A silent billionaire.
A woman trained to kill.
When power marries danger, love turns lethal.
I sat alone in Ranbir's private library, a motivational book open in front of me. I wasn't really reading it, just pretending to.
The library was filled with books about motivation, strategy, power, business, psychology, and training the mind. There were some novels too, but even those weren't exactly normal. Most were psychological, crime, or mystery stories-dark enough to make me wonder what kind of person actually enjoyed reading them.
Maybe I shouldn't judge.
I had just picked the motivational book because, honestly, I was feeling demotivated, but my eyes weren't really on the pages.
They were scanning the room-every shelf, the desk, the drawers, almost every corner.
I knew Ranbir kept confidential information somewhere nearby. A man in his position, with his secrets and strict habits, couldn't possibly keep everything outside his personal spaces.
And I had already learned something important. His library and office were connected. You entered the library first, and a door inside led directly into his private office.
Ranbir had strict rules about this place. No one entered without his permission. No one touched or moved anything. Not even the servants were allowed to clean the library or office unless he was present.
That alone was enough to make me suspicious.
Maybe it was because he kept important company documents here that he didn't want anyone moving things around or accidentally misplacing something. He was being extremely cautious.
But if all the important company documents were kept here, then there had to be documents related to Rathor Infrastructure and Logistics, including its alliances with other companies.
The day before yesterday, I had entered the library for the first time.
I had searched carefully for anything unusual-documents, files, every compartment, anything that could give me an answer to what I was looking for.
But I found nothing.
When I finally left the library and stepped into the corridor, I heard one of the servants asking Ranbir whether he wanted dinner.
He had come home, so I immediately ran back to our bedroom, threw myself onto the bed, and pretended to be asleep.
Yesterday, I returned for the second search.
This time, I was more careful. Before touching anything, since I was entering the office for the first time, I memorized the exact position of everything inside it.
Then I searched shelf by shelf, drawer by drawer, but found nothing. Not a single suspicious document.
But before I could leave, I heard the door open.
Ranbir was entering the library and walking toward his office.
I quickly pretended that I had simply come to look around. I even told him that I hadn't touched or moved anything.
He said he believed me, but I knew better. He didn't.
He was the kind of man who would definitely notice if a book had been moved even an inch. I knew him well enough to understand that.
And because he had such strict rules about this place, I was becoming even more convinced that whatever I was looking for had to be somewhere here.
I just hadn't found it yet.
Well, today, I was simply sitting in one place, slowly moving my gaze around the library.
Yesterday, I'd noticed that the shelves in the far corner were filled with romance books.
Why not check those today?
I almost laughed when I reached there and opened the first book.
A dried rose slipped from between the pages. I quickly caught it before it fell. The petals were faded and fragile, the edges brown with age.
I frowned and turned the first few pages, noticing a handwritten note in the corner.
Maybe this will cure your brain.
I blinked and turned another page.
Maybe this will remove some of your bitterness.
I couldn't help smiling.
Who had written those notes? Because it definitely wasn't Ranbir's handwriting.
I opened another book, and another dried rose fell out, along with another handwritten note.
You don't have to understand love. Just stop running from it.
I stared at it for a moment before opening the third book. It had a note and a rose too.
Read this before you decide love is a waste of time.
Then another.
You can be ruthless with the whole world, but don't be ruthless with the person you love.
I quickly opened the fourth book. Another faded rose rested between the pages.
One day, you'll understand why I keep giving you these books with roses.
I paused.
So these weren't books Ranbir had simply collected. Someone had given them to him.
I opened the fifth book.
The pages were yellowed with age, and another note was written near the middle.
If you ever forget how loved you are, read this again.
My smile slowly disappeared.
I looked at all five books lying in front of me.
Every single one had a handwritten note with a dried rose, and each note sounded strangely personal.
Whoever had written them knew Ranbir well enough to tease him, understand him, and somehow talk about love without making it sound ridiculous.
I couldn't imagine anyone doing that to him.
I carefully placed the roses back between the pages and returned each book exactly where I'd found them.
