेरे थके दिल का सुकून-ए-बसेरा हो तुम!
~ Author Nihu
A question kept arising in his mind how could a stranger provide him with the kind of tranquility he hadn't been able to find in his own home for years? He also couldn't stop thinking about the fact that he had called a complete stranger his "heartbeat," and he had meant it from the bottom of his heart. The thought of Nisha felt like a balm to the turmoil in his mind. Lost in these reflections, he eventually drifted off and fell into a deep sleep.
~: The Next Morning :~
Outside, the darkness of dawn still lingered, but there wasn't a trace of exhaustion in Nisha eyes. At exactly 5:00 AM, her laptop screen flickered to life once again. The blue light emanating from the screen washed over her face like a scanning laser. She was scrutinizing the spreadsheets one last time every digital entry told a lie, and it was Nisha's job to find the truth buried within those deceptive pages.
By 6:00 AM, she began getting ready. This time, she chose something different. All White. A crisp white shirt paired with matching white jeans. While the color often symbolizes peace for Nisha, it was a mark of her objectivity. She pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail, a look that accentuated the sternness and discipline written across her features.
Before leaving, she picked up her Government ID card. Instead of wearing it around her neck, she discreetly tucked it into the inner pocket of her bag, for an IRS officer an ID is the ultimate weapon, to be revealed only at the decisive moment. Reaching into her bag, she felt the Official Brass Seal. The cold touch of the metal served as a reminder that today, many vaults and many secrets were about to be sealed forever.
At 6:30 AM, she dialed the Inspector. Her voice carried its trademark precision.
"Has the team moved out? Ensure all vehicles are civilian, no noise. Remember, we need a balance of caution and conviction. We hit the target at 07:00 sharp."
Hanging up, she grabbed her house keys. Standing at the threshold, she took a deep breath. The morning air was cold, but her resolve was burning. She stepped out to dismantle that "Unstable Equilibrium" created by this massive financial fraud. For her, this wasn't just a raid, it was like solving a complex mathematical equation, one where there was absolutely no margin for error.
With a purposeful stride, Nisha stepped out of her house. She approached her car a sleek, unmarked vehicle that blended perfectly into the early morning shadows. The metallic click of the door unlocking echoed through the quiet street.
Settling into the driver seat, she tossed her bag onto the passenger side and gripped the steering wheel. Her knuckles were white, matching the sharp intensity of her attire. She ignited the engine, its low hum was the only sound in the silent neighborhood, like a predator waking up.
She didn't glance back at her home. Her focus was locked on the road ahead and the 07:00 AM deadline ticking in her mind. Shifting into gear, she pressed the accelerator and drove away, disappearing into the gray mist of the dawn. The hunt had officially begun.
The clock struck exactly 6:35 AM. The morning sun was just beginning to break through the sky, but a heavy, peaceful silence still blanketed the entire house. Sleep, however, was miles away from Reyansh's eyes. He had been up since dawn and was now fully ready, making sure not to utter a single sound. His intention was crystal clear he wanted to slip out of the house while the rest of the household was still asleep, or at least before anyone crossed his path. He desperately wanted to avoid any confrontations, conversations, or even a fleeting glance from anyone. As he walked out of his room with heavy steps, the house was quiet. No one saw him leave...except Prisha.
Prisha hadn't slept a wink all night. She knew Reyansh all too well, she knew he would leave as early as possible just to avoid running into anyone, especially her. Her heart ached. She couldn't bear the thought of her son leaving on an empty stomach. It was a mother's instinct she had risen even before him to cook a warm breakfast, but her hands were tied. She knew Reyansh was so deeply resentful that he didn't even want to look at her face. If she approached him herself, he would likely walk away without even touching the food.
Yet, a mother's love always finds a way. Prisha had quietly slipped into the kitchen and prepared his favorite breakfast ahead of time. As Reyansh headed down toward his car at 6:35 AM, Prisha watched him from behind the curtains of her balcony. Her eyes welled with tears, but her heart held nothing but blessings for her son.
