Aastik
"Thank you, Mr. Malhotra. I look forward to this project, I can already see a very positive response" Mr. Desai said, his face glowing with satisfaction as he extended his hand.
"The feeling is mutual" I replied, shaking his hand briefly before turning back with Arjun, my secretary, who followed me close behind as I walked out without another word.
I'm a man of few words. If I choose to reply, I do. If I don't, no one in this damn world can make me.
Author
Yes, he is Aastik Malhotra, the man who walks in shadows. If there were one word to describe him, it would be "beast" because both the beast and Aastik share one thing in common, they don't show mercy.
With ruthless strategies and an unforgiving mindset he built his company into one of the largest security firms in Asia. A billionaire.
To the world, he is the best businessman— sharp, strategic and unstoppable. But what about the man in the dark? That's a question no one dares to ask.
If anyone wants to understand what cruelty looks like in its truest form, they should look at Aastik Malhotra. Words may cut deep but his actions carve scars that never fade. A memory that haunts forever.
Aastik
After half an hour, my car came to a halt in front of an old garage.
I stepped out and walked straight in. My footsteps echoed in the emptiness, merging with the stillness of the night. The air was cold, thick and silent.
I reached the spot where Raghu hung upside down, his body bruised, broken and barely breathing. His breaths were shallow, uneven like a flame on the verge of dying. The moment his eyes landed on me, they widened in sheer terror. Panic flickered across his face— raw and instinctive.
With slow and meaningful steps, I moved closer to him. My gaze locked onto his, unwavering.
But no one, no one had ever dared to hold my eyes for more than a second and Raghu was no different. His stare faltered, crumbled under the weight of fear.
Suddenly, a crunching sound shattered the silence. Completely out of place....Like someone....was eating.
I turned my head only to find my so-called friends, Bhuvan and Avyan slouched comfortably on a stack of crates, each with a bag of chips in hand.
"We did our part. We were just waiting for you" Avyan said, licking salt off his fingers, completely unfazed. "Start the show, man."
Bhuvan nodded, expression bored, eyes on the TV-sized bruise forming on Raghu's ribs, as if this was just another night.
I smirked at them. Indeed, they are my friends because no sane person would be munching on snacks at a moment like this, while the man in front of me was about to take his last breath.
"Toh, maza aa raha hai?" I asked Raghu, in a calm, almost mocking tone, "Kya socha tha? City chhor ke bhaagega, aur mujhe pata bhi nahi chalega?" I clicked my tongue and added "Tsk... tsk... galatfehmi mein jee raha tha tu."
(So, enjoying yourself?) (What did you think? You’d run away from the city and I wouldn’t even find out?) (Tsk… tsk… you were living in a delusion.)
I crouched, leveling my gaze with his bloodied, swollen face. "Kitne mein becha?" My voice dropped, colder now, laced with quiet menace.
(For how much did you sell it?)
Raghu wasn't just any employee at my company. He was a snake and these kinds of snakes are meant to DIE.
Greed. That was his sin.
And tonight, he is paying the price for it.
But I had to make him understand, if he is a snake then I was the hawk. And hawks don't just hunt, they strike without warning.
He stayed silent. That, was the one thing I hated the most.
"SPEAK!!"
My voice exploded through the room, bouncing off the rusted metal walls like a gunshot. Raghu flinched, his breath catching in fear.
"S...sir, I'm-" he stammered, eyes darting, voice trembling.
I didn't let him finish.
My fist crashed into his jaw with a sickening crack, cutting him off mid-sentence. His head snapped to the side, blood spilling from his lip like the truth he was too scared to say.
I leaned in and with a low and cold voice I barked, "I fucking asked you something. Bastard!! If you don't answer in the next three seconds your next stop will be hell."
"Twenty percent" he whispered in barely audible voice his eyes squeezed shut like that would somehow spare him from what came next.
The room fell silent. The only sound that lingered was the steady crunch of chips.
And then-
BANG.
BANG.
Just like that, it was over.
Raghu's lifeless body hung there, blood dripping steadily onto the cold, stained concrete.
