03-03-2026, 10:37 AM
(CHAPTER CONTD)
Morning came in Noordwijk as sunlight started to penetrate the cold fog of the always breezing city. Inside Pranitha's suite was mostly silent except the sound of some sort of slurping. Hemant was deep in his sleep when slowly he was gaining consciousness from his sleep. The first sensation was a warm, wet pressure, a gentle suction that pulled him from the depths of a sated sleep. Hemant groaned, a low, guttural sound of pure pleasure as consciousness returned. His morning erection was engulfed in a familiar, wonderful heat. He cracked his eyes open to see the top of Pranitha’s head bobbing slowly between his legs, her dark hair spilling over his thighs.
She looked up, her lips stretched around his girth, and her eyes crinkled with a smile. She released him with a soft pop.
"Good morning, Handsome!" she purred, her voice husky with sleep and desire.
She gave his shaft a slow, languid stroke.
"You handled both me and these starlets quiet wonderfully yesterday. Both our Bollywood stars. I am very impressed"
Hemant let out a breathy laugh, his hips lifting slightly, seeking more of her mouth.
"You’re doing a much better job right now" he managed, his voice thick.
"Are you sure about that?"
The voice, playful and laced with a hint of challenge, came from his other side. Alia emerged from the tangle of sheets, her nude body glowing in the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. She stretched like a cat, her small, perfect breasts lifting, before she slid down the bed to join Pranitha. Her eyes, bright and mischievous, locked onto his cock, glistening with Pranitha’s saliva.
"Mind if we share?"
Alia asked, not waiting for an answer as she nudged Pranitha playfully with her shoulder.
"He’s got enough to go around"
"Just don’t be greedy" Pranitha chuckled and nodded, shifting to make room.
What followed was a dizzying, overwhelming assault on his senses. Pranitha took him first, giving a few deep, loving bobs, her tongue flat against his underside. Then Alia moved in, her approach more audacious. She opened her mouth wide and, in one smooth, practiced motion, swallowed him whole. Hemant gasped as the head of his cock nudged the back of her throat. She held it there, her eyes watering slightly, before pulling back with a wet, slurping sound, a string of saliva connecting her lips to his tip.
"Fuck" he hissed, his hands fisting in the sheets.
The dual sensation—Pranitha’s loving expertise and Alia’s bold, deep-throating hunger—was almost too much to process. His abs tightened, his entire body coiling with the intense, building pleasure.
Then he felt a soft hand on his chest, a gentle weight settling against his side. He turned his head to see Kiara, awake now, her doe eyes soft and affectionate. She smiled and leaned in, pressing her lips to his in a deep, slow, morning kiss. She tasted of sleep and something sweet. When she pulled back, she nuzzled his neck.
"I loved the way you sucked my breasts last night" she confessed, her whisper a warm breath against his skin.
"The way your mouth felt… I couldn’t stop thinking about it"
Without another word, she shifted, straddling his chest. She leaned forward, bringing one of her small, perfect breasts to his lips. The dusky pink nipple was already pebbled and hard. Hemant obliged eagerly, taking it into his mouth, sucking gently, then with more firmness, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak. A soft, shuddering sigh escaped Kiara.
"I should… I should be pleasuring you all" Hemant mumbled around her flesh, his words muffled.
Kiara shook her head, her fingers threading through his hair.
"No" she breathed.
"We’re tired. Deliciously, wonderfully tired. You worked so hard for us last night. This… this morning is for you. A thank you"
She gasped as he switched to her other breast, his teeth grazing lightly over the nipple.
As if on cue, Kiara slid down his body, joining the two women already working on his cock. Now there were three. Three sets of lips, three talented tongues, three beautiful, famous women vying for a taste of him. The visual alone was nearly enough to push him over the edge. Pranitha took the base, her lips sealing around his shaft, sucking firmly. Alia claimed the middle, her mouth a wet, tight ring as she bobbed rapidly. Kiara, shy but determined, focused on the sensitive head, her kitten-like licks and gentle sucks sending shivers up his spine.
The sensations merged into one continuous, electrifying current of bliss. He was losing himself, drowning in a sea of wet warmth and soft murmurs. He could feel the orgasm building, a tidal wave gathering force deep in his core.
"I’m… I’m close" he grunted, the warning torn from him.
