61| The Biggest Revelation.
Aayansh sits in his cabin, his black blazer draped over the backrest, he's focused on something on his iPad when I enter with permission.
I halt before him, yet his focus on the iPad doesn't waver, not even a bit... As if I'm invisible.
I exhale, then snap with impatience "What the hell is wrong with you, Aayansh? You never tell me what you're doing or planning to do. Don't-"
"Voice down" He cuts in, I sensed a clear warning in his tone as his cold eyes shift to me. Drop it, we're not kids anymore to fight on ego issues.
This time, in a calm-checked voice, I put forward my question "Why have you kept Tara away from everyone's eyes?"
He leans on his chair, setting the iPad aside and avoiding my gaze as he answers in a casual-inaffected voice, "That's my personal matter, and I hate anyone's interference or even eyes on my personal things."
"Are you..." My eyes narrowed in disbelief, but I controlled "Seriously? It's been days and there's no clue of her existence. I know what I did was wrong-"
"It was your first-and-last wrong move" He intones, eyes like ice and tone calm and dark.
I pause, a guilt coiling within me. I shouldn't have done that, not with her.
Tara's a pure-hearted girl, untouched by the brutalities of this world of monsters.
But I had no option, not when she was already stepping into the dark.
.. unaware there's no trace of light left to guide her back.
Hiring an agent without even realising the consequences it could bring. Keeping an eye on me, on family?
"Or..." My voice is desperately heavy, eager to hear his answer "If I do that again, would you kill me?"
I can't help but hope, just hope somewhere in my brother's cold heart, a shred of love for me is still there.
His lips curl into a sly evil smirk, face cold and calm as he rests his head against the chair's crown. "Dumb enough to think you'd get the chance to repeat it."
The fucking fuck.
He. called. me. dumb.
"Did you just call me dumb?" I blurt out, trying to hold my shattering pride altogether.
He ignores my reaction, his own expressions bored as he lets a cigar settle between his lips and orders coldly "Out."
My fists tighten, realising never in a long time has anyone tossed my pride straight into trash like this.
"Don't use this tone with me," I say, dragging the words out and pretending to be all careless. "I'm your elder sister, izzat se bolo."
As he takes a slow hit of his cigar, tilting his head slightly with it dangling between his fingers, his darkening eyes shift to me and I quickly mutter, "Going."
I'm not scared of him, please.
Just not in the mood to entertain a shit like my brother.
I storm off his floor, barging into Rivaan's cabin via lift, frustration burning through me and just to fuel it further, I find the elder Deewan-yeah Moksh Deewan?-the goddamn lawyer sitting there.
He's discussing something with Rivaan.
Rivaan greets me as soon as he notices my presence, followed by moksh as I sit on the chair opposite of moksh... with all cold-professional conduct.
Once the formal discussion ends and I rise to leave, Moksh's voice stops me mid-step. "I hope you won't mind if I ask you for a coffee, Ms. Oberoi?"
"I will definitely mind," I force a smile, standing up. "And I'm sure you already have enough people to drink coffee with."
I'm about to leave when he pleads softly, "Please, Ms. Oberoi. I'd be grateful."
"Fine," I mutter, giving in. He smiles, motioning me ahead, I would have never agreed if he wouldn't have asked like a gentleman.
"And I know you both won't mind if I join-"
The irritating voice... That goddamn DOCTOR!
My eyes snap to the entrance, Malang Deewan. Smirking like a maniac, in a brown jacket and pants.
I look away, but his gaze stays, sharp and crooked, burning through me.
"Oh, Malang" Moksh slithers, his focus shifting to his brother. "You don't exactly have a shortage of girls- I mean, friends to have coffee with."
Malang smirks, "Of course, Brother. But I think I should start socializing more, and you know how much I enjoy getting involved with beautiful humans." His eyes were on me throughout.
Fucker!
"Fine, you can join us" Moksh says, his voice a little irritated.
I ignore both of these assholes and walk ahead, they follow.