I exhaled sharply calming my anger as I pinched the bridge of my nose and then, slipped my gun back into its place. "No one has ever survived my rage. And this piece of shit thought I'd let him go? Bad for him... but good for me."
"Uhhh! That ended too quickly, bro" Avyan muttered, his voice flat with disappointment as he tossed another chip into his mouth. "I thought we could enjoy a bit more."
I turned to him, raising a brow. "Oh, you want to enjoy more? Come, take his place. I'll give you the same treatment... no, maybe even worse. Want it?"
Avyan froze mid-crunch. His mouth clamped shut as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Bhuvan burst into laughter, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
I remained expressionless, pulling out my phone, I checked the time and said "I'm going home, what about you two?" I asked, not really needing an answer.
"As we always say, we'll be joining you" Bhuvan replied with a smirk, standing as he and Avyan made their way to their own car.
Within a minute, the three of us drove off, our cars cutting through the empty roads, heading toward home.
The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with a sudden, forceful impact, strong paws crashing against my chest.
"Whoa, easy there Doggesh."
"How are you, my boy? Have you been good while I was gone?" I asked, as my black wolf, Doggesh looked up at me with sharp, attentive eyes.
He sat down gracefully, his body poised yet relaxed.
I ruffled his thick fur, a rare moment of warmth came inside me otherwise its always the cold existence. I turned to the servants and ordered "Give him his favorite meal."
The staff moved quickly to fulfill my command. Avyan and Bhuvan entered right after, patting Doggesh on the head before dropping onto the sofa, making themselves comfortable.
Doggesh, however didn't leave....He settled on the floor beside them, as if expecting to be part of the conversation, eager for the tea of our talk.
Shaking my head at his antics, I walked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and a few glasses.
Soon, we were pouring ourselves drinks. The sharp, burning sensation always felt good, searing its way down, a reminder that I'm still alive, even if, in many ways I was already dead.
We drank in silence, the weight of the night settling over us until Avyan broke it with a slap on my shoulder.
"Don't you think it's time you get married? Next year, you're turning 29 man, fucking oldie."
Bhuvan, mid-sip choked on his whiskey, coughing violently at Avyan's words. Meanwhile, my expression remained unfazed as ever.
I glanced at Avyan and raised a brow. "Is the whiskey too strong for you?"
"Hey, idiot, you know my alcohol tolerance is better than Bhuvan's, right? I was just..." Avyan started, but I cut him off.
"No need to explain. I'm not interested in that kind of time waste." I took another sip, the burn settling in. "Marriage is just a name, nothing fucking more. A useless waste of money and time. You marry a girl, and the moment she sees a rich husband her demands start piling up like shit."
Bhuvan sighed, swirling the whiskey in his glass before speaking. "You're saying this now, but one day... you'll understand that marriage isn't just a name... it's a feeling. Not every woman wants money. Some actually want love... a real family."
He leaned back, then turned to Doggesh, smirking. "Right, Doggesh?"
And the next moment, Doggesh started rolling on the ground, wagging his tail like an excited pup.
"See?" Bhuvan smirked, gesturing toward him as if Doggesh had just proven his point.
I exhaled sharply, setting my glass down with a quiet clink. "If you three don't stop now, I don't think any of you will be alive long enough to get married either."
That shut them up instantly. Avyan and Bhuvan exchanged glances but wisely chose not to push further.
An hour later, they finally left still laughing among themselves. Idiots. Doggesh, too, got up and padded away, to his own room.
Yes, he had his own personal room. Because in this house, even my wolf lives the life of a king.
I walked to my room, stepping into a cold shower. The icy water rushed over me, washing away the tension and stress of the day.
Once I was fresh, I sat down with my laptop, ready to finish some pending work. But as I typed, Avyan's words suddenly echoed in my mind...
"I think you should get married."
What rubbish. Marriage is nothing. A tie which are meant to destroy life of three people. The couple and their child.
*******
Next day
I arrived at my office at exactly 10:00 AM. The moment I stepped in, the entire room fell silent.
No unnecessary chatter, no distractions. Everyone was busy with their work, exactly how it should be.
