After that incident, Advika left the city for a few days, and Anay was in a terrible state without seeing her. He could've easily found out where she was in a moment, but he didn't want to do that—so he stayed quiet.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Thakur couldn't bear the shock of his arrest and suffered a minor heart attack. He survived, but he was now bedridden.
A few days later
Seeing Anay in front of her, Advika was stunned. She hadn't imagined he would show up here.
"You...? You're here...?" she stammered.
"It's going to be my in-laws' place... I can come anytime I want," Anay said, stepping inside.
"Get out...! One shouldn't enter someone's home without permission," she snapped.
"Yeah, but you can enter someone's heart without permission and claim it completely..." Anay said as he continued walking in.
"I haven't claimed anything," Advika said angrily.
Just then, Moli's father, who had recovered significantly, returned from outside. Seeing Anay, he immediately joined his hands in greeting.
"Chhote Malik (Young Master), you...? Did we do something wrong...?"
"Uncle, why are you folding your hands... He's no god..." Advika said, irritated.
"It's my sister's wedding today, so I came to invite you all... You know the tradition—when there's a wedding in the Thakur household, no other home in the village is allowed to light their stove..."
"Stop this nonsense and get out of here...!" Advika shouted.
"Bitiya, please calm down..."
"It's only love that's making me overlook all this... Otherwise, I'm still Anay Thakur," Anay said, looking into her eyes. Advika turned her gaze away with hatred, and a slight smile appeared on Anay's face.
"She's just a child, Malik. Please forgive her... We'll all be there..."
"Good." Anay said as he walked out.
"Uncle, you—"
"Bitiya... you've forgotten who he is. He's Anay Thakur... our Chote Malik..... how can you speak to him like that...?"
"So what? Is he some kind of god that no one is allowed to speak in front of him...?"
"Bitiya, for god's sake, stay quiet... If the Chote Malik hears you..."
Advika placed her hand on her head. In her anger and hatred, she had forgotten where she was... and that her actions could cost someone their life. The side of Anay she had seen a few days ago—since then, she had begun to truly hate him.
She walked into her room, took out a photo and a gun from her bag, and whispered:
"Today this revenge will be fulfilled... That Thakur must die at any cost today... The one who snatched my loved ones, my happiness—I can't bear to see him alive in front of my eyes... Never..."
At the Thakur mansion, entry was allowed only after strict checking. Advika stood at the gate wearing a black anarkali dress.
"Hey girl... the servants' food is being served in the back, go there..." said a servant who recognized her.
Advika looked at him and said, "The Chote Malik has called me."
"He's called the whole village... is he supposed to treat everyone like royalty?" the servant snapped rudely.
"You..." Advika gritted her teeth, about to retort, when a sharp voice cut through—
"Mind your manners... she's going to be the future Thakurain." Anay's voice echoed from behind.
Advika turned to him, and Anay froze in place.
Today, Advika hadn't covered her face. Dressed in a black anarkali with golden embroidery, her earthy complexion glowed even brighter. A diamond nose ring sparkled in the dim light, and her eyes — oh, those eyes — were filled with fury. She looked like she had come to kill Anay.
"Chhote Malik... I..." the servant stuttered.
"You heard me, right? She's your future Thakurain..."
"Yes... yes,Chhote Malik..." the servant quickly ran away.
Anay ran his hand through his hair and kept looking at her. Advika glanced at him briefly and then looked away.
"Umm... I didn't expect you to come. And... I mean... honestly, your beauty is overwhelming. You look... like a divine goddess..." Anay didn't even realize what he was saying.
"If the compliments are done, can we go inside?" Advika replied coldly.
Anay extended his hand to gesture her inside. His eyes betrayed his rebellion — they kept drifting back to Advika.
The mansion was beautifully lit — strings of lights, garlands of flowers — it looked like a bride itself.
Ravindra Thakur had recovered a little and was busy talking with his political allies. The Thakurain was preoccupied with the wedding arrangements, ensuring nothing went wrong. The rituals in the wedding mandap had already begun.
Advika sat beside Anay. A faint smile appeared on Anay's face, only to be replaced by tension.
