"Ishani! Don't listen to him! He's evil!" She screamed.

But Ishani didn't even look up. She was still standing with her tears dropping.

At last Ishani lifted her head. Vikrant turned his back on her, drew another draw of his cigarette, his muscles clenching with rage. Ishani was going to say something to him, but he was gradually advancing behind him when he heard Kriti, who now stood close to the door, scream again.

"Ishani! Don't do what he says! He's a monster!"

Ishani once stared at her, but her face was blank, and she looked back at Vikrant. Bowing her head, she said,

Ay... ask them to bring Kriti to a hospital... first.

Vikrant smoked a cigarette and looked at her furiously.

"Oh? So now you're giving me orders?" he said sharply.

Ishani shook her head, whereupon her voice shook.

"No... I'm not ordering you. I'm just... requesting."

She cried over it and dropped tears on the ground.

Vikrant turned back towards the guards. The two of them nodded and pulled Kriti out of the room. The massive door banged behind them.

Vikrant drew another drag, and looked with a flat expression at Ishani, and said,

So henceforth—and now straight off—you are my servant. Is that clear?"

The fists of Ishani were tightly shut. The anger burned within her, but she remained quiet. Her eyes flicked up once to meet his cold, piercing gaze and then dropped. She thought of their wedding—those times she now hated. She was sorry about it all, but deep inside, she simply lacked the strength to feel.

Her face went blank. Bowing her head she said,

How much longer do I have to remain your servant?

Vikrant came to her, with a nonchalant look on his face. Ishani did nothing to run back this time. She was standing and not even showing an expression.

"When I decide," he said. You will always be my servant as long as I desire. You'll do what I tell you to do. When I call you, you will come all at once. You will do all the orders without query. And if you ever try to run away..."

He stopped, and his voice became dangerously sharp.

Not only your friend, but all her family will die. I saved them today since one individual sufficed to induce you to yield.

Her head was down, her tears dropped without sound, as Ishani stood there silent.

Vikrant sat down on the sofa once more, his face cold and unmoved. Without glimpsing her, he said,

"Alright. Now to begin your industry as my servant. Clean this table first. Then wash all my penthouse—clean, mop, all. And then I would want my lunch to be ready at one-fifteen. Understood?"

The head of Ishani jerked up, and her face flushed with astonishment. The volume of tasks he had assigned to her was unattainable. The penthouse was enormous—it would require hours to clean.

She stepped forward angrily.

You can't want me to do all that at once? Even then, how long will you take?

Vikrant did not even look at her.