I walked straight into my cabin, and within seconds, Arjun followed, carrying a stack of files. Without a word, he handed them to me.
Flipping through the pages, I asked, "What's today's schedule?"
"Sir, you have three back-to-back meetings, then a discussion with our Italian client. After that, we need to visit the warehouse to clear some issues," Arjun reported efficiently.
I nodded, satisfied. "That's all. You can go."
He gave a slight nod before leaving, while I focused on the files, another long day ahead.
After that, my day started without a moment of rest. Three back-to-back meetings drained my time, and as soon as they ended, I headed to meet Mr. Andrea.
"Ciao, signor Malhotra, piacere di conoscerla," he greeted, extending his hand.
(Hello, Mr. Malhotra, nice to meet you.)
I shook hands with him and said, "Ora parliamo del lavoro, non mi piace perdere tempo."
(Now, let's talk about the work. I don't like wasting time.)
With that, we dived into the discussion about our upcoming project in Italy. Everything was progressing smoothly until, suddenly, Arjun rushed into the room, his expression tense.
He subtly signaled me, it was urgent.
I exhaled sharply and excused myself before stepping aside. Taking a controlled breath, I turned to him.
"What is it?" I asked.
"S...sir... there's a problem with the bond we signed with Mr. Daivik."
My fingers paused on the table as I stared out of the window.
Arjun swallowed hard before answering. "Sir... the shipment from Mr. Daivik's side never arrived. He's refusing to answer our calls."
I turned my gaze toward him, my expression unreadable but lethal. "Do you know what you're saying?"
He nodded nervously. "Y-yes, sir."
I let out a slow breath, my jaw tightening.
"Be ready. Soon, we're going to that bastard's house." I said, my voice cold. "... he's going to be dead."
Without another word, I turned and walked away continuing my meeting with my client.
After half an hour, my car came to a halt in front of an old garage.
I stepped out and walked straight in. My footsteps echoed in the emptiness, merging with the stillness of the night. The air was cold, thick, and silent.
I reached the spot where Adheer hung upside down, his body bruised, broken, barely breathing. His breaths were shallow, uneven, like a flame on the verge of dying. The moment his eyes landed on me, they widened in sheer terror. Panic flickered across his face, raw and instinctive.
With slow steps, I moved closer. My gaze locked onto his, unwavering.
But no one, no one had ever dared to hold my eyes for more than a second and Adheer was no different. His stare faltered, crumbled under the weight of fear.
Suddenly, a crunching sound shattered the silence. Completely out of place....Like someone....was eating.
I turned my head only to find my so-called friends, Bhuvan and Avyan, slouched comfortably on a stack of crates, each with a bag of chips in hand.
"We did our part. We were just waiting for you," Avyan said, licking salt off his fingers, completely unfazed. "Start the show, man."
Bhuvan nodded, expression bored, eyes on the TV-sized bruise forming on Raghu's ribs, as if this was just another night.
I smirked at them, indeed, they are my friends because no sane person would be munching on snacks at a moment like this, while the man in front of me was about to take his last breath.
"Toh, maza aa raha hai?" I asked Raghu, my voice calm, almost mocking. "Kya socha tha? City chhor ke bhaagega, aur mujhe pata bhi nahi chalega?" I clicked my tongue slowly. "Tsk... tsk... galatfehmi mein jee raha tha tu."
I crouched, leveling my gaze with his bloodied, swollen face. "Kitne mein becha?" My voice dropped, colder now, laced with quiet menace.
Raghu wasn't just any employee at my company. He was a snake, and these kinds of snakes are meant to DIE.
Greed. That was his sin.
And tonight, he was paying the price for it.
But I had to make him understand, if he was a snake, then I was the hawk. And hawks don't just hunt, they strike without warning.
He stayed silent. That, was the one thing I hated the most.
"SPEAK!!"
My voice exploded through the room, bouncing off the rusted metal walls like a gunshot. Raghu flinched, his breath catching in fear.
"S...sir, I'm-" he stammered, eyes darting, voice trembling.
I didn't let him finish.
My fist crashed into his jaw with a sickening crack, cutting him off mid-sentence. His head snapped to the side, blood spilling from his lip like the truth he was too scared to say.
