ꜱʜᴀɴɢʜᴀɪ, ᴄʜɪɴᴀ
ʙᴀɪ ᴍᴀɴꜱɪᴏɴ
ɪɴ ʙᴇᴅʀᴏᴏᴍ
Standing in shower I shut my eyes.
A long sigh escaping my lips.
Shutting eyes sight of him once again linger in my eyes.
Is it really love or a curse?
No matter how much I try to forget he doesn't go away from my mind.
Not even for once he goes away.
How is it love, if it hurts me so much.
I have accepted my fate. But is this really my fate.
Is this what you have in destiny Natu.
KASHI
The water hit her skin like a quiet shock—neither cold nor warm, just enough to remind her she was still here. Kashi stood beneath the stream longer than necessary, letting it run down her spine, washing over her arms like a baptism she hadn't asked for.
The steam curled around her like a ghost, clinging to her thoughts, her skin, her breath. She didn't cry. Not anymore. But her silence was heavier than pain.
She stepped out of the bathroom, and the mirror seemed to be fogged. She wiped it off with her hands, bangles in her hand tinkling.
Kashi walked into the master bedroom; nothing seemed to have changed. The same coldness seemed to be intensifying on her.
She stood in front of the vanity console, the gesture slow - she stared at the mirror, smiling no matter what seemed to happen in her life.
She would always smile.
She had learned it from none other than her mother, Kalyani.
She remembered the words her mother once said '' Kashi bacha, no matter how many struggles you face, pain you go through. Never lose this smile on your face, it is what makes you, YOU''
She remembered the words and smiled brightly.
She moved happily, putting on the golden blouse with quiet precision - no matter what, she seemed to enjoy her time alone.
That is how she was despite the pain she went through, she never stopper smiling. AFTER all it was her logic,she might not want to smile but there are people who would love to see her smile and that how she didn't want to upset other people and chose their happiness before hers.
It was a silent gesture not to show off but she just did it.
She shifted the blouse on her chest, keeping it modest. She picked the yellow saree, with elegance - she pleated the saree around waist.
Her small belly piercing glinted in the light.
She picked the box made of gold, she seemed to be staring at it as if getting a deja vu.
Kashi dipped her slender fingers in the sindoor gold box. She shut her eyes instinctively and moved her fingers dipped in sindoor in her hair parting.
As she leaned close to the mirror, her small nose ring glisting in the lighting
Then, pausing for a moment, she opened her eyes, staring at her reflection in the large mirror. Her bangles and payal seemed to be tinkling with each movement she made, her mangalsutra resting on her collarbone.
Her saree made her look more beautiful than she was.
Then, finally, she combed her hair gently, long shiny hair going all the way down her waist, making her look no less than a goddess.
She put kajal in her eyes with calmness.
This wasn't new. She was used to it. Getting ready all alone in front of the vanity every morning complementing herself even though she hoped like in those soap operas - her husband would sit on the bed admiring her while she got ready for him and only him.
It was a sweet dream, the one which could never be true that what she thought so.
A little red lipstick and a black bindi add to the touch on her look.
Then she stared at herself in the mirror. Suddenly, she leaned in close, staring at herself.
"Wow," she murmured, her voice velvet-soft but full of smug amusement. "How is it legal to look this good first thing in the morning?"
She giggled softly, staring at her reflection, a little tint appearing on her cheeks.
"You're lucky, truly," Kashi told her reflection. "To wake up and see me every day."
And this is how she found happiness in herself, when she didn't find it from the people she wanted.
Everyone around thought she was a woman surrounded by sadness, seeing she was stuck in a loveless marriage.
Depressed. That what people thought she was in pain of not being cared by her own husband.
But she was unbothered queen.
No matter what happened in her life, she loved herself more than anything.
This is what she was, a selfless woman, who didn't believe in revenge, yet she knew karma would get those who ever hurt her. She believed in her god, in her Nataraja. That always looked after her and wouldn't let her suffer when it wasn't her fault.
And without another word, she turned away, the pallu of her saree swaying behind her, footsteps steady as she walked out the door and down into the morning.
She walked through the large hallways, guards greeting her respectfully all the time, they would keep their gaze low, never look at her.
She didn't know why, but she always wondered why they would even do that.
It was almost like they were scared to look at her.
As she walked by the stairs, she found herself thinking about what Vishakha had called her for, and suddenly her heart began racing.
