The hospital corridor is silent for a moment, and then the sound of hurried, uneven footsteps fills the air. A woman is running, her bare feet slapping against the cold tiles, echoing through the long passage

She clutches her three day old baby tightly against her chest, her arms trembling with both exhaustion and fear. Her breathing is heavy, ragged, and sharp as though her lungs are on fire

Tears stream down her cheeks, blurring her vision, but she doesn’t stop. She can’t stop. Each tear is a mix of pain, terror, and helpless love for the tiny child in her arms

The baby is wailing, a high pitched cry that cuts through the sterile air of the hospital. Every sob makes her heart pound harder, makes her panic rise like waves crashing inside her chest. She whispers broken words, almost prayers, to her baby as she runs

“Shh… please, don’t cry… mama’s here… mama’s here…”

But her voice trembles so much that even the baby feels the fear in it. The corridor feels endless, stretching on like a cruel test of her endurance. White lights above flicker faintly, casting sharp shadows on the walls

Nurses and visitors turn their heads in shock, some frozen in confusion, others gasping as they watch the woman sprint past. Some call out, but their voices are drowned by the pounding of her feet and the baby’s cries

Her hospital gown sways with each desperate step. She had given birth only three days ago her body is weak, stitched, and still in pain, but survival has forced her beyond those limits

The stitches in her lower body ache, the soreness magnified by the reckless speed of her run, but she doesn’t allow herself to think of that. Then a deafening crack.....The sound of a bullet

It slices through the air and tears into her leg. A scream bursts from her throat, raw and filled with agony. She collapses onto the floor, her knee hitting the cold tiles, but she refuses to loosen her hold on the baby

Her arms close tighter, almost crushing the tiny bundle against her chest. The baby shrieks louder, startled by the sudden fall and his mother’s scream

Blood begins to pool beneath her, warm against the icy ground. She tries to crawl, dragging herself forward with one hand, cradling the baby with the other. Her face twists in pain, tears flowing even faster

Around her, people panic. Shouts rise. Some run toward her, some away from the gunfire. She dares to lift her head. At the far end of the corridor, she sees shadows moving. Her heart drops they’re coming for her

She clenches her teeth, trying to get back on her feet, wobbling as she presses against the wall for support. Her breath comes in sharp gasps, the taste of iron already on her tongue.

Then another shot rings out....This time, the bullet pierces her chest. The force sends her stumbling back down, her back hitting the floor. She coughs, and blood stains her lips

Her hands tremble violently, but still, she never lets go of her baby. She tilts her head down, looking at the child’s red, crying face, and a sob breaks free from her

“Don’t… cry...my baby… don’t…”

The baby’s wails echo through the corridor, louder than anything else, a sound of pure fear and helplessness. It’s as if he senses his mother’s agony. The woman’s vision begins to blur, but she forces her eyes to stay open, her arms to stay strong

Her body shakes. The wound on her chest burns with every breath, every cough sending more blood trickling down her chin. Her lower body aches too, the strain reopening the fragile stitches from childbirth

She shivers in pain, her whole body weak and trembling. Still, she tries to move. With all the strength left in her, she pushes herself against the wall, sliding upward inch by inch. She can’t fall, not yet. If she falls, the baby will fall

But then, the third shot....It strikes her head. A sharp sound, then silence inside her skull. Her body jerks, then collapses, falling sideways onto the cold, blood stained tiles. This time, her arms falter

Her head rests on the floor, her eyes half open, staring blankly at the ceiling. The baby remains in her arms, pressed to her chest, his small body shaking from his cries. He cries louder, desperate, his tiny hands pushing weakly against her

He doesn’t understand what’s happening, but he feels her warmth fading. And then....A slow sound of footsteps. A man emerges from the shadowed end of the corridor, holding the gun casually in his hand

His lips curve into a cold, cruel smirk as he walks toward the fallen woman and the helpless baby. Each step is unhurried, as if he knows no one can stop him now

He stops in front of them, his shadow falling over the baby. The baby’s cries echo in the silence, filling the air with raw pain. The man looks down, eyes fixed not on the woman but on the infant in her arms as he shot him

"Burn down whole hospital with all the witness"

He said with a blank expression making his man's nod there head as he stare at the small baby and the woman for the last time, the words slowly come out of his mouth like wishper

"Zyada imaandari hamesha maut ka kaaran banti hai... Ye soch Lena chahiye tha tumhe aur aaj tum Zinda hoti"

(Too much trust always becomes the cause of death... you should have thought about this and today you would have been alive)

He walk away from there crossing over the baby's small dead body as his man start killing every single person there and throwing petrol in whole hospital

The mansion in Hyderabad shines like a palace. Lights sparkle across the tall walls, flowers decorate every corner, and the fragrance of roses and jasmine fills the air. The evening is warm, the air alive with music, laughter, and the voices of relatives who have gathered for the celebration

It is not just a house today...it feels like a royal court. The large entrance stairs of the mansion are covered with a soft red carpet. Above, the grand chandelier glitters, spreading golden light on everyone standing in the main hall

Women in silk sarees and lehengas whisper to each other, men in elegant sherwanis talk with pride, and children run around, their giggles echoing. The whole place is decorated with love and care, but despite the beauty of the mansion, all eyes are waiting for one person.

