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"Let me finish," I said evenly, my voice steady despite the storm crawling up my spine.
"After that, you can say whatever you want."

The words barely left my mouth when I saw it; the shift in them, all four of my sons sitting across that table, wearing different faces yet carrying the same weight, and for a moment I wasn't looking at grown men who ruled boardrooms and blood-soaked streets, I was looking at boys I had raised in silence, discipline, and shadows, boys who had learned early that in this house emotions were locked away deeper than secrets.

A thousand thoughts ran through me in that single breath.

Arnav's controlled stillness, masking questions he would never ask aloud.

Rithvik's restless concern, already calculating outcomes, risks, logistics.

Kabir's sharp gaze, searching for the hidden threat behind my words.

Arin's quiet alertness, sensing change before it was spoken.

I closed my eyes.

And the present slipped away.

-Flashback (Early Morning)

The car hummed softly as it cut through the empty road, the city still half-asleep, sunlight filtering in pale streaks through the tinted glass.
She was warm against my chest small, light, breathing evenly like the world had never taught her cruelty.

Neil's Soul.

Avanya.

Her head was tucked just below my chin, fingers fisted into my coat like instinct knew I wasn't going to let go, her face relaxed in sleep, unaware of how violently her life had already been rewritten.

The dog-damn thing-was curled up beside her on the seat, equally unbothered, snoring softly like it owned the damn car.

I didn't care.

Peace was fragile.

Temporary.

Then my phone rang.

Sharp. Loud. Wrong.

She stirred instantly, brows knitting, a soft, confused sound leaving her lips as she pressed closer into my chest, half-asleep, irritated the way children are when their safe silence is disturbed, her nose rubbing against my coat as if trying to escape the noise instead of waking up.

"Shh..." I murmured without thinking, my hand already moving, pressing the volume down button hard until the ringing died.

I froze.

Seconds passed.

Her breathing evened out again, her grip tightening for a moment before relaxing, and only then did I release the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

A strange relief washed over me.

I slid my finger across the screen and answered the call silently.

"Boss," a voice came through, low and careful. "We got information about Neil."

My jaw clenched.

"DCP Aakash reached out," the man said, voice low, careful, as if the walls themselves were listening.

"Neil's body was recovered from NH-48. They're calling it an accident."

He paused,and my jaw tightened ,"The car didn't crash - it was blown apart. Clean. Precise."

"The body's been sent for postmortem. DCP said he'll circle back in a few hours once the paperwork stops lying."

Silence stretched.

Then, hesitantly,"Boss.. what should we do now?"

I closed my eyes.

"Hmm," I said after a moment, my voice cold, controlled. "Inform Rathore Mansion. Clean all the rooms on my floor. Every single one."

A pause.

"And," I added, "buy soft toys. Harmless ones."

"B-boss.." the man stammered. "W-what are you-?"

"I want everything done within one hour," I cut him off sharply. "Don't fuck it up."

The call ended.

I looked down.

She stirred again, unaware, trusting, snuggling closer into my chest like the world hadn't already marked her for blood.

A smile touched my lips.

Brief.

Dangerous.

It vanished just as quickly when reality clawed back in.

—Flashback Ends—

I opened my eyes.

The study was silent. Too silent.

Black and grey walls stood witness to everything I had buried and everything I was about to unleash, the massive table between us feeling less like furniture and more like a battlefield, my sons waiting on the other side, braced for impact.

"The child I am going to adopt," I said slowly, each word landing heavy, deliberate, "is a girl."

Their reactions were instant - tightened jaws, widened eyes, restrained shock;but not a single one of them spoke, and I could see the questions piling up behind their eyes, wars breaking out in their minds.

I continued before any of them could interrupt.

"She is Neil's daughter," I said.
"And Neil is no more."

Something cracked in the room.

"He asked me to take care of her."

Before I could say another word, Rithvik stepped forward, concern etched deep into his face.

He inhaled slowly, steadying himself, then spoke with measured respect choosing restraint over rebellion.

"But Dad," he said carefully, his voice low yet firm, "why adoption?"

"She can stay here maybe she's old enough to understand. When the time comes, we'll get her into a good college."

His gaze didn't waver.

"I'll handle every expense. Every responsibility."

Then his voice faltered, just a fraction.
"But this..this adoption-"

I slammed my hand down on the table.

The sound echoed like a gunshot.

I stood up in one sharp motion.

All four of them rose instantly, fear flashing across their faces;not of me, but of the line I had just crossed.

I looked straight at Rithvik, my gaze hard enough to cut.

"I am not adopting her because Neil wanted me to," I said coldly.
"I am adopting her because I want to."

My voice dropped, darker.

"She is a child," I continued. "A child whose life is in danger."

