Rhea stood in front of the mirror and took a slow breath.
"The big day is finally here!" She whispered.
The morning light from the window fell on her face. Her long dark hair rested on her shoulders in soft curls. She tucked a few strands behind her ear, then let them fall again because she liked how they framed her face.
She wore a white kurti that reached her knees. It had beautiful, chic embroidery. She had paired it with a long skirt that brushed her ankles. Silver bangles covered half of her forearm and made a soft sound when she moved her hands. She wore small silver jhumkas that brushed her neck and a couple of thin rings on her fingers.
She stepped back and looked at herself fully. Tall. Slim. A mix of innocence and sharpness. She smiled, though her stomach twisted in a nervous knot. This was her first real interview. Her first step into the world she had been dreaming about since school.
Her father, Aditya, knocked on the door and came inside. He looked at her reflection before looking at her directly. He looked worried, and Rhea knew it was the kind of worry he tried to hide behind long explanations and soft lectures.
"You look beautiful, baby!"
"Thanks, dad!"
"Are you sure you wanna go?"
"Dad! It's my big day!"
"I know it's a big deal but interviewing Rajveer Rathore. You know he was your mum and I's professor, right? He sold us the dream of freedom, equality, but he sold out. He sold his soul. He betrayed everyone."
"Dad, I know what an asshole he is. And that is exactly why I want to interview him. Other journalists are just too scared or on his payroll. I want to show him the power of Gen Z. I will destroy him, dad. Enough of his hateful politics."
"Rhea, my child. You know he was our hero. He was a middle-aged professor who spoke like a firebrand. Later, he became too traditional. Started objectifying women, turning against minorities, and now as a minister for a decade, he is too powerful, too full of hate."
Rhea's mother, Meera, walked in to her room.
"And, Rhea, you know, you've read all stories of his affairs, how he treats his women. But, did you know, he even hit on your mum? She was about your age at that time and he was in his 40s. She obviously said no, and that was the final straw. We haven't spoken to him ever since."
"Dad, you are stressed for no reason. It's an interview. He can't harm me, but I can harm him. I have prepared such questions that he will be cornered. Just trust me!"
She hugged him. God, she smelled so good, Aditya thought. His stomach burned with anxiety at the thought of that vicious man being so close to his daughter, his only child, his sunshine, the apple of his eyes.
Rhea also held her mother's hand.
"I will be okay. I am a big girl, daddy."
"Well, that's what I am afraid of." He said, his face pale and lifeless.
"Well, if it helps, he's not really my type!"
She laughed and her parents laughed with her, awkwardly. Her mother had this look that she was hiding something, but Rhea thought it's just her way of showing concern, more muted, unlike her father who had not slept ever since she told him that she is going to interview Rajveer Rathore, the businessman, the politician, the hater.
Then she stepped out of the house, unaware of how much her world was about to change.
***
Rhea reached the farmhouse a little before noon. She had seen pictures of it on news articles, but nothing prepared her for the real thing. The entrance looked like the gates of a small palace. The walls were tall and painted a clean cream shade. The garden was huge, full of trimmed hedges and tall trees that lined the driveway.
A guard checked her ID and let her in without a word. She walked through the long path and saw the house stand in the distance. It was made of white stone and dark wood. The roof had old Mughal touches and the windows were tall with dark frames. It looked like a place built to show power. Everything about it felt silent and heavy.
Inside, a house staff member asked her to wait in the sitting area. The room was large. The ceiling had carved patterns. The carpet felt thick and expensive under her sandals. There were bookshelves on one side and a row of trophies and old photographs on the other. The air smelled faintly of sandalwood and something metallic.
She sat on the sofa and checked her notes. She kept glancing at the time on her phone. Five minutes passed. Ten. By the time she crossed forty minutes, she had gone through her questions three times already.
She was about to stand and ask the staff member how much longer it might take when she saw movement at the corner of the room.
A woman walked in slowly. At first Rhea thought she had entered by mistake. Then she recognised the face. Priya Solanki. One of the youngest and most celebrated PR strategists in the country. The woman every woman on social media looked up to. The torchbearer of equality.
Rhea remembered the guest lecture Priya had given. She was so confident, and even in her late thirties, looked full of youthful energy. Except she did not look like that now.
