The mansion was overflowing with laughter and excitement as everyone returned from the grand wedding shopping.

The living room was practically buried under colorful shopping bags filled with rich silk sarees, embroidered sherwanis, and heavy jewelry boxes. With Shiva and Neha's wedding fast approaching, the house was humming with pure festive energy.

Upstairs in their room, Nidhi was practically bouncing on her toes with excitement. She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, carefully mixing a fresh, fragrant face pack in a small ceramic bowl to get her skin glowing for the upcoming events.

Suddenly, a pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Devarsh buried his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet jasmine scent. Nidhi caught his reflection in the mirror, a bright, radiant smile breaking across her face.

Before she could say anything, Devarsh scooped her up with effortless grace and placed her gently onto the cool marble sink counter. He stepped in close between her parted legs, leaning in with dark, intense eyes to steal a deep kiss.

Nidhi's hand shot up instantly, her soft palm pressing against his lips to block him. "Devarsh, stop!" she giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I have to look beautiful for the functions, so I need to apply this face pack right now!"

Devarsh gently caught her wrist, kissing the center of her palm before resting his hand on her knee. "You don't need all of these, Nidhi. You already look breathtakingly beautiful to me every single second," he murmured, his voice a low, gravelly vibration that made her heart do that familiar, wild flip.

Nidhi let out a flustered, blushing laugh, her cheeks turning a warm shade of pink. "Anyway, come here! Since you're interrupting me, I'm going to apply it to you too!"

Devarsh raised an eyebrow in mock suspicion, but he didn't step back. Instead, he leaned in closer, standing right between her legs as Nidhi dipped her soft brush into the cool mixture.



With gentle, meticulous strokes, she began applying the pack to his sharp jawline and high cheekbones. Devarsh watched her with absolute devotion, his dark eyes fixed on her face, completely unbothered by the grey paste covering his handsome features.

"Now your turn, Mr. Hitler," Nidhi giggled.
Devarsh took the brush from her hand and gently dabbed a cool spot of the pack right onto the tip of her nose.

"Devarsh!" she gasped, her hands flying up.
He smirked wickedly, using his fingers to carefully smooth the paste over her cheeks, his touch feather-light and surprisingly tender. They looked delightfully ridiculous together-the formidable, feared CEO and his sweet wife, both covered in grey face masks sitting on the bathroom slab.

Nidhi quickly pulled out her phone, holding it up high. "Look at the camera and smile!"

Devarsh wrapped his arm firmly around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. As the camera clicked, Nidhi beamed with a radiant, picture-perfect smile, while Devarsh offered a rare, soft, genuine grin into the lens-capturing a sweet, peaceful moment of domestic bliss before the grand wedding madness unfolded.
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The room inside the lavish guesthouse was in utter chaos. Neha's mother, Bhoomi, was pacing the floor like a wounded tigress, snatching expensive silk sarees and gold-embroidered lehengas from the bed and hurling them furiously onto the ground.

"Why did we even buy these useless clothes?" Bhoomi sneered, her face contorted with anger.

"I dreamt of my daughter becoming the daughter-in-law of the multi-millionaire Ramakrishna! I wanted Neha to marry Devarsh or at least Arjun! But what is happening? She is getting tied to that Shiva! A guy who doesn't even have a solid family background or proper wealth!"

Suddenly, the door clicked open. Neha's father, Mahendra, walked inside. He looked at the clothes scattered across the marble floor, a dark, wicked smirk spreading across his face.
He slowly walked over, picked up the fallen heavy sarees, and tossed them carelessly onto the bed.

"Why are you burning with anger like this, Bhoomi?" Mahendra asked, his voice dripping with sinister calm.

"Meeku navvu vasthundha?" (Are you finding this funny?) she spat, crossing her arms. "Don't you know why I'm angry? If not Devarsh or Arjun, we could have easily married Neha to some other rich businessman! Why are we begging in front of this Shiva?"

Mahendra let out a sharp, booming laugh and sat back on the plush velvet bed. "Mana Neha ee intiki pedda kodalu avuthundhi. Devarsh ki wife avuthundhi. Very soon!" (Our Neha is going to become the eldest daughter-in-law of this house. She will become Devarsh's wife. Very soon!)

Bhoomi froze, looking at her husband in total confusion. "What are you talking about? Are you in your right mind?"

"Sit down. I'll explain everything," Mahendra said, gesturing to the seat beside him. His eyes narrowed into slits. "That girl Nidhi and this idiot Shiva are our only big obstacles. Think about it. If we completely remove Nidhi and Shiva from this world... what happens?"

