I was in my study late at night, surrounded by silence as the rest of the house slept peacefully. The soft glow of the lamp illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the walls. My focus was buried in the pages before me when a sudden knock at the door broke the stillness.

I glanced up, surprised by the interruption, and said calmly, "Come in."

The door creaked open, and Mayra stormed in, tears streaming down her face, her eyes red and swollen. The sight of her in that state made my heart clench instantly.

I pushed my chair back and stood up, seeing her in this condition.

Before I could ask anything, she crossed the room in hurried steps and wrapped her arms around me tightly, burying her face in my chest. Her body shook as she sobbed uncontrollably.

I held her close, my hand gently caressing her hair in a soothing motion.

"What happened, bacha?" I asked softly, my voice laced with worry.

"Tell me... please. I can't bear to see you like this."

Her cries tore at my heart, and I felt an overwhelming helplessness. I wasn't sure what had caused her so much pain, but seeing any member of my family like this was unbearable. Whatever it was, I knew I had to make it right.

I guided her to the couch, still holding her protectively, and waited for her to speak, giving her the time she needed. For now, my presence was all I could offer.

"Tell me, bacha, what happened? If you keep crying like this, how will I know what's wrong?" I said gently, trying to calm her down.

Her sobs continued, broken by hiccups, her words stuck in her throat.

I reached for the glass of water on the table nearby, handing it to her.

"Here, drink some water," I coaxed softly, wiping her tears with my thumb.

"Take a deep breath, Mayra."

She hesitated, but eventually took a sip, her trembling hands clutching the glass.

I placed it aside once she was done I asked, "Did Vivaan bother you again?" My tone held a sharp edge, unable to hide my protective anger.

But she shook her head, her messy hair swaying with the movement.

"No," she managed to whisper between hiccups.

I pulled her back into my arms, hugging her tightly, as if my embrace could shield her from whatever pain she was carrying.

"Stop crying, bacha," I murmured.

"You need to tell me what happened. I'm here. I'll take care of it, no matter what."

After a few moments, her voice came, soft and hesitant.

"Bhai... aap ghussa to nahi karenge?"

I rested my chin on the top of her head, my arms wrapped securely around her.

"I promise, Mayra. Just tell me. What's wrong?" My voice was calm, but inside, my worry grew with every second.

Whatever it was, I needed to hear it. And no matter how big or small, I was ready to fight the world for her.

Her words hit me like a thunderbolt.

"I... I'm pregnant, bhai," she said hesitantly, her voice barely a whisper between sobs.

"I'm pregnant with Dev's child."

My arms dropped to my sides as I instinctively broke the hug, stepping back to look at her.

My eyes widened, disbelief and shock washing over me in waves.

For a moment, I couldn't find my voice, the weight of her confession leaving me stunned.

"You're... pregnant?" I finally managed, my voice hoarse.

She nodded, her tear-streaked face filled with fear and uncertainty.

"I'm sorry, bhai. I didn't know how to tell you... I was so scared."

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process what she had just said.

My mind was spinning. Mayra, my little sister, was pregnant. And with Dev's child? Anger, concern, and protectiveness all clashed within me.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. She was already terrified-me losing my temper wouldn't help.

"Mayra..." I said, my voice gentler now, though it trembled slightly.

"How... how did this happen? And Dev-does he know?"

Her eyes welled up with fresh tears, and she shook her head.

"No, bhai. I haven't told him yet. I didn't know how to... I thought you'd hate me."

I stepped forward, placing my hands firmly on her shoulders.

"Hate you?" I said firmly, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me.

"You're my sister, Mayra. I could never hate you. But this is serious. We need to figure this out together."

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with guilt and relief. And in that moment, I knew one thing for sure no matter how complicated this situation was, I would stand by her and protect her, no matter what.

She hugged me tightly, crying harder, and I clenched my jaw, struggling to keep my composure. Anger boiled within me-anger at the man I had once called a friend. That bastard, Dev.

How dare he betray my trust and take advantage of Mayra's love? I wanted to storm out and confront him right now, to make him pay for what he had done.

But right now, Mayra was more important. Her fragile frame trembled in my arms, her sobs breaking my heart.

I tightened my hold on her, forcing myself to focus. "Calm down, bacha," I said softly, trying to soothe her.

"Shh, everything will be okay. I'll take care of this, I promise."

"No, bhai," she choked out between sobs, shaking her head vehemently.