And then, he walks in.....Arhaan Goenka

He enters with slow, confident steps, and the room shifts instantly. Every head turns. Every conversation pauses. His very presence feels like a storm wrapped in silence

His tall figure is dressed in a simple yet striking black kurta, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders and chest, the sleeves rolled slightly to show his strong arms. The black matches his aura perfectly....dangerous, magnetic, and impossibly handsome

Many women around the hall can’t help but look twice. Some whisper softly, others sigh. A group of young woman's giggle behind their palms, their eyes shining as if they have seen a movie star walking into their lives

His sharp jawline, the calm smile resting on his lips, the way his dark eyes seem to know everything....Arhaan doesn’t need to try. His charm is natural, and it pulls people in like gravity

But his eyes don’t wander. He doesn’t notice the women stealing glances, the admiration, or even the whispers that float through the hall. His gaze goes straight to one place..... To one person

She is there....standing on the staircase, halfway down, glowing like the moon on a starry night. His fiancée.....His love. The reason his heart beats with warmth in a world that is otherwise so cruel

She is wearing a black lehenga that shines with silver embroidery under the chandelier lights. The fabric flows gracefully around her, and the dupatta rests lightly on her shoulders, shimmering as she moves

Her long earrings touch her neck as she tilts her head slightly, smiling at the relatives around her. Her lips are soft pink, her eyes lined beautifully, and her smile… her smile is the kind of smile that could heal wounds

Arhaan stops at the entrance for a moment. His lips part into a true smile not the calculated, polite smile he shows the world, but the one that comes only when he looks at her

His eyes soften, almost tender, as if the sight of her erases every dark thought inside him.....And then she sees him. Her steps pause. The smile on her lips falters for a second, turning into a shy curve

Her big eyes meet his, and the sparkle in them changes into nervousness. Heat rushes to her cheeks, painting them with a soft blush. She quickly lowers her eyes, trying to hide the storm of feelings inside her, but she can’t stop her lips from curling into a small smile again

She stands still, unable to move, because the weight of his stare feels too heavy, too intense. Arhaan doesn’t look away. He walks toward her, slowly but surely, ignoring the whispers, the people around, even the relatives who stare at him with mixed expressions

His steps are steady, each one echoing across the hall as though he owns not just the mansion, but the whole world. And perhaps he does....Finally, he reaches her

For a moment, he doesn’t speak. He just looks at her, standing so close now that she can feel his presence like a warm shadow. His eyes travel over her face the nervous smile, the flushed cheeks, the lowered gaze. A small smirk appears on his lips, but his eyes are soft, filled with love

Then, without asking, without worrying about who is watching, Arhaan bends slightly and presses a gentle kiss against her cheek

The hall goes silent. Gasps escape from some of the older relatives, and a few whispers rise quickly. Some women frown, judging. A few men exchange glances as if silently disapproving. The air suddenly fills with unspoken opinions

But Arhaan doesn’t care....He doesn’t even hear them. For him, there is only her. The way her eyes widen at his sudden boldness, the way her lips part in shock, and the way her whole body freezes for a second

He doesn’t regret it, not even for a moment. His heart is steady, his decision clear...he loves her, and he will show the world that she is his, without shame. Her cheeks burn where his lips touched. She lowers her eyes again, shyly hiding her face, but her lips curl into a small, sweet smile she can’t control

She feels every heartbeat echoing in her chest, louder than the music, louder than the whispers. The women around may judge, but her heart only knows one thing...she is his, and he is hers

Arhaan lifts his head, still staring at her. His eyes hold the softness of devotion, the fire of passion, and the calmness of a man who has found his home. A smile stays on his lips as he whispers, so low that only she can hear

“You look beautiful.....my fairy”

Her hands tremble slightly as she holds her lehenga, and her voice almost breaks as she whispers back

“Everyone is watching…”

“Let them,” he replies instantly, his eyes never leaving hers. “They can watch all they want....You’re mine. I can do whatever I want"

The words strike her heart like lightning. She feels her knees weaken, and her smile grows, though she still tries to hide it by lowering her gaze. Around them, relatives begin to murmur again

Some young cousins giggle, nudging each other, while the older women shake their heads in disapproval. But none of that matters. Arhaan doesn’t even glance at them. He is only looking at her...his fiance, his love, his world

"Lagta hai meri beti ke piche Tum pagal ho gae ho"

(Look like you have gone mad for my daughter)

Ranjit mittal said walking towards them with a smile holding his wine glass on his hand, he look at his daughter who runaway from there being shy making Arhaan smile

"Pagal to mai shuru se hu...uske liye"

(I am mad for her since the start)

The words come out of Arhaan's mouth with a smirk making Ranjit nod his head. Arhaan take the wine glass from the waiter's hand and start drinking it while staring at his fiance who is talking with her cousins with a smile

"Vo mar gai"

(She died)

