Sanyukta’s heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach as her gaze landed on the sight before her—Anu, locked in a tight embrace with Rudraksh in the dimly lit parking lot.
No… no, this can’t be happening.
A cold shiver ran down her spine as her breath hitched. Panic surged through her veins, but before Ranvijay could turn around, she blurted out in a desperate attempt to stop him,
“Nahi! Baby… she’s not Bua!”
But Avu, ever so certain, shook his head with conviction.
“No, Mumma! Bua hi hai! Diduuu is right!”
Aarvi nodded enthusiastically in agreement, her innocent voice only adding to Sanyukta’s rising dread.
Sanyukta’s palms grew clammy, her heartbeat hammering against her ribcage as she watched Ranvijay finally turn around. His movements were slow, deliberate—almost as if he was processing their words. They could only see the woman’s back, but Rudraksh’s face was clearly visible.
No… Anu can’t be here. This isn’t possible…
“Stay with the kids. Let me see.”
His voice was calm, but Sanyukta knew better. It was the eerie calm before a raging storm. He was already walking toward them, his posture rigid, his jaw clenched.
Sanyukta swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she quickly ushered Avu and Aarvi into the car. Her fingers fumbled to secure their seat belts, but her mind was elsewhere—on Ranvijay, on the dreadful possibility looming in front of them.
As she straightened up, her breath came in short, shallow bursts. A sense of foreboding gripped her, sinking its claws deep into her chest. She had to follow him.
Her feet moved on their own, trailing behind Ranvijay, her heart pounding louder with every step.
"I don't feel like letting you go…" Anushka whispered, her voice laced with longing as she tightened her hold around Rudraksh. "I don't know kab tak aise chupke milna padega…"
Her words trembled in the air as she pulled back slightly, only for Rudraksh to gently cup her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek in a reassuring caress.
Before he could respond, a voice thundered through the parking lot, shattering the moment like glass.
"I guess ab chupke milne ki zaroorat nahi padegi, Anu…"
The color drained from Anushka’s face. She stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. Before she could even turn, a rough grip yanked her back with force, making her stumble.
Heart pounding, she spun around—only to meet the piercing, stormy gaze of her brother.
Ranvijay.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips, and she froze in place, every muscle locking up in sheer terror. Across from her, Rudraksh exhaled heavily and stepped forward, only to stop dead in his tracks as Ranvijay’s glare sliced through him like a blade.
"Ranvijay…" Sanyukta's urgent voice broke through the thick tension as she rushed to his side, her fingers wrapping around his arm in a plea. "Ghar chal ke baat karte hain… please… calm down."
But Ranvijay wasn’t listening. His jaw clenched so tight it could crack, his entire body vibrating with rage as his gaze bore into Anushka.
"Kab se chal raha hai yeh sab?" His voice was low, lethal—each word dripping with barely restrained fury.
Anushka’s throat went dry. "B-Bhai…" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed hard, visibly trembling under the weight of his wrath.
"Ranvijay—" Rudraksh attempted, but before he could finish, Ranvijay grabbed him by the collar, his grip ironclad, his eyes ablaze with fury.
Anushka let out a startled cry as she was shoved aside.
"How dare you even think about my sister?" Ranvijay growled, his voice thick with rage, his sharp gaze drilling into Rudraksh with unrelenting fury. His grip on Rudraksh’s collar tightened, fingers digging in as if he intended to crush the very life out of him.
Rudraksh, instead of cowering, smirked defiantly. "I dare very easily..." he shot back, shoving Ranvijay with all his strength.
The sudden push did little to deter Ranvijay. His grip was too firm, too unyielding, and as Rudraksh struggled against it, the fabric of his shirt gave way, tearing apart with a sharp rip.
But before he could react, a powerful kick landed squarely in his stomach. The sheer force sent Rudraksh hurtling backward, his spine slamming against the car with a sickening thud. A sharp hiss of pain escaped his lips as he clutched his abdomen, but Ranvijay wasn’t done.
"And I kill very easily…" Ranvijay spat, his voice venomous, his entire body seething with wrath as he stalked toward Rudraksh, fists clenched and ready to land another brutal blow.
Before he could, however, a warm pair of arms wrapped tightly around him from behind.
"Please… ghar chaliye…"
Sanyukta’s voice trembled, her entire body shivering against him, fear lacing her every word. She clung to him with all her might, pressing herself against his back, trying to restrain him.
