Flashback – Five Years Ago
The cold wind howled through the deserted road as Rithvik gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. His jaw clenched, rage bubbling inside him like a volcano ready to erupt. The betrayal was fresh, raw. Roshini had abandoned him—run away with another man just before their wedding. The humiliation, the whispers, the pitying glances from the guests—everything replayed in his mind like a nightmare.
His car screeched to a halt on the side of the mist-covered road near the dense jungle. The fog was thick, blinding him from seeing the path ahead. His breaths came out harsh and ragged as he yanked open the glove compartment, pulling out a cigar. The flick of his lighter cast a brief glow against the darkness, illuminating the fury in his stormy eyes. Taking a deep drag, he leaned against his car, letting the nicotine burn his lungs—anything to suppress the suffocating rage clawing at his chest.
A sudden rustling sound made him snap his head to the side. His grip on the cigar tightened as he saw a familiar figure emerge from the mist.
“Robin?” he muttered in confusion.
The golden retriever wagged its tail, panting as it trotted toward him. Rithvik frowned, glancing around. “Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?” he asked, scanning the area for any sign of Amrutha. She never let Robin wander alone.
But before he could think further, Robin barked sharply and darted into the jungle.
“Robin! Ruko!” Rithvik called, tossing his cigar onto the ground and stomping it out. Without a second thought, he sprinted after the dog, his heavy footsteps crunching against the damp leaves. The thick fog wrapped around him like a ghostly shroud, making it difficult to see where he was heading.
Then he heard it.
A muffled whimper. A weak, pain-laced moan.
Rithvik’s body tensed. It wasn’t just any sound—it was someone in pain.
His heart pounded as he followed the faint cries, pushing past the thorny bushes and uneven terrain. The scent of damp earth and something metallic—blood—filled his nostrils.
And then he saw her.
Amrutha.
His breath caught in his throat.
She lay curled up against the rough bark of a tree, her fragile body trembling violently. Her bare skin was littered with bruises and wounds—ugly purple and red marks that screamed of pain and cruelty. Tear tracks lined her dirt-streaked cheeks, and her lips quivered as she tried to curl further into herself.
Rithvik immediately turned his gaze away, his entire body stiffening with anger and something far worse—helplessness.
“Shit…” he muttered under his breath, his throat tightening. Without hesitation, he yanked off his heavy sherwani, stepping forward cautiously.
“Koi… hai?” Amrutha’s voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and broken.
Rithvik swallowed hard, forcing his emotions down. “Main hoon… Rithvik.” His voice was softer than he intended, a stark contrast to the rage simmering beneath his skin.
Slowly, he draped the sherwani over her shivering body, carefully wrapping it around her shoulders, shielding her from both the cold and the shame. Her fingers clutched at the fabric instinctively, her breaths ragged and shallow.
“We need to get you to a hospital,” he said firmly, slipping an arm under her to lift her gently. Amrutha flinched, a weak whimper escaping her lips.
Rithvik’s grip tightened. Whoever did this to her… he would make them pay.
Robin whined beside them, pressing his nose against Amrutha’s hand as if trying to comfort her.
“Robin…,” she murmured weakly, her fingers barely brushing against the dog’s fur before her eyes fluttered shut.
“Stay with me, Amrutha,” Rithvik ordered, urgency creeping into his voice as he carried her to his car. The moment he placed her in the passenger seat, he shut the door and sped off toward the nearest hospital, his mind racing.
By the time they arrived, Amrutha was barely conscious. Nurses rushed forward, but the moment Rithvik stepped inside, the doctor hesitated.
“Yeh kaun hai? Aapka koi rishta hai inse? Warna hum police report ke bina yeh case nahi le sakte,” the doctor said, eyeing the state Amrutha was in.
A dangerous silence filled the air. Rithvik’s fists clenched, his patience snapping. His voice was deadly when he spoke.
“She is my wife, dammit.” His glare was sharp, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Abhi ke abhi treatment shuru karo… warna I will destroy your reputation.”
The doctor paled, quickly signaling the nurses to take Amrutha inside.
Rithvik exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His hands were still trembling—whether from anger, fear, or something else, he wasn’t sure. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
“Shourya,” he said the moment the call connected, his voice rough. “I need you at City Hospital. Now.”
As he hung up, his eyes flickered toward the doors where Amrutha had been taken.
He didn’t know what had happened to her yet. But he knew one thing for sure—he wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her again.
–
Present Day – The Truth Unfolds
The dimly lit study room of the Shekhawat Mansion was heavy with silence. The air crackled with tension as Amrutha sat stiffly on the leather chair, her hands clenched into tight fists on her lap. Across from her, Shourya stood near the fireplace, his sharp eyes fixed on her, as if weighing his next words carefully.
Rithvik leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable, though his jaw twitched slightly—a telltale sign of restrained emotions.
