He held her hand before pulling her into his body and hugging her tight. A sigh escaped his lips which sounded as if he was so relieved to have her in his arms.

He breathed in her scent and placed a kiss on the side of her head.

Her eyes teared up and her hand started to go around his waist but then her eyes fell on the guns and rifles hanging on the wall. She pushed his chest a little and said.

“I'm not here because you called me. I want my answers Rashit.”

He nodded and smiled just gazing at her.

“I'll answer all your questions. Just let me hold you.”

How could he behave so softly after he practically threatened her of killing someone?

“Ye kya jagah hai? And what kind of training do you give? Why are there so many men carrying weapons? Why were….why were you carrying a gun?”

“Woah! So many questions!”

He exclaimed playfully but she was stern.

“Ok! Ok! Well, to answer your questions, this place is my home. I live here. As for the kind of training I give…have you heard about mafia and underworld?”

She nodded and then her eyes widened and she asked cautiously.

“Don't tell me you're a part of it.”

“Kind of. We're the anti-mafia.”

He then went to explain what they exactly did.

“So you're saying that you stop other mafias from committing crimes. That means you're not bad?”

“You think I can do something bad?”

He asked with a teasing expression but she was still looking at him with that cold look.

“I didn't even think of this Rashit. So I don't know what to think anymore. You're so different. Are uncle aunty even aware about what you do? You're not the Rashit I left behind.”

His gaze hardened at the mention of his parents. Anika noticed the change and she knew she had said something wrong. 

“You're right! I'm not the same Rashit you left behind.”

He said in a deadly calm voice. His bloodshot eyes met hers and they widened seeing his condition. His eyes held pure rage.

“You know why? Because the Rashit you left behind was murdered. He died when he saw his parents get murdered right in front of his eyes.”

He gritted out with anger coursing through his veins and she looked at him with tear filled eyes and a disbelieving gasp escaped her lips.

“Rashit! No!”

She couldn't believe it. What had he gone through? Rashit then narrated the entire incident and she was bawling by the end of it.

“It's been 5 years since I have killed those bastards but the anger in me is still there. They were innocent. They weren't at fault. We were a happy little family. Aur kuch hi ghanto mai sab kuch chheen lia mujhse mera.”

A few tears escaped his eyes too which he wiped harshly and looked at her.

“So yes! I'm not the same Rashit anymore. And I'm sorry I couldn't contact you Anika. I was so lost. So fucking lost. But I swear I didn't want to leave you behind. I love you so much Anika-”

“No please! Don't say sorry. I'm sorry Rashit. I shouldn't have blamed you. Mujhe koshish krni chahiye thi. Pata krwana chahiye tha ki kya hua hai. But I too gave up. I assumed that you've left me. But you did not. You went through so much. All alone. I'm so sorry! I should have been there. I'm sorry Rashit.”

She cried holding him tightly and he shook his head.

“You're here now! I don't need anything else. Aaj tak bas isiliye zinda tha kyunki kahi na kahi ye yakeen tha ki tum ek din zaroor milogi mujhe. Mere jeene ki eklauti wajah ho Anika. I love you princess.”

She sniffled and smiled through the tears hearing the name he called her after so long. 

“I love you too.”

Her heart ached thinking about his parents. They were so sweet. They didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve it.

“Are you ok?”

She asked and he nodded holding her tighter.

“I am now.”

He kissed the top of her head and she kissed his chest above his heart.

“Let me show you the place and introduce you to my boys. Come!”

He pulled her along and gave her a tour of the entire place. Shaurya and Ruhanika too were present.

“Hello sir. How's your shoulder now?”

Anika asked Shaurya who smiled and said.

“It's fine. Healing well.”

“He's also the boss by the way.”

Rashit whispered in her ear and she looked at him wide eyed. Obviously he was the boss. His aura screamed so. She should have realised.

“I'll show her the rest of the house.”

With that he took her away not wanting to scare her more. 

“And this is my den. My room.”

After an exhausting tour of the entire mansion, he brought her to his room. She looked around with curious eyes. She couldn't help but compare this with his previous room.

Rashit loved wall paintings. But his room was greyscale. 

“You didn't do wall painting here? It looks too dull.”

He smiled sadly and hugged her from behind.

“My life was too dull until now Anika.”

She looked at him with a sad look and hugged him trying to comfort him.

He cupped her face and slowly leaned in. She closed her eyes in acceptance and he claimed her in a kiss.

Anika moaned. When the younger version of Rashit kissed her, she felt her stomach flutter due to the butterflies in her stomach. 

But this kiss was not soft, it was earth shattering and soul searing. She didn't feel just butterflies, she felt a whole zoo of insects in her and a thousand volcanoes erupt on her skin where he touched her.

She didn't even realise when he picked her up or when she wrapped her legs around him and when he started walking towards the bed.

It was when he put her on the bed and hovered over her that she realised what was happening. He left her lips and started peppering kisses down her jaw and neck. She panted heavily and clutched his shirt.