The women understood. In a coordinated, silent agreement, they pulled back. Pranitha took his shaft in her hand, her grip firm and knowing. She began to jerk him, rough and fast, her fist a blur. Alia cupped his heavy balls in her mouth, sucking gently on the sac, her tongue swirling. Kiara and Pranitha leaned in, and for a breathtaking second, they kissed each other, their lips meeting right over the weeping tip of his cock, their tongues dancing as a droplet of his pre-cum smeared between them.
That image—the ultimate act of shared devotion—was his undoing.
"NOW!" he roared.
His body arched off the bed as the first spurt erupted. It was a powerful, thick rope that shot across the short distance and splashed across Pranitha’s cheek, white against her skin. The second followed instantly, and then it was like a hose had been unleashed. Pranitha, grinning wickedly, angled his pulsing cock. She directed the next violent jet to the left, painting Alia’s surprised, beautiful face with a streak of his cum. Without pause, she swung to the right, and Kiara’s delicate features were plastered with the warm, sticky fluid.
Hemant’s vision whited out. He groaned, long and deep, as his body convulsed through the most powerful, draining release of his life. Jet after hot jet spurted out, coating the three waiting faces below until he was spent, utterly empty. He collapsed back onto the mattress, his chest heaving, his limbs boneless. A deep, profound exhaustion claimed him, and his eyes fluttered shut, consciousness slipping away into a satisfied, grateful darkness.
The last thing he was aware of was the sound of soft, wet smacks and contented hums. He cracked one eye open a slit. The three women were gathered close, their faces glistening. Pranitha used her fingers to gather the cum from her own cheek and brought it to her lips, sucking it clean with a pleased moan. She then leaned over and kissed Alia, sharing the taste. Alia, in turn, turned to Kiara, licking a stripe of white from her jaw before capturing her mouth in a deep, messy kiss. They traded his essence between them, swallow by languid swallow, a silent, intimate communion.
As Hemant finally settled into the bed after being finally exhausted from his activities. He accepted that moments like this is what makes his life worth it at the moment.
An hour later, they were sharing a quiet lunch in the suite. Sunlight had grown brighter now, casting a softer tone over everything.
"So Hemant? how is YOD" Alia asked with a curious tone.
Hemant was startled by her talk.
"You know about YOD?" Hemant asked stunned.
"Of course....you really I would let a stranger do the things you did last night? I have standards hunk"
Alia responded with a raised eyebrow of her own. She continued.
"Pranitha never stopped talking about you. She made it clear your were her recent obsession. And I was also curious after Ananya kept calling you 'Daddy'.....to the point I just had to find out so I jumped the gun"
"And for that I have no regrets" Pranitha said thoughtfully.
Before Hemant could respond, his phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at the screen—and froze. Meera Sethi. His divorce lawyer. He excused himself subtly and answered in a composed tone.
"Good afternoon, Meera"
"Good afternoon, Hemant" she replied professionally.
"I’m calling because Sonarika contacted me. She wants to renegotiate the divorce settlement"
"Renegotiate? Why?" His jaw tightened slightly.
"That’s unclear" Meera admitted.
"She’ll be in Mumbai tomorrow. She’s requested your presence at my office so we can discuss the changes together"
A quiet weight settled in his chest. He had a suspicion. And he desperately hoped he was wrong.
"I’ll be there" he said simply before ending the call.
When he returned to the table, Pranitha noticed the shift immediately. The other ladies noticed it too.
"What happened?"
He exhaled slowly.
"Sonarika wants to change the divorce deal. She’s coming to Mumbai tomorrow"
Pranitha’s expression softened. She reached across the table, squeezing his hand.
"Sonarika? that's the wife right?"
Alia questioned as Kiara too looked nervous seeing the change in Hemant. His demeanor totally shifted.
"Maybe it’s just financial. New job, new city… maybe she needs more security"
"I don’t think so" he replied quietly.
"She has enoughsavings. Her father has enough fortune to support her" He paused.
"I have a feeling this is about Karan"
The word lingered heavier than anything else in the room. Alia and Kiara realized things had evolved into a rather uncomfortable scenario. Pranitha moved closer, resting her head briefly against his shoulder.
"Don’t jump to conclusions" she said gently.
"You’ll know tomorrow. Until then… don’t let fear steal today"
She leaned back with a small smile.
