Did you Know my mother?
___________________________
The warehouse had gone completely silent.
Abhiyanth's breathing was rough, his chest heaving as tears continued to slide down his face. Rage, grief, and years of pain twisted inside him like a storm that refused to calm.
He glared at Rivan with bloodshot eyes.
But Rivan didn't move.
Still kneeling.
Still calm.
Then he spoke.
Low.
Steady.
Abhiyanth's jaw tightened.
Rivan's eyes met his directly.
The words landed like thunder.
For a second
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Abhiyanth blinked.
Once.
Twice.
As if he had misheard.
His voice came out hoarse.
Rivan repeated it without changing his tone.
A murmur rippled through the warehouse.
Even Reyansh turned his head sharply toward Rivan, surprise flashing across his face.
The kidnappers exchanged confused looks.
But Abhiyanth's expression twisted instantly with disbelief.
His hand tightened around the gun.
His voice cracked again.
Rivan didn't flinch.
Three simple words.
Cold.
Certain.
Abhiyanth stared at him like a man standing on the edge of madness.
But Rivan's gaze didn't waver.
Hope.
The warehouse air had grown thick with tension.
Jinal hung there, barely conscious, her body swaying weakly above the drum.
Then
A faint hiss rose from below.
The acid fumes curled upward.
Her bare feet had dropped just enough.
The first touch of the chemical burned like fire.
Jinal's body jerked violently.
A scream tore out of her throat.
The sound ripped through the warehouse like a blade.
The sound was raw.
Broken.
Full of pain.
And it shattered something inside Reyansh.
For a split second the world stopped.
He didn't see the guns anymore.
He didn't see the kidnappers.
He didn't even see Rivan beside him.
All he saw
Was her.
Hanging there.
Bleeding.
Burning.
Calling his name.
Something primal exploded inside his chest.
He didn't think.
Didn't calculate.
Didn't care if a hundred bullets tore through him.
Reyansh ran.
He pushed himself off the floor so violently the concrete scraped his knees.
And then he ran straight toward her.
Fast.
Wild.
Like a man chasing the only breath left in his lungs.
"JINAL!" he roared.
Guns lifted instantly around the warehouse.
Several men shouted.
"STOP!"
But Reyansh didn't slow.
Not even for a second.
Because in that moment
Nothing else mattered.
Not death.
Not enemies.
Not consequences.
He ran like a man who had already lost everything once.
And refused to lose her again.
He ran for her.
He ran for his life.
He ran like a man whose heart was hanging above a drum of acid.
Rivan's head snapped up instantly.
For the first time that night
Pure panic flashed across his face.
His voice cracked with urgency.
Reyansh's heart felt like it was being torn apart as he watched Jinal struggle against the ropes, pain twisting her face.
The kidnappers reacted instantly.
A gunshot exploded through the warehouse.
Then another.
Bullets flew wildly across the room.
Concrete chipped.
Metal rang.
One shot tore past Reyansh's shoulder, grazing his arm and ripping through his sleeve.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't even flinch.
Pain didn't matter.
Nothing mattered.
All he saw was Jinal's burning feet above the acid drum.
"REYANSH—!" she screamed again weakly.
He ran harder.
Climbing over crates, grabbing the rusted iron frame holding the pulley.
His body slammed against the structure as he pulled himself upward.
Another bullet fired.
It slammed into the metal beside his head with a sharp clang.
Still
He didn't stop.
Behind him
Rivan's voice thundered across the warehouse.
His eyes burned with a fury that could burn cities.
The threat struck Abhiyanth like lightning.
His face twisted in panic.
"LOWER YOUR GUNS!" he screamed at his men.
His voice echoed wildly.
The gunshots stopped instantly.
One by one the men lowered their weapons.
But by then
Reyansh had already reached the pulley.
His hands grabbed the thick rope.
His palms burned as he yanked it with brutal force.
The pulley screeched.
The rope tightened.
And Jinal's body jerked upward
Away from the deadly acid below.
The rope tightened as Reyansh pulled it with all his strength.
Jinal's body lifted away from the acid drum, swaying weakly in the air.
He quickly climbed up to her level, his hands shaking as he untied the ropes around her wrists.
The moment the last knot loosened
Her body collapsed forward.
Reyansh caught her instantly.
