Rohit left Akansha and hurriedly slipped out of the ladies' washroom. He checked his watch—it was little late as seven minutes.
The janitor boy was waiting nervously. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw Rohit. "Boss, your work's done?"
Rohit smirked, handing him the rest of the money as promised. "Thanks, bud. Take this."
The boy's nerves melted into glee as he counted the bills. Rohit walked away without another word, heading straight back to Ragini.
She was still at their table, another bowl of ice cream in front of her, both of them empty now.
"Too much sugar, huh?" Rohit teased.
She didn't bite. "Let's leave. It's time."
They moved side by side through the thinning crowd, close enough for her arm to brush his. The contact sent a jolt through him, as if warm and almost intimate. The old him would have laughed it off. but, this stupid young body kept betraying him with these soft, inconvenient impulses.
A pang of guilt stabbed at him for cheating her behind her back, but it lasted only for a fleeting moment.
Personally, he saw women as hidden cards, pawns in his chess game. Though, Ragini is becoming different, someone he recently started to genuinely care for. But that didn't mean he could change his path.
The rest of them were just bodies to him. Warm, convenient, disposable.Ragini was the only one he couldn't reduce to that. And that annoyed him more than he cared to admit.
Finally they reached the podium where Mr. Chambani was occupied with other delegations.
Mr. Chambani was with his family and looked surprised to see Rohit with his mother, who seemed so young at his side.
Naina giggled, whispering into her father's ear as if she had scored some hidden point. Mrs. Chambani, however, fixed the duo with a sharp glare before stepping forward to greet them with practiced courtesy.
Rohit spared her a quick appraisal, a toned waist, a polished figure, the kind of elegance that money and status could shape. Her looks were lethal. But the pride clinging to her was heavier than her perfume. She moved like someone who expected deference, not admiration. Not the time or place to test that. He kept his expression neutral.
Meanwhile, the youngest son, Nayan, fist-bumped Rohit. "Yo bro, we should hop on COD sometime. You'd make a sick wingman."
Rohit liked games, but not enough to prioritize them over what truly mattered. Yet this was an opportunity to connect with someone normally unreachable. So, wearing a carefully practiced smile, he shared his number.
Once the greetings were done, Ragini called for Secretary Pathak and Bodyguard Chanu, who were waiting outside.
Rohit winked at Chanu, who responded with a smile while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. With that, the four of them left the venue.
Meanwhile outside the tower,
Sohail was biting his nails, eyes glued to his wristwatch. Right in front of him, a tall, bulky man in his early thirties leaned lazily against a bike, face half-covered with a handkerchief. A headband pressed down his messy hair, his tattooed arms bulging each time he shifted.
Sohail's face was pale with panic. Two of the man's subordinates had him cornered—one gripping his arm tight, the other pressing a knife to his stomach.
Also, the place he was standing in had little to no crowd, making it the perfect place for a farewell to his life.
The bald one with the blade snarled, patience thinning."Kasím bhai(brother/boss), time's up. Should I gut this rat?"
Sohail yelped, words tumbling out."No! Five more minutes, I swear! Just five!"
The bulky man, 'Kasím', didn't speak. He just shifted his weight on the bike, his silence more terrifying than a threat.
The heavy-bearded thug clicked his tongue. "Hope your guy shows before those five minutes run out."
Sohail cursed his fate. He had called these bastards to take revenge on that Korean girl—his plan was simple: track the rich brat she was with, shake him up, find her whereabouts. But now? These animals were far beyond his control, and with every tick of the clock, the danger grew.
They'd arrived two hours late, and now they were acting like he had some magic button to summon the kid. Logic didn't matter—if they got bored, they'd carve him up.
And the worst part? Since Rohit had gone inside Orion Tower, not a single soul had come out. Sohail himself had started doubting if that guy would ever emerge.
He prayed silently, begging God for a way out, for his ties with these devils to be cut clean. And just then—his prayer was answered. Rohit stepped out.
But Sohail's relief froze in his throat. Rohit wasn't alone. He was flanked by two women and a suited man.
Sohail nearly shouted in joy."Boss, they're here!"
Kasím's eyes opened, his gaze following Sohail's pointing hand. Though he knew the target was Rohit, his eyes locked instantly onto Ragini, who walked at the front with effortless poise. Her sleek figure, pale skin, and regal air made his breath hitch.
The woman beside her, in a leather jacket—Northeast, tough-looking—was decent too, but next to Ragini, she barely registered.
As they moved toward the black Mercedes, Kasím licked his lips. 'Fucking hot... and also loaded.'
The bearded man tried to act smart, leaning in."Boss… kid ain't alone. Better to back down, no?"
The bald thug smacked the bearded one on the head."Idiot. We'll follow the brat home. Pick him off later when he's alone. Ransom will be bigger if we know his nest."
Kasím's hand shot out, smacking both of them hard."Baldy, has your brain melted or your eyes gone blind?"
The two thugs froze. The bearded man chuckled nervously, but Kasím's stare shut him up.
He grabbed both their faces, forcing them to look.
