Hai ...

Hello ...

Happy reading....

***********************

The silence after the slap did not fade away quickly. Instead, it settled over the entire garden like something heavy and suffocating, pressing against every chest present there. Conversations stopped midway, laughter died without reason, and even the air felt still. It was not just silence, it was the kind that forces people to witness something they would rather avoid.

Radhya slowly straightened herself, her fingers still resting against her cheek where the sting lingered. The redness on her skin was visible, but what stood out more was the calmness in her expression. Pallavi instinctively stepped closer, standing beside her protectively.

Radhya lifted her gaze and looked at him again. This time, there was no shock, no fear, no hesitation. Her eyes held something much deeper than anger. They carried years of silence, years of swallowed emotions, and words that had waited far too long to be spoken.

"Bas?" she asked quietly, her voice soft but piercing through the stillness. "That's it?"

Mallik Sarkaar's anger still burned, though it flickered slightly under the weight of her calmness. "How dare you talk to me like this," he snapped, his voice rising again, trying to regain control of the situation.

But Radhya did not let him finish. She gave a small nod, almost as if she had expected this exact reaction. "Exactly," she said. "That's always your problem." Her tone remained steady, controlled, yet every word landed sharply. "You only know how to react, Baba... not understand."

A murmur tried to rise among the people standing around, but it died instantly. No one dared to interrupt what was unfolding in front of them.

Radhya took a step closer, closing the distance that had always existed between them emotionally. "Do you know what your biggest mistake is?" she asked, her eyes locked onto his. "You were always a great leader." She paused for a moment, a faint, bitter smile appearing on her lips. "But never a good father. You were never emotionally available for your daughter... or your wife."

The words hit harder than the slap he had given her. People exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the truth that had just been spoken out loud. Mallik Sarkaar's expression shifted for a brief second, but his ego still stood tall, refusing to let him bend completely.

"I do everything for you," he said sharply, trying to hold onto his authority.

"For me?" Radhya let out a soft, almost disbelieving laugh. "When did you ever do something for me?" Her gaze did not waver for even a second. "You made decisions for your people. You fought for them. You gave them your time." Her voice softened slightly, but the pain in it became clearer. "But when did you ever stop for your daughter?"

The silence deepened further, becoming almost unbearable.

"Did you ever ask what an eight/ten year old child wanted?" she continued, her voice trembling slightly now. "Did you ever try to understand what she was going through when the entire city called her a gangster's daughter?"

Mallik Sarkaar did not answer. He could not. For the first time, his silence was not out of control, but out of the lack of words.

Radhya shook her head slowly. "Do you even know what your daughter likes? What she hates? What she fears?" Her lips curved into a sad smile. "No, right? Because you never tried."

Her eyes flickered for a brief moment, but she steadied herself again. "You only see your world," she continued. "Your people, your power, your image." She gestured around them, indicating everything he had built. Then her voice dropped. "But home? Home was never your priority."

Everyone stood still, listening, understanding the depth behind her words.

"You didn't just ignore your daughter," she said again, her tone firm but heavy. "You ignored your wife too." That truth settled deeply in the atmosphere. "You never gave her importance. You never truly listened to her. You always assumed she would understand."

She took a slow breath, trying to steady herself. "Everything has to go your way. Always."

Mallik Sarkaar's jaw tightened, but his eyes were no longer steady. Something inside him had begun to shake.

Radhya stepped closer once again. "Even today," she said quietly, "what did you do?" Her voice trembled now, but she did not stop. "You didn't ask me anything. You didn't try to understand." Her eyes filled, but she blinked back the tears. "You just raised your hand."

A long pause followed, heavy with unsaid emotions.

"And not just today," she continued, her voice breaking slightly as old memories resurfaced. "Even that day... you did the same thing." Her gaze shifted toward Pallavi for a moment, pain flashing clearly in her eyes. "You shot her without thinking." Her voice dropped into a whisper. "And before that... your family was the one who didn't even want to stay with you."

The memory of Pallavi lying unconscious, fighting for her life, lingered in the air like a ghost no one could ignore.

Radhya closed her eyes for a brief second, then opened them again, stronger than before. "Do you know when you talk to me?" she asked quietly. "When I become your enemy." The words echoed painfully. "Only then you listen. Only then you ask questions. Only then you try to say something."

A tear slipped down her cheek, but she did not wipe it away. "You have time to threaten Krishnansh. You have time to argue with Arjun sir. But you don't have time to sit with your daughter for two minutes." Her voice cracked. "You only know how to judge her... how to be angry at her."

