Author

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[Flashback]

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Weeks had passed since Kiaan first received that anonymous letter, the one that had brought a huge smile to his face. He had re-read it, not once, not twice, but more times than one could even count. From bringing back his lost smile, the letter had now filled him with hope. He was finally aware that somewhere out there, someone truly cared if he was sad. So, he kept smiling, choosing to ignore the distant behavior of his family.

He had even written back to the sender, yet their identity remained a mystery. The only address mentioned in the letter was that of a café which was always crowded, always bustling. How could he possibly pick out the one person who had reached out to him from a sea of strangers?

Kiaan had even tried to find out who it could be at a neighboring school, with the help of his friend Hredhaan, but it was fruitless. He knew nothing about this stranger except their handwriting.

Now that so much time had passed, he no longer expected a response. But one day, when he returned home from school, the staff handed him another letter. Kiaan hurriedly rushed to his room, threw his schoolbag on the bed carelessly, and tore open the envelope to read the letter.

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Kiaan's smile knew no bounds. This girl had to be younger than him; he was sure of it, judging by all the spelling mistakes in her letter. He re-read it once, twice, thrice, and yet he wasn't content.

He was curious about this stranger, but now he was certain it was a girl. She had used too many firefly stickers on the letter, something only a girl would do, he thought. He had baited her into revealing her school name, and he was finally successful. Yet finding her among a sea of students was going to be difficult.

So what if that school was closer to his own? He still needed to identify her. And with her not revealing anything about herself, not even her name, it wasn't going to be easy. But Kiaan was determined. He knew he would find her. He had always been that way, just like his father. Once he set his mind on something, no one could stop him from achieving it.

The exchange of letters between them continued, and while Kiaan was curious, he wasn't in a hurry to know her name just yet. It kept the thrill alive. Now, Kiaan didn't care as much as before if no one in the family paid attention to him. He had someone who wrote to him earnestly, who watched him silently, who cared for him.

A few days later, it was Kiaan's birthday. But he wasn't excited. He knew that, like every other year, no one would care. No one ever threw a birthday party for him. Only the staff would be instructed to cook his favorite dishes, like every other year. He longed to feel loved, but no one made him feel cherished at all.

Soon, Kiaan's birthday arrived. It was a Sunday, so he didn't have school and was feeling bored. His cousin Dhruv, along with his friends Namit, Arjun, and Hredhaan, had already called to wish him. Hredhaan had even planned to take him out later that night with Kiaan's grandfather's permission to cheer him up.

Until then, Kiaan decided to pass the time by playing a video game.

Kiaan was glued to his chair, eyes fixed on the computer screen and hands gripping the controller. All of a sudden, there was a knock on his door. When he allowed the person to come in, a staff member entered, informing him that a parcel had arrived for him.

Kiaan, still focused on his game, told her he was busy and asked her to leave it on the bed. But the staff member hesitated and said the parcel was still with the courier guy, who refused to hand it over to anyone else and insisted on giving it only to Prince Kiaan. The way she emphasized those words caught Kiaan's attention.

He remembered that his pen pal had once called him Prince Kiaan in her letter. Realization struck, and he instantly pushed himself off the chair, sprinting downstairs to get the courier.

When the deliveryman handed him the parcel, Kiaan took it and ran straight back to his room. He carefully unwrapped the paper, and inside, he found the very same limited-edition remote-control toy car he had once mentioned to her in a letter. Along with the car was a beautiful handmade card and a letter.

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After reading the letter, Kiaan was grinning ear to ear. That grin was so big that his cheeks hurt. That was the first birthday in years Kiaan felt like celebrating, and he did celebrate that day with his friend Hredhaan.

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Weeks turned into months, and they kept writing to each other. Kiaan always sent her chocolates, and with time, his longing to finally meet her only grew stronger.

One afternoon, while walking through the school hallway during recess, he confessed to his friend Hredhaan how badly he wanted to know who his pen pal was.

