Devyani sat curled on the edge of the grand couch, clutching her old shawl like a lifeline, its faded threads twisting around her trembling fingers. Her vision was blurry with unshed tears, her mind spinning with fear. She thought it would be easy—just sit quietly, follow whatever they said, pay her babu's debt, and return home.

But now, in this cold, luxurious room, the truth weighed heavier than her thoughts. Sharing a room with a man? It was something so far from her understanding that it felt like stepping into a storm barefoot.

She didn't know anything about the world, about cultures, about what was right and wrong. Whatever she had learned came from glimpses on the small TV she secretly watched—and she didn't even know if what the TV showed was true or lies.

Hariram never taught her anything. The only way she learned was through his yelling when she made mistakes—only then did she know something was wrong. That's how a caged bird learned to survive.

What could you expect from a girl who was locked away her entire life, who received her first warm hug just hours ago?

Now, sitting alone in this room, in a world she didn't belong to, waiting for a man she didn't know—a man the world called a devil, a psychopath, ruthless RIVAN Thakur—

Will she be able to handle his anger? His darkness? His madness?

Or will she shatter before she even learns what it means to live?

The heavy door creaked open, making Devyani flinch. Her grip on her shawl tightened as she saw two men enter—Aditya and Reyansh—each holding one of his arms, guiding him inside as if he couldn't walk properly.

They made him sit on the edge of the bed, his head lowered, hair falling over his sharp eyes, chest rising and falling heavily like he was holding back something dangerous within.

Devyani's fear spiked. Was he...paralyzed?

From the moment she saw him, he hadn't spoken, hadn't looked around, hadn't even blinked like a normal person. He simply moved where they placed him, lifeless, like a statue being shifted.

She swallowed hard, her heart hammering.

Is he like this always? Is he sick? Or dangerous?" her mind screamed questions she couldn't voice.

Reyansh glanced at Devyani, his expression unreadable, and then at Aditya, giving a silent nod before stepping back. Aditya patted RIVAN's shoulder lightly, a hint of guilt in his eyes, before whispering,

"Stay here, bhaiya. We'll leave now."

They both walked out quietly, shutting the door behind them.

And Devyani was left in the room alone with him—the man she was now married to, who sat there breathing heavily, silent and terrifying in the quiet of the grand room, as her shawl slipped from her shaking hands onto the cold floor.

Devyani pov

He...he just lay down on the bed.

Just like that.

Without looking at me, without saying a word, he lay down sideways, his arm slipping over his eyes, breathing heavy, his chest rising and falling like a silent storm.

I stood there, frozen near the couch, clutching my lahengga so tightly my fingers hurt.

What should I do now? Should I sleep? Should I stand here? Should I ask him?

My feet moved on their own, slow, scared steps toward the bed. My heartbeat was so loud I thought he would hear it. As I got closer, I could see the sharpness of his jaw, the stubble along his cheek, and the dried red marks on his knuckles.

I stepped back instantly.

Was it blood? Did he fight with someone? Did he kill someone?

I shouldn't have come near.

My legs felt weak, but I took another tiny step, the floor creaking. He didn't move, but his hand slid down from his face, revealing dark eyes.

I couldn't breathe.

His eyes was, so cold, like it was piercing right through my skin into my bones.

I wanted to speak, to say something, to greet him, to tell him I would leave if he wanted...but my lips refused to move.

I took a shaky step back, clutching my shawl against my chest, my eyes blurry with tears I didn't want to shed. I couldn't read his face—he opened his eyes looked at me for a sec then closed his eyes again, turning away, leaving me standing there alone in a silence that was louder than any scream.

What have I gotten into?

I don't know what came over me.

Maybe it was the way he was lying there so still, so lifeless, that made me think...maybe he is hurt...maybe he needs water...maybe he needs something...

I took a slow step toward him, clutching my shawl to my chest, my breath caught in my throat as I leaned a little closer.

His breathing was deep, uneven, his lips were parted, and a lock of his hair fell over his forehead.

He looks...so different from anyone I've ever seen...

I bent down a little, just to see if he was okay, just to see if he was breathing fine—

And then, in a deep, hoarse whisper, his voice cut through the silence,

"I'll kill you."

