Warning: mention of blood and violence ahead.

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"Argh, the things I have to do!"

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•○NANDINI○•

My glare?

It was directed towards the man sitting on my couch as if he owned the place—my place. Does this delusional king think that couch is his throne?

Why didn't I think about that earlier? Geez, this man has the tendency to mess with my mind. And the audacity of his to blackmail me, threathen me.

I can't call the police due to that court bullshit. But I won't let him stay here either. Who does he think he is?

A king. A voice from somewhere in my mind said.

Yeah, right, a king.

A king, my ass!

Gods, don't I want to swipe that stupid, infuriating, irritating, annoying smirk off his face so badly right now.

But I will, soon.

I turned towards my phone and dialed a number. I was going easy on him because I thought he was mentally ill. But it looks like he's begging to be actually ill right now.

"Now, who are you calling?" Prem asked with a frown. His voice was still hoarse from sleep. Aariv was looking at me as if waiting for my next move. As if he was ready for whatever I was about to throw his way.

Oh, man, we'll see how you deal with this.

"Hello Madamji, how come you called me in the middle of the night, huh?" A cocky, rough voice came as soon as the call connected. I could practically hear the smirk on his face.

Argh, I can't believe I am actually doing this.

"Just come to my house." I ordered distastefully. I turned towards Aariv, sizing him up and down. "And bring 6-7 men with you."

I disconnected the call and continued glaring at Aariv. I just wanted to sleep. Was that too much to ask for? God, am I really your least-est favorite child?

Prem's eyes widened as realisation dawned upon him. His mouth fell agape, a sight that I have grown acustomed to over the years. "Don't tell me you contacted him?" He asked in disbelief.

"I did." I agreed, nodding my head once.

"Are you out of your bloody mind?!" He screamed. Geez, was he trying to wake the whole neighborhood up? I didn't want to deal with the angry neighbors shit right now.

"Shut up, will you?" I snapped, irritated. Ek toh ye Raja uparse ye Gadha. Sare namune meri hi life mein moonwalk kar rahe hai.

Prem huffed, throwing his hands up, muttering something under his breath. He looked like a child sulking when getting nagged.

Truly a 26-year-old man child, he is.

"Toh kya prabhand kiya aapne hume yaha se nirgat karne hetu?" He asked, in a totally carefree manner.

"G—nhi, tumhari bhasa mein kya kehte hai? Ha, dasiya bulayi hai tumhari seva karne ke liye." I sassed out. I swear, if he didn't get the sarcasm, I'll throw hands myself now.

He smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Accha, zara hum bhi dekhe aapki in dasiyo ko." Hr retorted in the same tone as I did. I gritted my teeth at the smugness of his voice.

"Aariv, bhai, Chup chap nikal lo na yaha se. Kyu iss jahil aur aapne delusion ke chakkar mein apni haadi-pasli ek karwana chahte ho?" Prem middled in a negotiating voice. Does he think he is some peace-maker or what? He'll say, and Aariv will listen? I scoffed.

Wait. Jahil? This piece of—

Aariv turned towards him. "Haadi-pasli ek? Dekhte hai." He snickered, cracking his knuckles for dramatic effect. Show-off.

I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "Wah, kya maturity hai. Royal blood ho toh har baat mein drama toh hona hi chahiye, hai na?" He thinks he's the main character here. Wake up, bud. You're just a delusional, mentally ill side character, added for a dramatic effect.

He raised an eyebrow, not backing down. "Aapni bhasha par kaam kijiye aap. Ye beech-beech mein us vichitra bhasa kyu samhilit karna aawashyak hota hai kya?"

"Bhasha par kaam karu?" I narrowed my eyes. "Tumhare jaise aadmi ke liye toh Google Translate bhi warning deta hoga—‘Approach with caution. Highly delusional.’" I scoffed.

Prem sighed loudly, rubbing his temples. “Main yaha peace bana raha tha, lekin tum dono toh World War 3 ke trailer chalaye ja rahe ho.” he shook his head, disapproving.

