Chapter 42: Whispers in the Night

Chapter 42: Whispers in the Night


The mansion was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made the hairs on Aanya’s neck rise. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, eyes wide open despite the late hour. Sleep hadn’t come easily—not since the failed escape, not since Raaz had locked her away again.

But tonight… tonight felt different.

She heard something.

A muffled voice. Then a low sob. Was it… crying?

Aanya sat up abruptly, heart thudding in her chest. For a moment, she wondered if it was her own mind playing tricks again—if the stress had grown so much that even silence echoed. But there it was again. Clearer this time.

A woman’s sob. A whimper. And another voice—familiar.

She slid off the bed, bare feet touching the cold marble floor. The room was dim, the chandelier outside casting soft shadows beneath the door. She crept toward it and gently turned the handle.

The corridor was empty. The guards who usually stood posted at each corner were gone, or perhaps deliberately absent.

Her breath caught.

Could it be…? Could it be Tara or Samay?

Carefully, Aanya tiptoed through the hallway, passing ornate paintings and statues that now felt more sinister than regal. Her steps made no sound as she reached the top of the grand staircase. The voices were clearer now. Her heart dropped.

“Please… please let them go,” someone whispered below.

Aanya clutched the banister and descended slowly, quietly, until the living room came into view.

What she saw made her freeze mid-step.

Tara. Samay. Meenal.

All three were on their knees in the center of the marble floor, wrists tightly bound, faces pale and visibly shaken. They were harmed— physically— their expressions showed enough anguish to make Aanya’s stomach twist. A pair of guards stood behind them silently, almost like shadows.

And then… she saw him.

Raaz.

He sat on the long, dark leather couch, still in his evening suit, a half-filled glass of whiskey resting against his knee. The glass clinked gently in his hand as he swirled the amber liquid. His face was calm—too calm—but the tightness around his eyes betrayed the storm underneath.

He hadn’t seen her yet. But he felt her presence.

Yash, who stood behind the couch, stiffened as soon as his eyes met Aanya’s. She took another shaky step down, and the soft creak of the stairs finally drew Raaz’s attention.

He looked up.

His gaze met hers, and time stood still.

The glass in his hand paused midair, then was slowly set down on the table. He stood—not quickly, but with deliberate movement, as though aware that every inch he moved was being watched.

“Aanya,” he said, his voice low, unreadable.

She didn’t answer. Her lips trembled, her fingers clenching the railing to stay steady.

“Why are they here?” she whispered, her voice nearly cracking. “Why are they tied up?”

Raaz’s eyes softened slightly, though something dark still lingered in them. “They tried to take you away,” he said simply. “Again.”

“They only wanted to help me,” Aanya said, her throat tightening. “Because I was… I am being kept here.”

Raaz looked at her for a long moment, and then turned to Yash.

“Untie them.”

Yash hesitated. “Raaz—”

“Now.”

Yash gave a signal to the guards, who stepped forward and cut the ropes from their wrists. Tara rubbed her sore arms and looked at Aanya, relief flooding her eyes. Samay looked furious but held his tongue. Meenal was silent, but her eyes glistened.

Raaz walked slowly toward Aanya. She didn’t move, but her whole body tensed as he approached.
“Well it’s good you are here. I want to show you something entertaining. You will surely enjoy it. Come here.” He said to her with a smile, which sent shiver down her spine. Her brain was screaming and telling her nothing is going to be good. She looked at Tara who was crying.
Raaz knew that she would come down he purposely left the door of their room open. She was only standing there. Her breathing was uneven. It was like her knees were getting weak only just by looking at her.
I said come here, or do you want a special service? Well, I don’t have a problem,” he said to her, gritting his teeth. But as she saw he was about to come near her, she started walking to him obediently and stood beside him. She could still hear the cry of tara and meenal but she did not look back towards them.

He ordered to sit without looking at her. His attention was on the people who were still on their knees. He looked at her again, seeinh her cry and tremble in fear. Fear and anxiety was clear on her face. She still did not sit as instructed by him, there was is she defying me look on his face. He sat on the leather chair and pulled her on his lap. She was shocked by this sudden pull. She held him tightly for support.
She accepted her defeat and did not try to offend him. Aanya was feeling embarrassed, she was sitting on his lap and everyone was looking at them. Tara, samay and meenal were looking at them.
His man standing behind tara and samay did not have any guns today.
You know, Jaan they started this movie of escape so there should be the climax, he said, while touching the hair behind her ear.
She quickly stood up from his lap and went on her knees.
“Please don’t do anything to them……please…….”. she begged, joining her hand in front of him. She was begging for mercy. She was crying non stop. Her heart was beating fast.