She quickly called one of the house helps, handed over the breakfast tiffin, and whispered
"Give this to Reyansh Baba. And remember, tell him that Bebe had asked last night to prepare breakfast for him this morning. Do not mention my name at all."
The helper rushed over to Reyansh and repeated the exact words Prisha had coached him to say. Reyansh accepted the tiffin, the tension on his face softening slightly. He was entirely convinced that his beloved Bebe had sent it for him. Without a shred of doubt, he placed the breakfast inside the car.
Watching this entire scene from the balcony above, a serene smile graced Prisha's lips. Reyansh hadn't accepted the food knowing it was from her, but her love had reached her son regardless. For Prisha, that was more than enough. This tiny, secret victory brought immense happiness to her aching heart.
With the breakfast secured, Reyansh stepped into his car and started the engine. He wasn't heading straight to the office. There were several critical files and urgent tasks that required his undivided attention, away from the usual office distractions. Therefore, he directed his car toward the quiet solitude of his farmhouse.
While on the road, he dialed his PA, instructing him to grab the necessary documents and meet him directly at the farmhouse. Amidst the fresh morning breeze, his car sped away into the distance.
Meanwhile, Nisha arrived outside the targeted house. The moment she pulled up and parked her car, her backup team arrived right on cue, blocking the exit routes. They gathered at the main gates of Agarwal Villa and rang the doorbell.
Nisha turned to her team, her voice low but commanding. "Listen up, everyone. We need to stay absolutely sharp. This target must not get a chance to escape, and we cannot afford to miss a single piece of evidence. Who knows? Along with the black money, this raid might finally unearth the truth behind all of his other dark crimes."
"Yes, Ma'am!" the team replied in unison, checking their gear.
They continued to ring the doorbell for a while. Finally, a few of Neil's security guards opened the door, looking annoyed. "What are you doing here? Who are you?" one of them demanded.
Before they could block the entrance, Nisha and her team pushed past them into the villa, immediately taking control of the perimeter. Nisha flashed her official search warrant right in the guard's face. "Income Tax department. We have a warrant to search these premises," she said coldly. Her team was already spreading out, executing their pre planned positions. The guards stood frozen, unable to do anything, they knew better than to obstruct law enforcement officers on duty.
Upstairs, completely oblivious to the chaos below, Neil was fast asleep. Down in the hallway, his men frantically tried calling his phone, but there was no response. Desperate, a couple of guards ran up to his suite, pounding loudly on the door and calling out his name.
The relentless, heavy banging finally jolted Neil awake. Furious at the disruption, he ripped the door open and immediately began screaming at his men. He was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Inside the room behind him, a housemaid lay terrified in his bed Neil had forced her to come to his room against her will the previous night.
"What the hell is wrong with you idiots?!" Neil barked, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "What kind of catastrophe has struck that you're ruining my sleep this early in the morning? Let me sleep! Whatever the matter is, handle it yourself. If anyone gets in your way, shoot them dead! Just don't bother me!"
Downstairs, Nisha's team was already turning the ground floor and the main hall upside down. They worked with ruthless efficiency. Investigators whipped out pocket knives, slashing open the expensive leather sofas to check for hidden cash or documents within the lining. They cleared off the tables, inspecting the undersides and tapping the wood for hollow compartments. Pillowcases were ripped open, and the cotton stuffing was pulled out and scattered as they searched for hidden ledgers or flash drives. Every single room was being dismantled systematically wardrobe drawers were pulled completely out, and heavy paintings were torn off the walls to check for hidden safes built into the brickwork.
"Sir! There is a raid at the house! Come quickly and handle this, or everything will be destroyed!" the guard stammered, panic raw in his voice.
Neil froze, completely shocked. For a second, the breath was knocked right out of him, leaving him speechless as the reality of the situation crashed down on him. Struggling to regain his composure, he gripped his man's shoulder and hissed, "You handle them for now. Act completely normal in front of whoever is downstairs. I'm coming."
