Sasmita sat on the bench, her hands trembling slightly.
Srikant sat beside her, calm but tense. The city lights flickered across his face, revealing a shadow of the man behind the legend.
"Listen carefully," he said quietly. "I was not always… what you see now."
Sasmita nodded, her heart pounding. "Tell me everything. No lies."
He closed his eyes for a second. "Years ago… I was just a boy from nowhere. No money, no connections. Vikram and I… we built everything from scratch. But we weren't partners in the way you think. He wanted total control. I wanted rules… loyalty."
Sasmita's hands tightened. "So Riya… she was in your past?"
He looked down. "Yes. She loved me… and I promised her the world. But my world wasn't safe. I chose my empire over love back then. I left her because I couldn't protect her and build what I had to."
Sasmita's eyes filled with tears. "And now?"
"Now…" His voice softened. "…you came into my life. And for the first time, I didn't want to lose someone because of my world. That's why I protect you so fiercely. That's why I am willing to risk everything."
Her mind raced. Protective gestures, black SUVs, men following her… it all made sense.
"But why hide all this from me?" she whispered.
"Because I wanted you to know me… the real me… without fear first. You met Srikant the person, not Srikant the King of this dangerous world."
Tears rolled down Sasmita's cheeks. "And Riya?"
He looked away, voice heavy. "She was part of my past… but she's not part of my heart anymore. That heart… is yours now."
Sasmita's throat tightened. His words were comforting, yet terrifying. Love, danger, mafia… all mixed together.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He glanced at it.
"Vikram is moving again," he said, voice low and serious.
Sasmita felt a chill. "Are we safe?"
"No," he replied. "Not really. But I promise… as long as I'm here, nothing will touch you."
Her heart raced. This love was no ordinary love. This was dangerous. All-consuming. And she realized… she didn't care.
She took his hand. "Then I'm staying. With you. Even if the whole world is against us."
Srikant's eyes softened. "Good. Because once you're on this train, there's no stepping off."
From a distance, unseen by either of them, Vikram's eyes glimmered in the shadows. A smirk appeared on his face.
"The King has chosen," he whispered. "Now let's see if love is stronger than power."