"She's right Hemant. Whatever it is , you might be overthinking it. Besides you have nothing to worry if Pranitha has your back"
Alia hypes up Pranitha to lighten the mood. Kiara also becomes a reassuring voice of reason.
"Hemant , as a parent , I can understand the fears and worries you're going through. But you need to fight , be confident about your son. Nothing bad will happen to a good man like you"
"When are you going then?"
"I have to book a return flight for tonight"
"You still have a few hours in Amsterdam before your rescheduled flight. Let’s make them count"
Pranitha said with assurance. He looked at her—at the warmth, the stability she offered without demand. But beneath Hemant’s calm exterior, unease simmered. One enemy had fallen. Another storm was forming. And this time, it wasn’t coming from the underworld. It was coming from home.
The rest of the afternoon dissolved into something lighter.
They drifted from one beach pub to another along the Dutch coastline—music spilling into the open air, glasses clinking, strangers laughing under fading sunlight. The sea breeze carried a crisp edge, but inside the wooden-floored bar where they eventually settled, the energy was warm and electric.
Pranitha pulled him toward the dance floor without hesitation.
Hemant wasn’t usually one to dance publicly, but with her hands on his shoulders and her laughter spilling into his ear, he let himself loosen. Alia and Kiara too were with them but were keeping a low profile and reserved themselves to the bar counter. The new pair moved close—unapologetically close—swaying to rhythmic beats that thudded through the floorboards. At one point she leaned up, brushing her lips against his jaw.
"Beaches are going to mean something very different to me now" she murmured, eyes glinting.
"Let me guess , its because of yesterday evening?" He smirked faintly.
"That evening will be a forever in my life!!!" She laughed.
"Then I suppose beaches are special to me now too. You’re in my life"
He met her gaze more seriously. Her expression softened at that. Later, seated on a wooden deck overlooking the water, her martini and his coke resting forgotten on the table, Hemant grew quieter.
"There’s something strange about all this" he admitted.
"Being… physically involved in that situation. With other people , its kind of a deja vu , and I am confused about it"
Pranitha tilted her head.
"Don't be. It’s about experience. About not rushing into something permanent just because it feels intense"
She traced her finger along the rim of her glass.
"I don’t want us making life-altering decisions from the get-go. I want thrill. Freedom. To explore you before I choose you fully"
"That mindset… reminds me of someone" He studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Oh?" she asked lightly.
"Who?"
"Ashnoor" he said, the name leaving him almost unconsciously.
"Who was she?" Pranitha stilled.
For the first time that day, a shadow crossed his features.
"She was… someone that became my everything....a very ambitious and rebel young woman when I met her. She was my mentor's daughter. But she also had an attitude , he gave me the responsibility to look after her. But somewhere in those moments , my duty became my love. And next thing I know , we became closer than ever. And she , she had a pretty ridiculous kinks and aspirations about our relationship. We indulged in a lot of 'kinky' stuffs. Those moments were pretty significant to what I am today"
He said quietly. Pranitha watched him carefully, eyes growing misty at the raw honesty in his tone.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
"Darkness.....the thing I learned now about my life , when I get something , I usually loose a whole lot more.....the path I walked , it was not normal , not ideal. I messed with that darkness and it consumed me. And that darkness....it took her from me forever. I lost , my girl , my mentor , a family that I had once built on.....and now here I am bracing for loosing another one.....which is why despite everything I am scared Pranitha.....I am scared to commit....my life....“It’s more complicated than you think."
He replied with a faint, humorless smile. She reached across the table, squeezing his hand.
"I’m glad I’m part of that complication"
He exhaled slowly.
"You don’t know the half of it. My past…It’s dark. Grim. If you ever saw the whole truth, you might look at me differently. You might see a monster"
Pranitha didn’t hesitate.
"I don’t see a monster" she said firmly.
"I see a man who survived something terrible. A man who was afraid of his own darkness. And now that you’ve faced it… the best parts of you are finally showing"
He searched her eyes for doubt. There was none.
By evening, Amsterdam’s airport lights glowed against the descending dusk. Alia and Kiara had separate from the couple for some shopping promising to return to Pranitha in her suite by evening. Pranitha walked beside him through the terminal, fingers intertwined, unwilling to release the moment too soon.
At the security barrier, she turned to him.
