Chapter 1

RUDRANEEL

I could see her, standing in front of me, with her eyes full of tears. But with those tears, I could see something else in her eyes as well, Something I craved to see in her for so long. Hope and Innocence.

But, it didn't make me feel better. Those eyes were choking me. It increased the amount of pain I felt more and more.

And then, I pointed my gun at her. This is the second time I pointed my gun at her intending to shoot her. I am going to kill her, the love of my life.

The first time I decided to kill her was because she had betrayed me. And this time, she loved me more than she should.

FLASHBACK

SHIMLA

AKHIL

"I think we should send Avinash London for his further studies," I told my wife, Sheetal.

There was no way I could let Avinash stay here in India.

"That's actually a good idea, but will we succeed to convince him?" Sheetal responded, looking at me.

I knew why she said that and it made me worry about my son and his unacceptable demand. I rubbed my temples thinking about Sheetal's words. Her tone made me more frustrated.

"Try to understand please, I just can't bend down to accept his condition... I just can not send him Mumbai," I scoffed.

"Okay... Do what you guys want. But remember one thing... if I do not go to Mumbai... I will not be continuing my studies," Avinash's voice echoed in my ears.

Shit! He has overheard the entire conversation. I looked at him as I got up from my seat and walked towards him, glaring at him.

"Avinash... don't you dare to do that," I scowled.

"I dared it... if I will continue my studies... I will do so by getting admission in St. Xavier's Mumbai..and will stay with my chachu(uncle) or else I am not going to continue my studies," He bluntly answered and then walked out of the room.

I clasped my hairs in frustration. There was no way I could accept his demand.

"You listen to me, if he stays with his chachu there in Mumbai then you will see the worst side of me," Sheetal threatened me.

"So do I want that he goes to his Chachu's place? Why are you jumping over my head?" I snapped at her.

How could she think that I was going to let my son live with a monster?

"I do not care, but I don't want my son anywhere near that monster," She scoffed.

"Well, as far as I know, you guys did make him the monster.. a heartless monster.. am I right bhaiya (elder brother)".

And now, it's my little sister, Monali. Yeah, cool, everyone will dance on my head now. I looked at her in sheer frustration as she walked towards me.

"So, here is your sweet little sister, and now you siblings sit here and have a chat that how did we turn your loving younger brother into a monster", Sheetal taunted, looking at Monali.

"Did I say something to you bhabhi (sister-in-law)??", Monali retorted as she glared at my wife.

Well, I have to admit, if there's someone who can keep a check on my wife, then it's my siblings.

"Okay then say please, I am waiting for the bitter words that I separated your loving brother from you both. But still, my decision is final, I don't want my son to go anywhere near him," Sheetal's vengeful words echoed in my ears.

"But still our son is the closest one to Rudra," I admitted the truth as I couldn't face them anymore.

I looked at the ground, avoiding any eye contact with them.

"And I do not care", Sheetal rolled her eyes.

The next minute, all three of us heard the sound of the doorbell ringing, and just after few moments.

 "CHACHUUUUU" Avinash's scream echoed in the house.

"Talk of the devil and the devil has arrived," Sheetal taunted, rolling her eyes.

We ignored her words and walked downstairs, to greet my other brother, Rudra.

As we got down, we saw Rudra, standing near the entrance of the house, while Avinash stood beside him with a wide smile on his face. We all know, how much Avinash loves Rudra.

"Bhaiya, Bhabhi, Didiya(sister)", A big smile appeared on Rudra's as he saw three of us.

MUMBAI

KIARA

I was setting up the table as it was time for dinner. I could feel my hunger today after a long time.

"Dinner is Ready Aai(mom)," I called my mother-in-law.

She came out of the room and proceeded towards the table. She settled down on her seat as I served her dinner. After serving Aai, I sat beside her and served myself as well.

"Aai, I want to say something." I was nervous about what I was going to say.

I couldn't even look at her, but I had to say. I have to speak it for myself and then somehow pull my life back to track after two good months. 

"Say then, beta," She spoke in a warm tone.

Her comforting voice always soothes me.

"I want to resume my studies," I finally confessed, closing my eyes tightly, unable to prepare myself for her reactions.

"Are you serious?" She asked me.

I slowly lifted my gaze towards her and gulped. I was scared about her reaction, to be honest.

"Yes I am, I have not been to college for two months."

"Finally, you said something sensible. You will continue college just right from tomorrow," A warm smile appeared on Aai's face.

Wait a minute! she appreciates my decision? I couldn't help, but smile.

"It's Sunday tomorrow," I chuckled.

"Okay okay.. from the day after tomorrow," She expressed hurriedly in excitement.

And then, we couldn't help but giggle about our little conversation.

SHIMLA

RUDRANEEL

I, Akhil bhaiya, and Monali Didiya settled down on the couch in the hall as we wanted to have a conversation.

"Bhaiya, where are you sending Avinash for his higher studies, he is idly sitting at home for the past two years, I think it's enough or else it will spoil his future," I asked Akhil Bhaiya.

