Ranveer's fist slammed into the wall, the impact jarring his arm.

He stood there, his chest heaving, as he struggled to understand the turmoil brewing inside him.

Why was he reacting like this?

Emotions had always been a mystery to him, but this felt different. The words kept echoing in his mind, fueling his frustration. He felt like he was losing control.

"Did you hear Dhruvika Awasthi married a servant of Agastya?" one person whispered, their voice laced with intrigue.

The other person's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I hadn't heard that."

The first person nodded, a sly grin spreading across their face. "Yeah, she rejected Agastya and ended up with his servant. Talk about a comeuppance."

The second person's tone turned snide. "Guess she couldn't find anyone else. Had to settle for a royal servant. I mean, what's the point of being a servant, anyway? They're basically slaves to the royal family.

"Yeah they are slave of the royal and I am sure if Agastya ask him to share Dhruvika he won't deny he wo...ahhhh"

The first person's laughter was cut short as Ranveer appeared out of nowhere, his eyes blazing with anger. he shouted as Ranveer's fist connected with his jaw.

Ranveer dragged him outside, his grip on the person's collar tightening. "How dare you speak about her like that?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.

The group of people watching the scene unfold quickly dispersed, not wanting to get caught in Ranveer's crossfire. The person being dragged struggled to free himself, but Ranveer's hold was unyielding.

He started to punch him and With a final shove, Ranveer released the person, who stumbled away, nursing their wounded pride. Ranveer watched them go, his chest heaving with anger. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down. He couldn't let his emotions get the better of him.

His gaze fell upon his hands, familiar yet eerily foreign, as if belonging to someone else entirely.

His body had always obeyed orders without hesitation, a well-oiled machine devoid of resistance.

But today, something was off, a discordant note echoing through his mind.

Their words cut deep, threatening to shatter the calm exterior he'd perfected over time.

A spark of anger flickered – impossible, since emotions had been dead to him for so long.

He felt his heart rate quicken, a rare sensation that left him puzzled.

His grip on his hair tightened, fingers tangled in the strands as he struggled to comprehend.

His eyes narrowed slightly, questioning his own sanity.

Ranveer was standing behind Agastya and Avyan when a waiter came with cold drinks.

They took colddrink and Agastya turned towards Ranveer and said "Ronny take one"

"I am fine sir" Ranveer spoke.

Avyan gritted his teeth. Lately Ranveer started to speak which he used to do rarely.

"Take one glass" Avyan spoke and Ranveer took.

Ranveer drank it in one sip and put back the glass. Truth to be told he was feeling restlessness so he just wanted to go back finishing his duty.

Agastya and Avyan looked eachother and then towards a perticular direction.

DHRUVIKA

"Where's Veer?" I asked Harsh, my voice tinged with concern. I had been looking everywhere for him, but he was nowhere to be found. "He was here just a little while ago, and I went to talk to Uncle. Now he's vanished."

Harsh shrugged. "I don't know, Ma'am."

My frustration boiled over. "What do you mean you don't know?" I snapped, my patience wearing thin. I wasn't in the best state of mind myself, and Veer's disappearance was the last thing I needed. I knew he was struggling with emotions that were foreign to him, and the last thing he needed was to be alone right now.

And to make matters worse, I had a bad feeling about that Ikshita. Something about her presence didn't sit right with me.

"Go check the parking area," I instructed Harsh, my mind racing with possibilities. "I'll check the other areas." I headed in a different direction, my senses on high alert.

I started scanning the area, but my phone rang, breaking my concentration. I answered it. "Hello?"

"Mam, sir is heading towards AR Hotel," Rohit's voice informed.

My brow furrowed. "What?" I repeated, surprised. "Yes, Mam, and I don't think he's... okay."

My mind racing, I asked myself why Veer would be going to a hotel. AR Hotel was one of the luxury branches nearby, but what would Veer be doing there? "Keep an eye on him, I'm on my way," I instructed Rohit, my concern growing. I quickened my pace, heading towards the hotel. What was Veer doing?

"Veer!" I called out, my voice laced with concern as I rushed towards him. He stood by the railing, his head in his hands, and I could sense the turmoil emanating from him. "Veer, what happened?" I asked gently, trying to get him to look at me.

He flinched slightly, then his eyes met mine, filled with a mix of confusion and pain. "You... I..." he mumbled, his grip on his hair tightening. I tried to hold his face, but it was burning with fever. "What happened?" I asked again, my panic rising.

"Let's go to the doctor," I suggested, holding his hand. But he shook his head taking his hand from me ,his eyes drifting away from mine.

"No... washroom... just need rest," he muttered, sitting down on the stairs, distancing himself from me.

I looked around, trying to make sense of the situation. We were on the second floor of the hotel, and I quickly called Harsh. "I need a room on the second floor of AR Hotel, now," I instructed before hanging up.

The manager arrived promptly, handing me a room card with a courteous smile. "Dhruvika Ma'am?" I nodded, and he left after I took the card, allowing us some privacy.

"Veer, come," I said softly, opening the door to the room. He followed me inside, his movements mechanical. "If you don't feel better in a few minutes, we're going to the doctor," I insisted, but he didn't respond, heading straight to the washroom.

I sat down, confusion and worry swirling in my mind.

What was wrong with him?

Why was he reacting like this?

The minutes ticked by, and the sound of the shower continued. Thirty minutes passed, and I grew increasingly anxious.

"Veer, are you okay?" I called out, but there was no response.

My concern turned to alarm, and I pushed the door open, stepping inside the washroom. "Veer, I'm coming in," I said, entering the steamy room. The sound of the shower grew louder, and I called out again, "Veer?"

I pushed open the shower door slowly, steam escaping into the air like a silent whisper.

Veer stood under the cold water, his back facing me,

his muscles tense beneath his skin as water droplets slid down his spine.

His overcoat and boots were discarded on the floor outside the shower area, leaving him in a white dress shirt and trousers, clinging to his body like damp skin.

He leaned against the wall, palm flat against the tiles, supporting himself as if barely standing, his arm trembling slightly.

The chill of the water cascaded down his back, yet he remained still, oblivious to my presence, lost in a world of his own.

My eyes narrowed – his posture screamed weakness, not strength.

His usual confidence and power seemed to have deserted him.

Suddenly, pieces fell into place like a puzzle solving itself.

The pale skin, the lethargic movements I had witnessed earlier... Him going away from me, from my touch.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me breathless.

Veer was drugged.

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