Chapter - 22

AYUSHMAN'S P.O.V

I burst through the front door, racing to my father's study with an urgency that left no room for explanation.

"Dad, I need your laptop, please!" I begged, my desperation palpable. My father's initial confusion gave way to concern, but he handed over the laptop without a word, sensing the gravity of the situation.

As I frantically opened the tracker app, my heart racing with anticipation, the screen flickered to life, revealing the location I had been praying to find.

The address was tantalizingly close, mere minutes from my own home. A cold, calculated fury coursed through my veins as I vowed to unleash a merciless reckoning upon those who had dared to take Arohi.

I swiftly dialed my most trusted associate, my voice low and deadly. "Get the car ready. We have a score to settle." Aryaan stood by my side, his eyes blazing with a shared determination.

"You've made a grave mistake, taking the Mafia's wife," I snarled, my eyes blazing with fury. "Now, you'll face the consequences. Just wait and watch, you fools..."

I sped towards the location, my heart racing with anticipation and fury. Guards swarmed the perimeter, but I was unstoppable.

My men, clad in bulletproof jackets, laid down a hail of gunfire, clearing a bloody path through the ranks. We stormed the house, cutting down anyone who dared to stand in our way.

The door to the room burst open beneath my kick, and I was met with a sight that made my blood boil.

Mr. Kashyap, the man responsible for this nightmare, sneered at me from the shadows.

But my gaze was drawn to Arohi, her face etched with pain and fear, her eyes sunken from crying. And then, I saw it – her hand, slick with blood, clutching a knife.

My world went dark. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I rushed to her side, embracing her as she smiled weakly and whispered my name.

"No no please don't close your eyes"

But it was too late. Her body went limp in my arms, and I was left holding her lifeless form.

A primal scream tore from my throat – "NOOOOOO!" – as I clutched her to me, refusing to let go.

Somehow, I found the presence of mind to tear a strip from her saree and bind her wound, stemming the flow of blood.

Cradling her in my arms, I made my way back home, my heart heavy with fear. I couldn't risk her life anymore.

As we departed, I issued a cold, calculated order to my men: "I want every single one of them alive. No exceptions."

The drive home was a blur, my mind consumed by visions of Arohi's pale face. I made frantic calls, assembling a team of specialist doctors and medical experts to await our arrival.

My home would become a makeshift hospital, and I would stop at nothing to save Arohi.

I gently laid Arohi in the safety of my home, my heart still racing with anxiety. But my work was far from over.

I returned to the house of horrors, where my men had rounded up the perpetrators.

The sight that greeted me was music to my eyes – each of the bastards was trussed up in a chair, their faces twisted in fear, yet still very much alive.

A cold, calculated smile spread across my face as I surveyed the scene. This was exactly how I wanted them – helpless, at my mercy.

I strode over to Kashyap, my eyes blazing with fury. I retrieved the same knife that had been used to harm Arohi, but first, I carefully wiped away the remnants of her blood.

I couldn't bring myself to use a blade tainted with the blood of my wife.

With the knife now clean, I grasped Kashyap's jaw, my grip like a vice. I pressed the blade to his cheek, the metal glinting in the light.

My voice was low, menacing, as I asked the question that had been burning in my mind: "Tell me, Kashyap... how did Arohi cut her hand?"

I glared at Kashyap, my patience worn thin. "You've been silent for far too long," I hissed, the knife glinting menacingly in my hand. "Tell me, what did you say to Arohi?"

Kashyap's eyes widened in terror as I dug the knife deeper into his hand. He screamed, his voice echoing off the walls.

"I-I told her to join us or end her life with this knife," he stammered, his words tumbling out in a desperate bid to save himself.

But it was too late. My rage had reached a boiling point and I slapped him. "You thought she'd betray her king?" I spat, my voice venomous.

"You thought she'd choose you over her own husband??" My knife sliced through his wrist, the sound of his screams music to my ears.

