The Lakeside Villas in Banjara Hills gleamed under Hyderabad's monsoon drizzle, their sleek glass facades reflecting the neon glow of streetlights like a Tollywood climax waiting to unfold. The air carried the scent of wet jasmine and asphalt, thick with the tension swirling among Aisha Seth, Priya Reddy, Robin Seth, and Vikram Malhotra under the villa's floodlights. The distant hum of Gachibowli's nightlife lingered, a faint echo of Neon Nights' chaos.
Aisha's eyes burned, her composure fraying as she faced Priya's smug grin. "You can't live with her, Robin," she repeated, her voice sharp as a Golconda diamond. The divorce was fresh, the cooling-off period barely begun, yet Priya's claim on Robin—her rival—felt like a betrayal she hadn't expected to sting so fiercely.
Priya, her simple white top and jeans catching the villa's glow, tilted her head with a laugh that could cut through Hyderabad's traffic. "Aisha di, you're too cute when you're jealous," she teased, her arm looped through Robin's. "You signed him away, remember? Robin's with me now, and my villa's far cozier than your cold empire. Tough luck." Her sass was pure Banjara Hills flair, rooted in loyalty to Robin, who'd saved her from a trafficking ring years ago.
Robin stood calm, his smartwatch buzzing softly as his AI-driven Ayurvedic app tracked his steady pulse, a mark of his Master-level control. His Fighting Style instincts—honed and sharp hummed beneath his cool exterior, ready but unneeded. "This isn't your decision, Aisha," he said, his voice as even as a Hussain Sagar sunset. "We're done. You made that choice."
Aisha's breath hitched, her mind reeling. Robin's indifference at Neon Nights, his taming of Vicky Sharma as "Don Robin," and now his casual dismissal—it unraveled her. She'd built an empire, chased her First Love, Vikram, yet the sight of Priya's arm around Robin twisted something deep. "If you've got nowhere else, you can stay one night at the villa," she blurted, desperate to wrest control. "Just one night, then I'll find you an apartment tomorrow. Stop trying to provoke me."
Vikram's face darkened, his slapped cheeks still raw from Neon Nights. "Aisha, you can't!" he snapped, his voice shrill with panic. "You finally got rid of Seth—don't let him back in! He'll never leave!" His London-polished ego crumbled at the thought of Robin reclaiming Aisha's villa—or her heart. Vikram saw Aisha as his, her empire a prize he'd claim. Robin was a threat he couldn't tolerate.
"Aisha di, you're embarrassing yourself," Priya said, her grin wicked. "Robin doesn't need your pity. He's got a home—with me." She pressed closer to Robin, her provocation deliberate, though her eyes held a flicker of genuine hope.
Robin shook his head, his expression unreadable. "The moment I left your villa, Aisha, I was never coming back," he said, his tone flat. "Where I stay is my business, not yours."
Aisha's chest tightened. How had he changed so fast? Ten years of marriage, and he stood there like a stranger, his calm indifference a slap she hadn't braced for. "Fine," she snapped, her voice cold. "Live wherever, but don't drag Tara into your mess. Stay away from people like Vicky Sharma. If you end up in jail, it'll shame her. If she wants a future—politics, business—she can't have a father like that."
Robin's eyes flickered, a rare crack in his calm. "Tara will be proud of me," he said, his voice low but firm. "I'll make sure of it."
Aisha scoffed. "Proud? Don't drag her down with you." She turned, storming toward her villa, unable to stomach Priya's smugness or Robin's detachment.
Vikram seized his chance, his voice oily. "Aisha, it's late. Let me crash in your study—just one night. I'll keep my distance, promise." His eyes gleamed with calculation. If Robin could waltz into Priya's villa, why not him into Aisha's? One night could open doors—maybe even to her bedroom.
Before Aisha could respond, a voice cut through. "Aisha di!" Anna Fernandes, Aisha's younger sister, appeared at the villa gate, her black sundress catching the moonlight. Her eyes lit up at Robin. "Robin, you're here? Are you and Aisha patching things up?"
Vikram's face twisted. "Patch up? He's humiliating your sister, moving in with Priya! Shameless scum—good thing Aisha divorced him!"
Anna's jaw dropped, her gaze flicking to Priya's poised confidence. "What?" She pulled Aisha aside, her voice urgent. "Aisha di, you need to fix this with Robin. If Priya snags him, you'll regret it. You don't see how incredible he is!"
