Unlawfully yours - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

The Malhotra estate had become a war room. Documents, case files, and confidential reports were scattered across the large study table. Rohit and Asha Malhotra sat on one side, their expressions unreadable, while Aarav leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his usual smirk absent. Ishani stood by the bookshelf, watching them with a mix of curiosity and unease.
The conversation unfolding before her wasn’t just about the law anymore. It was about power—and how Aarav had become a threat to the wrong people.
Asha tapped a file. “Yeh sirf ek legal battle nahi hai, Aarav. Yeh log courtroom ke bahar bhi ladte hain.” ("This isn’t just a legal battle, Aarav. These people fight outside the courtroom too.")
Aarav’s gaze darkened. “Toh mujhe bhi wahi karna padega jo yeh log kar rahe hain.” ("Then I’ll have to do what they are doing.")
Rohit sighed. “Tum sirf ek law student ho—” ("You’re just a law student—")
Aarav cut him off, his tone sharp. “Nahi. Main tumhara beta hoon.” ("No. I am your son.")
The weight of that sentence filled the room. Rohit Malhotra wasn’t just a lawyer—he was a legend in the legal world, a man feared in every courtroom. But Aarav had never needed that name to be powerful. He had built his own reputation. And now, he was proving exactly why people should fear him.
Ishani stepped forward. “Aarav, yeh sab sirf courtroom tak rakho toh behtar hoga.” ("Aarav, it would be better if you kept this inside the courtroom.")
Aarav turned to her, his eyes unreadable. “Mujhe courtroom mein jeetne ka shauk nahi hai, Ishani. Mujhe bas jeetne ka shauk hai.” ("I don’t care about winning in the courtroom, Ishani. I just care about winning.")
Ishani swallowed. This wasn’t the same Aarav she had met in college—the sarcastic, slightly arrogant law student who always had a flirtatious remark ready. This was Aarav Malhotra, the man who would tear apart anyone standing in his way.
She wasn’t sure whether that terrified her or thrilled her.
Somewhere in the city…
A group of men sat in a darkened office, their eyes fixed on a laptop screen showing the Malhotra Estate. The grainy footage came from a hidden drone, hovering just outside the property.
One of the men, a scarred-faced criminal known only as Rana, took a deep drag from his cigarette before exhaling slowly. “Malhotra ke ladke ko zyada akalmandi dikhane ki aadat hai.” ("The Malhotra boy has a habit of acting too smart.")
Another man chuckled. “Woh sirf ek law student hai. Uska kya ukhaad lega?” ("He’s just a law student. What can he do?")
Rana smirked. “Sirf ek law student hota, toh ab tak chup baithta. Magar yeh uska game hai, aur woh jeetna jaanta hai.” ("If he were just a law student, he would have stayed quiet. But this is his game, and he knows how to win.")
There was silence. Then, Rana flicked the cigarette into an ashtray.
“Shuru karo.” ("Start it.")
Within minutes, a signal was sent out—a silent declaration that Aarav Malhotra was now an active target.
Back at the estate…
Ishani stepped out into the garden, needing a moment away from the weight of everything inside. The moonlight reflected off the fountain, the soft rustling of leaves the only sound.
She heard footsteps behind her. Aarav.
She didn’t turn. “Tu kabse aise sochne laga hai?” ("Since when have you started thinking like this?")
Aarav came to stand beside her, his hands in his pockets. “Jab se mujhe samajh aaya ki courtroom ke bahar bhi justice lena padta hai.” ("Since I realized that justice has to be taken outside the courtroom too.")
Ishani sighed. “Par tu lawyer hai. Tu uss line ke uss taraf rehna chahiye.” ("But you’re a lawyer. You should stay on that side of the line.")
Aarav smirked slightly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Main sirf lawyer nahi hoon, Ishani. Main Malhotra hoon.” ("I’m not just a lawyer, Ishani. I’m a Malhotra.")
Ishani turned to look at him, her heart pounding. There was something about the way he said it—possessive, powerful, almost like a promise.
She hated that it made her pulse race.
She swallowed. “Aur agar tujhe kuch ho gaya toh?” ("And what if something happens to you?")
Aarav stepped closer, his voice dropping lower. “Tabhi toh tujhe mere saath rehna hoga.” ("That’s why you have to stay with me.")
The air between them changed. Ishani could feel the heat of his gaze, the slow smirk creeping onto his lips. He was teasing her now, testing her reaction.
She refused to let him win. “Agar main tujhe chhod kar chali gayi toh?” ("And if I leave you?")
Aarav’s smirk faded. He tilted his head slightly, eyes locked onto hers. “Chod kar jaane ka option nahi hai, Ishani.” ("Leaving isn’t an option, Ishani.")
She rolled her eyes.
But before she could say anything, Aarav’s phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen. A single message.
"It has begun."
His smirk returned, but this time, it wasn’t playful. It was sharp. Dangerous.
He turned to Ishani. “Game shuru ho chuka hai.” ("The game has started.")
She didn’t know whether to be afraid or excited. But one thing was clear—this was no longer about just solving a case. This was war.