"Cupcake... hey... hey..." he whispered, pulling her close.
The moment she felt his arms around her
Her control broke.
Tears streamed endlessly down her face.
She began hiccuping between shallow breaths.
Her voice trembled.
Reyansh's jaw tightened, anger burning through his veins, but his voice softened for her.
"I'm here, na... cupcake," he murmured gently, brushing her hair away from her face.
He pressed her carefully against his chest.
"I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely.
His voice cracked slightly.
Jinal shook her head weakly.
Her breathing hitched again.
Her face twisted in pain.
Reyansh tightened his hold instinctively.
But the moment his hand brushed her arm
She flinched violently.
Her voice came out barely audible.
Reyansh froze.
His heart dropped.
Slowly... carefully... he pulled back just enough to look at her arm.
And that's when he saw it.
Her hand was horribly swollen.
The shape of it wrong.
Bruised dark purple and blue.
The bone beneath the skin clearly broken.
Reyansh's eyes fell on her hand
And the world inside him exploded.
Her wrist was twisted unnaturally.
Swollen.
Purple.
The bone clearly broken.
For a moment he couldn't even breathe.
Then something inside him snapped.
His head slowly lifted.
And the warehouse felt the temperature drop.
"I'll kill every single one of you," he growled.
But the words didn't stop there.
His voice rose raw, violent, shaking the walls.
His grip tightened protectively around Jinal as rage burned through his veins.
"You think this ends with bullets?" he roared at the men around them.
His eyes turned dark with something far worse than anger.
A dangerous smile touched his face.
He looked down at Jinal's broken hand again.
His jaw clenched so hard the muscle ticked.
His gaze snapped back toward them like a predator.
Rivan watched everything unfold from where he still knelt on the cold concrete.
He saw Reyansh run.
Saw the bullets fly.
Saw him climb the iron frame like a man possessed.
For a moment
Even Rivan was shocked.
Reyansh Sehgal was always controlled.
Calm.
Strategic.
The man who calculated every move before making it.
But the man standing there now
Holding Jinal like she was the last breath in his lungs
Was something else entirely.
Wild.
Ruthless.
Unhinged.
Rivan saw the moment Reyansh noticed her broken hand.
Saw the way his body went rigid.
Saw the rage pour out of him like fire tearing through dry land.
The threats.
The raw violence in his voice.
The promise of destruction.
For a brief second
Rivan was taken aback.
Because he had never seen Reyansh like this before.
Not even when enemies crossed lines.
But then something shifted inside him.
The shock faded.
Slowly.
Silently.
And the calm, calculating demon returned.
His expression hardened again.
Cold.
Controlled.
But Abhiyanth only stared at Rivan with wild disbelief.
His finger tightened slightly on the trigger.
"You—"
His grip tightened around the gun.
The words were heavy with years of grief.
Rivan slowly lifted his gaze to meet his.
His voice came out calm.
Firm.
The quiet certainty in his tone made the air shift.
The name carried weight.
His eyes darkened slightly.
Abhiyanth frowned, confusion flickering across his face.
Rivan continued.
The admission was blunt.
Honest.
His jaw tightened.
The words landed like a thunderclap.
A chill ran down Abhiyanth's spine.
His breathing slowed.
His mind struggling to process what he had just heard.
Rivan's gaze didn't waver.
Abhiyanth's lips parted slightly.
His voice was barely a whisper now.
Rivan answered without hesitation.
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Unbelievable.
The father who had spent months mourning his daughter suddenly found himself standing on the edge of hope again.
His eyes softened slightly for a moment.
Then hardened again with another fear.
His voice dropped lower.
Because he had expected rage.
Violence.
Revenge.
But not this.
Never this.
Abhiyanth stood there frozen.
The gun in his hand slowly slipped lower.
His breathing turned uneven as the words echoed inside his mind again and again.
She is alive.
For months he had lived with nothing but ashes in his heart.
Grief.
Rage.
The image of his daughter's broken pieces.
And now
That truth was cracking apart.
His legs suddenly gave out.
Thud.
Abhiyanth collapsed to his knees on the cold warehouse floor.
The gun slipped completely from his fingers.
He looked up at Rivan, his face trembling.
His voice was barely a whisper.
Tears rolled uncontrollably down his cheeks.
