The air in the courtyard was thick with the scent of marigolds and burning sandalwood, a deceptive sweetness masking the tension that hung between the two families. Lantern light flickered over silk-clad figures, their hushed voices carrying rumors of alliances and betrayals. The year was 1905, and the underworld of Bombay thrived beneath the surface of colonial rule, where power was measured in blood, gold, and whispered secrets.
Aditi Rao stood poised at the edge of the grand haveli's veranda, her silk sari wrapped in a perfect drape of defiance. She was the daughter of Vikram Rao, one of Bombay's most feared crime lords. Yet tonight, she was not just a daughter—she was a pawn in a game played by men who believed they owned the city.
Her dark eyes burned as they locked onto the man standing across the courtyard.
Veer Malhotra.
The son of her father's greatest rival. The man she had sworn to despise.
Tall, broad-shouldered, with a presence that demanded attention, Veer was draped in a sherwani as dark as his reputation. His sharp jaw was set in stone, but his eyes held the same fire that had challenged hers since they were children.
"Veer," she greeted, voice smooth as silk, laced with the sharpness of a dagger.
"Aditi," he returned, stepping forward, his boots silent against the marble floor. "I hear congratulations are in order."
Her fingers curled against the cool brass railing. "For what?"
His smirk was infuriating. "For your engagement."
The words struck like a blow. Her father had sealed her fate with another man—a union meant to strengthen their family's hold over the city. But Veer was here, standing too close, his presence unraveling her carefully composed mask.
"You must be mistaken," she said coldly.
"I rarely am." His gaze flickered to her father, who stood deep in conversation with a British officer. "But I suppose you already know that."
Aditi lifted her chin. "Why are you here, Veer?"
He leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. "Because this city is on the verge of war, and when the dust settles, I will not be the one left bleeding."
She swallowed, pulse quickening. "And you think I will?"
He smiled, but there was no kindness in it. "I think you have more to lose than I do, Aditi. And that makes you my enemy."
The music swelled, guests oblivious to the silent battle between them. But Aditi knew one truth—she was not afraid of Veer Malhotra.
She was afraid of what his presence would mean for the fragile balance of their world.
Next Chapter Teaser: The city's underworld erupts in violence, forcing Aditi and Veer into an uneasy truce. But with betrayal lurking in every shadow, can they truly trust each other—or will their hatred be the very thing that destroys them?