Heer stood there as she blinked away the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

She is used to it.

To people degrading her, to them always being at her throat, ready to choke her, but this—this feels like a loss.

Ayansh, who had protected her in childhood.

Ayansh, who had wiped the tears off her cheek when she had been hiding in the dark, now raised his hand to her.

Heer is tired.

Too tired.

She left the washroom as her legs threatened to give out.

The terrace was calm. The wind felt like a comforting hug wrapped around her as she looked up at the sky; today the clouds had been dark due to the rain last night.

Heer looked up at the sky as a raindrop fell on her cheek.

“Heer misses you, dadda. Your daughter misses you.”

Heer asked, her lashes wet now; she didn't know if it was from tears or raindrops. She just knew that her heart felt heavy, craving a love she didn't get.

The love of a father and mother.

“Mama, my mama. I am sorry. Heer is sorry. I couldn't protect Rudra, but I promise I will find out where he is and burn everything to the ground. The world has hurt us, and I will burn it.”

Heer promised in her heart as the raindrops became heavy, wetting her clothes. The rhythm of it soothed something inside her as if her mama was comforting her from the shadows.

“I wonder how father looked,” Heer wondered.

She doesn't remember her mother, as she and her brother were only little when they were separated from him.

Stolen by Adyant Khanna, the father of Ayansh.

Adyant had always been obsessed with her mother, Asmita, who had waged war just to get her. A war that had changed the lives of every man known to the underworld.

A war that had stolen the breath of hundreds, or maybe thousands.

The war lasted for one year.

And it changed the fates of many.

Destiny had separated blood from blood.

A pair of hands wrapped around her waist, the masculine scent filled her breath, and she knew who it was.

Her tormentor, her forced husband.

“Didn't know you would like to get your hands dirty by touching a maid,” Heer murmured loud enough for Aryaveer to hear.

“The maid is my wife,” Aryaveer whispered against her ear.

“Your wife is murdered.”

His grip on her waist tightened as the rainwater poured down their bodies. Heer shivered.

Heer turned around in his arms and came face to face with him, and Aryaveer froze.

Her doe-like electric blue orbs and wet lashes made something in his heart soften.

“Arya,” Heer whispered.

Aryaveer stilled; his hand now went to her cheek.

“Say that again,” Aryaveer demanded.

“It, Arya,” Heer replied in a small voice.

“What hurts?” Aryaveer asked.

“Everything,” Heer replied.

“Good. Let it hurt; there is more pain for you. I had planned to make you suffer in a way you will never recover from,” Aryaveer spat, removing his hand from her cheek.

“I know.”

Her voice was small, fragile.

Like she was not a monster who had stolen his peace from him.

“Your eyes,” Aryaveer murmurs as if deep in thought.

Heer turned to go, but her leg slipped.

Aryaveer caught her before she fell.

And his eyes went to her cheek, which was red and had a handprint on it.

“Who did this?” Aryaveer growled, his veins bulging in his neck.

“None of your business,” Heer spat.

“You are my fucking business, and no one can hurt you except me,” Aryaveer growled.

Heer left.

_____________

Mahira sat in the luxurious living room of AR Mansion, a smile plastered on her lips as she clutched the arms of her husband, who was sitting beside her, her eyes fixed on the man in front of her.

Her ruthlessly protective brother, Aryaveer.

“You took my sister,” Aryaveer stated, his hand clenched into a fist as if bracing himself not to strike the man in front of her.

“I love her,” Ayansh declared.

“You manipulated her. You fucker,” Aryaveer shouted; he was already on his feet, ready to strike, but Mahira blocked his way.

“Bhai, no, please. I love him, and he didn't do anything to me. See, I am completely fine.”

“You don't know anything, Mahi. Man is a vicious creature. You don't know when they will spread their poison into you. They are just animals,” Aryaveer claimed.

“Just like you,” Ayansh smirked.

“Yeah, we both are monsters. But I protect my family from the other monsters,” Aryaveer stated.

“You took my sister too, Mr. Raizada. Don't forget that. I can also wage war against you. But I didn't because I know we both will have our own destruction if it happens,” Ayansh expressed.

“I am not afraid of any destruction or bloodshed. I can burn the world for my sister,” Aryaveer growled.

“Right now, you are burning yourself for nothing,” Ayansh rasped.

Soft footsteps caught their attention as Heer appeared with a tray of tea and snacks; her maid's outfit clung to her like a shackle.

Ayansh's jaw tightened.

Heer placed the tray on the table and served a cup of tea to Aryaveer first, then to Ayansh.

She picked another cup to hand to Mahira, but Mahira flipped the cup onto herself and screamed.

A panicked Ayansh picked up the mug and poured cold water on her hand and lap to soothe the burns.

Aryaveer was already calling for a doctor.

Heer stood there, her hands trembling.

“Stupid bitch can't even do a thing properly. Go back to your room,” Aryaveer spat.

Heer just looked.

Her heart clenched.

Mahira had everything Heer had ever craved for.

A family who loves her.

Who cares for her.

She was cared for when she was hurt.

And Heer?

Heer was blamed when she was hurt.

Heer was beaten more when she screamed in pain.

Heer was unloved more when she craved love.

Love is pathetic.

______________