Unlawfully yours - Chapter 24: Chapter 24
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The estate was silent, but the tension in the air was impossible to ignore. Ishani sat in one of the guest rooms, her mind replaying the night’s events over and over. Aarav’s identity as a Malhotra had changed everything. She had always known he carried a certain arrogance, a quiet authority that made people listen. But now, she understood—he wasn’t just any law student. He was a legacy, a force the world had unknowingly underestimated.
The problem was… so had she.
She ran a hand through her hair and exhaled. Aarav hadn’t told her because he didn’t want her to see him differently. But she did. Not because of his family name, but because this version of Aarav was dangerous in a way she had never imagined.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked up to find Aarav leaning against the frame, his usual smirk absent.
“Neend nahi aa rahi?” ("Can’t sleep?")
She shook her head. “Tujhe?” ("You?")
He scoffed, stepping inside. “Mujhe toh aadat hai.” ("I’m used to it.")
Ishani studied him, taking in the tension in his shoulders, the exhaustion in his eyes that he tried to hide behind indifference. “Bata nahi sakta tha pehle?” ("You couldn’t have told me before?")
Aarav sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Agar batata, toh kya badal jata?” ("If I had told you, what would have changed?")
She frowned. “Mujhse toh jhooth nahi bolta na.” ("At least you wouldn’t have lied to me.")
A beat of silence passed between them. Then, Aarav spoke, his voice quieter. “Mujhe farq padta hai tum kya sochti ho, Ishani.” ("It matters to me what you think, Ishani.")
Ishani felt her heart skip a beat. It wasn’t like Aarav to admit something so openly. And yet, here he was, saying it as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
She looked away, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck. “Ab kya?” ("What now?")
Aarav’s expression hardened slightly. “Ab jo log mujhe chhupke maarna chahte the, unhe openly ladna padega.” ("Now, the people who wanted to kill me in the shadows will have to fight me in the open.")
Ishani bit her lip. “Aur agar unhone courtroom ki jagah kisi aur tarike se ladne ka decide kiya?” ("And what if they decide to fight outside the courtroom?")
Aarav’s smirk returned, but this time, it was sharp. “Toh unhe yaad dilana padega ki courtroom ke bahar bhi Malhotra surname ka wazan hai.” ("Then I’ll have to remind them that the Malhotra name carries weight outside the courtroom too.")
Ishani didn’t doubt that for a second.
In another part of the city, Agent Nira stood in a dimly lit alley, her phone pressed to her ear.
“The Malhotra boy knows more than we expected,” the voice on the other end said.
Nira’s jaw tightened. “Aarav Malhotra sirf naam ka lawyer nahi hai. Uska dimaag uske maa-baap se zyada tez hai.” ("Aarav Malhotra isn’t just a lawyer by name. His mind is sharper than both his parents'.")
There was a pause. Then, “Aur tumhari beti?” ("And your daughter?")
Nira’s fingers curled around the phone. “Ishani ko iss sab mein mat ghaseeto.” ("Don’t drag Ishani into this.")
The voice chuckled. “Afsos, lekin woh already iss sab mein ghus chuki hai.” ("Unfortunately, she’s already in it.")
Nira exhaled sharply. She had kept Ishani away from this world for a reason. But now, it was too late.
Back at the estate, Aarav sat in the study with his father, both of them staring at the case files spread across the desk.
“Ye log kisi ek aadmi se operate nahi ho rahe,” Rohit muttered. ("These people aren’t operating under just one man.")
Asha, who stood beside them, nodded. “This isn’t just about the case. This is personal.”
Aarav’s eyes darkened. “Toh abhi tak sirf surface dekhi hai.” ("So we’ve only seen the surface.")
His father exhaled. “Aur neeche jo hai, woh bahut zyada dangerous hai.” ("And what’s beneath it is far more dangerous.")
Aarav smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Achha hai. Mazaa tabhi aayega.” ("Good. That’ll make it fun.")
His mother gave him a pointed look. “Ye ek game nahi hai, Aarav.” ("This isn’t a game, Aarav.")
His smirk didn’t fade. “Mere liye hai.” ("For me, it is.")