He turned back into the room, rushed into the washroom to throw on some proper clothes, and hurried out. The moment he cleared the room, the maid inside quickly adjusted her messy clothes and slipped out into the corridor. Having overheard the frantic conversation between Neil and his guard, her heart was racing with a sudden, desperate spark of hope. Please, God, she prayed fervently under her breath, let his true face be exposed before the police today. Let me finally be free from this hell. He is an absolute monster.
Downstairs in the main hall, Neil's right-hand man was already trying to weave a web of distractions around Nisha. "Madam, please, why are you putting yourself through all this unnecessary trouble?" he said, spreading his hands with a practiced, casual smile. "Look around, you won't find a single illegal thing here. Our sir is an incredibly noble, decent man. He could never do anything wrong. In fact, did you know he donates massive amounts to orphanages? He sends free food for the children every single day! A man who accumulates so much spiritual merit daily do you honestly think he could be a criminal?"
Nisha didn't give him the satisfaction of an angry reaction. She kept her face completely expressionless, her eyes tracking the movements of her team. "We'll find out soon enough just how good your sir really is," she replied coldly. "Just wait."
Right then, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed from the grand staircase. Neil was walking down. The moment his eyes landed on Nisha, his predatory instincts kicked in. His gaze swept over her sharply, a vile thought crossing his mind, Wow, she's a stunning piece. I wonder if she has a price. If money can buy her, I won't just keep her for a night I'll give her a permanent place in my bed.
Hiding the filth in his mind behind a mask of polished righteousness, Neil approached Nisha, putting on his best act of a law abiding, mistreated citizen.
"Madam, you are suspecting me completely without reason," Neil said, his voice dripping with smooth, fake humility. "If I were greedy for black money, why would I employ so many jobless people in my factories? Why would I donate relentlessly to orphanages where there is absolutely no profit for me? I even ensure wholesome, home cooked food is sent to those children every single day. If I were a corrupt man, why would I bother? Let me tell you, forget about a formal complaint, not a single child has ever even fallen sick from the food I send. Tell me, why would I do all this if I were just a greedy criminal? What would be the point?"
Nisha didn't back down by even an inch. She looked him dead in the eye, her voice dropping to a calm, dangerous whisper. "Just wait. Everything will become clear very soon."
Behind her, the raid was reaching its peak. The lead investigators and the search parties were entirely focused on their work, ignoring the drama in the hall. Having thoroughly dismantled and searched every corner of the ground floor, the teams split up with military precision some headed up the stairs to the first floor, a few climbed up toward the terrace, while another unit moved out to systematically comb through the backyard. Every single square inch of the estate was being searched under the unrelenting eyes of the law.
Despite hours of microscopic searching, the investigators came up completely empty handed. One by one, the exhausted team members trickled back into the main hall, defeated. The only high value items they had managed to recover from the massive villa were a single gold chain adorned with delicate diamond work, two diamond rings, and a loose stack of cash totaling around one to two lakh rupees. That was it.
They placed the meager findings on the table before Nisha. "Ma'am, this is all we could find," the lead investigator admitted, shaking his head.
A devilish, triumphant smile crept across Neil's face. He leaned back, practically glowing with arrogance as he looked at Nisha. "Ma'am, I told you right from the start you won't find anything illegal here. I am a simple, honest man. I spend my life serving people. I don't possess much wealth, my only true assets are the blessings of those poor children."
Nisha remained stone faced, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Turning her back on his smug display, she looked at her team and said sharply, "Wait here. I'm going to personally check the perimeter myself."
Neil chuckied, his voice dripping with faux concern. "Madam, why are you putting yourself through so much unnecessary trouble? You aren't going to find a single thing. I insist, don't stress yourself out. Let me ask my maid to prepare a fresh breakfast for you. Eat something, and if you'd like, you can even rest here for a bit. You look quite... nice. What I mean to say is, an exceptional officer like you shouldn't burn herself out over nothing."