Priya wore a deep red saree that covered her head fully. The ghungat fell so low it almost hid her eyes. Her hands were placed protectively on her stomach. The swell beneath the saree made it clear she was pregnant.
Rhea felt her heart drop. She had admired Priya for years. Seeing her like this felt unreal. Like the air had turned colder for a second. She always wondered why Priya married Rajveer. He was around 30 years older and was the embodiment of everything she was against. But deep down, Rhea had hoped that Priya would defeat Rajveer. That she will make him fall in love with her and improve her. This picture was the complete opposite.
Priya looked at her briefly. Her eyes had no spark. They looked tired, almost hollow. Before Rhea could say anything, she turned and walked off.
Rhea watched her go, stunned.
Another twenty minutes passed before the staff member finally said that Rajveer would see her now.
Rhea stood up, straightened her kurti, and took a long breath. She felt a mix of nerves, fear and curiosity.
Then she followed the staff member down a long corridor toward the man who had shaped her parents' past and might soon shape her own future.
***
The room was dim and warm. Thick curtains blocked most of the sunlight. Rhea stepped inside and found Rajveer Rathore standing by a large wooden cabinet that held rows of bottles. He looked older than in the photographs but stronger too. His shoulders were broad. His arms were thick and muscular for a man his age. His white hair and white beard made him look like someone who had seen far too much of the world and had enjoyed every part of it.
He did not turn at once. He poured two drinks into crystal glasses. Only after placing the glasses on the table did he look at her.
"So you are the young journalist," he said.
"Yes sir," she replied. "Thank you for meeting me."
"You waited long," he said. "Good. Patience is useful in this line of work."
He walked to his desk. His steps were slow but heavy. Rhea sat in the chair across from him. He handed her one of the glasses.
"It will calm you," he said.
"I am fine sir," she replied.
He raised an eyebrow. "Drink. You look tense."
She took a small sip. It burned her throat at first, but she forced herself to look composed.
They exchanged a bit of small talk. He asked her about her journalism course. She asked him about his schedule. He spoke about work as if it was nothing. As if running a ministry was as simple as making tea.
Then she glanced at her notes and asked her first real question.
"Sir, many people believe your recent bill harms women. What do you have to say about that?"
He laughed softly. "People believe many things. Most of them are wrong."
She pressed on. "But critics say it takes autonomy away from them."
"Critics are paid to talk," he replied. "My job is to run a country. Not listen to noisy children with microphones."
She frowned. "You call them children because they disagree with you?"
He shrugged. "If they had sense, they would not disagree."
Rhea took a longer sip of her drink. The warmth spread through her stomach. She moved to her next set of questions. He answered some. He avoided others. He joked. He insulted. He charmed. He twisted every word into something he could control.
By the time she reached her tougher questions, she had almost finished her second drink. Rajveer poured a third for both of them without asking. She told herself she would only take tiny sips, but the glass still felt warm and tempting in her hands.
She asked, "Sir, why do you always speak of women as if they need guidance rather than rights?"
He gave her a long look. "Because guidance keeps families together. Rights are useless when the home collapses."
"That is a very backward view," she said.
"Backward to you. Logical to me," he replied.
The air got heavier. Her cheeks had begun to feel warm. Her body felt tense, yet strangely alive. She hated that she noticed the way he looked at her. She hated that she felt anything at all.
He rose from his chair and walked around the table. She did not know if he was coming closer on purpose or if he was simply restless. But he stopped near her chair.
"Stand," he said.
She stood. Her heart beat faster. She told herself it was only anger.
He moved to the sofa and gestured for her to sit beside him. She hesitated, then sat, leaving a little space between them.
He looked at her for a few seconds. His eyes were sharp and unreadable.
"You are Aditya's daughter," he said.
Rhea's breath caught.
"You look nothing like him," he added. "
"What does that mean?" she asked.
"It means you carry the softness of liberal men," he said. "Girls raised by such men always look a certain way. They grow up believing the world is gentle. They carry ideals in one hand and fear in the other."
"That is nonsense," she said sharply.
He leaned closer. She felt the heat of his body. Her skin tingled, and she hated how aware she suddenly became of every breath she took.
