She looked up only to be met with his victorious smirk. He signed the cheque as promised and passed it to her.

"Why are you doing this?"

He heard her whisper and looked dead into her eyes.

"No one has ever had the audacity to speak to me in that tone."

She chuckled humorlessly and said.

"So it is about revenge."

He got up from his chair and slow walked towards her with predatory steps. And the fact that she'd just agreed to be his sex toy didn't help her fear.

"No one ever had the audacity because they were aware that they'd be lying with a bullet between their head if they did so."

Her eyes widened at his words. He pulled out a gun and traced her face with it and continued.

"But you spoke to me that way. Looking into my eyes, fearless and that ignited something I didn't know existed in me. And I knew that were going to be mine, my sweetest temptation and darkest, untamed desire, Mi amore!"

He whispered, keeping the cold metal of his gun against the throbbing vein of her neck. She shook with fear and looked at him with wide, fearful eyes.

"Wh-who are you?"

Her voice was such a weak whisper that he would have missed it if the room wasn't silent.

He put the gun back and stood behind her. He grasped her neck pulling her back into him and whispered in her ear very dangerously.

"You should have asked that before signing yourself off to the devil Mi amore. You're in the territory of India's most powerful and feared Mafia. You are in Lakshay Rajvansh's territory."

Akshara sniffed and sobbed silently. Where was he stuck? Mafia? And she'd just bound herself to him for an year.

"You're safe here. No one dares to touch Lakshay Rajvansh's possessions. You'll not be harmed. Until you obey my words. One act against me and you lose your brother forever."

He warned and she looked at him with fear falling from her eyes.

"Go get your brother treated. I want you home as soon as he gets discharged."

Akshara didn't want another minute and ran out, away from him. She wiped her tears and started walking away from the mansion to search for a cab.

A car stopped beside her. The window was rolled down and a head peeked out.

"Mam, please sit inside. I'm asked to drop you to the hospital."

She realized that it must be sent by the devil.

"Its fine. Mai manage kr lungi."

"I'm instructed to take you to the hospital mam. Boss ke orders hai."

Akshara closed her eyes in tiredness. Their boss and his orders. She had no other option because they wouldn't leave until fulfilling their boss' orders and she also had to reach the hospital anyway. She sat in the car and looked at the cheque. It was a blank one.

Akshara sighed and rested her head back. It was 10pm already when she reached the hospital and saw a long waiting in front of the payment counter.

She had the receipt by 1am. But she didn't waste any other moment and rushed to find the doctor.

"Doctor! Here! I have...paid the amount...please...prepare for the surgery now."

She panted due to running and the doctor examined the receipt.

"Alright Ms. Goyal. We will schedule the surgery for 8am tomorrow morning."

Akshara frowned and asked.

"Why tomorrow? Aapna kaha tha ki mere paise bharne ke baad aap ek minute bhi waste nhi krenge surgery start krne mai. Toh phir morning ka wait kyu?"

"It's too late Ms. Goyal."

"So what? This is a 24/7 hospital. Aur phir aap yaha hai, baaki staff bhi hai. Problem kya hai? Surgery toh closed room mai honi hai na. Toh day night ka kya farak?"

She countered. But the doctor was adamant.

"Dekhiye-"

"Nhi aap dekhiye! Mere bhai ki halat dekhiye. He is in so much pain. And why are we wasting time jab hamare paas match bhi hai kidney ka."

"Ms. Goyal aap baat ko samjhiye. Mai aise-"

"Any problem here?"

The doctor was cut short by a deep voice behind her. Akshara didn't turn. She didn't want to see his face. Not again.

The doctor stuttered and said.

"No-nothing sir. Mai-mai bas inhe samjha raha tha ki him itni raat ko surgery nhi kr skte and I'll schedule her brother's surgery first thing in the morning par ye-"

"Is the payment not made?"

Lakshay asked and the doctor nodded.