Bhoomi's breath hitched. "Remove them?"

"Yes! If we kill both of them, what will Devarsh and Ramakrishna do? They will mourn for a few weeks, cry their eyes out, and then life has to move on. Once Nidhi is gone, who else is there for Devarsh? We can easily step in, console them, and force Neha into Devarsh's life through marriage!"

A slow, evil grin began to form on Bhoomi's lips, but her brow furrowed. "But killing them isn't that easy, right? Devarsh protects Nidhi like a maniac, and Shiva moves around like a bodyguard!"

Mahendra leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I met the MP and his son, Murali. They are burning with hatred against Devarsh after what happened in the basement. I asked my PA to gather a full list of everyone who hates Devarsh. There are powerful people waiting for revenge. I made a deal with Murali and the MP!"

"What deal?"

"They want that massive government project that Devarsh is currently handling. I promised I would leak the documents and hand the project to them. In return, I asked them to do one simple job for us-kill Nidhi and Shiva!"

Bhoomi gasped, a thrilling wave of wickedness washing over her. She clapped her hands together in delight. "Is this really going to work?"

"Thappakunda pani jaruguthundhi!" (It will definitely work!) Mahendra laughed darkly.

"Devarsh thinks he is the king of this city. Let's see how his money saves his wife and his precious best friend now!"

Both of them shared a sinister, echoing laugh, completely unaware that their deadly plot was setting off a ticking bomb.
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The entire mansion was decked out in fresh marigolds, golden drapes, and the rich scent of jasmine. It was engagement day, and the air was buzzings with pure joy.

Downstairs, Devarsh, Shiva, and Arjun were taking care of the final arrangements. Devarsh was barking orders at the decorators in his typical style, while Arjun was busy tasting the sweets, and Shiva was sitting on the wooden peeta set up for the ceremony, trying his best to hide how nervous he was.

Ramakrishna garu and Syamala garu sat on either side of Shiva, their faces beaming with proud, teary-eyed smiles. The priest sat before them, chanting mantras.

Off to the side, Neha's parents-mahendra and bhoomi-stood with fake, plastered smiles stretched across their faces. Internally, they were burning with venom, their minds still plotting ways to ruin everything, but outwardly, they acted like overjoyed parents.

The pandit lifted his hands and called out, "Pellikuturu ni theeskuni randi!" (Bring the bride down!)

Every eye in the hall turned toward the grand wooden staircase.

First came Neha, looking like royalty in a heavy, rich half-saree with intricate zari work. She looked so naturally cute and stunning that Shiva forgot how to breathe. His eyes locked onto her, refusing to move even a single inch.

Beside her, holding her arm to help her descend the steps, was Divya. She looked breathtakingly gorgeous in a deep emerald green saree that hugged her curves perfectly.

And right behind them walked Nidhi. She was wearing an exquisite traditional saree that made her look like a goddess stepped straight out of a temple painting. Her dusky skin glowed under the warm chandelier lights, and her shy, sweet smile lit up the entire room.

Downstairs, time completely stopped for the three men.

Arjun, who was mid-sentence arguing with a caterer, froze. His mouth stayed half-open, his eyes glued to Divya. He completely forgot where he was, standing like a statue as he took in the sight of her.

Beside him, Devarsh's cold, authoritative mask shattered into a thousand pieces. His jaw dropped, his eyes widening as he stared at Nidhi. He didn't even blink. He looked so hit by her beauty that he looked almost helpless-a rare sight for the fearsome CEO.

Nidhi, Neha, and Divya caught the trio's completely lost expressions and shared a quiet, playful giggle.

Neha was brought down to the mandapam and made to sit opposite Shiva. Shiva was still staring at her like a man possessed, making Neha blush deeply and look down at her henna-stained hands.

Meanwhile, Divya walked over and stood right beside Arjun, who was still staring at her like he'd been hit by a spell.

Smirking mischievously, Divya slowly lifted her hand and waved it right in front of his face. When he didn't even blink, she leaned close-so close that her warm breath grazed his earlobe-and whispered in a sultry, teasing voice, "What happened, Arjun? Lost your mind?"

Arjun snapped out of his trance, his breath hitching. He turned his head slowly, his eyes instantly turning dark, intense, and dangerous as he locked onto hers.