I leaned in, voice low, dangerous, "I asked you something. If you don't answer in the next three seconds, your next stop will be hell."
"Twenty percent," he whispered, barely audible, his eyes squeezed shut like that would somehow spare him from what came next.
The room fell silent. The only sound that lingered was the steady crunch of chips.
And then-
BANG.
BANG.
Just like that, it was over.
Adheer's lifeless body hung there, blood dripping steadily onto the cold, stained concrete.
I exhaled, calm, controlled, as I slipped my gun back into its place.
"No one has ever survived my rage. And this piece of shit thought I'd let him go? Bad for him... but good for me."
"Uhhh! That ended too quickly, bro," Avyan muttered, his voice flat with disappointment as he tossed another chip into his mouth. "I thought we could enjoy a bit more."
I turned to him, raising a brow. "Oh, you want to enjoy more? Come, take his place. I'll give you the same treatment... no, maybe even more. Want it?"
Avyan froze mid-crunch. His mouth clamped shut as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Bhuvan burst into laughter, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
I remained expressionless, pulling out my phone, I checked the time.... "I'm going home, what about you two?" I asked, not really needing an answer.
"As we always say, we'll be joining you," Bhuvan replied with a smirk, standing as he and Avyan made their way to their own car.
Within a minute, the three of us drove off, our cars cutting through the empty roads, heading toward home.
The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with a sudden, forceful impact, strong paws crashing against my chest.
"Whoa, easy there, Doggesh."
"How are you, boy? Have you been good while I was gone?" I asked, as my black wolf, Doggesh, looked up at me with sharp, attentive eyes.
He sat down gracefully, his body poised yet relaxed.
I ruffled his thick fur, a rare moment of warmth in my otherwise cold existence, then turned to the servants, "Give him his favorite meal."
The staff moved quickly to fulfill my command. Avyan and Bhuvan entered right after, patting Doggesh on the head before dropping onto the sofa, making themselves comfortable.
Doggesh, however, didn't leave....He settled on the floor beside them, as if expecting to be part of the conversation, eager for the tea of our talk.
Shaking my head at his antics, I walked to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and a few glasses.
Soon, we were pouring ourselves drinks. The sharp, burning sensation always felt good, searing its way down, a reminder that I was still alive, even if, in many ways, I was already dead.
We drank in silence, the weight of the night settling over us, until Avyan broke it with a slap on my shoulder.
"Don't you think it's time you got married? Next year, you're turning 29 man, fucking oldie."
Bhuvan, mid-sip, choked on his whiskey, coughing violently at Avyan's words. Meanwhile, my expression remained unreadable, unfazed as ever.
I glanced at Avyan and raised a brow. "Is the whiskey too strong for you?"
"Hey, idiot, you know my alcohol tolerance is better than Bhuvan's, right? I was just..." Avyan started, but I cut him off.
"No need to explain. I'm not interested in that kind of time waste." I took another sip, the burn settling in. "Marriage is just a name, nothing fucking more. A useless waste of money and time. You marry a girl, and the moment she sees a rich husband, her demands start piling up like shit."
Bhuvan sighed, swirling the whiskey in his glass before speaking. "You're saying this now, but one day, you'll understand that marriage isn't just a name... it's a feeling. Not every woman wants money. Some actually want love... a real family."
He leaned back, then turned to Doggesh, smirking. "Right, Doggesh?"
And the next moment, Doggesh started rolling on the ground, wagging his tail like an excited pup.
"See?" Bhuvan smirked, gesturing toward him as if Doggesh had just proven his point.
I exhaled sharply, setting my glass down with a quiet clink. "If you three don't stop now, I don't think any of you will be alive long enough to get married either."
That shut them up instantly. Avyan and Bhuvan exchanged glances but wisely chose not to push further.
An hour later, they finally left, still laughing among themselves. Doggesh, too, got up and padded away, to his own room.
Yes, he had his own personal room. Because in this house, even my wolf lived like a king.
I walked to my room, stepping into a cold shower. The icy water rushed over me, washing away the tension of the day.