Aariv glanced at him with the constant neutral look, but it had a tinge of something else, too. "Hum toh bas iss stree ko inke karmo ka karma dekha rahe the." He said. Wow, karma of my actions? And who is he now, yamraj? Roleplay change ho gya?

"Karma?" I scoffed, exaggerated, and took a step forward. He stood up from the couch, towering over me, making me crane my neck up. "Tumse na ho payega. Tum jaise logo ko toh dava, aur dua ke saath khud dev bhi kaam pade."

He stepped closer, just enough to challenge, but not enough to be intimidating. "Toh tum hi sikha do na. Pravachan dene mein toh tum guru lagti hai."

I took one step forward, too, eyes locking with his. “Pravachan nahi. Chetavani thi.”

We stood there, toe-to-toe, neither flinching. Our intense glares bore into each other's skulls. It looks could kill. We'd both be laying 6 feet downwards by now.

I had had enough.

Someone get me a punching back, or better yet, a lawyer.

Oh, wait.. I am a lawyer.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Prem, who was watching us like his favorite cricket match, went towards the door. As soon as he opened the door. Three—no, six—hulking men stomped inside like summoned demons from a gym somewhere in hell.

All of them were built like trucks, tattoos stretching across their biceps, chains swinging from their jeans, and expressions that said, "we get paid to break people."

One of them turned towards me and smirked. "Madam ji, batao kis kaam ya kiska kaam tamam karne ke liye buleyela hai apun ko?"

Prem blinked. "Off, Nandini." He muttered under breath.

These were the local goons. How did I know them? Well, about that.. I had sent their boss to jail for money laundering and drug dealings.

Now, they should despise me for it, should they? I thought the same. But after the hearing, every single one of them came up to me with wide grins on their faces. Honestly, that looked so funny given their appearances.

Imagine these burly, bulky, tattoo-covered, hairy men, grinning like a child getting their favorite ice cream.

I remember laughing right there on their faces because of how hilarious that looked. But then, I calmed myself to not laugh. Which was hard. The struggle was real.

Yeah, back to the main story, I thought they were going to hit me, threaten me, warn me, or might even kill me.

But then, they started thanking me, showing off their gratitude to take for having taken that man out. It turned out that they were tired of him, too. And they were planning a way to take him out. But I, apparently, and respectfully made their work easier without them having to retort to a more violent way.

Then, after they all thanked me and gave me their "business card" to call them whenever I needed their help. It didn't matter if it was midnight because most of their businesses were done at night.

I never thought I'd use their number. But then again, I never thought I'd have to deal with a blackmailing psycho.

Aariv turned his head slowly, jaw tightening for a moment. Then he tilted it the other way, cracking his neck as though mildly bored. "Ye kon namune hai?" he asked, glancing at them with amused disdain.

The men raised their eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his words. They fisted their palms, stepping forward. "Madam ji, is he the one?" One of them asked, nodding towards Aariv.

I nodded. "Yeah, he is. Just take him out of my house and make sure he forgets his way to this house permanently." I said, with a pause, I continued. "And make sure none of my furniture is harmed."

Bhot mahenga saman hai, bhai. And damn me, if it gets damaged due to this man and these men. I turned towards Aariv. "Tumhe toh ye log batayenge." He chuckled dryly, completely unbothered.

"Madam ji, side mein khadi ho jayiye, isse toh hum dekh lenge." One of the men saud cracking his neck. Though, I slightly doubted that, seeing them sizing him up.

They had to crane their neck up to just look at him in the eye. How can a man be so tall? Isme konsa complain piya tha, jo hum na pi sake. Complain peke hi mand ho gya hai lagta. Waha upar Samajh ki kami hai lagta.

Prem and I moved back to stand in the corner, watching the show in front. One of the men nodded towards another who stepped forward, charging towards Aariv.

Aariv sidestepped cleanly, grabbing the man’s wrist and twisting it midair with effortless precision. There was a sickening crack, followed by a yelp of pain.

Prem and I flinched, wincing, feeling his pain just by looking at him.

Without pausing, Aariv spun him around and flung him across the room. The man crashed into the side table, shattering it in a dramatic explosion of wood and glass.