"Ghar toh main ab isko bhejunga!" Ranvijay barked, his murderous gaze still fixed on Rudraksh, who, despite the pain, glared back with equal intensity.
"Rudraksh, please… go!" Anushka sobbed, tears streaming down her face as she tugged at his arm, desperate to pull him away. But he stood his ground, jaw clenched, unwilling to budge.
Ranvijay let out a low, frustrated growl and tried to free himself from Sanyukta’s grasp, but she only tightened her hold, locking her hands behind his back with all the strength she could muster.
"Bache hain humare saath…" she reminded him, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "Please, abhi ke liye chaliye… hum ghar pe baat karte hain…"
Just then, a voice cut through the tension.
"Ranvijay… yahan kya ho raha hai?"
Sanyukta’s head snapped toward the source, relief crashing over her like a tidal wave.
Ranveer.
She exhaled shakily, silently thanking God as Ranveer approached, his sharp eyes scanning the scene—Rudraksh, battered and seething; Anushka, crying uncontrollably; and Ranvijay, barely restrained in Sanyukta’s grip.
Ranveer’s expression darkened as he took it all in.
"Ask this bastard what he was doing!" Ranvijay spat, his voice laced with unrestrained fury as he hurled another string of curses at Rudraksh. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his entire body coiled like a predator ready to pounce.
Rudraksh’s jaw ticked, his fingers curling into tight fists at his sides, barely holding himself back—for Anushka’s sake.
"Why are you overreacting?" Rudraksh finally snapped, his voice sharp. "Loving someone isn’t a crime! You went against your entire family to marry a single mother, but now you refuse to give your own sister the right to choose her partner?"
Ranvijay’s blood boiled at those words. His fury ignited into something darker, something murderous.
"You motherf**ker!" he bellowed, lunging at Rudraksh. "Tu batayega ab mujhe ki meri behan ko kya haq hai aur kya nahi?" His voice thundered through the parking lot, raw and venomous. "She may be naive enough to fall for your trap, but I know leeches like you all too well!"
Before he could land another punch, Ranveer and Sanyukta sprang into action, grabbing his arms and pulling him back just in time.
"Mind your tongue, Ranvijay. I’ve heard enough!" Rudraksh warned, his own voice edged with simmering rage.
Ranvijay let out a sharp, humorless laugh, his chest rising and falling rapidly with his heaving breaths. "Enough? Oh, I haven’t even started yet!" His voice rose with each word, his entire being radiating pure, unfiltered wrath. "Abhi toh teri aur tere khandan ki kabr khodunga main… you messed with the wrong person!"
His anger was so intense, so volatile, that even Sanyukta felt a shiver run down her spine as she clutched Anushka tighter, feeling the tremors of his fury in the very air around them.
"Tujhe badi aashiqi chadhi hai na?" Ranvijay sneered. "Ruk ja, Salim ki aulaad… tujhe wahi pohchata hoon! Kutta!"
Ranveer didn’t waste another second. With one swift motion, he dragged Ranvijay back, his grip firm as he tried to defuse the explosive situation. Sanyukta, realizing the storm was far from over, quickly let go of Ranvijay and instead rushed to Anushka, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Anu, stop crying and go home. I’m okay. I’ll handle everything," Rudraksh assured her, his voice soft despite the tension crackling around him.
Anushka hesitated, her eyes darting between her brother and the man she loved, but eventually, she nodded weakly.
Ranveer turned to Sanyukta, his voice low but firm. "Take Anu and the kids home. I’m taking Ranvijay with me."
Sanyukta swallowed hard and nodded, her heart still racing.
This was only the beginning of the storm.
As Sanyukta and Anushka settled into the car, the atmosphere was thick with tension, but the little ones were blissfully unaware of the storm they had unknowingly stirred.
"Told you… Bua hi hai…" Aarvi muttered, crossing her arms with a smug little nod.
"Mene bhiii bolaaa tha, Diduuu…" Avu chimed in, his voice laced with victory, and both giggled, their innocent laughter filling the car.
Anushka wiped at her cheeks, trying to pull herself together, but Avu’s sharp little eyes didn’t miss a thing.
"Buaaaa… ap roo rahe hoooo…?" he asked, his tiny pout deepening in concern.
Aarvi, ever the thinker, tapped her chin and muttered, "I think Bua missed out on ice cream…"
Avu’s eyes widened as he nodded in agreement. "Haan! Dadyyyy ko bolooo vo la denge…"
"Bua humare liye bhi bol dena… we will also give you company…" Aarvi added, her tone all too serious for such an adorable request.
