96.
Shaurya had already tightened security around both the mansion and the Chauhan Palace. A few trusted guards were even assigned to quietly watch over Yug as well—Bilal knew of his connection to the Shekhawats, and that alone made him vulnerable.
"Shaurya, we don't need a car for this," Aarav argued. "We can take my bike. It's faster. And we don't need Harsh either. I can handle myself." He winked.
"That you can," Shaurya replied calmly, "but I'm still not convinced about the bike."
"Why? Afraid I'll speed too much?" Aarav smirked.
"I'm afraid we'll end up in another accident," Shaurya said dryly. "Considering you once crashed your bike inside your university campus and were bedridden for days."
Aarav blinked. "How do you even know that?"
"Sources," Shaurya replied, glancing at the sun. "Now go get the keys."
"Wait here," Aarav said, rushing inside.
Waiting turned into twenty minutes. In that time, Shaurya finished a few phone calls and ended up playing with Aarya's kitten, which had climbed into his lap. He absentmindedly stroked its head until footsteps approached.
"Still playing?" Aarav called out. "We're getting late."
Shaurya looked up.
Aarav had changed. Now he stood there in a fitted black T-shirt and jeans, his tattoos visible, hair slightly messy from rushing. Effortless. Annoyingly distracting.
For a moment, Shaurya just stared.
I can just eat that ass now.
"Ahem... Shaurya?" Aarav called again, waving a hand.
Snapping out of it, Shaurya gently set the kitten down and rose to his feet.
"Well I was going to complain what took you so long but the wait was worth it, I guess", Shaurya said.
"You're beautiful baby". Shaurya then grabbed Aarav's ass and squeezed it a bit. Aarav chuckled.
"I needed the outfit change. I seriously don't understand how you stay in those businessman clothes for so long. You don't need to look so posh while fighting, you know," Aarav said, grabbing Shaurya's hand.
"Come on, let's go."
He pulled Shaurya toward his bike. Shaurya still wasn't entirely convinced this was a good idea. Aarav's sports bike looked built purely for speed — and Aarav's reputation behind the wheel didn't exactly inspire confidence.
Aarav patted the seat behind him. After a brief pause, Shaurya climbed on. Helmets secured, Aarav revved the engine and rode out of the Shekhawat estate.
The road outside was rough, forcing Aarav to keep the speed down. But the moment they reached the highway, he twisted the throttle and the bike shot forward.
Shaurya's grip tightened instantly around him.
Aarav smirked inside his helmet. He's definitely scared.
But a moment later, Shaurya's hands shifted slightly, his hold changing from cautious to deliberate, almost distracting. He moved his hands to Aarav's thighs and then suddenly he grabbed Aarav's crouch hard. Aarav jolted in surprise and quickly nudged his hand away.
"Behave," Aarav muttered, focusing back on the road.
Soon, they pulled up before a massive mansion — Hafsa's residence, Bilal's stronghold.
They got off the bike, and Shaurya immediately took Aarav's hand, leading him inside.
The guards rushed forward to block them.
Shaurya didn't break stride. One swift slap sent the nearest guard stumbling aside, the sharp sound echoing across the entrance.
Aarav watched, impressed, their fingers still intertwined as they walked in.
They moved deeper into the mansion and entered the grand meeting hall.
Inside, the conversation was already heated.
"It's madness," the Vocarre was saying while sipping his tea. "They can't win against you, Sir. Bilal needs to understand — Shaurya could end this anytime."
"You could've protected him, yet you're just watching," one of Hafsa's brothers snapped.
"Aslan."
Shaurya's voice cut through the room.
The Vocarre froze mid-sip and quickly rose to his feet, tension rippling through the hall as every gaze shifted toward the entrance.
At the head of the table, Adeel Aslan — Hafsa's father — clenched his jaw at the sight of Shaurya. Still, he stood. In the underworld hierarchy, Shaurya now outranked him, whether Adeel liked it or not.