Advika's eyes were fixed on her mission. She wasn't going to miss her chance today — even if it cost her life.
A little while later, Anay got up to take care of something. Advika seized the moment.
She pulled out the gun hidden in her dupatta and aimed it at Ravindra Thakur.
Everyone's attention was on the wedding. Advika sat in a corner, unnoticed. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and pulled the trigger.
She fired four shots in succession. But when she opened her eyes — Anay was lying on the ground, writhing in pain... yet smiling.
Advika was stunned. Thakur's guards quickly surrounded her, guns pointed at her from all sides.
The music outside the mansion now faded into the background. Inside, there was only shock — the wedding rituals had stopped. All eyes were now on Advika.
Then suddenly, a voice pierced through the silence—
"No one will fire!"
Everyone turned. Anay stood there, bloodstained and staggering. His face clearly showed pain, but his walk radiated intensity.
Ravindra Thakur looked at him in disbelief. Anay stepped forward and stood in front of Advika, shielding her completely.
"Lower your guns..."
Anay's voice echoed through the hall.
"Anay..."
Ravindra Thakur shouted, his voice a mix of fear and frustration.
Anay pulled a gun from his pocket and placed it against his forehead. His hands weren't trembling. His eyes were eerily calm.
"If she gets even a scratch, there won't be just one, but two funerals leaving this place."
For a moment, the mansion fell into a stunned silence. Fingers pulled back from triggers, breaths caught in throats.
Advika couldn't even move. She couldn't understand why Anay was standing up for her.
Anay turned to her, and with a soft smile said:
"You came to kill my father, right? But his life exists within me. So here — take the gun, shoot me. He'll die anyway..."
He held the gun out to her.
"I don't care about you... He's the one who deserves to die... He took my brother's life." Advika said through gritted teeth.
"I know... But he gave me life. I can't watch him die. Not while I'm alive. So shoot me... End this cycle of revenge. I promise — no one will harm you."
Advika was shaken. Did Anay know everything already? Is that why he kept protecting the Sarpanch again and again?
She pushed him aside and aimed the gun back at Ravindra Thakur. But once again — Anay stepped in front like a wall.
"Move, Thakur..."
"Not possible..."
"You'll die..."
"If I die in love, so be it..."
Advika stared at him deeply.
Just then, Shrey came running into the hall.
He rushed toward Anay, but Anay gave him a subtle signal — his eyes were still locked on Advika.
Shrey understood the message in a second. Frustrated, he walked toward Advika.
"Get out of here..."
"Not until I finish what I came for..."
"What do you want? That my friend dies? You've already killed him with your love... At least let him breathe..."
"Tell him to get out of the way..."
"He's the most stubborn man I know... He won't move..."
"Then let him die..."
She raised the gun again — but Shrey lunged and snatched it from her.
His face was a mix of pain and rage. Quickly, Shrey pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it over Advika's face. Her eyes fluttered once... and then she collapsed unconscious into Shrey's arms.
Shrey's eyes darted toward Anay in panic — blood was still pouring from his chest, each heartbeat taking him one step closer to death.
Yet, even in that state, he stood tall… unwavering… like a mountain holding its ground against a storm.
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with pain and exhaustion, but there was no complaint in them.
"Anay..." Shrey's voice trembled as he rushed toward him in agony.
"Take her away..."
Anay nodded faintly — Shrey lowered his gaze in helplessness and, though unwilling, quickly carried Advika out in his arms.
Anay was still standing there… wounded, but with a faint, painful smile on his lips. His breath was growing shallow.
Shrey dragged Advika out of the mansion.
A black SUV was parked at some distance, its windows rolled up. Shrey hurried toward it and banged on the door loudly.
Inside, Rudransh was sitting with his hands covering his face, eyes shut tight in guilt and regret.
Shrey showing up there directly proved that both he and Anay had already sensed Rudransh's conspiracy.
"Get out..." Shrey growled through clenched teeth, fire blazing in his eyes.
Rudransh stepped out of the vehicle. The moment he did, Shrey threw Advika at him. Rudransh barely managed to catch her.
"Take her and leave, or I'll have blood on my hands..."
"Shrey Thakur..." Rudransh tried to speak.
