episode 1

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Chapter 1: Enemies in the Shadows

Mumbai at midnight thrummed with life, the chaotic heartbeat of a city where empires were built in the shadows. At the center of this web of power were two fiery individuals, destined for a collision course neither could foresee.

On one side stood Veer Singh Rathore, the sharp-suited mafia boss who ruled the city’s underworld with an iron fist. His name commanded fear and respect, but his quick wit and sharper tongue often left others flustered.

On the other side was Kavi Mehta, an ambitious entrepreneur running her father Shankar Mehta’s flourishing spice business. Kavi was as intelligent as she was stubborn, never backing down from a challenge. And when it came to Veer, the challenge felt personal. Years ago, Veer’s business tactics had set back her father’s company, and Kavi had sworn to make him pay.

Their encounters were legendary in Mumbai’s elite circles. Whether at business events or charity galas, they never missed an opportunity to throw verbal daggers at each other.

“You think strutting around in your tailored suits makes you invincible?” Kavi snapped at their last confrontation.

“No, but it makes me look good while winning,” Veer replied with his signature smirk.

So when their parents—Veer’s supportive mother, Rani, and no-nonsense father, Arjun, along with Shankar and his warm-hearted wife, Savita—schemed to marry them off, neither Veer nor Kavi could believe their ears.

“I’m sorry, you want me to marry her?” Veer exclaimed, nearly spilling his whiskey.

“Yes, son,” Rani said calmly, a twinkle in her eye. “She’s clever, strong-willed, and exactly what you need.”

“Need?! I need peace, Maa!” Veer groaned, throwing up his hands.

On the other side of town, Kavi was in full meltdown mode.

“Papa, are you serious? That man is a nightmare!”

“Kavi, it’s time to move on from the past,” Shankar said, attempting to reason with her.

Savita chimed in gently, “And you’re the only one who can handle him, beta. Trust me, he’ll learn.”

The wedding day arrived far too quickly for both of them. Veer looked like he was walking to his execution, while Kavi silently plotted her escape plan. But Rani and Savita showered Kavi with affection, making her feel like she belonged in the Rathore family from the moment she entered their home.

The first few weeks of their marriage were predictably rocky. They avoided each other unless it was to argue over trivial matters. Once, Veer criticized the overly spicy dinner Kavi had prepared.

“Are you trying to kill me?” he gasped, gulping down water.

“Oh, don’t be dramatic,” Kavi replied, smirking. “I thought a big mafia boss like you could handle some heat.”

Rani, meanwhile, quietly encouraged Kavi to stand her ground. “Beta, don’t let him intimidate you. Veer’s bark is worse than his bite.”

Arjun, who rarely spoke, surprised Kavi one evening. “He needs someone like you to keep him in line,” he said simply, leaving Kavi both touched and confused.

Though they bickered endlessly, there was an undeniable energy between them that neither wanted to admit. But when an enemy gang targeted the Rathore family, everything changed.

One night, as gunfire erupted outside their mansion, Veer instinctively pulled Kavi to safety, shielding her with his body.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice raw with concern.

“Yeah,” Kavi replied, shaken but steady. “Don’t think this means I like you, though.”

Veer managed a grin. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Over the weeks that followed, the attacks forced Veer and Kavi to work together, slowly peeling back the layers of their animosity. Veer saw the brilliance behind Kavi’s fierce exterior, and Kavi glimpsed the quiet vulnerability Veer rarely showed.

By the end of two chaotic months, the fiery duo had become an inseparable force, ready to face their enemies—and each other—with a newfound understanding.

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