For the first time, Mallik Sarkaar looked shaken. Not angry. Not dominating. Just shaken.

Radhya's voice softened, losing all its sharpness. "I am not your enemy, Baba," she said gently. "I am your daughter." The words felt fragile, yet carried immense weight. "If not you, then who will understand what your daughter and your wife need?"

The garden felt suffocatingly quiet.

"Do you think I am wrong?" she asked. "Maybe I am." She gave a small nod. "But did you ever give me a chance to explain?"

There was no answer.

"It is not too late even now," she said slowly, her voice almost pleading now. "Just once... let go of this hatred. Whatever you have lost... you can still get it back." She paused before adding softly, "If you really want, things can still change."

She stepped back, creating distance again. "But first... speak less," she said gently. "Start listening."

Mallik Sarkaar stood there, completely silent. For the first time, he was not standing as a powerful man feared by everyone, but as a father who had no defense left. Without saying anything, he turned and walked away. Not in anger, not in pride, but in something far more complicated.

Radhya watched him go, her eyes lingering for a moment before she turned toward Arjun and Pallavi. There was hesitation in her expression now, a vulnerability that had not been there before.

"I need to say something to both of you," she said softly.

Curiosity spread instantly among everyone present.

"First of all... I am sorry," she continued. "For troubling all of you so much. But whatever I did... I did it for everyone's good." She paused, her fingers tightening slightly as nervousness crept in. "And the second thing is..."

She took a deep breath, trying to gather courage. Avinash stepped forward and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, silently encouraging her.

Arjun and Pallavi looked at her, and in that moment, they understood. Even before she said anything, their eyes filled with tears. After years of pain, distance, and separation, their daughter was finally coming back to them. This time, she would not leave again.

Radhya opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly she felt it. A gaze. Intense and unwavering. It sent a strange unease through her.

She slowly turned.

Mallik Sarkaar was standing there.

At a distance.

Watching her.

But something had changed. The anger in his eyes was gone. In its place was something far more vulnerable.

Fear.

The raw, undeniable fear of losing his daughter.

And for the first time in his life, that fear was stronger than his pride.

Mallik Sarkaar stood there, completely still, as if the world around him had suddenly lost its movement. The air felt heavier than before, pressing against his chest, making even breathing feel like an effort. For the first time in years, he had nothing to say. No anger rushed to his defense, no authority rose to control the situation. Radhya's words had not just struck him, they had settled deep within him, heavy and suffocating, refusing to be ignored.

Slowly, his gaze lifted.

But this time, there was no fire in his eyes. No sharpness meant to intimidate. No power meant to silence.

There was conflict.

There was exhaustion.

And beneath it all, something painfully human... vulnerability.

He let out a slow breath, his shoulders lowering slightly as if the weight he had carried for years had finally started to show.

"Do you really think I don't care?" he said at last, his voice no longer loud or commanding.

There was no arrogance in his tone.

Only tiredness.

Only truth.

For a brief moment, his eyes moved around, taking in the people standing in silence, the tension that had now turned into stillness, the space that had witnessed everything. Then his gaze returned to her.

"Just because I don't say things... doesn't mean I don't feel them," he continued quietly.

His voice dropped, softer than anyone had ever heard it.

"I just... don't know how to express it."

The admission felt unfamiliar even to him.

He paused, his jaw tightening as something deeper struggled to surface.

"Without you..." he began, but stopped midway, as if the words resisted him.

For a moment, it seemed like he would hold them back.

But then he didn't.

"Without you... it becomes hard to even breathe."

The truth slipped out before he could stop it.

And for a second, even he seemed surprised by his own honesty.

He looked away briefly, gathering himself, trying to regain the control that had always defined him.

"You think I ignore my family?" he continued, his voice quieter now, stripped of its usual force.

A faint, almost bitter expression crossed his face.

"I don't ignore my home... I run away from it."

That confession shifted something in the air.

"Because if I stay..." he said slowly, choosing his words carefully, "I will become weak."

His eyes flickered toward her.

"And I cannot afford that. Not when it comes to your safety."

Silence followed.

Not empty.

But listening.

"Where I stand today... there are enemies everywhere," he said, his tone steady but grounded in reality.

"All the time."

"Every decision I make... can take someone's life... or save it."

His expression hardened slightly, not with anger, but with truth.

"I fight every single day... so that no one can reach you."

It was the first time he had ever said it out loud.

Not as an excuse.

But as a reality he had been carrying alone.

"You think I try to control you?" he asked, looking directly at her.

A pause.

"I am protecting you."

His gaze sharpened, not with anger, but with certainty.