Shaurya walked forward calmly, Aarav a step behind him.
The Vocarre stepped toward Aarav and extended his hand, but Aarav dismissed the gesture with a small wave, uninterested in formalities.
"You can't just walk in wherever you please, Shaurya," Adeel said sharply.
"Sardar," the Vocarre quickly corrected, stressing the title and subtly signaling Adeel to rein himself in.
But Adeel ignored the warning.
"Shaurya Shekhawat, mat bhulo tum bas abhi abhi Sardar bane ho Tum mere liye Vedansh Shekhawat ke sirf ek aam se sipahi ho. You aren't allowed to sit here."
A faint smile tugged at Shaurya's lips.
"Strange," he replied coolly, "Ek aam sa sipashi jise baithne ki izzazat nahi, uske liye pehredaar khara krna para? Acha hai, hifazat krni chahiye".
As he spoke, Aarav casually scanned the room and noticed movement in the corners — silhouettes hiding in the shadows.
So Adeel knew they were coming.
And even though Shaurya had informed them he'd arrive unarmed, Adeel had still filled the hall with hidden guards.
Aarav smirked slightly.
Realizing he'd been exposed, Adeel's expression tightened. Embarrassed, he snapped a command, signaling his men to reveal themselves.
One by one, bodyguards emerged from behind pillars and concealed doorways, each carrying visible weapons — rifles slung over shoulders, heavy blades and axes, and other arms meant to intimidate.
The hall, once polished and diplomatic, suddenly looked ready for war.
"I don't want nonsense today," Shaurya said calmly, his voice carrying across the hall without effort. "Bring Bilal here, wherever he is. I'll end this conflict right now."
His gaze hardened.
"And if this doesn't end today... I'll make sure no head remains attached to the bodies in this room."
"Shekhawat!" Adeel slammed his palm against the table, anger flashing across his face.
"Please don't raise your voice, Sir," the Vocarre intervened quietly, trying to defuse the situation. "We should call Bilal."
A tense silence followed before orders were quietly passed along.
A few minutes later, Bilal entered the hall with Hafsa beside him, their children close behind. They had three — an older son, a young daughter, and a newborn cradled in Hafsa's arms. From where Aarav stood, he couldn't even tell whether the baby was a boy or a girl.
Bilal stopped a few steps away, a mocking smile spreading across his face.
"Shaurya Shekhawat, Ravan ki Lanka mein khud hi aa gaye? " he said, laughing.
"Iske muh se baas aa rahi hai, Shaurya," Aarav said, making a face and covering his nose slightly.
Shaurya chuckled under his breath.
Bilal's expression darkened instantly.
"Tumlog abhi bhi kutte hi ho," Bilal snapped.
Aarav stepped forward, unfazed. "Hum kutte to hai, par tum basanti bhi ho. Aur aaj tum nachoge bhi."
Bilal lunged forward and grabbed Aarav by the collar, but Aarav reacted first, landing a sharp punch that sent Bilal stumbling back.
The guards immediately moved, ready to intervene, but Adeel raised his hand, signaling them to hold their positions. No one moved.
Shaurya's attention shifted to Hafsa and the children.
"Hand over the kids to me, Hafsa Khatun," he said evenly.
Hafsa held them closer. "Shaurya, you can kill me but not my kids."
A faint smirk appeared on Shaurya's face.
He crouched slightly and beckoned the older boy closer. After a hesitant glance at his parents, the child stepped forward.
Shaurya gently tilted the boy's chin upward, noticing bruised finger marks along his neck.
"Do you want to stay with them?" he asked quietly.
The boy shook his head.
Shaurya straightened. "Aarav, take the kids outside."
Aarav nodded. Carefully but firmly, he took the newborn from Hafsa, ensuring the baby was secure. The other two children quickly followed him, eager to leave the tense room.
As Aarav walked out with them, Bilal's voice rang out again.