Sanyukta sighed, shaking her head fondly as she focused on the road. "Avu… Aarvi… bache… don’t disturb Bua. She’s a little upset."
But Avu wasn’t convinced.
"I knw a jok that can mak Bua hapyyyyy…" he muttered, his tiny fingers tapping his chin in thought.
Aarvi perked up instantly. "I also know a jokeeee…" she declared excitedly.
"Diduuuu… frst mee peaseee…" Avu requested, his big eyes pleading as he wiggled his fingers in excitement.
Aarvi, being the generous Diduuu, nodded, letting him go first.
Avu straightened up, wiggled his brows dramatically, and asked, "Wy d the fish laughh?"
Aarvi scrunched up her nose, tapping her little chin. "Ummmm… Bcaus the octopus tickled her with 8 armsss???" she guessed, tilting her head.
Avu giggled, shaking his head. "Naaa… Bcaus it saw the ocen botom! 🐟🌊😂"
He burst into peals of laughter, his tiny shoulders shaking, and Aarvi, catching onto the fun, joined him immediately, clapping her hands.
"Now I will tell the tomatooo jok…" Aarvi announced, bouncing a little in her seat.
Aarvi took a deep breath, then dramatically blurted out, "Why did the baby tomato run?"
She barely gave anyone a second to think before finishing with a mischievous grin, "cause it didn’t want to be ketchup! 🍅🏃😆"
This time, both of them exploded into giggles, Avu clutching his tummy while Aarvi clapped her hands together in delight.
And just like that, their little world of innocence and laughter managed to sprinkle a bit of warmth into the stormy night.
Sanyukta stole a glance at Anushka, who was still silently sobbing, her gaze fixed out of the window. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her face void of expression except for the occasional blink that sent fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.
Sanyukta sighed, shifting her focus back to the road. Her own heart had yet to settle, the echoes of the evening's chaos still ringing in her ears. And she knew—this was far from over.
As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Anushka wasted no time. She flung open the door and rushed inside, her feet hurried, as though running from the weight of everything that had just happened.
Sanyukta inhaled deeply, schooling her emotions before stepping out and helping Avu and Aarvi out of the car. The kids, still giggling over their silly jokes, seemed untouched by the tension around them. She gently guided them inside, already bracing herself for the storm that awaited.
The moment they entered, Pushpa ji’s eyes fell on Anushka’s crumpled state. Her brows furrowed with concern as she took hurried steps toward her.
"Kya hua hai Anu ko? Itna kyun ro rahi hai vo?" she asked Sanyukta, her voice filled with worry.
Sanyukta hesitated for a second before softly narrating the events of the mall—how they had found Anushka with Rudraksh, how Ranvijay had lost control, and how everything had spiraled into utter chaos.
Gasps filled the room. Shock and disbelief painted everyone’s faces, but what followed next was something even Sanyukta hadn’t anticipated.
SMACK!
The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the living room, making Sanyukta flinch.
Pushpa ji’s hand trembled slightly as she pulled Anushka up from the couch, her face livid.
"Kya soch rahi thi tu?! Yeh sab kya hai, Anushka?!" she shouted, her voice laced with a mix of anger and deep-seated hurt.
Anushka staggered back, her cheek burning from the impact, tears flowing freely.
"Maa!" Anjali gasped, rushing to her sister. She immediately wrapped Anushka in a protective embrace, shielding her from any further harm.
Dadi, who had been sitting silently until now, slowly stood up.
"Pushpa… thande dimaag se kaam le. Bachi hai vo… Samajhane ka waqt hai, saza dene ka nahi," she said firmly, her voice holding quiet authority.
Pushpa ji clenched her jaw, her hands shaking with emotion, but she stepped back nonetheless.
Dadi then turned to Sanyukta, her gaze soft but firm.
"Sanyukta, bachon ko le ja upar… unhe is sab se door rakho," she instructed.
Sanyukta, still shaken, quickly nodded. Without wasting another second, she scooped Avu and Aarvi up in her arms and carried them upstairs, shielding them from the tension that had overtaken the house.
Upstairs, she focused on changing them into their night clothes, speaking to them softly, trying to maintain their little bubble of innocence. Thankfully, the kids, tired from all the excitement of the day, drifted off to sleep quickly.
But just as she stepped out of their room, her heart jolted at the sound of loud voices coming from downstairs.
A fresh wave of commotion had erupted.
Without a second thought, she rushed downstairs, her heartbeat erratic, preparing herself for whatever awaited her next.
