Evening time…
Darkness had almost settled. On one side, tiny stars had begun to appear in the sky, while on the other side, the last shades of sunset still lingered—a soft reddish glow.
Sitting at a table in a small café, Ira silently stared at the beautiful sky.
Beside her, Anamika kept trying to understand the meaning behind Ira’s quietness.
Just then, Ruhi came from the counter with their order.
Placing the tray on the table, she picked up her burger and said, “Come on… pick up your food!”
Ira gave a small smile and took her burger. Watching Ira’s silence, Anamika also picked up hers without saying a word.
The table remained silent…
Seeing this, Ruhi thought, “Seriously? The whole day has gone like this! Even after bringing them to such a fun place…!
Sorry, sir… but I think I’ve failed to cheer up your sister!”
After a while
Ruhi went to pay the bill, while Ira and Anamika stepped out of the café.
They were heading toward the parking area to wait for Ruhi near the car—but something entirely different awaited them.
A loud, angry voice echoed through the air:
“What!? What do you mean that because of , you’re ready to throw away ?! How can you… how can you tell to stay away from you?!”
A softer voice replied quickly, “Please… calm down! Even though it’s a parking area, if you yell like this… people will gather to watch the drama!”
Ira pulled Anamika behind a car, peeking from behind like a thief.
Her eyes widened. “That’s Rivan! But who is that uncle yelling at like that?!”
Anamika took a closer look and said, “Oh wait…! I saw him this morning at the office! He was creating a scene by badmouthing Aditya in Aditya’s company—and Ruhi slapped him!”
Ira clicked her tongue.
“So the old man wanted to get beaten up again! He chose the wrong rich kid to mess with!”
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Meanwhile, Yuvraj, who had no intention of backing down, tried to touch Rivan’s hand like a helpless father and said, “I made a mistake… forgive me, son! Forgive this dying father!”
“How much money?”
Rivan asked, emotionless. “How much money do you want for your treatment?”
Anamika and Ira couldn’t hear Rivan’s exact words from far away, but seeing Yuvraj’s face suddenly light up with greed, Ira whispered, “Look at that old man’s smile… like he just ! What the hell did that idiot say to him?!”
Rivan waited silently for Yuvraj’s answer.
Greed shone openly in Yuvraj’s eyes as he avoided making direct eye contact and said, “I mean… I don’t about my life or money… but I with you! For many years…!
I want to see you get married, see your kids grow and eat on … so yes, I need to live!
And the doctor didn’t ask for much… just some money for hospital fees… food… stay… just a little amount!
I just want to spend some more years watching you succeed!
After all… who else do you have in this world except ?”
Rivan walked straight to his car, opened the trunk, and pulled out a suitcase.
Placing it in front of Yuvraj, he said, “These are more than what you’re hoping for.”
Yuvraj stared at the suitcase like a hungry fox, smiling greedily as Rivan opened it—bundles and bundles of cash inside.
Rivan said calmly, “If you take the … you lose .
And if you choose your son…” — he smirked — “then forget this money.
Tell me… what do you want?
Think carefully.
Because if you choose me, I will walk away from all the wealth Aditya bhai gave me… and we can live a happy life as you wish—
But if you choose the money—this entire suitcase is yours.
You’ll get your treatment, and the rest of .”
Yuvraj asked, “ Enough to live peacefully?”
Rivan pulled out his card.
“Its limit is double the amount inside this suitcase. Take this too, if you want.”
He threw the card onto the pile of money.
Ira nervously chewed her nails.
“What the hell is this idiot doing?! Please don’t tell me the old man is some drug dealer or smuggler and Rivan is making a deal with him!
No no no… we HAVE to tell my brother!”
Just then, a voice came from behind— “What are you two doing here?!”
Ira jumped in fear.
Ruhi stood behind them with a confused look. Anamika, meanwhile, was trying to think of some innocent excuse.
Like a child caught stealing candy, Ira grabbed Ruhi’s hand and dragged her towards the car to show Rivan and Yuvraj— but by then, Yuvraj had already disappeared with .
Rivan looked shocked for a moment on seeing the three of them there—but he quickly hid it behind a cute smile.
“Oye… where did that man go? And that suitcase?!”
Rivan sighed and hid all seriousness behind a sweet grin.
“So… Babydoll… were you on me?”
Ira was about to snap back at him, but Ruhi interrupted, “Wait—first someone explain what happened here?!”
Before Rivan could even open his mouth, Ira narrated the whole story in one breath—
and added her own dramatic conclusion: “This boy is definitely into something shady! Brother must know about this!”
Rivan tapped Ira lightly on the forehead.
“Your small brain is too… polluted! Where do you get such doubts?!
Anyway… let me explain. And please… don’t tell Big Bro… he’ll scold me a lot!
Actually… yesterday I accidentally hit his pet dog with my car. It suddenly came in front of me.
died this morning in the hospital… That man said the dog was … blah blah… But look how he was! When I put money in front of him… he refused to even the dog!”
Anamika’s eyes softened.
“The dog… died?”
Rivan’s eyes lost all warmth.
“It was already injured… you could call it a living corpse. I think . Even without the accident, today was its last day.”
Anamika frowned. “So… is that why the old man came to Aditya’s company this morning?”
Ruhi gasped. “What?! That old man was the same one from the office?!”
Anamika nodded innocently.
Rivan thought to himself, "So… his habit of lying still hasn’t changed.
The deal is done… and he already broke the . But he doesn’t know… I never back out in business deals.
A promise is a promise
His eyes turned dark—pitch black.
Whatever was going on inside his mind… only he knew.
But within seconds, he forced his expression to soften and put on a cute smile— so he wouldn’t scare Ruhi, Ira, or Anamika.
Ira finally snapped out of her foolish panic, which made Ruhi relieved… and even Anamika felt a strange comfort.
Yet… something still felt wrong to her.
A strange uneasiness settled inside her chest.
