Ishani opened his eyes with shock. It was just one sentence that cleared things up crystal clear—this was all Vikrant. She went slowly around and looked at him with disbelief. Vikrant was staring at her, curling his face with smoke and drawing another long pull out of his cigarette.

Then he chuckled, and with a smile on his face, he told me that it is easy to crack you like a nut. To make you helpless. "Why not," I said to myself, "try that theory?" Give me a chance to make you bend, and you'll see how easily.

He put the cigarette into his lips and started to walk towards her.

Ishani had a flash of hatred in his eyes. She looked at him disgustedly and angrily.

But trembling Kriti looked now at Ishani, scared. She could read the menace in the eyes of Vikrant, and her heart ached with terror.

Nevertheless, Ishani defended herself, and with tears in her eyes she said,

"Why are you doing this? It is with me you have a problem with, is it? Why, then, my friend, are you bringing him into this?

Vikrant continued moving towards her. Ishani turned away and turned her back on him. It only increased his twisted grin to see her nervous.

Kriti screamed at this moment, and her voice shook with outrage.

"Mr. Vikrant! Stay away from Ishani! I will press a harassment case on you should you touch her!

The guard pressed the knife further on her throat before she could utter another word. Kriti gave a sharp scream of pain as a streak of blood fell down her neck.

The sight of blood made Ishani shudder at the thought. and she broke into tears and screamed,

"Please! Stop! Tell them to stop! Don't do this! Please, I'm begging you!"

But Vikrant only made another draw and blew the smoke out into her face and stepped closer. Ishani fell backward with her body shaking till her back touched the wall.

Vikrant touched even nearer, with cold and piercing eyes.

So, you were going, were you? he said mockingly. Why haven't you gone yet? I even went as far as to get the door open for you. And yet you're still here. Do not tell me you waited on account of your friend.

He smiled his evil little smile and spoke more intensely.

"You broke so easily, Ishani. I did not need to try of trying. I explained to you—easy to manage people like you.

Laying herself softly against the wall, Ishani sobbed, closing her eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" she cried. "What do you want from me? Please, stop all this! It is you against me, and not her. Don't drag my friend into this! Let her go, please!"

She was in a desperate voice.

Vikrant leaned over, and his face was a centimeter from hers, the face cold and brutal. A deadly grin smiled on his lips as he said,

You well know what I want of you. And... until thou do what I say... all the persons whom thou love shall fall ill.