Chapter 54

Hellooo sohneyooo
Ki haal chal …
Vese i noticed a thing, which is
Abb mai update jaldi dene lag hai . view kam ho gye …….
Yeh mtlb.. kyaaa🤣
Chlo koi ni…
I think this is the longest chapter i have written

Words:- 5k+
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AUTHOR POV

Ranvijay had just turned to his side to sleep, when his phone vibrated.

Once.

Twice.

He frowned, irritated
then saw the caller ID.

His sleep vanished instantly.

He sat up and picked the call.

“Yes?”

The voice on the other side trembled.

“Sir… Vani ma’am is missing.”

The world stopped.

“What?”
The word ripped out of his chest.
“What did you just say?”

“Sir….ma’am was at the banquet with Nav sir. She stepped out for a moment and….”

Ranvijay was already standing.

“Is she with Nav?” he barked.
“Did you check?”
Each word came faster than the last.

“Yes, sir. We checked. She hasn’t returned. We’re searching the entire parking lot-“

“WHAT THE FUCK DO I PAY YOU FOR?”

The room echoed.

“WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING?”
“I NEED MY DAUGHTER-SAHI SALAMAT!”

The guard went silent for half a second.

Ranvijay slammed the phone against his ear.

“Bolo!”
” ABYE BOL!”

Divya rushed in, hair loose, panic already in her eyes.

“Kya hua, Vijay ji?”

He didn’t look at her.

“Vani is missing.”

The color drained from her face.

“What-?”
Her knees gave in as she sat on the bed, hands shaking.

Ranvijay was already dialing another number.

“Hello-“

“What the fuck were you doing?” Ranvijay roared.
“I appointed you in charge, you useless piece of shit!”

“Sir….” the man on the other side said, voice controlled but strained,
“we are checking the cameras. We’re following leads-“

“I’ll kill you, Vikram.”
His voice dropped.
“I swear I’ll kill you if anything happens to my daughter.”

The call cut.

Divya had folded her hands now, tears soaking her dupatta.

“Bhagwan ji… meri bachhi ko kuch nahi hona chahiye…”

( God don’t let anything happen to my daughter)

Ranvijay didn’t pray.

He dialed another number.

“Hello?”

“Nav-” Ranvijay said, breath uneven.
“It’s Vani’s father-“

“I know,” Nav cut in.

There was no confusion in his voice.
No questions.

“I’m finding her.”

Ranvijay froze.

“She has a tracker,” Nav continued, already moving.
“I’m on my way. Send me everything you have.”

The call ended before Ranvijay could respond.

Nav was already in the car, on the call with victor

Engine roaring.
Hands steady on the wheel.

Too steady.

“Victor,” he said sharply.

“Yes, sir.”

“She stepped out alone,” Nav said.
“And disappeared.”

Victor swallowed.
“I checked the west cameras-there’s a blind spot near level C.”

Nav’s jaw clenched.

“Why wasn’t that covered?”

Silence.

“Answer me.”

“We flagged it earlier, sir-“

Nav slammed his fist against the steering wheel.

“DON’T EXPLAIN.”
“FIX IT.”

He inhaled once.
Slow.
Controlled.

“Alert private security, not police. Not yet.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And Victor-“
Nav’s voice dropped.

“If I find out even one protocol was skipped…”

He didn’t finish the sentence.

He didn’t need to.

The tracker blinked on his screen.

Moving.

Slow.

Nav’s eyes darkened.

“Found you,” he whispered.

And pressed the accelerator.

AUTHOR POV

Inside the moving nightmare

Vani stirred.

Not awake.
Not unconscious.

Stuck somewhere in between.

Her head throbbed violently
as if someone was hitting it again and again with a hammer.

She tried to move.

Nothing.

Her wrists burned.

Her ankles screamed.

Rough rope bit into her skin.

Panic flared instantly.

Her breath hitched.

Too fast.
Too shallow.

Why can’t I move?
Why…..why can’t I move….

Her eyes fluttered open.

She saw some dizzy lines.