Ranjit said while staring at him with a raised brow making Arhaan eyes darkened for a moment. He look at her who turn around to stare at them with a smile making him wink at her as he gesture her to go away from there making her little confused but she follow his order

"Tujhe kitni baar kaha hai maine ki... Meri jaan ki nazro me mai... Insaan hu to mujhe haiwaan dikhaane vaali baate mat Kiya kar jab vo mere aas paas ho"

(How many times have I told you that... in the eyes of my life...... I am a human being, so don't say things that show me as a monster when she is near me)

Ranjit felt his throat drying after hearing the words of Arhaan who is staring at him with a dark expression making him nod his head knowing that Arhaan is a human only for his woman...for others...he is just a monster who didn't have any mercy

The night is alive with music. The sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and soft conversations drifts through the grand mansion. The party has been going on for hours now businessmen, relatives, and socialites fill the wide hall, their faces glowing under the colorful lights that flash rhythmically in the dark

But upstairs, in one of the rooms overlooking the party, a young woman stands alone. She is in her twenties, her figure simple in loose shorts and a plain T shirt. She is not dressed like the women in the hall, who wear shimmering gowns and expensive jewelry

She is not holding a glass of champagne or laughing at someone’s joke. Instead, she stands still in the corner of her room, near the large window that overlooks the grand celebration below

Her green eyes, sharp and striking like emeralds, are fixed on the scene. The colored lights from the party reds, blues, yellows spill into her room, painting the walls with shifting shades

Because of those lights, her plain room glows strangely, almost like it is alive, though she herself looks like a statue frozen in time. Her expression is blank. No smile touches her lips, no emotion flickers across her face

She just stares, quiet and unreadable, her eyes taking in everything. The music downstairs changes to a louder tune, and the crowd moves like waves, swaying, clapping, dancing

The young woman doesn’t move. Her hands hang by her sides, her breathing steady, but her heart beats faster with every passing second. She doesn’t belong to the celebration, yet her gaze refuses to leave it

And then her eyes find him....Arhaan Goenka . He stands tall in the middle of the crowd, dressed in a perfectly black kurta. The black fabric of his kurta fits him like it was made only for him, highlighting his broad shoulders and lean frame

His presence commands attention even in a room full of powerful people. His posture is confident, his face calm, his brown eyes sharp as he listens to the older businessman standing next to him

The businessman talks animatedly, his hands moving, his face red with excitement. Arhaan nods at the right moments, his lips curving slightly into a polite smile, but his eyes remain steady and thoughtful, as though he is always calculating something behind that mask

The woman’s emerald eyes don’t leave him. There is something magnetic about him that pulls her gaze again and again. She doesn’t blink, doesn’t even breathe properly, as if afraid that if she moves, the moment will break

And then it happens....Arhaan feels it....The stare

It is not the first time he has felt eyes on him in a crowded room, but this one feels different...sharper, stronger, almost burning through the layers of people around him

His brow furrows for a second, and he lifts his head slightly, scanning the space above the crowd. His eyes rise toward the balcony windows...And then their gazes meet

For a brief, fleeting moment, his brown eyes lock with her green ones. The room feels silent to both of them, though the music still plays loudly, though people still chatter and laugh. It feels like time freezes, holding its breath for them

Arhaan’s eyes narrow slightly in confusion. He doesn’t recognize her. The green is too bright, too piercing, unlike anyone he knows. She stands there, half hidden in the dim light of her room, looking directly at him, not moving, not speaking ....And then she disappears

Quickly, almost like a shadow, she steps back and hides behind the long curtain that falls over her window. The fabric sways slightly, betraying her movement, but when Arhaan looks carefully, she is gone

His lips press into a thin line. For the first time that evening, his attention drifts away from the conversation, away from the businessman in front of him. His thoughts tighten like a knot, his mind replaying that flash of green.... Who was she? Why was she watching him?

Before he can think further, a soft hand touches his own...He looks down. Standing beside him now is his fiance. She smiles gently at him, her eyes warm as she slips her hand into his.

Arhaan’s expression softens instantly. The confusion that clouded his mind fades, replaced with familiarity, comfort, and affection. He looks at her, truly looks at her, and a small smile spreads across his lips

Their eyes meet...his black ones, steady and deep, with her brown ones, warm and calm. In that moment, everything else fades. The chatter of the party, the noise of the music, even the strange emerald eyes he just saw all of it is pushed to the background

He squeezes her hand gently, as if reminding himself of the bond they share. She smiles wider, lowering her gaze shyly before looking back up at him again

Arhaan lets out a small breath and smiles back, hiding the confusion in his chest. He doesn’t want her to see it. He doesn’t want her to know that even in this moment of happiness, there is a shadow tugging at the back of his mind

Because deep down, though he smiles at his fiance and lets her warmth cover him, the image of those emerald eyes refuses to leave his thoughts

Hey everyone I hope you all like this chapter if you do than atleast drop 50 likes and 100 comments to show your love towards me

Most of you all thought that it's a romantic story but nooo... It's a murder mystery thriller with pinch of romance and dark hateful obsession 🌚

So be ready to witness the tale of Aarvikim's another dark novel...love you all ♥️