She rushes downstairs, not caring if she falls. She didn't care; all she wanted to know was that it was that important that Vishakha was about to tell her.
Suddenly.
Just as she turned the curve of the staircase, her heel caught the edge of a step—an innocent miscalculation, one heartbeat off.
Her foot twisted.
The world tilted around her.
She gasped, sound caught halfway in her throat.
Her eyes going shut instinctively, waiting for the cold marble floor to hit her.
Her heart beating faster, almost scared, waiting for the fall.
But it never came.
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ᴍᴜᴍʙᴀɪ, ɪɴᴅɪᴀ
ꜱᴏʜᴏ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ᴍᴜᴍʙᴀɪ
EKAKSH.
Ekaksh stood there by the rooftop bar, his jaw clenched.
If it were someone else, he would have killed them by now.
But here he was getting annoyed by his brother. He didn't want any of this. He wanted to do it alone, for once wanting his father to believe him.
So they would think of him as someone worth it and capable of handling the business.
All he wanted to show was that he is a true deewan.
His eyes were fixed on the man who walked towards him.
If Ekaksh was stillness wrapped in smoke, Aksh was a storm in tailored silence.
He didn't ask for the space, but the rooms were adjusted according to him. He was a shadow that would stay invisible but create a storm such without leaving any traces that would leave people shocked.
The two brothers stood shoulder to shoulder — similar jawlines, same sharp gaze, but where Ekaksh carried silence like a blade, Aksh carried it like armor. Both unshakable. Both untouchable. One fire was held back. One ice is refusing to melt.
''You didn't have to come, Bhai'' Ekaksh said, his voice full of frustration and respect.
Aksh didn't speak, just sipped on his drink that the bartender had just prepared.
''You didn't trust me to do it, Bhai. And then you say I trust you the most, Ekaksh. Ekaksh's voice carried a hint of vulnerability and mostly hurt he felt, his brother not trusting him.
Aksh finally looked, sensing the hurt in Ekaksh's voice. Something in him stirred; he couldn't take it, seeing his brother hurt because of him. '' I trust you, Ekaksh, more than anything, and you know that. But I don't trust them not to backstab you, and when they do, I will be there.''
Aksh's words screamed only one thing. '' I'm not here to take your moment, but I will be behind you, as your shield if something happens.
Ekaksh nods, not knowing what to say, but relieved by Aksh's words.
''When the hell are they even gonna come''? Aksh asks, frustrated and wanting the work done as soon as possible.
''I have no idea, they should have been here by now....'' Ekaksh says, his voice carrying the same frustration.
Ekaksh couldn't shake the feeling of insecurity; he wasn't enough and couldn't do things on his own.
He excused himself and went to the washroom. Aksh nodded, but felt something was wrong. Sighing, he keeps standing by the counter, sipping his drink.
He glanced once at his brother.
Ekaksh was walking toward the washroom corridor, movements sharp, shoulders tight with everything he hadn't said. Aksh didn't follow. He knew better than to chase pride when it needed space.
So he stayed.
Aksh's gaze stayed fixed on Ekaksh retreating form.
His attention shifted from Ekaksh to the dance floor of the club followed by the angry shouts of a woman that seemed too familliar to be ignored.
As he tilted his head, his dark eyes scanning through the dance floor.
As he spots a familiar figure.
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𝐏𝐔𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓
𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐀𝐈
𝟓:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌
𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘
BAI MINSHENG
Bai Minsheng stood at the heart of Shanghai's bustling airport, his polished shoes gleaming beneath the fluorescent lights. The dark blue suit made him look handsome as hell, his brown eyes seemed as cold as his personality, shoes clicking against the floor a sign of power held against the city.
His cold eyes scanned against the crowd with a precision which he had learned through years in the brutal mafia training.
As passerby passed by him, he could see their head tilt in nod - a sign of respect they held for him.
He could only give them nod of acknowledgment. No smile. No softness in his eyes, it was long ago something like that was seen on his face.
Some were intimitaded by his aura and tall figure while some were in fear. Women passed couldn't help but stare intimated by him, it wasn't something new he was used to it, women throwing themselves at him but he didn't care and he didn't even look like a usual man would after getting such attention from women
His fingers brushed the cool fabric of his lapel, a subtle reminder of the importance of appearance. Everything about him was meticulously composed. His tie was perfectly knotted, his cufflinks catching the light in a way that suggested a level of wealth that was neither flaunted nor hidden. It was simply there, like an inherent part of him.