Amrutha exhaled sharply, breaking the silence. “Fhir yeh shaadi, yeh sab kyu, Bhaiyya?” Her voice was firm but laced with confusion, her brows furrowing.
Shourya turned fully to face her, his gaze softening. “Because your therapist said you need closure, Amrutha. Tabhi tum aage badh sakti ho.” He paused, watching as she processed his words before continuing.
“That’s why we planned your marriage alliance with Rithvik. Taki tum khud Rishab se badla le sako. Iss pain se bahar nikal sako.” His voice was calm, but his words carried weight.
Amrutha sucked in a breath, her nails digging into her palm. The past she had buried, the demons she had pushed away, came rushing back. The pain. The helplessness. The scars she hid behind her carefully crafted walls.
Rithvik, who had been silent all this while, shifted slightly, his gaze locked onto her, unwavering.
Shourya took a step forward. “And we pretended like we don’t know anything about this, because Rishab has always been watching us. Eyeing us. He needed to believe that we were oblivious, that we weren’t coming for him.”
Amrutha blinked rapidly, realization dawning upon her. “Toh yeh sab…”
Shourya nodded. “Rithvik hi tumhara well-wisher tha, jo tumhe letter bhej raha tha. Tumhe guide kar raha tha, har kadam pe tumhare saath tha.”
Her head snapped toward Rithvik, her breath hitching.
Shourya continued, his voice gaining an edge. “And now, we are at the end of our game, Amrutha. Rishab is finished. Ab usse koi nahi bacha sakta.”
Silence. A charged, unspoken moment passed between them.
Amrutha slowly turned to Rithvik. For the first time, she saw him differently—not just as the ruthless businessman, not just as the man her brother trusted blindly, but as someone who had fought for her when she didn’t even know it.
In his eyes, she saw something foreign—something intense, something unreadable. It wasn’t just anger, nor was it mere duty. It was something else entirely, something that made her heart pound.
And in her eyes, Rithvik saw gratitude. A silent, unspoken thank you.
He looked away first.
Shourya, sensing the shift in energy, cleared his throat. “Amrutha, now it’s your turn. Are you ready?”
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She was ready. She had to be.
Because this time, she wouldn’t run.
She would finish what they had started.
—
The Final Trap: Rishab’s Confession
The Khanna Mansion was eerily silent, the air thick with tension. The grand chandelier cast an unforgiving light on the assembled family members, their faces reflecting confusion and concern.
Rishab sat in the center of the hall, his body relaxed, but there was something off about him. His pupils were slightly dilated, his expressions unusually loose. He had no idea that the drink he had earlier was spiked—a special cocktail prepared by Rithvik and Amrutha.
This wasn’t just any drug. It was a truth serum, ensuring that tonight, Rishab would speak the truth whether he wanted to or not.
Shourya leaned forward, his voice deceptively casual. “Rishab, tujhe yaad hai na ki aaj humne tujhe special dinner par bulaya tha?”
Rishab let out a low chuckle, his tongue loose from the drug. “Of course, bhai. Kya mast khaana tha! Aur woh drink… uff, kamaal ki thi.” He smirked, but his head felt light.
Amrutha, standing a few feet away, crossed her arms, her gaze cold. This was it. The moment she had waited for.
Rithvik, leaning against the wall, finally spoke. His tone sharp, measured. “Khaana pasand aaya na? Bas ab ek aur cheez batani hai tujhe. Yeh sirf dinner nahi tha… yeh tumhare liye ek special farewell tha.”
Rishab frowned, his sluggish mind trying to process. “Farewell? Kis cheez ka?”
Shourya took out his phone and pressed play. A voice echoed through the hall.
“Amrutha? Hah! She was just a distraction for a night! Maine toh bas mazak samajh ke use kiya tha. Mujhe kya pata tha ki woh bach jayegi?”
“Aur haan, agar uss raat Rithvik aur Shourya nahi hote, toh woh ab tak mar chuki hoti!”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Rishab’s face lost all color. His sluggish eyes darted from one person to another. “Yeh… Yeh kya hai? Yeh mere against koi saazish hai!”
Shourya smirked, walking up to him. “Saazish? Hah! Tujhe kya laga, Rishab? Ki tu apni har harkat chhupa sakta hai?”
Vasudha Iyer, the renowned journalist, stepped forward. Her camera was rolling. “Aap yeh keh rahe hain ki Amrutha ji ka assault sirf ek mazak tha, Mr. Rishab?”
Rishab panicked, his mind foggy from the drugs. His pulse quickened.
Rithvik stepped forward, his voice sharp as a blade. “Jawab de, Rishab. Ya main teri zubaan kheench loon?”
Sweat beaded on Rishab’s forehead. His body felt hot, his mind unable to filter his words. The truth serum was doing its job.
And then… it happened.
His lips moved on their own, spilling the truth he had hidden for years.
