CHAPTER FIVE: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

CHAPTER FIVE: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Amrita stood in the garden, feeling the cool breeze against her skin. The vast estate stretched in every direction, a kingdom no one dared challenge. For days now, she'd been observing—studying Thakur's women, his empire, and most of all, the power he wielded.

She had spoken to Leela, but Leela's faith in Thakur was unwavering, almost religious. She was one of the newer women, still under the intoxicating influence of the man who had shaped her life. But today, Amrita wanted to meet someone else.

Her footsteps echoed as she walked down the long hallway, heading toward a room that had been kept locked, until now. Inside, she met Maya.

Maya had once been part of the mansion's inner circle. A former lawyer turned media mogul, she had been one of Thakur's choices—a woman who seemed to have everything the world could offer: wealth, status, and power. But she had left the mansion, seeking more independence, freedom from the shadow of Thakur's influence.

At least, that was the story.

Amrita knocked softly before entering. Maya looked up from her desk, her gaze cool and unreadable.

"Amrita," she said, her voice smooth, almost amused. "Come in. I've been expecting you."

Amrita stepped into the room, her eyes flicking over the shelves of books, the glass wall overlooking the sprawling grounds. It was a room full of success—yet Maya seemed more distant than ever.

"You left the mansion," Amrita said, her voice soft, careful. "Why?"

Maya leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "I thought I could find something better."

Amrita raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Maya's lips curved into a wry smile. "I found nothing. Just emptiness. The outside world is full of men who want you for what you represent, not who you are. They want you for your beauty, your status, your connections. You're not a person to them; you're a symbol."

Amrita felt a pang of discomfort. She had never fully understood why Thakur's women stayed with him, but now, hearing Maya's words, she was beginning to see a clearer picture.

"So, what made you come back?" Amrita asked, her voice a little more curious, a little more wary.

Maya sighed, a sound heavy with years of contemplation. "What I had in the mansion—no one else could give me that. Thakur... he gives you recognition. Real power. And that power is not based on who you know or what you can offer. It's the kind of power that makes you whole. And once you have that, once you've tasted it, nothing else compares."

Amrita studied her, trying to make sense of it. Maya was a woman who had everything, a woman who had been on the outside and then came back. What made her so sure?

"I thought love was the answer," Maya continued, her voice tinged with regret. "But it's not. There's no such thing as true love for people like us. Love fades. It's attraction, pure and simple. And once the attraction fades, what's left?"

Amrita stayed silent. The words hit harder than she expected.

"You sound bitter," Amrita said, though she didn't feel as confident as she wanted to. "Is that what you think? That love is just a fleeting illusion?"

"No, not bitter," Maya replied, her eyes sharp. "I'm realistic. I used to think love was the goal—something to strive for. I spent years chasing it. But the truth is, it doesn't last forever. Purpose lasts longer than love. Recognition lasts longer than love. And Thakur gives you both."

"But you left," Amrita said softly. "And you came back."

"Because out there, I was nothing. A trophy to be admired, a woman to be paraded around. Every man wanted me, but none of them could see me. Not the way he does. They wanted to own me, claim me, consume me. But Thakur never wanted to own me. He gave me a place, a purpose."

Amrita sat back, processing Maya's words. The truth was harsh, but undeniable. She had heard whispers about the women who came and went, about the ones who stayed in the mansion and built their lives under Thakur's influence.

"They know," Maya continued. "They know the world outside is shallow. It's cold. There is no real support. No recognition. Men like to think that what they offer is enough. But it never is. They want something from you, whether it's status, or beauty, or what you can do for them. Thakur doesn't need anything from you. He gives you everything you need to succeed."

"And when you tried to leave…" Amrita asked, her voice softer now.

Maya paused, a flicker of something crossing her face—guilt, perhaps, or weariness.

"I realized something. I thought I could stand on my own. But when I left, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was still incomplete. Thakur gives you everything, but he also expects you to be the best version of yourself. You can't find that anywhere else. Men won't give you purpose. They'll try to use you to elevate themselves."

Amrita felt the weight of the words settle around her. Maya's story wasn't just a tale of success and failure. It was about realizing what truly mattered in the world—a world that, as Maya said, was broken.

She didn't know what to think anymore. Everything she had learned about Thakur seemed true, and yet… there was something else. A strange feeling stirring in her. A pull toward the very man she'd been trying to resist.

"You've made peace with it," Amrita said quietly.

Maya met her gaze. "Yes. I've realized the world is about finding your place. Thakur gave me mine. And now, I've come back to stay."

Amrita stood, her thoughts swirling. Maya had found contentment, a kind of peace in Thakur's world—a world where love didn't matter, only purpose and recognition.

"Thank you for being honest," Amrita said.

Maya nodded. "Don't thank me. You'll see it for yourself soon enough. Thakur has a way of making you see things. Whether you want to or not."

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