Aroohi was sitting on my lap in my room, her voice soft as she told me about her day. I couldn't stop staring at her — every word, every smile felt like it belonged only to me.

She paused, tilting her head. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "Like what?"

Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "Like you're in love."

My chest tightened. I pulled her close, burying my face in the curve of her neck, breathing in her scent. "Yes," I whispered, my voice trembling with truth. "I am in love. I love you so much, bachcha."

She stilled, her breath warm against my skin. I lifted my face, meeting her eyes, leaning closer until our lips were just a heartbeat away...

And then — the shrill sound of my alarm shattered the moment. My eyes flew open. The room was empty. It had all been a dream.

The author whisper : Dreams have a cruel way of showing us what we long for most, only to snatch it away when we wake.

I sat up, breath uneven, my heart still racing as if Aroohi were right here, still on my lap. But the room was silent. No laughter, no warmth — just me and the echo of what I wished for.

I pressed my palms against my face. It was only a dream... but why did it feel so real? Her voice, her smile, the way she whispered that I was in love — it all lingered like perfume in the air.

I walked to the window, staring out at the fading light. The villa, the reunion, Kabir's words — they were yesterday. Today, I was alone, and the truth gnawed at me.
"I do love her," I muttered under my breath. "More than I can hide."

The author whisper : Dreams may vanish when we wake, but the feelings they reveal remain, demanding to be faced in the daylight.

The gym session had burned away some of the restless energy from last night's dream, but not the thoughts. After a shower and dressing for the office, I walked downstairs into the dining hall where my family was gathered.

"Good morning," I greeted, forcing a calm smile.

Karan looked up from his plate, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Bhaiya, are you excited for your engagement? Only five days left!"

His words hit me like a reminder of the clock ticking down. My chest tightened, but before I could answer, Riya leaned forward eagerly.
"Bhai, waise... will you come to the Karan Aujla concert? Kabir bhai gifted us all tickets yesterday. It's the day after the engagement, we'll be leaving from here."

I nodded, keeping my tone steady. "Yes, I'll also go."

Karan smirked, refusing to let me escape. "Mere question ka jawab toh do, bhaiya. Are you excited or not?"

I froze for a moment, the dream of Aroohi still fresh in my mind, her voice echoing 'you're in love'. My lips parted, but the words tangled inside me. Excited? Yes. But not for the reasons they thought.

I looked at him, my patience thinning. "Don't you have other work? If you're this free, tell me — I'll give you some work."

Karan's grin faded. He shook his head, muttering under his breath, and went back to eating his breakfast. The table fell into a softer rhythm, but inside me, the storm hadn't calmed.

The drive to the office felt mechanical, my mind drifting back again and again to the dream. Even as I walked through the glass doors and into my cabin, the memory clung to me like a shadow.

I sat at my desk, papers neatly stacked, laptop glowing with pending work. I tried to focus — contracts, numbers, meetings — but every line blurred into her face. Aroohi's voice echoed in my head: "You are in love."

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. The dream replayed itself — her sitting on my lap, the warmth of her neck against my skin, the almost‑kiss stolen by the alarm. My chest tightened. Why does it feel more real than this office?

The ticking clock on the wall reminded me of reality. Engagement in five days. Family expectations. Kabir's words. And yet, the dream whispered louder than all of them.

I opened my eyes, staring at the files in front of me. "Focus, Reyansh," I muttered. But the truth was clear — my work was here, but my heart was somewhere else entirely.

The day had slipped away in a blur of paperwork and half‑hearted meetings. My mind never left the dream — Aroohi's voice, her smile, the almost‑kiss. It haunted me more than any deadline.

Just as I was about to close my laptop, Aakash stepped in, his tone urgent.
"Sir, we found the guy you told us to track — the hospital one Aroohi mam beat. He's in your warehouse."

I froze, the haze of longing replaced instantly by sharp focus. The dream dissolved, reality demanding my attention.

"Good," I said, rising from my chair. My voice was calm, but inside, adrenaline surged. "I'll handle it myself."

Without another word, I grabbed my coat and walked out. The office lights dimmed behind me, but my thoughts were blazing. This wasn't about jealousy or dreams anymore — it was about answers, about control.

The warehouse doors creaked as I stepped inside, the dim light casting long shadows across the floor. My footsteps echoed, heavy with purpose.

There he was — the hospital guy — sitting casually on my chair as if he owned the place. His eyes widened when he saw me, and he stammered, voice trembling:
"Hukum... maine kuch nahi kiya hai. Aap mujhe yaha kyun laaye hai?"

I stopped a few feet away, my gaze locked on him. The sight of him here, in my space, stirred something sharp inside me.

"You're sitting in my chair," I said coldly, my voice steady but laced with warning. "And you think I don't know what you've done?"

He shook his head frantically, hands raised in defense. "Nahi, sahib... main nirdosh hoon. Aap galat samajh rahe ho."

But I didn't move closer yet. I wanted him to feel the weight of silence, the tension pressing down harder than any words.

I leaned forward, my tone cold and cutting.
"You think you can raise your hand on my wife?"

His face paled, hands trembling. "Hukum... hame pata nahi tha ki woh aapki biwi hai."

I narrowed my eyes, my voice rising with controlled fury.
"Even if she wasn't my wife, that doesn't give you the right to raise your hand on a woman. And don't think I don't know — you abuse your own wife. I know everything. How you and your family tortured her for dowry."

The man's head dropped, shame and fear mixing in his silence. The warehouse air grew heavier, every word echoing against the steel walls.

I gave a signal. My men moved in, fists and boots raining down until his cries turned into broken whimpers. The warehouse echoed with punishment, each blow stripping him of arrogance.