The car.

She was in a car.

Moving.

Fast.

In the rear-view mirror, someone’s eyes met hers.

A smile followed.

Slow.
Cruel.

“Uth gayi aap, maharani ji?”
(You’re awake, princess?)

“Kaisa lag raha hai?”
(How does it feel?)

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

Paras.

The name hit her harder than the headache.

“No…”
Her voice came out cracked.
Broken.

The car sped up.

The engine roared.

Her chest tightened painfully.

Her breath refused to slow.

Think.
Think.
Nav

“Paras,” she whispered, tears spilling without permission.
“Please…”
“Yeh kya kar rahe ho?”
(What are you doing?)

“Chhod do mujhe… please, what did i do wrong to you?”
(Let me go.)

Her words tangled together.

She tried to pull her hands free.

The rope cut deeper.

Pain shot up her arms.

She cried out.

Paras laughed.

The car jerked suddenly.

Slowed.

Then stopped.

Cold air rushed in as he stepped out.

Her heart dropped.

No.
No, no, no
She looked around wildly.

The car soon come to an halt.

Nothing ahead.

Except-

The cliff.

Her vision tunneled.

A sharp ringing filled her ears.

“No… Nooo…”
Her sobs tore out of her chest as Paras yanked the door open.

He dragged her out.

Her feet scraped against gravel.

Her body went limp with terror.

She begged.

Cried.

Shook her head violently.

“Please-please-“
Her voice broke completely.

The wind blows near the edge, giving her goosebumps.

She didn’t know it was because of the coldness or fear.

One wrong move.

One push.

And there would be nothing left.

Paras leaned close.

Too close.

And smiled.

“Paras-leave me!”

Her scream tore through the empty air.

He shoved her hard against the car door.

Metal slammed into her spine.

“Leave?”
He laughed.

Not loud.
Not wild.

Broken.

“LEAVE YOU?”
His voice cracked, then exploded.
“YOU, VANI?”

She flinched violently.

Her body curled in on itself.

Tears burst free before she could stop them.

And then-
just as suddenly-

He was in front of her.

Hands on her face.

Too gentle.

Too fast.

“No… no… no, Vani,” he murmured urgently, fingers shaking as they traced her cheeks.

“Daro mat.”
(Don’t be scared.)

He smiled.

Wide.
Wrong.

“Main hoon na.”
“I’m your Paras.”
“Tumhara boyfriend.”

His voice softened unnaturally.

“We loved each other so much.”
“We were going to get married, remember?”

His hand slid into her hair.

Gripping.

“So why?”
His voice trembled now.
“Why did you break the engagement, babu?”

Her tears didn’t stop.

They soaked into his fingers.

Something snapped.

He yanked her hair back violently.

Her scream ripped out of her throat.

“FUCKING WHY?”

Her neck burned.

Her vision swam.

“Why did you tell them everything?”
His words fired like bullets.
“Why did you lie, Vani?”

His face twisted.

“You told them I beat you?”
His laugh was sharp, hysterical.
“But I never raised my hand on you, babu.”

He leaned closer.

“Did I?”

His palm struck her face.

The sound echoed.

Her head snapped sideways.

“Say it!”
Another blow.
“Did I ever do this?”

She couldn’t answer.

Her mouth opened, but no sound came.

His fist slammed into her ribs.

Her breath exploded out of her lungs.

“I didn’t do this na, baby?”
His voice trembled again…almost pleading.

Then his hands closed around her throat.

Tight.

Her body going

Weak.

Useless.

Black dots started coming in her vision.

Her body jerked.

Her legs gave in.

Just when darkness started swallowing her

He let go.

She collapsed to the ground.

Gasping.

Coughing.

Dragging air into her lungs like she was drowning on land.

Her chest burned.

Her throat screamed.

He crouched in front of her.

Gripped her chin.

Forced her to look at him.

Her face was red.
Swollen.
Hair plastered to her skin with sweat and tears.

He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

The tenderness was worse than the violence.

“Do you know how I lived these past few months?” he asked softly.

