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The night reeked of gunpowder and blood.
Bullets cracked through the air as Avyaan Singh Rathore—MADVIPER—ducked behind an overturned car, his pistol gripped tight, eyes burning with fury. Beside him, Hardik Yadav—MADWOLF—returned fire, his face twisted with unshaken resolve.
“Move, Avyaan!” Hardik shouted, covering Avyaan with a spray of bullets. “They’re circling from the left!”
Avyaan’s jaw clenched. “Not until they’re all down.”
Before Hardik could respond, a sharp sound sliced through the chaos—*bang!*—and Hardik staggered backward, a hand instinctively clutching his shoulder. Blood poured between his fingers, dark against the pale moonlight.
“Hardik!” Avyaan snarled, unloading
đ©· đ .Hardhik moved like lightning, rushing toward the rear hallway with two guards. The sound of gunfire and the heavy footsteps of attackers echoed from that direction, but he didnât hesitate. âWeâve got this covered!â he shouted back to Avyaan.Meanwhile, Abhishek ran toward Riya, Aarika, Sumitra, and Aradhya. âCome on! We need to get you all to safetyânow!â His voice was firm but kind, especially when his eyes fell on Aradhya, who was gripping her dupatta as though it were her last lifeline.Aradhya, however, didnât budge. Her gaze remained fixed on Avyaan, who was locked in a brutal fight with two masked men. She couldnât leaveânot while he was surrounded by danger. Her breath came in shaky bursts as she typed quickly on her phone: âI wonât go without you.âRiya glanced at the screen and sighed. âBhabhi, we donât have timeââ But before she could say anything else, Avyaanâs voice cut through the chaos. âRiya! Get her out now!â---Avyaan ducked just as a metal rod swung ove
đ©· đ From the corner of his eye, Avyaan saw something glinting in the air. A daggerâhurtling straight toward Devraj. Without hesitation, Avyaan shoved Devraj to the side, catching the dagger mid-flight with his own hand. The blade sliced across his palm, but he didnât flinch. His blood boiled, not from the wound but from the audacity of the attackers. Had he not reacted, the dagger would have pierced Devrajâs chest.âAvyaanââ Devraj began, but Avyaan silenced him with a look. He tightened his grip on the weapon, his knuckles whitening as his eyes scanned the shadows. Whoever had thrown it would pay. His gaze locked on a masked man standing on the far side of the courtyard.With a flick of his wrist, Avyaan hurled the dagger back. It sliced through the air with deadly precision, embedding itself into the manâs neck. A strangled cry rang out, and the man collapsed, lifeless, on the cold marble.---Prithviraj, who was fighting two attackers at once, chuckled grimly. âItâs been a while
đ©· đ The rest of the day passed with an undercurrent of unease. While the family celebrated with laughter, music, and food, Aradhyaâs thoughts kept circling back to Devrajâs words. Two more days. What would happen in two days? What sacrifice had she made that he was talking about? And why was Avyaan so determined to keep her away from his own father? Every time she glanced toward Devraj, she found him watching her tooâhis gaze calm yet oddly intense, as though he was waiting for something. And as the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold, Aradhya couldnât shake the feeling that something monumental was about to happenâsomething that would change everything. But before she could even begin to piece it all together, Avyaanâs voice cut through her thoughts once again, calling her name. His tone, though soft, carried an edge of finality, as though warning her that her questions would not find easy answers. The storm between father and son was just begi
đ©· đ The moment the sacred ceremony concluded, the Rathore mansion buzzed with an energy that was both celebratory and reverent. The family members scattered around the courtyard, talking excitedly about the pooja and praising Avyaan and Aradhya for the beautiful rituals they had performed together. But Aradhyaâs eyes were not on the decorations or the glowing havan fire. They were fixed on a tall, imposing figure standing quietly in the corner of the courtyard. A man with sharp features, streaks of silver in his dark hair, and a regal presence that commanded respect even in silence. Devraj Singh Rathore. She had seen him only briefly before, but something about him had always seemed intenseâmysterious even. He was the one Avyaan hadnât even acknowledged since morning. Not once during the pooja had Avyaan glanced at his father. He had deliberately looked away whenever Devrajâs gaze lingered on them. Aradhya noticed this tension immediately. Why was Avyaan ignoring his own fat
đ©· đ .The next morning, the Rathore mansion buzzed with life and anticipation. The household staff had been up since dawn, decorating the grand hall for the pooja. Strings of marigold flowers and white jasmine hung from the carved wooden pillars, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. Brass lamps, polished until they gleamed, were placed along the hallâs edges, their warm glow promising a sacred and serene atmosphere once lit. A large idol of Lord Mahadev, adorned with fresh flowers and holy offerings, stood at the center of the room on an elevated platform covered with crimson and gold cloth. Silver plates with kumkum, rice, and ghee lamps awaited the start of the havan.Riya moved around excitedly, directing the staff to adjust the colorful drapes. âNo, no, that side needs more flowers! Bhai will notice if itâs uneven,â she said with a grin. Abhishek, on the other hand, lounged on a nearby sofa, lazily popping sweets into his mouth. âYouâre acting like this is your wedding
đ©· đ .The night settled over the Rathore mansion with a quiet elegance, the sprawling halls lit with warm golden lights. Avyaan leaned against the carved wooden railing of the staircase, his sharp eyes scanning the room below. His thoughts were still tangled with what he had said to Aradhya earlier in the dayâhis plea for a chance, his confession of guilt. He wasnât used to waiting for answers, but with her, every silent nod or glance meant more than words.A soft sound made him glance up. Aradhya was standing at the top of the stairs, dressed in a deep maroon saree that shimmered faintly under the chandelier. Her hair was pinned in a simple bun, and a delicate veil covered her face, falling gently over her shoulders. She looked breathtakingâso soft and graceful, yet untouchable. Something inside him tightened as he watched her descend, her every step measured and careful.When she reached him, he frowned slightly and asked, âWhy are you wearing a veil here, Aradhya? Thereâs no nee