Nisha didn't miss the underlying tone in his voice. Behind that mask of respectability, she could clearly read his sickening, predatory intentions. But she kept her focus locked on her primary target, bringing this man down completely. She knew that to make him pay for his horrific crimes, she needed unshakeable, devastating proof. Instead of wasting breath on words, she pierced him with a deadly, promise filled look that silenced his grin, then turned and walked away.
She began her own relentless search on the ground floor. She combed through every single room, checking every hidden corner and crevice, but found nothing. Refusing to give up, she bypassed the first floor for a moment and headed straight to the open terrace. There was a storage room built on the roof; she systematically searched it, scanning every square inch, checking the rafters and the dark corners, but it was completely clean.
Nisha descended the stairs to the first floor. She marched through the upper rooms, but her team had already done a thorough job there was nothing left to uncover. In the wide corridors, she stopped by the expensive sofas and chairs. They were already completely destroyed, their cushions ripped apart and cotton stuffing strewn across the floor by her officers. Even so, she double checked the frames herself. Nothing. She moved to the large decorative flower pots lining the corridor, digging through the soil, but found no hidden compartments.
Frustrated but analytical, Nisha turned around, preparing to head back down to the hall. But just as her foot hit the top step, something clicked in her brain. A sharp instinct told her she was missing a pattern.
Slowly, she stopped and cast a calculated gaze across the architectural layout of the first floor.
Her eyes scanned the grand circular balcony that overlooked the ground floor. There, arranged neatly at equal intervals, were five large flower pots. They were absolutely identical in shape, color, and design, sitting perfectly in five specific corners. It stood out because the rest of the floor didn't share this symmetry, there were eight bedrooms on this floor, and the flower pots placed directly outside those room doors were completely mismatched and random.
But these five specific, identical flower pots were positioned directly on top of the structural pillars supporting the mansion.
Nisha looked down over the railing to trace the architecture. On the ground floor, there were eight main pillars holding up the upper level. Three of those pillars had a completely different design. But the other five pillars were perfectly identical and the five identical flower pots on the first floor were resting precisely directly above those exact five identical pillars. It wasn't just interior decoration, it was a carefully calculated architectural alignment.
Nisha walked back toward the flower pots, her eyes narrowing as she began to inspect them all over again. Finding nothing on the surface, she tried shifting them around, but the layout still didn't make any sense. Driven by a sharp instinct, she moved from one pot to the next, examining each one with meticulous care. Yet, nothing stood out, and frustration began to simmer beneath her calm exterior.
By then, quite a bit of time had passed since Nisha had gone upstairs to investigate. Growing anxious, the rest of the team, along with Neil and his men, made their way up to the first floor. Finding Nisha hovering around the flower pots, Neil immediately grew tense, his mind racing through every rule and contingency he had prepared.
Nisha kept searching. Though she hadn't found any hard evidence yet, a subtle clue suddenly caught her eye. While all the floor tiles in the corridor were completely identical, the specific tiles directly beneath the pillars right under the flower pots were slightly different. A spark of realization hit her. Something is definitely wrong here, she thought.
Sensing her suspicion, Neil stepped forward, desperately trying to cover up the truth. "Ma'am, I've been telling you from the start, you won't find anything here. Look, you haven't found a single thing, have you? How much longer are you going to exhaust yourself? You should really take some rest."
Nisha completely ignored him. Earlier, she had merely been shifting the flowers aside to look beneath them. Now, losing patience, she aggressively ripped the flowers out and threw them onto the floor. She peered inside the empty pot. Seeing nothing, she smashed it open.
There, hidden against the inner wall of the shattered pot, a concealed button revealed itself.
Without a moment's hesitation, Nisha pressed it.
The moment her finger slammed into the button, the tiles directly beneath the flower pot clicked and slid open. A collective gasp echoed through the corridor. Everyone froze in sheer shock, while cold sweat began to bead on Neil's forehead.
As the tiles retracted, stacks of cold, hard cash came into view. The pillar was entirely hollow inside a mere facade designed for the sole purpose of concealing illicit money.