"You don't know what you are doing, Divya," Arjun rasped, his voice dropping into a deep, gravelly register. "Don't make me lose my control right here in front of the whole family."
Divya's heart fluttered at the raw heat in his tone, but she didn't back down. She tilted her head, her lips curling into a wicked smile.

"Abbaccha? What will you do then?"
Arjun leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of her ear, mimicking her voice in a wicked, low murmur that made her knees go weak.

"Nothing much... I'll just drag you straight to our room right now, tie you to the bed, and neither you nor I are getting out of that room until you scream, 'Stop, Arjun... I'm tired...'"

Divya's breath caught violently in her throat! A fiery wave of heat rushed straight up her neck, turning her cheeks a deep, brilliant shade of crimson.

"Shameless!" she whispered frantically, smacking his chest with her flower garland and stepping back, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs while Arjun let out a low, victorious smirk.

Nidhi walked toward him, the heavy silk of her saree rustling softly with every step. Her waist swayed with an effortless grace, and as the ambient lights caught the delicate gold waist chain resting snugly against her bare skin, Devarsh's breath hitched. He couldn't take his eyes off her-the traditional attire, the scent of fresh jasmine in her hair, and that tiny silver strand clinging to her waist were driving him completely out of his mind.

She stopped right beside him, a playful glimmer in her eyes. "How do I look?" she asked softly when she noticed he hadn't blinked for a solid ten seconds.

Devarsh leaned in close, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he whispered in a low, gravelly voice, "Sexy."

Nidhi's breath caught, a sudden wave of heat rushing to her cheeks.

Before she could regain her composure, Devarsh nudged her shoulder gently. "Let's go to our room. I... forgot something up there."

Nidhi saw right through him. Her lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "Ohhh! You can go and get it yourself, Mr. Hitler." Devarsh came directly to the point.

"Nidhi... just one kiss. That's it," he whispered pleadingly, his voice dropping an octave into a dark, raspy tone.

"Nahhh," she teased, tilting her chin up bravely. "I will not give you any chance to kiss me today!"

Devarsh's eyes narrowed, a dangerously handsome smirk spreading across his face. "Challenge accepted."

His large hand slid toward her waist, aiming to pull her in right there in front of the crowd. But Nidhi was quick-she took a tiny, graceful step forward, escaping his touch just in time and giggling softly.

Devarsh didn't let her win that easily. In one smooth, swift move, he closed the distance again, stepping right up against her back. His long arm snaked around her midsection, his fingers clutching her slim waist tightly and pulling her flush against his side. The sudden impact made her gasp, but this time, Nidhi didn't pull away. She leaned into his hold, smiling softly as they stood together.

Up on the mandapam, the priest called for the auspicious moment. Shiva and Neha, blushing furiously, exchanged their engagement rings amidst applause and shower of flower petals.

The pandit then read out the Lagna Patrika, officializing the wedding date-fixed for just one week later! Shiva and Neha shared a sweet, silent look of pure happiness.

Soon, the entire hall erupted in celebration. Family members gathered for grand group photographs, and the mansion turned into a bustling hub of laughter, music, and running children.

Nidhi ended up surrounded by a energetic gang of small kids, her hands full as she distributed chocolates and sweets to them. Devarsh stood a few feet away, watching her. His cold, stern mask melted away completely as he saw her laugh, her whole face lighting up as she lifted a tiny girl into her arms and showered her cheeks with soft kisses.

Mesmerized, Devarsh walked over and stood beside her.

"See how cute she is looking?" Nidhi beamed, bouncing the little girl gently.

Devarsh nodded, a soft, genuine smile gracing his lips. "Yeah. Very cute."

Just then, an elderly relative-a neighborhood Bhamma-walked up to them with a wide, affectionate grin. She looked at Nidhi holding the toddler, then looked at Devarsh standing beside her like a protective shield.

"Arey, meeru eppudu chepthunnaru good news?" (Hey, when are you both giving us the good news?) the old woman asked teasingly.
Nidhi blinked, not catching on immediately.

"Good news ah, Bhamma?"

The old woman chuckled softly. "When are you both giving grandchildren to the family?"

In a second, Nidhi's cheeks turned a bright, deep shade of red. She looked down, completely flustered, her tongue suddenly tied.

Devarsh, however, didn't miss a beat. He leaned right into Nidhi's ear, his voice not loud it was enough for nidhi to hear, and murmured wickedly, "Ok cheppali kani... ippude process start chestha, Bhamma!" (I should definitely tell you... but to do that, I'll go start the process right now, Bhamma!)