His chest shook as he struggled to breathe.
His hands trembled violently as he pressed them against the ground.
More tears spilled.
His voice broke.
Rivan watched him quietly.
For the first time, the man before him didn't look like an enemy.
He looked like a father drowning in hope and fear.
Abhiyanth's lips quivered.
The question came out fragile.
Like a child asking for something he was afraid to believe.
His voice cracked.
His hands clenched weakly against the floor.
He couldn't even finish the sentence at first.
His shoulders shook with sobs.
He lifted his tear-filled eyes again toward Rivan.
Abhiyanth remained on his knees.
Broken.
The once powerful man who had stormed in with vengeance now looked like nothing more than a father begging the world to return what he had lost.
His shoulders trembled as tears continued falling onto the dusty floor.
Slowly he lifted his eyes toward Rivan.
His voice was hoarse.
Shaking.
He swallowed hard.
His eyes flickered toward the place where Jinal had been hanging moments ago.
Each word felt heavy.
Like a bargain offered to fate itself.
Then his hands slowly came together.
He folded them.
Begging.
His voice cracked.
More tears streamed down his face.
His head bowed low.
The man had shattered completely.
All that remained was a father asking for his child.
But Rivan didn't respond.
He slowly rose from the cold floor.
The sound of his boots against the concrete echoed in the silent warehouse.
He stood again.
Not kneeling.
Not begging.
The warehouse doors exploded open with a deafening crash.
Wood splintered.
Metal slammed against the walls.
Everyone turned instantly.
Bootsteps echoed through the darkness.
Heavy.
Commanding.
Slow.
Then a figure stepped inside the warehouse light.
His presence alone made the room freeze.
But he wasn't alone.
Behind him
Another figure walked forward.
Alive.
Unharmed.
Familiar.
The moment the light fell on her face
The world stopped.
Kashvi.
Standing there.
Alive.
ABHIYANTH reath hitched.
His eyes widened in pure shock.
For a second
He couldn't even breathe.
His voice came out like a broken whisper.
The girl he had buried in his heart...
The daughter he believed had been chopped into pieces...
Was standing right there.
Right in front of him.
Tears instantly flooded his eyes.
His entire body trembled.
Because the impossible had just happened.
The warehouse was frozen in disbelief.
Abhiyanth stood there trembling, his eyes locked on the girl standing at the entrance.
His voice broke like a man waking from a nightmare.
Tears blurred his vision.
His daughter.
His princess.
Alive.
But before the moment could settle
A gun cocked loudly.
Everyone's attention snapped toward Rajveer.
He had stepped forward, his face dark with fury.
Not the fury of an enemy
But the fury of a man betrayed by his own blood.
His arm lifted.
And the cold barrel of his gun pressed against Kashvi's head.
Gasps filled the warehouse.
Kashvi froze.
Abhiyanth's eyes widened in horror.
"Rajveer—!"
But Rajveer didn't look at her.
His gaze stayed locked on Abhiyanth.
Hard.
Unforgiving.
"Bade papa," he said coldly.
His voice dropped lower.
A dangerous promise.
The gun pressed harder against Kashvi's temple.
The threat echoed like thunder.
Abhiyanth's heart stopped.
His entire body shook violently.
"NO!" he screamed instantly.
His voice cracked with terror.
He turned wildly toward his men.
His voice thundered through the warehouse.
The kidnappers froze.
Then quickly began dropping their weapons.
Metal clattered across the floor.
Rivan didn't wait a single second.
He ran.
Fast.
Straight toward Devyani.
His heart pounding violently as he dropped to his knees beside her chair.
His hands quickly untied the ropes binding her wrists.
But for those two men
Nothing else existed.
Only the broken women they held in their arms.
Reyansh held Jinal tightly in his arms, his hands shaking as he tried to keep her head steady.
"Jinal... Jinal please wake up," he said urgently, his voice cracking.
Her body felt too light.
Too weak.
"Jianllll... cupcake..." he whispered desperately, the old nickname slipping out without thought.
His fingers brushed the blood from her forehead.
Jinal's eyelids trembled weakly.
Slowly... painfully... they opened just a little.
Her vision blurred.
A faint breath escaped her lips.
Her voice was barely audible.
Her chest shook with shallow breaths.
Her fingers twitched weakly against his shirt.