We reach the ground floor via lift. I stay quiet the entire time... partly to keep my sanity intact, mostly because I know if I open my mouth, this doctor will piss me off beyond repair.
Outside, I move to unlock the car when Malang leans in and unlocks it, with a smug grin as he says, "I hope you don't mind if I ride along, Ms. Oberoi. You know, just to keep the conversation... medically stimulating."
My jaw clenches.
I hold back, until he crosses his fucking line.
My eyes shift to Moksh, who stands a few feet away, phone pressed to his ear, his expression all business and seriousness.
"By the way" Malang's voice grabs my attention again, curious and teasing.
"Why are you so violent? Like some alpha woman. It really doesn't suit you."
My eyes turn ice, locking onto him and voice is a clear warning "You have no idea what I can do with you, Doctor."
His grin just deepens, eyes intense. "I'm already thrilled."
Fuck him.
Ignoring him, I head to step in the car when suddenly he holds my hand. My patience breaks. In a blink, my palm slams against his cheek, leaving a sharp sound, his head jerks to the side, my fingers imprinted on his skin as I warn.
"Never-I repeat never touch a woman without her permission. I'm not from those hot chicks who roam around you for your stupid attention, or someone who entertains a walking shit like you." My burning gaze doesn't waver for a second.
Then comes his Bastard brother's voice from behind, "Ms. Oberoi-"
I turn toward him, forcing a smile "Oh Mr. Elder deewan, do you also want to taste the same?" His eyes widen in disbelief, I don't flinch. "Teach your brother some basic etiquettes" My eyes shift to malang for a second. "Because next time, I won't answer. My gun will do it better."
I don't wait to watch their reactions, just make my way toward the parking lot.
Minutes later, I slump into the driver's seat, resting my head against the headrest as I try to shake off the chaos inside me. This fucking doctor, ugh.
Drop it.
Life has turned into a war ever since I saw my mother's ruin, her death, her disgrace. And those monsters. I devoted years searching for the face behind it all, and yet... my hands are still empty.
A looser I am.
Defeated.
I don't know what's brewing in Aayansh's head, what he's up to or what he's planning. But something's off, badly off. He's kept tara out of everyone's reach for a reason, and that fucking father of ours is still breathing for a reason too. The shadow, the monster above all still remains unseen.
I close my eyes, piecing together every loose thread... the ones that don't fit right.
Two days to mom's birthday, somehow feels the universe enjoys reminding me what I've lost... and I can never have her back.
The sudden ping of a notification snaps me out of my thoughts, I reach for the phone lying on the dashboard and check the message.
What the fuck?
Me: Who is it? I think you're done with your life dickfucker.
War?
Yes it is.
My blood chills, not with fear. But the way I find these words a fact, a direction.
Another sharp chime of a notification, I immediately shift my eyes back to the screen.
A literal fucker.
How come he knows everything?
Me: So you know everything about me? Then you're already aware how well I deal with the people who try to play with me-brutally. You won't be an exception.
The little bubbles flash across the screen, he's typing.
A minute pause.
He goes offline.
Who the fuck is he? Or she?
Not a lie, not a trap for sure.
I stare at the phone's screen for a moment, unblinking. This person is still watching me, I don't know how, from where.
I toss the phone onto the passenger seat, grip the steering wheel and start the car.
I need to face this.
Seven minutes later I'm at the church, I tuck the gun tighter into my waistband, eyes calm and demeanor blunt.
I step out of the car, avoiding parking by the side and make my way into the sacred place. From here, every step I take is measured, careful and deliberate. The air inside the church is scented with candle wax, the peaceful silence... just a perfect contrast to the storm inside me.
My gaze wanders around, taking in the surroundings. The priest stands near the altar, a few servers move quietly, their steps the only sound in the stillness.
My phone buzzes again. I grab it, heart skipping.
My gaze instantly snaps to the said direction, to the man sitting in a pew near the altar, calm and unmoving. In a crisp white suit, silver hair combed back. His frame clearly highlights his age.