"This is how Arohi suffered," I snarled, my eyes blazing with fury. "And now, you'll suffer the same fate.

You'll see the nightmare that you created in this daylight, and you'll know the true meaning of pain."

Kashyap's whimpering grew fainter, his body weakening as the blood drained from his wrist.

"I'm not the only one..." he gasped, his voice barely audible. "The mastermind... is still out..." His words trailed off, and he slumped forward, unconscious.

I turned to my men, my voice cold and detached. "Torture him until he speaks. I want to know the name of the mastermind behind this.And do not kill him so suddenly it will be a peaceful death which I don't want. I want to give him a memorable death which he will remember till his next birth"

I spun on my heel, ready to leave, but my eyes caught a glimpse of something – a shadowy figure lurking in the doorway.

I sprinted towards the door, but the figure vanished into thin air. I was left with nothing but a lingering sense of unease. And then, my eyes landed on a small card lying on the floor. I picked it up, my heart racing with anticipation.

The card bore a single, ominous word:

Tiwari.

I felt a chill run down my spine. "I'll find you, Tiwari," I vowed, my voice barely above a whisper. "You may have escaped this time, but mark my words – I'll track you down, and I'll make you pay."

AROHI'S P.O.V

As I slowly emerged from the darkness, I became aware of the gentle weight of a hand wrapped around mine.

I tried to move, but a searing pain shot through my wrist, leaving me gasping. My gaze drifted to the figure slumped in the chair beside me, their head resting on the bed.

Ayushman's peaceful expression softened his chiseled features, making him look almost... vulnerable.

My heart swelled with emotion as memories came flooding back – the desperation, the pain, and the feeling of being saved by this very person.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I recalled the events that had led me to this moment.

Ayushman's eyes fluttered open, and our gazes met. Concern etched his face, and he leaned forward, his voice low and urgent.

"You're awake? Why didn't you tell me? How's your pain? How are you? Do you need anything?"

His words tumbled out in a frantic rush, but I silenced him with a gentle gesture, placing my hand in his mouth.

I winced, "Auch!!!" his eyes widening in shock.  "Be careful! Why are you so careless?" He took my hand, his touch sending shivers down my spine.

"Wait, I'll call the doctor." But I held him back, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Stay... please."

Ayushman's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his eyes locked on mine.

The doctor's arrival broke the spell, and Ayushman released my hand, his expression transforming into one of calm concern.

The doctor's words were a blur, but I caught the gist – rest, medication, and no excitement.

As the doctor departed, Maa and Sakshi rushed in, their faces etched with worry.

Maa's tears of relief warmed my heart, and I reassured her, "Don't cry, Maa, I'm all right." Sakshi's anger simmered just below the surface.

"Ayushman bhai, let those men suffer to death! They should think twice before doing something like this!" Ayushman's interruption was low and menacing, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Don't worry... they'll suffer. It's not just a word; it's a promise. They'll experience something so unexpected, so unimaginable, that they'll wish they had never crossed us."

The room fell silent, the weight of Ayushman's words hanging in the air like a challenge.

With a quiet authority, Ayushman dismissed everyone, his eyes never leaving mine. "She needs rest," he said, his voice firm but gentle. I nodded, knowing better than to argue when he was in this mood.

As the door closed behind the departing figures, Ayushman's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes burning with a mix of concern and intensity.

He strode towards me, his movements fluid and deliberate, and sat beside me on the bed.

"Why did you hurt yourself?" he asked, his voice low and husky, as if the words were torn from his very soul. I stared at him, my eyes wide with incredulity.

"You're asking me why?" I repeated, my voice laced with a hint of bitterness.

"They gave me an ultimatum – join their team or end my life with the knife. And I'll never betray you. Betrayal is not in my blood or character, so I thought it would be better to..."

My words faltered as Ayushman's hand clamped over my mouth, his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness.