Nidhi's eyes went wide as saucers! "Devarsh!" she gasped, driving her elbow straight into his ribs with a sharp thud.

The old woman burst into a hearty laugh at their chemistry. She raised her hands, swirling her fingers around their heads and snapping her knuckles against her own temples to ward off the evil eye (drishti). Both Nidhi and Devarsh smiled warmly as the elder blessed them before moving into the crowd.

A little later, Devarsh was standing near the main entrance, casually chatting with Shiva and Arjun about the upcoming wedding arrangements. But his sharp eyes never truly left his wife.

From the corner of his vision, he saw Nidhi quietly slipping away from the crowded hall and making her way up the grand staircase, likely heading to their room to adjust her heavy saree and touch up her makeup.

Devarsh's words from earlier echoed in his head: Challenge accepted.

A slow, wicked smirk crept onto his face. He excused himself from Shiva and Arjun, his pulse quickening as he watched her disappear down the upper hallway. She was alone in the room. No children, no relatives, and no interruptions.

It was time to claim his challenge.

Devarsh quietly excused himself from the conversation with Shiva and Arjun, leaving them discussing catering details. He slipped away up the grand staircase, his heart pacing with anticipation.

He pushed open the bedroom door, expecting to find Nidhi alone, but stopped dead in his tracks.

"Arghhh," he muttered under his breath.

Nidhi was sitting on the rug, completely surrounded five energetic children. The kids all turned their heads at the sound of the opening door, staring at him. Devarsh's face fell into an expression of pure, unadulterated disappointment.

Nidhi caught his fallen look and shot him a triumphant, mischievous smirk.

Devarsh, however, quickly recovered, a naughty glint returning to his dark eyes. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her. All the kids were seated opposite Nidhi, hanging on her every word as she animatedly narrated a fairytale.

"...and then, the tiny forest princess walked deeper into the dark, magical woods," Nidhi said softly, making dramatic hand gestures. "She was searching for the hidden golden key, but she didn't know that the big, scary wolf was silently following her right behind her back..."

Devarsh quietly closed the door and padded over in his socks, completely silent. He sat down directly behind Nidhi, folding his legs.

Nidhi observed his movement from the corner of her eye, but kept her composure and didn't say a word, continuing the story while all the kids remained deeply engrossed.

Devarsh leaned toward the kids, his tone completely innocent. "It's too hot in this room today, isn't it?"

The kids all vigorously nodded in agreement without taking their eyes off Nidhi, immediately returning their full concentration to her story.

Devarsh lay down on his side right behind her, propping his head up on one hand. Positioned behind Nidhi's back, his face was completely blocked from the children's view.

Nidhi ignored his presence and pressed on with the tale.

Suddenly, she felt a warm, firm hand settle against her lower back. Nidhi shifted forward slightly to escape, her voice maintaining its rhythm as she described the princess climbing the enchanted mountain.

The back of her blouse had a thin, delicate design, secured by two hooks at the bottom and held together at the top with fine, silk threads tied into a neat knot. Devarsh slowly reached up, his long fingers gently sweeping her long, thick braid over her shoulder to expose her smooth, golden skin. He began lightly tugging at the dori threads.

Nidhi felt his fingers at her neck, but she didn't dare react out loud. Within seconds, she felt the first thread untie. Devarsh's fingers deftly unraveled the second knot.

Nidhi's breath hitched, her voice faltering mid-sentence as the warm puff of his exhale brushed her exposed nape. The top of her blouse loosened.

Fortunately, her heavy saree pallu draped over her shoulder shielded the front, keeping everything completely hidden from the kids.

Nidhi glanced at the children, then turned her head back just an inch. "Devarsh..." she whispered in a frantic, warning tone.
Devarsh merely winked, blowing her a tiny, silent flying kiss from his spot on the floor.

Nidhi turned back around, taking a deep breath to steady her fluttering chest. "S-so... the princess... she... she took the g-golden key..."
While she struggled to speak, Devarsh remained focused on his task. His fingers slid down to the first metal hook at the base of her blouse.

Click.

Nidhi gasped softly, her hand flying instinctively to her chest to pull her saree tighter. "Devarsh... stop..." she whispered desperately under her breath.

Devarsh being Devarsh, he completely ignored her plea. His fingers unlatched the second hook. The blouse gave way completely, held together now only by her bra strap underneath. As the fabric parted, his dark eyes caught sight of a tiny, dark mole resting just beside her spine.