Suspicion tightens my gaze, and then everything flips the moment he turns his head... toward me.
This face.
How can I ever forget?
One of Ayushman Oberoi's most trusted men, my grandfather's lawyer. The one who orchestrated lies and fake evidence to ruin my mother's reputation and professional life. A major reason for everything she endured.
My knuckles clench, eyes burn with the rage I cannot hold back. I was just twelve the last time I saw this fucker, as he vanished underground for years after being accused of killing my grandfather.
The fucker stands and walks toward me, I let him. Let him walk into his own death, my face unreadable.
And the second he reaches me, I slam my fist into his face. He stumbles to the one side, but I don't allow him to fall, not yet. I grab his throat and jerk his head up, "Finally you show your filthy face."
He offers no protest. I throttle him until he starts coughing, guttural and broken.
"Hid all these years?-" My fingers tightens around his throat, nails digging into his old skin "Just to die like this, with my hands tearing your throat apart?"
He twists and writhes, I don't budge, dragging every ounce of life out from him until a voice halts me. "Leave him, woman. He's come to confess all his sins to the almighty."
I glance at the priest a few steps away, shock and worry in his eyes. Yet my hold on Vidyut's throat doesn't falter, no chance.
"He'll definitely confess?-in hell," I snap, my grip crushing the air from his lungs.
I yank out my gun and press it to his chest, one hand at his throat, squeezing until he gags when he chokes "y-your sis-ter in... law is in danger."
My fingers loosen around his neck a fraction, eyes narrowing in disbelief. No one fabricates when death's this near.
I ease my grip but keep the gun barrel against his chest, letting him bark. He hacks, struggling to steady his breath.
I watch him, eyes darkening.
Then finally he spits, voice cracking "The one you've been ch-chasing for years.
.. is not near you, but from among your people.
In Rome right now, planning another ruin.
" He slumps, I grab his coat and force him back up "Wh-whatever happened with your m-mother, the lies, fake accusations to her reputation.
.. your grandfather did it with my help.
But- but he was manipulated to do such a thing with his daughter-in-law.
.. by someone else. I- I was with him, pretending to be loyal to your grandfather.
I was accused of killing him as- as I was the last one who met him. But I didn't-"
Of course you didn't, you couldn't, no one could but my brother.
The faint shred of those dark memories flashes before my eyes, the day my bastard of a grandfather met his karma, killed by his own blood.
I've been looking for my little brother forever! We're playing hide and seek and I have to catch him to show he's the loser. I've checked almost every room in the palace, asked all the servants and the grown-ups if they've seen the round ball, but nobody knows.
Ugh, my pretty legs are hurting now.
But no chance I'm backing off.
Amid my struggle, I notice something strange. So many muffled voices are coming from dadu's study room. I step forward to see, but a servant stops me in urgence. "Cari?o, please don't go there."
"Why?" I turn my head back, joining my brows in suspicion.
"We've brought some Italian sweets for you, won't you taste them?" She tries to lure me, me? The aashi oberoi. Why does everyone think I'm just a kid and they can trick.
"Afterwards!" I yell, sprinting toward the study before she can stop me.
I peek in just a little. So many big men! Dad, chachu and ashray uncle stand with the men dressed as police men. Their faces are pale, talking about something serious. Too serious.
But my eyes almost pop out of my head when I see dadu slumped on his chair. His eyes shut, drenched in blood. So much blood, two holes in his chest... he can't be... is he dead?
"You killed my father, Vidyut? How dare you-"
"No sir, I didn't,"
With dad's, many other voices echo in my ears, but my tear filled eyes remain glued to dadu.
I sneak closer to dad, and that's when the big men finally spot me.
"Dad," I murmur, lifting my head and rubbing my eyes. He cups my face quickly, "What... what happened to dadu?"
Dad bends down, brushing my tears away. "It's nothing princess, go play in your room. Aayansh's probably waiting for you."
