Harvey's POV –
I was lying on my bed, scrolling through random posts, enjoying a rare work-free day when a sudden realization hit me.
I haven't talked to Aish since last night.
Frowning, I grabbed my phone. No messages. No missed calls.
Panic gripped me. This wasn't like her. Even when she was buried under work, she always sent a quick text.
I immediately dialed her mother.
Ring… Ring… Click.
Harvey: "Hello, Aunty! When was the last time you spoke to Aish?"
Aish's Mom (concerned): "Yesterday, around 8 P.M. Why, beta? Is everything alright?"
My stomach twisted. I forced a calm tone.
Harvey: "Oh! Yeah, everything's fine! Actually, Aish told me she'd be busy with a project, so she asked me to pass a message to you. She's sorry for not calling and loves you!"
I hated lying to her. She was like a mother to me. But telling her the truth now would only make her panic.
Aish's Mom (relieved): "Ohh, that girl! She always forgets to rest when she works. Thank you, beta! You're such a good friend."
Harvey (chuckling): "Of course, Aunty! I'll talk to you later. Bye!"
As soon as the call ended, the fake calmness dropped.
Something was wrong.
I dialed Aish's number.
Ring… Ring… Click.
A deep, unfamiliar male voice answered.
??? (cold, detached): "Who's this?"
My heart stopped.
Who the hell is this?!
Harvey (sharp, demanding): "Who are YOU, and why the f*** do you have Aish's phone? Where is she?"
Raahithya (mocking amusement): "Tch. She's… unavailable right now."
Harvey (furious): "WHAT? Are you a thief? A kidnapper? I swear I'll call the police if you don't give the phone to her!"
Before he could respond, a calmer voice took over.
Veer: "Hello, this is Veer. Please don't panic. We didn't steal her phone."
Harvey (skeptical): "Then what the hell is going on?"
Veer hesitated.
Veer: "Aishwarya is in the hospital."
The room tilted.
Harvey (whispering): "What…?"
Veer: "She had an accident. A fracture, dizziness, and some minor injuries. But she's stable. I promise, the moment she wakes up, I'll have her call you."
My grip on the phone tightened.
Harvey (low, warning): "You better f***ing keep that promise."
Veer: "I will."
The call ended.
My mind was racing.
Something wasn't right.
And I was going to find out what.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Hospital –
Raahithya sat beside Aishwarya's bed, gently holding her right hand.
His usual arrogance was absent. In its place was something far more dangerous—obsession.
His phone buzzed.
📩 Babe: Hey
📩 Babe: Answer me
📩 Babe: Are you okay??
📩 Babe: You're making me worry
📩 Babe: Hey!
His grip on her hand tightened.
Who the f is 'Babe'?*
Before he could block the number—
Phone buzz.
Raahithya: "Who's this?"
Harvey: "Who the hell is this?!"
Harvey (sharp, demanding): "Why do you have Aish's phone? Where is she?"
Raahithya (mocking, slow): "Tch. She's… unavailable right now."
Harvey (furious): "Are you a thief? A kidnapper? I swear I'll call the police if you don't give the phone to her!"
Raahithya threw the phone to Veer.
Raahithya: "Handle her. I have no interest in entertaining her friend."
Veer sighed, taking the phone to smooth the situation.
Then—
Aish stirred.
Her eyelashes fluttered, a soft groan escaping her lips.
Raahithya (low, urgent): "Aishwarya?"
Her dazed eyes slowly opened.
Aish (weakly): "Where… am I?"
Doctor (checking her chart): "You're awake. Good. You had a fracture and some internal injuries, but you'll recover soon. Your boyfriend has been here the whole time."
Aish (blinking, confused): "My… what?"
Raahithya (smirking): "You heard him, baby."
She glared at him, attempting to sit up.
Doctor: "I've prescribed your medicines to your boyfriend. Make sure you take them on time, eat properly, and rest well."
Aishwarya's eye twitched.
Aish (muttering): "Ugh, great. Thanks, Doctor."
As the doctor left, she turned to Raahithya.
Aish (firmly): "I'm leaving."
Raahithya (casually): "Of course. Let's go home."
Aish (narrowing her eyes): "I meant MY hostel."
Raahithya (mocking): "Yeah, that's not happening."
She swung her legs off the bed, determined to leave—
But the door swung open.
Rachel rushed in.
Rachel (breathless, worried): "Aish! Are you okay? I heard—"
Before she could reach Aish, a bodyguard stepped forward, gripping her arm and twisting it slightly.
Not enough to break—just enough to make her kneel in pain.
Rachel yelped.
Aishwarya (furious): "LET HER GO!"
Raahithya sighed dramatically.
Raahithya: "You don't want to come with me? Fine. But then… I won't be so kind to Rachel."
Rachel winced, gritting her teeth.
Aishwarya (panicked, shaking): "I said LET HER GO, you can hurt me instead!"
Raahithya: "Tch. I don't have the heart to hurt you, baby girl."
