The grand chandelier in Rajput Mansion gleamed in the dim light of the study, casting elongated shadows across the massive wooden desk where Vikram Rajput sat, his fingers nervously drumming against the polished surface. The air in the room was thick with tension, a silent storm brewing as the weight of his predicament pressed down on him like an iron shackle. Across from him, seated in an imposing leather chair, was the man who held his fate in his hands—Reyansh Rajvansh.
Reyansh, the infamous King of the Underworld and the business tycoon of Udaipur, leaned back, his cold, calculating eyes fixed on Vikram with an expression of complete indifference. He exuded power and dominance, his mere presence enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. Vikram swallowed hard, his throat dry as he struggled to find the right words.
"Mr. Rajvansh, I— I just need some more time. I will repay every single penny," Vikram stammered, his voice laced with desperation.
Reyansh raised an eyebrow, his fingers rhythmically tapping against the armrest. "Time? Time is a luxury, Mr. Rajput. A luxury you no longer have. The deadline was yesterday."
Vikram felt the room closing in on him. He had exhausted every possible way to gather the money, but his failing business and gambling debts had left him completely ruined. The amount he owed Reyansh was no small sum, and he knew very well what happened to those who failed to repay.
"Please, I beg you. Just a little longer. You know my family name, the Rajput's have always—"
Reyansh's lips curled into a smirk. "Your family name means nothing to me, Mr. Rajput. Business is business, and debts must be paid. Or do you expect me to set a precedent by allowing you to escape the consequences?"
A shiver ran down Vikram's spine. He had heard the stories—of men who had dared to defy Reyansh Rajvansh and had vanished without a trace. He couldn't afford to be one of them. His mind raced, searching for something, anything that could buy him time.
Then, in his desperation, an idea struck him—a vile, unforgivable idea. His hands clenched into fists under the table as he battled with his conscience, but his survival instinct won. Clearing his throat, he straightened up.
"What if... what if I could offer something else? Something valuable?" Vikram hesitated before continuing, lowering his voice. "Something that would be of interest to you?"
Reyansh's expression remained unreadable, but a flicker of curiosity passed through his dark eyes. "And what might that be?"
Vikram licked his dry lips. "My daughter, Avni."
A heavy silence fell over the room, thick and suffocating.
Reyansh's jaw tightened, his gaze turning icy. "Your daughter?" His voice was dangerously quiet, laced with an undercurrent of menace.
Vikram nodded hurriedly. "She is young, well-educated, beautiful—"
"Silence." The single word, spoken in a low, lethal tone, made Vikram flinch.
Reyansh rose from his chair, his towering frame exuding authority as he took slow, deliberate steps toward Vikram. "Do you take me for a man who deals in flesh, Rajput? That I would consider this pathetic excuse of an offer?"
Vikram paled. "No, no! That's not what I meant, Mr. Rajvansh. I only meant... an alliance. A marriage. You are a businessman, and you know the strength of ties through marriage. She—she would be your wife, your responsibility. In exchange, my debt would be cleared."
Reyansh narrowed his eyes, his mind processing the audacity of the man before him. A forced marriage was not something he had ever entertained, but he wasn't blind to the potential advantages. The Rajput name, despite its declining fortune, still held some sway in high society. An obedient wife would mean no distractions, no emotional entanglements.
But more than anything, it was the principle of the matter that irked him. To barter one's own daughter like a commodity—it disgusted him.
"You are a coward, Mr. Rajput," Reyansh said, his voice laced with disdain. "A man who would sacrifice his own flesh and blood to save himself."
Vikram had no words. He lowered his head, his shame evident, but he didn't withdraw the offer. He couldn't. He had no other way.
Reyansh exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Get out."
Vikram looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "Does that mean you'll consider—"
"I said, get out." Reyansh's voice was final, brooking no argument.
Vikram scrambled to his feet and left, his heart hammering. He had done what he had to do. Now, all he could do was wait.
Meanwhile, unaware of the sinister deal being made in the shadows, Avni Rajput sat in her room, engrossed in a book. She had always been different from her family—where they chased status and wealth, she sought simplicity and happiness. A Chartered Accountant by profession, she worked tirelessly, not for luxuries, but to carve a life of her own choosing.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was her elder brother, Veer, the only person in her family who truly cared for her.
"Hey, Avni," his voice came through warmly. "How was your day?"
She smiled. "Busy as usual. What about you?"
"The same. Listen, I wanted to check on you. Dad has been acting strange lately. You know how reckless he can be with money."
Avni sighed. "I know, Veer. But what can we do? He never listens."
Veer hesitated before saying, "Just... be careful, Avni. I have a bad feeling."
Avni brushed off the unease that crept into her heart. She had no idea that her life was about to take a turn she could never have imagined.
And soon, she would come face to face with the man who would change her world forever—Reyansh Rajvansh.
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