WAJHA TUM HO

14. || Dark Symphony ||

Dev sat in anticipation, knowing full well what they had planned for him. He watched the minutes tick by until finally, Sid appeared in the distance, a bag slung over his shoulder. The tension in the air was palpable as Sid approached, his footsteps echoing in the quiet.

Sid handed over the bag with a mix of apprehension and concern etched on his face. "Here are your drugs," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper. "Just... be careful, bhai. Think about this again. You've never touched alcohol, and now you're stepping into a world you've never known. You're taking fucking drugs "

Dev took the bag, his expression unreadable as he inspected its contents meticulously. "Don't worry," he replied coolly, though there was a hint of underlying tension. "I've consulted with a doctor. I have a backup plan—a medicine that will protect me. I wouldn't risk it otherwise."

Sid nodded, though his worry was evident. "Just remember, after you take it, your pulse rate will drop dangerously low. Ray won't be able to detect it, and there could be complications. You'll cough blood. Please, Bhai, think this through."

With a solemn nod, Dev handed the injection to a trusted doctor friend who stood nearby, ready to administer the drug. As the needle entered his vein, a cold sensation spread through Dev's body, a stark reminder of the risks he was taking...

The scene played out as planned, yet the blood was real, and Dev's pulse did indeed plummet. Through a haze, he overheard the distant voices of Ray and Ananya, their argument fading into the night.

Sid acted swiftly, carrying Dev away from the cemetery and providing emergency oxygen. The antidote followed, administered with urgency, and after an agonizing twenty minutes, Dev began to feel the first signs of relief.

With determination burning in his eyes, Dev set out to track Ray...

Flashback:

Ray's disbelief was evident as he stammered, "You... you're alive?"

Dev's laugh was cold and devoid of mercy. "You never had what it took to finish me."

With a chilling calmness, Dev drew a gun and aimed it squarely at Ray's trembling form. "Death would be too easy for you," he continued, his voice a deadly whisper. "Not because you betrayed me—after all, betrayal is your nature—but because you shattered the heart of someone who never betrayed you. You broke her trust." With those words, he pulled the trigger, the shot ringing out in the night air.

Later, under the cover of darkness and with Sid's help, Ray's lifeless body was laid to rest in the same spot where Dev had buried his victims...

As rain poured from the heavens, Dev raised his arms to the sky, a grim smile playing on his lips. "Your love will shatter into pieces as I exact my revenge," he declared, the raindrops mingling with tears of both sorrow and vindication.

Gathering rainwater in his cupped hands, he mused aloud, "Each raindrop tells a story. Once, it chronicled love, then betrayal. Today, it writes a saga of vengeance. Ananya, Ananya, Ananya... who will save you now?"

With a mixture of pain and determination in his voice, Dev vowed, "Ray's punishment was death, but between life and death lies agony. I will make you suffer in ways you cannot fathom or endure. You struck me down in one blow; I will dismantle you piece by piece. My loyalty was pure, but yours was fleeting."

Returning home with Sid by his side, the weight of Ananya's betrayal hung heavy on Dev's heart...

Stepping into his dimly lit room, Dev's gaze swept over the remnants of their time together—candles flickering, memories lingering like ghosts. He approached a candle, its flame dancing in the stillness. With a steady hand, he pressed his palm against the burning wick, feeling the searing pain as it branded his skin. Yet, the ache in his heart overshadowed any physical discomfort.

Every corner of the room whispered of Ananya—her laughter, her touch, now tainted by betrayal. Collapsing onto the bed, memories of their shared moments flooded his mind like a relentless tide. Clenching his fists, he tore at the bedsheet in a futile attempt to release the anguish consuming him.

"Why, Ananya?" he murmured, anguish and disbelief coloring his tone. "Was it my inadequacies, or was it my love? I did not ingest poison, yet you poisoned my heart. I saw you suffer, but..."

Karuna Ji and Sid entered quietly, their presence offering solace in the midst of turmoil. They enveloped Dev in a comforting embrace, sharing his grief as he poured out his heart.

"Maa," Dev choked out, tears streaming down his cheeks. "She shattered my heart. Look at Sid—she betrayed me after all we shared."

Karuna Ji spoke softly, her voice a soothing balm. "Stay strong, my son. You've always been resilient. Forget her; love can be treacherous. We will seek justice through legal means. Let us cleanse this room of her presence."

But Dev shook his head adamantly, his resolve unwavering. "No, maa. I cannot erase her memory. She will always reside in my heart. My loyalty was steadfast, but hers was fleeting. My passion was love, but now it is fueled by hate."

Karuna Ji stood up, her eyes filled with understanding. "Dev, I cannot condone revenge, but I will not stand in your way," she said softly, brushing a hand through his hair before departing. Sid embraced his brother tightly before following suit...

Opening his cupboard, Dev retrieved paintings of Ananya, each stroke a testament to their love. "You came into my life willingly," he murmured, his voice tinged with bitterness as he traced her face with his fingertips. "But leaving will not be so simple. You will become a nightmare from which you cannot awaken. You will neither live nor die, and I will ensure you endure every torment."

"I will inflict such anguish upon you that even your shadow will recoil in fear. I want you to hear your screams echo until my heart finds peace and justice is served."

"Now, Mrs. Joshi," Dev whispered fiercely, tears mingling with his resolve. "Your sleep will be disrupted. In step one, I will steal your rest. In step two, you will beg to sell it, and in step three, your world will transform. Best of luck, Mrs. Joshi."

Summoning Sid to his side, Dev spoke with urgency. "Sid, contact Mrs. Devki Sharma. Offer her a critical business deal and send her to Mumbai immediately."

Sid nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "Consider it done. She won't refuse."

After confirming Mrs. Devki Ji's departure for Mumbai, Sid returned with a devilish grin. "Now, Mrs. Joshi, what will become of you?" With calculated precision, he set in motion a series of paranormal activities, each designed to unsettle and terrify...

PRESENT -

Returning home after unsettling Ananya, Dev sat alone in the darkness, haunted by memories of her fear. Tears streaked down his face as he clutched a knife in his trembling hand, staring out into the relentless rain.

With a mixture of sorrow and determination, he gently caressed Ananya's picture with the knife, his touch tender yet filled with unspoken pain. Eventually, he set the knife aside, his thoughts consumed by a relentless ache.

"On that fateful night, my heart shattered," he murmured, his voice thick with grief.

With steely resolve in his eyes, he declared, "I never anticipated such an end to our love. I swore my loyalty would be our legacy. Lost in our love, but now, you are my retribution. You are both the cause of my pain and the cure. This torment, it all revolves around you."

Ananya was left reeling, her mind unable to escape the haunting memories...

Trembling with fear, she whispered, "It... it can't be Dev. No, it can't be him. I buried him with my own hands."

The night stretched on, each passing moment deepening her dread. As morning broke, Ananya found herself consumed by thoughts of the previous night, her heart weighed down by fear and uncertainty...

Ananya wondered, "If... if it's him, will he return today?"

Meanwhile, at Dev's house -

"I know you're wondering if I'll return," Dev mused softly, his voice carrying through the quiet room. "But I don't play games like you, sweetheart."

That night, Ananya left the lights on, her gaze fixed on the door, waiting in vain for his return. Each passing minute intensified her fear, the hours stretching endlessly...

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