29. Confront

Aastik

Shock will be the smallest word to describe how I’m feeling right now, seeing her in a place I never thought I’d see.

Lily—she wasn’t here long yet she carved her name into this club like she belonged. Everyone in this place knew her. Never losing a single game since day one. That streak of hers was enough to make people stare, whisper and even admire… but for me? It was nothing. I never cared about others fame or skill. I remember the challenges she sent me but like always, I declined.

Midnight Mafia… that’s my world. My team. My creation, built with my friends. Risking everything, walking on edges most people wouldn’t dare… that’s where I thrived. That’s where I felt alive.

But tonight?

Tonight wasn’t about racing or wins or proving anything. My comfort… my peace… was always sweetheart’s cuddles, her warmth, the way the world melted away in that embrace. Nothing else, no thrill, no fame, no game, could ever compare to that.

But somehow I still ended up being dragged here. Fooled… fooled by those bastards I call "friends."

First, they tell me I’ve got to stay back at the office, some so-called meeting that would stretch the whole night. And the next moment? I got to know they went ahead and challenged Lily.

Why? Because that shit Avyan got himself kicked out of his own damn house by Dhirti.

Seriously.

That bastard should’ve been sleeping on the road instead of dragging me into this.

And like always, he couldn’t do it alone. He pulled Bhuvan and the others in, played them like fools. But me? He knew damn well I wouldn’t fall for his tricks. So, they planned this shitty little lie—one that worked too well because here I am, standing in the middle of this mess I never asked for.

But right now… maybe I should thank that bastard for dragging me into this mess. Because if not for him, how the hell would I have found out that Lily is none other than my wife, my sweetheart.

On a serious note, I didn’t even know I was lined up against her. Not until she rolled down her window glass and out of nowhere... Fucking showed me middle finger.

Her face was fully covered but her eyes weren’t… God, her eyes. I swear, even if there were a thousand people standing in the same place, all of them masked, I would still find her in a heartbeat. Because those eyes are mine. They’ve always been mine. My weakness. My fucking undoing.

At first, I couldn’t even believe myself that this smooth, flawless driving was done by her. The turns, the control, the way she drifted… it was like she had been practicing for years.

But then came the moment. She got overconfident. overspeed... And lost her grip. She screamed my name. Aastikkkk jiiiiii. That was it. That scream erased every single doubt I had.

I quickly guided her and just by a few movements of my lips, she understood everything like a good racer. She steadied herself, regained control and shot forward again.

She’s good. Better than I ever imagined. But she hid this from me. She hid herself from me. Never once did she tell me she’d be here. Never once did she mention she was the legend these streets fucking worshipped.

And for that? I wasn’t going easy on her. Not tonight.

So, I didn’t.

I fought her on every turn, every curve, every straight line. I didn’t hold back not for a second. And just like that—I won. By only a few seconds, but it was enough.

She gave me one hell of a fight, I’ll admit that. But winning against me? No. She still has a lot more to learn.

The crowd circled me, shouting, clapping, chanting my name. But these were the things I hated most. Noise. Empty praises. Faces I didn’t care about.

Then she… she came to me. Calm. No anger. No hint of disappointment in her eyes. Instead, she looked straight at me and simply congratulated me.

And I… I couldn’t stop myself. I caught her hand and pulled her to me close enough to hear her breath falter. My lips brushed her ear as I whispered, "Well played, sweetheart."

I savored the way her face instantly drained of color, frozen in shock. That look was priceless. But this wasn’t the time to go easy on her. Not at all.

Author

Both Aastik and Ahana were taken to the middle of the circuit. The night sky lit up as fireworks cracked open, rockets soaring high and bursting into colors that rained down like sparks of victory. The crowd roared louder, whistles echoing across the asphalt Their voices blended into a wild chorus that shook the ground itself.

Bottles of beer and expensive alcohols were being popped open, foams spilling over as they were lifted high, chugged down in the name of celebration. Laughter echoed, some threw their jackets in the air and others banged on car hoods. Neon lights flashing as engines revved just to add more noise to the madness. The whole place felt like chaos stitched together with thrill.

Jesica came forward holding a mic in her hand and started speaking, "Guys… this was one of the best matches I’ve ever watched, both racers pushed limits tonight and damn, it was worth every second. But unfortunately… our Lily loses."

The crowd erupted with cheers, disappointed groan but then not letting the atmosphere change she again spoke, "I think without seeing who lose or who won... We should focus on how we saw the best race ever"

"So now, Lily… it’s time. Rules are rules. First thing’s first—your payment to the club. Well? Cheque or cash?"

"Cheque." Ahana whispered. Her voice was almost swallowed by the noises but steady enough to be heard. Her face stayed hidden behind the cover, masking the pale shade she wore beneath. Yet her eyes, those unblinking eyes never left Aastik.

