"Ooh... I did not know the Singhanias had loosened their interest in their elder son." Agastya scoffed while looking at the man sitting on the hood of the black SUV.

Aarav smirked coldly.

"Really? Right now, you sound exactly like the fox from that old story." He tilted his head mockingly. "The one who called the grapes sour simply because he could never reach them."

His eyes darkened with cruelty.

"And unfortunately for you, Raizada... the Singhanias are still far beyond your reach."

Without breaking eye contact, Aarav slowly opened the chamber of his revolver and began setting the bullets inside one by one.

Click.

The metallic sound echoed heavily in the silence between them.

A dangerous smile played on his lips as he spun the chamber lazily.

"And trust me..." he murmured darkly, "some distances are better left uncrossed."

The air turned suffocatingly heavy.

Neither of them blinked.

Neither of them looked away.

Two predators standing face to face-both dangerous enough to destroy cities, yet calm enough to smile while doing it.

Agastya's men instantly pulled out their weapons after noticing the revolver in Aarav's hand. The sharp sound of guns being loaded echoed around the deserted road.

But Aarav did not even spare them a glance.

His attention remained fixed on Agastya alone.

Then suddenly-

He laughed.

Low.

Mocking.

Almost insulting.

"You really think I came here unprepared?" Aarav asked softly while jumping down from the hood of the SUV. His expensive shoes touched the ground with deliberate slowness. "Disappointing."

Agastya's jaw hardened.

"And you talk too much," he replied coldly.

Aarav smirked. "Only when the listener is worth insulting."

The surrounding men stiffened.

Everyone knew one wrong sentence was enough to start a bloodbath.

But before anyone could react, Aarav casually raised his revolver-

And pointed it directly at Agastya's forehead.

The guards immediately aimed their guns at Aarav.

Safety locks clicked open.

Finger on triggers.

One move.

Just one move and bullets would rain everywhere.

Yet Aarav stood there fearlessly, as though death itself bowed before him.

Agastya stared straight into his eyes.

Cold.

Emotionless.

Deadly.

Then slowly... a dark smile appeared on Agastya's lips.

"You know what I like about you, Singhania?" he asked quietly.

Aarav raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You are brave enough to stand in front of me." Agastya stepped closer toward the barrel of the gun without fear. "But stupid enough to think you'll walk away afterward."

For the first time, Aarav's smile disappeared slightly.

Not fear.

But interest.

As if he had finally found someone equally insane.

The wind blew harshly between them while tension crackled in the air like wildfire waiting for a spark.

Suddenly

A phone started ringing inside Aarav's pocket.

At the exact same moment-

Agastya's phone rang too.

Both men froze for a fraction of a second.

The sharp ringtone sliced through the deadly silence surrounding them.

Their eyes narrowed simultaneously.

Because only a handful of people possessed numbers capable of interrupting moments like this.

Slowly, Aarav lowered his revolver.

And Agastya gestured his men to stop.

The guards hesitantly backed away, though their fingers still remained tightly wrapped around their weapons.

Without taking his eyes off Aarav, Agastya pulled out his phone.

Aarav did the same.

And the moment both of them looked at their screens-

Their expressions darkened instantly.

The mockery vanished.

The arrogance disappeared.

Only danger remained.

A deadly silence stretched between them before Aarav finally answered the call.

"Yes, Daddu..."

The coldness in his voice disappeared instantly, replaced by restrained respect. He listened quietly for a few seconds before shutting his eyes in irritation.

"But Daddu-"

The old man clearly interrupted him again.

Aarav exhaled sharply and pinched the bridge of his nose while glaring at Agastya as though the very sight of him was testing his patience.

A humorless laugh escaped his lips.

"Fine." He nodded once. "Only because you asked."

Then his eyes darkened dangerously as they locked onto Agastya.

"I'm leaving him alive this time."

The words were calm.

But the threat hidden beneath them was enough to make the surrounding men stiffen.

Aarav disconnected the call before slowly spinning the revolver around his finger.

Then a mocking smirk appeared on his face again.

"Looks like fate is favouring you today, Raizada."

He walked backward toward the black SUV before opening the door.

"But don't misunderstand this mercy as weakness." His voice turned cold again. "The next time we meet..."

He paused.

A deadly smile curved on his lips.

"One of us is definitely dying."

And with that-

He gave a sarcastic little nod.

"Okay... bye."

The SUV roared to life seconds later and disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind suffocating silence... and an unusually still Agastya Raizada.

Agastya shooked his head while looking at the moving car.

"Sir.... Your Phone...."Shaurya interrupted his focus from the black SUV which has left there sight.

Agastya shook his head slightly while staring at the black SUV disappearing into the darkness.

His jaw remained clenched.

Eyes cold.

Mind disturbed for the very first time in years.

The sound of footsteps approached cautiously.

"Sir... your phone..." Shaurya spoke carefully, pulling his focus away from the SUV that had already vanished from their sight.

Agastya blinked once before lowering his gaze toward the phone still vibrating in his hand.

The screen flashed one name repeatedly.

Chachu.

A faint sigh escaped his lips before he answered the call.

"Yes, Chachu."

His voice carried calm indifference, completely opposite to Aarav's irritated tone earlier.

The moment the call connected, an angry voice blasted through the speaker loudly enough for even Shaurya to hear bits of the scolding.

Agastya moved the phone slightly away from his ear with an annoyed expression.

"He's alive," he said flatly.

Another furious outburst came from the other side.