"I saw your daughter, Shaurya. Do you really want her to suffer because of your ego? You know very well she'll end up in our dungeons after you get killed. And you kno—"
The sentence never finished.
Shaurya's face remained calm, but something in his eyes turned cold.
In one swift motion, he seized a nearby axe and struck, dropping Bilal's head before anyone could react.
Hafsa screamed in shock as chaos erupted in the hall.
The Vocarre panicked and ducked behind the guards, while weapons were instantly raised throughout the room. Tension exploded as men aimed at Shaurya from every direction.
Adeel stood frozen, shock etched across his face as the hall descended into stunned silence and rising fear.
"Bilal!" Hafsa screamed, her hands trembling as she rushed toward him. Grief and rage twisted across her face as her gaze snapped back to Shaurya.
In a sudden burst of fury, she pulled out a dagger and thrust it toward him, the blade pressing into his chest.
Shaurya caught her wrist instantly. With a sharp twist, the dagger slipped from her grip. He shoved her away, and she fell hard onto the floor.
Without another word, Shaurya turned and walked out.
Hafsa's curses echoed behind him, but he didn't look back.
The blade hadn't gone deep, yet the sting lingered. A dull ache spread across his chest, his heartbeat racing faster than usual. A couple of bodyguards tried to block his path on the way out, but Shaurya attacked them with the same axe.
Outside, Aarav stood with the children. Harsh and Asim were already there — Aarav must have called them for backup.
Aarav's expression changed the moment he saw Shaurya's blood-soaked shirt.
"Shaurya!"
He rushed forward and grabbed him before he could lose balance. Shaurya gripped Aarav's arm tightly, pain clearly etched across his face.
"We need to leave. Now," Shaurya muttered, holding his chest.
Asim had already started the car engine. Aarav quickly helped Shaurya and the children inside while Harsh covered their escape as guards began firing from the mansion entrance.
In the chaos, Adeel appeared outside with a rifle, aiming straight toward Shaurya.
But Shaurya calmly pressed a button in his hand.
A second later, a massive blast erupted behind them, flames and debris bursting from the mansion. The shockwave lit up the night sky.
The children turned back in fear. The newborn began crying at the sudden noise.
Inside the car, Aarav's attention snapped back to Shaurya.
"Shaurya, are you okay? Is it hurting too much? We'll reach home soon," Aarav asked, panic clear in his voice as he supported him in the car.
"I'm alright, my love," Shaurya replied calmly. "That woman just attacked suddenly." He gave a faint reassuring smile, then nodded toward the children. "Look after the kids."
Aarav leaned forward, pressed a quick kiss to Shaurya's hand, and gently took the baby from the boy's lap. The child was still crying softly.
A moment later, the boy looked up and asked quietly, "Are they dead?"
Shaurya shifted slightly in his seat to face him despite the discomfort.
"Do you want them to be dead?" he asked.
"Yes," the little girl answered without hesitation. The boy nodded silently beside her.
Aarav felt a sharp ache in his chest. For children to wish that about their own parents... things at home must have been worse than he'd imagined.
"Then they're dead," Shaurya said simply, giving them closure without further questions.
Aarav gently asked, "Did they do anything else to you... other than hitting you?"
The children shook their heads, though their silence spoke volumes.
"What kind of people hurt their own kids?" Aarav murmured, noticing bruises on the girl's face. "Look at her, Shaurya..."
"They'll stay under my protection now," Shaurya said quietly. "They'll be safe."
Aarav glanced at him, then at the wound on his chest, worry returning instantly.
"Stop talking," Aarav said firmly. Then he snapped toward the front seat, "Asim, can't you drive any faster?!"
The sudden raise in his voice startled the baby, who began crying again.
Aarav immediately softened, rocking the child gently. "I'm sorry... it's okay, little one. Shhh..."
Across from him, Shaurya watched in silence, a faint smile appearing despite the pain.
Aarav must have calmed down Aarya the same when she was little. Aarav felt Shaurya looking at him. Aarav looked up and smiled slightly at him.