She couldn’t even trust her own vision. It felt unreal, like a dream she might wake from any second. Maybe the man standing before her was just an illusion. But deep down, she knew. Very well, she knew it was him.

Jessica slid a cheque book into her hand, tapping the pen with a smile. Ahana took it and without once glancing down, she signed that. Her gaze stayed fixed on him because at that moment nothing else mattered. Not the money. Not the crowd. The only thing that mattered was him.

Jessica lifted the mic again, her voice cutting through the cheers and chaos.

"Alright, the next part everyone’s been waiting for… what does The Midnight Mafia want from Lily?"

"But before that, I’d like to invite all the team members of Midnight Mafia to join us here."

Soon after the call, two among the four team members stepped forward, joining Aastik.

Ahana’s eyes drifted to two more covered faces. She couldn’t make out their features but instinctively, she knew they had to be Bhuvan and Avyan. Her stomach tightened. She quickly dropped her gaze, refusing to meet theirs terrified of being caught by them too.

Whispers started rippling through the crowd. "Umm… where are the other members, guys?" Jessica asked, her brows knitting in genuine curiosity.

"Both of them had to leave due to some emergency" One of them said, voice filled with command demanding no more questions.

Jessica nodded quickly with a tight- lipped smile and said, "Ok! Very well, then. We shall not waste any more time because after this the party will still be going on, so I would request Midnight Mafia to ask anything from Lily… I repeat… anything and she won’t be able to say no."

Her words echoed across the circuit but if anyone was paying attention, they’d notice a faint flicker of worry in her tone, a subtle shadow behind the forced excitement.

Both team members glanced sideways at Aastik, waiting for him to break the silence. But he didn’t even blink. His gaze stayed locked on Ahana’s eyes, burning through her. For him, the crowd, the fireworks, the shouting voices.... all of it had blurred into nothing.

A whole minute dragged by. The silence felt heavy almost suffocating. One of the team members nudged his elbow, muttering under his breath, "Bro… do it fast… everyone’s waiting…"

Finally, Aastik’s deep, controlled voice rolled out.

"Nothing. We want nothing from her. She’s a good racer and the challenge… that was on us. We just wanted to enjoy the race. And that’s all. Thank you for the race and I hope… in future, you give me more surprises like this, Lily."

The last line lingered, layered and deliberate—part taunt aimed straight at Ahana, part flirt thrown casually to the rest of the crowd leaving the air thick with tension and amusement.

The other two members were frozen in shock by Aastik’s words. It was the last thing they ever expected from him.

Gasps spread through the crowd like fire across dry grass. Everyone was stunned—Midnight Mafia asking for nothing in return? Murmurs erupted, some whispering that he must have fallen for Lily others guessing that maybe, just maybe he was going easy on her because she's a girl.

But before anyone could gather the courage to speak, Aastik turned sharply and left. His strides were long, precise and purposeful. By the time anyone dared open their mouths to question him, he had already disappeared into the shadows, leaving chaos, confusion and a thousand unanswered thoughts in his wake.

**************

Ahana

I ran in the direction where I had seen him coming, my legs moved even faster than my thoughts. The noise of the circuit faded behind me with every step, replaced by a strange emptiness that made my chest feel heavier.

It was a silent area. The celebration party was still raging at the circuit but here—no one. Just emptiness. The air carried a sharp chill, wrapping around me as I hurried forward.

Even though I came running all the way, my heart… it doesn’t know what to say when I would finally face him. I don't know how I would confront him. But one thing I knew for sure was that... that I couldn’t hide behind excuses. Not with him. He could read me without any effort.

The silence around me was so deep that the sound of my footsteps and the uneven pace of my breathing felt louder than they should have. I kept walking and each step made me more aware of how alone I am in this corner.

And then, suddenly a sharp crash tore through the silence. My steps halted instantly, my heart thundered against my ribs as a wave of fear clawed its way up my throat. For a moment, I wanted to turn back but I can't. I can't go back. Atleast not now. I forced myself to take a slow breath steadying the tremor in my hands. And then gathering whatever courage I had I moved forward.

And then I saw him.

But the sight in front of me made my stomach twist. Shards of broken beer bottles were scattered across the ground. And him? He was silently leaning against his car, lowering his head as if he was in some deep and dangerous thinking.

I know he felt me the moment I arrived and I also know that he had been waiting for me to come. He knew I would come.

His face wasn’t hidden this time, almost as if asking me to do the same. I started walking towards him, no... It felt like my legs started running towards him and with just a few strides I stood in front of him. Face to face.