My entire body jolted.

I let out a small scream, losing my balance, my hands flailing to hold something, anything, but I fell forward, right onto him.

And before I could even push myself up, his arm came around me like a steel trap, pulling me down against his hard chest.

I gasped, trembling, trying to pull away, but his hold only tightened, pressing me so close I could hear his wild heartbeat.

His grip was so strong, even though his eyes were still half-closed, and I could feel his breath against my hair.

"I'll...kill...you..." he whispered again, his voice slurring, but his hold tightening even more, as if he was fighting something inside him.

I couldn't breathe.

Tears pricked my eyes as I tried to push away, but he wouldn't let me go.

Was he going to kill me now? Had I done something wrong already?

All I could do was freeze in his hold, trapped, my mind spinning, my heart screaming as I realised—

I am tied to this man now...this man who might kill me...

Author pov

Devyani was trembling, tears rolling down her cheeks as she felt his iron grip around her, pressing her small frame against his burning body.

"Pati ji...please...chhod dijiye hume..." she sobbed softly, her fingers trembling as they pressed against his chest, "Humne...humne kuch nahi kiya hai...sach mein..."

But he didn't let go.

His rough thumb came up, brushing against her tear-stained cheek, smearing the tears, his jaw clenching as he whispered, voice deep, low, half-drugged,

"Shhhhh.......let me sleep"

His grip around her tightened, pulling her closer into his suffocating warmth, as his heavy, half-drugged eyes fluttered weakly.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips as he whispered hoarsely, breath hot against her ear,

"How come...a girl on my bed...? Hmm..."

His fingers brushed her hair aside, his rough knuckles grazing her soft skin, making her flinch.

"I guess...you're an angel...because...girls aren't allowed...in my space..."

Devyani's eyes widened, her tears falling faster as panic clawed at her chest.

Girls aren't allowed?

But she was a girl.

She was in his space.

She wasn't supposed to be here.

Her voice trembled, barely a whisper, as she dared to speak,

"Can I...sleep...on the floor...please...? Just...just for tonight...?"

Her small hands tried to push him lightly, but he only pulled her closer, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his breath warm, his words slurred but clear enough to shatter her fragile calm,

"Why the floor...when I am here...?"

He inhaled deeply, his voice dropping to a low, sleepy rumble,

"Come...let's sleep...I rarely get sleep...and sleeping with angels...is my fantasy..."

And just like that, his body grew heavier against her, his arms caging her in a tight, possessive embrace as he drifted off into deep, oblivious sleep.

While Devyani—

She lay there, trapped in the arms of a dangerous stranger she now called husband, her tears soaking into the pillow, her small body shaking with silent cries.

This was not what she imagined marriage would be.

All she could do was close her eyes tightly, praying the morning would come soon—

Praying that somehow, she would survive the night.

Caged in his heavy arms as he held her unconsciously, Devyani's small body trembled, her face buried against his hard chest while tears soaked the fabric beneath her cheek. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought he might hear it and kill her for being noisy.

"Bhagwan ji..." she prayed in her mind, her lips moving silently as her fingers clutched the his shirt tighter, "please don't let him kill me... I promise, I will take care of him... since he is paralysed, I will do all the house chores, I will clean his room, wash his clothes, I will even polish his shoes if he wants..."

A sob escaped her as she felt his grip tighten in sleep, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Please don't let him kill me, Bhagwan ji, I will even give you one rupee as an offering... but don't mind, I don't have it now, but when I get money in the future, I promise, I will give it to you..."

She sniffled softly, her breath shaky against his warmth.

"Please let me live... I will never ask for sweets or new clothes or even a doll, just please don't let this man kill me..."

And there, caged in the arms of the monster the world feared, Devyani made a trembling, innocent pact with God—hoping her tiny promises could be enough to save her life.

Next morning

His head felt like it was split open.

A dull, throbbing ache pulsed against his skull as he stirred under the weight of morning light creeping through the heavy curtains. His throat was dry, tasting of blood and stale whiskey, a metallic tang that made him swallow hard.

What the hell...

His body felt heavy, sluggish, like he had been drugged.

He tried to remember—anything.

The last thing he recalled was, a fleeting image of his mother's crying face, and—

Blank.