Wasting no time, Nisha systematically repeated the process with the remaining four flower pots. One by one, she smashed them and pressed the hidden triggers. Every single pillar was stuffed to the brim with cash. The entire room stood stunned at the massive hoard of wealth.
Nisha turned slowly to face Neil, a cold, mocking smile on her lips. "So, what were you saying earlier, Neil? That you're an innocent, respectable man? Well, your 'respectability' is on full display for all of us to see now."
On her cue, the investigative team moved in swiftly, restraining Neil and pinning his men.
Nisha walked up to him, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Why did you do all this? Start talking."
Even cornered, Neil's arrogance didn't waver. He smirked, his eyes scanning her disrespectfully. "Oh, come on, Madam. Why are you getting so angry? I have a better proposition. Why don't you become the mistress of all this wealth? Stay here with me forever. I swear to you, you'll never have to worry about a thing shopping, fine dining, lavish spending, whatever you want. You won't ever have to-"
Slap!
Before he could utter another word, Nisha's hand lashed out. The resounding crack of the slap echoed violently through the halls of the entire villa. Neil's head snapped to the side.
"Don't you dare," Nisha hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. "What else can one expect from a disgusting piece of trash like you? Don't you dare take my name or think about me with that filthy mouth of yours, or I will ensure you are never able to speak again. Stop trying to act smart and start talking. Did you build this entire house just to facilitate this? And how were these massive amounts of money transferred?"
Neil shut his mouth, glaring at her stubbornly.
Seeing his silence, a team member stepped forward. "Ma'am, leave it. He will only spill the truth once we torture him."
"No, no," Nisha replied, her gaze shifting deliberately from Neil to his trembling accomplice. "He is going to talk right now. Because if he doesn't... it's going to be an encounter."
The word "encounter" hit the room like a physical blow. Nisha noticed Neil's henchman visibly flinch, his eyes widening in sheer terror. She smirked inwardly. He knows everything, she realized, and he is about to break.
Nisha turned her sharp gaze away from Neil and locked her eyes onto his trembling accomplice. Stepping closer, she demanded the truth, but the man kept his mouth tightly shut, terror paralyzing his jaw. Without a moment's hesitation, she turned to a team member, snatched his service weapon, and raised it, pointing the cold steel barrel directly at the henchman's forehead.
"Speak," Nisha commanded, her voice dangerously calm. "Or this ends right here."
Sweat poured down the man's face. He raised his hands, shaking violently, ready to confess. "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything, Ma'am!"
"If you utter a single word, I'll hunt you down and kill you myself!" Neil snarled from behind, his eyes wild with desperation.
Nisha didn't even look back at Neil. She pressed the gun slightly harder against the henchman's head. "And if you don't speak, I will kill you right now. Choose."
Caught between a rock and a hard place, the henchman looked up in absolute despair. "Oh God... what am I supposed to do?!"
"Tell me the truth," Nisha assured him, her tone shifting to a calculated, reassuring coldness. "And I will personally ensure your safety. I will protect you from him."
That was the breaking point. The man cracked.
"This entire villa... it was engineered for this very purpose," the henchman stammered, his voice trembling. "Before the foundation was even laid, the blueprints were designed to incorporate these hollow pillars. It was all a front for a massive money laundering network."
He took a sharp breath and continued, exposing the entire operation. "The daily charity to the orphanage the food delivery was nothing but a cover story. The vans would leave this villa loaded with food, but on their return journey, they would stop at a secluded, private warehouse. There, the illicit cash would be packed into secret compartments beneath the empty food containers. Because it was an orphanage delivery, no one ever suspected or searched the vehicles."
Nisha's face remained stoic, though a cold ripple of disgust went through her. She wasn't entirely surprised, she knew exactly how low a monster like Neil could stoop.
Within minutes, the sirens wailed as police jeeps tore into the villa's driveway. Officers swarmed the area, swiftly arresting Neil and his men, dragging them out in handcuffs. Along with the police, a specialized treasury team arrived with currency-counting machines and secure cash-transit vans to officially seize the black money and transfer it to the government treasury.