"Everything is finished... everything. He... he's getting engaged to someone else."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What?" I whispered, my voice sharp despite my attempt to stay calm.

She nodded, hiccupping. "His parents arranged it... he said he had no choice. He's doing it for them, bhai."

And then it clicked-Dev was in Delhi. I remembered he was going to get engaged tomorrow .

Rage surged through me like wildfire.

I stood up abruptly, my movements sharp with anger. My hands shook as I clenched my fists, and in my fury, I accidentally knocked over the vase on the table. It shattered on the floor, the crash echoing in the room.

"Fuck!" I cursed loudly, running a hand through my hair as my chest heaved with the intensity of my emotions.

"HOW DARE HE? HOW FUCKING DARE HE?"

Mayra flinched at the sound, her sobs quieting slightly as she stared at me with wide, tear-filled eyes. Seeing her fear, I immediately regretted my outburst.

I crouched down beside her, taking her hands in mine. "I'm sorry, bacha," I said, my voice softer now, though the anger still simmered beneath the surface.

"I won't let him get away with this. I'll handle it. But first, I need you to trust me. You're not alone in this."

She hesitated before nodding slowly, the faintest glimmer of hope in her tear-streaked face. I swore to myself in that moment that no matter what it took, I would make this right for her. Dev had made his choices, but now he would face the consequences.

I gently cupped Mayra's face, wiping away the last of her tears.

"Go to your room, bacha. Rest now. Don't stress yourself, okay? It's not good for you and the baby."

She nodded quietly, her gaze still filled with sorrow, but she trusted me, and that was all that mattered. I watched her leave, her steps slow and weary, before I made my way back to my study.

Once I was alone, I picked up my phone and called my secretary.

"We're leaving for Delhi in four hours," I said with finality.

"Arrange everything-flights, car, and hotel. I want everything in place. Don't waste any time."

I hung up without waiting for a response. There was no time to waste.

I quickly changed my clothes,

Once dressed, I walked out of my room, my steps brisk and purposeful. The house was still quiet, but I couldn't afford to wait any longer. Dev's actions needed to be confronted, and I wasn't going to let him get away with breaking my sister's heart.

I headed straight to the airport, my mind racing with plans. By the time I reached Delhi, I'd make sure he knew exactly what he had done-no more games, no more hiding behind his parents' expectations. Dev was going to face the consequences of his choices. And I'd make sure he regretted every moment of it.

I reached Delhi at 5 a.m., the city is still quiet under the early morning sky. My mind was set on one thing only-finding Dev and making him face the consequences of his actions. I drove straight to my warehouse, a place that served as both a safehouse and a headquarters for my business operations. It was the perfect place for what I needed to do.

I walked briskly toward my men who were already waiting. They looked at me with respect but also a quiet understanding of the severity of the situation.

"Bring Dev here," I ordered, my tone cold and sharp. "I can't go to his penthouse-too many of his family members are around. You know what to do."

There was no hesitation in their faces. They understood the importance of discretion, the need for forceful action when necessary.

"Make sure you take him without anyone noticing," I added, my voice low. "I want him here, and I want him now."

My men nodded, already moving to carry out the order. I took a deep breath as I paced the warehouse. I knew this was the only way to make sure Dev truly understood the gravity of what he had done. There would be no talking, no excuses-just consequences.

As I waited, the anger inside me simmered, the thoughts of Mayra's tears and Dev's betrayal clouding my mind. This would end today.

I sat on my king-size chair, leaning back, exuding a calm that hid the storm brewing inside me. In one hand, I held a glass of beer, the cold liquid barely numbing the fire of my anger. In the other, a cigarette burned slowly between my fingers, the smoke curling around me as I took a deep drag.

The warehouse was dimly lit, the faint hum of machinery in the background only adding to the tension in the air. My men moved quietly, preparing for Dev's arrival. I stared at the empty space in front of me, imagining him standing there, his excuses and justifications falling flat against my fury.

Every puff of the cigarette felt like a countdown to the moment I would face him. My thoughts kept circling back to Mayra-her tears, her trembling voice, her fear. She was my sister, my responsibility, and Dev had dared to shatter her trust and heart.

I swirled the beer in the glass, my grip tightening slightly as I recalled his betrayal. He wasn't just going to walk away from this-not after what he'd done. By the time this was over, Dev would understand exactly what it meant to cross me and hurt someone I cared about.

The door creaked open slightly as one of my men stepped inside. "Boss, he's on his way," he said, his voice low and steady.