Because he wasn’t just fighting for justice. He was fighting for control. And now that his enemies knew who he was, they had made their biggest mistake.
They had underestimated a Malhotra.
The problem was… so had she.
She ran a hand through her hair and exhaled. Aarav hadn’t told her because he didn’t want her to see him differently. But she did. Not because of his family name, but because this version of Aarav was dangerous in a way she had never imagined.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked up to find Aarav leaning against the frame, his usual smirk absent.
“Neend nahi aa rahi?” ("Can’t sleep?")
She shook her head. “Tujhe?” ("You?")
He scoffed, stepping inside. “Mujhe toh aadat hai.” ("I’m used to it.")
Ishani studied him, taking in the tension in his shoulders, the exhaustion in his eyes that he tried to hide behind indifference. “Bata nahi sakta tha pehle?” ("You couldn’t have told me before?")
Aarav sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Agar batata, toh kya badal jata?” ("If I had told you, what would have changed?")
She frowned. “Mujhse toh jhooth nahi bolta na.” ("At least you wouldn’t have lied to me.")
A beat of silence passed between them. Then, Aarav spoke, his voice quieter. “Mujhe farq padta hai tum kya sochti ho, Ishani.” ("It matters to me what you think, Ishani.")
Ishani felt her heart skip a beat. It wasn’t like Aarav to admit something so openly. And yet, here he was, saying it as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
She looked away, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck. “Ab kya?” ("What now?")
Aarav’s expression hardened slightly. “Ab jo log mujhe chhupke maarna chahte the, unhe openly ladna padega.” ("Now, the people who wanted to kill me in the shadows will have to fight me in the open.")
Ishani bit her lip. “Aur agar unhone courtroom ki jagah kisi aur tarike se ladne ka decide kiya?” ("And what if they decide to fight outside the courtroom?")
Aarav’s smirk returned, but this time, it was sharp. “Toh unhe yaad dilana padega ki courtroom ke bahar bhi Malhotra surname ka wazan hai.” ("Then I’ll have to remind them that the Malhotra name carries weight outside the courtroom too.")
Ishani didn’t doubt that for a second.
In another part of the city, Agent Nira stood in a dimly lit alley, her phone pressed to her ear.
“The Malhotra boy knows more than we expected,” the voice on the other end said.
Nira’s jaw tightened. “Aarav Malhotra sirf naam ka lawyer nahi hai. Uska dimaag uske maa-baap se zyada tez hai.” ("Aarav Malhotra isn’t just a lawyer by name. His mind is sharper than both his parents'.")
There was a pause. Then, “Aur tumhari beti?” ("And your daughter?")
Nira’s fingers curled around the phone. “Ishani ko iss sab mein mat ghaseeto.” ("Don’t drag Ishani into this.")
The voice chuckled. “Afsos, lekin woh already iss sab mein ghus chuki hai.” ("Unfortunately, she’s already in it.")
Nira exhaled sharply. She had kept Ishani away from this world for a reason. But now, it was too late.
Back at the estate, Aarav sat in the study with his father, both of them staring at the case files spread across the desk.
“Ye log kisi ek aadmi se operate nahi ho rahe,” Rohit muttered. ("These people aren’t operating under just one man.")
Asha, who stood beside them, nodded. “This isn’t just about the case. This is personal.”
Aarav’s eyes darkened. “Toh abhi tak sirf surface dekhi hai.” ("So we’ve only seen the surface.")
His father exhaled. “Aur neeche jo hai, woh bahut zyada dangerous hai.” ("And what’s beneath it is far more dangerous.")
Aarav smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Achha hai. Mazaa tabhi aayega.” ("Good. That’ll make it fun.")
His mother gave him a pointed look. “Ye ek game nahi hai, Aarav.” ("This isn’t a game, Aarav.")
His smirk didn’t fade. “Mere liye hai.” ("For me, it is.")
Because he wasn’t just fighting for justice. He was fighting for control. And now that his enemies knew who he was, they had made their biggest mistake.
They had underestimated a Malhotra.
End of Unlawfully yours Chapter 24. Continue reading Chapter 25 or return to Unlawfully yours book page.