She didn’t answer.

Couldn’t.

He yanked her hair again.

“DO YOU KNOW?”

She shook her head violently.

“N-no… no…”

“Your family.”
“And tera woh aashiq.”
He spat the word.

“Sab haath dho ke peeche pad gaye mere.”
“I couldn’t go anywhere.”
“I was trapped.”

His voice rose.

“Tell me-“
“What did I do so wrong, Vani?”

He grabbed her shoulders.

“BTAA!”
(TELL ME!)

She broke.

“Paras-Paras-please,” she sobbed desperately.
“I didn’t know.”
“I swear I didn’t know.”

Her forehead hit the ground.

“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Mujhse galti ho gayi.”

She folded completely.

“Maafi maangti hoon.”
“Please chhod do mujhe.”

( I am asking for forgiveness.. please leave me)

He stood slowly.

Straightened his clothes.

Smiled.

A smile with no warmth.

“I will leave you, Vani.”

She looked up, hope flickering for half a second.

He leaned down.

Whispered:

“You’ll leave.”

A pause.

“Straight to death’s door.”

The screeching sound ripped through the road.

Tyres screamed as the SUV drifted brutally across the road, stopping sideways, blocking the path completely.

Headlights flooded the area.

For a split second

everything froze.

Vani’s head snapped up first.

Her vision blurred, tears burning her eyes-but she felt it before she saw it.

That presence.

Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.

Nav…

It hurt because she was afraid to believe it.

Paras reacted instantly.

His body went rigid.

Alert.

Dangerous.

He yanked her up roughly, one arm locking around her chest as a knife flashed in his other hand.

Cold metal pressed against her throat.

“Ek kadam bhi aage badha…”
(Take even one step forward…)

His breath was hot against her ear.

She whimpered softly.

Her hands were still tied behind her back.
Her legs weak.
Her body shaking uncontrollably.

Blood dried against her cheek.
Hair stuck to her face.
Her breaths uneven-broken.

Nav stepped out of the car.

Slowly.

Too slowly for what his heart was doing to him.

The moment his eyes landed on her

something inside him cracked.

Hard.

Her hands were tied.

Her ankles bound.

Blood on her face.

Bruises blooming against her skin.

Her hair disheveled.

Her body trembling like it didn’t remember how to feel safe anymore.

Nav’s chest tightened so violently it felt like someone had punched straight through him.

His jaw clenched.

His hands curled into fists.

His breathing stayed controlled

because if he lost control right now, she would pay for it.

More cars screeched to a halt behind him.

One by one.

Black vehicles.

Bodyguards coming out, surrounding the area.

Weapons lowered, but ready.

The night filled with engines, boots, tension.

Paras noticed.

His grip tightened.

The knife pressed harder.

A thin line of blood appeared on Vani’s neck.

She hissed

Vani’s eyes locked onto Nav.

She couldn’t speak.

Couldn’t scream.

But her eyes said everything.

Fear.
Pain.
Exhaustion.

And then

relief.

Pure, devastating relief.

Tears spilled faster now.

Her body sagged slightly against Paras’s hold, not in surrender,

but in exhaustion.

Like she had been holding herself together on borrowed strength.

Nav saw that.

Saw her break just a little.

And it nearly destroyed him.

His voice didn’t rise.

Didn’t shake.

But it carried something far more terrifying.

“Chhod de usse.”
(Let her go.)

Paras laughed nervously, the sound sending shivers in her body.

“Ek kadam bhi aaya na-“
(If you come any closer-)

Nav raised his hand slightly.

Not a threat.

A command.

Every guard froze.

Nav’s eyes never left Vani.

Not for a second.

“Dekh, Paras,” Nav said, voice tight but steady.
“Chhod de usse.”
(Look, Paras. Let her go.)

He raised his hands slowly, deliberately.

“ky chahiye tujhe ….paise?”
(Money?)

“Job?”
(A job?)

“Kya chahiye, bata.”
(Tell me what you want.)

