Chapter 1 — Run

"Priya, come here this instant! What in the world are you up to?" a lady's voice resounded through the house.

Priya's excitement reverberated as she shouted back, "I'm coming, Mother Mary."

As an orphan, Priya always affectionately referred to Mary as her mother, for Mary had showered her with love and care, treating her as her own flesh and blood.

"Hurry, my dear. Today is your first day of college!" Mary's voice resonated once again, urging Priya.

"I'm on my way! Just give me a moment!" Priya swiftly responded.

Adorned in a cute pair of shorts, a matching crop top, and denim shoes, Priya descended the stairs and inquired, "Mother Mary, who were you shouting at?"

Mary scolded her, "You little rascal! You're going to be late!"

Curious, Priya asked, "What does 'rascal' mean, Mother?"

Deep in her thoughts, Mary sighed and prayed, "This child is so innocent, may God protect her from the cruelties of the world."

"Nothing, my dear. Just drink this juice!" Mary replied.

Priya made a peculiar face and protested, "Juice? Mother! You know I detest it!"

Mary stood her ground, saying, "Regardless of your preferences, you must drink it."

With haste, Priya exclaimed, "I apologize, Mother, but I must hurry! I don't want to be late!" And with that, she rushed out of the house.

Mary let out a sigh, contemplating, "This child is far too innocent for this world. She has the power to brighten everyone's lives. I hope no one casts a shadow upon her."

After some time, she arrived at college with her joy-filled face, obtained her class schedule from the office, and entered her first class.

-------{On another side}--------

"What the hell did I tell you? I want that scoundrel dead! If you fail to accomplish this, you shall face dire consequences!" Priyank screamed, his anger boiling over. Without waiting for a reply, he abruptly ended the call.

With an impassive expression, Priyank greeted his mother, "Good morning, Mom."

"Good morning, son," his mother mirrored his demeanour, responding in a calm tone.

Taking his seat, Priyank observed as the maid served the food, accidentally brushing him.

"How dare she touch me without permission?" his mind screamed, filled with outrage.

He was not like those frivolous billionaires who indulged in promiscuity. His disdain for women extended to physical contact.

Swiftly, he grabbed a knife and slashed the maid's arm, bellowing, "How dare you lay a hand on me! Leave this place before I sever your arm from your body!"

His mother, taken aback, asked, "Why do you behave this way, Priyank?"

Priyank turned to her, devoid of emotion, and replied, "Mom, I despise it when any woman touches me."

The maid ran away, crying and with blood spilling from her arm.

His mother pleaded, "You can't just do this. In the future, I want you to marry and lead a normal life."

Priyank retorted, "I am only 25 years old, Mother. I will choose my own path in life. I won't abandon the woman I choose, but I haven't found anyone yet, and I doubt I ever will." With that, Priyank left the scene.

"I hope that one day he will find his soulmate. It pains me to see my child like this! God, please grant him someone special. I fear that the girl he falls in love with will endure great suffering because when Priyank becomes attached to something, he becomes possessive. Only God knows how he will react when he finds someone to love," his mother pondered, her heart filled with concern.

Priyank settled into his car, instructing the driver to take him to his office.

The driver obediently replied, "Yes, master," and began the journey.

A smirk played upon Priyank's lips as he observed the fear in his driver's eyes, relishing the power he held over everyone.

The car came to a halt, and Priyank entered his office. All eyes were averted, for he despised direct eye contact.

His office was devoid of female staff, as he vehemently opposed their presence. Such was his decree. He entered his private cabin and immersed himself in work, knowing that this day would be arduous.

After a hectic schedule, Priyank returned home, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat at the dining table. He said, "Mom, sorry for the morning."

"It's okay, son. Well, I am going to a party," his mom replied, knowing she didn't want to anger him by saying anything that might brush past his temper.

"Okay, mom. Have fun," Priyank responded, his tone softening.

When his mother and the servants left, he went to his office attached to his bedroom and started working. He loved working hard; it was his passion.

He never felt passion for anything except his work. He worked hard to live, largely.

