DEEP DOWN DRIVE

A deafening gunshot pierced through the silence, its echo bouncing off the grand, hollow

walls of the mansion. The teenage boy froze, his breath hitching as the sound rooted him to

the floor.

"Papa?" his voice cracked, the word barely escaping his trembling lips.

He staggered toward the study, the hallway feeling endless, the air heavy. His heart pounded

as he reached the door, his hand hesitating on the polished brass handle. Slowly, he pushed it

open.

The sight hit him like a freight train. His father's lifeless body was slumped in the chair, a

dark crimson pool spreading beneath him. The gun rested loosely in his hand.

"No... no, no, no!" The boy dropped to his knees, his cries raw and broken. He crawled

closer, his hands trembling as they reached out but stopped midair, too afraid to touch.

"NO PAPA WAKE UP WAKE UP" he whispered, his tears falling freely. "PA...PA..PAPA"

his voice breaking

He felt the coldness of the room, the void that had replaced the warmth of the man he'd

idolized. Clutching his chest, he rocked back and forth, the pain too much to bear.

Suddenly, the scene dissolved into darkness

Shiv's eyes shot open as he gasped for air, his chest heaving.

Now awake, he sat upright in his luxurious bed, the silk sheets clinging to his sweat-drenched

body. His penthouse was dark, save for the faint glow of the city lights streaming through the

floor-to-ceiling windows. Shiv pushed the damp hair from his forehead and swung his legs

off the bed.

The room was a stark contrast to the chaos in his mind-immaculate and minimalist, each

piece of furniture carefully selected. He padded over to the bar, poured himself a glass of

whisky, and stood by the window, staring at the city below.

Taking a slow sip, he stared out at the glittering skyline. But his thoughts weren't on the city.

They were on her. Aarya. Her hesitant gaze from the flower shop replayed in his mind like a

haunting melody.

"you don't even let me sleep" Shiv murmured, his voice rough and filled with frustration.

You finally found her, a voice whispered in the recesses of his mind, calm yet taunting.

"Shut up," he snapped, his grip tightening around the glass.

Tossing back the rest of the whisky, he strode into the bathroom. The icy blast of the shower

hit him, shocking his body into focus. Emerging minutes later, he dressed in a crisp black

suit, his movements sharp and controlled.

Sliding into his Bentley, he listened as his secretary, Vidya, briefed him on the way to the of

the conference room

"Mr. Choudhary, there's an issue with the prototype demonstration scheduled for next week.

R&D flagged a vulnerability in the biometric encryption," Vidya reported, her tone

professional but concerned

'' Send this file with all details in my office we will look into The meeting today.'' he said

while scrolling through his phone

As he entered his company's headquarters, the sleek, modern lobby bustled with activity. The

employees straightened when they saw him, his presence a command for respect. He moved

swiftly, the click of his polished shoes echoing in the marble corridors.

Inside the boardroom, a client representative was already seated. Mr. Desai, a high-profile

real estate magnate, was not pleased. His furrowed brows and clipped tone made that evident.

"I signed a contract expecting perfection, Mr. CHoudhary," Desai began, his voice laced with

impatience. "Now I'm told your security systems flagged false alerts in three of my

properties. That's unacceptable for what I'm paying."

Shiv's expression remained calm, his sharp gaze locking onto Desai's. "False alerts don't

compromise your security. They prove the system is catching anomalies. Would you prefer it

ignored potential threats?"

Desai leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "What I prefer is a system that works without making

my staff and guests feel surveilled like criminals."

Shiv stepped closer, his posture commanding. "My company offers the most advanced

security solutions globally. The system adapts to user patterns-give it time to refine itself.

Meanwhile, I'll personally oversee the adjustments''

Shiv folded his arms, his imposing figure radiating authority. ". Every alert flagged by our

system is a potential threat. You're paying for the best, not for complacency."

MR Desai bristled but couldn't meet Shiv's gaze. "I just don't want this disrupting

operations."

Shiv stepped closer, lowering his voice but not his intensity. "Then trust us to do our job. Or

find someone else-though I doubt you'll get the same results as our's."

The client faltered, muttering something about reassessing before hurriedly leaving the room.

Alone again, Shiv exhaled sharply. His work required unrelenting focus, yet his mind

continued to betray him.

Shiv stormed into his office, his presence a force of nature that turned heads. The door

clicked shut behind him, and the noise of the bustling city faded. Without a word, he

loosened his tie with a practiced tug, the silk sliding free with a sense of controlled

frustration. His fingers deftly unbuttoned his cuffs, rolling up his sleeves to reveal forearms

tensed with barely contained energy.

He sank into his high-backed leather chair, leaning back as he let out a long breath. His sharp

jawline tightened momentarily before softening, his eyes closing as if seeking solace in the

brief moment of quiet. The subtle light from the window highlighted the angles of his face,

each shadow carving a deeper sense of intensity.

Her face flickered across his mind again-Aarya. Her eyes, deep and unreadable, lingered in

his thoughts

'why no matter what I do you still in my thoughts?'' he let out a soft humourless chuckle

"control ," he muttered to himself, his voice . But as much as he tried to push her away, her

image remained, weaving itself into the cracks of his carefully built armor.

Grabbing the glass of water on his desk, he took a slow sip, his fingers tapping rhythmically

against the surface. Even as he refocused on the day's agenda, his mind betrayed him, pulling

him back to the brief but charged moment in the flower shop.

He shifted in his chair, his body taut with unspoken tension. The conflict between his steely

exterior and the storm brewing within was palpable, making even his stillness feel alive with

intensity. With a sharp exhale, he leaned forward, bracing himself for another battle-this

one with himself

END-----‐---------------------‐------------

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