Once I was fresh, I sat down with my laptop, ready to finish some pending work. But as I typed, Avyan's words suddenly echoed in my mind...
"I think you should get married."
What rubbish.
*******
Next day
I arrived at my office at exactly 10:00 AM. The moment I stepped in, the entire room fell silent.
No unnecessary chatter, no distractions. Everyone was busy with their work, exactly how it should be.
I walked straight into my cabin, and within seconds, Arjun followed, carrying a stack of files. Without a word, he handed them to me.
Flipping through the pages, I asked, "What's today's schedule?"
"Sir, you have three back-to-back meetings, then a discussion with our Italian client. After that, we need to visit the warehouse to clear some issues," Arjun reported efficiently.
I nodded, satisfied. "That's all. You can go."
He gave a slight nod before leaving, while I focused on the files, another long day ahead.
After that, my day started without a moment of rest. Three back-to-back meetings drained my time, and as soon as they ended, I headed to meet Mr. Andrea.
"Ciao, signor Malhotra, piacere di conoscerla," he greeted, extending his hand.
(Hello, Mr. Malhotra, nice to meet you.)
I shook hands with him and said, "Ora parliamo del lavoro, non mi piace perdere tempo."
(Now, let's talk about the work. I don't like wasting time.)
With that, we dived into the discussion about our upcoming project in Italy. Everything was progressing smoothly until, suddenly, Arjun rushed into the room, his expression tense.
He subtly signaled me, it was urgent.
Ahana
Today, Kabir finally messaged me. He wants to meet me today! I'm so happy. Finally, something good is happening in my life.
I dressed up in a purple t-shirt and grey bootcut jeans.
Hmm, this look is too good. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror when a message pinged on my phone. Kabir had shared the location of a cafe.
He is so thoughtful, I thought in my mind and smiled biting my lips.
I quickly headed outside when Mumma called out, "Where are you going, madam?"
"Woh... Mumma... I was going to watch a movie with Janvi" I replied, fidgeting with my ring.
"No-" she started but was cut off by Bhaiya.
"Let her go, Ma. But yeah, come home early. Or call me if it gets late" he said casually.
I looked at him with wide eyes, too shocked to believe he was actually speaking against Mumma.
"What are you saying, Daivik? She's a girl... she should stay at home!" Mumma shouted.
"Ma I have so many female employees in my company. They step out of their homes and work hard every day. So please, stop saying such things" Bhaiya replied firmly. "Ahana is not a doll, She's a human being who deserves to breathe, to see the world outside."
Tears welled up in my eyes. I wanted to run toward him and hug him tightly like back then but somehow, I stopped myself.
"Thank you" I barely whispered.
After that, I left home and quickly reached the cafe. It looked luxurious with classy interiors, warm lighting, and everything in place.
But the vibe... I don't know how to explain it. It just felt... uncomfortable.
I quickly called Kabir. "Kabir, I've reached the cafe....Where are you?" I asked, looking around.
"Wait there, I'm coming in a minute" he replied from the other side.
I stood quietly in a corner, scanning the place. A few couples walked past me, laughing and holding hands. I guess it was a couple's cafe.
A minute later, Kabir arrived. He looked really good in blue jeans and a crisp white t-shirt.
"How are you, babe?" he asked, taking my hand and gently leading me toward the entrance.
"I'm fine now... now that I've seen you" I smiled. "By the way, this place looks so luxurious... are you sure it's okay to spend so much money?" I asked hesitantly.
His grip tightened around my wrist in a painful way.
Shit, Ahana... you messed up again. Why do you always end up spoiling his mood? He's your boyfriend, it's your job to make sure he feels good with you. Of course, he's angry now.
"I'm sorry, Kabir" I whispered, reaching out to grab his hand.
But he jerked his hand away and suddenly cupped my cheeks so harshly.
"You should be sorry" he growled, his glare was sharp and piercing. "Did you forget how you're supposed to behave, huh? Do you want me to teach you again?"
His grip burned against my skin and pain shot through my cheeks. I just nodded quietly, too scared to say anything.
He finally let go, I slowly raised my hand to my face and touched the spot he'd grabbed. A painful gasp escaped my lips.