His brows furrowed, frustration slicing through the fog in his mind.

His hand moved subconsciously, wanting to reach for the gun under his pillow, but it stopped midway when he felt it—

Softness.

Warmth.

A fragile, living softness pressed against him, clinging to him.

His breath caught, his body freezing like ice as he turned his head slightly, blinking, adjusting to the blurry image beside him.

A girl.

There's a girl... in my arms?

Long, silky hair spilled over his chest, her soft scent of rose water and something sweet and innocent calming yet suffocating.

His eyes trailed over her delicate face, her lashes trembling as she shifted slightly in her sleep, her pink lips parted, letting out a small, sleepy breath that brushed against his neck.

A faint, peaceful sigh escaped her.

His heart skipped—just once.

It was like something fragile brushed against the dead corners of his soul, a strange warmth crawling under his cold skin.

He should push her away.

He should shove her off the bed.

But she tightened her hold on him, curling even closer, like a kitten seeking warmth in a storm.

Her tiny fists clenched the fabric of his shirt, as if letting go would drown her.

Kitten, he found himself whispering softly, an involuntary endearment he didn't know was still alive in him.

His hand hovered, hesitating, wanting to brush the messy strand off her face.

For a split second, RIVAN forgot everything—his darkness, his chaos, the blood that painted his hands, the emptiness that echoed inside his ribcage.

For a split second, he just felt.

But then—

Reality hit him like a slap.

His eyes shot open, sharp and cold, like a beast waking up.

What the hell is happening?

His heartbeat turned into thunder, his jaw clenching as anger began to boil under his skin, searing the calm that had dared to settle.

A girl.

In his bed.

Touching him.

Holding him like she owns him.

His vision turned red as he realized the violation of his sacred space, the one place where no one was allowed.

His hand fisted in the sheets, rage pulsing in every vein.

He pulled her back roughly, forcing her to wake up, his cold, murderous eyes locking onto her now terrified ones as she blinked rapidly, fear flooding her innocent gaze.

"Who the hell are you..." he growled, each word dripping venom, "and what the fuck are you doing in my bed?"

She whimpered, her lips trembling, tears welling in her wide, innocent eyes as she looked like a deer caught in headlights, unable to form words.

The softness was gone.

The warmth was gone.

All that remained was the storm swirling inside him, the violation of his space, the audacity of someone breathing so close to him—someone he didn't even know.

His hands shook with contained rage, his mind screaming to throw her out, to erase the softness she dared to bring into his cursed world.

And as she stammered, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks, RIVAN felt it—

The storm of RIVAN THAKUR had finally awakened.

And nothing would remain the same.

RIVAN's eyes darted around the room, cold fury crawling up his spine.

This—this wasn't his room.

The heavy, old-world wooden furniture. The faint scent of sandalwood and incense in the air. The patterned curtains swaying slightly in the morning breeze. The subtle hum of a haveli waking up outside these four walls.

This isn't my penthouse...

This isn't my space...

The realization struck like a lightning bolt, cracking whatever thin thread of control was left in him.

His breath grew ragged, his hands trembling as they moved to clutch his throbbing head.

"AGHHHH! FUCKKKKKKKK!"

His roar shook the room, raw, animalistic, echoing off the old walls.

He slammed his hand against the headboard, making the wood creak under his strength, his vision going black at the edges from the sheer fury and pain pulsing in his temples.

"WHY THE FUCK AM I HERE?!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

His eyes fell on her again.

The girl.

Curled up like a terrified kitten, clutching her shawl to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks as she sobbed silently, her lips trembling as she tried to hold back her hiccups.

His chest heaved, but in his blinding rage, he didn't notice the fear dripping from her every shaky breath.

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" he roared, pointing a trembling finger at her, his eyes bloodshot.

Devyani flinched so hard she nearly fell off the bed, her sobs turning into choked whimpers as she tried to slide back, away from him.

"I—I...I..." she stammered, unable to form words, her vision blurry with tears.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?! IN MY ROOM?! IN MY FUCKING BED?!" he yelled again, his head pounding so hard it felt like it would split open.

He clutched his head tighter, pressing his palms against his skull as if trying to stop it from exploding.