"Don’t overthink Sonarika.....It won’t be anything catastrophic" she said softly.
He shook his head slightly.
"I feel like it will be. And somehow… it might hurt more than anything from my past"
Pranitha stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper edged with steel.
"You won’t be hurt. I won’t let her"
"It’s not your fight" He gave her a faint smile.
“It is now.....and if she even thinks about hurting you...I’ll ruin her life in ways she won’t see coming"
Pranitha replied calmly, The possessiveness in her tone was startling—but sincere. They kissed slowly, deliberately, as if imprinting the taste of each other for the days ahead.
"Let me know about the progress....I will be back in Mumbai very soon!" she said.
"I will"
He turned and walked toward check-in without looking back, though he felt her gaze on him until he disappeared beyond the crowd. Outside, Pranitha returned to her car. She didn’t start the engine immediately. Instead, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number from memory. When the call connected, her voice was steady.
"I need all the details regarding Sonarika Sharma. Including her recent activities and her new occupation!"
ON THE FLIGHT TO MUMBAI
The cabin lights dimmed as the aircraft cruised steadily toward India.
Hemant sat by the window, watching the endless stretch of night outside. The ten-hour journey had been uneventful on the surface—polite flight attendants, muted conversations, the soft hum of engines—but inside him, nothing was calm.
His thoughts kept circling back to one question:
Why would Sonarika want to renegotiate?
He knew her patterns. Sonarika had always been quick to react, quicker to assume. Half-formed details had once spiraled into full-blown accusations. If she had discovered even a fragment of his past, she wouldn’t wait for context. She would draw her own conclusion.
And that was what frightened him.
He leaned back and closed his eyes, forcing himself into sleep. Maybe it was just paperwork. A financial clause. A timing issue. A small correction. Nothing more.
He slept longer than expected.
When he woke, the aircraft had begun its gradual descent. The overhead sign chimed softly.
A moment later, the captain’s voice filled the cabin.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be landing in Mumbai in approximately one hour. Monsoon has arrived earlier than expected this year. The city is currently experiencing a thunderstorm. Please rest assured, conditions remain within safe operational limits.”
Outside the window, flashes of distant lightning tore through thick clouds.
Hemant’s pulse quickened.
Mumbai.
Storm.
Renegotiation.
Without thinking further, he switched his phone off airplane mode. The signal flickered weakly but stabilized just enough.
He dialed.
Five rings.
Then her voice.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" Hemant asked immediately.
"At home" she replied calmly.
He frowned.
"At home? Then why did you tell Ms. Meera Sethi you wanted me in Mumbai if you’re in Delhi?"
A brief pause.
"I’m not in Delhi" she said.
Silence stretched between them.
"I’m at our house" she continued.
"Silver Beach. Juhu"
His grip tightened around the phone. Silver Beach. He hadn’t expected that. Not so soon. Not without warning. After steadying himself, he spoke again.
"Why are you renegotiating the deal?"
Her tone shifted—no longer defensive, no longer wounded. Measured.
"The deal needs to change" she said quietly.
"I thought I was the only one who ruined this marriage. I thought I was the wrongdoer"
A flicker of confusion crossed his face.
"And now?" he asked.
“And now...I know our marriage was a lie all along!!!" she said.
His chest tightened.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked carefully.
There was a faint exhale on the other end.
"Who’s asking me that?" she said softly.
"Is it my soon to be ex-husband Hemant Kumar…....or Michael King?"
The world inside the cabin seemed to freeze. The hum of engines grew louder in his ears.
Michael King.
The name he had buried. The name that belonged to the darkest chapters of his life. He couldn’t speak. His lips parted, but no sound came out. His heartbeat pounded violently against his ribs. How did she know this? What was the content of Rustom's letter? Has she believed the fabricated urban legend of Michael King? Before he could gather himself, the signal crackled. Static overtook the line as the plane pierced deeper into the storm clouds.
The call dropped.
Outside, the aircraft plunged into thick monsoon clouds. The world beyond the window turned pitch black, broken only by violent flashes of lightning illuminating the wing for a split second before swallowing it again.
![[Image: 43terwds.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/hRTb8Qmf/43terwds.jpg)
The plane trembled slightly. Inside, passengers murmured nervously. Hemant sat absolutely still. He wasn’t afraid of the turbulence. He was afraid of what awaited him on the ground. As the aircraft moved deeper into the darkness, he struggled to breathe properly. His chest felt constricted—not from altitude, but from inevitability.