Evening comes, I've been in my room all day. Quiet. Why does everything feel different now? Mom doesn't talk or smile like before. She just stays in her room. Anika masi is always with dad, and I don't like it. Even chachi behaves so differently. And now what I saw a few hours ago...
I get off the bed and make my way to Aayansh's room. I haven't seen him since then, slowly, I open the door and step inside.
I see him at his study desk, scribbling in a notebook.
"Aayansh?" I move closer, but stop cold. My eyes lock on the gun on his desk.
Dadu's gun.
"You stole dadu's gun?" I blurt out, my heart thumping. "What if someone finds out? You brat-"
He doesn't turn toward me, no hesitation, no guilt. Just a calm voice that chills my bones "I shot him with this, so I've earned it."
"Wh-what?" I stutter, eyes widening in disbelief "You shot dadu with his gun? You- killed him... why?"
He gets off the chair, turns to face me. There was never childish innocence on that face of his, but now, he's just scarier than ever.
"Because he was the reason for mom's tears."
My breath catches, confusion knotting inside me as I murmur "What are you-" then it hits me, mom's silence, her pain all these days. "How do you know?"
He doesn't answer, while my gaze falls on his notebook. Two dates are etched there on the page, one is today's and the other... mom's birthday.
Vidyut's gagging pulls me out of my thoughts, I tighten my grip on his coat and yank him upright "Who is he?"
My heart pounds, fucking desperate to hear the name. The shadow, the one with that twisted creepy smile. The one who tried to kill me. And the same behind everything that happened to mom in the basement on Aayansh's birthday.
He falters, and I growl "Bark up!"
My mind goes numb for a second, not able to believe what I just heard. Nanu? My mother's father. The man I'd once made my safeplace, after my mother. Amidst those monsters, nanu saved me that day... or maybe played?
He left India drowning in grief after mom's death, and never came back. We never heard a word since. No clue where he lived, no news, no address, nothing about his health...
"Your mother's father! He was behind all this."
Vidyut's voice snaps me back. I let him spill it all before I even thought of catching a lie.
"At that time, there were only two powers- both in the under... underworld and in the business world. Ayushman Oberoi Hriday singh Rajvansh. They were close friends. But Hriday's intentions were never pure, he- he wanted the throne all to himself, no one even close."
"And when he learned that his younger daughter loved Ayushman's son, he... deliberately got his elder daughter married into the Oberoi family... to plant venom in their bloodline. And it worked."
"Ayushman always wanted Aaina as his daughter-in-law?-she could carry his legacy forward, not Anika.
Hriday knew it, and twisted circumstances in his favor.
He used his daughter aaina as the string tying both fam-ilies together, while behind their backs, he was quietly tearing Ayushman apart-illegaly selling his shares and plotting his downfall in chaos. "
It all makes sense now. Nanu had his hands in everything that belonged to Oberois. Personal matters, business deals... everything.
"But his game flipped when... when his daughter aaina discovered their betrayal... the contract that bound her only to bear an heir and then leave. She rebelled, wanted to walk away from both families, with her children. She was even ready to fight for it legally."
"But neither Ayushman nor hriday could allow that. Hriday, because if his daughter left the Oberoi name, he'd lose access to their c-confidential affairs. And that might spark a war between the two families."
"I always worked for hriday, but pretended loyalty to Ayushman, just to hold his trust. And after your mother demanded for divorce and custody, hriday ordered me to turn Ayushman against her.
With my help, he spread fake news... lies that Aaina Oberoi was a corrupt doctor, running sex rackets behind her healing therapies.
.. we destroyed her reputation within two days. "
He inhales, then the words slip out. "Your.
.. your masi messed with your mother's meds, Switched her panic control tablets for.
.. for drugs that would trigger her mental health.
.. your grandfather knew it. Everyone knew in the fam-family except Meera Oberoi.
It was all to prove she was mentally unfit. "
My jaw pulsates so hard it fucking hurts, every cell in me just wants to cram all the bullets from my gun into this fucker's chest. But no, I need the truth first. True or false? I'll deal with it later.