The media, tipped off about the massive raid, rushed through the main gates like a tidal wave, cameras flashing and microphones raised.
But Nisha was a covert IRS officer. Maintaining her anonymity was paramount. Having studied the villa's architectural blueprints thoroughly the previous night, she knew every corridor and hidden exit. While the front entrance turned into a media circus, Nisha slipped out through a secluded back door.
Waiting for her in the shadows of the rear alley was one of her trusted team members, who had smartly brought her car around from the main gate.
At that exact moment, Reyansh was pulling out of a roadside restaurant just a short distance away, heading toward his farmhouse. As his car moved forward, something caught his eye. He caught sight of Nisha slipping discreetly into an unmarked car through the villa's back exit, whispering a final instruction to her team member.
Before Reyansh could process what he was seeing, a horde of reporters ran toward the back alley, desperately searching for the mastermind behind the raid. They had just realized that someone had taken down one of the most elusive financial criminals in the city.
The reporters surrounded Nisha's team member, shoving microphones into his face. "Where is the chief investigating officer? Who led this raid? We want an interview!"
The team member remained professional, blocking their view of the departing car. "The officer had urgent official business and has already departed the scene. No further comments."
Frustrated but unable to get more details, the media rushed back to the main entrance to interview the local police, settling for the story even though they had missed the real hero.
From a distance, Reyansh watched the entire sequence unfold. Hearing the exchange between the reporter and the operative, pieces of the puzzle instantly clicked in his mind.
A sharp smirk played on Reyansh's lips as a profound realization hit him. Nisha...she isn't just an ordinary woman. She is a secret IRS officer.
The police finished their work and cleared out, leaving behind a lingering tension that was finally beginning to settle. Without a word, Nisha made her way back home, slipping into her quiet routine as though the evening's chaos was just another ordinary chapter in her life.
Meanwhile, Reyansh was behind the wheel, driving down the open road, though his mind was miles away from the traffic. A smirk played on his lips, refuse to fade. Just yesterday, he had pinned her as a sweet, simple, ordinary girl. To find out she was actually a fierce, sharp undercover IRS officer was a twist he hadn't seen coming. This newfound side of her had completely captivated him.
On the passenger seat beside him, his phone buzzed intermittently, but the real distraction was coming from the car radio and dashboard display. Every news channel was buzzing with breaking updates about Nisha. Anchors were dramatically detailing how a secret IRS officer had single handedly taken down a notorious, long evaded criminal in one swift move.
Yet, looking at the empty seat next to him, Reyansh didn't see the fierce officer the media was talking about. Instead, he kept picturing her face from the night before, breathing softly and sleeping peacefully on his bed. The contrast between that innocent, sleeping girl and the ruthless officer was utterly fascinating to him.
Lost in this whirlwind of thoughts, he didn't even realize when he pulled into the driveway of his farmhouse.
Vishu, his PA and most trusted confidant, was already there waiting for him. The moment Reyansh walked in, Vishu jumped into action. Sensing there was work to be done, they immediately settled into the study. With a mountain of paperwork spread out before them, Reyansh forced himself to snap out of his daydream, pushing thoughts of Nisha to the back of his mind. Together with Vishu, he dove into the pending files, the quiet of the farmhouse now filled with the steady clicking of laptops and the rustling of pages.
Breaking the comfortable silence in the room, Vishu looked up from his laptop and said, "Sir, you came back remarkably early today. Bebe called me a while ago, asking about you. She was worried because your phone wasn't going through."
Reyansh reached into his pocket, remembering the dead device. "Yeah, the battery died. I didn't notice it earlier because I went to a restaurant and ended up leaving the phone behind in the car."
"Oh, I see, sir," Vishu nodded, pausing for a moment as if weighing his next words. He cleared his throat nervously. "By the way, sir... don't you think it's about time you get married?"
Reyansh immediately knew where this was coming from. A knowing smirk crossed his face, Bebe had clearly put Vishu up to this. Turning his sharp gaze toward his assistant, Reyansh said dryly, "Don't you think you're interfering a bit too much in my personal life instead of focusing on your work? I'm sitting here wondering whether I should get married or not, but maybe I should definitely start looking for a new PA first."