Then his voice softened.
"You look exactly like your mother," he said.
Rhea stiffened. "Please keep my mother out of this interview."
"I cannot," he said. "She was the most beautiful girl in our department. Everyone wanted her attention. She walked like she knew it."
Rhea swallowed. Her palms felt warm.
He reached out and touched the ends of her hair. His fingers brushed the soft curls that rested on her shoulder.
Slowly, he moved his strong hand down her body, tracing her shoulder and slightly brushing her breasts.
Rhea slapped his hand away.
He chuckled and leaned even closer.
"Oh, Meera! How she looked at me during every class, how she would play with her hair and smile at me."
"You know," he said, lowering his voice, "your father was never her first choice."
Rhea's eyes widened. "Stop talking about my mother."
"Oh, you're wearing her perfume. Oh, I remember, it has been two decades but I remember." He leaned in and started sniffing her neck. She was a few pegs down and heat emanated from her cheeks.
"My beautiful Meera. How tight she was, how eager she was."
She felt something break inside her. Her vision blurred with sudden anger.
Before she could think, her hand flew across his face and struck him hard. The sound echoed in the room.
Rajveer did not flinch. He let the sting settle on his cheek. Then he looked at her with an expression she could not read. His eyes were steady, bright, dangerous.
Rhea's breath came fast. Her heart pounded. The room felt hotter than before.
She realized she had no idea what would happen next.
***
Rhea got scared of what Rajveer would do. He was like a lion untamed and would devour her right then and there. So, she had to tame him. She had to do it quick. She could either run away, but his guards would catch her. How to tame him? How to tame him? Quick, think!
And, finally, she did something her entire body screamed not to do. She held his face and kissed him on the lips. She could feel his heart pounding with anger and his sheer physicality was intimidating. So she kissed him and she kissed him hard. She saw that his fist was clenched, so she took his muscular arm and kept it on her waist.
Rajveer groaned into her mouth and grabbed her waist hard. It seemed to be working. Maybe she made the right decision. Better this than facing his wrath in some other way. It was primal fear and primal instinct. It's not like she didn't have other options. She could call the police, maybe they won't believe her, but still she could escape. She could call her dad who would be here within minutes. But, then he will be scared and might get a panic attack. And it would also prove all his fears right.
No, no, this is right. Keep kissing him till you can find a proper escape. An internal battle continued in Rhea's mind. She didn't really feel the kiss because she was so numb, but she started to feel some wetness in her panties which was so embarrassing.
Think, Rhea, think. What can you do? How can you escape with safety and without awkwardness?
Rajveer kept exploring the young woman's body with his huge hands. Finally, he grabbed Rhea's ass and squeezed it hard. It jolted her out of her hypnosis and she could finally see that she was in deep waters. She broke the kiss and looked into Rajveer's eyes. He owned her now. There was no way she could leave without him having his way with her. And she realised it was not just fear that was keeping her here, it was something else.
She came here to destroy him, and this was another way she could do it. He needed her, and that was a weakness. She could dominate him. Make him beg for it, rather than succumbing to her own needs. But all her planning and plotting disappeared in a minute as Rajveer held her shoulders and pushed her down on the sofa.
Then he climbed on her and kissed her. She was pinned down under his weight and couldn't move at all. Slowly, there was a fire building inside her too. Being dominated by such a strong old man was simply irresistible. She tried to fight it. Fight it. But then gave in.
She felt the muscles on his arms and gasped. She wrapped her arms around him as her silver bangles clinked in his ear. That drove him wilder.
Rajveer lifted his body slightly and put his hands on Rhea's breasts. They were so soft yet firm. He wanted them. He wanted to taste them. To suck them dry. He squeezed them hard which made Rhea moan loudly. She squealed under him as her panties were now soaking wet.
She opened her eyes and looked towards the door. She could still escape. She could push him off the sofa and just run.
Just then, Rajveer growled and tore off her kurti. Rhea was shocked but an electric current of ecstasy ran through her body. With one hand, Rajveer removed her bra and exposed her breasts. They were beautiful. White, supple and delicate pinkish nipples. He wanted to destroy them. They were too pretty. Too untouched. Too sweet.