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
Reyansh's heart shattered.
He pressed his forehead against hers.
Tears ran freely down his own face now.
His voice trembled with raw fear.
Across the warehouse
Rivan had reached Devyani.
She was still unconscious, her head falling weakly against his shoulder as he cut the ropes.
"Kitten..."
His voice came out low and tight.
No response.
Her body stayed limp in his arms.
Without wasting another second, both men lifted the women they loved.
Rivan turned sharply toward his bodyguards.
His eyes burned with urgency.
"Find Kaizan," he ordered.
His voice was cold.
Deadly.
But beneath it lay raw fear.
His gaze hardened.
Then they ran.
Straight out of the warehouse.
Outside, the night air hit them hard as their men rushed forward in panic.
Behind them
The chaos continued.
Rajveer walked toward Abhiyanth slowly.
Cold.
Silent.
His gun still in his hand.
Abhiyanth tried to speak, but Rajveer grabbed him roughly.
Meanwhile his men quickly finished the remaining kidnappers.
Gunshots echoed through the warehouse.
One by one
Every man who had stood there fell.
Dead.
Rajveer didn't even look back.
He dragged Abhiyanth forward while Kashvi stood beside him in shock.
Abhiyanth and Kashvi were forced into another vehicle.
Back near the cars
Rivan and Reyansh were moving fast.
They laid the women carefully into separate vehicles.
Rivan turned quickly toward Reyansh.
Reyansh looked down at Jinal in his arms.
Her eyes had closed again.
His voice trembled slightly.
For the first time that night, real fear appeared in his face.
Rivan didn't waste time.
His voice was sharp with urgency.
Reyansh nodded immediately.
Then suddenly
Heavy footsteps approached.
One of the bodyguards rushed, breathing hard, sweat dripping down his face.
"Sir!" he called out urgently.
Rivan's sharp gaze snapped toward him.
The man stopped a few steps away, trying to catch his breath.
For the first time that night
Something flickered in Rivan's eyes.
But the bodyguard continued quickly.
Rivan's jaw tightened instantly.
"Where is he?" his voice came out dangerously low.
"Our men brought him back."
For a split second, Rivan closed his eyes.
Relief.
Sharp and quiet.
Then the iron control returned.
"Take him to the hospital," he ordered immediately.
His voice carried absolute authority.
"Fast."
The bodyguard nodded instantly.
He turned and ran back to carry out the order.
Rivan stood there for a moment longer.
His fists clenched slightly at his sides.
Tonight had taken everything from him.
His wife.
His sister.
His son.
All bleeding.
All broken.
And someone would pay for it.
Doors slammed shut.
Engines roared to life.
And within seconds
Both vehicles sped into the dark night.
Racing toward the hospital.
The cars tore through the empty roads like storms unleashed.
Red lights were ignored.
Horns blared.
Tyres screeched as the convoy sped through the city at terrifying speed.
Inside one car
Rivan held Devyani carefully against his chest.
Her head rested weakly against his shoulder.
His hand supported the back of her neck, protecting her from every sudden movement of the vehicle.
His eyes never left her face.
"Stay with me..." he murmured under his breath.
In the car ahead
Reyansh sat with Jinal in his arms.
Her blood had soaked into his shirt.
Her broken hand rested carefully against his chest as he tried not to move it.
"Just a little longer," he whispered desperately.
Jinal barely responded.
Her breathing was shallow.
Weak.
And that terrified him more than anything.
Finally
The convoy screeched to a halt outside the hospital entrance.
Before the vehicles had fully stopped
The doors flew open.
Rivan stepped out first, carrying Devyani in his arms.
Reyansh followed seconds later with Jinal.
"DOCTOR!" Rivan's voice thundered through the entrance.
Hospital staff rushed forward immediately when they saw who had arrived.
Two stretchers were brought quickly.
Doctors surrounded them instantly.
One doctor checked Devyani quickly.
"Pulse is stable," he said.
They carefully moved Devyani onto a stretcher and rushed her toward another wing where specialists waited.
But the moment the doctors saw Jinal
Everything changed.
Blood.
Swelling.
Broken hand.
Burns.
Bruises across her body.
"Emergency trauma room!" one doctor shouted urgently.
More doctors rushed in.
