19.
"Vayu, you said your Big Papa could fly... yeh zameen par kyu lete huye hai?" one of the four boys blinked, staring with wide eyes at the man crouched over in the grass, clearly in pain.
Veer had spent the entire day spinning wild tales about how his Bade Papa was basically Batman—jumping from rooftops, flying through danger, and never losing a fight. So naturally, when they saw Shaurya Shekhawat clutching the grass like it had betrayed him, the disbelief was real.
"No! Big Papa is just resting! We'll come back later!" Vayu blurted, waving his hands like a little general commanding a retreat. He grabbed his friends and took off in a sprint, bodyguards trailing after them with the collective exhaustion of men twice their age.
Back near the grass, Shaurya let out a low groan, still bent awkwardly, his face pale and his pride more bruised than anything else.
"Shaurya, do you need a hand?" came Ravi's voice. He was clearly trying to stifle a laugh, and not doing a great job.
Shaurya winced. "Aarav... W–what is he doing here?"
"No idea," Ravi shrugged, still grinning. "Maybe he's one of the sponsors? Or maybe that scene in the movies where the leads meet each other after years? I guess Aarav misunderstood the concept. Should have been romantic but turned out violent".
Before Shaurya could respond, one of the bodyguards approached—Roy, the one who'd been running behind Vayu all morning. He hesitated, glancing between the scene of destruction (Shaurya) and confusion (Ravi), his expression unreadable.
"Uh... I just came to speak with Sir, but... it seems like this may not be the best time," Roy said, scratching the back of his head.
Ravi chuckled, pulling out his phone. "Actually, it's the perfect time. I got the whole thing on video. Don't worry man, I'll feed you with all the tea".
Roy blinked. "Should I be concerned?"
"Only if you're emotionally attached to Shaurya's dignity," Ravi said.
"I'm right here," Shaurya muttered, breathless, clearly trying to find the willpower to rise. "Say what you need to say."
"You need a hospital, not a conversation," Ravi pointed out, reaching down to help. "Ugh—Roy, help me. This man is built like a tank. Come again Shaurya, why do you need me as a bodyguard by the way?"
"Because you were jobless".
With a sigh, Roy stepped in, both men managing to hoist Shaurya upright—slowly, gingerly.
As they pulled him up, Roy couldn't resist muttering under his breath with a smirk, "Bade Papa ke to tote udd gaye".
Shaurya narrowed his eyes, but the pain—and his crumbling pride—won out. He said nothing. Now all he could think of Aarav and he surely knew that their story is not going to end too fast.
Ravi looked at his boss.
Shaurya is going to hunt down every existence in Aarav's life now. Vedansh Shekhawat hi ise rok sakte hai....
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"What the hell did you do?!"
Ozge's voice echoed like a gunshot in the room.
"I'm sorry, Papa!" Vaani cried, her voice trembling. "But I've been trying too! Shaurya... he's not easy to break!"
Before she could finish, Ozge stormed forward and pressed the burning tip of his cigarette into her forearm.
Vaani screamed, pain tearing through her like fire.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she backed away, clutching her arm.
"Have you forgotten our mission?" Ozge growled, eyes wild.
"Do you even remember who we're dealing with? They're the bloody Shekhawats."
"I didn't forget!" she sobbed. "Please... it hurts..."
Ozge released her with a jerk and began pacing, smoke curling from the cigarette like a warning.
"Jo pyaar Shekhawat aur Chauhan ke beech tha, humne usse to tod diya."
We shattered the love between Shaurya and Aarav.
"Par Shaurya ko todna... woh aasan nahi hai. Vedansh ka beta hai. Bahar se bhola, lekin andar se zaanwar."
Vaani wiped her tears, breathing heavily.
"What do I do now, Papa?"
Ozge sat down in his chair, eyes sharp with calculation.
"Kuch bhi karo. Apologise if you must, beg him, manipulate him. It's been six years—tum ab tak usse samajh nahi paayi?"
A cruel smirk curled his lips.
"Shekhawat ki lanka tabhi jalegi... jab us ghar ka Ram jaisa bada beta haar maan lega."
He leaned forward, cigarette hovering between his fingers.
"And do you know what Shaurya's only weakness is?"
Vaani met his gaze, her voice low and cold.
"Aarav."
Ozge chuckled bitterly, flicking ash into the air.
"Good. You know enough."
"I know what to do next, Papa," Vaani said, standing straighter now, a glint of steel in her eyes.
"I'll kill Aarav—maybe not by hand, but I'll destroy him. And once I do... Shaurya will crumble. He'll go mad. I promise."
Ozge nodded slowly, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
"Pyaar kabhi jeet nahi sakta..." he muttered.
"Not when it comes to the Shekhawats."