Hredhaan listened closely, though the thought unsettled him. He didn't like that the person writing to Kiaan chose to remain hidden. To him, it felt unfair. 

Hredhaan was not known for his people skills; he hardly had any. Even as the heir to a royal family, he had no idea how to connect with others on an emotional level. To him, except for Kiaan and their three friends in India, everyone else was the enemy. So, as always, his reply was blunt.

"If she can't even tell you her name, she's not worth your time."

That was Hredhaan: straightforward and no-nonsense. But Kiaan was already too attached to let his mystery person go. He respected Hredhaan's words, nodded, and listened, but deep down, he knew the girl behind those letters was worth every second of his.

Still, his friend's words lingered. Though hesitant, Kiaan resolved to be a little firmer in his next letter. He wanted to ask her name, but he was afraid. Afraid that by asking for too much, he might push her away. He did not want to do that to the only person who cared when no one else did.

That night, as Hredhaan's words replayed in his mind, Kiaan made a decision. With both hope and fear tightening in his chest, he pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write to the stranger who had unknowingly become his anchor.

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Kiaan was in the middle of writing the letter when he heard shouting. Someone was yelling and crying, too. He froze, fear creeping up his spine. But what truly terrified him was the sound of something breaking. The shrill crash echoed through the house, followed by rushing footsteps. Chaos had erupted in his own home, and Kiaan shivered with fear.

He rushed to his balcony and peered down. From there, he could see his mother standing at a distance, tears streaming down her face and a knife in her hand.

Kiaan's father and grandfather were standing a few feet away from his mother, pleading with her to drop the knife. But she was crying too hard to listen. They kept trying to convince her that she and the baby could get hurt.

Kiaan froze, scared and crying, confused by the mention of a baby. There was no baby around.

'Who were they talking about?' he thought.

Soon, a staff member came to take him back to his room, but Kiaan pushed them away and ran downstairs, desperate to reach his mother.

Before Kiaan could reach his mother, his grandfather stopped him and held him firmly. His mother kept shouting that she had to kill the baby, but Kiaan didn't understand which baby she meant. She was about to raise the knife when Kiaan screamed.

The scream broke his mother Smita's trance. Her face went pale when she realized her son was witnessing everything. Kiaan's tears broke her heart, and the knife slipped from her hand onto the floor.

Kiaan's father Ashok, seized the moment and rushed to his wife. Smita lost consciousness, and Ashok scooped her into his arms, carrying her inside. Dharmesh Kapoor instructed the staff to take care of Kiaan while he followed his daughter and son-in-law.

The staff urged Kiaan to go to his room with them. Though Kiaan was still in shock, he knew it was better to stay inside, so he nodded. As he passed by his parents' bedroom, he overheard his father and grandfather talking.

"What about Kiaan?" his father asked.

"Let's send him to boarding school," his grandfather replied.

Kiaan didn't understand why his mother had lost control like that, why she behaved the way she did. But when he overheard his father and grandfather, he assumed it was because of him. He misunderstood everything and thought that by "the baby," his mother had meant him.

Terrified and in tears, Kiaan ran. Instead of going to his room, he bolted out of the house. He didn't know where he was going; he only knew he was too scared to go back. So he kept running.

He found himself on a busy road, where cars rushed past, honking loudly. In his panic, he tried to cross to the other side when suddenly, a fast-moving vehicle came into view. Its headlights blinded him, and he froze.

The car hit him and sped away. Kiaan was thrown into the air before crashing to the ground with a thud. He heard something crack, maybe a bone, and then he felt warm, wet liquid pooling around him. His breath came in shallow gasps.

The thought that his own family might hate him broke him completely. Tears filled his eyes as he struggled to breathe. His mind drifted to his friends, those who truly cared, and to his little secret admirer. He wished he could see her just once. But it was too late now. His eyes slowly shut.

