Mehra Corporation wasn't just shaken - it was quaking.

Not from an actual fire, no.

But from the man at its helm - Ishaan Mehra - a blazing, uncontrollable storm.

Inside the glass-walled CEO office, crashing sounds echoed like gunshots. Furniture trembled, a vase shattered into a thousand shards, and papers flew like dead leaves in a storm.

Employees outside were frozen - some glued to their spots, some tiptoeing away, none daring to breathe too loud.

"Five employees already fired," someone whispered.

Sunny stood outside Ishaan's office, stiff as a statue. He could feel his palms sweating, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He hadn't even stepped in yet - but he knew the next explosion might have his name on it.

Inside, a loud crash made him flinch.

One of the interns nervously muttered, "If Nisha ma'am was still here, this wouldn't have happened. She used to calm him down."

Another nodded, "Haan, Nisha ma'am handled him like no one else. Sir listened to her."

Sunny closed his eyes for a second. He knew they were right. He needed to do something before Ishaan's fury cost more than just furniture and jobs.

He reached into his pocket, fumbled for his phone, and quickly dialed.

Ring. Ring.

Before he could speak, the glass door slammed open with a violent bang.

Ishaan stormed out, his jaw clenched, his breath ragged, his eyes almost bloodshot. His tie was loose, hair slightly disheveled - he looked like a man possessed.

"I'm going home," he barked, his voice like thunder.

And just like that, he stormed down the hallway. Workers jumped out of the way, parting like the Red Sea.

The glass door slammed shut behind him, shaking in its frame.

Sunny stared after him for a beat, then hesitantly raised the phone back to his ear.

"Hello?" came the calm voice on the other side.

"Arav sir- sir it's not okay. Sir is in a dangerous mood," Sunny's voice trembled now.

"What happened?" Arav asked, alarm creeping into his tone.

"Someone switched the project file... instead of plans, the investors got a recipe book. They canceled the deal. Sir had worked on it for a month. He's never lost a deal like this before..."

There was silence on the line, then:

"The deal's off?"

"Yes, sir. Sir couldn't take it. He's gone home in rage, sir. I'm worried he might do something... reckless. Please, do something. He's not listening to anyone."

Arav didn't speak another word. He ended the call.

The car door slammed shut behind him as Ishaan threw himself into the driver's seat.

A scream ripped from his throat - one that no one could hear. The glass and steel cocoon of his car captured the sound of his breaking.

BANG.

He slammed his fists onto the steering wheel.

BANG. BANG.

Again. And again.

His forehead dropped onto the leather. His chest heaved. His vision blurred.

This wasn't just about the deal.

It was about everything.

"Damn it!" he shouted again, gripping the wheel so tightly that his knuckles went white.

"I know who did it... Mrs. Aanya Mehra. Now let's see who saves you."

With fire in his eyes and fury in his veins, Ishaan growled through clenched teeth, his voice low but venomous. He slammed the car into gear, tires screeching across the Mehra Corporation parking lot like a man possessed.

He wasn't driving - he was hunting.

The accelerator kissed the floor. His car tore through the streets like a beast unleashed - weaving through traffic, breaking limits, breaking reason. Within minutes, he reached Mehra Mansion, brakes screaming as he brought the car to a crooked halt. He didn't even bother parking properly.

Slamming the car door, he stormed inside like a cyclone.

The mansion - usually calm and quiet - trembled under his rage.

"AANYA!"
His voice echoed like a war cry through the hallways.

No response.

"AANYA!"
Louder this time. Angrier. More threatening.

Maids rushed into the living room, startled and afraid.

But not Aanya.

"AANYA!"
The third time his voice cracked through the silence like thunder splitting the sky.

Aanya's Room

She jolted awake.

Her heartbeat raced. That voice. That tone.

"Oh God... not again. Why is he calling me now? He sounds angry. What did I do this time?"

Before she could gather her thoughts, she heard her name again - louder, more furious.

She rushed to the door, threw it open, and stepped out.

Down the hallway, she saw him - Ishaan. His chest rising with rage, eyes like burning coal. A volcano on the verge of eruption.

She approached him slowly, her voice trembling, "Yes, sir?"

He marched up to her, grabbed a fistful of her hair from behind, and yanked her head slightly back to face him.

"You did this," he snarled, breathing harshly.

Pain shot through her scalp. Her eyes filled with tears.

"W-what, sir? I-I don't understand-" she stammered.

"Oh really? Playing innocent now?" His grip tightened. "You went to my office this morning to change the file, didn't you?"

"N-no... I didn't... I don't know what file you're talking about. I didn't touch anything, sir. Please let me go," she said, trying to pull away from him.

"Don't lie!" he roared.

"Tell me - how did you know that was the important file, huh? HOW?"

"I swear, I don't know anything, sir. Please... believe me..."

"Believe you?" He scoffed coldly. "I will never trust a Verma. You're all the same."

His eyes flicked past her toward her room.

"You must have hidden the file in there, haven't you?"

"No, sir, I haven't! Please listen-"

"SHUT UP!"

He shoved her aside and stormed into her room.

She ran after him, pleading, "I didn't change anything, sir! I didn't hide any file!"

But he wasn't listening.

He tore open her cupboard, rummaged through drawers, yanked open shelves.

Nothing.

And then...

As he turned around in frustration, his eyes landed on something near her bed.

A blue edge - peeking out from under the bedsheet.

Like a trigger, it flipped something inside him.

He pushed Aanya aside roughly and yanked the bedsheet up.

There it was.

The original project file.

The same one that could have saved the deal - now lying in her room like a knife in his back.

A collective gasp came from behind the door. A few maids were peeking in - too afraid to interfere, too shocked to walk away.

Aanya's breath caught in her throat.

Her knees went weak as she stared at the file.

Her body froze. Her lips trembled.

"I... I don't know how it got there..." she whispered, broken.

She looked up at Ishaan with eyes wide in disbelief and fear.

"I didn't do this. I didn't hide the file. I swear on everything I love... please, Ishaan, believe me..."

But he was past reasoning.

"Oh, the file just walked itself into your room, right?" he snapped.

"I don't know, Ishaan... please-"

Before she could finish, Ishaan took one step forward, rage crackling in the air.

He lifted his hand-

A slap. A violent answer. It was coming.

Her eyes shut tight in fear.

But the blow never came.

Because someone grabbed her and pulled her out of the way.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Who had stepped in at the last second?
And what truth were they about to reveal?

The game had just changed - and neither Ishaan nor Aanya was ready for what was coming next."**

Thank you for reading - the storm is only beginning.