"Don't complete that sentence," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. "Please... just know that you're brave, and... and please take care of yourself. I couldn't bear the thought of you getting hurt or even scratched."

His words sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a flutter in my chest.

I pulled his hand away, my eyes searching his. "Why, Ayushman?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Why are you so concerned about me? I'm just your replacement bride, after all."

Ayushman's eyes widened, and he seemed to hesitate, as if torn between revealing a secret and keeping it hidden.

He stood up abruptly, turning his back on me. I sensed a deep turmoil brewing within him, but before I could press him further, I remembered something else.

"Wait, Ayushman... how did you find me? How did you know I was in trouble?"

HARSH'S P.O.V

I stood in my room, my gaze transfixed on the frame that held Arohi's radiant smile. A pang of anguish shot through my heart as I thought of what could have been.

If only that meddling Suryavanshi hadn't intervened, Arohi would be by my side right now...

My mind seethed with resentment as I thought of Kashyap's treachery. But amidst the turmoil, a nagging question persisted –

How had Ayushman tracked me down? Our plan had been meticulous, flawless... or so I thought.

Yet, he had still managed to find me, to thwart my designs and save Arohi from my clutches.

A shiver ran down my spine as I realized the true extent of Ayushman's power and influence. But don't worry buddy.. now I'll set a plan where you'll surely get trapped because I still have the greatest trump card.

Someone else was also hearing harsh's talks which is none other than Rishika.....

RISHIKA'S P.O.V

Harsh's sinister plan to kidnap Arohi had been set in motion, but what was the ultimate goal behind this heinous act?

What did he hope to achieve by holding her captive? And how did he possess such intimate knowledge of her life?

But as fate would have it, Harsh's cruel intentions were thwarted, and Arohi's life was spared... once again.

Her resilience was nothing short of astonishing, a testament to her unyielding spirit. Yet, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation, a morbid curiosity about the day when her luck would finally run out.

The day when Arohi's world would come crashing down, leaving her shattered and broken.

The day when her kismat would ultimately betray her. I waited with bated breath, my heart heavy with foreboding, as the wheels of fate continued to turn, weaving a complex tapestry of destiny that would soon ensnare us all.

AYUSHMAN'S P.O.V

I went to my house and went straight into the direction of our room. On the way I met with the doctor.

As I entered our room, my heart swelled with a mix of emotions. The doctor's words still lingered in my mind – "Arohi is sleeping, she's traumatized and needs rest." I nodded, my eyes fixed on the fragile form lying on the bed.

Arohi's peaceful slumber was a stark contrast to the turmoil that had ravaged her wrist, now swathed in bandages.

I sat beside her, my fingers intertwining with hers, and gazed at her innocent face. How could someone so pure be entangled in the dark web of the underworld?

Time lost all meaning as I sat there, my eyes drinking in the sight of her. I must have dozed off, for the next thing I knew, Arohi's trembling form jolted me awake. Fear danced in her eyes, and I instinctively reached for the doctor.

But Arohi's whispered plea stayed my hand – "Stay, please." The doctor's arrival and subsequent examination were a blur, as were my mother's and Sakshi's concerned voices.

Sakshi's parting words, however, ignited a wry smile within me – "Make sure they suffer."

Little did she know, I had already ensured that our enemies would be trapped in a living nightmare, forever bound to the hellish existence I had crafted for them.

Arohi's questions, though, struck a chord deep within me. Why was I so worried, so concerned about her?

She was, after all, just a replacement bride... But the ache in my heart, the anguish that had gripped me upon seeing her wounded, defied logic.

I searched for words, but they eluded me. The truth was, I didn't know myself. Arohi's piercing gaze seemed to bore into my very soul, as if seeking answers to the questions I couldn't verbalize.

And then, she asked the inevitable – "How did you find me?" I met her gaze, my eyes locking onto hers, as I reached for the necklace on the dressing table.

The air was heavy with anticipation, the silence between us a palpable, living thing."

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