I reached into my blazer and pulled out the same envelope; the one Neil had given that old woman, the one that still smelled like dust and desperation and threw it onto the table.

It slid to a stop between us.

"Look," I said, my voice lethal.
"He clearly mentioned it."

I leaned forward, palms flat on the table.

"CODE MAROON."

And in that moment, they all understood.

This wasn't mercy.

This was war.

The words hung between us—heavy, poisonous—because code maroon was not an ordinary word in this house.

It never had been.

Arnav broke the silence first, his voice tight.
"Dad you know damn well what that word means."

He looked straight at me,"And how does an ordinary girl; neil's uncle's daughter fit into Code Maroon?"

I studied him for a moment, then my gaze moved to all four of my sons.
The room was thick with chaos questions, calculations, suspicion crawling behind their eyes.

All except one.

Kabir.

Too quiet. Too calm.

I sank back into my chair and motioned with two fingers.
"Sit."

They obeyed.

I rubbed my forehead slowly, exhaustion bleeding into my bones.
"That's the mystery," I said.

"Neil leaving the party without informing anyone. His murder. That envelope;like the bastard already knew death was coming for him."

My jaw clenched,"I can't chain these events together. And that girl someone we have never even met-how the hell is she part of Code Maroon?"

Their expressions told me they were drowning in the same questions.

Kabir still wasn't.

No tension. No storm behind his eyes.

That bothered me more than the rest.

I turned to him.
"Kabir," I said sharply. "What the hell are you thinking?"

(A/N:they are mafia's don't think they will speak like aww my baby kabu what are you thinking )

He snapped out of whatever inner world he was in and looked at me.
Then, calmly-too calmly-he said,
"Dad , I have a sister now, right?"

Confusion hit me like a slap.

When the world was burning, this boy was thinking about family.

Arin lost it.
"What the fu- fu- fudge,are you saying, Kabir bhai?"

I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass.

"Sorry," Arin muttered instantly.

I looked back at Kabir.
"Explain. Now."

Kabir nodded once.
"Dad I have already heard about Neil's uncle's daughter."

My brows furrowed.
"How?"

"We were wrapping up a meeting with the Malhotras," he said

"Neil uncle got a call. He picked it up so calmly;like he hadn't just threatened a man's life minutes ago."

Kabir swallowed.
"After the call ended, I asked him. He said she's his daughter;his soul."

Something twisted in my chest.

"He told me about her," Kabir continued.

"Her name is Avanya. It means Earth. Life-giving."

A faint smile crossed his lips.
"That's what she was for him. She gave him a reason to live again."

The room went still.

"He said she's like a mother;always scolding him, then getting angry even when she's wrong."

Kabir exhaled slowly.
"Then I got a call. The conversation ended in the middle."

He looked up at me, eyes steady.
"I want to meet her, Dad. I don't even know her age, what she looks like but I felt something."

His voice softened.
"I wanted a sister since childhood. I don't give a damn what these three think."

The others stiffened.

"I am ready to accept her," he said.
"Not because she was neil's uncle daughter But because maybe that moments made her my sister."

Silence swallowed the room.

Avanya.

Earth. Life-giving.

What a cruelly beautiful name.

A flicker of jealousy;sharp, bitter rose inside me.
Neil had found something I never did.

I cleared my thoughts and turned to the others.

"I know I am asking for too much," I said.
"I am not forcing you to accept her as your sister. Hell, I am not even ready to be her father."

My voice hardened.
"But that doesn't mean we kill hope."

I stood up.

"The one who's suffering the most in this mess is that girl," I continued.
"She didn't just lose Neil. She lost the only person she ever knew."

I straightened my coat and started walking toward the door.
"She's in the outer wing of the mansion."

I stopped midway and turned back to them.
"Take your time. Think."

Then, colder,deadlier,"And when you don't know what the hell to do call the person who knows you better than anyone."

I turned away and walked out.

I reached the outer wing of the mansion and pushed the door open quietly.

Inside, the room was warm; too warm for a place built by blood and power.

She was sitting on the bed, legs folded, a book open in her lap.

An old lady sat beside her on a plush armchair, the kind meant for comfort, not authority.

I leaned against the doorframe and watched.

She held the book close to her face and pointed at the words, speaking slowly, carefully, like she was teaching the world how to read.

"No..n.. first meet," she said seriously, tapping the page.
"Then..ing it is meeet-ing."

She looked at the dog sitting in front of her.
"Granny.....granny.....comb my haaair," she read, stumbling, then beaming.
"Good boy, Tuffy.. You listen very good."

The dog stared at her like she was the only thing that existed.

I didn't move.

She looked like a canvas painted with happiness-untouched, unscarred.
A fucking miracle in a house like mine.

The old lady noticed me and stood up.
"Sahab, aap yahan?"
(Sir..you're here?)