“Haan! Maine kiya! Maine Amrutha ko jungle mein uss raat akela chhoda! Maine use…”
He stopped, realizing too late what he had just admitted.
Gasps rippled through the room. His mother stepped back in horror. His father closed his eyes in shame.
Vasudha’s camera zoomed in. “You all heard it! This is a live confession from Rishab Khanna himself!”
Abhaji, the famous lawyer, stepped forward. “Isse kehte hain confession under drug influence! Court mein yeh admissible hoga. Rishab Khanna, tum ab bacha nahi sakte.”
Rithvik’s jaw clenched. His fists curled. He had waited too long for this moment.
Without warning, he grabbed Rishab’s collar and yanked him out of his chair.
THUD!
Rishab hit the marble floor, groaning.
Rithvik towered over him, his expression dangerous. “Tu soch raha hoga ki tujhe zinda chhodna mere liye asaan hai?”
Rishab gulped, his entire body shaking.
Rithvik leaned down, his breath hot against Rishab’s ear. “Agar Amrutha mujhe rokti nahi… toh tujhe yeh duniya chhodni padti, samjha?”
Amrutha stepped forward. Her voice was steady. “But I won’t let you die so easily, Rishab. Tum jo dard mujhe diye ho, ab woh tum bhugatoge.”
Just then, police officers stormed into the hall.
ACP Rana Pratap didn’t waste a second. “Rishab Khanna, tumhare khilaf sexual assault, attempt to murder, and blackmail ke charges hain. Tumhe giraftaar kiya jata hai!”
Before Rishab could react, the officers grabbed him and slapped handcuffs on his wrists.
He struggled, screaming, “Nahi! Yeh sab jhoot hai! Yeh log mujhe fasane ki koshish kar rahe hain!”
Amrutha walked up to him, her face stone cold. She raised her hand—
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the hall.
Rishab froze, his face burning with the force of the slap.
Her voice was like ice. “Tumhe laga tum bach sakte ho? Yeh badla nahi, yeh insaaf hai.”
The police dragged Rishab out of the mansion. His screams faded into the night, swallowed by the darkness.
—
The hall remained silent.
Shourya let out a slow exhale. “It’s over.”
Amrutha stared at the door where Rishab had disappeared, her chest rising and falling with the weight of relief.
And then…
A warm hand touched her shoulder.
She turned.
Rithvik.
His eyes held something intense, something unreadable.
Amrutha felt her heartbeat skip a beat. There was something in his gaze—something foreign, yet familiar.
For the first time in years… she felt safe.
And maybe, just maybe… she was finally free.
**************
After few days
The airport buzzed with the usual chaos—families bidding tearful goodbyes, lovers whispering last-minute promises, and travelers rushing to their gates. Amrutha stood at the immigration counter, gripping her passport tightly. Her heart pounded erratically, her fingers trembled, and an unbearable suffocation wrapped around her chest.
She was leaving.
Her job was done.
Rishab was punished. Justice was served.
Then why did it feel like she was being ripped away from something… someone?
Her vision blurred with unshed tears as she turned back one last time, expecting to find nothing but an empty departure hall. Yet, her heart screamed for a familiar presence—a warmth she had unknowingly sought these past months.
And suddenly, she couldn’t breathe.
Rithvik.
She clutched her chest as the realization hit her like a storm. She needed him. Not just his support, not just his guidance—but him. His presence. His embrace. His love.
Without a second thought, Amrutha turned on her heels and sprinted out of the airport, her suitcase abandoned near the counter. People called out in confusion, but she didn’t care.
The night air hit her face as she ran through the parking area, searching desperately. And then, she saw him.
Rithvik leaned against his car, his broad shoulders slouched, his face buried in his palms. The strongest man she had ever known—now looking utterly defeated.
Her heart clenched. He was missing her too.
“Rithvik!” she called out, her voice shaking.
His head snapped up, eyes wide with disbelief as she ran straight into his arms. Without hesitation, he caught her, wrapping his arms around her just as tightly.
It was the safest place in the world.
They held each other, their racing hearts finally in sync.
“I love you, Amrutha,” Rithvik whispered against her hair, his voice raw and vulnerable. “Don’t leave me. Please.”
A sob escaped her lips as she gripped his shirt tighter. “I love you too, Rithvik. I don’t want to go away from you. Now you have to bear me for your whole life.”
A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest, and Amrutha closed her eyes, feeling the vibrations of his laughter.
Shourya, standing at a distance, witnessed everything with a wide smile. His heart swelled with pride and relief. Finally, they had found their way to each other.
Rithvik pulled back slightly, cupping Amrutha’s face. His dark eyes burned with emotions she had never seen before. Slowly, he leaned forward and pressed a deep, lingering kiss on her forehead. She melted into his touch, her eyes fluttering shut.
That kiss spoke of everything he had ever felt for her—his love, his devotion, his silent longing.
And she knew.
She was exactly where she belonged.
The End.