Vishu's face instantly fell, his playful courage evaporating. "Sorry, sir. My mistake," he muttered, quickly looking back down at his paperwork.
Amused by his PA's reaction, Reyansh softened his tone. "It's fine. Drop it and get back to work."
They worked in silence for a few minutes, but Vishu's curiosity was practically bursting at the seams. Unable to contain himself any longer, he ventured again, "Sir...you look exceptionally happy today. Is there a special reason?"
Reyansh leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "What do you want, brother? Am I not allowed to be happy?"
"No, no, sir, it's not that at all!" Vishu said quickly, waving his hands defensively. "It's just that you rarely ever laugh or smile, and today you can't seem to stop. That's why I asked."
"Right... but sir, tell me one thing," Vishu continued, his voice dropping to a gossipy whisper. "That girl from the hotel... she left without saying a word. We didn't even get to find out her name or address."
Reyansh's pen paused. "And what will you do knowing her name and address?"
"Nothing for me, sir! I was just thinking... what if she faces some trouble later on? We wouldn't even know."
A distant, genuinely warm look entered Reyansh's eyes as he thought of Nisha or rather, the formidable IRS officer she actually was. "She won't face any trouble, don't worry. My heartbeat is incredibly sweet, but she is equally strong. Nothing can touch her."
Vishu stared at him, completely baffled. "What on earth has happened to Sir?" he thought to himself, his mind racing. 'Ever since he saw that girl, he's been smiling nonstop for the past two or three days. It really looks like she stole his heart at first sight. Poor Sir... he went out to help someone and ended up losing his own heart. If the black market value of one human heart is around 10 lakhs, that means Sir just suffered a net loss of 10 lakhs today!'
Amused and slightly terrified by his own calculations, Vishu wisely kept his mouth shut. "Okay, sir," he said simply.
For the next few hours, both of them buried themselves in their work, the scratch of pens and typing filling the room. Once the pending files were completely sorted, they gathered their belongings and drove out toward the corporate headquarters.
Within half an hour, they arrived at the sleek office building. Reyansh walked straight into the quiet authority of his private cabin, his mind finally shifting into business mode. Meanwhile, Vishu gathered the freshly completed project briefs and headed down the corridor to brief the manager about the upcoming meeting.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Nisha had finally reached the quiet sanctuary of her home. The intense adrenaline from the operation had completely faded, leaving behind a deep, heavy exhaustion that settled into her bones.
She tossed her keys onto the side table, kicked off her shoes, and let out a long, weary sigh. For the rest of the world, she was the fierce, untouchable IRS officer dominating the breaking news channels, but right now, she was just a tired girl craving comfort. Leaving the chaos of the day outside her front door, she collapsed onto her bed, closed her eyes, and let herself drift off into a well deserved rest.
Meanwhile, at Reyansh's sprawling ancestral palace in the village, the morning sun had just begun to light up the grand courtyards. One by one, the family members started waking up, only to find out that Reyansh had already left long before dawn.
This news instantly soured the mood of his aunt, Deeksha. She was furious. She had meticulously planned to introduce him today to Kavya, the daughter of her best friend, whom she desperately wanted Reyansh to marry. But even though he had already slipped away to the city, Deeksha wasn't about to back down so easily. Stomping her feet in frustration, she marched straight into Bebe's room.
"Maa, look at this!" Deeksha burst out, sitting beside her with a scowl. "No matter what, I have to get Reyansh married to Kavya. You know what a wonderful girl she is, and she has been Reyansh's childhood friend!"
Bebe sighed softly, adjusting her spectacles. "Deeksha, Reyansh has never considered Kavya a friend. She is the one who keeps hovering around him forcefully all the time. I think we should look through the matches that Prisha is searching for instead, and select someone from there."