The past had not remained buried. It had found its way home.
And as Mumbai’s storm swallowed the plane whole, Hemant couldn’t ignore the symbolism—his life, too, was descending straight into the darkness he had spent years trying to escape.
END OF CHAPTER 31
She looked up, her lips stretched around his girth, and her eyes crinkled with a smile. She released him with a soft pop.
"Good morning, Handsome!" she purred, her voice husky with sleep and desire.
She gave his shaft a slow, languid stroke.
"You handled both me and these starlets quiet wonderfully yesterday. Both our Bollywood stars. I am very impressed"
Hemant let out a breathy laugh, his hips lifting slightly, seeking more of her mouth.
"You’re doing a much better job right now" he managed, his voice thick.
"Are you sure about that?"
The voice, playful and laced with a hint of challenge, came from his other side. Alia emerged from the tangle of sheets, her nude body glowing in the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. She stretched like a cat, her small, perfect breasts lifting, before she slid down the bed to join Pranitha. Her eyes, bright and mischievous, locked onto his cock, glistening with Pranitha’s saliva.
"Mind if we share?"
Alia asked, not waiting for an answer as she nudged Pranitha playfully with her shoulder.
"He’s got enough to go around"
"Just don’t be greedy" Pranitha chuckled and nodded, shifting to make room.
What followed was a dizzying, overwhelming assault on his senses. Pranitha took him first, giving a few deep, loving bobs, her tongue flat against his underside. Then Alia moved in, her approach more audacious. She opened her mouth wide and, in one smooth, practiced motion, swallowed him whole. Hemant gasped as the head of his cock nudged the back of her throat. She held it there, her eyes watering slightly, before pulling back with a wet, slurping sound, a string of saliva connecting her lips to his tip.
"Fuck" he hissed, his hands fisting in the sheets.
The dual sensation—Pranitha’s loving expertise and Alia’s bold, deep-throating hunger—was almost too much to process. His abs tightened, his entire body coiling with the intense, building pleasure.
Then he felt a soft hand on his chest, a gentle weight settling against his side. He turned his head to see Kiara, awake now, her doe eyes soft and affectionate. She smiled and leaned in, pressing her lips to his in a deep, slow, morning kiss. She tasted of sleep and something sweet. When she pulled back, she nuzzled his neck.
"I loved the way you sucked my breasts last night" she confessed, her whisper a warm breath against his skin.
"The way your mouth felt… I couldn’t stop thinking about it"
Without another word, she shifted, straddling his chest. She leaned forward, bringing one of her small, perfect breasts to his lips. The dusky pink nipple was already pebbled and hard. Hemant obliged eagerly, taking it into his mouth, sucking gently, then with more firmness, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak. A soft, shuddering sigh escaped Kiara.
"I should… I should be pleasuring you all" Hemant mumbled around her flesh, his words muffled.
Kiara shook her head, her fingers threading through his hair.
"No" she breathed.
"We’re tired. Deliciously, wonderfully tired. You worked so hard for us last night. This… this morning is for you. A thank you"
She gasped as he switched to her other breast, his teeth grazing lightly over the nipple.
As if on cue, Kiara slid down his body, joining the two women already working on his cock. Now there were three. Three sets of lips, three talented tongues, three beautiful, famous women vying for a taste of him. The visual alone was nearly enough to push him over the edge. Pranitha took the base, her lips sealing around his shaft, sucking firmly. Alia claimed the middle, her mouth a wet, tight ring as she bobbed rapidly. Kiara, shy but determined, focused on the sensitive head, her kitten-like licks and gentle sucks sending shivers up his spine.
The sensations merged into one continuous, electrifying current of bliss. He was losing himself, drowning in a sea of wet warmth and soft murmurs. He could feel the orgasm building, a tidal wave gathering force deep in his core.
"I’m… I’m close" he grunted, the warning torn from him.
The women understood. In a coordinated, silent agreement, they pulled back. Pranitha took his shaft in her hand, her grip firm and knowing. She began to jerk him, rough and fast, her fist a blur. Alia cupped his heavy balls in her mouth, sucking gently on the sac, her tongue swirling. Kiara and Pranitha leaned in, and for a breathtaking second, they kissed each other, their lips meeting right over the weeping tip of his cock, their tongues dancing as a droplet of his pre-cum smeared between them.