"I know what this world is like. I know what people are capable of." his eyes landed on Krishnansh who was already seeing him.

Another pause.

"I know that one small mistake... can take you away from me forever."

His voice faltered slightly at the end, just for a moment.

But it was enough.

"So yes..." he exhaled slowly.

"I am strict."

"I lose my temper."

"I force decisions."

He paused again, longer this time.

"Because I am scared."

That word settled heavily in the air.

Unexpected.

Unbelievable.

Mallik Sarkaar... scared.

"For a father..." he continued slowly, his voice softer now, "his child's safety is everything."

"More than anything."

He looked straight at Radhya, holding her gaze.

"I remember every smile of yours... but I cannot bear even a single tear in your eyes."

His hands clenched slightly at his sides, as if even imagining it hurt him.

"That is why I try to control things... that is why I react... and that is why I end up being wrong."

He took a deep breath.

"But that does not mean I do not care."

A long pause followed.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Then his voice shifted again, turning deeper, more grounded in the world he belonged to.

"For me... my people and my family are not different," he said slowly.

"They are my responsibility. And responsibility... does not come from just protecting."

"You have to fight for it."

His tone grew firm again, but this time it was not anger speaking.

It was truth.

A truth shaped by years of survival.

"I can give my life for my people... and for my family."

A heartbeat passed.

"And if needed..."His voice dropped, quieter but far more dangerous. "I can take a life too."

The garden fell silent again.

But this time, it was not fear that filled the space.

It was understanding.

For the first time, both sides had spoken. Both truths had come out, raw and unfiltered, standing face to face without hiding behind pride or anger.

Slowly, Mallik Sarkaar stepped forward.

There was no hesitation in his movement, yet no force either.

He reached out and held Radhya's hand.

Firm.

But gentle.

Not hurting.

Not forcing.

There was authority in his grip.

But there was also something else.

Something softer.

Something that had always been there, just never shown.

"Come with me," he said quietly.

Radhya did not pull her hand away.

And without another word, he turned and began to walk.

Taking her with him.

Not like a man dragging someone along.

But like a father... who still did not know how to stay......

Yet was no longer willing to lose her.

Arjun moved forward almost instantly, his reflex driven more by instinct than thought. The moment he saw Mallik Sarkaar take hold of Radhya, something in him snapped. "Leave her, Sarkaar," he said, his voice sharp, controlled, but laced with a warning that was impossible to miss.

Before the moment could settle, Krishnansh stepped in even faster, his anger far less restrained. His jaw tightened, his eyes dark with fury as he took another step ahead. "Don't you dare take her anywhere without-" he began, his voice rising, ready to turn the situation into something far more dangerous.

"Stop."

Radhya's voice cut through both of them.

It was not loud.

But it carried enough authority to silence two men who were used to commanding rooms themselves.

Both Arjun and Krishnansh froze.

The tension in the air remained, but their movements halted instantly, as if her one word had drawn an invisible line they could not cross.

Radhya slowly turned toward them. Her gaze first met Krishnansh's, where anger and worry battled visibly, then shifted to Arjun, whose concern was quieter but just as intense. For a brief second, her expression softened, as if she understood everything they were trying to do for her.

Then she shook her head.

A small movement.

But firm.

"Don't," she said.

The word was simple, but her eyes spoke far more than her voice did. There was trust in them. A silent reassurance. A quiet plea for them to step back, just this once.

Trust me.

Krishnansh's fists clenched tightly at his sides, his entire body resisting the urge to move forward anyway. "Radhya-" he tried again, his voice lower now, conflicted, as if he was fighting between listening to her and protecting her.

"I'll be fine," she said softly.

There was no fear in her tone.

Only certainty.

And that certainty was what stopped him.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke. The tension hung between them, heavy and unresolved.

Then, without waiting for either of them to respond, Radhya turned back.

She did not hesitate.

She did not look back again.

And she walked with Mallik Sarkaar.

Not like someone being forced.

Not like someone being dragged into something against he

r will.

But like someone who had made a decision.

Like someone who was ready to face whatever was coming next.

The car ride was silent from the moment they left.

Not the kind of silence that feels peaceful.

But the kind that presses against your chest, making every passing second heavier than the last.

Radhya sat beside him, her hands resting in her lap, fingers tightly intertwined as if she was holding herself together. She didn't look at him. Not once. Her gaze remained fixed outside the window, watching the blurred lights pass by, but her mind was nowhere near the road.

Beside her, Mallik Sarkaar sat stiff, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. His presence filled the space, as it always did, but today there was something different about it. The authority was still there. The control was still there. But beneath it... there was tension. Something unspoken, something unresolved.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them knew where to begin.

