SEVEN YEARS
since he had stepped foot on Indian soil
'Aashvik SINGHANIA 'beneath blood soaked choices and disappeared into Europe's dark corridors.there he built an empire layer by layer , deal by deal, gun shipments offshore laundering ,silenced enemies . A cold blood businessman in the daylight and A feared Kingpin in the shadows .
But home has the pulse
And his was calling
Not out of love -or nostalgia but out of insult
MUMBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT-3:12a.m
The city was still asleep , blanketed in a humid haze when the private jet sliced through the sky and touched down like a predator returning home . No media, no flashing lights,. Just balck SUV'S lined like soldiers at attention and silence thick enough to choke .
The aircraft door opened with a hiss
Aashvik SINGHANIA stepped out
He moved like time itself bowed for him unhurried,untouchable . Towering at 6"2 clad in an obsidian-black - three piece suit tailored to perfection , he looked more like a myth than a man . Skin bore the golden undertone of his bloodline smooth but kissed with faint scar that whispered of war and survival . Thick Jet black hair was brushed back , effortlessly neat despite the long flight . His jaw was strong , edged like a blade, lined with a well-kept shadow of a beard that only addded to the chill of his presence
But it was his eyes that Haunted-Stormy gray with flecks of mercury, sharp enough to pierce souls .They never wavered , never blinked longer than necessary. He saw everything and remembered even more
A cigarette flared between his fingers as he inhaled deeply , exhaling smoke like he was part dragon
"Where is he?!" he asked his voice the sound of control- low ,cold ,silk wrapped Steel
His right hand man, Kushan stepped forward
"The one who stole the container shipment we have him waiting , tied"
Aashvik said nothing. He just nodded once and slipped into the backseat of the SUV. The covoy peeked away , black metal cutting through the night like a shadow army
Abandoned Warehouse - 4:06a.m
The warehouse stood like a forgotten corpse on the outskirts of Mumbai-half swallowed by wrecks and darkness. Rust clung to the metal beams, and the air reeked of oil,iron and fear
Inside the only sound was the sharp drip- drip of the water from a leaking pipe. The walls bore witness to sins untold blood stains faded but were never gone
In the centre of the room, beneath a flickering bulb, a man sat tied to a metal chair . His hands were bound behind him face swollen , His shirt clung to his skin drenched in sweat and dread
He jerked upright when footsteps echoed through the darkness - slow and deliberate
Aashvik emerged from the shadows
Impeccably dressed . Eyes hollow , Calm as ever . His mere presence made the air turn heavier
The man flinched"Mr Singhania -please-please - I didn't knew"
"You did" Aashvik said softly...
"I did not mean to Steal from you !!!I thought the port was up for grabs "
Aashvik crouched infront of him eye to eye. He didn't yell. He didn't threaten
He simply said"Intent doesn't matter when you are stealing from the devil"
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small,silver pistol- custom made matte finish,Engraved with the lion symbol
The man started sobbing.."Please ......Singhania ...I 've got family and friends..."
Aashvik titled his head slightly ,eyes narrowing" You should've thought about that before playing with the king "
He pressed the gun to the man's forehead
For a split second, the world paused
The rain, the breath, the fear-it all froze in that one moment
Then-
BANG
the shot rang out like a hammer, smashing silence .The bullet tore through the man's skull with brutal precision . No struggle,nonsense Just instant death
Blood sprayed behind him , painting the cracked concrete in a sharp splash of red
The body slumped forward ,lifeless
He turned to Kushan"Burn it,No remains , No evidence "
Kushan nodded
Aashvik looked once more at the corpse then lit another cigarette
"I came" here for peace"he muttered , smoke curling from his lips "but peace does not come cheap"
SINGHANIA MANSION
The mansion stood like an old God in the rain -grand brooding , untouchable by time. Nestled on the edge of the Western ghats. It was more fortess then home high gates , ivy-covered stone walls,and balconies carried with stories of another era
The moment Aashvik stepped out of the car silence fell over the estate. Not even a single gaurd moved. Not even the wind dared
He walked in like a storm disguised in silk- dripped with the rain , blood still lingering on his cuffs .but his expression??!composed , clean and untouched
Inside the main hallway was simply lit ,a soft golden glow warming the Italian marble floors, the chandeliers about cast spider web shadows across the vaulted ceiling
"Aashvik "
The soft voice stopped him from the Grand staircase descended a woman in her mid 50's dressed in an elegant saree of deep green silk her face was gentle wise and worn with quite grace she looked at him like he was still the boy who once sat beside her during evening prayers- broken, bruised , to proud to admit either- LAXMI SINGHANIA
"Maa" Aashvik said , voice quiter now.He open his arms- and for the first time in 7 years, she hugged her stepson like a mother who never stopped waiting.
"You are thinner" she whispered against his shoulder"and colder"
"You always said warmth was dangerous" he murmured back...
She pulled back to study him" and yet here you are soaked in rain and blood I know that look"
He didn't deny it
She didn't ask
This was their Bond. Silent truths. Muted loyalty. She had defended him when no one else did she did loved him not because she had to but she choose to
PRASHANT SINGHANIA stood at the large window hands clasped together behind his back , watching the storm outside
A tall man with white hair , sharp posture and eyes that had been once filled with power now dull with regret and age he did not turn when Aashvik entered
"You did not need to kill him" his father said
Aashvik stayed at the door
"You raised me to be like you" he said coldly" then hated me when I was better at it"
"Still bitter" his father said
"Still breathing"
A tense pause.. their relationship was a battlefield with no winners- just scars.. they were reflection that heated each other for what they saw
"I came back to protect the family name" Aashvik said "not to seek approval"
"You have already spoiled it"
Without another word , Aashvik turned and walked away
The Scent of strong coffee and cardamom cut through the tension as Aashvik walked into the kitchen laughter bounced of the walls.
A rare sound in the old house
"Big bro!!"
Akhil- A twenty one, dimple smile , Messy curls and wearing scrubs still stained with hospital work-ran over and pulled Aashvik into fierce hug
"I can't believe its actually you" Akhil grinned" you still look like a mafia Boss who just walked of a fashion runway"
"Because I am" Aashvik dead panned , but his lips twitched
"I saved 3 lives last night. What did you do?!"
"Killed one"
Akhil blinked "Right balance"
They both laughed - different worlds the same blood. Akhil was the joy in Aashvik 's Dark World the one person who reminded him what normal felt like, even if it was just for a few seconds
"You are staying right?!" Akhil asked
"For now"
6:10 a.m - Aashvik's floor
The top floor of the estate belonged solely to him . No one else dared to enter
The walls were painted in ash and midnight tones . Glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling , letting the rain bathe the room in a soft , gray light
A piano sat untouched by the window. The bookshelves were filled with titles in Latin , French and old Sanskrit- philosophy , war , poetry...
His bed was massive ,black frame . Egyptian cotton sheets still tucked perfectly. He lived like a man who didn't sleep but wanted the illusion of peace
One corner of the room had locked chest inside it , piece of past he did not speak of
He poured himself a drink and stood at th
e balcony , watching the rain fall over gardens below
The city would wake soon....
And with it , the monster he came to tame....
But for now,,the devil had come home.....
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