FLASHBACK

The beautiful morning filled the kitchen with warm sunlight. Birds chirped outside as the peaceful sound of their songs drifted through the open window.

She was a lovely, sweet, cute, caring, and innocent girl, happily living with her parents. She was helping her mother in the kitchen, laughing and talking with her.

Suddenly, her mother's phone buzzed. Deepika Rana picked it up. The moment she heard the voice on the other side, her entire world shattered. Her heart broke into pieces.

Tears immediately streamed down her cheeks. Her daughter looked at her in confusion.

"Mumma?..."

Her mother couldn't speak. She looked completely frozen. Her daughter quickly took the phone from her hand. And then she heard the words that shattered her world too.

"Mr. Vikram Rana died in a car accident."

She froze in her place. Her father... Her beloved father was gone. Deepika collapsed onto the floor with a thud and began crying uncontrollably.

Her daughter stared at her for a moment before sitting beside her. Tears rolled down her own cheeks as she hugged her mother, still trying to calm her.

But neither of them could stop crying.

It had been two years since Deepika Rana had lost her husband. For her daughter, she was no longer just her mother. She was her mother, her father, her protector... She was her everything.

And now... It was the silence before the storm. One evening, Deepika walked into the house. Her face was pale, and her eyes looked lost, as if she wasn't even aware of her surroundings.

Her daughter, who had been laughing moments ago, immediately ran toward her. The moment she saw her mother's face, her smile disappeared.

"Mumma, kya hua?"

(Mom, what happened?)

Deepika looked at her daughter. Tears glistened in her eyes. Without saying anything, she suddenly hugged her daughter and started crying.

Her daughter froze in shock.

"Mumma...."

Mrs. Rana finally pulled away and looked at her through tear-filled eyes.

"Main tumhe kuch... batana chahti hoon..."

(I want to tell you something...)

Her daughter looked at her worriedly.

"Kya... bolo mumma?"

(What is it? Tell me, Mom.)

Mrs. Rana gently placed her hand on her daughter's head. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"I...I am going to remarry."

Her daughter was shocked. She immediately loosened her grip on her mother and stared at her in disbelief.

"Kya...?"

(What...?)

Mrs. Rana moved closer and gently took her daughter's hand before leading her toward the couch. They sat down. Her daughter couldn't understand what was happening.

"Mujhe yeh shaadi karni hi hogi..."

(I have to get married...)

Her daughter stared at her.

"Yeh aap kya bol rahi hain, mummy...? Shaadi?"

(What are you saying, Mom...? Marriage?)

Deepika's eyes filled with tears again.

"Mujhe yeh shaadi karni hogi... warna hum dono maare jayenge."

(I have to get married... otherwise, both of us will be killed.)

Her daughter looked at her in horror.

"Kya...? Par kyun?"

(What...? But why?)

Deepika took a shaky breath.

"Mafia Ravindra Singh Shekhawat chahta hai ki main usse shaadi karun."

(The mafia Ravindra Singh Shekhawat wants me to marry him.)

Her daughter was speechless. Her mother continued through her tears.

"Maine usse na keh diya tha... par usne dhamki di ki woh hum dono ko maar dega."

(I refused him... but he threatened to kill both of us.)

"Par..."

Her mother shook her head helplessly.

"Hum kuch nahi kar sakte..."

(We can't do anything...)

Her daughter looked down, tears gathering in her eyes.

"Papa..."

She couldn't finish the sentence. She didn't want anyone else to take her father's place. She didn't want another man to become a part of their family.

But Ravindra Singh Shekhawat was one of the most feared mafia figures in India. He had seen Deepika and had become obsessed with her. He wanted to marry her, and his power was so great that no one dared to stand against him.

Mrs. Rana had never wanted to remarry. She didn't want to replace her husband. She had a fifteen-year-old daughter to protect, and she couldn't even imagine bringing another man into their lives.

But she had no choice. Because Ravindra could destroy their lives in an instant. And so... Time passed. Mrs. Rana became Mrs. Shekhawat.

For the first few months, Ravindra treated her well. He pretended to be the perfect husband. But as the days passed, everything changed.

He sent her daughter to Russia for her studies. And once she was gone... The mask came off. Ravindra began abusing Deepika.

He treated her cruelly and hurt her until she was eventually admitted to the hospital. Her daughter was now eighteen. She was alone in Russia, studying, completely unaware of what was happening to her mother.

Until one day... She received a call. Her mother's condition was critical. She immediately tried to return to India. But Ravindra wouldn't let her come back. So she called her mother.

"Maa......"

Her mother's weak voice came through the phone.

"Chinta mat karo, meri beti..."

(Don't worry, my daughter...)

"Aur yahan mat aana. Wahin raho aur padho."

(And don't come here. Stay there and study.)

Her daughter began crying.

"Maa..."

Mrs. Shekhawat took a painful breath.

"Ek din tum is neech insaan ko sikhaogi ki aurat koi khelne ki cheez nahi hai..."

(One day, you will teach this disgusting man that a woman is not something to be played with...)

Her voice became weaker.

"Mujhe tum par bharosa hai..."

(I believe in you...)

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Meri jaan..."

(My darling...)

And those were her last words. Her eyes slowly closed. The call remained connected. On the other side, her daughter heard nothing. Only silence. Then—

"Mumma...?"

No answer.

"Maa...?"

Still nothing. Her voice trembled.

"Maaaaa!!!!!!!!"

Her scream echoed through the room. And somewhere far away... A daughter lost the last piece of the family she had left.

