Chapter 22 A Random Enchos
Rohit and Samar are still in the drawing room, discussing business. The house settles into a calm evening silence.
Just then, Neeti and I begin walking down the stairs, smiling softly as we talk.
But the moment Mrs. Shobha’s eyes fall on me, her expression changes completely. Shock spreads across her face.
She notices the vermilion in my hair parting and the mangalsutra around my neck. Stammering, she asks in disbelief, “Ishani… child… that…?”
I hesitate for a second. Then, with shy confidence, I gently gesture toward Samar. Mrs. Shobha’s face goes completely blank. She immediately turns to Samar, who still pretends to focus on the file in his hand. In a slightly raised voice, she asks, “Samar? You did this?”
Without looking up, Samar replies calmly, “Mom, I already told you I don’t want a grand wedding. I want to keep things private for now. So I followed your rituals. Now do you consider her my wife?”
Mrs. Shobha’s eyes burn with anger. She says sharply, “She was already your wife! But in this house, people just do whatever they want. No one bothers to ask anyone!”
Samar finally closes the file, stands up, and walks toward her. He gently hugs her and says softly, “Mom, please, I honestly don’t want to announce it yet. I just need a little time.”
Mrs. Shobha tries to understand Samar’s words, though her face still carries traces of displeasure. After a brief pause, she softens slightly and says, “Fine but whenever you decide to tell everyone, you’ll have to marry her again properly, with all the rituals. This family’s honour still matters.”
Samar gives a quiet nod. I stand a few steps away, listening to everything. My eyes fill with a strange mix of emotions and a small but comforting sense of relief. Samar stands by me.
Neeti leans closer to my ear, a mischievous smile on her lips. “What’s going on? Looks like my brother is falling hard for you.” she whispers teasingly.
I shoot her a sharp glance not angry, just flustered as if to say don’t you dare. “Neeti! Don’t say it,” I mutter under my breath.
She chuckles and nudges me gently. “Well, everyone already saw it. What’s left to hear?”
My cheeks warm slightly as I give her a warning look. She leans closer again and grins. “By the way that mangalsutra? Beautiful design. My brother’s got great taste!”
I blush harder and give her a playful smack on the arm, “Neeti, stop it!”
She clasps her hands dramatically. “Sorry, sorry.”
Rohit comes up to the terrace and casually starts chatting with Neeti and Karan. The breeze is cool, and the night feels peaceful.
“What’s going on, Neeti?” Rohit asks. “I heard something new is happening in the house.”
Neeti looks confused. “New? What do you mean, Bro?”
Karan smiles at Rohit. “Oh bro, you won’t get it our little Neeti is soon going to become Mrs. Shorya Shekhawat!”
Neeti’s eyes widen, “What?! You guys are starting this again?”
Rohit laughs. “Yeah, yeah, you won’t admit it even if something really is happening.”
Karan adds teasingly, “By the way, ‘Mrs. Shorya’ really suits you.”
Neeti rolls her eyes. “Bro, please don’t irritate me. I’m not interested. Don’t call me Mrs. Shorya!”
Rohit winks. “Then why are you getting angry? There must be some feelings I bet your heart skips a beat when you hear Shorya’s name.”
“No, Bro, nothing like that,” Neeti snaps back.
Karan grins. “I’m thinking of setting up a date for you two before the wedding. Maybe you’ll start planning babies early too!”
“Enough!” Neeti snaps. “Stop it, both of you. I don’t want to hear anything!”
Blushing and annoyed, she stomps her foot and rushes off the terrace. The two men burst out laughing.
“Crazy girl,” Rohit says. “There’s definitely something going on. Otherwise why would she react like that?”
Karan nods. “Just wait. One of these days she’ll admit it herself ‘Bro, I like Shorya.’”
They continue laughing on the terrace while Neeti storms straight to her room, slams the door shut, and collapses onto the bed her heart filled with strange, confusing thoughts.
While the Rajput Mansion is filled with joy and celebration, far away from all this happiness, deep inside a dense forest stands a grand yet ancient villa, like a forgotten heritage palace. Massive stone walls, antique lamps but tonight, the villa is consumed by darkness and silence.
Inside one of its lavish but cold chambers, a man sits alone on a couch. It is Vihan.
His face burns with rage, pain, and vengeance. His eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep or from the fire raging within him. A glass of whiskey rests in his hand, its dark color blending with the sorrow in his soul.
Across from him sits Raaka towering, solid, his eyes reflecting calculation and silent loyalty. Without a word, Vihan picks up an orange-colored file and slams it onto the table, sliding it toward Raaka.
“Here,” he says coldly. “This holds the truth behind Samar’s death. His entire personal record. Everything hidden from the world until now.”
Raaka reaches for the file. BOOMMMM!!!!!
A deafening blast rips through the jungle. Both Vihan and Raaka jump to their feet and rush outside without wasting a second.
Outside, the jungle lies still. Dark. There is not a single sign of fire, smoke, or even a spark. No intruder, no movement only eerie silence and the sharp scent of gunpowder hanging in the air.
“That sound… it isn’t random,” Vihan mutters, his voice tight with tension.
Raaka scans the surroundings carefully. “Someone is watching us. Listening to us. That blast it’s a warning.”
Without replying, Vihan storms back into the chamber and stops dead in his tracks. The orange file is gone. He stares at the empty table as rage boils through his veins.
“Impossible” he roars. “I bring that file here myself. How the hell is it gone?”
Raaka’s expression turns grave. “This isn’t just a robbery. It’s a calculated move. Someone knows all our steps and they’re always one step ahead of us.”
Vihan smashes his glass onto the floor. Shards scatter across the marble, mirroring the fragments of his fury. His eyes burn brighter than before.
“SR Empire the place where Samar’s truth is buried reduce it to ashes, Raaka. Burn every last proof. Leave no stone standing.”
His voice drips with venom. “I want smoke rising from every wall. I want them to know this war isn’t over. Not until I say it is.”
Raaka nods without hesitation. “There will be no mistake this time, Vihan. Every entrance, every exit will be blocked. All it takes is one signal and SR Empire will be dust.”