"Still pretending, huh? You bastard..." Shrey yelled.
"Even a witch spares ten houses before she strikes, and you... You betrayed the one who helped give wings to your dreams... the one who helped build your dam..."
"If Anay hadn't made me swear on him, I would've killed both of you right here."
Shrey suddenly had his hand around Rudransh's neck, pinning him to the ground. Rudransh didn't resist, trying to keep Advika from falling.
Rudransh's breath was choking, but his eyes remained strangely calm.
In the next moment, Shrey shoved him away with force and ran back toward the mansion.
"This was bound to happen..."
Rudransh muttered to himself, placed Advika in the car, and started the engine.
Meanwhile, chaos had erupted inside the mansion.
The village head and his men were preparing to take Anay — blood-soaked and unconscious — to the hospital.
Thakurain (Anay's mother) was in tears. Her only son was suffering, and she couldn't do anything.
Amidst all this, Anay, covered in blood, barely opened his eyes. He slowly looked at Thakurain, a faint smile appeared on his lips — and then… his eyes began to close again.
Shrey came running behind, his eyes full of tears. He caught Anay just in time, stopping him from collapsing.
The village head ignored Shrey's pleas and sent his men after Rudransh and Advika.
"Uncle, please listen to me..."
"When Anay wakes up and finds out what you did, it'll ruin everything..."
"Please, Uncle..."
The village head glared at him and shoved him away from Anay.
Shrey stood there crying, watching blood pour from Anay's body, each drop cutting deeper into his own soul.
If he had even the slightest idea that Anay would do something this foolish, he would've stopped him long ago.
The village head's car sped off toward the hospital. Thakurain sat beside her son, holding his hand tightly. Shrey followed in his own car, wiping his tears.
On the same road, Rudransh and Advika were also driving away. Advika had regained consciousness and was struggling with Rudransh to stop the car — her mission was incomplete.
"Stop the car, Rajvansh, or I'll jump..."
"Don't be stupid, Advika... Thakur might not even be conscious now to save you. Luck doesn't show mercy twice..."
"Luck? That's a joke... But I'm not giving up today. I won't leave without killing that Thakur. Stop the car!"
Rudransh didn't even glance at her and kept driving.
"Stop the car, or I swear I'll jump..."
Rudransh glared at her, then refocused on the road. But Advika had already unbuckled her seatbelt, which distracted him — one hand was trying to stop her, the other on the steering.
Suddenly, a cyclist appeared in front, and Rudransh lost control — the car slammed straight into a tree. Their heads hit the dashboard hard.
"Finally... some peace..." Rudransh muttered, glaring at her, and tried to get out of the car.
Bleeding from the forehead and limping badly, he somehow stepped out. Opening the door on the other side, he helped Advika out as well.
The car was so badly damaged it couldn't move an inch further.
Rudransh looked down the road and removed his jacket, placing it over Advika's shoulders.
"We'll have to stop someone's car..." he said, checking the time — it was running fast.
After a few moments, a black SUV sped by, leaving behind a cloud of dust. Inside was the village head, and Tuntun was driving.
On the back seat, Anay was bleeding uncontrollably. His breath was shallow. Thakurain sat beside him — her face pale, her veil fallen, and tears pouring down her cheeks.
"But Bhaiya ji..." Tuntun said hesitantly.
The village head's eyes were fixed on Advika. He twisted his neck and glared at Tuntun.
Tuntun's protests died inside him.
The car screeched to a halt.
"What are you doing, sir..." Thakurain couldn't hold herself back anymore.
"Look at his condition, we have to go to the hospital first!"
The village head didn't reply. His eyes were still locked on Advika as he stepped out, pulled out his gun from his waistband, and charged straight at her.
Rudransh, standing in front of Advika, leapt to block him.
"Move out of the way, boy... or I won't hesitate to shoot you too..."
The village head's voice echoed through the forest. Behind him, his men had already pulled out their guns.
"Lower the gun, village head..." Rudransh's voice had turned sharp now,
"Because if I raise my hand... your bones won't heal once they break..."
At a short distance, Thakurain was still crying. She had covered Anay's slowly fading body with her saree's pallu.
Too be Continuted...