FLASHBACK ENDS

The shining office of "Rana Corporation" gleamed under the bright lights. Fresh flowers were placed everywhere, filling the luxurious office with their sweet fragrance.

The expensive furniture added a perfect touch of elegance and power.

"Aarohi, tum jo main kahunga, woh karogi."

(Aarohi, you will do what I say.)

An old man, around sixty years old, stood before her.

Aarohi sat comfortably in her chair, her legs resting on the table as she casually smoked, a dangerous smirk playing on her lips. She rolled her eyes, completely unimpressed by his words.

The bright lights reflected against the marble floor as she finally spoke without even looking at him.

"Kyun be buddhe? Tujhe aisa kyun lagta hai ki main teri baat maanungi?"

(Why, old man? What makes you think I will listen to you?)

Her words instantly ignited his anger. He wanted to throw something at her, but he knew better than to lose control in front of her.

"Tumhe maanna padega!"

(You will have to obey!)

Aarohi slowly lifted her eyes toward him.

"Awaaz neeche, Ravindra Singh Shekhawat!!!!. ....Ab main woh Aarohi nahi hoon jo tumhare naksh-e-kadam par chalti thi. "

(Lower your voice, Ravindra Singh Shekhawat. I am no longer the Aarohi who used to follow in your footsteps.)

She slowly stood up from her chair and stared directly into his eyes.

"Aarohi Rana kisi ke baap ki nahi sunti....Tujhe toh chutkiyon mein gayab karne ka hunar rakhti hoon...."

(Aarohi Rana doesn't listen to anyone. And I have the ability to make you disappear in the blink of an eye.)

Her dark gaze was enough to make the anger in his veins turn into fear. Yet he couldn't say a word. Because he knew exactly who she was.

Aarohi Rana.

The youngest CEO in Asia.

The woman who ruled the business world with an iron fist. And behind the glamorous identity of a powerful CEO was another name whispered in fear—

The Mafia Queen.

After her mother's death, Aarohi had taught herself everything.

She had built herself from nothing, creating her own place in a world that had once tried to break her. Her mother, Deepika Rana, had been forced into a marriage with this very man.

Ravindra Singh Shekhawat. Aarohi had never forgotten it.

She had spent years in Russia, away from everything familiar, teaching herself how to survive, how to fight, how to rule—and most importantly, how to destroy the people who had once destroyed her family.

And now, at twenty-six years old, she stood before the man who had once believed he could control her. He had no idea... He had just awakened the lioness.

"Usse lagta hai ki woh mujhe control kar sakta hai."

(He thinks he can control me.)

Aarohi chuckled as she sank deeper into the luxurious sofa. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as the enormous living hall shimmered beneath the grand chandelier.

A wine glass rested casually in her hand. She slowly spun the glass, watching the liquid swirl inside it. Her piercing blue eyes remained fixed on it.

"Kya bakwaas lagta hai usse."

(He really thinks that's going to work.)

Avni Rao said, taking a slow sip from her own glass, a mocking smirk appearing on her lips. Aarohi's expression suddenly changed.

The amusement disappeared from her eyes, replaced by something darker. Her mind drifted back to her mother. Deepika Rana.

The memories alone were enough to ignite a fire inside her. A fire that had been burning for years. Aarohi's fingers tightened around the glass. She wanted Ravindra to pay for everything he had done.

And this time... She wouldn't stop until he did. Avni noticed the darkness in Aarohi's eyes and let out a low chuckle.

"Main toh kehti hoon, saale ko kaat ke kutte ko khila dena chahiye."

(I say we should cut that bastard up and feed him to the dogs.)

"Par aise madarchod ko toh kutte bhi na khaayein."

(But even the dogs wouldn't eat some motherfucker like him.)

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then— Aarohi's lips slowly curled into a dangerous smirk. The kind of smile that meant someone's downfall had already been decided.

A massive table dominated the room, surrounded by powerful political ministers, influential businessmen, and a few notorious mafia leaders.

Stacks of confidential papers were scattered across the table, some marked with official seals and others containing information no ordinary person would ever see.

Sitting at the head of the table was Ravindra Singh Shekhawat. But his mind wasn't on the meeting. It was still trapped in the humiliation Aarohi had thrown at him.

Her words echoed inside his head. Her fearless attitude. Her cold stare. The way she had openly challenged him. Anger surged through him. Suddenly, he grabbed the file in front of him and threw it across the table.

THUD! His fist slammed against the polished wooden surface. Everyone flinched at his sudden outburst.

"Kya samajhti hai woh apne aap ko?! Mujhse bada yahan koi nahi hai!"

(Who the hell does she think she is?! No one here is more powerful than me!)

Ravindra pushed his chair back and stood. Without another word, he walked toward the enormous floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooking the city.

The lights of the city glittered far below. A slow, sinister smirk appeared on his face.

"Usse toh uski aukaat dikhani padegi..."

(I will have to show her her place...)

Patil, seated nearby, exchanged an uneasy glance with the others before carefully speaking.

"Par kaise, sir?"

(But how, sir?)

Ravindra turned around slowly. His eyes held a dangerous confidence.

"Woh toh tum dekhte jao, Patil... kaise main usse apne kadmon mein laata hoon."

(You just wait and watch, Patil... you’ll see how I bring her to my feet.)

The room fell silent. The businessmen, politicians, and mafia leaders exchanged confused glances. No one understood what Ravindra was planning.

But judging by the smile on his face... Whatever it was, Aarohi Rana was going to be at the center of it.

✨Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of my new series! ❤️🥹

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