The car eventually slowed as the massive gates of the farmhouse came into view. The guards stepped aside immediately, and the gates opened slowly, almost dramatically, as if they were welcoming something inevitable.

The moment the car entered inside, the silence grew heavier.

The place was vast, isolated, cut off from everything else. It was meant to be secure. Untouchable.

But to Radhya, it felt suffocating.

The car stopped.

Neither of them moved immediately.

Then Mallik Sarkaar stepped out first, his movements calm, controlled, as if nothing was out of place. Radhya followed a second later, her steps slower, her eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to understand what this place meant for her.

They walked inside.

The sound of their footsteps echoed faintly in the empty space, making the silence even louder.

Radhya could not hold it in anymore.

"Why are we here, Baba?" she asked, her voice finally breaking through the suffocating quiet.

Mallik Sarkaar stopped.

But he didn't turn immediately.

For a brief moment, he just stood there, his back facing her, as if deciding how much to say... or how to say it.

Then slowly, he turned.

"Kyunki kal tumhari shaadi hai."

The words fell between them like something irreversible.

Radhya froze.

For a second, it felt like she hadn't heard him correctly.

"What?" she whispered, disbelief clearly written across her face.

But Mallik Sarkaar did not repeat himself with hesitation.

He looked completely calm.

Composed.

As if he had already accepted this decision long before this moment.

"The boy is my friend's son," he said, his tone steady. "Educated. Powerful. Safe."

Safe.

That word echoed in Radhya's mind.

It hit something deep inside her.

Something that did not agree.

Something that resisted.

"You don't need to get involved in all this mess," he continued, his voice carrying quiet authority. "My enemies... my life... it will not affect your future."

Radhya let out a soft, disbelieving laugh.

It wasn't amusement.

It was disbelief.

"So you decided everything..." she said slowly, her eyes finally meeting his, "...without even asking me?"

"I don't need your permission for what's right for you," he replied instantly.

That was enough.

Her expression hardened.

"And what makes you think this is right?" she asked, her voice sharper now.

Mallik Sarkaar's tone turned firm.

"Because I know the world better than you."

He took a step closer, his presence once again imposing.

"And I know Krishnansh."

That name changed everything.

The air shifted.

The silence became heavier.

"You can never be happy with him," he said, without hesitation.

Radhya's jaw clenched tightly.

"And you decided that too?" she asked, her voice laced with restrained anger.

"Yes."

There was no doubt in his answer.

No room for discussion.

"On what basis?" she challenged, stepping closer as well, refusing to back down.

"On the basis that his life is dangerous," he snapped, his control slipping slightly. "Enemies, violence, blood... this is not the life I want for you."

Radhya took another step forward.

Closing the distance completely.

"And yours is any different?" she asked quietly.

Silence.

That one question hit exactly where it needed to.

Mallik Sarkaar did not respond immediately.

Because he couldn't.

Because somewhere, deep down, he knew she wasn't wrong.

But his fear...

His fear was louder than logic.

"You think hiding me away will protect me?" she continued, her voice steady but intense. "Or forcing me into a marriage will make me safe?"

He looked at her.

Really looked at her.

For a moment, the father in him surfaced.

He stepped closer this time, his movements slower, less commanding, more... personal.

When he spoke again, his voice was quieter.

Softer.

Carrying something hidden beneath the firmness.

"I have fixed your marriage," he said, holding her gaze. "And he is capable enough to keep you happy."

There was a faint trace of something in his tone.

Not just authority.

Something that almost sounded like concern.

Like care... expressed in the only way he knew.

"Baba..." Radhya whispered, her voice breaking slightly now.

But he didn't let her continue.

"It is my final decision, Radhya," he said firmly.

And just like that-

The door for discussion was closed.

Not with anger.

Not with shouting.

But with something far more difficult to fight.

Finality.

He moved towards the door ..

"Toh aap bhi sun lijiye, Baba."

Her voice rose, firm and unshaken, cutting through the heavy silence of the farmhouse. She didn't move from her place, but the way she stood there, straight, unyielding, made it clear that she wasn't the same girl who had quietly endured his decisions all her life.

Mallik Sarkaar stopped in his tracks.

He didn't turn immediately.

But he didn't walk away either.

Radhya's eyes burned with determination now, the hesitation from before completely gone. "Aaj tak meri marzi ke bina kisi ne mujh par apne decisions thope nahi hain," she continued, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "Aur aaj bhi... meri marzi ke bina aap kuch nahi kar payenge."

Her words echoed in the vast space.

Strong.

Unapologetic.