I was really scared about Avinash's future and what did he want to do in his life.

"We want to send him to London, but he is adamant on his decision for the past two years that he wants to live with you in Mumbai", Bhaiya replied. 

I could clearly feel that he was upset.

"I will try to convince him for London," I assured bhaiya.

I can't let Avinash drown in the darkness I am in. I mildly smiled as I tapped Bhaiya's shoulders and then walked out of the room.

"Sometimes, I do think that to secure our lives we have destroyed Rudra's life completely," I heard Didiya's words as I got out of the hall.

I hid behind the door as I wanted to hear their conversation.

"It is true, Rudra's life is in complete darkness and I want to save my son from that darkness or else Avinash will be way more destroyed than Rudra," Bhaiya sighed.

I felt bad about myself being in that darkness, and no matter what, my nephew was on the verge of falling into the dark pit because of me.

"But we should not hate him, he destroyed himself just to make our lives better," Didiya spoke. 

I felt happy about her concern towards me and smiled mildly.

"We shall not run away from the truth little sister," Bhaiya said in a low tone.

"What truth?", Didiya asked.

"We destroyed him to make our lives better," I could sense bhaiya's ironic voice.

"But he isn't our own brother, so does it matters?" Didiya said.

Her words pinched me badly as I tried to control my tears.

"It matters because he might drag my son into this," Bhaiya's tone was dissatisfied.

Bhaiya, why don't you understand, even I don't want that.

"He isn't that bad bhaiya."

I chuckled at Didiya's words and walked out of the room. 

AKHIL

I was checking out a couple of files related to my work. The workload was growing much more.

As I was reading the files, I could hear footsteps approaching me.

"When will Rudra leave from here?" Sheetal asked angrily.

She snatched away my file so that I have to look at her. Her actions anger me.

"What happened now?" I rolled my eyes.

"I just don't want that hooligan anywhere near my son," She scoffed.

"Bhabhi do you actually know who am I?" Rudra's voice thundered in the room.

I could see Sheetal gulping as she was scared of her angry voice. He entered the room and stood in front of my wife.

"Yeah, a dumb hooligan," Sheetal answered in a disgusting tone.

"Ahaan.. hooligan is way too minute," Rudra chuckled, "The whole underworld works at my orders," he claimed.

"Anyway," Sheetal seemed uninterested.

I looked at both of them and nodded because I knew about the incoming spat.

"So you should know your limits and control your hatred towards me or else who knows your anger and hatred may lead to something very dangerous accident that may happen to your parents residing in Delhi," Rudra spoke calmly with an evil enchanting smile.

"Rudra," I roared. 

How the hell can he behave such with my wife, when I am here? I stood up and glared at him.

"Bhaiya don't you dare to interfere," His tone was equally loud.

"And bhabhi, whoever dances over my head I don't spare his or her family and make sure they are unbaled even to walk for the rest of their life. So don't you dare to cross your limits. You are my brother's wife that's why you and your family are safe or else I won't tolerate anything much because you aren't my blood," He scowled and stormed out of the room.

AVINASH

I was looking at the paper-knife that I held. I have to go to Mumbai. I have to stay with Rudra Chachu and I want to learn how the underworld works and in the next few years I will take over the underworld by taking him down. And then, I will be called as the Mafia King and will own power and money."

"When words won't work, we should act something so that our actions actually can ensure the work done," I chuckled as I thought about the plan I had in my mind.

I got up, unlocked the door of my room, and then picked a glass vase. I smashed the vase on the floor.

"Avinash... what did you break?" Mom's voice echoed from downstairs.

"Nothing mom," I shouted back and then walked towards the chair.

"You just wait 5 minutes I am coming there", She scolded me.

And now, it's time to execute my plan.

I tightened my grip on the knife and then slowly slit my wrist with it. I felt a sharp pain on my wrist as the blood oozes out from my veins. 

Shit, this hurts bad.

But, I have to bear it because if I want something, I will make sure that I get it. 

MUMBAI

Kiara sat near the window of her room and looked outside to witness the city lights.

"Do you remember Mukul? You and me, this window and the city lights, we have so many memories here. Memories that I would cherish forever," she had a painful smile on her face.

The next moment, tears started rolling down her eyes, and the smile turned more painful. It didn't take her even a minute to break down into tears, "I miss you, Mukul. I wish you could come back," she cried for her dead husband.

Kiara M Thakre

A 21-year-old widow. She has lost her husband a couple of months before and she is still grieving for him. She is an orphan, and after Mukul, if she loves someone the most, it's her Aai or Mother-in-law, who was the warden of the orphanage she lived in.

Rudraneel Rane

A 36-year-old man. The mafia king of Mumbai, also known as 'Kaal'. He is said to be ruthless and dangerous. Even feared by his own family. He had sworn to protect his family no matter what. But every family has its secrets.

Avinash Rane

A 20-year-old boy. RudraNeel's nephew. A boy with a wicked mind, who dreams of taking over the underworld at a young age. His parents want him to stay away from Rudra and the underworld, but he is the one who would mend his ways to remain close to them.