Vaishali's POV -

The Rathore mansion looked unreal tonight. Crystal chandeliers shimmered above the massive dance floor while golden fairy lights wrapped around every pillar. Music echoed through the halls, laughter blending with the sound of bangles and heels against marble floors.

It was the sangeet night.

And somehow... my nervousness felt heavier than excitement.

Rhea kept circling around me dramatically while fixing my dupatta for the hundredth time. "Bhabhi, if bhai sees you like this, forget dancing... that man is going to cancel the function and marry you tonight itself."

Kavya burst out laughing while I nearly choked in embarrassment.

I looked at myself in the mirror once more. The deep wine-colored lehenga hugged perfectly against my frame, delicate stones glittering under the lights. My hair fell softly over one shoulder, exposing the fading mark on my neck that makeup had barely hidden.

-Vaishali's Outfit-

And the worst part?

I kept remembering his mouth there.

Heat rushed through me instantly.

Before I could stop my thoughts, my phone buzzed beside the vanity.

The sound alone made my stomach drop.

Unknown Number.

Fear returned so fast it stole my breath.

Slowly, I opened the message.

"You dressed up for him beautifully, little lotus."

My fingers went cold.

Another message appeared immediately.

"But red was always my favorite on you."

I stopped breathing.

No.

No no no.

My eyes snapped toward the balcony doors. The curtains moved slightly because of the wind, but the feeling remained.

That horrible feeling.

Like someone was watching me.

"Vaishali?" Aishu's voice softened beside me. "What happened?"

I locked the phone immediately and forced a smile. "Nothing."

But she saw through it. Of course she did.

Before she could question further, loud cheering erupted downstairs. Arjun's voice echoed dramatically through the mansion.

"If the bride doesn't come down in five minutes, Rudraksh bhai might personally come kidnap her."

Rhea gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD HE ACTUALLY WOULD."

And somehow... despite the fear, my lips curved slightly.

Rudraksh's POV -

The moment she stepped downstairs, everything else became irrelevant.

People were dancing. Music thundered through the hall. The entire family was laughing and celebrating.

But my eyes found only her.

The wine-colored lehenga. The soft curls. The nervous way her fingers twisted together when she noticed me staring.

Beautiful.

Dangerously beautiful.

Something dark and possessive settled inside me instantly.

Then she smiled faintly at Rhea's teasing, and for one second... I forgot every unfinished problem waiting outside this hall.

Until I noticed it again.

That fear in her eyes.

Small. Hidden carefully. But there.

My jaw tightened slightly.

Someone was still getting inside her head and I was running out of patience.

Rhea suddenly pushed Vaishali toward me dramatically. "Couple dance!"

-Rudraksh & Vaishali-

The entire family started cheering loudly.

Vaishali looked horrified.

I almost smirked.

Cute.

Music softened around us as I stepped closer and placed my hand against her waist. Her breath hitched instantly beneath my touch, fingers slowly resting against my shoulder.

"I don't know how to dance," she whispered nervously.

"You know how to trust me?"

Her eyes lifted to mine slowly. "...Yes."

"Then follow."

I pulled her closer gently, guiding her movements across the dance floor. Slowly, her nervousness faded. Her body relaxed against mine while the music surrounded us softly.

She looked up at me once.

Big mistake.

Because the second she did, something inside me nearly snapped.

The lights reflected in her eyes beautifully, her lips slightly parted as she tried to keep up with me. My hand tightened instinctively around her waist.

Mine.

The thought came naturally now.

Then suddenly... everything went black. The music stopped abruptly. Gasps echoed across the hall while screams followed from somewhere near the staircase.

Instinct took over immediately.

I pulled Vaishali straight against my chest protectively, one arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

"Stay close."

Her fingers clutched my kurta instantly.

The backup lights flickered weakly after a few seconds, casting dim shadows across the hall.

And then...a scream shattered through the silence.