Prem whistled lowly in awe. I gasped loudly. My table! "Maine bola tha na meri cheezo ko kych nhi hona chahiye! Ye kya kiya?!" I snapped loudly, fuming.

But my words went to deaf ears. Well, it went Prem’s hears, who winced, closing his ears dye to my shouting.

The second goon came next—lunging with a bat. Aariv ducked, kicked the guy in the stomach so hard he lifted off the floor, and landed like a sack of flour. Aariv caught the bat mid-fall, twirled it like a sword, and slammed it against the wall—splitting it in two.

He grabbed the man by his neck, spinning it around, making him scream. Gods, it looked so brutal. Was this man even a human, or is he some beast?

Aariv tightened his hold on the man's neck. He dragged him towards the TV and was about to smash that man's on it. I quickly stepped forward in front of the TV, streachung my hands open, shielding my precious TV.

"Nhi, nhi, yaha pe nhi. Badi mehengi hai, bhot moti party ko chuna lagane ke baad le thi." I said hurriedly, in a nervous urgency. Aariv stopped and glanced at me.

Our eyes met for a brief second. He took the man's head and slammed it in the wall beside the TV, all while looking into my eyes. As if he was trying to prove a point. I flinched, closing my eyes as blood flew out of that man's head.

The third one tried to sneak up from behind.

Aariv spun—a perfect roundhouse kick that connected right with his jaw, sending him flying. Literally flying. He crashed into the wall so hard the painting hanging there fell, crooked and sad.

I screamed, making everyone stop mid-air in their actions, and look at me. "Bahar! Bahar niklo! bahar karo ye sab. Mujhe mere ghar mein nhi chahiye ye." I ordered, glaring at all of them.

Aariv dragged two men by their collar outside. The rest followed themselves, while the injured lay there only. Prem came and nudged the man who was lying unconscious on the floor, covered in blood, by his foot, but flinched when the man suddenly jerked and spat out blood.

"Nandini." Prem hissed. "See, what havoc you caused. Police case ho gya na, lamba pasenge dono." He gritted out in a worried and nervous tone.

I frowned at him and clicked my tongue. "Shh, mai hoon na. We aren't going to jail, okay." I reassured him.

"Tu hai, tabhi toh ye sab hai." He muttered under his breath. I ignored that and made my way out to stop the fight before Aariv killed them.

The scene outside was not much different than what was on the inside. Aariv was untouched, though his hands had blood, I was sure none of it was his own, while all the other men were severely injured.

There was only one man standing by now. Aariv gestured him to come forward, running a hand through his hair. Those were glistening with sweat now.

The last one hesitated. A flicker of fear crossed his face.

Smart boy.

Aariv walked toward him, slow and deliberate, with that smug glint in his eyes. "Bhago." He ordered. His voice commanded and was dangerous. It's really dangerous. Almost menacing.

The man did. He did run away.

Aariv turned towards me as he saw me standing there. I stood there still. Some of the neighbors were out, looking at the scene with horried eyes.

A man standing there covered in blood, while men lay on the ground, unconscious, almost half dead, blood spread everywhere. The overall scene was brutal, gut-wrenching, and damn horrifying.

I mentally slammed my head to the pillar. Ban gya police case. I groaned. Some of the neighbors must've already called the police.

Fuck, Nandini. I let the anger get the best out of me. Prem came from behind me. "What will you do now, Nandini?" He whispered, looking at the scene with wide eyes.

I gulped, my mind racing. I made my way towards the Aariv. Who stood there unfazed, as if he didn’t just make a mess and made 5 people almost dead and one run for his life.

Aariv raised his eyebrow as I approached him. "Tumhari dasiya kaafi kamzor nikli, Nandini. Agli baar kisiko bhejna ho, toh unhe pehle yudh kshetra bhej kar abhiyas dilwa dena." He taunted, a hint of cockiness in his voice.

"Shut up." I hissed. I ran my hand on his arms, collecting the blood on my palm.

He froze, his body going still. "Ye kya kar rahi tum?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at my actions.