“Bas Vani ko chhod de.”
(Just let Vani go.)

He took a step forward.

The knife pressed deeper into her throat.

“DUR!”
(Stay back!)

Paras screamed.

Nav stopped instantly.

Hands still raised.

“I’m away,” Nav said quickly.
“Dekho, main peeche hoon.”
(Look, I’m stepping back.)

“Bas usse chhod do.”
(Just leave her.)

“I promise, you’ll walk away.”

Paras burst into laughter.

Manic.
Sharp.

“Go back?”
“Tu mujhe bewakoof samajhta hai?”
(You think I’m a fool?)

“Teri baaton mein aa jaunga main?”
(I’ll fall for your words?)

“Nav…”

Vani’s voice cracked.

Barely a sound.

Nav’s chest clenched.

“Vani, main hoon,” he said firmly.
(I’m here..)
“Just trust me.”

Paras tilted his head.

“Oho…”
“Wah.”
“Aashiq nikle tum toh.”
(So you’re a lover now.)

He yanked Vani’s hair back violently.

She screamed.

Nav flinched despite himself.

“Mere peeche tune yeh gul khilaye?”
(You ruined my life behind my back?)
“Haan?”

Vani sobbed uncontrollably.

Nav’s heart felt like it was being torn open.

Guns lifted.

Red dots danced over Paras’s chest.

“Sun, Paras,” Nav said, voice dark now.
“Tu zinda nahi bachega.”
(You won’t survive this.)

“Tere paas koi rasta nahi.”
(You have no way out.)

“Chup-chaap meri Vani ko chhod de.”
(Let my Vani go.)

Paras smiled.

Slow.

Cruel.

“Aur agar main yahin se kud jaun?”
(What if I jump from here?)

“Teri Vani bhi zinda nahi bachegi.”
(Your Vani won’t survive either.)

He dragged her closer to the edge.

Vani screamed.

Nav’s control shattered.

“VANIII!”

His voice ripped through the night.

Paras laughed louder.

“Vani Kab se teri ho gayi?”
(Since when did she become yours?)

“Vani meri hai.”
(Vani is mine.)

Then, venomously,

“Par yeh kisi ke hone layak hi nahi.”
(But she’s not worth belonging to anyone.)

Vani screamed harder.

“Paras-please-“

Her voice broke.

She didn’t want Nav to hear what was coming.

“Tu jaanna chahta hai?” Paras sneered.
(You want to know?)

“Dekhega?”
(You’ll watch?)

Vani shook her head violently.

“NAHI!”
“Nav-please-“
“NAHIII!”

Her screams were desperate.

Broken.

“PLEASE!”

Paras pulled out his phone.

Threw it toward Nav.

“Dekh.”
(Look.)

Nav caught it.

His hands trembled.

Just slightly.

He looked at Vani.

Her face twisted in pure terror.

“NAV-PLEASE NAHIII….PLEASE…”
(Please don’t look!)

Her voice shattered him.

Nav’s thumb hovered.

Then-

the screen lit up.

He didn’t see everything.

He didn’t need to.

The sound.
Her voice.
Her pleading.
Her screems

Enough.

Something inside Nav died.

And something far darker woke up.

His jaw locked.

His breathing stopped.

The world narrowed.

Paras was still laughing.

“DON’T WATCH!”

Vani’s scream tore through the night.

Her voice cracked.
Shattered.

“Nav-please-don’t-!!!!!”

She was crying uncontrollably now, her body trembling so hard she could barely stand.

“He watched,” her mind screamed.
He saw it.

One thought burned louder than any pain in her body was

He will never see me the same.
He will never see me the same…….

Paras laughed.

Satisfied.

“Dekha?” he sneered.
(See?)
“Dekhne layak hai yeh teri?”
(Is she worth looking at now?)

Nav’s jaw tightened.

He didn’t look at Paras.

He looked at Vani.

“Vani…?”

She broke completely.

“Nav-please-why did you-“
Her knees nearly gave out.

Paras stepped closer, confident now.