"And suddenly one day," His voice drops too timid and slow ".
.. On your brother's birthday, I was underground when I got a call from Hriday.
.. ordering me to prepare Aaina Oberoi's death certificate and list it as a Suicide.
I was shocked. He even called me to Oberoi Palace that same day, taking responsibility for my safety. "
Silence.
Scary, heavy.
Drenched in anticipation.
"I can never forget that... happened in the basement."
His words don't surprise me, because I've seen it all. Lived those terrifying moments.
The screams, cruel laughs, the shadows in the darkness of that basement flashes before my eyes... once again.
After preparing Aayansh's birthday cake, aaina places the candle shaped like an '8' on top. With slow, steady hands, she writes a wish in cream 'Happy 8th birthday to my boy, my ansh. Always remember, your mom loves you and aashi more than anyone in this world.'
A faint smile tugging on her dull face.
She sets the glass lid over the cake, removes her apron just as her phone rings from the slab.
She checks the text from her senior Doctor, Dr. Singhania?- Aaina!
I owe you the truth. You've always helped me in my hardships, so I can't keep this to myself anymore.
I know who's behind destroying your name, reputation and your life.
Somewhere I was also involved in this, I'm guilty.
They'll kill me if not today, then someday.
But you deserve to know those names, I'll be waiting for you in the Hospital's cafè.
~ Dr. R. M Singhania
Aaina's fingers freeze on the screen, she rereads the text-once-twice. Her lips part but no sound comes out, but the shift in her is lethal. All these days she suffocated herself, blamed herself for the things she was never guilty of, bleeding through nights of tears.
Not anymore!
She clutches her phone and calls for Amira, the head maid.
Amira rushes in, "Yes, ma'am?"
"Take care of Aashi, don't let her out of your sight. I'll be back soon."
Without another word, aaina turns and leaves.
She reaches the car, fingers wrapping around the handle. The moment the door opens, her phone rings again. Her chest tightens when she sees the caller ID- papa.
For a moment, the woman inside her fades, and a little girl with a wounded heart takes over. The little daughter who's aching to rush to her father, hide in his arms and tell him how unfair the world has been to her, complain about everyone who did wrong to her.
But how unlucky she is, to whom should she complain? Her father is one of them.
She brushes a single tear from her cheek and answers the call. "Aaina-" Hriday's voice slithers through the line.
"I'll call you later papa, I have to finish something." She cuts in firmly.
"Finish what?" His tone tightens, suspicious.
Aaina exhales, gathering the courage. "The things I was never guilty of, and everyone who betrayed me."
Silence hangs over the line.
Then comes Hriday's low, deliberate voice, "Who... are they? Do you- know the names?"
"I will, soon enough" Aaina replies, "I'm going to meet Dr. Singhania, he will give me all the answers."
"Singhania?" Hriday murmurs to himself, then his voice softens like honey- "Beta, stay in the palace. I'm coming, I can't let you meet anyone alone, it's not safe."
"No need-"
"Aaina! That's your father's order."
The call disconnects, Aaina sighs. Helpless, she gets inside the palace.
Minutes pass as Aaina waits in the hall, her uneasiness inside her refuses to fade. On her phone, she reaches for Dr. Singhania's number, and this time, his phone continues to show switched off.
Aaina isn't na?ve, she knows exactly what this could mean. Maybe Dr. Singhania-
She dials Aayansh's teacher, heart pounding. The call connects, and she barely waits to speak. "Where's my son?"
"Calm down, Mrs. Oberoi. He's playing," the teacher says gently. "Uh... it's his birthday, right? Should I send him back?"
"No... no, I'll come get him myself, by evening" Aaina says quickly, trying to keep her voice steady.
Her heart twists with unease, restless and pounding. Fear. The thought she might not be able to see her children again, that something terrible is waiting for her.
Another notification pings. Her fingers scramble over the screen... and then, in a heartbeat, her world fractures. Her eyes go wide, disbelief rooting her to the spot before she topples back onto the couch.