Sanyukta flinched as Ranvijay’s furious voice echoed through the room.
“Do you even know who he is?! Vicky Rana ka cousin hai vo!” he thundered, his glare burning into Anushka.
The revelation left the entire family stunned. A pin-drop silence filled the room as everyone processed what he had just said.
Anushka's body shook with sobs, but she still gathered the strength to look at her brother. “I know, Bhai!” she screamed, her voice breaking under the weight of emotions.
Ranvijay looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
"He was the one who convinced Vicky’s father to take the case back against you! He even warned Vicky to stay away from you, Bhai!" she sobbed, desperation lacing her voice. “Isme Rudraaksh ki kya galti hai? Rudraaksh ke mama ka beta hai Vicky, but that doesn't make him the same as Vicky!”
Ranvijay scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. His hands clenched into tight fists, his jaw locking.
"Anuuuu! Yeh sab planned hai! Tujhe samajh nahi aa raha hai kya?! Kuch bhi! He’s fooling you!" he roared, taking a threatening step forward.
Anushka stubbornly shook her head, her tear-streaked face determined. "Aap kyun nahi samajh rahe ho, Bhai?! You’re judging him wrongly! Sirf ek insaan galat hai toh uski poori family ko galat kaise keh sakte hai?"
Pushpa ji, who had been trembling in rage, finally snapped.
"Chup kar jaa, Anu! Mann toh ho raha hai tujhe 2-4 thappad aur lagau!" she gritted out, her chest heaving.
Anushka gasped, her body stiffening in fear.
Ranvijay let out a humorless chuckle. "Koi faayda nahi hai, Maa. That rascal has brainwashed her. She was fooling us this whole time, meeting him behind our backs!"
His eyes darkened as he looked at Anushka, his next words sending an even sharper stab through her heart.
"She has already betrayed our years of trust and love… all for that bastard."
Anushka's legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed to her knees, her sobs now uncontrollable.
“Ranvijay! Stop it now!” Ranveer’s authoritative voice cut through the tension. “I will personally look into Rudraaksh. Let Papa return from his business conference, and we will talk about it then!”
Ranvijay scoffed but didn't argue.
"Anjali, take Anushka to her room," Ranveer commanded.
Anjali nodded instantly, helping Anushka up, who looked completely drained of all energy. As Anjali escorted her away, Pushpa ji sank onto the couch, her face buried in her hands as she broke down.
Ranvijay immediately sat beside her, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace.
"Maa, don’t cry… main nahi chhodunga uss kamine ko," he assured her, his voice dark and menacing. “Agar Bhai beech mein nahi aata na, toh uski aukaat dikha ke aata usse.”
Pushpa ji only sobbed harder, gripping onto him.
"You don’t have to worry about anything. I have still not backed out of the case, and yeh log ussi wajah se Anu ko trap kar rahe hai," Ranvijay continued, his voice dripping with disgust.
Indira Devi, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "Ranvijay, ek baar Ranveer ko tasalli karne de. Maar-pit se cheezein solve nahi hoti."
Ranvijay scoffed. “Laato ke bhoot baaton se nahi maante, Daadi.”
He clenched his jaw before continuing, "Aapko kya lagta hai? Main usse bolunga ki meri behan se dur reh aur vo maanne waala hai?!" His eyes burned with rage. "But don’t worry. I am not going to just warn him—I will show him the consequences.”
Ranveer exhaled heavily, his patience running thin. "Abhi kuch bhi mat kar, Ranvijay. And calm down, for God's sake! Kabhi kisi ki sun bhi liya kar!"
Ranvijay shot him an unimpressed glare.
"Anu is involved in this, and it’s a sensitive issue for her. Aur agar galti se bhi Rudraaksh iss sab mein involved nahi nikla, then what will you do?!" Ranveer challenged.
Ranvijay let out a bitter laugh. “He knows everything! Agar itna hi doodh ka dhula hai na, toh saamne kyun nahi aaya? Chhup-chhup ke kyun mil raha tha vo kamina Anu se?!”
Pushpa ji wiped her tears, looking at Ranveer. "Ranvijay sahi keh raha hai. Aur waise bhi, agar vo ladka inn sab se nahi bhi juda hua, toh bhi hum aise logo se koi rishta nahi rakh sakte!"
She took a shaky breath before continuing, "Dhamki di thi tumhare Papa ko Vicky ke baap ne… kya yeh kaafi nahi hai yeh jaan’ne ke liye ki vo kaise log hai?"