“Tujhe nahi lagta,” he said mockingly,
“tujhe achhi ladki mil jaayegi?”
(Don’t you think you’ll find a better girl?)

“Tu iska kya karega?”
(What will you even do with her?”

“Chala ja yahan se.Tere kam ki cheez nahi hai yeh…”
(Leave. She is not worth you)

Nav finally spoke.

“Sahi keh raha hai tu.”
(You’re right.)

The words hit Vani harder than any blow.

“Nav-NO!”
She screamed, sobbing.
“You can’t-please!”

Her voice trembled violently.

Nav turned to her.

Cold.
Detached.

“Vani,” he said slowly,
“tumne mujhe yeh nahi bataya.”
(You didn’t tell me this.)

“I did!” she cried desperately.
“I told you-half my story-“

“Half?” Nav cut in sharply.

His voice rose.

“Meri zindagi barbaad ho jaati!”
(My life would’ve been destroyed!)
“Agar main tumse shaadi kar leta toh-“

Vani shook her head violently.

“Nav-don’t say this!”
“I wasn’t at fault!”
“He raped me!”

“She provoked me,” Paras interrupted smugly.

He took a step toward her.

Nav’s eyes flicked to him.

Then back to Vani.

Slow.

Dangerous.

“He might be right,” Nav said flatly.

Vani froze.

“You…”
He pointed at her.
“Provoked.”

“Nooooo!”
Vani screamed.

“Yes!”
Nav shouted back.

And in that instant-

everything changed.

Nav grabbed her.

Hard.

Pulled her straight into his chest.

So fast Paras didn’t even understand what happened.

Vani’s face disappeared against Nav’s chest.

His hand came up, firm, protective
pressing her head into his chest.

Her sobs muffled against him.

The gun was already in nav’s hand.

No warning.

No hesitation.

One shot.

Straight into Paras’s chest.

The sound cracked the night open.

Paras’s eyes widened.

Shock replaced arrogance.

His mouth opened
but no words came.

He collapsed and he hit the ground.

Silence.

Heavy.
Final.

Nav didn’t move.

Didn’t loosen his grip.

He held Vani tighter instead.

One hand cradling her head.

The other still steady.

Her body shook violently.

She was crying so hard she couldn’t breathe.

Nav closed his eyes.

Just once.

That single glimpse from the video replayed in his mind.

Her voice.
Her fear.

Something twisted inside his chest.

Not disgust.

Not doubt.

Rage.

Pure.
Unforgiving.

“bachaa.. i am here” he whispered, pressing her closer.
“You’re safe.”

Nav felt it before he saw it.

Vani’s body went limp in his arms.

The shaking stopped.

The crying stopped.

Too suddenly.

“Vani?”
His voice came out wrong.
Too sharp.
Too scared.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to see her face.

Her eyes were half-open.
Unfocused.

Her lips trembled.

She tried to speak.

“You… watched…”

The words barely reached him.

(You watched.)

And then

her head fell against his chest.

“No-no-no-no-“
Nav’s hands tightened around her instinctively.

“Vani!”
“Look at me!”
“Please-“

Her body didn’t respond.

Fear punched the air out of his lungs.

“TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL. NOW.”
His voice roared across the cliffside.

Guards moved instantly.

All he could see was her face.

Pale.
Still.

He picked her up and run towards the car

He pressed his forehead against hers.
he whispered desperately.
“Please don’t do this.”

Blood stained his shirt.
Her blood.

And suddenly, the rage that had kept him standing collapsed into pure panic.

AT THE HOSPITAL

The doors burst open.

“Trauma patient!”
“Female!”
“Unconscious!”

Doctors rushed her away.

Nav followed-until a hand stopped him.

“Sir, you can’t-“

He didn’t argue.

Didn’t shout.

He just stood there.

Watching the doors close.

He felt weak. He couldn’t do anything..

Minutes stretched.

Then hours.

Time lost meaning.

Nav sat on the bench outside the ICU.

Shirt wrinkled.
Sleeves folded to his elbows.