"Payment is done sir. Payment is done lekin raat ke 1 baj rhe hai. But she is not ready to-"

"If the payment is done, then get the fucking surgery done!"

The doctor looked at him wide eyed before stuttering.

"Ye-yes sir. I'll -I'll arrange everything."

With that he ran away and Akshara sighed in relief. She went to her brother's ward and saw the nurses preparing him for the surgery.

"Didi! Aapne toh kaha tha surgery kal hogi."

"Haan lekin doctors ko kidney ka match mil gaya toh why waste time."

Akshara replied caressing his head.

"Didi, darr lag raha hai."

He confessed in a small voice and she felt her throat constrict with emotions. She saw the nurse sedate him and spoke.

"Darr kiss baat ka? Mera bahadur bhai hai tu. Mumma ka miracle baby. Yaad hai na? Bas be brave. Mai hoon tere paas. Kuch nho hone dungi. Ab jaldi se surgery se bahar aa sahi salamat. Mai wait kr rhi hu tera."

His eyes started drooping and he spoke in a slurry whisper.

"I love you didi."

"I love you too bacha!"

She kissed his forehead as he slipped into unconsciousness. He was taken to the OT.

"He'll be fine, right?"

She asked the main doctor.

"Dekhiye, surgery ke sucess rates 90% hai. Baaki 10% ka toh hum bhi kuch nhi kr skte. Hopefully everything will go well."

His words scared her. When the doctor was going into the OT, he was stopped by Lakshay who held his collar and spoke in a dangerous whisper.

"Make sure the boy comes out alive and healthy. Otherwise uss scalpel se khud hi apne aap ko maar lena or I'll do it for you. Understood?"

The doctor gulped and nodded rushing inside the OT and switching on the operation lights. Akshara slumped on the chair. Her body finally gave up from all the exhaustion and stress.

A sob raked out of her and she kept a hand on her mouth remembering him being there.

"He is the only one I have after mumma. Agar isse kuch ho gaya toh mai mar jaaungi. And I'm not joking, I'll kill myself. Life ka waise bhi koi purpose nhi reh jaayega. He has to come out alive today. He has to."

She wiped her tears and rested her head trying to control her tears. Soon the exhaustion took over her senses and she was out.

She was woken up by noises around her and saw the doctors out of the OT. Getting up with a jerk, she walked to them and asked about the surgery. The doctor treating her brother turned to her and replied.

"Congratulations Ms. Goyal. The surgery was successful. We have shifted your brother to the ICU."

"ICU kyu? Surgery was successful right? Toh ward mai kyu nhi?"

Was he still serious?

"We have to see if the kidney is adjusting well in his body or not. Do din ICU mai rakhenge and if everything goes well, you can take your brother home by this week."

Akshara sighed and thanked the doctor.

"Can-can I see him?"

She rushed towards the ICU after the doctor's permission and saw her brother lying there peacefully. He was fine now. Tears of happiness fell from her eyes and she kissed his head.

She wiped her tears hearing the door open and saw Lakshay enter.

"There's only one person allowed here."

She spoke in a monotonous tone and he raised his eyebrow.

"And who's going to stop me?"

Controlling her anger and reminding herself of what he was capable of doing, she turned her face away.

"What are you doing here anyway? You wanted me at your place when he gets discharged, right? I'll be there. You can leave now."

His jaw ticked and he held her throat in a light grip making her gasp.

"Mind your attitude, Mi amore. I'm not here because of you. I had work. It got over a few minutes back. You're right though. I want you home as soon as he gets discharged. Without any delay."

She shivered when he sniffed her hair and left after giving her a look that sent shivers down her spine.

Ayush was discharged 6 days later and was finally home. He had cribbed about not sleeping and watching a movie instead when Akshara insisted he took rest.

So, he was resting in their room, watching a movie on her phone while she checked the notebooks she brought home from school.

She was on her 5th notebook when the doorbell rang. She opened the door with a smile only for it to vanish seeing Lakshay's men standing there.

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