Ranveer rubbed his temple, clearly frustrated. "Maa, I am not taking his side. Main personally sab check karunga."
Ranvijay let out an irritated scoff. "Samajhne jaisa kuch hai hi nahi! But if you want to beat around the bush, then go ahead, Bhai!"
The tension escalated again, and soon, the two brothers were locked in a heated argument. Voices rose, tempers flared, and it was clear that neither was ready to back down.
Sanyukta, who had been standing silently, finally stepped in. "Bas kijiye! Aap dono apas mein ladne lage ho!"
But Ranvijay, still fuming, turned on her instead. “Tu mat bol beech mein, Sanyukta!” he snapped, making her flinch at the sudden aggression.
Indira Devi had finally had enough. “Bas! Sab apne-apne kamron mein jao!” she ordered sternly.
Ranvijay clenched his fists but didn’t argue. With one last glare at Ranveer, he stormed off to his room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Ranveer exhaled, shaking his head before pulling out his phone. Without another word, he walked off to his own room, already dialing someone.
Sanyukta stood there for a few seconds, her heart pounding.
The house was finally silent.
But the storm?
It was far from over.
Ranvijay stood on the balcony, his sharp features illuminated by the dim city lights. Smoke curled around him as he took another drag of his cigarette, his mind still raging with fury. The cool night breeze did little to calm the fire burning inside him.
Sanyukta entered quietly, shutting the door behind her. She walked over and sat beside him, her gaze flickering toward his clenched jaw and furrowed brows. She didn’t say anything immediately, just watched him.
Ranvijay exhaled a cloud of smoke before scoffing. "You saw the audacity of that rascal, haan? But koi baat nahi... saari akad nikal dunga dono mama-bhanje ki." His voice was low and dangerous, laced with unfiltered rage.
Sanyukta sighed, tilting her head up to the sky. "Kya aap bina gussa hue meri baat sunenge?" she asked softly, turning slightly towards him.
Ranvijay let out a dry chuckle, flicking the cigarette between his fingers. "Nahi. Abhi kuch bhi mat bol. I know tu jo bhi kahegi, usse mujhe sirf gussa hi aayega. Better hai ki chup hi rahe." He gave her a brief glance before looking away, his body still rigid with anger.
Sanyukta knew him too well to argue when he was like this. Instead, she simply said, "Thik hai, main kuch nahi bolungi... par please, jaldbaazi mein kuch bhi mat kariye. Papa aur Ranveer bhaiya ke saath acche se baat karke hi next step lena."
Ranvijay didn’t respond, but she knew he had heard her. His fingers twitched slightly, his grip on the cigarette tightening before he took another long puff.
His next words were laced with venom. "Saale ko jaan se maar deta main aaj. Bach gaya kamina." He shook his head, leaning back on the couch.
Sanyukta hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been lingering in her mind. "Agar Rudraaksh ki jagah koi aur ladka hota Anu ke saath, toh aap accept kar lete usse?"
Ranvijay shot her a glare. "Agar magar ka time nahi hai mere paas, Sanyukta." His voice was clipped, his frustration evident. "The reality is ki vo rascal Anu ko trap karna chahta hai, and I won't let that happen at any cost." His fists clenched as he spoke.
Sanyukta watched him for a moment before reaching out, plucking the cigarette from his fingers. Before he could react, she crushed it into the ashtray, effectively putting it out.
Ranvijay turned to her with a scowl, his brows knitting together. "Kya kar rahi hai tu?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of irritation.
"Leave this cigarette," she said simply, ignoring his glare.
She then did something unexpected—she opened her arms for him. "Come."
Ranvijay sighed, looking away. "Sanyukta—"
But she didn’t give him a choice. She pulled him onto her lap, knowing very well that he needed comfort more than his stubbornness would ever allow him to admit.
For a moment, he resisted, but then, as if defeated by the weight of his own anger, he gave in. His head rested against her chest, and she wrapped her arms around him, her fingers gently threading through his hair.
"Main chhodunga nahi usse," he stated firmly, his voice still carrying the embers of his fury.
Sanyukta hummed in response, her touch soothing as she stroked his hair. "Mujhe pata hai."
Ranvijay kept cursing Rudraaksh under his breath, his body still tense despite being in her embrace. Sanyukta remained quiet, knowing that arguing right now would only make things worse. Instead, she let him vent, let him release the frustration simmering inside him.
After a while, she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, her fingers still moving through his hair.
She had so much to say—so much she wanted him to understand.
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