Hands clasped together.

Still shaking.

Her injuries replayed in his mind:

fractured ribs

severe impact trauma
Doctor’s word ring into his mind

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

Closed his eyes.

“I should’ve come earlier,” he whispered to no one.
“I shouldn’t have let this happen.”

His jaw clenched.

“Kash Main pehle aaya hota…”
(If I had come earlier…)
“I wouldn’t have let this happen”

” you are soo strong vani.. so strong…”

Guilt sat heavy in his chest.

Crushing.

His heart couldn’t surpress this much pain, so his tears found a way to get out

✧

Ranvijay was already on the move when the call came.

“Sir, ma’am has been taken to the hospital.”

His grip tightened on the phone.

“Condition?”

“Unconscious. Rib injuries. Chemical exposure.”

The helicopter blades roared louder as it moves

Divya had tried to follow him but

He had stopped her at the door.

“No.”
His voice was firm.
“You stay.”

She cried.

Begged.

But he shook his head.

“If I break down,” he said quietly,
“one of us has to stay standing.”

Alone in the helicopter, Ranvijay stared ahead.

His jaw locked.

His eyes burned-but no tears fell.

Not yet.

BACK TO THE HOSPITAL

Nav hadn’t moved.

Not once.

The doctor finally stepped out.

Nav stood immediately.

“How is she?”

The doctor hesitated.

“She’s stable… but not out of danger.”

Nav nodded.

Slowly.

“Can I see her?”

A pause.

“But for short time.”

He walked in.

Softly.

Like noise might break her.

Vani lay on the bed, motionless.

Machines breathing for her.

Bruises visible on her..

Bandages wrapped around her body.

Her face looked too still.

Nav stood beside her.

Didn’t touch her at first.

Then-

his hand hovered.

And gently covered hers.

“Tumne kaha tha… ‘you watched,'”
he whispered.

“I know.”
“I know.”

His voice cracked.

“But I swear-“
“I didn’t see you.”
“I only saw what he did.”

Tears finally slipped down his face.

” itni strong kese nikli, meri nanhi si jaan??”

( How are you so strong my little life?)

” tumhari khamosi ke peche itna gam tha?? Kese seh liya tumne?? Akeli ne???” he wiped his tears but more flowed, “But ab ma hu na …. Anch bhi nahi ane dunga tumhpe.. yeh navveer singh ka wada hai …”

(“There was so much pain behind your silence? How did you bear it? All alone?”
He wiped his tears, but more flowed.
“But now I’m here. I won’t let even a scratch come to you… this is Navveer Singh’s promise.”)

“I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”
“Never.”

He bent slightly, resting his forehead against the bed.

“And if you wake up and hate me…”
“I’ll accept that too.”

“But please-“
“Wake up.”

Outside, footsteps echoed.

Ranvijay had arrived.

✧

A father sees what the world did to his child

The ICU smelled like antiseptic and quiet fear.

Machines beeped steadily-
cold, mechanical sounds that didn’t belong anywhere near a young woman who should’ve been laughing, arguing, living.

Vani lay motionless on the bed.

Tubes.
Wires.
Bandages around her ribs.

Her chest rose and fell only because the machine told it to.

Ranvijay stepped inside.

And stopped.

Completely.

For one second, his mind refused to understand what his eyes were seeing.

This couldn’t be his daughter.

This couldn’t be his gudiya.

His knees buckled.

He stumbled forward.

Nav caught him instantly, gripping his arm, holding him upright.

“Sir-“

Ranvijay shook him off.

Weakly.

Like strength had drained out of him all at once.

He walked to the bed.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

He reached her side.

Looked at her face.

So still.

So pale.

“… yeh kya ho gaya meri bachchi ko…?”
(What has happened to my child…?)

His voice cracked.

He touched her hand.

Cold.

Too cold.

She didn’t respond.

Didn’t flinch.

Didn’t squeeze back.

“Meri phool si gudiya thi…”
(She was my little flower…)

His shoulders started shaking.

He bent down, resting his forehead against the edge of the bed.