He smirked, tilting his head.
Raahithya: "Only if you agree to my two conditions."
Aishwarya (breathless): "What… conditions?"
Raahithya (dangerously soft):
"One: You live with me. In my house. No arguments.
Two: You call me 'baby' and please me."
Rachel screamed as the bodyguard twisted her wrist slightly more.
Aishwarya (frustrated, defeated): "STOP! Fine! I'll do it!"
The bodyguard immediately let go.
Rachel gasped, clutching her wrist.
Aishwarya swallowed hard, turning toward Raahithya.
She hated this.
But she hated seeing her friends hurt even more.
She looked him in the eye, fists clenched.
And then—through gritted teeth—
Aishwarya (soft, forced): "Let's go… baby."
Raahithya's smirk deepened.
This was just the beginning.
As they left, Veer escorted Aish to the doctor on Raahithya's orders.
In the Car –
Aishwarya sat stiffly in the plush leather seat, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress.
The car smelled exactly like her favorite vanilla and lavender blend. The seat cushions were perfectly adjusted to her comfort. Even the temperature inside was set to her preferred warmth.
Her stomach twisted.
This wasn't a coincidence.
This was him.
He had customized the entire car for her.
Her eyes darted to Raahithya, who sat beside her, scrolling through his phone as if nothing was wrong. As if he hadn't just blackmailed her into this nightmare.
His grip tightened around the phone when he saw another text from "Babe."
His jaw ticked.
But before he could react, Veer spoke from the front seat.
Veer: "Sir, Devansh has landed. He's at Mumbai airport."
Raahithya's lips curved into a slow, satisfied smirk.
Raahithya: "Perfect. Call him to the straight to the villa/bungalow."
His gaze shifted to Aishwarya, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Raahithya (mocking): "He should meet his bhabhi today."
Aishwarya's heart stopped.
Bhabhi?!
Her nails dug into her palm as she turned toward him, fury replacing the numbness she had been feeling.
Aishwarya (gritting her teeth): "Stop calling me that. I am not your wife."
Raahithya tilted his head, his smirk widening.
Raahithya: "Oh, but you're living in my house now, baby. It's only fair they address you with respect."
Aishwarya's breathing grew uneven.
This wasn't a fight she could win.
Aishwarya needed to break the suffocating tension in the car. She could feel Raahithya's possessive gaze on her, could sense the way his mood darkened every time she resisted him.
She wasn't stupid. She knew provoking him directly would only make things worse.
So, she did the next best thing—she ignored him.
Turning to Veer, she asked casually, "By the way, who is Devansh?"
There was a brief silence.
Veer glanced at Raahithya through rearview mirror, almost as if seeking permission to answer.
Raahithya's fingers twitched around his phone. His smirk was gone. His annoyance was clear.
Aishwarya suppressed a small smirk of her own. Good. Let him stew.
Veer finally spoke, his tone respectful.
Veer: "He's Sir's most trusted right hand. Been with him for years."
Aishwarya raised an eyebrow. "More trusted than you?"
Veer chuckled. "Let's just say… we have different roles."
She nodded, pretending to be interested, but in reality, she was just enjoying how Raahithya's mood was slowly souring.
And then—
His voice cut through the space, dangerously low.
Raahithya: "Enough."
Aishwarya stiffened.
She turned, meeting his sharp, unamused eyes.
Raahithya: "If you're that curious about men other than me, baby, I'd be happy to make sure you don't have the time or energy to think about them."
Her stomach flipped—not out of shyness, but pure frustration.
She bit her tongue, forcing herself to look away.
She had to be careful.
One wrong move, and she wouldn't just be stuck in his house.
She'd be trapped.
Aishwarya sat in the luxurious, customized car, staring out the window, pretending Raahithya didn't exist.
Her phone buzzed.
📩 Babe: plz Answer me
📩 Aishwarya: Relax
📩 Babe: Finally! You scared the hell out of me, idiot!
📩 Aishwarya: I'm fine, Harvs. Don't overreact.
📩 Babe: OVERREACT?! You disappear, some random dude picks up your phone, and I'M overreacting?!
📩 Aishwarya: I get it, I get it! I'm sorry!
📩 Babe: Damn right, you are. Anyway, how are you feeling? Did you eat?
📩 Aishwarya: Not yet, but I will.
📩 Babe: Liar. You always say that and never eat.
📩 Babe: You need someone to spoon-feed you like a damn baby.
📩 Aishwarya: Shut up.
📩 Babe: If I was there, I'd make you eat properly. Unlike some people.
📩 Babe: Speaking of which… WHO THE HELL WAS THAT GUY WHO ANSWERED YOUR PHONE?!
Aishwarya gulped nervously.
"He didn't say a word, but the way his fingers drummed against his knee told her everything - Raahithya Agarwal was jealous."
Raahithya : We reach home now put your phone aside please
📩 Aish: Ttyl bye