But I wasn't finished. I leaned down, my tone deadly calm.
"You thought you were powerful. Today, I take that power away from you. You'll never forget what happens here."

My men carried out my command — leaving him shattered, humiliated, and stripped of dignity. His screams filled the air, then faded into silence.

I stood tall, watching him collapse, broken in body and spirit.
"This is what happens when you cross me," I said coldly. "And if you ever raise your hand on a woman again, you won't live to regret it."

The mansion was silent when I returned. The clock struck past midnight as I walked into my room, the weight of the night heavy on my shoulders.

I moved straight to the washroom, stripped off my clothes, and stepped under the shower. The cold water hit me, washing away the grime of the warehouse, but not the memory. I lifted my hand, staring at the faint smears of blood that clung to my skin.

A bitter smile touched my lips. "Even I know... my jaan knows about my work. She knows I'm a mafia man, that I've killed, punished, ruled in shadows." My voice echoed softly against the tiles.

I closed my eyes, the water running down my face. "But I will never show her this side. She is too innocent to know my world. I know she loves mafia men in her books, but this isn't fiction. This is reality. And reality is cruel."

I clenched my fist, lowering it slowly. "I will always save her from this side of me... from this world. She deserves love, not blood."

The shower had washed away the blood, but not the weight of what I had done. My body felt clean, but my soul carried the stains.

I walked back into my room, the silence pressing against me. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I unlocked my phone. The screen lit up with the photos of Aroohi I had saved from social media — her smile, her laughter, her innocence.

My chest tightened. I scrolled slowly, each picture pulling me further from the darkness I lived in. I brushed my thumb across her face on the screen, whispering softly, "You are my light, jaan. I'll never let you see the shadows I walk in."

Finally, I set the phone aside, printed photo in hand. I lay down on the bed, clutching it against my chest as if holding her close. My eyes closed, the exhaustion of the day pulling me under.

The morning sunlight warmed my face as I opened my eyes. My thoughts immediately drifted — five days... just five days until my engagement. The idea filled me with excitement, but also a quiet nervousness.

I slipped into the shower, letting the water calm me, then dressed and walked downstairs.

In the living room, I saw Aarav and Kabir. A smile spread across my face as I rushed to them, hugging both tightly. "Good morning, bhai!" Their laughter filled the air, and for a moment, everything felt simple. Priya bhabhi , joined us with a gentle smile, her presence adding warmth to the household.

At the dining table, Chachu and Chachi were already seated. The family gathered together, voices overlapping in cheerful conversation. Chachi fussed over the breakfast, while Chachu teased Kabir about his late-night habits. Aarav slipped me a knowing glance, reminding me silently of the big day ahead.

After breakfast, I picked up my bag and headed to the hospital. The familiar corridors greeted me with their quiet hum. Spotting Chachu in his office, I walked in with a smile.
"Chachu, today is my night shift," I said softly. "So I'll be coming home late."

He looked at me with protective eyes, nodding. "Take care, beta. Don't tire yourself too much."

I smiled, reassured by his concern, and walked toward the ward. My heart whispered: Five days... and everything will change.

After finishing my rounds at the hospital, I asked my assistant softly, "I don't have any other appointments today, right?"
She nodded. "Yes, Dr. Aroohi, you're free."

I smiled faintly, picked up my bag, and walked to the parking lot. Sliding into my car, I started the engine — but not toward home. My hands gripped the steering wheel firmly as I drove in another direction, one no one knew about.

The city lights faded behind me as the road stretched endlessly. My thoughts whispered: No one knows where I'm going. No one knows I've been keeping this secret for so long.

Hours passed — almost three. The journey was long, but my heart was steady. Finally, I slowed down, pulling into a quiet lane. I stepped out of the car, the cool night air brushing against my skin.

There it was — my penthouse. Bought long ago, hidden from everyone. Not Aarav, not Kabir, not even Chachu and Chachi knew about this place.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The silence welcomed me, the space untouched yet familiar. My secret world.

Inside, silence wrapped around me. The walls were soundproof, keeping my secrets safe. I moved to my room, changed into something comfortable, and then walked into the living room.

The massive screen lit up in front of me. After a few moments, the connection flickered alive. Faces appeared — the ones who shared my hidden world.

We began talking. I told them everything about the marriage, about the engagement preparations, about how my life was about to change. They listened, nodding quietly.

Then the conversation shifted. My voice hardened, my eyes burning with old fire.
"It's been so long... but I haven't forgotten. My revenge. I will fucking destroy them. They will pay for their deeds."

"They all think they finished me that night. But no... I am alive. And now they have to pay."

My fists clenched, the fire in my chest spilling into words.
"They took from me the most precious people of my life. They thought I would forget. They thought I would break. But I didn't. I will fucking destroy them. They will hate their existence."

The silence on the screen was heavy, but their eyes mirrored my rage. We didn't need more words — the vow was already carved into us.

I leaned closer to the screen, my tone colder now.
"My family, Reyansh's family — no one knows about you. And they never will. They will only know when I take my revenge. They think I'm soft-hearted, that I cry for fictional men in my books. But if they taught me to love, they also taught me how to take lives... how to take revenge."

My hand tightened into a fist.
"They don't know why I became a cardiologist, why I chose to be a cardio surgeon. There was a reason. A big reason. And when the time comes, they will understand — but it will be too late."

The screen glowed, their faces steady, the only ones who had ever truly known me. They weren't just allies — they were the ones who had saved me that night, the ones who stood by me when the world thought I was gone.

We spoke for hours, voices low but sharp, every word locked inside the soundproof walls of my penthouse. No one outside would ever know what we decided. Not my family, not Reyansh's family. These walls were our guardians, protecting the truth, protecting the plan.

stay tuned for next chapter

bye

lots of love from your 

author ikku