Not playful.
Not startled.
Terrified.

Everyone turned toward the center staircase.

My expression hardened instantly.

Because hanging from the chandelier above the dance floor... was a photograph.

A huge photograph of Vaishali.

From her intermediate days.

Smiling innocently in her college uniform and across the picture written in dark red letters "SHE WAS MINE FIRST."

Silence crashed through the entire mansion.

Vaishali stopped breathing beside me. Her body froze completely.

Then suddenly...Crash!

A glass vase shattered near the staircase.

Rhea cried out sharply.

"RHEA!" Kavya screamed.

My head snapped toward her instantly.

Blood dripped down Rhea's arm where a sharp glass piece had sliced through her skin during the blackout chaos. Arjun reached her immediately, holding her before she lost balance.

"I'm okay...." she tried to say, but her voice shook badly.

But I wasn't looking at the injury anymore.

Cold rage spread through me instantly.

Calculated.
Lethal.

Someone had entered my house.

During my function.

And dared to touch what was mine.

My jaw clenched hard enough to hurt.

"Lock every exit," I ordered coldly.

The entire hall went silent.

Raghav moved immediately while security scattered across the mansion.

But beside me...Vaishali swayed slightly.

Her breathing turned shallow.

Wrong.

I looked down instantly.

Her face had gone completely pale, eyes fixed on the photograph above.

"No..." she whispered faintly.

Then her knees gave out.

I caught her before she hit the floor.

"Vaishali."

No response.

Her body had gone limp in my arms.

The entire mansion erupted into panic.

But I heard none of it.

Because for the first time in years... I felt something dangerous crawl beneath my skin.

Not anger.
Not rage.
Murder.

Author's POV

Inside the mansion, chaos spread like wildfire.

Meeraji rushed toward Vaishali in panic while Aishu stood frozen, her face drained of all color. Kavya held Rhea's injured arm tightly as Arjun shouted for the first-aid kit.

But none of it touched Rudraksh.

Because he stood there holding Vaishali unconscious in his arms... staring at that photograph like he wanted to burn the entire world down.

The air around him had changed.

Dangerous.Deadly.

Raghav returned within seconds. "Sir, all exits are sealed. Security is checking every corner of the mansion."

No response.

Rudraksh's eyes never left the hanging photograph.

"She was mine first."

Those four words echoed through his head again and again until something inside him snapped completely.

Not jealousy.

No.

This was worse.

Because someone out there thought they had a claim over her.

And Rudraksh Rathore did not share what belonged to him.

Slowly, his gaze lowered toward Vaishali's unconscious face. Even now, tears stained her cheeks. Her fingers clutched weakly against his sherwani like she was holding onto the last thread keeping her grounded.

That sight alone nearly destroyed the last piece of control he had left.

"Take everyone upstairs," he ordered coldly.

The entire hall fell silent again.

His voice wasn't loud. But it carried something terrifying tonight.

Something final.

Arjun looked at him carefully. "Bhai...."

"Now."

One word.

Sharp enough to cut.

No one argued after that.

Because everyone in the Rathore family knew one thing very clearly....Rudraksh was calm only until someone touched the people he loved.

And tonight...someone had crossed that line.

Outside the mansion gates, rain poured heavily against the dark roads. A black car remained hidden beneath the shadows of the trees.

Inside it, a man watched the chaos through his phone screen silently.

Vaishali collapsing in Rudraksh's arms.

The photograph hanging from the chandelier.

The panic.The fear.

He smiled slowly.

Then laughed.

Quiet.
Broken.
Obsessive.

"You still faint the same way when you panic, little lotus..." he whispered softly.His fingers traced her picture on the screen possessively before his expression darkened.

"But now he knows."

Thunder cracked across the sky and somewhere between obsession and madness... a war had officially begun.

Because by the time Rudraksh Rathore learned the truth about Vaishali's past...
blood would already be spilled.