"AGHHHHH! FUCKKKKKK!" he cursed again, his voice breaking as he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to fight the chaos, the confusion, the white-hot anger coursing through his veins.

In that moment, the air in the room turned suffocating, the heavy aura of RIVAN THAKUR fully awakened, turning the room into a cage of fear.

Devyani's sobs grew louder, echoing softly in the chaos, her tiny body shaking as she tried to make herself smaller, praying to her  god under her breath.

But the devil in front of her was too lost in his madness to see the innocent angel crying before him.

And for the first time since the wedding, the haveli's walls bore witness to the real storm that was about to destroy everything in its path.

RIVAN's blood was boiling.

His eyes were scanning every corner of the room, wild, calculating, like a predator cornered in unfamiliar territory. He patted his pants, his hands moving with muscle memory, and a dark smirk flickered on his lips when he felt the cold metal pressed against the inside pocket of his suit.

His gun.

His fucking sanity.

Without a second thought, he pulled it out, the weight of it grounding him in the middle of his chaos. His finger slid over the trigger, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

He aimed it directly at the trembling girl in front of him.

"You better tell me," he hissed, his voice like gravel, venom dripping from every word,

"Who the fuck are you? Why the hell were you sleeping on me? And what the fuck are you doing in my room?"

The cold barrel pointed directly at her forehead.

Devyani froze.

Her breath stopped.

The only sound was the click of the gun safety going off.

Her wide, tear-filled eyes stared at the gun, at the cold black metal that looked exactly like the guns she had seen in TV serials—guns that killed villains in one second, guns that made people drop dead instantly with blood everywhere.

"Goli lagte hi insaan mar jata hai..."

"Goli...maut..."

"Mujhe goli se maar dega..."

The realization hit her like a storm, her tiny hands clutching her shawl so hard that her knuckles turned white, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

"P-aplease...don't...kill...m-me..."

Her voice was barely a whisper, but the fear in it was deafening.

Her legs buckled, and before she could understand, her world spun, and she collapsed

For a moment, the world stood still.

The weight of the gun in his hand, the shallow gasps of the girl unconscious at his feet, and the hammering of his own heartbeat—each felt like a curse, each felt like a war cry in his skull.

RIVAN's jaw clenched so hard that pain shot up to his temples, but he didn't care.

His eyes burned with a red fury, but beneath it, a storm churned.

Why the fuck am I here?

Why the hell is she here?

Why is she on my bed?

Why the fuck did she faint just by seeing me?

His head throbbed painfully, fragments of last night playing like a broken reel—shots of blood, pills forced into his throat by Aditya and Reyansh, injection,a car ride he didn't remember, and the vague warmth of something soft clinging to him.

He looked at her again.

Her tiny body curled on the floor, her trembling fingers clutching the edge of her shawl even in unconsciousness, tears still wet on her cheeks.

And in that single moment, a flicker of something—something—touched his cold, dead heart.

Fuck...she's...so small...so...fragile...

His fingers flexed around the gun.

Why does she look like this? Like she's never seen sunlight...like she's never been held...

He shut his eyes tightly, trying to silence the unwanted softness creeping into his mind.

No, RIVAN. Don't fucking go there. Don't. Don't let her face fool you. You know what women are—manipulative, cunning, leeches. Never forget that. Never forget what happened...

But his eyes opened again, and the sight of her unconscious on the floor, looking like a broken porcelain doll, made something inside him twist painfully.

His anger surged again, flooding over the brief softness like a tidal wave.

Fuck this shit. Who the hell planted her here? What fucking game is this?

He lowered the gun, exhaling sharply, his chest rising and falling heavily as he glared at her.

Wake up. I need fucking answers. Now.

His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist roughly, pulling her limp body closer as he hissed under his breath,

"Get up. I won't fucking ask again."

Glimpse of next chapter:

Her eyes fell to the floor as her small fingers fumbled with the lehenga, trying to stand properly, her fear making her limbs weak.

Then, in a voice barely above a breath, she stammered,

"S-sorry th... pati parmeshwar ji..."

Time froze.

RIVAN's jaw tightened, the words echoing in his head like a cruel joke, a mockery of the anger and darkness swirling inside him.

Pati...parmeshwar?

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