The late afternoon sun bathed the college gates in golden hues as Chitrangada adjusted her skirt, the soft fabric swaying with her movements. Her dusky complexion glowed under the warm sunlight, and her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders. She was a vision—elegant yet effortlessly alluring. She stood outside her college, phone pressed against her ear, her voice soft yet firm.

"Bhaiya, don't worry about me. I will come home myself," she assured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

On the other end, her brother, Vivaan, was restless. His voice, laced with concern, echoed through the speaker. "How can I not worry, Chitrangada? Just come quickly. I won’t breathe easy until you are home."

She sighed, shifting the weight of her bag on her shoulder. "Bhaiya, I am not a child. College is barely ten minutes from home. I can take care of myself."

"You don’t understand," Vivaan insisted. "The world isn’t safe for girls like you. You’re beautiful, innocent. There are men out there who—"

"Bhaiya! Stop. You’re overthinking. I’ll be fine," she cut in, rolling her eyes.

Before she could end the call, a familiar voice interrupted her.

"Wait, Chitra!"

She turned, her eyes meeting Rahul’s. He jogged toward her, a bright grin on his face. He was tall, lean, dressed casually in a fitted t-shirt and jeans. His eyes held a mischievous glint, like he was always on the verge of saying something teasing.

"You weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?" he teased, grabbing her hand in his. "That’s cruel."

Chitrangada laughed, squeezing his hand playfully. "Of course not, Rahul! I was just about to call you."

"Liar," he chuckled, pulling her a little closer. "You’ll miss me, right? Say it."

She pretended to think. "Hmm… Maybe a little."

"Liar again! You’ll miss me like crazy, and you know it." He leaned in conspiratorially. "Admit it."

She smacked his arm lightly. "Fine. I’ll miss you. Happy now?"

"Very," he grinned. "Now go, before your overprotective brother sends a search party."

Neither of them realized that their interaction was being watched, captured, and sent to someone who harbored nothing but darkness for Chitrangada.

Patna, Bihar – Inside a grand villa

The dimly lit study reeked of cigars and musk. A large leather chair creaked as Abhiraj Singh Rajput leaned forward, phone in hand. His sharp jaw tensed as he scrolled through the images—each one sending a fresh wave of fury through him.

Chitrangada’s radiant smile. Rahul’s hand in hers. Their closeness.

His fingers curled into fists, his nails biting into his palms. His dark eyes, already simmering with rage, flickered toward the walls of his study—each inch covered with pictures of Chitrangada. Every movement of hers had been captured and frozen in time. Her laughing, her walking, her adjusting her skirt, her chewing on a pen while lost in thought. He had watched her—stalked her—for months.

He ran his fingers over an image where her top had slipped slightly off her shoulder, revealing the smooth curve of her skin. His breathing turned ragged.

"Once you step into the grasp of Abhiraj Singh Rajput, even God won’t be able to save you," he murmured, his voice thick with twisted desire. "Look at you… so pure, so untouched. Does that idiot boy even know what a filthy little tease you are? Walking around in that tight little skirt, pretending to be innocent, when in reality, you’re just begging to be owned."

He leaned back, smirking as he scrolled through more pictures. "That hand-holding nonsense ends soon. Once I have you in my bed, you’ll forget his name. You’ll only moan mine. I’ll teach you what it means to be tamed, broken, and ruined. You’ll crawl to me, begging to be used."

His fingers tightened around his glass of whiskey before he threw it across the room. The crystal shattered against the wall, shards scattering across the marble floor.

His eyes traveled back to the countless images of Chitrangada surrounding him. "You don’t even know, do you? That every step you take, every breath you inhale, belongs to me. No one else has the right to touch you, to even look at you."

His lips curled into a sadistic smile. "Run while you can, Chitrangada. Because when I finally get my hands on you, there will be no escape. I’ll make sure of it."

His lips curled into a cruel smirk as he dialed a number. The moment the call was answered, his voice turned cold, emotionless. "Catch her. Make sure no one sees anything. No mistakes. I want her untouched, unharmed, but terrified. Do you understand?"

"Yes, boss. Consider it done."

Abhiraj disconnected the call, his eyes darkening with anticipation. "Run all you want, Chitrangada. Your fate is sealed."

Delhi – Outside the Railway Station

Chitrangada adjusted her bag strap and looked around for a rickshaw when she felt a sudden pull from behind. A strong hand clamped over her mouth, a cloth pressed against her face. The sharp scent invaded her senses, and within seconds, darkness engulfed her.

Inside a Villa – Late Night

Two men lounged on an expensive leather sofa, drinks in hand. The dim lighting highlighted their sharp features—both strikingly handsome yet exuding an air of danger.

Avinash swirled his drink, smirking. "Man, these girls are amazing. Soft bodies, innocent eyes… nothing beats the thrill of having them beg."

Ranvijay, seated beside him, shot him a glare. "Is that all you ever think about?"

Avinash chuckled, unfazed. "Oh, come on, don’t tell me you’re a saint. You and Abhiraj are alike—cruel, heartless."

Ranvijay leaned forward, his voice sharp. "I don’t waste my time on nonsense. If you have nothing useful to say, shut up."

Avinash scoffed but said nothing more as his phone vibrated. He stood, reading the message before glancing at Ranvijay. "Wait here. I’ll be back in ten minutes."

Ranvijay simply nodded, his expression unreadable as he made his way to the garden.

In the Garden

The cool night breeze rustled the leaves as a playful laugh rang through the air. A young girl, barely seventeen, ran toward him, her face bright with mischief.

"Pakar liya! Pakar liya! Ab kaha jaoge mujhse bach ke?" Amisha giggled, running after him.

Ranvijay turned to scold her, but before he could react, his foot slipped on the damp grass. In a flash, he lost balance and fell forward—straight onto Amisha. Their bodies pressed together, and before either could process what happened, their lips brushed against each other.

Amisha’s eyes widened in shock. The warmth of his lips against hers sent a jolt through her body, and she instantly pushed him away. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

The sharp sting made Ranvijay freeze. A deadly silence filled the air as his dark eyes bore into hers, burning with a mix of anger and disbelief. Without a word, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him, pinning her roughly against the garden wall.

His face was inches from hers, his breath hot against her cheek. "What the hell was that for?" he growled.

Amisha’s chest heaved, but she met his gaze with defiance. "You—You kissed me!"

"I slipped," he hissed, his fingers tightening around her wrist. "And you think I would actually want to kiss a reckless brat like you?"

Amisha scoffed, ignoring the way her heart raced. "Then let me go."

Ranvijay’s grip didn’t loosen. His jaw clenched as he leaned even closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Next time, think before you act, Amisha. You don’t slap me and walk away."

For a moment, their eyes locked, tension crackling between them. Then, as abruptly as he had pinned her, he let go and stepped back.

"Go inside before I really lose my patience," he muttered, turning away.

Amisha, unfazed, smirked. "See? Dramatic."

Ranvijay exhaled shar ply, running a hand through his hair as she skipped away, leaving him standing in the dark, still seething.