"Tumne jo raita failaya hai na usse saaf kar rahi hu." I gritted out, with a clenched jaw. "Tumhe kya lagta hai, ye adhe dozen logo ko maar kar tum bach jaoge? Khud bhi paso ge, mujhe bhi pasaoge."

He frowned. "Baat toh uchit hai tumhari. Humare rajya agar ye kisine kiya hota toh hum bhi dand toh ayashya dete usse." He muttered to himself. "Tumhara yaha dand kon deta hai?" He asked suddenly, looking at me, curiously.

"Police! Aur woh aati hi hogi." I said. Taling the blood from his hand and applying it on my hands and neck. He frowned at my actions. His eyesholding the question, I knew all toh well.

I tore my sleeve from the side. And the end of my top towards my torso. Aariv looked at me, horrified. "Ye kya kar rahi hai aap? Aapne vastra aise kyu phad rahi hai?" He asked, looking at me weirdly.

"Chup raho. Hume bachane ki koshish kar rahi hu mai." I shut him up, and focused on what I was doing. I wrinkled my top and pants and disheveled my hair by running a hand through them.

Soon enough, the police siren came into hearing, and their car came in sight. I sticked to Aariv's side like gum, holding his arm.

"Jo mai kar rahi hu, bas uske saath chalna." I muttered to him. He looked at me skeptically but nodded, nonetheless. I blinked my eyes and brought fake tears in my eyes, clutching Aariv's hands tightly like leech, clinging to his side.

Argh, the things I have to do!

Aariv gave me an umimpressed look, but I could see the tinge of amusement in those orbs. The car door opened, and a middle-aged officer stepped out, followed by three male constables and one female.

The officer looked at the scene before him, the unconscious bodies and then at Aariv standing there covered in blood and then at me clinging to Aariv like a scared, broken doll, my clothes torn, hair wild, eyes brimming with tears—and immediately stiffened.

His eyes narrowed as he approached us. "Kya ho raha hai idhar? Kon kiya ye sab? Kon mara in log ko?" He asked firmly, his tone laced with the typical marathi accent, glancing between us, taking in my appearance.

Before Aariv could open that royal mouth of his and ruin the act, I let out a sob. A very dramatic, very convincing sob. I buried my face in his shoulder, and Aariv stiffened like a statue. His arms awkwardly hovered before finally resting hesitantly around me.

A sob escaped my lips as I tried to speak. "S-Sir, wo.. wo.. ye log.. ye log.." I stuttered and trailed off at last, giving a pause to add the realistic effect.

The female constable stepped forward, ger forehead creased in worry and concern. "Relax, you can tell us anything. What happened here? And who is this man?" She nodded towards Aariv.

"He.. he is my h-husband." I chocked out a pained sob. The officers glanced at Aariv, then back at me.

"What exactly happened here? Sab detail mein batao dono." The inspector asked, looking up at Aariv, probably expecting him to answer, seeing my current state.

I sniffed, wiping my tears. "Sir, woh.. ye log hai na, hume pareshan kar rahe the.. paiso ke liye, bohot dino se." I sobbed, looking at them with teary eyes. "Jab humne mana kiya.. toh ye l-log humare ghar aakar hume pareshan karne lage.. aur aaj.. aaj toh inhone.." i hiccuped, trailing off.

"Kya kiya inhone?" Inspector asked, as his expression hardened.

"Ye achanak raat ko humare.. ghar ghus aaye.. aur hume pareshan karne lage.. mere pati ko damka ne lage aur jab.. mere pati ne inki baat nhi mani toh.." I trailed off, letting the silence carry the worst of the implication.

An eye escaped my eyes. I looked at everyone's expressions. The officers looked concerned. Aariv looked confused and equally amused at the same time.

"Toh.. ye log mere saath batamezi karne lage.. mujhe chune lage.. aur mere saath jabardasti karne ki bhi koshish ki, ye dekhiye." I sobbed, showimg them my torn clothes.