{Same day in evening}-----------

As evening descended, Priya returned to the orphanage after completing all her classes. She called out with excitement, "Mother Mary, where are you?"

Mary's voice echoed in response, "Welcome back home, my dear! How was your first day?"

Priya embraced her tightly and replied, "It was wonderful, Mother Mary. However, all the boys in my college treat me like an outsider. As if I am some kind of alien."

Mary thought to herself, "Oh, my dear child, so innocent and unaware of your own beauty."

"Don't worry about them! You know Lucky, our beloved pet, missed you dearly!" Gazing at Priya, she said.

A smile graced Priya's face as she exclaimed, "Where is my Lucky? It's time for our walk!"

A white dog approached and affectionately hugged Priya's leg.

"He adores you, Priya," Mary remarked.

Priya responded, "Yes, Mother." She then took Lucky outside for their walk, their bond unbreakable.

"Please stop," Priya screamed while running.

In the darkness of the night, Lucky had managed to slip away from her within just a few minutes of them coming out for a walk, leaving her searching desperately for him. She stepped outside, hoping to catch a breath of fresh air and perhaps catch a glimpse of her mischievous companion. But luck seemed to have abandoned her, as he remained elusive.

Lost in the vastness of the surroundings, far from the safety of her orphanage, she wandered for what felt like an eternity. The pitch-black night offered no solace, only deepening her sense of unease.

Then, a glimmer of hope flickered within her. She spotted Lucky in someone's garden, a small ray of light in the darkness.

Priya mustered the courage to trespass into the garden, skillfully evading the watchful eyes of the guard.

She stood on the threshold, contemplating whether to venture further, conflicting thoughts racing through her mind. Her mother had always taught her to respect others' property and seek permission before entering. Yet, the urgency to find Lucky outweighed her hesitation. With a mix of trepidation and determination, she made the decision to enter the house.

The sight that greeted her eyes left her in awe. The house was a marvel of beauty, its elegance captivating her senses. But there was no time to marvel at her surroundings. Lucky had darted upstairs, and she knew she had to follow.

With a burst of energy, she raced up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest.

"There you are."

While working in his office, Priyank noticed a dog entering his bedroom and wondered how it managed to enter the property. It is heavily guarded.

His attention shifted when he saw a young girl also entering his office . Despite his initial anger, Priyank's breath caught in his throat when he laid eyes on her face.

The girl appeared to be around 18 or 19 years old and possessed a striking beauty. With her cute face, fair complexion, and red eyes, she wore shorts and a top that accentuated her milky legs. In an inexplicable moment, Priyank felt an overwhelming need to protect her, as if she were his own, his angel.

Confused by his possessive feelings towards a woman, Priyank questioned himself, acknowledging that this was a new experience for him

As Priya entered the room, she noticed a man sitting on a chair, causing her to feel uneasy. She felt his intense, predatory gaze upon her.

Reacting to the girl's presence, Priyank exclaimed, "What audacity! How dare you enter my house!"

"Sorry Sir, my dog came here," Priya became frightened and explained, her voice quivering.

Priyank's thoughts wandered to how the girl's voice would sound beneath him, but he quickly reprimanded himself, urging self-control.

Priyank's jealousy flared at the thought of the dog touching her.

"What a sorry girl, how dare you enter my house," he screamed, his anger escalating.

"Don't make excuses, bitch. I know you came here for me. You are a gold digger who came here to seduce me, right?," Priyank accused, his voice filled with contempt.

"What are you saying? What is the meaning of bitch and gold digger, sir?" Priya replied, her confusion evident.

Priyank was dumbfounded by her reply. How could she not know the meaning of those words?

"No... No, she is pretending," he thought, his mind racing to find an explanation.

Priya gathered all her courage and said, "Okay, sir. I am going. Thanks."

"Stop," Priyank commanded, his voice firm.

Priya stopped in her tracks and looked back. "Yes, sir?" she said, her voice filled with trepidation.

"Do you know me?" Priyank asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No, sir," Priya replied, blinking her innocent eyes.