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Kiaan

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I opened my eyes, reliving that night for the thousandth time. Staring at the ceiling above my head, I realized where I was. It wasn't some road where I was lying dead. It was my cabin at The Vault. This Vault was the hidden space where I tortured my enemies. The Vault's walls had absorbed the screams of the souls I tortured. Even in the quietness, I could hear their screams and feel content.

But right now, I wasn't feeling content, but rather pain, which was unusual for me.

I had stopped feeling that pain I used to feel, but now, after she came back into my life, I had been feeling things, feeling I was human. It felt like just yesterday when I shut my eyes, thinking I would never see her, would never get to know about the one person who cared for me when no one else did. And then, the same person handed me the betrayal so gracefully I had to accept it with all my heart.

She was ruling my thoughts again. She would step in....no, not step in, she would just barge into my thoughts like she owned the space, like she owned me, and then wouldn't leave.

When did I actually ever stop thinking of her? Never.

Even while sleeping, she acquired that space so confidently that I couldn't even blame her for the amnesia I had.

I have her now in my life, but I still don't have her.

Anyone who would hear me would think I had gone crazy. But I was never sane in the first place. Even though I was insane, I couldn't change the fact that I still didn't have her completely.

Fuck! I missed her.

I missed her so much that it felt like my heart was on fire. After our reception, I had turned into a human. Sounds crazy, but that was the truth. I felt more of Kiaan than the beast, more of the Kiaan who was left to die, more of the Kiaan who wasn't chosen by anyone but only her.

I picked up my wallet from the table, and I opened it. Her picture smiled back at me from inside, and I grazed my thumb gently over the flimsy plastic securing her beautiful smile. I always carry her around. She was the only one who had kept me alive till now.

What was the point of living if not for her?

A traitor tear escaped my eye, falling on the picture in my wallet. I rested my head back on the head of the chair I was sitting on as I laughed. 

I laughed because I had lost my mind. 

I laughed because I was going crazy. 

I laughed because I felt like the old Kiaan, the one who took hold of a little girl and promised he wouldn't leave her, not realizing she would betray me. 

This pain of betrayal was bad, but the worst was the memories of her tear-stricken face when she pleaded with me to stay on the yacht, holding my hand.

I shouldn't have left, but I did.

I should have held her throughout the night, whispering sweet nothings to her, but I didn't.

"Sir, she is not complying..." The female voice reverberated from the intercom in my cabin. Rhea and her friend had been captured and brought to the Vault.

"You can leave..." I ordered.

"But Sir...."

"I said, leave..."

Then I heard a scream. It was that asshole Rhea had brought to the party. That scream did nothing to me, neither made me angrier, nor did it make me feel satisfied. I felt like I wasn't myself anymore.

Before heading to handle Rhea and her accomplice, I dialled Dr. Phil's number. He hadn't contacted me back on my offer of helping Simran. I knew that was risky, but only he could help me get her memories back. 

If not him, then no one would. 

I didn't mind if she didn't remember me, even though it hurt more than one could imagine, but I knew that when the truth of her identity would come out, she would want to remember, she would wish to get her memories back. And I just wanted to make sure we did that in a way that would not be dangerous for her.

I didn't wait for pleasantries when he picked up the call. Keeping my voice calm and collected, I asked, "What did you think about what we discussed at my reception...?"

"Fine...I will do it...but we need to make sure she doesn't get to face anything traumatic, otherwise it might not be good for her..."

"Leave that to me. I will make sure of it..." 

"Did you tell her anything yet? I hope you didn't..." His guilty conscience spoke. 

"I haven't... I don't want to shock her..." 

The call went silent for a beat, but then I heard his tired sigh before he said, "Let's start it next weekend."

"Fine, I will arrange everything for our session," I hung up, not waiting for his reply. 

It was decided then. I was going to help my wife get her memories back.

I pushed myself off the chair and then headed straight to the room where Rhea and her friend were kept.