For a moment, the air itself seemed to hold its breath.

Mallik Sarkaar remained still, his back still facing her, his posture rigid. There was no immediate reaction, no sharp reply like before. But the silence around him carried something dangerous, something building.

Radhya took a step forward, her gaze never leaving him. "Dekhte hain kisko itni himmat hai," she said, her tone now laced with quiet defiance, "ki mujhe shaadi ke liye force kar sake."

There was no fear in her voice.

Only challenge.

Only certainty.

Slowly, Mallik Sarkaar turned.

His face was calm again.

Too calm.

The kind of calm that always came before something decisive.

Their eyes met.

A father.

A daughter.

Both equally stubborn.

Both unwilling to bend.

"Toh phir dekhte hain," he said, his voice low but firm, carrying that familiar authority, "kaun is shaadi ko rok paayega."

A brief pause followed, just enough to let his words sink in.

"Yeh shaadi toh hokar hi rahegi."

There was finality in his tone.

A decision already made.

A battle already accepted.

He did not wait for her response.

He turned and walked away, his steps steady, his expression unreadable once again.

Leaving behind a silence that no longer felt suffocating.

It felt like the beginning of a war.

*********************

Morning arrived, but there was no calm in it.

Krishnansh stood outside Mallik Sarkaar's house, his eyes fixed on the large iron gates in front of him. Something felt off the moment he got there. The guards were missing, the usual movement around the place was gone, and the entire house stood there... silent.

Too silent.

He stepped closer, his gaze narrowing, and that's when he noticed it clearly.

Locked.

Completely locked.

A strange, unsettling feeling crept into his chest, tightening with every passing second. This wasn't normal. Nothing about this felt right.

He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed Radhya.

The call didn't even ring.

Switched off.

His jaw tightened.

He tried again.

Same result.

A sharp breath escaped him as frustration and fear began mixing dangerously inside him. He didn't waste another second and dialed Mallik Sarkaar.

The phone rang.

And rang.

And rang.

No response.

That was enough.

His patience snapped.

Without thinking further, he turned and rushed back to his car, his movements fast, restless, almost aggressive. Within minutes, he was at the office, walking in with urgency that didn't go unnoticed.

"Where is she?" he asked immediately, his voice sharp, his eyes scanning the place as if expecting her to appear out of nowhere.

One of the employees hesitated before answering, clearly uneasy under his gaze. "She's... not here, sir."

Krishnansh stared at him for a second, as if trying to process the words.

Not here.

That didn't make sense.

He turned and walked out again without another word, his steps quicker now, his mind racing. He drove to the next house-one of the other properties he knew Sarkaar owned.

Nothing.

"No, sir. She hasn't come here," someone informed him.

Another place.

Another check.

Still nothing.

Every location he could think of.

Every place she could possibly be.

There was no trace of her.

Not a single clue.

With every passing minute, his breathing grew heavier, his control slipping bit by bit. His hands clenched tightly, his thoughts turning darker, sharper.

This wasn't a coincidence.

This wasn't confusion.

This was planned.

"They took her," he muttered under his breath, his voice low but certain.

It wasn't a guess.

It was a conclusion.

His eyes darkened as the realization settled in completely.

Mallik Sarkaar had taken her.

Hidden her.

From him.

Without wasting another second, he pulled out his phone again and dialed Arjun. The call connected quickly, but Krishnansh didn't wait for greetings or questions.

"Mallik Sarkaar hid her," he said, his voice cold, controlled, but burning underneath. "And I'm going to find her."

There was a pause on the other end, but Krishnansh didn't care.

His decision was already made.

And this time

He wasn't going to stop.

Arjun pulled the phone away from his ear, his mind already racing ahead of the moment. Without checking the screen, he assumed the call had ended. His focus had already shifted to what needed to be done next, to the pieces that were finally falling into place in a way he had feared for years.

But the call had not disconnected.

On the other end, Krishnansh was still there.

Silent.

Listening.

Every word that followed... reached him.

Adit and Anant stepped in front of Arjun, their expressions serious, their patience clearly running thin after everything that had happened the previous night. The tension in the room was still lingering, heavy and unresolved.

"What happened yesterday?" Adit asked, his tone firm, his usual ease completely gone.

Arjun stayed quiet for a moment. His eyes lowered slightly, his jaw tightening as if he was holding back something far bigger than just an explanation. He had avoided this conversation for years. Hidden it. Buried it. Protected it.

But not anymore.

Not after last night.

Not after Radhya.

He let out a slow breath and finally looked up at them.

