34.

NAINA

It's been hours since everything happened, but the moments keep replaying in my mind, vivid and relentless. The look in his eyes, those deep, brown eyes brimming with unshed tears, haunts me. Each memory feels like a dagger twisting in my heart, cutting deeper with every breath. I'm so sorry, Reyansh, but I had to do it. It was the only way to keep you safe. The only way you would survive.

I can't let the past repeat itself—I can't stand helplessly by again, watching as someone I love slips away, their life extinguished before my eyes. But something gnaws at me from within, a deep, unsettling dread that I can't shake off. My gut churns, twisting into tight knots that mirror the fear I felt all those years ago.

The fear grips my heart, making it hard to breathe. I fumble with my phone, desperate to hear his voice, to know he's okay. My trembling fingers dial his number, but the call goes unanswered. The silence on the other end amplifies my growing panic.

No, nothing will happen to him. I force myself to take deep, shuddering breaths. He's fine, I tell myself. You left him to protect him—no one can hurt him now. But the tears keep falling, a torrent of emotion I can't control, as dread claws its way up my throat.

Just then, my phone rings, the shrill sound cutting through my frantic thoughts. I grab it hastily, my heart pounding as I see Aarav's name flashing on the screen.

"B-Bhabhi... Bhai got into an accident."

The world tilts around me as those words sink in. My heart shatters into a million pieces, but I don't have time to fall apart. I have to get to him. I stumble out the door, my vision blurred by tears, and race to my car, the only thought in my mind: I need to get to Reyansh before it's too late.

As I speed toward the hospital, guilt consumes me, dragging me down into a suffocating ocean of blame. Every heartbeat screams that this is my fault. I should've been there. I should've done something. Anything.

Just as I reach the hospital, my phone rings again. Kabir's name flashes on the screen. I answer it with shaking hands.

"Bhabi, I know who's behind all this. It's Nihal—Nihal Ahuja."

The name hits me like a cold slap, the final piece of the puzzle clicking into place.

"Thank you, Kabir," I whisper, my voice trembling. "I'll see you soon." But right now, Reyansh is my only priority. I hang up and run toward the hospital entrance, only to find the elevator out of order.

Spotting the stairs, I push myself to run faster, my heart pounding in sync with the echo of my footsteps. I trip, twisting my ankle, but I barely register the pain. Nothing matters except getting to him.

Finally, I reach his room, breathless and terrified. And there he is, lying pale and still on the hospital bed. His face is a shadow of the man I love, but it's his eyes—those beautiful brown eyes—that I'm desperate to see open again, to see them light up with the love that once shone so brightly.

Tears blur my vision as I realize that this—this agony—is all because of me. I'm the reason he's suffering. I'm the one who's caused him so much pain.

And now, it's up to me to make it right.

3 hours later

Three hours later, I sit beside him, gently running my fingers through his hair, the guilt gnawing at my insides.

His breathing is steady, but the fear of losing him is an icy grip around my heart. I lean in close, my lips brushing his ear, whispering, "I promise, Ansh, I'll make this right. I won't let anything hurt you again."

With a deep breath, I wipe away the last of my tears and reach for my phone. My voice is steady as I dial Mihir's number.

He picks up after two rings. "I want Nihal Ahuja in my basement within fifteen minutes."

There's a brief pause on the other end before he responds with a simple,"Okav"

I can't afford to hide anything from my family anymore. They know everything, and while I can sense their hurt, their love for me is stronger. They hugged me, consoled me, and in that moment, I realized just how lucky I am to have them. But now, it's time to act.

I hang up the phone, turning back to Reyansh. I press a tender kiss to his forehead, letting my lips linger as I whisper, "I'm so sorry, Ansh. But I promise, I'll make this right. No one will ever hurt you again. Not while I'm here."

As I rise to leave, a message from Mihir flashes on my phone: He's here.

With one last look at Reyansh, I steel myself and head out, determination fueling my every step. Mihir is waiting for me by the car, and without a word, I slide into the driver's seat, my hands gripping the wheel tightly.

The rage is simmering just beneath the surface, ready to erupt. Mihir, sensing the tension, tries to lighten the mood. "Bhabhi, please slow down. We're heading to the basement, not to the afterlife."

But his attempt at humor only makes me press harder on the accelerator, taking a sharp turn that elicits a startled yelp from him. "Bhai won't like you driving like this," he murmurs, but his words do little to quell the storm inside

me.

When we finally arrive at the basement, Mihir follows closely behind as I stride in, my eyes locking onto Nihal, who is tied to a chair, still unconscious.

Mihir quickly rouses him, and I watch as his eyes flutter open, confusion giving way to recognition.

I don't waste time. I pull out a chair and sit directly in front of him, my gaze unwavering, my voice cold and commanding.

"So, Mr. Ahuja, care to explain the entire game?"

Nihal's lips curl into a sneer, his voice dripping  with malice.

"Oh, Mrs. Singhania, how is your husband? Shouldn't you be sitting beside him, weeping like you did when your father died? Or should I say, when I killed him?"

His words are meant to provoke, but instead, they ignite a fire within me. I lean forward, narrowing the distance between us, my voice low and lethal.

"You made one mistake, Nihal. You thought l'd break. But all you've done is awaken the side of me that you should've feared from the start."

I can see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, the first sign of the cracks forming in his bravado. I stand up, the power of my rage fueling every step as I circle him, like a predator closing in on its prey.

"You think you know pain?" I continue, my tone growing more menacing.

"You're about to find out what it truly means to suffer. You took away my father, and now you've tried to take away my husband. But I'm still standing.

And I won't stop until you pay for every tear, every drop of blood you've caused."

Nihal's confidence falters, his smirk fading as the reality of his situation dawns on him. I stop in front of him, leaning down until our faces are inches apart.

"You made this personal, Nihal. And now, I'm going to make sure you regret every moment you crossed me."

Mihir watches silently, his usual composure replaced with a mixture of awe and unease as he sees the raw intensity in my eyes. He knows I'm not bluffing, and so does Nihal.

As I straighten up, I take a slow, deliberate breath, letting the silence hang heavy in the air before I speak again, each word measured and final.

"You will tell me everything, and then you will beg for the mercy that will never come."

The last remnants of Nihal's arrogance crumble, and I know l've won. But this is only the beginning.

There's a long road ahead, and I intend to walk it with the same fierce determination that brought me here.

I give Mihir a nod, signaling that it's time to begin. "Let's get to work," I say, my voice hard as steel. "This ends now."