That image—the ultimate act of shared devotion—was his undoing.
"NOW!" he roared.
His body arched off the bed as the first spurt erupted. It was a powerful, thick rope that shot across the short distance and splashed across Pranitha’s cheek, white against her skin. The second followed instantly, and then it was like a hose had been unleashed. Pranitha, grinning wickedly, angled his pulsing cock. She directed the next violent jet to the left, painting Alia’s surprised, beautiful face with a streak of his cum. Without pause, she swung to the right, and Kiara’s delicate features were plastered with the warm, sticky fluid.
Hemant’s vision whited out. He groaned, long and deep, as his body convulsed through the most powerful, draining release of his life. Jet after hot jet spurted out, coating the three waiting faces below until he was spent, utterly empty. He collapsed back onto the mattress, his chest heaving, his limbs boneless. A deep, profound exhaustion claimed him, and his eyes fluttered shut, consciousness slipping away into a satisfied, grateful darkness.
The last thing he was aware of was the sound of soft, wet smacks and contented hums. He cracked one eye open a slit. The three women were gathered close, their faces glistening. Pranitha used her fingers to gather the cum from her own cheek and brought it to her lips, sucking it clean with a pleased moan. She then leaned over and kissed Alia, sharing the taste. Alia, in turn, turned to Kiara, licking a stripe of white from her jaw before capturing her mouth in a deep, messy kiss. They traded his essence between them, swallow by languid swallow, a silent, intimate communion.
As Hemant finally settled into the bed after being finally exhausted from his activities. He accepted that moments like this is what makes his life worth it at the moment.
An hour later, they were sharing a quiet lunch in the suite. Sunlight had grown brighter now, casting a softer tone over everything.
"So Hemant? how is YOD" Alia asked with a curious tone.
Hemant was startled by her talk.
"You know about YOD?" Hemant asked stunned.
"Of course....you really I would let a stranger do the things you did last night? I have standards hunk"
Alia responded with a raised eyebrow of her own. She continued.
"Pranitha never stopped talking about you. She made it clear your were her recent obsession. And I was also curious after Ananya kept calling you 'Daddy'.....to the point I just had to find out so I jumped the gun"
"And for that I have no regrets" Pranitha said thoughtfully.
Before Hemant could respond, his phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at the screen—and froze. Meera Sethi. His divorce lawyer. He excused himself subtly and answered in a composed tone.
"Good afternoon, Meera"
"Good afternoon, Hemant" she replied professionally.
"I’m calling because Sonarika contacted me. She wants to renegotiate the divorce settlement"
"Renegotiate? Why?" His jaw tightened slightly.
"That’s unclear" Meera admitted.
"She’ll be in Mumbai tomorrow. She’s requested your presence at my office so we can discuss the changes together"
A quiet weight settled in his chest. He had a suspicion. And he desperately hoped he was wrong.
"I’ll be there" he said simply before ending the call.
When he returned to the table, Pranitha noticed the shift immediately. The other ladies noticed it too.
"What happened?"
He exhaled slowly.
"Sonarika wants to change the divorce deal. She’s coming to Mumbai tomorrow"
Pranitha’s expression softened. She reached across the table, squeezing his hand.
"Sonarika? that's the wife right?"
Alia questioned as Kiara too looked nervous seeing the change in Hemant. His demeanor totally shifted.
"Maybe it’s just financial. New job, new city… maybe she needs more security"
"I don’t think so" he replied quietly.
"She has enoughsavings. Her father has enough fortune to support her" He paused.
"I have a feeling this is about Karan"
The word lingered heavier than anything else in the room. Alia and Kiara realized things had evolved into a rather uncomfortable scenario. Pranitha moved closer, resting her head briefly against his shoulder.
"Don’t jump to conclusions" she said gently.
"You’ll know tomorrow. Until then… don’t let fear steal today"
She leaned back with a small smile.
"She's right Hemant. Whatever it is , you might be overthinking it. Besides you have nothing to worry if Pranitha has your back"
Alia hypes up Pranitha to lighten the mood. Kiara also becomes a reassuring voice of reason.