They quickly transferred her from Reyansh's arms to the stretcher.
Reyansh's fingers lingered for a second before letting go.
The doctors didn't waste another moment.
They rushed Jinal toward the emergency trauma unit as more specialists ran in to assist.
The hospital corridors filled with urgency.
Machines.
Doctors.
Running footsteps.
The hospital corridor was tense and silent.
Bright white lights glared down from the ceiling, making everything feel colder... harsher.
Rivan stood near the emergency doors, his hands folded tightly behind his back, his face carved into stone.
Reyansh stood a few steps away from him.
Still.
Rigid.
His shirt still stained with Jinal's blood.
His knuckles bruised.
His eyes distant.
Then the sound of hurried footsteps filled the corridor.
The entire family arrived.
Virendra.
Yashodha.
Payal.
Aradhya.
Rudraksh.
Others close behind.
Their faces were pale with fear.
"What happened?" Virendra asked urgently.
"Where are they?"
But neither Rivan nor Reyansh answered.
Rivan didn't move.
His eyes remained fixed on the red emergency light above the operation theatre.
Reyansh didn't even look at them.
He stood there like a statue.
Lost somewhere deep inside his own storm.
The family exchanged worried glances.
Before anyone could ask again
Another set of footsteps approached.
Rajveer entered the corridor.
His face looked tired but controlled.
He nodded respectfully toward the elders.
"Namaste."
Rajveer didn't waste time.
His eyes scanned the corridor.
Rivan finally spoke.
His voice was calm.
Flat.
Rajveer nodded slowly, absorbing the tension in the air.
Meanwhile
Reyansh still stood apart from everyone.
Silent.
Distant.
He ignored the worried looks.
Ignored the whispers.
Ignored the entire world around him.
Because inside his mind
He was reliving every second.
Jinal hanging above the acid drum.
Her broken hand.
Her trembling voice saying "It's paining Rey..."
His jaw tightened.
He didn't want to talk.
Didn't want comfort.
Didn't want anyone near him.
Right now
He was fighting something far more dangerous inside himself.
The hospital corridor felt suffocating.
Every second stretched longer than the last.
The red light above the emergency room door still glowed.
No one spoke.
No one dared.
Rivan stood motionless, his eyes fixed on that door like his entire world was behind it.
Reyansh remained a few steps away, his face shadowed, fists clenched at his sides.
Then
The door opened.
A doctor stepped out, removing his gloves as he walked toward them.
Everyone instantly stood up.
Rivan's sharp gaze locked onto him.
"Mr. Thakur," the doctor said respectfully.
The tension in the corridor shifted slightly.
"Mrs. Thakur is alright."
Rivan didn't move.
His eyes remained fixed on the doctor.
The doctor continued calmly.
He adjusted his glasses slightly.
"We've given her fluids and supplements."
A tiny crack appeared in the iron wall around Rivan.
His shoulders relaxed just a fraction.
But his mind immediately moved to the next fear.
Jinal.
Because the worst battle was still happening behind another door.
Time moved slowly in the hospital corridor.
Every passing minute felt heavier.
The family sat or stood silently, waiting for the next update.
Then the doors of another treatment room opened.
A senior doctor walked out, removing his surgical mask.
His face looked serious but calm.
Before anyone else could react
Reyansh stepped forward immediately.
He didn't even realize he had moved.
His voice came out tight.
The doctor looked at him for a moment before speaking.
A breath that Reyansh didn't realize he was holding finally left his chest.
But the doctor continued.
He gestured lightly with his hand.
"We've immobilized it with a cast."
Reyansh's jaw tightened slightly.
The doctor continued professionally.
Yashodha covered her mouth softly.
The doctor went on.
He adjusted the chart in his hand.
A small wave of relief passed through the group.
Reyansh finally exhaled slowly.
The tension in his shoulders eased just a little.
But his eyes were still filled with something dark
Because knowing she would recover didn't erase the fact that she had been hurt.
The hospital corridor had fallen into a heavy silence.
Everyone sat or stood quietly, waiting.
The ticking clock on the wall sounded louder than usual.
Each second dragging painfully slow.
Yashodha sat with folded hands, whispering silent prayers.
Virendra stood near the window, staring outside but clearly not seeing anything.
Rivan remained leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes distant but alert.