My eyes lingered on the shelf.
There was clearly a story behind these books. A story that had been left behind many years ago.
And I had no clue what it was.
Ranbir had left for work earlier that day, but he would return to the mansion before the gathering began.
His parents had invited mine over for a casual afternoon and evening together. It was the first time my parents were coming to my in-laws' house, and I was incredibly excited.
I knew they would be happy to see me living such a good life here. Everything in this mansion was far more luxurious than I could have ever imagined. Sometimes, it felt like I was living in a dream.
But more than the luxury, the most important thing was the people here. I had no complaints, no enemies, and no bad experiences with any member of the family. They treated me just as they treated one another, and I was loved by everyone.
I was having the best time of my life with my in-laws. In the beginning, there had been some issues between Ranbir and me, but now I could sometimes see a little love in his eyes.
More importantly, he didn't scold me, get angry, or shout at me anymore. Instead, whenever I did something mischievous, he behaved like a child who had been hurt, and somehow, I ended up having to console him.
In the end, everything became good and manageable when we all tried, and I was genuinely happy here.
By the time I came downstairs, the main door was already open, and his parents were welcoming mine.
I quickly walked toward them and hugged my parents.
"How are you, Trishika beta?" Papa asked.
"I am good. How are you?" I asked.
"Come, Mr. Thakur," his father said.
Both families gathered in the sitting area.
Maa was sitting beside my mother, talking as though they had known each other for years rather than only recently becoming family. My father and Mr. Rathor were discussing something, while the others had scattered around the room, talking and laughing about completely unrelated things.
I smiled quietly as I watched them.
I was still getting used to this.
A few months ago, I would never have imagined myself sitting in a room surrounded by so many people and actually feeling comfortable.
Ranbir entered the room, adjusting the cuff of his shirt. He had made time from his work so he could meet my parents.
I was happy that, at least around them, he knew how to behave politely and show the manners I hadn't received from him in the beginning.
He immediately went over to take my parents' blessings and then sat with them. They practically surrounded him, and it was hilarious to watch.
"Trishika, come here," my mother called.
I couldn't hide my smile when my grandmother grabbed his cheeks and patted them like he was a little baby.
When she finally let go, I couldn't decide whether his cheeks had turned red because of all the pulling or because of embarrassment. He kept smiling as though he couldn't believe this was actually happening to him.
I sat beside him. My parents clearly thought the most important person they needed to meet was their son-in-law. They surrounded him and started asking questions about his health, how work was going, whether married life was treating him well, whether he was happy with me, and so on.
I mean, what was this? They were acting as though I was some kind of troublemaker who constantly put him in difficult situations. Instead, I should have been given an award for managing to live so peacefully with him.
He looked completely confused with every question, as though he were sitting for the most difficult exam of his life without having studied for it.
He kept looking at me or lightly nudging my hand with his elbow, silently asking me to come forward and answer for him, and I did the same to him. It was the first time I had ever seen him this shy, and it was honestly too funny.
His parents were watching him like this, laughing among themselves while trying their hardest to hide it.
"I am very blessed to be married to Trishika, Mr. Thakur," Ranbir said.
"Really?" The word slipped out of my mouth because I couldn't believe what he had said, but I quickly corrected myself. "Mummy, Papa, he is blessed and very grateful that I married him," I said. "He takes very good care of me."
"Trishika," my mother said with a laugh, lightly hitting my hand.
"I'm happy to see both of you smiling," my father said.
Soon, everything settled into a normal meet-and-greet.
I gave my mother a tour of the mansion. She was extremely happy to see me living such a good life.
"I'm happy they're treating you well. I didn't want to let you marry Rathor in the beginning. I argued with your father about it. But he said it was your grandfather's last wish. I was afraid they would treat you differently or make you feel like an outsider because we aren't as rich as they are," she said as we reached my room and settled onto the bed.
"Maa, but I'm happy. You've seen for yourself how good this family is to me."
She reached over and squeezed my hand.
"Still, as your mother, I tried to convince your father not to let you marry him, and he agreed. But then Ranbir himself met your father and said he wanted to marry you. Now, I'm happy to see you happy."