Meanwhile she's dazed, some footsteps echo faintly in her ears... she turns her head-and freezes-her father heading near, with some other men.
She springs up, rushing toward him, voice cracking "Pap-"
But a sudden, sharp slap lands across her face. The force throws her off balance, and she stumbles to the floor. The corner of her lips glistens with blood. Her eyes locked on her father, disbelief and horror freezing her... he had just slapped her.
"Dumb girl, you've sworn to ruin all my years of planning, huh?" He barks, tone dark with barely contained rage. "I got you married in this family to use you as living poison in their veins... To ruin their bloodline."
Aaina's body, with her mind goes numb. The man in front is her father, her own father, crueler than any monster she has ever feared.
"You want names?" His voice slices through the silence, "It's me, aaina. It was always me."
Deafening silence stretches, cold and cruel.
Aaina doesn't move. Doesn't speak. How is she supposed to react? Scream? Curse? Fight back to her father? Maybe her throat has bled enough for all this.
"Rajvansh princess," One of the men drawls, his gaze crawling over aaina's body. "Never thought royalty could look this tempting."
Disgust floods Aaina's eyes as she forces herself to stand.
"Take her to the basement" Her father, Hriday's voice booms, cold, ruthless.
He moves ahead indifferent, as two of the men clutch aaina by the hair and drag her forward. She struggles, her cries echoing through the hall, but her strength is nothing before their brutal force.
Minutes later, they throw aaina in the dark basement, terrifying silence. Her wrists are scraped raw, eyes red, face stained with tears and dust. Still she struggles to move away from their tall shadows. Scratches are all over her wrists, eyes red and face tear streaked.
They laughs cruelly at her condition, one of those men mocks "Oberois' personal slut, now she'll entertain us."
Her dry eyes, once locked to her father, shifts to the monsters surrounding her. Fear slithers through her veins, one woman against so many men masquerading as human. But not for a second she let it show on her face, let them have the satisfaction that she's scared of them.
"You're my daughter, I never wanted this for you.
" Hriday hisses, voice void of any affection- "But you're eager to ruin everything, you left no option for me.
You were only ever here to get married, be used and spit out a child after nine months.
Jhansi ki rani banne ki zarurat nahi thi tumhe, sab jaisa chal raha tha waise chalne deti. "
And with her father's words, she died another death.
A daughter's first saviour is always her father, who holds her hands when she takes her first step, who makes her believe she can grow safely in this evil world.
Not because she needs it, but because to a father, a daughter is fragile.
.. someone meant to be nurtured with all love and care.
And this daughter's illusion.... Shattered.
More footsteps echo through the basement, but Aaina doesn't turn. Ahead, standing silently, are her husband Aaryan Oberoi. Her brother-in-law Rithvik Oberoi. And the lawyer, Vidyut Dhanrajgir. Dazed but helpless.
Here, hriday presses a cigarette between his lips, exhaling smoke like venom. "Do whatever you want, don't kill her. Just make sure she gets disgusted by herself once you all are done."
Aaina's eyes widened, cruel laughs echoing. Those men step near her, tall and monstrous shadows, spitting filth.
"Should we taste her one by one, or all at once, huh?"
"Tell us, woman, would you yourself take off your saree or want us to rip it?"
"Oh, pride is still there on her face. Let's strip it out with her clothes. I've never experienced tasting such a dignified beautiful woman."
Aaina scrambles backward, her ankle is strained and she can't even pull herself up, still she never stops trying as those filth filled eyes gawk at her like wolves.
"Pa-papa stop them" She screams, her voice breaking with fear as she struggles to move away.
"Don't you dare touch me,"
"Aar-aaryan, I'm still your wife."
"Rithvik-"
Tears of helplessness fill in Rithvik's eyes as he bows his head, Aaryan also stands helpless.
Here, eleven year old aashika who was searching for aaina throughout the palace, and halted before the basement's glass door. She drags a chair and climbs onto it, peering inside, the darkness stares back. At first, she can't see anything, but then finds shadows moving... big and haunting.