"I didn't tell you everything," he said, his voice low but steady, carrying a weight that immediately changed the atmosphere in the room.

Adit frowned slightly, exchanging a brief glance with Anant, both of them sensing that whatever was coming next was not going to be simple.

"There are things you don't know," Arjun continued. "Things I couldn't tell anyone... not even you."

His voice didn't shake, but there was something deeper beneath it. Something personal. Something guarded.

"For the past fifteen years," he said slowly, each word deliberate, "we have been protecting her."

The sentence landed, confusing at first, incomplete in their understanding.

"Protecting who?" Anant asked, his voice tightening slightly.

Arjun didn't hesitate this time.

"Arvi."

The name fell into the room like a shockwave.

Silence followed instantly.

Adit's expression shifted first, disbelief flashing across his face as he tried to process what he had just heard. Anant straightened slightly, his mind already racing to connect the dots, but the pieces refused to settle easily.

And through the phone...

Krishnansh heard it too.

Every word.

Every truth.

Unfiltered.

Arjun continued speaking, unaware that he wasn't just revealing the truth to the people in front of him.

He told them everything.

Not in fragments. Not in half-truths. But everything he had kept hidden for years. How it all began. Why it had to be hidden. The dangers surrounding her existence. The reason she had to be protected at all costs. The reason why even the closest people were kept in the dark.

With every word, the room grew heavier.

And on the other side of the call, Krishnansh stood frozen, the phone still pressed against his ear, his grip tightening unconsciously.

The truth hit him all at once.

Not in parts.

Not gradually.

All at once.

For a moment, his mind tried to process it. Tried to make sense of the years of secrecy, the decisions, the distance. Something flickered in his expression, something that almost resembled understanding.

But it didn't last.

Because his anger rose faster.

Stronger.

More immediate.

His jaw clenched, his fists tightening as his breathing grew heavier. The truth did not calm him. It did not soften him.

It fueled him.

Because none of it changed one thing.

Radhya was missing.

And she was with Mallik Sarkaar.

Back in the room, Arjun finally stopped speaking. The silence that followed was suffocating, filled with everything that had just been revealed. Adit ran a hand through his hair, clearly shaken, while Anant remained still, his thoughts far more controlled but just as heavy.

Arjun lowered his gaze for a second, as if the weight of finally saying it out loud had settled in.

That was when he heard it.

A faint sound from the phone still in his hand.

His eyes flickered down.

The call.

Still connected.

Before he could react, the line went dead.

On the other side, Krishnansh had already pulled the phone away, his expression dark, his mind no longer stuck on the past.

He didn't call back.

He didn't question.

He didn't confront.

Because right now, none of that mattered.

He turned without a word, his movements sharp, decisive.

"We find her first," he said, his voice cold, controlled, leaving no room for argument.

Back in the room, almost as if sensing the same urgency, Arjun lifted his head.

For a brief second, something shifted between everyone present.

No more secrets.

No more divisions.

Just one goal.

Arjun stepped forward, his voice steady now, carrying the authority everyone followed without question.

"We move now," he said.

There were no disagreements.

No hesitation.

For the first time, two sides that had always stood against each other aligned without needing to say it out loud.

Arjun's men.

Krishnansh's men.

Different loyalties.

Different histories.

But one purpose.

Find Radhya.

And this time...

Failure was not an option.

**************

By the time evening settled over the farmhouse, the entire place had transformed.

Lights glowed softly across the walls, decorations lined every corner, and everything looked like it was prepared for a grand celebration. From the outside, it appeared perfect. Controlled. Beautiful.

But inside...

It was anything but calm.

In one of the rooms, a group of girls stood around Radhya, trying their best to make her sit still. They had spent the last hour convincing her, pleading with her, and eventually... emotionally blackmailing her.

"Please, madam," one of them had said, her voice trembling slightly, "if we don't get you ready... Sarkaar sir will not spare us."

Another one added quietly, "We are just doing our job... please don't make this harder for us."

Radhya had stared at them for a long moment.

She could see the fear in their eyes.

Real fear.

And that was the only reason she didn't walk out right then.

With visible frustration, she finally sat down, letting them do what they wanted. Not because she agreed... but because she refused to let innocent people suffer for someone else's decision.

Now, dressed in a bridal lehenga, adorned perfectly from head to toe, she looked exactly like a bride.

Flawless.

Elegant.

Untouchable.

But the fire in her eyes remained unchanged.

If anything, it burned stronger.

She stepped out of the room, her footsteps steady, her expression calm but dangerous. The heavy jewelry didn't slow her down, nor did the weight of the situation.

She had already made up her mind.

