In the city of gold and ashes,
Where power wears a smile,
And hearts are bought,
She stands-
The storm they didn't see coming,
The girl they forgot to love...
THIRD PERSON'S POV
The rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Rathore Empire penthouse, the city lights below flickering like stars trapped in glass. At the center of it all, Adwik Singh Rathore sat in an armchair of Italian leather, a glass of dark scotch resting casually in his hand.
The man wasn't just wealthy-he was dangerous. Every inch of him radiated quiet control: the tailored black suit hugging his broad shoulders, the loosened tie revealing a hint of recklessness, the faint stubble on his jaw making him look like a sin you'd never confess to.
Across from him, two men sat stiff, the tension in the air sharp enough to cut skin. They were here for a "business meeting," but in the underworld, such meetings often decided who lived to see the next sunrise.
"Mr. Rathore," one of them began hesitantly, "we've brought the shipment you requested. But... there's been an issue with-"
Adwik's gaze lifted slowly, and the man's voice faltered mid-sentence. His eyes-cold, obsidian-didn't shout, didn't glare, but carried the quiet threat of a storm about to break.
"I don't like issues," Adwik said, his tone so calm it was terrifying. "You fix it. Or you disappear with it. Your choice."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Even the rain seemed to pause.
Yuvan Singh Rathore, his younger cousin and right hand, leaned casually against the wall, smirking as if this was his favorite kind of entertainment. "You heard the man," Yuvan drawled. "Fix it, before we do."
The men scrambled to nod, muttering assurances before standing to leave.
When the door shut behind them, Yuvan chuckled. "Sometimes I think you enjoy scaring the hell out of people."
Adwik took another sip of scotch. "Fear is faster than negotiation."
That was the thing about him-he didn't raise his voice, didn't waste his time with threats. He made people feel the consequences before they even arrived.
His phone buzzed. One glance at the screen and his brows twitched, almost imperceptibly. A call from Vidyut Rana. He answered.
"Adwik," Vidyut's voice came through, edged with amusement. " I heard that the person you were obsessed with is getting married.Thought you'd want to know."
Adwik's fingers tapped the glass of his drink once. "With whom?
"Oh, it's that same old snake, Khurana. Vidyut replied. "And yes, this is a forced marriage. Her family arranged this marriage against her will.
I don't understand. How could her family arrange her marriage to a middle-aged man?
Adwik was furious upon hearing to Vidyut because he couldn't tolerate Aavya marrying someone else, especially not that middle-aged man, and a forced marriage at that - it was impossible.
The aroma of stale incense mixed with the sharp tang of over-brewed tea. Aavya Rajvansh sat quietly at the far end of the dining table, her hands wrapped around a lukewarm cup she hadn't touched.
Her uncle, Shankar Das, cleared his throat dramatically. "So, as I was saying, Khurana ji's son is a very good match. Rich family, good reputation. He's willing to overlook..." His eyes flicked to her, voice dripping with false kindness. "...your past."
Aavya kept her gaze on the cup, but inside, every word was a stone sinking in her chest.
Her aunt, Kamini Das, added, "Haan, and what more could you want? You're already 26. Girls these days should be grateful someone's willing to marry them."
Grateful. As if marriage was a rescue, not a prison.
"I will not marry that old man". Aavya said quietly, her voice steady but soft.
Besides, I'm independent, I'm a doctor. If I wanted to get married, I could marry anyone. I can support myself financially right now, so I don't need to get married yet. That's the end of it.
Kamini laughed like she'd told a joke. "Arre, doctor ya queen, shaadi toh karni padti hai."
Her grandfather, Vikas Das, who sat at the head of the table, finally spoke, his voice sharp with authority. "Bas. Aavya ki marzi ke bina kuch decide nahi hoga." Enough. Nothing will be decided without Aavya's consent.
But the others barely heard him. They never did.
And no, I won't marry him either. I can't marry anyone right now. I can't get married... and then she gets up and starts walking towards her room.
After Aavya got up and left, Shankar and Kamini Das fell into deep thought, and Vikas Das also got up and walked towards his room.
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