Someone gasping for air in between.
She presses her palms harder against the glass, squinting through the darkness.
Too many shadows, laughing creepily while someone's in pain.
They're doing something wrong, she senses it. Aaina has always told her when she sees something wrong happening, never stay silent. But her throat hurts, she herself doesn't realise why.
Amid those dim shadows, she sees the fragile frame dragging itself backward across the floor. The red saree, Aayansh's favorite, the one Aaina had worn for his birthday, shimmers faintly in the darkness. And that's when Aashika recognizes her mother.
"Mom..." She whispers, eyes freezing on aaina.
"You're already declared a whore to the world, so becoming one won't make any difference." Her father's voice reached her ears.
Once more, Aaina tries to stand when a hard kick lands on her abdomen and she falls back with a scream. Tears of pain and helplessness pool unhinged from her eyes- when aashika's muffled screams draw her back to her senses.
"Mom-No... no... leave her bad monsters-Dad, chachu, Aayansh." Though Aashika's not able to see anyone's face.
Aaina convulses, not with her own suffering, but the panic, fear... her little daughter is amid these demons. Watching her in this condition!
"Please, please" She begs, the thing she'd never done before, just for her daughter she begs "Meri bachhi ko yahan se door karo, please."
Aaryan's gaze darts to the door, and he barks "Get my daughter away from here, she's not part of this."
Meanwhile, something dark and twisted churns in Hriday's mind. After a beat, he slurs, "Where's Aayansh? Bring him here too."
A fresh wave of disgust and hate surges through aaina. She stares at her father, voice ragged but deadly. "Count yourself l-lucky, my son isn't here. Otherwise he would have torn you apart."
Hriday's eyes narrow, then he laughs. Ordering his men... "What are you all waiting for, motherfuckers? Just finish her."
Aaina wipes her tears, breath ragged as she screams toward the door,
"Aashi Bachha, go away! Nothing will hap-happen to me. Just go!"
From outside, aashika's trembling voice answers, choked with sobs,
"No! I won't-never!"
In between the cries, aaina's eyes flick to a sharp glass shard lying on the floor.
And something inside her shifts.
Her body aches, bruised and spent. She knows she won't be able to fight back anymore, and the people she once trusted blindly, they're here to watch her breaking, her dignity crushing beneath their cruelty.
Those men, their filthy shadows hover over her.
She closes her eyes for a moment... Aayansh Aashika's face flashing before them... and a faint smile, born with tiniest comfort after so much pain, brushes her lips.
And just as those filthy hands reach for her, in a blink, she grabs the shard of glass from near her and plunges it deep into her own stomach.
Blood pools around her as she collapses to the floor, body trembling with pain. Every person present freezes, eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
It wasn't an easy choice.
Dignity or life?
But she made it, she chose a death that felt like hers, with dignity. She was born pure, and chose to die pure.
Here, little aashika stands frozen, she can't move. Her mother's red saree, once beautiful and bright, now soaked in blood. She doesn't cry, doesn't blink. Somewhere inside her, she knows her mother is finally at peace. No more screams, no more pleading. Just stillness.
Though she can't see her face.
Aaryan's voice trembles under his anger. "What should we do now?"
Hriday's eyes stay on Aaina's body. Then, slowly, that cruel smirk returns.
"I planned a suicide," he whispers, "and she made it easy."
"Everyone, out!" Hriday growls, his voice cutting through the chaos. He turns to one of his men. "Call the cops."
They scramble toward the exit. Aashika, still trembling on the chair, quickly climbs down and slips behind the massive door, pressing herself against it...hidden, unseen. In the uproar, no one even realizes she's still there.
Minutes later, silence devours the space.
Aaina lies slumped on the cold basement floor, drenched in blood... utterly alone.
Once everyone leaves, little Aashika runs straight to her mother. She drops to her knees beside Aaina, tears that had dried moments ago spilling again down her cheeks. Her tiny hands tremble as they cup her mother's cold face... ruined, lifeless.