And then-

Ranvijay Rathore broke.

He cried like a man who had fought his whole life and still lost.

No shouting.

No rage yet.

Just helpless, shattered sobs.

“Main kya kar raha tha…?”
(What was I doing…?)

“Kis cheez ke liye itna kuch banaya maine…?”
(What was all this for…?)

His hands trembled as they hovered over her hair.

“Papa hoon main tera…”
(I’m your father…)
“Main hi nahi bacha paaya tujhe…”
(I couldn’t protect you…)

He straightened slowly.

Turned to Nav.

His eyes were red.

Not angry yet.

Just destroyed.

“You promised,” Ranvijay said hoarsely.
“You promised you would protect her.”

Nav couldn’t meet his gaze.

“I know,” he said quietly.

That was all.

No defense.

No excuse.

Ranvijay’s voice hardened.

“What happened there?”
(Tell me everything.)

Not a request.

A command.

“I want to know who did this.”
“And I want him dead.”

Nav inhaled once.

Then spoke.

He told him everything.

How she had gone to the car alone.
How she was taken.
How Paras had used chloroform.
How he had tortured her.

And then-

His voice slowed.

Lowered.

“He showed me a video,” Nav said.

Ranvijay’s breath hitched sharply.

“A video of what he did to her.”
“She was…..”

Nav’s fists clenched. And he turned to other side. A lump formed in his throat. He looked at the ceiling to stop his tear…

” she was what…? SHE WAS WHAT NAVVEER???”

” molested.” he said without looking at him.

Ranvijay fall down on the floor

“To save her… I pretended.”
“I acted like I believed him.”
“I needed him close.”

He swallowed.

Nav went and sit beside him. Caressed his shoulders.

Silence fell.

Heavy.

Suffocating.

Ranvijay closed his eyes.

Long.

Pain carved deep lines into his face.

When he opened them-

they were no longer just a father’s eyes.

They were dangerous.

“You did what you had to do,” he said finally.

Then his voice broke again.

“But nothing will ever undo this. I couldn’t protect my daughter… “

He stood up and went outside.. nav knows he doesn’t want to break infront of him.. he cannot even imagine what he must be going through

He turned back to Vani.

Sat beside her.

Held her hand carefully.

✧

After sometime ranvijay sat beside his daughter again

“Uth ja, beta…”
(Wake up, child…)
“Papa aa gaya hai na…”
(Papa is here now…)

His thumb brushed her knuckles.

” maaf kardegi na mujhe??? I couldn’t protect my bachaa… I couldn’t….”

(“You’ll forgive me, won’t you? I couldn’t protect my child… I couldn’t…”)

He scoff

” power?? Kya fayda is power ka.. jab mai meri bachi ko hi nahi bacha paya…. Woh itna koch sehti rahi.. aur mujhe khabar tak nahi thi?? Itni badi ru kab hogai.. ki apne papa ko nahi btya… Ek baar bta kar to dekha hota meri jann… Tune mujhe es kabil bhi nahi smjha??”

(“Power? What’s the use of this power… when I couldn’t even protect my own daughter?
She kept suffering through so much, and I didn’t even know?
When did she grow up so much… that she didn’t tell her own father?
If only you had told me just once, my love…
Did you not even consider me worthy of that?”)

“Ab koi tumhe chhoo bhi nahi sakta. I promise gudiya.. i promise.. i can’t undo what you have gone through”
(No one will ever touch you again.)

The machine kept beeping.

Steady.

Vani didn’t wake up.

Minutes passed.

Then hours.

Still nothing.

Nav stood a few steps back.

Watching a man who had always been unbreakable
sit beside a hospital bed, begging his daughter to breathe on her own.

After 2 days

✧

The first thing I felt was pain.

Not sharp.
But

Heavy.

Like my body didn’t belong to me anymore.

My chest hurt when I tried to breathe.
Something pressed against my ribs, tight…

I wanted to move.

I couldn’t.

Panic rose instantly.

My fingers twitched.