Reyansh stood apart from everyone.
Near the emergency ward doors.
His face still shadowed with exhaustion and anger.
No one dared disturb him.
They were all waiting for one thing
For either Devyani or Jinal to wake up.
Then suddenly
A doctor stepped out from the recovery room.
Everyone immediately looked toward him.
"Mr. Reyansh?" the doctor called.
Reyansh lifted his head slightly.
The doctor spoke calmly.
A wave of relief passed through the corridor.
But the doctor continued.
For a moment
No one moved.
Everyone in the corridor turned their heads toward Reyansh.
The shock was visible on every face.
Because everyone knew the truth.
Jinal hated Reyansh.
And Reyansh never missed a chance to argue with her.
Their fights were legendary in the family.
Sharp words.
Constant clashes.
Cold glares.
So hearing that Jinal asked for Reyansh...
It didn't make sense.
It was a mystery none of them understood.
Even Rivan's brow slightly furrowed.
But the reaction that went almost unnoticed
Was Rajveer's.
the tips of his ears turned red.
Because he didn't like it.
Not one bit.
The fact that Jinal had asked for Reyansh first
Didn't sit well with him at all.
The moment the doctor finished speaking
Reyansh didn't wait.
Not even for a second.
He didn't look at anyone.
Didn't answer anyone.
He simply turned and rushed inside the room.
"Reyansh—!" Samar called out instinctively.
Samar had stepped forward quickly, trying to stop him.
Because behind him
Rekha was crying uncontrollably.
Her daughter had just survived something terrible, and as a mother she wanted to see her first.
But Reyansh didn't even notice.
His mind was already inside that room.
He pushed the door open and entered.
The room was quiet.
Machines beeped softly.
Jinal lay on the hospital bed, pale under the white lights.
Her hand was in a cast.
Bandages wrapped around parts of her arm and feet.
Her breathing was slow.
Weak.
Reyansh walked closer.
Carefully.
Slowly.
When he reached the bed, her eyelids trembled.
Then she slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry at first.
But when it cleared
She saw him.
Reyansh's expression softened immediately.
"Hey... cupcake," he said gently.
His voice carried none of the rage from earlier.
Jinal tried to speak, but her voice came out weak.
The first thing she asked about wasn't herself.
Reyansh nodded softly.
"Haa... she's fine."
A small relief passed across her tired face.
Then her lips moved again.
Reyansh frowned slightly.
Jinal's eyes filled slightly with tears.
Her breath trembled.
Her voice broke softly.
Reyansh pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat beside her.
Carefully.
Like even the air around her might hurt.
He looked at her pale face, the bandages, the cast on her hand... and his jaw tightened again.
But his voice stayed soft.
"No," he said gently. "Your brother isn't angry."
His fingers lightly brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead.
Jinal blinked slowly, her eyes still heavy from the medication.
"You did well," he continued quietly.
"No..."
Her voice came out in broken whispers.
For a moment, the room fell quiet again except for the soft beeping of the monitor.
Then Jinal shifted slightly.
Her brows furrowed.
Her eyes squeezed shut a little.
Reyansh swallowed hard.
The words hit him harder than any bullet tonight.
"I know," he said softly, forcing calm into his voice.
"I know, cupcake."
His hand rested gently near her shoulder.
The medicine was already pulling her back into sleep.
Her eyelids slowly drooped.
Within moments
She dozed off again.
Reyansh stayed there beside the bed.
Watching her breathe.
Not moving.
Not leaving.
Reyansh sat beside Jinal for a few minutes after she fell asleep.
Watching her breathe.
Watching the slow rise and fall of her chest.
The anger inside him didn't calm.
It grew.
With every bruise he had seen.
With every weak word she had spoken.
With the memory of her hanging above that acid drum.
His jaw clenched.
Suddenly he stood up.
The chair scraped against the floor.
He walked out of the room.
The moment he stepped into the corridor, the air around him changed.
Everyone looked up.
His face was dark with rage.
His eyes were burning.
He looked straight at Rajveer.
"Where is that bastard?" he asked coldly.
Rajveer opened his mouth to answer
But another voice cut in.
"You're not going to touch him."
Reyansh stopped.
Slowly... he turned his head.
Rivan stood a few feet away, arms folded, expression calm.
Too calm.