My heartbeat skipped at her words.
I had always thought I had married him because of the friendship and promises between our grandfathers. But the fact that Ranbir himself had gone to my father and asked to marry me was one of the reasons I was married to him.
But why?
And how did he know me?
We walked downstairs and settled in with everyone while I sat in a corner, quietly watching them enjoy themselves.
Until Ranbir stood beside me and said, "Look at us. We finally learned how to stand together without arguing."
I couldn't process what my mother had just told me. Suddenly, I felt strangely scared of him, and it felt as though I couldn't meet his eyes anymore.
I was almost certain he didn't know about me being an assassin, but I knew he knew about my relationship with my parents and the great tragedy of my life-the one that still haunted me whenever I closed my eyes.
Still, I managed to pull myself together and answer him.
"We never argue."
His eyes shifted toward me, and he smiled as though I had just said something completely impossible.
"You argue, and I listen to it, tolerate it, and don't say anything."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Wow," I said. "I think you left your brain somewhere. That's why this important and precious moment looks like the best place for you to start a fight with me."
"Yes, I left it in a safe case. I don't need it when my heart is enough for you," he replied, crossing his arms.
I couldn't stand beside this man anymore, so I moved away. But one phrase from his sentence stayed in my mind.
Safe case.
In his mansion office, there could be a safe or even hidden compartments I had obviously missed.
But where?
That question remained unanswered, but at least I had a clue to start my investigation again.
The evening passed in easy conversation, teasing, and stories from both families. At some point, his mother began telling everyone a story from Ranbir's childhood.
I immediately became interested. I knew it would be full of achievements and praise. He didn't look like the kind of man who had ever done anything fun with his friends or gathered any memories with them. I could already feel his nerdy vibes.
He tried to stop her, but I wanted to hear it.
I leaned closer to her.
"Maa, please continue."
Ranbir gave me a warning look, and I rolled my eyes.
Who cared about his death glare?
For a while, everything felt strangely ordinary. Just two families enjoying an evening together, and somehow, I found myself wishing moments like this could last forever.
Later, we went to a restaurant for dinner. Everyone chatted and laughed together while Ranbir sat across from us, occasionally glancing my way.
I couldn't get over the fact that he wanted to marry me.
There was a possibility that after my father had initially refused to let me marry him, Ranbir had gone to him himself simply to fulfil his grandfather's wish.
That had to be the truth. There was no way he could know me or want to marry me for any other reason.
Whenever our eyes met, I smiled and pretended I hadn't noticed.
For once, I should forget about the investigations, the secrets, and the things I was trying to uncover.
Instead, I should simply enjoy being there.
After dinner, everyone decided to take a walk through the small park beside the restaurant.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Children ran around the pathways. Couples talked quietly. The lights from the nearby shops spilled across the pavement, making the evening feel warm and almost dreamlike.
My father gently took my hand and whispered, "Trishika has come outside, and she hasn't had any ice cream yet."
"There is ice cream. I'll bring it," my mother said before walking toward the nearby stall while we sat on a bench for a little while.
We continued our conversation, enjoying the peaceful evening together.
Suddenly, a sound tore through the night, and a yellow light shattered across the sky. Everything stopped for a few seconds, and then the screaming began. Smoke rose from that area.
My heart stopped, and my body moved before my mind could catch up.
I ran toward the sound.
It was coming from the same direction my mother had gone.
"Trishika, beta!"
Someone shouted my name behind me, but I barely heard it. My entire focus was on one thing-my mother.
A hotel was burning in flames. The blast had been large enough to damage the surrounding area, and several people nearby had been thrown to the ground.
Some were injured. Others were crying, screaming, or desperately searching for their loved ones. I couldn't even tell whether someone had died. People were running in every direction, panic spreading through the crowd.
My breath caught in my throat, and suddenly, I saw the same day. The same horror. The same person missing.
My mother.
And my sister.
"Maa..."
I looked around frantically, my heart pounding harder with every second. Something inside my head shattered.