"Forget the kid. Look at 'her'. That woman is a printing machine. Every night, and we'll make more money than years of ransom."
The bearded man drooled, nodding eagerly."Boss' vision is sure peak.. Premium stuff. Her skin's like cream."
The bald one scratched his head."But bhai, our job was the kid. Grabbing her for 'sale' will bring too much heat. Might turn out a big scandal if a rich madam like her goes missing."
Sohail's heart sank. He knew exactly what "selling" meant in their mouths. His stomach turned. He'd only wanted Rohit roughed up, maybe kidnapped—something safe, something that'd end with ransom. But this? This was a suicide pact. Touching that woman, who clearly belonged to wealth and power, was madness.
But what could he do? These thugs weren't listening to him anymore.
Kasím shook his head, voice calm and final."No beauty like that slips by me. Our organisation isn't some back-alley crew—we've got power, backing, protection. We'll bide our time, track her, and take her when it's ripe."
The bearded one rubbed his palms."And boss… before selling, we get first taste?"
Kasím smirked, patting his shoulder."Only After me."
The bald man still hesitated, squinting at Ragini as Rohit helped her into the car."Boss… What if, she's not even related? Could just be some office lady hiring a young stud."
The bearded man barked a laugh."Yeah, like gigolo service deluxe!(paid stud service)"
Kasím slapped both across the head."Shut it. Doesn't matter who's who. If the chance comes, we take all of them."
The bearded one stroked his beard greedily. "That Northeast chick ain't bad either. Good warm-up before the main item."
Sohail's voice broke in, small and trembling."Bhai… my part's done, right? Can I leave now?"
Kasím didn't even look at him as he started to approach his van."Pick him up. We still need to reward the kid for his service."
The two thugs turned toward Sohail with ugly grins. His blood ran cold.
Inside, he screamed: No. No, no, no. Hell no.
Back inside the Mercedes,
Rohit's fingers curled gently around Ragini's hand. He'd tried sliding his hand to her thigh earlier, but she'd caught it and held firm, refusing to let go even now.
He kept his gaze on her, studying the stillness of her face. In contrast, Ragini turned toward the window, her eyes fixed on the blur of buildings and lights passing by. Her pulse fluttered under his thumb—betraying the calm mask.
Through the rearview mirror, Rohit saw Chanu focused on the wheel, her expression blank and loyal as ever.
He understood Ragini's act. It was her way of maintaining composure in front of her driver, If she truly wished to break away, she would have pulled her hand back by now.
Just then, the car gave a sudden jolt and rolled to a halt.
They had only been on the road ten minutes when they reached the flyover, and the sight ahead was a wall of unmoving vehicles. The flyover was jammed, more crowded than usual, horns blaring in frustration.
Rohit frowned. "Is this normal? The place looks too packed today."
Chanu's brows knitted. "Happens sometimes… but I fear the worst."
Ragini lowered her window and called out to a passerby trudging down the opposite lane. "Excuse me, how long has it been stuck like this?"
The man's face was tight with irritation, but the moment he saw her, his voice softened. "Two hours, madam. You'd better call home—it won't clear anytime soon."
Chanu clicked her tongue. "Damn no! Exactly what I didn't want today."
The AC hummed, offering comfort, but Rohit noticed the faint crease of unease on Ragini's forehead. Perhaps it wasn't the heat—it was the thought of being stuck here with no certainty.
His eyes drifted to the right, where a subway entrance yawned open. A few stragglers were still heading down the steps.
"What if we take the subway?" Rohit suggested. "We just need to get past the flyover. After that, we can call an Uber."
Chanu hesitated. "But, sir, you don't know the stops."
Ragini turned, a small spark of approval in her eyes. "It could work. There are five stops before we reach Central Delhi."
Chanu's voice tightened. "But madam—your security. Leaving the car here like this…"
Rohit cut her off with a half-smile. "Fear not. I'd rather die than let a single scratch come to her."
Both Ragini and Chanu glanced at him, then shared a knowing smile before laughter escaped them.
"If you say so, young master," Chanu sighed, unlocking the car.
Ragini, still amused, brushed her hand lightly against Rohit's chest. "Let's go, my hero."
He felt a rush of awkwardness at her teasing tone. To cover it, he quickly opened the door and threw his coat at back seat and added, "Don't forget the packages. They're on the deck."
Behind the wheel, Chanu chuckled and flipped the mirror down, catching the reflection of his red ears.
Rohit rolled his eyes and stepped out.
Unbeknownst to them, a van stood parked at a distance, its tinted windows hiding four men inside. They had been trailing since the tower.
The bald man in the back, holding Sohail at knife point, nudged his companion. "Boss, look—the door's open."
The bearded driver smirked. "And they're heading to the subway… leaving the girl behind."
Kasim's lips curled into a slow smile. Their prey had practically delivered itself. What began as a routine tail had turned into an opportunity. The roadblock was certainly a blessing.
Only one question remained: whom to take first?
The boy and the woman stepping into the subway, where timing would matter. Or the lone girl left behind in the car, easy to pluck from the crowd's behind.