Reyansh took a step toward him.
His voice was rising now.
"No."
His fists clenched.
Rivan didn't move.
For a moment the entire corridor went silent.
Reyansh stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"What?" he said in disbelief.
Rivan's voice remained steady.
"Yes."
Reyansh laughed harshly.
"Punish?"
That sentence made Reyansh snap.
His voice was sharp with anger.
Rivan stepped closer now.
His eyes steady.
Reyansh froze.
Reyansh's face hardened instantly.
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"I would protect my daughter."
His fist slammed against the wall beside him.
"...this is different."
His eyes burned with anger.
Right in front of him
Rivan stood calm.
Cold.
Unmoving.
The two men stared at each other like a storm about to explode.
Then quietly
Without anyone noticing
Rivan shifted his gaze toward Rajveer.
Just a slight movement.
But the message was clear.
Don't tell him.
Rajveer understood instantly.
His jaw tightened slightly.
He looked once toward the door of Jinal's room.
The urge to go inside.
To see her.
To make sure she was okay.
It pulled at him strongly.
But right now
This corridor was about to become a battlefield.
And being caught between Reyansh's rage and Rivan's command was the last place he wanted to be.
So silently
Without saying a word
Rajveer turned and walked away.
No explanations.
No confrontation.
Because facing Reyansh's anger was easier...
But right now his heart only wanted one thing.
To see Jinal.
Still
He left.
Reyansh noticed the movement.
His sharp eyes followed Rajveer leaving the corridor.
But he said nothing.
His gaze returned slowly to Rivan.
The anger inside him was boiling now.
He wanted to punch him.
To grab him by the collar.
To shake sense into him.
To beat the hell out of his own best friend.
But he didn't move.
Because despite everything
Somewhere deep inside
He knew one thing.
If Rivan had decided something...
There was always a reason behind it.
The night passed slowly inside the hospital.
No one truly slept.
The corridor outside the rooms remained occupied the entire night.
Chairs pushed together.
Half-finished cups of tea on the table.
Silent prayers whispered in corners.
Late in the night, Aditya convinced Payal, Aradhya, Rudraksh and the grandparents to return to the haveli.
"You all need rest," he had said gently.
Reluctantly, they left.
But the others stayed.
Rivan eventually entered Devyani's room.
The lights were dim.
Machines beeped softly beside her bed.
He pulled a chair close and sat beside her.
For hours he didn't move.
His eyes stayed fixed on her face.
Pale.
Fragile.
Unconscious.
His chest tightened painfully seeing her like that.
For a moment his mind flashed back to the warehouse.
The ropes.
The gun.
The fear.
And again the urge rose inside him
To go back.
To drag Abhiyanth out.
To kill him slowly.
Painfully.
But he stopped himself.
His fingers tightened around the armrest of the chair.
Because right now
The only thing that mattered was her breathing.
The hospital corridor felt endless.
"Sir."
Rivan turned sharply.
For a split second Rivan's heart stopped.
Rivan didn't wait another moment.
He walked fast almost running.
Inside the veterinary emergency ward, the strong smell of antiseptic filled the air.
And there
On the metal treatment table
Lay Kaizan.
The massive black panther looked unusually still.
Bandages wrapped where the bullet had grazed him.
His breathing was slow but steady.
Seeing the powerful animal lying injured like that twisted something painfully inside Rivan.
The doctor stepped aside respectfully.
Rivan slowly walked closer.
For years, Kaizan had been more than an animal.
He was family.
Protector.
Silent companion.
The only creature who never judged him.
Rivan placed his hand gently on the panther's head.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then slowly
Kaizan's golden eyes opened.
The moment he saw Rivan, Kaizan let out a low, weak rumble.
Recognition.
Relief.
Rivan exhaled slowly.
Kaizan's tail moved slightly against the table.
Even injured, Kaizan looked ready to rise if needed.
Rivan's hand stayed on his head, gently stroking the thick black fur.
For the first time that night
Guilt hit him fully.
Because of enemies that came looking for him.
His jaw tightened.
"Rest," he said quietly to the animal.
After speaking briefly with the vet and making sure Kaizan was stable, Rivan stepped out again.
His expression had hardened.
But the guilt remained heavy in his chest.
He turned and walked back toward Devyani's room.
Morning finally came.
Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Outside the room, the family sat quietly in the corridor.
Then suddenly the nurse rushed out.
Everyone stood up instantly.
Hope flashed across their faces.
Inside the room, Devyani slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry.
The doctor checked her vitals and asked softly, "Can you hear me?"
She nodded weakly.
Then her eyes moved around the room.
But it was empty.
The family was still outside.
The doctor gently asked, "Do you want to see someone?"
Devyani's lips moved faintly.
The doctor nodded and stepped out.
Everyone outside immediately looked at him.
Relief spread across their faces.
For a moment
No one spoke.
Because they all knew what that meant.
Virendra slowly lifted his head.
His eyes briefly met Rivan's.
A quiet, unreadable look passed between them.
Then Virendra stepped forward.
And entered the room.
Outside the room, the corridor had gone quiet again.
Rivan stood a few steps away from the door.
His eyes fixed on it.
Every instinct inside him was screaming to go in.
To see her.
To make sure she was really okay.
To hear her voice.
But he didn't move.
He forced himself to stay where he was.
If Devyani had asked for Virendra...
Then there had to be a reason.
So he stayed back.
Silent.
Controlled.
Inside the room
Virendra stepped in slowly.
The door closed softly behind him.
Devyani lay on the hospital bed, pale but awake.
When she saw him, her eyes softened slightly.
Virendra walked closer to the bed and pulled the chair beside her.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
But Devyani didn't smile back.
Her eyes remained steady.
Serious.
She didn't waste time.
Virendra froze.
The question hit him completely off guard.
For a moment he simply looked at her.
Then he tried to smile again.
But Devyani didn't look convinced.
Her voice was calm but firm.
Virendra's expression slowly changed.
She continued quietly.
Someone who matched Rivan's world.
The words hung heavy in the room.
Virendra exhaled slowly.
His voice softened.
But Devyani immediately shook her head.
Her eyes were stubborn.
Clear.
Inside the quiet hospital room, the air had changed.
The soft, innocent Devu everyone knew...
Was gone.
The woman lying on the hospital bed now
Was Devyani.
Calm.
Sharp.
Composed.
Her eyes were steady as she looked at Virendra.
"I want the answer."
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried weight.
Virendra noticed the change immediately.
This wasn't the giggling girl who used to hide behind him
This was someone else entirely.
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
But before it could fall further
She wiped it away quickly.
Almost harshly.
Like she refused to allow herself weakness.
She inhaled slowly, controlling her emotions.
Then she spoke again.
Virendra's brows tightened slightly.
The question cut straight through the silence.
Virendra stared at her for a moment.
"Devyani..."
His voice was calm but concerned.
Her lips curved into a faint, painful smile.
Her voice trembled slightly despite her effort to stay composed.
Another tear threatened to fall but she blinked it away.
Her fingers slowly clenched the hospital bedsheet.
Devyani's eyes stayed fixed on Virendra.
They were no longer soft or confused.
They were searching.
Demanding answers.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the bedsheet as she spoke again.
Virendra's breath paused.
Devyani didn't stop.
"Did you see her?"
Her voice trembled.
"Did you ever talk to her?"
Tears gathered in her eyes but she forced herself to hold them back.
Virendra looked at her for a long moment.
Then slowly he nodded.
His voice was low.
The words hung in the room like a heavy confession.
Devyani's eyes glistened.
But before she could speak again, Virendra leaned forward slightly.
"Devyani... we will talk about all this."
But Devyani let out a small, hollow laugh.
"Oh..."
Virendra stayed silent.
That silence was answer enough.
Devyani swallowed hard.
Then she asked the next question.
Virendra closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Yes."
The moment he said it
Something inside Devyani seemed to settle.
Like a puzzle piece falling into place.
Her gaze hardened slightly.
She looked straight at him now.
Her voice lowered.
Emotions poured through him adoration twisted with an aching want to claim every part of her, to show her how deeply she affected him.
Rivan murmured against her lips, the words laced with vulnerability, before trailing his mouth down to her jaw.
He nipped and sucked along the delicate line, his teeth grazing her skin just enough to send sparks through her, marking her with soft, desperate bites that made her whimper.
She tilted her head back, exposing more of her neck, her shy excitement blooming into soft moans that escaped unbidden.