"Toh mere pati ko ghusa aa gya." I glanced up at Aariv, queezing his hand firmly, clinging to his side more. "Aur inhone.. in logo ko.. mara. Lekin, sir, mere pati ki koi galti nhi hai. Please, inhe kuch mat kariyega." I pleaded to them, explaining the 'shit' that had happened.

My neighbors were shocked, seeing that I had a husband. But that shock was overshadowed by concern and pity of me.

The police glanced at the bloody, literally bloody scene and the men lying unconscious. "Lekin ye itna kyu mara phir bhi. Aur hume phone kyu nhi kiya pehle? We got a call from the neighbors saying that their was a commotion in their neighborhood." He said sternly.

"Sir, agar aapki patni ki izzat par koi.. haath dalta toh aap kya chup rehte? Nhi na? Mere pati ne wahi kiya. Apna patidharm nibhaya, apni patni ki izzat bachayi." I sobbed, looking away, like a damned damsel in distress.

The officer stiffened and turned towards Aariv, as if waiting for him to say something. I looked up at Aariv and squeezed his arm, sending silent implications through my eye.

He bit his inner cheek, then towards the officer. "Ji." He nodded, agreeing. "Woh log yadi humari patni ke samman ko thees puchane ki hoshish karenge, toh hum mon kaise rehte?" He said with a conviction that made me have double thoughts.

"Aur jab Dyapura yug mein Stree ke samman hetu Mahabharat huyi thi, ye toh uske samaksh kuch bhi nhi hai." He said, holding his chin up high in pride.

The officer's expressions softened, hearing his words. The inspector nodded towards one of the constables. "Patil, sagrancha statement ghe aur ye saalo ke liye ambulance bula." He said the last part distatefully, glaring at the lying bodies in fury.

[Take everyone's statement]

"Saale, aurat par haath dalne ki koshish kar rahe the." He spat venomously. He turned towards looking at us with a soft expression. "Aap log chinta nat karo. Koi tension lene wali baat nhi hai. Lekin ha, aap logo ko thana aana padega."

My eyes widened. I let my tears fall more. "Lekin kyu, sir, humne toh kuch galat nhi kiya. It was all purely self-defense. And I.. I am a reputed lawyer. Aur ye mere pati ka chehra dekhiye." I gestured towards Aariv's face.

The officer glanced at face, sjeptically. I pressed my lips together. "Uhh.. nhi, chehre pe mat jayiye. Mere pati bhot seedhe-sadhe aadmi hai, he is a gandhi follower even. But the situation—"

"Arre madam, hum apke pati ko kych nhi kare tension mat lijiye." He cut me off, ressuring me. "Ab maar-pit toh huyi hai. Case hoga. Complaint file karenge na aap log toh bas uske liye aap logo ko ek mahine tak har hafte thane aakar sign karna hoga. Baki in kutte ko hum aise third-degree denge, ki ye aurat ke naam se tak darenge."

Oh.

Thank god.

I nodded. "Thank you, sir." I said, hugging Aariv tightly, buring my face in his chest. I felt his breath hitch at my sydden action. And gods, was it hard. How much gym did he do to get this rock-hard chest?

The inspector nodded, glancing at us lovingly. Soon after, the ambulance arrived and took the men away.

"Sir.." I called out hesitantly. "Ek ghar mein bhi hai." I muttered, peeking out of Aariv's chest.

He frowned in confusion. "Huh?"

"Ek aadmi andar bhi hai, behosh pada hai." I told him, twisting my face in distaste. I officer nodded, signaling one of the constable to go in.

"Sir.." I called out again. "Do give us a call when any one of them wakes up." I asked him. He frowned. "Why?" He asked.

"Because of them, my premium table got shattered into glasses. Uske thoda.. paise wasool karne hai."

The officer nodded, amused. "Chaliye phir hum chalte hai, dhyan rakhiyega. And gave us a call, if any of them troubles you again." He nodded and turned to leave.

"Chal, Patil, gadi kar re! Ya kuttranchi tar thane madhe waat laoto me." I called out to one of the constable.

[Come on, Patil, pull the car out. I'll show these bastards hrll in the station.]

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