He attacked them with his teeth and sucked Rhea's nipple hard. She could not believe what was happening. She had slapped him and in just five minutes, she was no naked under the man she hated, her parents hated, the nation hated, letting him suck on her breasts. And she realised, she had not said no, not even once. How did she not get this idea earlier. Maybe it will stop him. She has to try.
"No, no, no stop!" She said it so timidly that it didn't even get into Rajveer's ears.
She grabbed his neck and tried to pull him away, but she only ended up pulling him deeper into her breasts.
As he sucked her breasts alternatively, biting her nipples in between, his hand reaching between her legs. Rajveer lifted her skirt slowly and rested his hand between her thighs. She moaned and locked his hand there tightly.
Slowly, he moved his hand, using his fingers, and reached her panties. They were so wet! He took a break from sucking her breasts and smiled wickedly at her. She looked away, rolling her eyes and moaning.
He found her clit straight away.
"Ahhhh! Stop!" She cried.
But Rajveer was a man possessed. He rubbed at her clit hard and started biting her upper body, leaving hickeys everywhere. It hurt Rhea but she was enjoying it too.
Rhea saw that the door to the office was open and anyone could walk in on them. How embarrassing it would be. But right now she was in heaven and nothing else mattered too much. She closed her eyes and enjoyed what was happening to her.
Slowly, she felt tension rising in her body. Rajveer fingered her violently. His hands rough and thick.
"Ohh yes, oh yesss. No no no. Arghhh!"
Rhea bit Rajveer's shoulder as she orgasmed hard. Tremors ran through her body. All the tension leading up to the interview and during it dissolved in an instant. She felt so much better. Less scared. And now that it was over, she thought she could leave, peacefully. But in her own relaxed state, she forgot that it was actually Rajveer who had to drain his pressure. And looking at him, she could see that the anger was now mixed with mad lust, and she was not going anywhere.
Still, in her new found strength after the orgasm, she tried to get out from under him. He moved sideways and let her get up. She sat down, clothes torn and hair messy, but she looked so beautiful. The prettiest woman he had laid eyes on.
She avoided eye contact with him and tried to get up. Rajveer held her hair and rolled them around his fist and pulled her towards him.
"Where do you think you are going, young journalist?"
"Let me go! You animal!"
He pulled her hair and brought her neck to his lips.
"Oh, animal, that I am! But you have not seen the half of it. I know you enjoyed it, so just stop resisting." He kissed her neck and Rhea moaned softly.
"So, you like dominating young women, is that it? Ahh!" Rajveer bit her ear.
"I dominate everyone. The world is at my feet. And I always get what I want. Always, you understand?"
"Your time is over, old man. It's time for the young blood now."
Saying that, she moved her arm backwards and reached out for his dick. As soon as she touched it from over his pants, she gasped. It was so big and hard that it felt like a rod.
Rajveer bit her shoulder hard as he unzipped his pants. With his other hand, he opened Rhea's skirt and started pulling it down. Realising what was about to happen, Rhea tried to jump off. But Rajveer pulled hard at her hair and brought her on to his lap.
He kissed her lips, biting them till they bled. Rhea's hand now landed on his exposed dick and she involuntarily started stroking it. Her pussy was wet again and ached to be primed. She kissed him back with equal passion now and the sound of her silver bangles clinging filled the air.
Rajveer sensed the urgency and quickly removed Rhea's panties and her torn kurti. She was now completely naked. He held her breasts and pinched her nipples as they kissed violently. Seeing her young, white body drove him crazy as he devoured her lips, sucking her tongue.
Then, the old man lifted her up and threw her on the carpet. Rhea got up on her elbows and saw him remove his clothes. He revealed his fat and hairy belly and hairy chest. His skin was wrinkled but the definition of strong muscles were visible everywhere. She bit her lip as she waited for him to come down to her.
Rajveer hurriedly got down between her legs and spread them. He lowered his head on to her pussy and kissed it. It was dripping with liquids. He took out his tongue and licked them off.
"Ahhh!"
"You taste just like your mother..." Rajveer smirked.
"Fuck off!" Rhea held his hair and tried to pull his head away, but she pushed him deeper into her pussy.