Chapter 26 The Accident
The peaceful afternoon at Rathore Mansion came to an abrupt end.
A loud ringtone shattered the silence.
Raghav Rathore's phone.
Rajveer answered immediately.
"Hello?"
For a brief moment...
No one understood what the caller was saying.
Then...
Rajveer's expression drained of all color.
"What...?"
Everyone looked toward him.
His trembling voice barely escaped.
"There's been an accident."
Silence.
"Raghav's car..."
"...was hit by a speeding truck."
The entire family froze.
"What?" Savitri gasped.
Arjun immediately stepped forward.
"Dad?"
Rajveer gripped the phone tightly.
"They're taking him to City Care Hospital."
Within seconds...
The entire Rathore family rushed out of the mansion.
None of them noticed...
Aadhira standing completely still.
Her heartbeat quickened.
That was...
Her car.
She had given the keys to Raghav that morning because his own car was at the service center.
A strange uneasiness settled inside her heart.
Without wasting another second...
She followed everyone.
City Care Hospital...
Doctors and nurses hurried through the emergency entrance.
The Rathore family reached within minutes.
Rajveer rushed toward the emergency ward.
"Doctor!"
"How is my son?"
The doctor removed his gloves.
His face carried the seriousness everyone feared.
"The patient has suffered severe internal injuries."
"He has lost a considerable amount of blood."
Everyone held their breath.
"We've managed to stabilize him temporarily..."
"...but his condition is critical."
The words echoed through the corridor.
Savitri nearly collapsed.
Arjun caught her before she could fall.
"No..."
She whispered through tears.
"My son..."
Karan punched the nearby wall in frustration.
Vivaan stood frozen.
"Dad..."
His small voice trembled.
Aadhira quietly knelt before him.
She gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Nothing will happen to him."
Vivaan immediately hugged her tightly.
She slowly closed her eyes.
Please...
Let him survive.
Nearly twenty minutes later...
Another group hurried into the hospital.
The Devraj family.
Rajesh.
Meera.
Aarav.
Atharv.
Arvind.
Kavita.
Harshvardhan.
Devayani.
Raghav Devraj and Sushma.
Advik and Ishita.
And finally...
Vedha.
Behind them...
Walked Kavya.
Her face carried perfect concern.
"I'm so sorry," she said softly.
"I came as soon as I heard."
Savitri nodded absentmindedly.
"Thank you..."
Everyone's attention remained fixed on the ICU doors.
Only one person...
Was observing something else.
Vedha.
She quietly looked toward Kavya.
Something felt...
Wrong.
Kavya kept glancing toward the ICU.
Not with concern.
With fear.
Her fingers trembled.
She repeatedly checked her phone.
Her breathing was uneven.
The moment their eyes met...
Kavya immediately forced a smile.
Vedha frowned slightly.
Why...
...does she look nervous?
Not sad.
Not worried.
Nervous.
Before Vedha could think further...
A nurse hurried past them.
Everyone's attention shifted once again.
But Vedha's eyes remained on Kavya.
Something wasn't right.
Far away from the crowd...
Aadhira quietly stepped into the nearly empty hospital balcony.
She looked around carefully.
No one was nearby.
Her phone vibrated.
Private Number.
She answered immediately.
"Speak."
A familiar distorted voice replied.
"The investigation is complete."
Aadhira's expression became unreadable.
"It wasn't an accident."
"I know."
"The truck driver has confessed."
A brief silence followed.
"He was paid."
"By whom?"
The answer came instantly.
"Kavya."
Aadhira's fingers tightened around the phone.
"And..."
"...her father."
Her calm expression disappeared.
For the first time in years...
Pure anger flashed across her face.
"They planned to kill you."
"The vehicle they targeted was yours."
"They never knew someone else was driving."
A long silence followed.
The only sound...
Was Aadhira's slow breathing.
Finally...
She spoke.
"So..."
"...our suspicion was correct."
"Yes."
"The plan unfolded exactly as expected."
Aadhira looked through the hospital glass toward the ICU.
An innocent man...
Was now fighting for his life.
Because of her.
No...
Because of them.
Her voice became dangerously calm.
"Change the plan."
The person on the other end remained silent.
"I don't just want the truth anymore."
"I want everything."
"Their lies."
"Their crimes."
"Their empire."
"Their pride."
"I want them to lose it all."
The distorted voice answered respectfully.
"As you wish."
"We'll begin immediately."
The call disconnected.
Aadhira slowly lowered the phone.
Her eyes no longer carried sadness.
Only determination.
Very quietly...
She whispered to herself.
"You wanted to destroy me..."
"...now I'll make sure you lose everything."
She took one deep breath.
Then calmly wiped away every trace of emotion from her face.
By the time she returned to the corridor...
She was once again...
The quiet, composed Aadhira everyone knew.
No one noticed...
The storm that had just begun.