They just wanted to help me, please I beg you………………… she cried.
She looked at him and he looked annoyed. She got scared. He stood up from the chair and pulled Aanya to his chest.
Who told you to fall on your knees! He shouted at her.
Aanya has angered him too much with her behaviour. He did not understand why she fell on her knees. She is his queen. They tried to take her away and still she was defending them, it made him beyond furious. It was making him get out of control.

Tara and Meenal, started to cry loudly while seeing this. They now know Aanya will not be able to stop him. They now know how much Raaz is obsessed with Aanya.
And why do you think I will kill them jaan, they are your friends right.” So how will I kill them? Raaz said with a sinister smile on his face. I have planned something else for them, and you are here to enjoy the show.
Aanya is now terrified of the coming storm.
Yash, motioned his men and the men came forward with whips in their hand. Aanya is shocked by the site. Tara and Meenal starts to cry loudly as now they are afraid for themselves. Samay trying to free him self but unable to do so.
You know Jaan, as they are your friends I cannot kill them but 100 strokes of whip will make them understand not to do anything else like the stunt they pulled.
Aanya falls on her knees and starts to cry afraid for her friends and Meenal. She knows that now he will not stop and she cannot do anything to save them. They will die after this torture. She could feel the seriousness from his voice.

His two men suddenly started dragging Samay who was constantly resisting out of the house, Tara started crying and begging loudly to leave them. Raaz watched Aanya who was on her knees, crying. He is jealous of Samay as she is crying for him and begging for his life.

Please, they are not at fault, they just tried to help me………..punish me if you want but please I beg you leave them, she cried like a kid.

Raaz knew she was still defending them and it was making him more angry and furious. She wants to take their blame on herself. He could see how much she wanted to save them.

Tell me jaan, do you love him, is that why you are pleading for him to be saved, haan, raaz shouted on her.

Aanya trembled in fear listening to him. She vigorously shook her head in no as she knows how he is obsessed with her and he will surely kill Samay.

You want to take his punishment? He said in anger and frustration.
She could see his dangerous aura but still nodded her head. She knew what she was doingis suicide, and after this she will not survive. She will die after a 100 strokes, but their life is more important for her, and she has to save them. They were trying to save her only and now its her time to save them.

“Ok, then be ready for the punishment” he shouted and everyone was silent.

The men who were dragging samay stopped. Aanya prepared her mind to feel all the pain which she was about to get on her body. She was looking towards their hands holding whips.

Her body was trembling in fear but still she was ready to face the punishment.

Suddenly, Raaz started dragging her upstairs. She panicked. Why is he taking me upstairs towards the room? Should he not hand over to me to his men? After all, they were about to whip Samay. So, they would beat her as well. Tara and Samay were looking at this scene in horror. They were thankful that she tried to save them but who will save her.

“Where are you taking me?”she asked him, but he without giving any answers to her keot dragging her from her wrist. He was holding her hand very tightly and dragging her.

They reached in front of their room and she panicked.
“Did you forget, you just said that you will take the punishment so here we are,” saying this he entered the room dragging her and closed the door with a bang.

“Is he himself going to whip me?’”, she thought.
She nodded her head. Raaz was looking at her, he bolted the door from inside it made Aanya more terrified.  He wanted to say her no to him, and he would immediately hug her.

“do you know what your punishment is?” he asked her.
He was looking annoyed.
She could not understand what he was asking. He told her a few minutes ago what her punishment is. Then why he is asking her? His expression was changing and he was getting closure to her. She started backing away.
He was scaring her, asking about this. Aanya was getting terrified of his stare. He was looking as an obsessed beast. Her back touched the corner of bed. She had nowhere to go.
 Did you think that I would whip you to death and you would escape me this way? He said touching her waist with a dark expression. She did not move away but she feared from his touch which angered him more.
She was shocked to see that he knows that she is still thinking of escaping him. It was the best method to escape him, but he knew what she was thinking. He knew she was still thinking about escaping him. Now, he is looking more dangerous. Obsession, possession, madness and anger was visible in his eyes.

Seeing him like this she knows that he has planned something worse for her. He will not whip her.

Please………………..leave me…………….why are you doing this………….what did I do to you…leave me let me go …… aanya cried. She cannot control her fear anymore.\` she burst into tears.

Aanya’s tears fell on his hand. As raaz saw her crying in front of him he stopped. Her tears were making him weak. His heart was beating fast seeing her. But suddenlt, he remembered her attempt to escape to leave him, and then his eyes darkened.
You are only trying to escape as you still reject this marriage he said. After tonight you will know what it is to be a wife and you will perform all the duties a wife should do for her husband he said.

He then suddenly pushed her on the bed. Aanya is shocked. She is now afraid what he will do to her.