He leaned in closer, his lips practically touching her skin. "I didn't see this mole before..." he whispered in a voice so low only she could register the vibration.

A violent shiver traveled straight down Nidhi's spine. Her words stumbled over each other as she tried to maintain the story for the wide-eyed children in front of her.

"Th-then... the w-wolf came... and... and he said... 'I... I am going to... to take... th-the key...' B-but the princess... s-she stood... she stood her... her ground..." she stammered out, her lungs starving for air.

Devarsh leaned down, his warm tongue flicking out to lightly lick the tiny mole before pressing a lingering, hot kiss against it.

Nidhi's body jolted forward a few inches. Devarsh immediately adjusted his position, shifting forward with her. This time, he didn't just kiss her-he nipped gently at the skin right beside the mole with his teeth.

"Ah..." A muffled gasp nearly turned into a full-blown moan in her throat.

Nidhi bit her lower lip hard to suppress it. She knew he wasn't going to stop, and there was no way she was going to end up utterly embarrassed in front of seven innocent children. Devarsh's lips were now trailing soft kisses up her spine, his thumb sliding underneath the elastic of her bra strap, preparing to unhook it.

Desperate, Nidhi quickly crawled forward on her hands and knees. Devarsh instantly withdrew his hands and rested his head back on his arm, closing his eyes and pretending to be fast asleep.

Nidhi clutched her front, turning to the kids with a bright, slightly breathless smile. "Aaaand... that's it for today, cuties! Let's all go downstairs and eat snacks! It's snack time!"

The moment the word "snacks" left her mouth, all children cheered, scrambled to their feet, and bolted out the open bedroom door like a herd of tiny wild animals.

The moment the last child cleared the doorway, Nidhi scrambled up, frantically reaching behind her back with both hands to rehook her blouse so she could make a run for it.

But Devarsh was infinitely faster.

In one swift, fluid motion, he rose from the floor, grabbed her wrist, pulled her back into the room, and slammed the door shut, locking it in a single second.

Nidhi gasped, her back hitting the wooden door, her hands still tangled behind her. "Devarsh! Siggu ledha... chinna pillala mundhu...?" (Devarsh! Have you no shame... in front of little children...?)

Before she could even finish her sentence, Devarsh cut her off cleanly. "Ledhu!" (No!)

He leaned down instantly, burying his face in the crook of her neck, pressing a deep, possessive kiss against her warm skin. He pulled back just an inch, his dark eyes hovering right over her lips, leaning in to claim her mouth
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Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sudden sound on the door frame made them both freeze. Syamala's voice called out gently from the hallway. "Nidhi? Open the door, beta. All the relatives downstairs are asking for you."

Nidhi immediately pushed against Devarsh's chest, turning her back to him in a hurry. "Tie them! Quick!" she whispered urgently, gesturing to her undone blouse.

Devarsh let out a long, disappointed sigh, his shoulders slumping. His wicked CEO persona melted away into a delightfully pouting, cute face as his long fingers slowly began refastening the hooks and retying the delicate dori threads at her neck.

Nidhi looked over her shoulder, catching his pouting, handsome face. Her heart melted completely.

Before reaching for the doorknob, she leaned in quickly, pressed a soft, sweet kiss onto his cheek, unlocked the door, and darted out into the hallway before he could catch her again.

Devarsh stood near the door, a slow, fond smile spreading across his lips as he touched his cheek where her kiss still lingered. He adjusted his shirt collar and headed downstairs.

By the time he reached the hall, the last of the distant relatives were bidding their goodbyes and leaving. The main family members-Ramakrishna, Syamala, Arjun, Divya, Shiva, and Neha-sat together in the expansive living room, sharing laughs and unwinding after the grand engagement event.

Devarsh couldn't stay down for too long. The crucial government project tender he had been working on for months was fast approaching its deadline. He excused himself and went back up to his study, diving straight into the complex files on his laptop.

Downstairs, Nidhi was sitting with Neha and Divya, sipping hot tea and chatting about the wedding preparations, when her phone suddenly vibrated. She glanced at the screen, and her eyes went wide. She bit her tongue, squeezing her eyes shut in instant guilt.
It was her best friend, Savitha.

Nidhi slid the green button and placed the phone near her ear. "Hello..." she said, her voice dropping to a cautious, sweet whisper.
"Nidhi! I swear I will kill you if you tell me you forgot!" Savitha's sharp voice blasted through the speaker.

"No, no! What are you saying, Savi? I remember!" Nidhi lied through her teeth, frantically standing up. "I've... I've already started! I'm actually in the middle of the journey right now!"