"Hemant , as a parent , I can understand the fears and worries you're going through. But you need to fight , be confident about your son. Nothing bad will happen to a good man like you"
"When are you going then?"
"I have to book a return flight for tonight"
"You still have a few hours in Amsterdam before your rescheduled flight. Let’s make them count"
Pranitha said with assurance. He looked at her—at the warmth, the stability she offered without demand. But beneath Hemant’s calm exterior, unease simmered. One enemy had fallen. Another storm was forming. And this time, it wasn’t coming from the underworld. It was coming from home.
The rest of the afternoon dissolved into something lighter.
They drifted from one beach pub to another along the Dutch coastline—music spilling into the open air, glasses clinking, strangers laughing under fading sunlight. The sea breeze carried a crisp edge, but inside the wooden-floored bar where they eventually settled, the energy was warm and electric.
Pranitha pulled him toward the dance floor without hesitation.
Hemant wasn’t usually one to dance publicly, but with her hands on his shoulders and her laughter spilling into his ear, he let himself loosen. Alia and Kiara too were with them but were keeping a low profile and reserved themselves to the bar counter. The new pair moved close—unapologetically close—swaying to rhythmic beats that thudded through the floorboards. At one point she leaned up, brushing her lips against his jaw.
"Beaches are going to mean something very different to me now" she murmured, eyes glinting.
"Let me guess , its because of yesterday evening?" He smirked faintly.
"That evening will be a forever in my life!!!" She laughed.
"Then I suppose beaches are special to me now too. You’re in my life"
He met her gaze more seriously. Her expression softened at that. Later, seated on a wooden deck overlooking the water, her martini and his coke resting forgotten on the table, Hemant grew quieter.
"There’s something strange about all this" he admitted.
"Being… physically involved in that situation. With other people , its kind of a deja vu , and I am confused about it"
Pranitha tilted her head.
"Don't be. It’s about experience. About not rushing into something permanent just because it feels intense"
She traced her finger along the rim of her glass.
"I don’t want us making life-altering decisions from the get-go. I want thrill. Freedom. To explore you before I choose you fully"
"That mindset… reminds me of someone" He studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Oh?" she asked lightly.
"Who?"
"Ashnoor" he said, the name leaving him almost unconsciously.
"Who was she?" Pranitha stilled.
For the first time that day, a shadow crossed his features.
"She was… someone that became my everything....a very ambitious and rebel young woman when I met her. She was my mentor's daughter. But she also had an attitude , he gave me the responsibility to look after her. But somewhere in those moments , my duty became my love. And next thing I know , we became closer than ever. And she , she had a pretty ridiculous kinks and aspirations about our relationship. We indulged in a lot of 'kinky' stuffs. Those moments were pretty significant to what I am today"
He said quietly. Pranitha watched him carefully, eyes growing misty at the raw honesty in his tone.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
"Darkness.....the thing I learned now about my life , when I get something , I usually loose a whole lot more.....the path I walked , it was not normal , not ideal. I messed with that darkness and it consumed me. And that darkness....it took her from me forever. I lost , my girl , my mentor , a family that I had once built on.....and now here I am bracing for loosing another one.....which is why despite everything I am scared Pranitha.....I am scared to commit....my life....“It’s more complicated than you think."
He replied with a faint, humorless smile. She reached across the table, squeezing his hand.
"I’m glad I’m part of that complication"
He exhaled slowly.
"You don’t know the half of it. My past…It’s dark. Grim. If you ever saw the whole truth, you might look at me differently. You might see a monster"
Pranitha didn’t hesitate.
"I don’t see a monster" she said firmly.
"I see a man who survived something terrible. A man who was afraid of his own darkness. And now that you’ve faced it… the best parts of you are finally showing"
He searched her eyes for doubt. There was none.
By evening, Amsterdam’s airport lights glowed against the descending dusk. Alia and Kiara had separate from the couple for some shopping promising to return to Pranitha in her suite by evening. Pranitha walked beside him through the terminal, fingers intertwined, unwilling to release the moment too soon.
At the security barrier, she turned to him.
"Don’t overthink Sonarika.....It won’t be anything catastrophic" she said softly.
He shook his head slightly.
"I feel like it will be. And somehow… it might hurt more than anything from my past"
Pranitha stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper edged with steel.
"You won’t be hurt. I won’t let her"
"It’s not your fight" He gave her a faint smile.
