47. 🔥Truth in Chains, War in Shadows (Updated)

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At an abandoned yet strangely familiar place, two speeding cars screeched to a halt—barely inches apart. The air was thick with tension as doors flew open. Abhi, stepping out from one car, locked eyes with Sid, who emerged from the other.

"What are you doing here?" Abhi asked sharply.

Sid shot back just as coldly, "I can ask the same question."

Before the clash could escalate, Faisu emerged from behind, his phone in hand. "Jan's location is showing here," he said, displaying the tracker on his mobile screen.

Abhi's eyebrows drew together. "But how did you get her location, Ashu?"

Sid gave a grim nod. "My mobile also has the tracker. I'd placed it in her anklet." Without another word, the three rushed towards the structure ahead.



Inside the dim, suffocating room, Jan sat unconscious, tied tightly to a chair. Her wrists bore red marks from struggling. A cold splash of water jolted her awake. Her vision blurred, but after a moment, the figure before her came into focus.

"Shekhar!" she gasped.

A wicked smirk danced on Shekhar's face. "How are you, Jan?"

"Why have you tied me?" she shouted, yanking her arms uselessly.

"Because you know too much," he said, stepping closer, "and that makes you dangerous to me."

"Free me, you bastard!" she snarled. "Because of you, I misunderstood my twin!"

Another voice chimed in behind Shekhar. "That's not our problem."

Jan turned her head. Her breath hitched. "Sam!?"

Sam chuckled. "Yes. And just so you know, Shekhar didn't just ruin your relationship with Siddharth. He also killed my sister—Surbhi."

Jan's eyes widened in horror. "What?"

"Yes," Sam said, coldly. "In fact, the idea was mine. We were in love. Surbhi was the obstacle."

"You what...?" Jan whispered, her world spinning. "But Shekhar and Surbhi... they loved each other from childhood."

"That's what you all thought," Sam spat. "We loved each other. She got in the way."

Jan sat frozen. Shock stripped her of speech. "What do you even gain from all this?"

Shekhar crouched beside her, his voice venomous. "Peace. Watching you all fall apart gave me peace. Watching your and Siddharth's bond break gave me joy." He started laughing, the sound echoing cruelly through the room.

A calm voice sliced through the tension. "A fake happiness."

Shekhar and Sam spun around to see Siddharth, Abhi, and Faisu standing there. Shekhar rose with mock delight. "Siddharth, welcome! Oh, and Abhishek and Faisal—you're here too."

"Do hell with your welcome," Sid snapped, stepping forward.

"Such rudeness!" Shekhar chuckled.

Sam moved to his side, her hand on his shoulder. "Baby, we made his life hell. Don't blame him if he's bitter."

They both laughed, but Sid suddenly joined in, chuckling as if sharing the joke.

Confused, Shekhar asked, "Why are you laughing at your own loss?"

Sid's eyes glinted. "Who said I lost?"

Sam rolled her eyes. "Baby, I think he's finally gone mad."

Sid only laughed harder. "You know what I heard about you two?"

Shekhar folded his arms. "What?"

"That you're stupid. So stupid anyone can fool you."

Fury danced in Shekhar's eyes. "Don't forget—I fooled all of you."

"In your dreams," Sid said smoothly. Then he turned to Jan and gave her a subtle wink.

She caught on immediately and dropped her anxious expression, her face turning calm.

"So what's the truth?" Shekhar challenged.

"The truth is," Sid said slowly, "me and Akshu never misunderstood each other. It was all an act."

The room fell silent.

"You're lying!" Shekhar shouted.

"Ask her yourself," Sid said, nodding toward Jan.

Sam stepped closer, glaring. "Is he telling the truth?"

Jan lifted her chin. "Yes. We never fought. Who told you otherwise?"

Shekhar's smirk faded.

"You think we'll believe you just like that?" he snapped.

"Believe what you want," Sid replied. "But that's the truth."

For a brief moment, doubt flickered in Sam and Shekhar's eyes. Their certainty was cracking.

Shekhar roared and lunged at Sid, throwing a punch that landed hard. Sid retaliated instantly. The two men brawled violently, fists flying, the past and pain pouring into every blow. In the chaos, Faisu moved silently toward Jan and loosened her ropes.

With Shekhar pinned beneath him, Sid seethed. "You think the world bends to your will? That people are puppets for your revenge? Remember one thing—evil may rise, but it never wins against truth."

Shekhar wiped the blood from his lip and stood up, smirking through bruises. "You think you've won?" he asked. "You have no idea what I've planned. The biggest deal that Nigam Collection ever landed... is about to be cancelled. A loss that'll drown your company."

Abhi's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, I would." Shekhar dialed a number. "Cancel the deal with Nigam Collection."

And with one phone call, a new storm was unleashed.



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