"Fine. Don't waste time, come directly to the cafe," Savitha replied before hanging up.
Savitha was leaving for Vizag that very evening, and this was her last day in the city. Nidhi had completely lost track of time amidst the engagement frenzy! Panicking slightly, she rushed upstairs to ask Devarsh if he could drive her.

She pushed open his study door and saw him completely engrossed in his laptop screen, typing furiously.

"Devarshhh..." she called, her voice sweet as sugar.

Without even lifting his eyes from the monitor, Devarsh replied directly, "Em kavali?" (What do you want?)

Nidhi walked closer to his desk. "Savitha is leaving for Vizag today, Devarsh. I really need to meet her once."

Devarsh sighed, his eyes still fixed on the project numbers. "I'm tied up with this file right now, Nidhi. Ask Shiva or Arjun, they'll take you."

Nidhi smiled understandingly. "Okay!"

She turned around and hurried downstairs to find Arjun. She walked over to Syamala and asked, "Atthayha, where is Arjun?"

"I think he just went out for some work, Nidhi," Syamala replied warmly. "Do you need to go somewhere?"

Nidhi quickly explained that she needed a ride to meet her friend before she left the city. Standing nearby, Neha's mother, bhoomi, overheard the entire conversation-and her wicked mind instantly went to work.

Sunanda stepped forward with a fake, sweet smile. "Arey Nidhi, why look for Arjun? Alludu garu (Son-in-law Shiva) is right here! He will take you."

Shiva, who was sitting on the sofa checking his phone, looked up and nodded at Nidhi. "Ha, Nidhi, come. I'll drop you."

Nidhi ran upstairs one last time to inform Devarsh that she was heading out with Shiva. Devarsh looked up from his desk, nodded, and offered a firm warning: "Be careful. Call me as soon as you reach."

"Will do!" Nidhi said, rushing back down.

Both Nidhi and Shiva hopped into his heavy SUV, pulling their seatbelts tight. Shiva started the engine and looked over at her with a smirk. "Cheppandi Madam, ekkadiki vellali?" (Tell me, Madam, where should we go?)

Nidhi giggled, teasing him back. "Enti Bava garu, respect perigipothundhi engagement ayyaka?" (What, Brother-in-law, respect is increasing after the engagement?)

Shiva laughed. "Just giving respect to my friend's wife!"

"Take me to The Roastery Coffee House," Nidhi said, checking her watch nervously.

Shiva nodded, shifting the gear. "It will take at least 30 minutes in this traffic."

"Fast ga vellandi, ledhante Savi nannu champesthundhi!" (Go fast, otherwise Savi will kill me!) Nidhi pleaded.

"Don't worry, I'll get you there in no time," Shiva promised, accelerating down the driveway.

Meanwhile, back in his study, Devarsh picked up his private phone. Even though he trusted Shiva implicitly, his protective instincts were always on high alert. He dialed his chief security officer.

"Follow Shiva's car. Maintain a three-car distance. Keep eyes on them until they are back."

Back at the mansion, as soon as Shiva's SUV cleared the main gates, bhoomi quickly pulled her husband, Mahendra, into a corner of the hallway.

"They are gone!" she whispered excitedly. "Nidhi and Shiva went out alone in a single car! Devarsh is busy in his room, and Arjun isn't around. This is our exact chance!"

His face split into a dark, sinister grin. He immediately pulled out his burner phone and dialed Murali.

On the other end, Murali answered, his voice tight and raspy. Mahendra gave him every single detail-the car model, the route Shiva was taking toward the cafe, and the fact that Shiva and Nidhi were completely isolated from Devarsh.

"I want both of them dead today, Murali!" He spat into the receiver. "Do not miss this chance!"

Murali turned to look at his father, the sitting MP, who was sitting across the room nursing his own grudges against Devarsh. The MP gave his son a cold, decisive nod.

Murali leaned into the phone, his eyes burning with venom. "Aa Devarsh gadiki theliyali... natho pettukunte ela untundho!" (That Devarsh needs to learn... what happens when someone mess with me!)

Murali hung up the call, turned to his chief henchman, and barked, "Get the cars ready. Block the highway stretch before the cafe. Finish both Shiva and Nidhi today!"

Hey cuties 💗

How's the chapter 💗

I will update regularly there are no proper schedule but I will update regularly along with phase-2.

Tell me if there are any mistakes it's been so many days guys I forgot the character names also 🫠