I nodded, dismissing him with a wave of my hand, my focus still on the space in front of me. I took another drag of the cigarette, exhaling slowly.

The calm before the storm was always the most dangerous. And Dev was about to find that out.

The door to the warehouse slammed open, and the sound of shouting echoed through the cold room. "What are you doing, bastards? Leave me!" Dev's voice rang out, full of defiance, but it faltered when his eyes landed on me. His shock was evident as his gaze locked with mine.

"Hriday!" he breathed, his face going pale.

I couldn't help but chuckle, the sound dark and void of any amusement. It was bitter, edged with anger. Without saying a word, I crushed my cigarette in the nearby bin and stood up from my chair, my movements deliberate and calm.

Then, in a single, swift motion, I swung my fist directly into his face. The impact was brutal. His lips split open, blood spilling from the side, and he staggered back slightly, his hands instinctively coming up to his face.

" leave him," I ordered, my voice cold, but my anger was unmistakable.

They stepped back, leaving Dev standing there, visibly shaken by the violence but too stunned to react. He looked at me again, his expression a mixture of confusion and fear.

"Hriday, what are you doing?" he said, his voice cracking with genuine concern-or was it just panic? It didn't matter.

The anger inside me flared up, my patience finally snapping. I turned to my men. "Everyone, out. Lock the door behind you."

The guards obeyed without question, shutting the door behind them, leaving the two of us alone in the tense silence.

I took a step forward, my fury making every movement sharp and calculated. I grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off his feet with a force that made him gasp.

"What happened, Dev?" I shouted, my voice reverberating with the full weight of my rage.

"What happened? You're asking me? You broke my trust. You think you can just do this and walk away?"

His eyes widened in shock, but the fear in them only fueled my anger further.

"You don't even know what you've done, do you?" I spat, shaking him harder. "Mayra is pregnant, Dev! You got her pregnant! And now you're going to get engaged to someone else, as if nothing happened?"

I let go of his collar, pushing him back, and he stumbled slightly, his face pale and stricken with realization. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came out. The weight of his actions finally seemed to hit him.

I stared at him, the disgust and betrayal in my eyes clear. The man I had considered my best friend had shattered everything, and now there was no going back.

I stood there, my anger boiling over as I stared at him. He stood there, broken, his voice trembling as he tried to form the words, unsure of what to say.

"Is it true? I... I..."-his words faltered, choking in his throat, unable to come out fully.

I didn't wait for him to finish. My patience had long since snapped. "Shut up!" I shouted, my voice thunderous, echoing in the cold room.

I saw it then. A tear, fragile and raw, gathering at the corner of his eye. The sight hit me harder than I expected. Dev, the man who never cried, who had always been so controlled, was standing before me, on the verge of breaking down.

It was the first time I'd ever seen him like this, and for a brief moment, my fury gave way to confusion. Was this really love? To make someone so strong, so proud, fall apart like this? To see him, of all people, so vulnerable, so weak-it shook me.

I quickly pushed the thought aside. This was not the time for sympathy.

He looked at me, his face a mixture of guilt and desperation, then hesitantly took a step forward, his voice cracking. "Where is she? Where is Mayra?"

The question hit me like a punch. I clenched my fists, the anger surging back into my veins. "Why the hell are you asking for her? Huh? Go back to your damn fiance! Why do you care where she is?!" I shouted, my voice full of venom.

Dev's face twisted with anguish, and he cut me off, his voice rising in a choked sob, "Because I love her, dammit! I love her!"

The words slammed into me like a freight train. I froze, momentarily stunned by the rawness in his voice.

I stared at him in disbelief, my anger now mixed with something darker. "You love her?" I repeated, almost mocking.

"After everything you did? After you betrayed her, left her pregnant and alone, and now you have the audacity to stand here and tell me you love her?"

Dev collapsed to his knees, the tears streaming down his face now, his hands clutching at his chest in a mix of regret and hopelessness.

"I didn't mean to hurt her, Hriday. I swear I didn't... I never wanted to..." His voice was full of guilt and pain, but I wasn't ready to forgive him. Not yet.

I stepped back, my chest tight with emotion. I didn't know what to feel-only that the man before me had shattered not only my trust but Mayra's heart as well. And now he was begging for forgiveness, but I couldn't give it to him that easily.

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Welcome to the beginning of this journey! I hope you enjoyed meeting the characters and stepping into their world. There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait for you to experience it all. Stay tuned for the next chapter!