CHAPTER 11: Part 2 (THE SCAR & THE SURRENDER)
~MRITYUNJAY (POV)~
"Seventy crores in losses if that shipment doesn't clear customs by midnight," I snapped, tossing the file onto the mahogany desk. The sound echoed like a gunshot in the silent office.
My legal head, Mehta, wiped sweat from his forehead. "Hukum, the port authority is stalling. They're citing new regulations, but we suspect-"
"I don't pay you to suspect, Mehta. I pay you to fix it," I cut him off, my voice low and dangerous. "Get the minister on the line. If he doesn't pick up, remind his secretary about the land deal in Jaipur. Get out."
Mehta scrambled out of the room, clutching his briefcase like a shield.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, the migraine that had been threatening to split my skull all afternoon finally taking root. The Chatterjee merger was messy, the German gun deal was still haunting us, and the board was getting restless about the rumors of my grandfather's ultimatum.
The door opened again. I didn't look up. "Unless the building is on fire, Chirag, I don't want to hear it."
"The warehouse fire investigation is closed," Chirag said, walking in with his usual military precision. He placed a stack of documents on top of the mess already on my desk.
"They pinned it on a local gang. The police bought the story. Atharva Singhania's name is nowhere near the official report."
"Fools," I muttered, picking up a pen to sign the liquidation papers for a subsidiary. "Keeps him confident. Sloppy."
"Also," Chirag continued, checking his tablet, "The security footage from the palace. The recovery team says the corruption is deep. It wasn't a glitch; it was a manual wipe. Someone with high-level access deleted those files."
My pen stopped mid-signature.
"A mole?" I looked up, my eyes narrowing.
"We are investigating all clearance codes used that day. It will take time to isolate the traitor."
"Find them," I ordered, the temperature in the room dropping. "I want a name by the end of the week. No one deletes my data and lives to brag about it."
"Yes, Hukum." Chirag tapped the screen again, shifting gears instantly. "On the personal inquiry-the background check on the number ending in 889."
I went back to signing the papers, feigning disinterest. "Go on."
"Registered to Pranav Rai. Mid-level textile merchant in Ajmer. Clean record. Likely a maternal uncle covering the bill for his niece in the city. No connections to the Singhania group or any rival factions."
I didn't stop writing, but my shoulders relaxed-just a fraction. *Pranav Rai.* A boring, safe, middle-class relative.
"Good," I said, flipping the page. "And the dinner logistics?"
"The Sky Deck is secured for 8:00 PM. Perimeter is established. We've routed the traffic so you won't hit the rush hour snarls."
"Fine." I handed the signed stack back to him. "Tell the pilot to prep the chopper for tomorrow morning. I have to deal with the Udaipur sector personally."
"And the girl, Hukum?" Chirag asked, pausing. "Do we maintain the active surveillance?"
"Passive only," I said, standing up and grabbing my blazer. "She's not a target, Chirag. She's... a civilian."
"Understood."
I checked my watch. 7:15 PM. I had forty-five minutes to shift from being the CEO who just ordered a minister threatened, to the man who needed to charm a girl who thought I was a gentleman.
"Clear my schedule for the evening," I said, walking past him. "If the world burns down, let it burn until morning."
~ ISHIKA (POV) ~
"He brought what?"
Mehak's screech was loud enough that I had to pull the phone away from my ear. I glanced nervously at the frosted glass door of the empty conference room.
"Italian," I whispered, sinking into a leather chair. "Gourmet, chef-prepared Italian lunch. He just... stood there, Mehak. Outside the building. In broad daylight."
"Okay, pause," Saanvi's voice cut in, sounding raspy. "I just scrubbed out of a six-hour surgery for this. Are we glossing over the fact that the King of Jodhpur is basically a glorified delivery boy for you? That is... medically speaking... incredibly hot."
"Saanvi!" I hissed. "It's not hot! It's terrifying!"
"No, Saanvi is right," Aanika chimed in, the sound of her car blinker clicking in the background. "Do you know how hard it is to get these men to do anything domestic? Kartik still thinks 'dinner date' means ordering room service while he checks emails. Mrityunjay showing up with pasta? +1 for the scary guy."
"You two are unbelievable," I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Aanika, he tracked my boss's flight schedule. He knew Atharva was in Delhi. That's not romantic, that's... Stalking!"
"That's just efficient," Aanika dismissed breezily. "Honestly, Ishu, at least he's obsessed. Better than being ignored."
"It's not a competition, Ani," Mehak said, her voice sharp and serious. "Ishika is in a really tight spot. This isn't a rom-com. Mrityunjay is dangerous."
"He told me..." I swallowed the lump in my throat, my voice trembling. "He said if he kissed me, he wouldn't stop. And then he just got in his car and left me standing there."
"Oh," Saanvi exhaled. "Okay, my heart rate just spiked hearing that. The man is walking testosterone."
"My dad calls him a Devil," I reminded them. "And tonight... I have to go to dinner with him. The Sky Deck. 8 PM."
"Wear something daring," Aanika suggested immediately. "Establish dominance."
"Check his pupils," Saanvi added dryly. "If they're dilated, he's into you. If they're pinpoint, he's probably planning a murder. Or he's on drugs. Either way, run."
"Saanvi, not helping!" Mehak snapped. "Ishika, listen to me. Go to the dinner. Keep him happy. Do not let him find out about Dadu's heart attack or the fact that you are a Jaiswal. Just survive the date."
"I can do that," I whispered. Convincing myself.
"Because," Mehak continued, her tone shifting, "after this, you get a break. We all do."
"What do you mean?"
"The wedding!" Aanika squealed. "Mayur Bhaiya finally stopped dragging his feet. The dates are locked for this weekend."
I sat up straighter. "This weekend? Mehak, that's in three days. I totally forgot."
"I know! And I forgive you for that, It's a shotgun destination wedding," Mehak explained. "Dad wants it done before the auspicious dates run out. We are going to Khimsar Fort. The whole gang. Friday to Sunday."
"Khimsar?" Hope fluttered in my chest.
"Sun, sand, cocktails, and zero patients," Saanvi groaned with relief. "I am going to sleep for forty-eight hours straight. If anyone asks for a consult, I will stab them with a fork."
"And Kartik isn't invited," Aanika added happily. "So I can actually enjoy myself."
"You have to come, Ishu," Mehak said firmly. "I've already told Mom you're handling the Sangeet playlist. If you bail, she'll come to your house herself."
"I'm not bailing," I said quickly. "I want to go. God, I need to get out of Jodhpur."
If I was at a wedding in Khimsar, Mrityunjay couldn't ask for a date. I could claim family obligations. I could breathe without feeling his eyes on me.
"Great," Mehak said. "Pack something sparkly. And Ishika?"
"Yeah?"
"Tonight... be careful."
"Don't worry," Saanvi yawned. "Just don't let the adrenaline kill you. If you faint, try to fall away from the edge of the Sky Deck."
I hung up, shaking my head. My friends were a mix of genius and insanity. But at least I had an escape plan.
Khimsar Fort. Just get through till Thursday, and I'll be free.
To Be Continued...