The aftermath of betrayal never left Kabir Rathod.
It followed him—in silence, in blood-stained memories, in the way his instincts sharpened whenever someone stood too close to what he considered his.
And now, that instinct pointed toward Aara.
---
Rathod Industries moved like a disciplined machine the next morning. The whispers had stopped, but tension lingered in the air—subtle, heavy, unmistakable.
Aara noticed it the moment she stepped inside.
Security had increased. The usual smiles were gone. Eyes followed movements too carefully.
She focused on her work, determined not to attract attention. After what had happened earlier in the week, she wanted nothing more than to blend into the background.
But fate had other plans.
---
During lunch break, Aara sat alone near the window of the office cafeteria, reviewing notes on her phone. The chair across from her scraped softly against the floor.
"Mind if I sit?"
She looked up.
Rohan Mehta.
"The junior employee?" she asked politely.
He smiled. "I promise I'm harmless."
Aara hesitated, then nodded. "Sure."
Their conversation was simple—work, pressure, internships, future plans. Nothing personal. Nothing inappropriate.
Yet from the glass corridor above—
Kabir Rathod saw everything.
---
His jaw clenched.
This was different from before.
This was repeated.
Intentional.
Kabir didn't believe in coincidences anymore.
He turned to his security head. "Who's he?"
"Rohan Mehta. Junior operations. Clean record," the man replied.
Kabir's eyes darkened. "Call him."
---
The meeting lasted less than five minutes.
Rohan stood stiffly inside Kabir's private office, heart pounding.
"You help interns often?" Kabir asked calmly.
"Sir, I was just—"
Kabir raised a hand.
"I don't care about intentions," he said. "I care about boundaries."
Rohan swallowed.
"Stay professional. Stay distant. Especially with Aara Sharma."
Rohan nodded quickly. "Understood, sir."
Kabir leaned forward slightly.
"This is your warning."
Rohan left the room pale and shaken.
---
Aara sensed the change immediately.
Rohan avoided her.
So did others.
And the silence around her grew louder.
She didn't understand why—but deep inside, she knew.
Kabir Rathod.
---
That evening, Aara returned home unsettled.
Her mother noticed the tension in her posture.
"Is the job too stressful?" Meera asked gently.
Aara sat beside her. "Maa… is it wrong to feel afraid of success?"
Meera looked at her carefully. "Fear comes when something is powerful. But you must ask—is it power that protects you, or power that controls you?"
Aara didn't answer.
Because she didn't know.
---
Late at night, Kabir sat in his study, lights dim, city quiet beneath him.
Rahul entered without knocking. "You scared a guy today."
Kabir didn't look up. "He crossed a line."
Rahul studied him. "Or you did."
Kabir's fingers paused.
Rahul continued, voice cautious. "You're getting involved."
Kabir finally looked at him. His gaze was sharp—but conflicted.
"She's not like us," Rahul added. "If she finds out—"
"She won't," Kabir interrupted.
Silence fell.
---
After Rahul left, Kabir stood alone near the window.
He replayed the cafeteria scene in his mind.
Her smile.
Her ease with someone else.
It ignited something ugly.
Possessive.
Protective.
Dangerous.
Kabir Rathod had never warned a man over a woman before.
Never cared who spoke to whom.
Yet here he was.
Crossing lines.
Making excuses.
Convincing himself it was about safety—
When deep down, he knew the truth.
This wasn't protection anymore.
It was ownership.
---
Across the city, Aara lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.
She thought of Kabir's eyes.
The way the room changed when he entered.
The unspoken command in his presence.
And the fear she couldn't name.
She whispered to herself, "Stay careful."
But danger had already noticed her.
And Kabir Rathod—
Had already decided she mattered too much to let go.
The warning had been given.
The boundaries had been drawn.
And from this point on—
There would be no turning back.