Slow.
Weak.

I opened my eyes.

White.

Too white.

The ceiling, blurred in from of my eyes.
A rhythmic beep… beep… beep… echoed somewhere near my head.

Machines.

Hospital.

My throat burned.

Dry.

I tried to swallow.

Pain shot through my side and I gasped softly.

A hand tightened around mine.

Warm.

Familiar.

“Vani…”

The voice cracked.

Papa.

I turned my head slightly.

He was right there.

Sitting too close to the bed.
Eyes red.

For a second, my brain refused to connect this image with reality.

Why was Papa crying?

“Papa…”
I tried to say, but the word barely came out

His breath hitched violently.

“Haan, beta.”
“I’m here.”
“Papa yahin hai.”

His hand trembled around mine.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

My body was heavy.
My chest hurt.
My head pounded.

And then

memory hit me, so hard that i refused to believe it was real,i forgot to breath in that very sense.

Not clear.
Just fragments.

A voice.
A knife
Paras

And

Nav.

My heart started racing.

I struggled to lift my head.

Pain exploded through my ribs and I cried out.

“Easy-easy-” Papa said quickly.
“Don’t move.”

But fear was louder than pain.

“Nav…?”
My voice shook.

Papa froze for half a second.

Then

“He’s here,” he said gently.
“Bahaar hai.”
(He’s outside.)

Relief washed over me so hard it made my eyes burn.

Tears spilled before I could stop them.

” did You watched…”
The words slipped out without permission.

Papa stiffened.

“What?”

I shook my head weakly.

“No-nothing…”

But my chest tightened painfully.

The memory of that moment
Nav holding the phone.
My screaming.

My shame burned deeper than the injuries.

“I ruined your reputation. I am sorry.. do you not Love me anymore? i am not worth–,” I whispered, something warm slipping from my eyes.

Papa’s reaction was immediate.

“Hey-no.”
“Nahi nahi mera bacha… nahi….”

He leaned closer, forehead touching mine.

“i love you so much gudiya..more than anything else…”

“None of this is your fault. Why didn’t you tell your papa gudiya.. why??”

His voice broke, he close his eyes.

“Main hoon na. Sab theek hai … “
(I’m here. Everything is fine.)

I closed my eyes.

My body started shaking.

I didn’t even know why.

Fear?
Pain?
Memory?

The thing i hided the most have now come out now.. mai kese akhein milau gi sabse?? Everyone will disgust me…

With this thought, my body shook more.

“papa……” I whispered.

Papa squeezed my hand tighter.

“I know, beta.”
“I am here. I’ll keep you safe.”

Some of his tears flow in the thought, that he couldn’t keep safe her daughter before.

a door opened softly.

I heard Footsteps

I didn’t open my eyes.

I knew.

“Vani…”

Nav’s voice.

Low.

Like he was afraid even sound might hurt me.

My fingers tightened weakly around Papa’s hand.

I didn’t know if I could face him.

I didn’t know what he’ll saw when he look at me now.

“I won’t come closer if you don’t want me to.” nav said quietly

Silence stretched.

My heart pounded.

I opened my eyes again.

I Turned my head to saw him.

He stood a few steps away.

Shirt wrinkled.
Sleeves rolled up.
Face drawn with exhaustion

His eyes met mine.

And in them

there was no disgust.

No doubt.

Only pain.

And relief.

My lips trembled.

“I am sorry i only told you half … I told you i am not worth you.. but you didn’t believe me,” I whispered, more tears spill from my eyes.

Nav swallowed hard.

Tears slid down my temple, soaking the pillow.

” bacha … I only said because i wanted to distract him…. ”

He come close and hold my hand

” do you think there can be another kareli??” ue said and i scoff with my tears.

He smiled

My body finally gave up.

Everything collapsed.

My eyes closed again.

The last thing I felt-

was Papa’s and nav’s hand in mine.

And Nav’s voice, steady despite breaking

“i am here solnyshka “

✧

” is he really dead navver?” ranvijay glare at nav and asked

______________________________________