Agastya closed his eyes briefly before rubbing his forehead.

"You people behave as if I shot him already."

Shaurya coughed awkwardly behind him because technically-his boss absolutely looked ready to do exactly that a few minutes ago.

The scolding continued.

Then suddenly Agastya smirked faintly.

"Fine." He nodded slowly. "I stopped."

A pause.

His expression changed the moment Myra's name was mentioned from the other side.

The amusement disappeared instantly.

Only darkness remained.

Dangerous.

Obsessive.

Unstable.

"I know she left Amsterdam," Agastya replied quietly while staring at the empty highway ahead.

His grip around the phone tightened slightly.

"And this time..."

A slow smile spread across his lips.

"She won't escape me again."

He cut the call abruptly.

"Sir... why was Aarav sir here?" Shaurya finally asked cautiously, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer.

"Nothing. That bastard is insane." Agastya replied sarcastically while slipping his phone back into his pocket. "He probably got another mental attack and came here just to create chaos."

Shaurya shook his head helplessly.

Honestly, after witnessing the entire confrontation, he was no longer sure which one of them was actually crazier.

Meanwhile, in Amsterdam-

Myra sat silently inside her private jet, fingers tapping restlessly against the armrest as worry clouded her usually composed face.

The jet was ready for takeoff.

But she wasn't.

Her eyes kept scanning the cabin again and again, as if something fragile had slipped away from her care.

Then-

A tiny sound broke the silence.

"Chirp..."

Myra froze.

She slowly leaned forward and listened again.

"Chirp... chirp..."

Instantly, relief washed over her face.

"Don't tell me you were hiding there," she whispered, quickly bending down.

Carefully, she reached under the seat and pulled out a tiny baby penguin.

It blinked up at her with round, innocent eyes, its soft fluffy down slightly ruffled from hiding. Its small flippers wiggled in protest as if annoyed at being discovered.

Myra let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"There you are..."

She gathered it gently into her arms, holding it close against her chest like something extremely precious.

"You scared me," she murmured, her voice softening completely. "Do you have any idea how long I was looking for you?"

The baby penguin tilted its head slightly, staring at her before letting out another tiny chirp.

As if answering.

As if apologizing.

Myra's lips curved into a helpless smile.

"You think this is funny?" she whispered, lightly booping its beak with her finger.

The penguin blinked slowly... then snuggled deeper into her warmth, completely calm now.

Myra exhaled softly, brushing her thumb over its fluffy head.

"Pipi..." she said gently, her voice turning affectionate, "don't hide from me like that again. I can handle a lot of things... but not losing you."

The baby penguin made a soft, content sound and pressed itself closer, finally falling quiet in her arms.

And for the first time since stepping onto that jet-

Myra looked peaceful.

For a brief moment, all the chaos in her life-names, empires, threats, obsessions-faded into silence.

Only the soft weight of warmth in her arms remained.

She gently stroked the tiny baby penguin's head, watching its round eyes blink at her in slow confusion.

A soft smile curved her lips.

"Are you ready to meet your dadda?"

The question was spoken so casually... so naturally... as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

The baby penguin blinked.

Once.

Then twice.

"...Pipi."

Myra tilted her head slightly, as if seriously expecting an answer.

"You'll like him," she continued softly, adjusting her hold as the penguin snuggled deeper into her warmth. "He looks scary... but he's not always scary."

Pipi blinked again.

Very slowly.

As if processing emotional trauma it did not sign up for.

Myra chuckled under her breath.

"Yes, yes... I know," she said, as if the penguin had complained. "He does glare a lot. And yes... he acts like he owns the world."

The penguin let out a tiny chirp.

Myra gasped lightly.

"Oh? You agree?"

Pipi immediately buried its face into her palm like it wanted no part in this conversation anymore.

Myra's smile softened further.

"Relax," she whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to its fluffy head. "He won't scare you."

A pause.

Then, almost like an afterthought, she added quietly-

"...he only scares people who try to take what he considers his."

The cabin lights flickered faintly as the jet shifted slightly on the runway.

Outside, the world waited.

Distance. Cities. Emotions. War.

But inside the cabin, Myra only held her tiny companion closer.

"And you," she murmured, brushing her thumb over Pipi's head again, "are mine first."

Pipi blinked once more...

And this time, very slowly closed its eyes-choosing peace over understanding.

Fear quietly settled inside my chest as I looked down at Pipi sleeping peacefully in my arms.

What would his next step be?

That man was unpredictable.

Dangerous.

And when Agastya Singh Raizada decided he wanted something, the world itself bent around his obsession.

My fingers gently stroked Pipi's soft head while countless thoughts clouded my mind.

Would he accept us peacefully?

Or would his darkness consume everything again?

I lowered my gaze silently.

For the first time in a long while...

I was scared.

Not for myself.

But for this tiny life depending on me.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I held Pipi closer against my chest.

"I just hope..." I whispered quietly, almost to myself, "that he chooses to be gentle with us this time."

My throat tightened slightly.

"I hope he becomes more considerate..."

My eyes drifted toward the jet window where only endless dark clouds surrounded us.

"...more loving."

Because no matter how terrifying Agastya was-

A small part of my heart still longed for the man hidden beneath all that destruction.

And maybe that was my biggest weakness of all.

Some translations for English readers are provided below for a better understanding of the dialogues and cultural terms used in the story.

Daddu- Grandfather

Chachu- Uncle( Basically here it is referred to his father's brother)

Dadda- Father