But just as I feared. No words came from my side. My throat tightened, my tongue felt frozen and silence pressed heavily between us.

But with great difficulty forcing the sound past the lump in my throat, I finally whispered, "A-Aastik ji…"

Slowly, he lifted his head and his bloodshot burning eyes locked onto mine and that single glance cut straight through me. Unable to hold his stare any longer my gaze fell helplessly to the ground.

That gaze of his… it felt so achingly nostalgic. It was the same gaze with which he looked at me for the first time. That same gaze which once made me lower my eyes… it was back. And it still had the same power over me.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were enjoying the party" His low, cold and taunting voice rang so close to my ear that it sent goosebumps running over every inch of my skin.

"A-ap... Aapko pata to t-tha na... ki m-mey apke piche aungi" I said, stuttering in my words. Tension was increasing between us and his silence was thickening it each second, making it harder for me to even breath.

(Y-you… you knew, right… that I-I would come after you?)

His hands then held my both shoulders in a firm and possessive grip digging his fingers into my skin, "Don’t you remember what I said? Look at me when you’re fucking talking to me, sweetheart."

His words sent chills and as if my body was listening to him more than me, it lifted my eyes meeting his. My lashes trembled as I forced them up.

His hazel eyes were still red and dark. It was scary to look at it, like staring into fire but still I tried my best to do so. My knees were already turning weak.

"A-astik ji—"

"Shhh," he hushed me keeping his fingers on my lips. His touch was rough yet it silenced me more than anything. "What should I call you? Ahana? Or Lily? Who are you? And how did you join this dangerous game? You know right? You know how dangerous and life-risking this game is? One single mistake and you may have—" he stopped... his jaw tightening, unable to say the next words.

"I may have… died" I said, forcing a awkward laugh. Wahh Ahana… I think not in racing but surely you want to die by your husband’s hand. What was the need to do so bakar bakar.

"What did you say? Huh? Sweetheart? What did you say?… I ASKED WHAT DID YOU FUCKING SAY!!!" He shouted, his voice echoed in the silent alley as he kicked his car with full force. The sound made me flinch from my place.

"I-I… I’m sorry," I whispered… because right now sorry was the only thing I could say to him.

"Sorry huh? You think this one fucking word would sort out everything? You didn’t even say you were going to come to this shitty place today…" he said with a harsh chuckle. He gripped his hair and pulled it, his veins popped up on his forehead and then held my hand and pulled me closer to him with a jerk that almost made me stumble.

"Why can’t you trust me a little bit, sweetheart? What was the need? To come to as dangerous a place as this one?" he asked, his voice giving no room of excuse. His eyes were burning holes into me.

"A-aap ne v to mujhse jhut bola tha? Aap ne v… aapne v to bola tha aap office mey rehenge and now… now you’re here?" I said trying to show myself confident but my lips were quivering and his gaze was making my knees weak. It feels like I would collapse to the ground anytime.

(Y-you also lied to me, didn’t you? You too… you said you’d be at the office, and now… now you’re here?)

He for a minute didn’t say anything. His jaw tightening as he just looked at me with nothing but anger burning in his eyes. "I didn’t lie to you, sweetheart. I really did have work in the office… and Avyan and the others dragged me here. Do you think this fucking race was more important than sleeping in your arms?" His voice cracked at the end, harsh yet heavy.

He let go of my hand, his touch slowly slpipped away from me and gave me a slight push—just enough to create a safe distance between us. The space felt colder instantly.

"A-astik ji I-I didn’t mean—"

"Enough!! It’s fine. Now I don’t want to listen to anything. You won’t get to say anymore to me" he cut me off sharply, his tone final and cold. Then, without another glance, he slid quickly into his car. The engine roared to life and before leaving he only said, "Avyan will be there in the parking. Come home with him…"

His car sped away with a high screech, leaving me behind here all alone. I kept standing there with blurred eyes, tears were threatening to blind me and the weight of my own agonizing guilt pressed hard on my chest.

My heart was aching, each beat stabbing painfully. It felt tight as if it could stop beating any moment. His words still lingered in my mind, echoing again and again until I couldn’t take it anymore. My legs gave up and I collapsed on the ground, the dam of my tears finally breaking.

"W-why does it keep happening… I didn’t mean to lie to him… I-I…" My voice cracked, trembling as I harshly wiped my wet cheeks. "No… I can’t give excuses. I lied to him. And this is the truth. The reality."

I clenched my fists, anger and pain mixing in my veins. "...and I will win him back. I will win my man back. This is AHANA AASTIK MALHOTRA’S promise to you, Mr. AASTIK MALHOTRA." I said in a voice full of determination and challenge.

The fire of winning him back, of winning his trust back, burned inside me, fierce and untamed.

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Olly_writess