At the mere mention of Prisha, Deeksha's deep seated hatred flared up instantly. Her face contorted with jealousy as she scoffed, "Maa, Reyansh will never marry a girl of her choice, you know that right? And besides, that woman is just inherently evil!"
Bebe's calm demeanor vanished, and a flash of anger crossed her face. "What is this nonsense, Deeksha?! If you want Reyansh to marry a girl of your choice, go ahead and try, but do not speak about Prisha in that foul manner."
"Maa, first of all, please don't take her side," Deeksha countered, rolling her eyes dismissively. "And honestly, I don't care about her as long as she stays out of my way and doesn't interfere in my business."
"Fine, fine. She won't do anything, you don't worry about that," Bebe replied, trying to calm her down.
Seeing an opportunity, Deeksha leaned in closer, her tone shifting to a persuasive whisper. "Maa, I have a plan. I want to invite Kavya to stay over at our village palace for a few days. That way, she can live here, win Reyansh's heart, and then we can easily get them married."
Bebe looked doubtful. "Alright, you can invite her. But what's the use? Reyansh hardly ever stays here at the palace anymore, he lives at his farmhouse near the city."
A sly, triumphant smile spread across Deeksha's face. "I already have a solution for that, Maa. You will call him and tell him that your health isn't well. A little emotional blackmail, and he'll come running back to the village. Look, Maa, we are doing all of this for Reyansh's own good and happiness. Please, just say yes."
Bebe hesitated for a moment. She knew it was a trick, but ultimately, her deepest desire was to see her grandson settled and happy. Weighing the options, she finally relented. "Alright, I'll do it. I'll make the call."
Overjoyed, Deeksha stood up and practically floated out of Bebe's room, a victorious smile plastering her face. Left alone in the quiet room, Bebe let out a sigh, finding a strange sense of comfort in the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, Reyansh might actually grow to like Kavya, and this arrangement would finally lead to his marriage.
Once back in her room, Deeksha closed the door behind her and immediately dialed Kavya's number. Kavya, who seemed to be living with her phone glued to her hand, picked up on the very first ring. Deeksha didn't waste a single moment and relayed everything that had just transpired with Bebe, officially extending the invitation for her to come stay at the village palace.
On the other end of the line, Kavya gasped, her face lighting up with absolute joy. "Oh my god, Aunty! You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day! I've loved Reyansh since we were kids. Now, the day is finally coming when he will be mine, and we'll get married. And honestly, you worrying about convincing him is so funny just wait and see, I'll charm him into saying yes to this marriage in under two minutes!"
Deeksha smiled proudly, leaning back against her cushions. "Yes, my dear, that is exactly the kind of confidence I expect from you. I know you can pull this off."
"Of course, Aunty! After all, he's my childhood love," Kavya gushed, already imagining herself as the grand daughter in law of the palace.
"Alright then," Deeksha said, her tone turning business like but affectionate. "I'm going to hang up now. You start packing and head over, and meanwhile, I'll keep the next steps of our plan ready. I have a few things I need you to handle once you get here."
"Okay, Aunty! Love you, and thank you so, so much!" Kavya squealed.
"Bye, Aunty!"
Kavya disconnected the call, clutching her phone tightly against her chest as she let out a thrilled squeal. She was absolutely ecstatic. Finally, after years of watching from the sidelines, she was going to get exactly what she had always desperately wanted, a real chance at winning over Reyansh.
Kavya looked at herself in the full length mirror, a smug smile playing on her lips. She raised her hands, inspecting her fingers critically.
"First things first," she muttered to herself, tapping her chin."I need to get a manicure and a pedicure done. And definitely some stunning nail extensions. This time, when I go near him, I'm going to look absolutely flawless. Let's see how he manages to push me away then! I know him inside out he'll melt in just two minutes. It won't take him any time at all."
Convinced of her own charm and brimming with excitement, she spun away from the mirror. She quickly picked out a stylish outfit, got dressed, and grabbed her designer handbag. Leaving her room in a flurry of perfume and high expectations, she headed straight out the door to her favorite luxury parlor to get completely transformed for her grand entry into the palace.
Chapter End
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