Morning didn't feel like morning.
It felt like something waiting to happen.
---
Aarohi hadn't slept.
Not properly.
Every sound in the house felt louder.
Every silence felt intentional.
---
She sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers curled tightly together, her thoughts refusing to settle.
Raghav's words replayed in her mind.
Not yet.
---
A soft knock broke her thoughts.
Too soft.
Too careful.
---
"Come in," she said.
---
The door opened slowly.
A maid stepped inside, her eyes avoiding Aarohi's.
"There's tea downstairs," she said quietly.
---
Aarohi nodded, but something felt off.
The way she spoke.
The way she didn't look up.
---
"Wait," Aarohi called.
The maid paused.
---
"Who else is here?" Aarohi asked.
---
A brief hesitation.
"Just sir," she replied.
---
Sir.
Not uncle.
Not family.
---
That told her enough.
---
Aarohi stood slowly, her instincts sharpening again.
Something was wrong.
And this time—
it wasn't subtle.
---
---
Downstairs, the house was too quiet.
No movement.
No conversation.
Just stillness.
---
Aarohi stepped into the living room.
Empty.
---
"Looking for someone?"
Raghav's voice came from behind.
---
She turned instantly.
He stood near the doorway, calm as ever, as if nothing had changed.
---
"You sent that message," she said.
No hesitation.
---
Raghav didn't deny it.
"I wanted your attention."
---
"You already had it," Aarohi replied coldly.
---
"Not like this," he said.
A pause.
"You needed to understand something."
---
Aarohi's eyes narrowed.
"And what's that?"
---
Raghav took a slow step closer.
"That you're not as unreachable as you think."
---
The words settled heavily.
---
Before she could respond—
a loud crash echoed from outside.
---
Both of them turned.
---
Aarohi moved first, stepping toward the window.
Her breath caught instantly.
---
The gate.
Broken.
---
A bike lay on the ground, its front completely crushed.
Smoke rising.
---
A man groaned faintly beside it.
Barely conscious.
---
Aarohi's heart started racing.
"What is this?" she demanded.
---
Raghav didn't look surprised.
Didn't move.
---
"It's a message," he said calmly.
---
Her anger rose instantly.
"To who?"
---
Raghav finally looked at her.
"To you."
---
Silence.
Sharp.
---
"You think this is a game?" Aarohi snapped.
---
"No," he replied.
"I think this is reality."
---
Her fists clenched.
"You hurt someone just to prove a point?"
---
Raghav's expression didn't change.
"He knew the risk."
---
That answer—
cold, detached—
made something shift inside her.
---
"You're insane," she said.
---
"Calculated," he corrected.
---
Another pause.
---
Then—
her phone buzzed.
---
Aarohi froze.
Slowly, she pulled it out.
Unknown number.
---
Her fingers hesitated for a second—
then opened the message.
---
A video.
---
She pressed play.
---
The screen showed the same man outside—
but earlier.
Standing.
Talking.
---
And then—
a car.
Speeding.
Straight toward him.
---
The impact.
---
Aarohi dropped the phone slightly, her breath uneven.
---
"This is what happens," Raghav said quietly, "when people don't understand their position."
---
Her eyes snapped to him.
"You're threatening me."
---
"No," he replied.
"I'm warning you."
---
The difference between those two words—
terrified her more than anything else.
---
Outside, the man groaned again.
Still alive.
But barely.
---
Aarohi stepped back slightly.
Not out of weakness—
but realization.
---
This wasn't about control anymore.
This wasn't about persuasion.
---
This was power.
---
And she was right in the middle of it.
---
Across the city—
Veer drove faster than he ever had.
His grip tight on the steering wheel.
His mind already ten steps ahead.
---
Because he knew—
---
This wasn't just a warning for Aarohi.
---
It was a challenge.
---
And Veer Khanna never ignored those.