She moved toward the other wing of the farmhouse, the one where the groom had just arrived. She didn't know his name. She didn't care to know.

All she knew was one thing.

One conversation.

Just one.

And he would run away himself.

As she entered the courtyard that connected the two wings, a few guards immediately stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Sorry, madam, you cannot go inside," one of them said, raising his hand slightly to stop her.

Radhya stopped.

Then slowly looked down at herself.

From head to toe.

The bridal outfit. The jewelry. The entire look.

Then she looked back at him.

"You still can't tell who I am just by looking at me?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with irritation. "I am the bride."

She stepped forward to walk past him.

But the guard didn't move.

"We know, ma'am," he said, trying to stay respectful, "but sir is in a meeting right now. You are not allowed inside."

That was it.

Radhya's patience snapped.

She slowly looked at the guard from head to toe, her expression unreadable for a second.

And then-

Slap.

The sound echoed sharply across the courtyard.

The guard didn't just stumble.

He froze.

As if the impact had completely shut down his senses.

He didn't even get up.

Radhya didn't stop there.

Another guard stepped forward quickly, slightly panicked now. "Madam, please don't create a scene... otherwise I will have to call Ayaan sir."

Radhya's brows furrowed.

She stepped forward, grabbed his collar, and pulled him closer.

"Who is this Ayaan now ?" she asked, her voice dangerously low.

The guard swallowed nervously.

"Your... to-be husband, ma'am."

For a second, there was silence.

Then her anger shot straight to its peak.

Another slap.

This time harder.

The guard almost lost his balance.

Without wasting time, one of the security men quickly called.

"Sir... madam is not stopping," he said hurriedly.

From the other side, a calm voice responded, unaware of what he was stepping into.

"woh thoda garam mizaj ki hai ," he said casually. "Just hold her somehow. I'm coming."

But he had no idea who he was dealing with.

By the time the call ended, it was already too late.

Because Radhya was done holding back.

Anyone who stepped in front of her... got hit.

One by one.

Each guard who tried to stop her ended up on the ground.

Some stunned.

Some confused.

Some not even understanding what just happened.

Her movements were fast, precise, and filled with pure frustration. The courtyard that was supposed to be calm now looked like a battlefield.

Finally, after a few minutes, it seemed like no one was left standing in her way.

Radhya adjusted her dupatta slightly, completely unfazed, and looked around.

Her eyes landed on one guard who was still conscious.

"Call your Ayaan sir," she said, her tone calm but challenging. "Let me see how he plans to go through with this wedding."

The guard slowly raised his hand... and pointed.

Radhya followed his direction.

And froze for a second.

A man.

Tall. Well-built.

Dressed in an off-white sherwani.

Lying face down on the ground.

Completely still.

The guard spoke hesitantly, " "madam... aap flow flow mein Ayaan sir ko bhi do laga chuki hain."

Radhya blinked.

Then straightened.

"Well, that's interesting," she muttered under her breath. "I didn't even hit properly and he's already like this."

She shook her head slightly as she walked toward him.

"If I had actually punched him in anger," she continued, almost annoyed, "he would have become a widower on the very first day of his marriage."

She stopped beside him and nudged him lightly with her foot.

"Oye budbak, idhar dekh," she said.

The man groaned slightly and slowly lifted his head.

Radhya looked down at him, completely unimpressed.

"Go tell my father that his daughter has run away," she said casually. "I came here to talk... but clearly something else happened."

She took a step forward, then paused.

Turned back slightly.

Her expression turned sharp again.

"Aur "Sun Champak lal," she added, pointing at him, "mujhe yahin ke yahin bhool ja."

Her voice dropped, turning dangerously calm.

"Agar dobara shaadi-vadi karne aaya na... toh iss baar seedha wahan maarungi..."

Her eyes held his.

"...jahan se tu kisi se bhi shaadi karne layak nahi rahega."

And with that

She turned.

And walked away.

Like nothing had happened.

Like she hadn't just destroyed an entire security team... and her own wedding in the same moment.

She didn't think.

She didn't pause.

She just reacted.

Radhya kicked another guard straight in the chest, sending him stumbling back before he could even process what was happening.

And then-

She ran.

Barefoot.

The heavy lehenga dragged against her legs, slowing her steps, making every movement harder... but not impossible. The anklets clinked with every step, her breath uneven, her heartbeat loud in her ears.

But she didn't stop.

She didn't look back.

She just ran.

Ran like her life depended on it.

Because it did.

The courtyard stretched ahead, the exit finally in sight, the gates not too far now. Hope flickered inside her chest, pushing her forward, ignoring the pain, the exhaustion, the weight.