Suddenly he lifted his hand turning it towards his palm his diamond ring glinting in the light. Wedding Ring.
And all the women drooling over him, their face turned that off embrassement and shame. They had been so much distracted by his handsome face that made women weak all the time
They hadn't thought so he would have been married and at that point jealousy was surfaced all over their face.
All they could think about was, who would be so fearless and controlling to claim the one and only BAI MINSHENG - THE MAN WHO OWNS SHANGHAI BY HIS FIST.
It is not later they realise, him lifting his hand isn't just a normal gesture. Its his gesture, a intentional one, the one that portrays his loyalty to his wife.
His wife, a woman who stays mystery to the world, she was everything every woman who threw themselves at him wished they could be her.
HIS WIFE.
MRS BAI.
As he exited the airport, there stood black line of SUVs sent by none other than his grandfather. Something he had expected and he wasn't surprised. It was a gesture he was long gone and his grandfather missed him, missed his boy.
He gave a short curt nod to his men and made his way inside the SUV. Before he even processed his men stood opening door for him. Standing beside him like they were protecting him from a enemy. But it wasn't such thing. This was normal he knew they would die for him and they to choose this life and he respected them for it.
Even though they would give away their life anytime for him, he always made sure to keep his men safe.
Normally a person would get emotional, overwhelmed with feelings but this wasn't someone normal. It was none other than BAI MINSHENG.
He didn't knew emotions, he didn't understand them.
All he knew was business, knives and violence. He could make deals in his sleep and use the knives by the back of his hand but emotions?
Never......
Just then, his best man Li walked in the car. His movements calculated and precise just like his boss.
He gave a nod to Li.
Li shoulders tense now now relaxed as he sat down on comfortable seats of the car.
''BOSS,I have a news for you, something that might shock you.....'' Li tried to be calm but he could he be.
Since the day he had worked for BAI MINSHENG, he had found his boss words to be always true but today somehow that was not the case.
Matters were personal and Li feared, it would anger his boss more than anything. He knew very well his boss hated being wrong.
When things didn't go the way he imagined or the way he wanted them to be.
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ᴍᴜᴍʙᴀɪ, ɪɴᴅɪᴀ
ᴅᴇᴇᴡᴀɴ ᴍᴀɴꜱɪᴏɴ
Kalyani stood in the middle of Deewan mansion. The space was beautiful yet something that didn't fascinate her anymore. She had been seeing it since many years and being born to one of the richest doctors in country and being married to only heir to Deewans, money didn't amaze her anymore.
But today once again her eyes gazed at them as passing time, wanting to just go by.
Kalyani seemed to be staring at the main door of the mansion as if waiting for someone to enter.
It was indeed true she was waiting for her sons - Ekaksh and Aksh to come back home, who were long gone to seal a deal.
She was usually calm composed woman but today her eyes held a worry all that was their her eyes reflecting a worry a mother held for her sons.
Her sons - who were old enough to look after themselves but she was their mother in her eyes they were just little boys who once used to love to sleep on her chest all the time, play with her hair and roamed around the entire mansion giving a hard time to maids and the staff.
Remembering the moments her eyes got little misty yet there was a hint of nostalgia. For a second all she wished was for those moments to come back and but then she knew her sons - her apple of eyes were grown up now.
They were leading their own lives, taking over the family business.
Yet she knew business in their family included violence and most of the time ended in blood shed. She knew she couldn't stop her sons from not going to business meetings or from sealing deals.
After all they were destined to take over the business.
That is what they dreamed of.
To be a true businessman
A true Deewan
Competing at their best to be like their father.
At the thought of this she remembered her husband none other than ANSH DEEWAN
ANSH DEEWAN
The only man she hated and loved at the same time but he has betrayed her not once but twice.
She knew she should go to her husband and ask him about where the boys were.
But she would not each time he came across her, all she felt was hurt he had given her years ago.
The face of other woman with him lingered and was imprinted in every inch of her. She hated the fact that she stayed, that she loved him.
When world was against her marrying him, she had been there. She had supported him but all she got was betrayal.
Going to her husband and ask about the boys would be last option. Even tho she knew he would know very well.
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By InkandIvoryWritess
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