Aisha's face hardened. "Nonsense, Anna. I don't want him. Why would I care who he's with?"
"You're blind!" Anna insisted. "Priya pounced the second you signed those papers. Robin's a catch—don't push him away. There's still time to fix this."
"Fix what?" Aisha snapped. "He's nothing to me. Priya's just using him to get under my skin. It's pathetic."
Anna sighed, frustrated, but turned to Vikram. "And you—out! No one's staying here but family. Robin said no outsiders near Tara, and I agree."
"Anna, he's my friend!" Aisha protested.
"Friend?" Anna shot back. "You're not even divorced yet. Don't make this worse." She glared at Vikram. "Hotel. Now."
Vikram's smile was strained, but he nodded. "Fine, Aisha. I'll pick you up tomorrow for the marriage office. We'll celebrate your freedom after." His voice was loud, aimed at Robin, a petty jab.
Priya laughed, sharp and mocking. "Celebrate? Vikram, your idea of freedom is kneeling and framing others. Real heroic."
Vikram's face flushed, but Aisha waved him off. "Enough. Go, Vikram." He slunk away, plotting in silence.
Anna turned to Robin, her voice low. "Robin, Tara was crying earlier. She wiped her tears when I came in, but she misses you."
Robin's heart clenched, his calm faltering. Tara, his five-year-old anchor, was hurting. "Is she asleep?" he asked.
"She's trying," Anna said. "She's strong, but… she needs you. I'll watch her, don't worry. No one's bullying her on my watch."
"Thanks, Anna," Robin said, his voice soft. "Once I'm settled, I'll fight for Tara's custody."
Anna's face fell. "Aisha di's not thinking straight, but she loves Tara. Don't give up on her yet."
Robin's gaze hardened. "Some stories end, Anna. The moment I signed those papers, Aisha and I became two paths. That's done."
"You'll always be family," Anna said, her voice breaking.
Aisha, overhearing, shouted, "Robin, don't be late for the marriage office tomorrow. I won't wait!" She grabbed Anna and stormed inside.
Inside, Aisha's mind churned. She pushed open Tara's door, finding her daughter curled under the covers, tear streaks glinting in the dim light. "Tara, beta," she whispered, sitting beside her. "I know you're upset, but I'm building something bigger for you—a real empire. You'll see."
Tara's small voice cut through the dark. "Papa's the best. You're wrong to leave him." She buried her face in the quilt, silent despite Aisha's pleas.
Aisha's chest ached. Why didn't Tara understand? She wasn't Robin, wasting her life on domesticity. She craved power, freedom, Vikram's spark. "You're too young to get it," she murmured, leaving the room. "I'm not wrong. Robin's holding me back. Tara's mine—I won't let him take her."
At Priya's villa, Robin followed her inside, the marble floors gleaming under soft lights. "Four floors, Robin," Priya said, her tone playful. "Pick any room. Mine's third floor, first on the left—door's always open." Her smile hinted at more, her loyalty mingling with hope, but she kept it light, respecting his boundaries.
Before Robin could respond, a voice rang out. "Priya di!" Meera Reddy, Priya's younger sister, bounded down the stairs, her vibrant dress a burst of color. Her beauty was striking, a youthful mirror of Priya's charm. Seeing Robin, her eyes widened. "Who's this? Priya di, you brought a guy home?"
"Meera, calm down," Priya said, startled. "This is Robin. He's staying here tonight."
Meera's gaze narrowed, sizing Robin up. "Robin Seth? Aisha's husband? What's he doing here? Trying to make Priya di your sidepiece?" Her voice rose, fierce. "Get out! You're not welcome!"
"Meera, stop!" Priya snapped, her face flushing. "He's a friend. It's not what you think."
"Friend?" Meera scoffed. "You've never brought a man home. What's his deal? Cheating on Aisha with you?"
Robin's voice was calm, cutting through her fire. "I'm divorced, Meera. Priya's helping me out. Nothing more."
Meera crossed her arms, unconvinced. "Divorced or not, you're trouble. Priya di deserves better. Leave."
Robin met her gaze, his calm unshaken. "I'll go. I don't need to cause a scene." He turned, heading for the door, his app pinging a stress alert he ignored.
Across the street, a shadowed figure in a hooded jacket watched, typing into a burner phone: "Seth's moving. Tell Naga he's active."