Where was she?
Where was my sister?
The same terror of losing the people I loved before I could even reach them returned all at once.
My breathing stopped, and my hands began trembling violently.
I tried to take another step, but my legs suddenly felt weak beneath me.
The screams around me grew louder, yet somehow they sounded distant, as if I were underwater.
All I could hear was my own heartbeat, and one thought kept repeating inside my head.
Please don't let it happen again.
I took a step backward.
The world around me blurred, and the noise became unbearable.
People were shouting, crying, screaming. Flames and smoke were everywhere, while unconscious bodies lay scattered across the ground.
And now, all I could hear was the past. The same feeling of watching everything fall apart while being unable to do anything.
"Maa..." I shouted, but my voice barely came out, and I stumbled backward.
"Maa..." I screamed again, and with it, my knees gave out beneath me, and I fell to the ground. My chest tightened so painfully that I could barely breathe.
"I want my mother..."
My fingers clawed helplessly at the ground, scratching through the grass until my fists were filled with dirt and mud.
"My sister... where is she too?"
Tears streamed down my face.
"Trishika!"
My father's voice reached me.
He and Ranbir rushed toward me. My father immediately bent down and tried to pull me up, while Ranbir held my arm to steady me.
"Beta, I'm here. Look at me."
I really tried, but the moment I looked toward the smoke again, my entire body froze.
I pushed myself away from them and tried to stand. I didn't care about anyone else. I just wanted to see one person safe and alive.
But my legs wouldn't hold me, and I collapsed again.
"Trishika! We will find her. She will be fine," Ranbir said, catching me before I could hit the ground completely again.
Slowly, he helped me sit on the ground. His mother hurried toward me and immediately knelt beside me.
"Maa, stay with her. I'm coming," he told his mother before he and my father turned toward the smoke. They moved between the crowd and disappeared into the haze.
"Trishika, beta."
I barely reacted or paid attention to his mother's words.
"She's coming back. She will be fine," she said softly.
Her touch carried the warmth of a mother, but right then, I didn't want just any mother.
I wanted mine.
My body couldn't stop shaking. Tears fell onto my hands, turning black as they mixed with my kajal.
My hair had come loose and spread around me, forming a dark circle against the ground, while my body was soaked in sweat as if someone had poured water over me.
I was about to close my eyes and lose myself in the darkness when, through the chaos, a familiar voice called my name.
"Trishika!"
I froze.
My head slowly turned toward the voice, and I saw my mother walking toward me from the opposite direction.
My breath caught.
"Maa..."
She hurried toward me the moment she saw me crying on the ground. She dropped beside me and pulled me into her arms.
I immediately buried my face against her shoulder.
"I'm here."
Her arms tightened around me.
I clung to her as though I were afraid she would disappear if I loosened my grip.
"I thought you were there... I thought something happened to you."
My words broke apart between sobs.
"I'm safe. Nothing happened to me."
She kept stroking my hair, her voice soft and steady.
Slowly, my breathing began to settle, but the shaking didn't disappear immediately. Still, feeling her arms around me gave my mind something real to hold on to.
My mother was here.
She was safe, and somehow, I finally felt safe too.
After a few moments, Papa came running back through the crowd.
The moment he saw Maa holding me, the tension on his face eased, and he hurried toward us.
"Where were you?" he asked, breathless. "I thought you were near the blast."
Maa looked at him, still holding me.
"I went to get her ice cream. I walked toward that side, but the shop had already run out. So I went to another shop in the opposite direction."
Papa closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling heavily.
Her eyes fell on me again, and I started crying all over again, my fingers tightening around the fabric of her saree.
My mind and my whole body were finally beginning to calm down. I finally felt safe and alive myself too.
But some memories never stay buried forever. The past I had spent years pretending didn't exist was finally catching up with me. And this time, I couldn't run from it or pretend everything was fine. I would have to face it.
Because this wasn't just a painful part of my past. It was the part of my life that had changed me forever.
The reason I became an assassin.
The reason I learned to live two lives.
And perhaps, the reason I was still alive.
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