Rhea's friend, whom she had used as a date to get the entry to my reception, was looking scared. He wasn't tortured much, but there were cuts and bruises on his face. His hands were chained on either side of the wall, and he was on his knees.

I felt generous all of a sudden. 

I uncuffed him while everyone stared at me like I had lost my mind, especially men who had worked to get something out of his mouth. It didn't matter anymore; nothing did. But only my firefly. 

I think it was enough torture for both of us, for both her and me. It was time to go back home. To her. To the woman I worshipped, to the woman I was devoted to.

"Go..." I said to Rhea's accomplice.

"No, Ronak, don't go. He will shoot you." Rhea said, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at Ronal in horror, her breath laced with terror

"I won't."

I turned to that man who was on his knees as I said dangerously yet calmly,"Go before I stop being generous."

Ronak looked at Rhea, then me, and then ran, leaving her behind. I pulled the keys out of the cabinet and unchained Rhea as well. She stared at me like I wasn't the same man I used to be.

She winced in pain as the chains had pulled on her wrists too tightly and she rubbed them. Her eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to get up. 

Once she was on her feet, she asked in a feeble voice, "Why would you let us go?"

"You aren't a priority, Rhea ... .None of you are...my wife is...."

"You do remember right...what she did to you, to me....you know my real identity, and you know everything but still..." 

Her voice trailed off, as for the first time, Rhea opened up about the past we shared, for the first time she chose to be vulnerable in front of me, but I could only see my wife on that yacht pleading with her eyes to stay with her, could only hear her voice.

Her two words still ringing like a painful echo in my ears, 'Kiaan, please...'

"Nothing comes above her..." I said, grimly as I ran a hand over my face.

"You are choosing her even when she destroyed you?"

"I will choose her even if she pulls the trigger on me," I replied, smiling.

"Kiaan...you will lose this war choosing her. I entered your reception to warn you that having me by your side will save you...But I guess...you don't need saving."

"You don't want to be saved." 

That was her realization, and it was true. I didn't want to be saved, but I just wanted my wife. Not just wanted, I needed my wife like a desert traveller needs water, like a flame needs fuel. She kept me alive, and I wanted to live for her, with her. 

Not just this life, I wanted to spend an eternity with her by my side.

Rhea cast me one sad, long look before she walked away.

"So you are signing your death sentence now," Enzo sounded angry at me for letting Rhea and her friend go. 

"I will only let my wife sign my death sentence. If she would pull the trigger, I would gladly take the fall."

I had a smile on my face, and Enzo looked at me like I had lost my mind. But when it came to my yellow...I had no mind to begin with.

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My phone had been vibrating in my pocket for a while. I wondered who this desperate person was, and I finally pulled it out. There was a message...pictures of a stack of documents.

I scanned them grimly, and a slow, dangerous smile tugged at my lips. She had sued me... and was sending me divorce papers.

'You miss me, firefly... just accept it,' I murmured, still smiling.

Did she really think I wouldn't know what she was doing behind my back? 

That I had no control over her... or her life? 

Hell, even the cab that took her home from the academy was planted by me. There was no escape for her from this marriage. Not now. Not ever.

'I am coming to you, firefly. It's time we end this game of hide and seek.'

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Ab kya hone vala hai? I am scared 😟

His obsession begun the day he got into that accident when he was a kid, and now its dangerous 🥹

Hi Lovelies,

I hope you all are doing well 🤗

Kiaan's obsession will drown Simran; that's what I feel. I mean, he even planted a cab 🚖🙃

But Rhea seems more mysterious now, doesn't she? 🥹

How do you all think Rhea, Kiaan, and Simran are related? 🤔

SPOILER ALERT: There is no love triangle 🤫

What will Kiaan do now after getting to know about Simran's next step 🥹

But who told Kiaan about what Simran is about to do? 🙈

Do share your views about the chapter. It would mean a lot to me. ❤️

P.S -> The next update will be published on Saturday ❤️

Thanks,

Shrishtee