I think I made him too angry this time.
Within no time, we reached the third floor of the cafe... and the sight in front of me took my breath away.
"W-Why did you bring me here, Kabir?" I asked, freezing in place.
"Don't worry, babe" he said with a smirk, "I just want to spend some personal time with you."
Before I could say anything, he dragged me inside the room.
Yes... a room, like a private cabin. The lighting was dim, the walls were covered in romantic decor, soft music played in the background. No CCTV cameras. And soundproof walls.
A chill ran down my spine. Both my mind and heart screamed at me to tell him I didn't like this place. It's suffocating. But... I don't know why, I felt guilty. What if he feels bad? What if he gets angry again?
So I stayed silent.... I forced a small smile, swallowing the uneasiness building inside me and quietly sat beside him on the sofa.
He had already ordered food for us and it was all laid out neatly on the table.
"Be comfortable, babe. Enjoy the meal" he said, settling in beside me.
I gave him a tight-lipped smile and quietly served a slice of chocolate cake for myself.
As I took the first bite, I noticed him shifting closer.
A little too close.
I felt a flicker of discomfort in my chest but I pushed it aside. It's okay, I told myself. It's not like we've never hugged before. But right now his behaviour is different. Shouldn't we talk about something first. We met after a long time.
Then he leaned in even closer. I instinctively shifted to the other side, but he placed his hand firmly on my waist and pulled me slightly making me steady in my place.
"K-Kabir... what are you doing?" I whispered looking away.
"What, baby? Don't act like I haven't touched your waist before" he murmured, his breath warm against my neck.
I flinched at his sudden change of behaviour. Then he grabbed my hands harshly and yanked me toward him. Our bodies were so close and he leaned in, sniffing my neck.
I... I felt utterly disgusted. It's not about wrong or right. It's just that... didn't he even think to ask my consent. My comfort. It hurts like hell to see him behaving this way.
My head was spinning, my skin crawling under his touch. Without a second thought, I shoved him with all my strength and he stumbled back, crashing onto the sofa.
"Kabir, you... you know I don't like these things. We can... do all this... a..after marriage" I said hesitately.
"Everyone has their first time, baby" he said with a wicked smile, "and I'm dying to have you under me. Come... come to me, baby" he said and started coming toward me.
He was behaving like he was hypnotized... hypnotized by lust.
"Kabir... no... please..." I choked out as tears started streaming down my face in fear as I moved back.
This fear... this helpless was something I had never felt before.
What if Kabir wins? What if he touches my dignity without my consent?
No... no... never.
I said those words and I don't know from where but something inside me ignited.
An unknown strength surged through my chest.
My body was still fragile... but my heart wasn't.
Not in that moment.
With that sudden power, I scratched his face, so hard that it left red lines and a light trail of blood.
Kabir stumbled back, screaming in pain.
I froze for a second, then instinctively covered my face with my hands.
It didn't feel like I'd done something wrong...
"I... I'm sorry" I whispered, barely able to breathe.
And then... I ran.
Ran out of that room....Ran out of that place.
I didn't stop....I just wanted to run.... It felt like my legs were not ready to stop.
How could you do this, Kabir? How could you?
But then a whisper crept into my mind, Why... why did I scratch his face? He looked like he was in so much pain, Yet... I didn't feel bad. Not even a little.
Am I a stone, God? How could I be so cruel...?
After coming out of that cafe or rather, that makeout place I quickly hailed a taxi and gave the driver my home address.
The moment I sat inside, the tears came crashing down.
I cried.
And cried.
And cried.
I didn't have the strength to call Kabir... not after what just happened.
So instead, I typed out a quick apology and sent it as a message.
Then I threw my phone into my bag, like it was burning my hands.
This day... it was supposed to be pain-free. A happy day with him.
Just one normal day....but I was wrong.
I guess I'll never have one thing in life.
And that one thing is peace.
To be continued.....
*******
That's it for today, my lovely
ladies! What do you think about this chapter? Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT! 😁 And if you want spoilers, make sure to follow me on Instagram!
Insta- olly_writess
Write a comment ...