“It is now.....and if she even thinks about hurting you...I’ll ruin her life in ways she won’t see coming"
Pranitha replied calmly, The possessiveness in her tone was startling—but sincere. They kissed slowly, deliberately, as if imprinting the taste of each other for the days ahead.
"Let me know about the progress....I will be back in Mumbai very soon!" she said.
"I will"
He turned and walked toward check-in without looking back, though he felt her gaze on him until he disappeared beyond the crowd. Outside, Pranitha returned to her car. She didn’t start the engine immediately. Instead, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number from memory. When the call connected, her voice was steady.
"I need all the details regarding Sonarika Sharma. Including her recent activities and her new occupation!"
ON THE FLIGHT TO MUMBAI
The cabin lights dimmed as the aircraft cruised steadily toward India.
Hemant sat by the window, watching the endless stretch of night outside. The ten-hour journey had been uneventful on the surface—polite flight attendants, muted conversations, the soft hum of engines—but inside him, nothing was calm.
His thoughts kept circling back to one question:
Why would Sonarika want to renegotiate?
He knew her patterns. Sonarika had always been quick to react, quicker to assume. Half-formed details had once spiraled into full-blown accusations. If she had discovered even a fragment of his past, she wouldn’t wait for context. She would draw her own conclusion.
And that was what frightened him.
He leaned back and closed his eyes, forcing himself into sleep. Maybe it was just paperwork. A financial clause. A timing issue. A small correction. Nothing more.
He slept longer than expected.
When he woke, the aircraft had begun its gradual descent. The overhead sign chimed softly.
A moment later, the captain’s voice filled the cabin.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be landing in Mumbai in approximately one hour. Monsoon has arrived earlier than expected this year. The city is currently experiencing a thunderstorm. Please rest assured, conditions remain within safe operational limits.”
Outside the window, flashes of distant lightning tore through thick clouds.
Hemant’s pulse quickened.
Mumbai.
Storm.
Renegotiation.
Without thinking further, he switched his phone off airplane mode. The signal flickered weakly but stabilized just enough.
He dialed.
Five rings.
Then her voice.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" Hemant asked immediately.
"At home" she replied calmly.
He frowned.
"At home? Then why did you tell Ms. Meera Sethi you wanted me in Mumbai if you’re in Delhi?"
A brief pause.
"I’m not in Delhi" she said.
Silence stretched between them.
"I’m at our house" she continued.
"Silver Beach. Juhu"
His grip tightened around the phone. Silver Beach. He hadn’t expected that. Not so soon. Not without warning. After steadying himself, he spoke again.
"Why are you renegotiating the deal?"
Her tone shifted—no longer defensive, no longer wounded. Measured.
"The deal needs to change" she said quietly.
"I thought I was the only one who ruined this marriage. I thought I was the wrongdoer"
A flicker of confusion crossed his face.
"And now?" he asked.
“And now...I know our marriage was a lie all along!!!" she said.
His chest tightened.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked carefully.
There was a faint exhale on the other end.
"Who’s asking me that?" she said softly.
"Is it my soon to be ex-husband Hemant Kumar…....or Michael King?"
The world inside the cabin seemed to freeze. The hum of engines grew louder in his ears.
Michael King.
The name he had buried. The name that belonged to the darkest chapters of his life. He couldn’t speak. His lips parted, but no sound came out. His heartbeat pounded violently against his ribs. How did she know this? What was the content of Rustom's letter? Has she believed the fabricated urban legend of Michael King? Before he could gather himself, the signal crackled. Static overtook the line as the plane pierced deeper into the storm clouds.
The call dropped.
Outside, the aircraft plunged into thick monsoon clouds. The world beyond the window turned pitch black, broken only by violent flashes of lightning illuminating the wing for a split second before swallowing it again.
The plane trembled slightly. Inside, passengers murmured nervously. Hemant sat absolutely still. He wasn’t afraid of the turbulence. He was afraid of what awaited him on the ground. As the aircraft moved deeper into the darkness, he struggled to breathe properly. His chest felt constricted—not from altitude, but from inevitability.
The past had not remained buried. It had found its way home.
And as Mumbai’s storm swallowed the plane whole, Hemant couldn’t ignore the symbolism—his life, too, was descending straight into the darkness he had spent years trying to escape.
END OF CHAPTER 31
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