Before she could say another word, that little girl looked up.

The moment her eyes met mine, a smile bloomed on her face;instant, fearless.

She dropped the book on the bed, slid off, and ran toward me.

My body moved before my mind could stop it.

I took a few steps forward and dropped to one knee.

She crashed into me and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Baba!"

Something inside my chest cracked open.

I held her, stood up with her in my arms, and said softly,
"So little princess. Bath done, huh?"

She buried her face deeper into my shoulder, shy.

Her voice came out muffled.
"Yes"

Then her stomach growled.

Loud.

I froze.

Fuck.

She hadn't eaten.

I carried her to the bed and sat down, keeping her in my arms.

I called a maid.
"Bring food. Proper food. Now."

When I looked back at her, she had pulled away slightly.

She studied my face like I was a puzzle.

Then, with her tiny fingers, she brushed my hair back wiped my forehead carefully.

"Baba," she asked softly, "you are fine"

A smile appeared on my face before I could stop it.
"Yes," I said. "I am fine."

She didn't react for a second.

Then she smiled wide.
"Thank you, Baba."

Dimples.

Perfect. Soft. Deadly.

Dark black eyes. Deep. Knowing more than they should.

A knock came at the door.

The old lady, still standing near the sofa, spoke gently.
"Sahab,hum latte hain."
(Sir... i will bring it .)

I nodded.

I settled Avanya on my lap and asked,
"Do you like it here?"

She nodded quickly.
"Haan! Me and Tuffy both love this place, Baba."
(Yes, me and tuffy both love this place, father)

My brows pulled together.

Tuffy?

Who that son of bastard that Tuffy is?

A sharp jealousy rose inside me before I crushed it down.

"Who is Tuffy, little princess?" I asked calmly.

She stared at me like I was the eighth wonder of the world.

Then she placed her tiny palm on her forehead dramatically.
"Baba,you don't eat almonds?"

(A/N; Did she just roast Vikram aka the ex-mafia king )

I blinked.

"What?"

She sighed.
"Baba, Tuffy is my baby."

She pointed toward the dog sitting near the bed, staring at me like he was enjoying this.
"He's here."

The little bastard looked like he was mocking me.

I cleared my throat.
"Okay. That do-"

(A/N; Isse kehte hai maut ko chukar tak se wapas ana)

Before I could finish, the old lady walked in with a tray.
"Sahab, khana."
(Sir, food.)

I nodded.
"Come, little princess. Let's fill that little tummy."

She blushed instantly cheeks turning red like tomatoes.

Then her expression changed.

Confusion flickered in her brows.

"Baba, i can't eat."

I stiffened.
"Why?"

She looked serious.
"Baba, I can't eat when my Tuffy don't eat."

I released a slow breath.

Of course.

I glanced at the dog.

He looked smug.

I turned to the old lady.

She nodded immediately.
"Anya baby, Tuffy bhi khayega. Uska khana mere bag mein hai. Main wahaan Kone mai de dungi."
(Tuffy will eat too. His food is in my bag. I'll give it to him there in the corner.)

Avanya thought hard.

Nodded.

The old lady continued,
"Ab aap bade sahab ke saath khana khao. Main Tuffy ko khila kar aati hoon."
(Now you eat with Bade Sahab. I'll feed Tuffy and come back.)

Avanya nodded again.

Satisfied.

She turned to me, eyes bright, trusting.

"Baba"
She held the spoon out.
"Feed me."

And just like that.....

The war outside the room stopped.

-------------------------👉🏻👈🏻----------------------

Anuvae talks

Okay, before you guys close this chapter
suno na, let me tell you something.

When I was little, I used to hold my papa's hand like I'd never let go.

Sometimes I'd put my tiny feet on his feet and we'd sway together like the whole world was just our stage.

And omg, we used to sing shamelessly, loudly, wrong notes and all"Appa ki papa, papa ki appa"
Means I am papa's and papa is mine.

I know, I know, it sounds cheesy but trust me, that was my whole universe.

I used to sleep on his swing, curl up, feel like nothing scary could touch me.
Like, literally, swings were my safe house, and he - he was my everything.

So yeah when I write about men like Vikram, tough, scary, dangerous, bending, kneeling, breaking for a little girl
It's not just imagination, okay?
It's memory. It's me. It's every tiny thing that made my heart feel home.

And honestly? That's why Avanya feels so alive to me.
Because somewhere inside every scary, dark guy there's that little girl who wants her papa to protect the world for her.

So yeah hug your papa today.

Or think of him

Or just close your eyes and remember the crazy, silly, loud, messy little moments that made you feel safe.

That's it. That's all.

Just wanted to tell you that.

Love you all my anuvians 🧿

— Anuvae 🖤