Scarred Love - Chapter 103

“You should have because letting me live was your biggest mistake,” Rudra whispered as his fingers started to tighten around Virendra Raijdas’s throat choking him. 

“But you know what I am not going to kill you. I’ll let you live. I’ll let you feel the pain,” he said as his fingers tightened one more time before slipping off his throat.

Virendra Raijdas collapsed on the ground coughing hard. The security men pulled him up to his feet and pushed him towards the centre of the room.

Rudra closed his eyes as he tried to control the memories that had haunted each and every second of his life for the past 17 years. Somehow his mind listened and he calmed down.

As he opened his eyes, they fell on the huddled figure on the floor right at the corner. Their eyes met and for split second he felt his world stop.

Ishani lowered her gaze and looked away for it was becoming impossible for her to look into the eyes of the man who had shaken her entire belief in life itself.

The moment he lost the contact something close to anger and regret flared up but he smashed them ruthlessly and locked up the compassion bubbling inside him.

She felt his slow approaching steps and with each step, her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to run, not from him but from the things he evoked in her. He had shattered the memories she had of Veera.

This man is not the friend she lost.

This man is not the one she cried all her life for.

And this man is definitely not the one who loves her.

He faked it; he faked it all.

Hot and angry tears fell from her eyes just the bubble of love that she had been in for the past so many months burst with the prick of her thoughts.

“Get up!”

His command shot through her like a bullet and she stood up straight. Just as she felt his presence near, her back became rock rigid.

“Ms Raijdas, I need you to sign some papers too.”

She took the stack of papers from him and started to read through them but as the blackened words slipped into her mind, every pore erupted with indignation and resentment.

“If you believe that you can threaten me like them to sign over my NGO and other properties to you, then you don’t know me Mr Sangawat.”

Rudra smiled and then clutched her chin in his fingers. Tilting her face towards her, he looked into her eyes and got an angry stare back.

“I don’t threaten Ms Raijdas. I instil fear and believe me, fear is the best weapon.”

Saying this, he took out his gun and pointed it at her head.

“Fear of death.”

Then he pulled the trigger.

The gun made a sound but nothing happened.

But Ishani’s heart lurched and then started to thud with intensity.

“But you know Ms Raijdas; life scares more than death does.”

“Life gives more pain that death does,” he said lowering his lips to her ear.

Her body became rigid the moment she felt his fingers brushing along the lines of her neck.

“Sign the papers and I’ll spare you.”

She flicked her gaze and looked into his eyes. For the first time since they had met, Rudra saw nothing but hostility in them and his instincts screamed to wipe that look off. He raised his hand but she moved away.

“You can kill me if you want but I‘m not signing,” she said slapping the papers on the table.

“Ms Raijdas, I believe you did not hear what I said. I am not going to kill you but I’ll definitely make you live a life which is worse than death.”

“You can do whatever you want. I’m not signing.”

Sighing audibly, he moved away and gestured to Manna, who pressed a button on the remote and the room suddenly became filled with loud lounge music.

As the scene cleared, she saw some people surrounding a guy sitting on a sofa. With all the music she couldn’t hear the guy’s voice but his structure looked quite familiar. Suddenly the camera angle changed and she let out a strangled yelp recognising the man on the screen.

“That’s my son. What have you done to him?” Virendra Raijdas shouted.

“Till now Mr Raijdas nothing, but I may if I don’t get what I want.”

“Sign the papers!” Virendra Raijdas commanded loudly but squirmed just as Rudra glared menacingly at him.

Ishani collapsed on the nearest chair but her eyes did not leave the screen. She kept on looking, as her brother Ajit laughed and bid farewell to the people surrounding him. Suddenly as a woman came into the view with a drink in her hand but just stopped inches away from him and looked straight at the camera.

The sudden ringing of the phone from the speakers interrupted her trance and she looked at Rudra.

The woman on the screen fetched her phone and answered the call.

“Rayna, do you have everything ready?” Rudra asked, his eyes not leaving Ishani’s face.

“Yes, boss! We are waiting for your signal,” Rayna replied.

“Ms Raijdas, you see that drink in Rayna’s hand—”

“My brother will never accept a drink from a stranger.”

“He would coz she’s his friend and he knows her well. In fact, if my sources are to be believed then your brother is dating Rayna.”

“You set her up?!”

“How well you know me Ms Raijdas! Anyway, that drink is poisoned. But your brother doesn’t know that. Rayna will serve it if you don’t sign the papers.”

 “You can’t do that. He has done nothing wrong,” Ishani said getting up from the chair.

“But you have and unfortunately he is your brother. Now Ms Raijdas sign or I’ll tell Rayna to do you know what.”

Her back became rigid with resolve as she stared at him.

He could see the denial on her face and her defiance just angered him more.

“So you won’t do it?”

“NO!”

“Very well Ms Raijdas.”

“Rayna!”

As his command resonated in the room, she saw the woman close the distance between her and Ajit. Then she placed the drink in front of Ajit who smiled at her and picked it up.

Ishani watched in horror as Ajit finished the drink at one go. He was about say something when he started to sway and collapsed on the sofa.

Lifeless!

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