And then-

She stopped.

Not because she wanted to.

Because someone was standing right in front of her.

Krishnansh.

Her breath hitched.

For a second, everything else disappeared.

The chaos. The guards. The fear.

All of it.

Relief flashed in her eyes, raw and immediate.

"Krishn...." she started, her voice breaking slightly.

But she never got to finish.

Because in the very next second, he pulled her into him.

Tightly.

As if he had been holding himself back for too long.

"Tumhe maza aata hai na mujhe satane mein?" he murmured, his voice low, almost breathless as he held her close. "Har baat pe mujhse door kyun chali jaati ho, Radhamma? You know na... yeh Krishnansh tumhare bina pagal ho jayega."

There was frustration in his voice.

But there was something else too.

Something softer.

Something that betrayed how much he had missed her.

Radhya didn't resist.

Not immediately.

Her fingers clutched his shirt tightly, as if grounding herself, as if making sure he was really there. She leaned into him, her forehead brushing against his chest before she pressed a quick, desperate kiss there.

For a moment

It felt safe.

It felt real.

"Let's go," he said softly.

She didn't pull away, her voice muffled against him. "Where?"

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I told you, didn't I? Paris," he said, almost casually. "We'll settle there. Away from all this. These people... they don't deserve you, Arvi."

And just like that-

Something shifted.

Radhya froze.

The comfort disappeared.

The warmth vanished.

She pulled away from him, slowly at first... then completely.

Her eyes changed.

The softness is replaced by something sharp.

Without another word, she turned and started walking toward the gate again, her steps quick, determined.

Ready to run again.

But this time-

Krishnansh followed.

"Lagta hai phir se muh tudwane aaya hai," she muttered under her breath, not even looking back.

"Arvi, stop," he said, reaching out and grabbing her wrist.

That was his mistake.

In the next second, she drove her knee straight into his stomach.

Hard.

The impact made him step back, his breath hitching for a moment.

"Don't touch me again," she snapped, her voice cold, warning clear in her tone.

He straightened slowly, controlling the pain, his expression darkening... but not with anger.

With something far more intense.

Before she could move again, he pulled her back into his arms.

Firmly.

Not hurting her.

But enough to make sure she couldn't slip away this time.

"Does that mean you're not coming with me?" he asked, his voice quieter now, but holding a finality to it.

She struggled against his hold, her eyes blazing.

"No," she said without hesitation. ""Main kisi aise aadmi ke saath nahi jaungi jo apne revenge ke liye apnon ko bhi daav par laga raha hai."

Her words were sharp.

Cutting.

But instead of reacting with anger...

Krishnansh smirked slightly.

There was something about her fire, her defiance, that only pulled him in deeper.

" Dhara 306 lagni chahiye teri zubaan par..." he said, his tone laced with dry amusement. " yu bolna bhi qatl ki koshish mein shamil hona chahiye."

("Your tongue should be charged under Section 306... speaking like this should be considered an attempt to kill.")

She glared at him. "Let me go."

He leaned slightly closer, that same smirk playing on his lips. "Are you sure? No last-minute plan changes?"

She narrowed her eyes, already understanding that something was off.

She was about to push him away again...

But he was faster.

A handkerchief appeared in his hand.

And before she could react

He pressed it against her nose.

Her body stiffened.

Her movements slowed.

And in the next second..

Everything went dark.

Because....

He had just kidnapped her.

Her body went limp in his arms, her grip loosening completely as unconsciousness took over. For a moment, Krishnansh just stood there, holding her, his expression softening as he looked down at her face.

Gently, he moved a strand of her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.

"You're impossible," he murmured near her ear. " "Tumhe mere alawa koi jhel hi nahi sakta, Radhamma."

Without wasting another second, he lifted her in his arms and walked toward his car.

Rithesh was already there, quickly opening the door.

Krishnansh carefully placed her in the passenger seat, adjusting her position so she wouldn't be uncomfortable. He pulled the seatbelt across her petite frame, securing it properly.

"No one follows me from here," he said firmly to Rithesh, his tone leaving no room for argument. "That's an order."

Rithesh nodded instantly.

Krishnansh took the car keys and moved to the driver's seat. Before starting the car, he gently adjusted Radhya's position again, letting her head rest carefully against his shoulder.

He glanced at her once.

Then shook his head slightly.

"What did you even eat to grow this strong?" he mu

ttered under his breath. "You hit me that hard... if it was someone weaker, they would've died before the wedding even began."

A faint, almost amused breath escaped him.

Then...

He started the car.

And drove away.

Taking her with him. 🔥