Mafia's Heartbeat

chapter 20

The morning after the exposure was strangely quiet.

The haveli had returned to its usual rhythm — but beneath the chatter and clinking of teacups, tension ran thick as blood. The fake guest had been thrown out, Komal had locked herself in her room, and Kamolika hadn’t come out since breakfast.

But the wedding wasn't stopping. The Sangeet was just hours away.

Rahul stirred his tea slowly, his eyes fixed on the courtyard where decorators bustled with flowers and fairy lights.

“They’re up to something again,” he murmured.

Anjali didn’t look surprised. “We let them speak too freely. But now... now we watch.”
Somewere

Kamolika paced like a lioness. “You’ve humiliated us enough! You let your obsession get sloppy.”

Komal snapped back. “I told you, I’ll fix it. One last trick during the Sangeet. Something emotional. Something that will make them question Tanuj again.”

Kamolika narrowed her eyes. “You better. Or you’ll lose everything — including my protection.”

Outside, Kritika stood silently at the door, listening eyes burning.

Later that afternoon, Tanuj sat in the garden wearing a bunny hoodie, still fragile but blinking at butterflies. Kritika sat beside him, handing him a small toy.

“Want me to sing something for you?” she asked.

Tanuj nodded, crawling into her lap like a toddler. “Sing bunny song…”

She kissed the top of his head.

Nearby, Nishant stood by the pillar, arms folded, watching quietly — and Nikhil approached him.

“You’re scared,” Nikhil said softly.

Nishant didn’t deny it. “If anything happens to him during the Sangeet, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“You won’t be alone. We’re all watching.”

In a tucked-away corridor, Kai pulled Raj by the wrist and whispered, “Come with me.”

They snuck into a storeroom lit with hanging lanterns. Kai smiled, pulling out a small music box.

“For our own Sangeet moment,” he whispered.

Soft music played. Raj smiled, cheeks red. “You’re such a dork.”

Kai pulled him close. “You’re still dancing with me tonight.”

They swayed in silence  safe, sweet, untouched by the chaos.
The haveli shone like a dream.

Fairy lights draped the balconies, flower petals scattered across marble floors, and the sound of laughter echoed off every pillar. The Sangeet night had arrived — the celebration of music, love, and union.

Tanuj, in a soft baby pink kurta with bunny embroidery, stood between Nishant and Aarav, blinking in awe. A small crown was clipped in his curls, and he was sucking a star-shaped lollipop.

“Bhai… is it a party?” he whispered.

Aarav bent down and kissed his cheek. “A big one. For you.”

Anjali clapped her hands. “Everyone ready?”

Kritika walked in, head held high in a gold lehenga, holding Raj’s hand. “Let’s get this show started.”

The first dance was a sibling mashup — Raj, Kai, Kritika, and Nikhil dancing playfully together, teasing each other through the steps. Tanuj clapped from his chair, Nishant holding him protectively.

Then came the duet performances. Kai dragged Raj in for a goofy romantic number. Kritika and Nikhil performed a powerful contemporary on family strength.

Everyone cheered.

But in the shadows of the decorated hall, Komal handed the kitchen boy a sealed jar of “saffron paste.”

“It’s for the sweets,” she whispered. “Make sure only Tanuj gets the one with extra ghee.”

Rahul stood by the dessert table with Anjali.

“That’s not our usual chef,” he said quietly.

Anjali’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a new boy. From the same agency Kamolika used last time.”

“Too many coincidences,” Rahul muttered.

He subtly signaled to kai

Kai excused himself from the celebration and followed the boy into the back kitchen. The boy looked nervous, glancing over his shoulder. Kai noticed the jar — the label scratched off.

He returned to Kritika and Raj.

“There’s something wrong with the sweets,” he whispered. “I’m not sure yet. But I saw Komal whispering to him.”

Raj's expression darkened. “Should we stop it?”

“Not yet,” Kritika said coolly. “Let her think she’s winning.”

Meanwhile, outside on the terrace, Nikhil found Aarav sitting quietly, away from the music. A cool breeze ruffled their hair.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” Nikhil asked.

Aarav smiled gently. “I’m just… overwhelmed. So much love, so much danger. I never imagined this kind of family… or this kind of feeling.”

Nikhil sat beside him and took his hand.

“You’re not alone. Not anymore.”

Their fingers interlocked, and for a moment, the music faded beneath the sound of hearts beating.

Back inside, the staff began handing out plates of sweets.

Tanuj reached for one eagerly.

Nishant stopped him.

“Wait,” he said, eyes narrowed.

He took a piece from the plate and tasted it himself. A pause.

Then a shrug.

“It’s fine, baby.”

Tanuj giggled and nibbled the next one from Nishant’s hand.

But in the corner, Komal’s smile faltered.

Someone had switched the plates.

She turned her eyes slowly to see Kritika staring at her, sipping her drink… smiling.

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