Rudra Tara - A Love Bound By Duty

21.ATTACK

Tara pov

As I prepared to step outside, a maid approached with urgent news that someone was calling for me in the garden. My heart raced with anticipation, hoping it might be Hari. But when I reached the garden, it was empty and silent. Anxiety gripped me, and just as I turned to leave, a group of men emerged from the shadows. Fear overwhelmed me, and I tried to run, but my foot caught on the grass, sending me crashing to the ground with a jarring thud.

The men surrounded me, their faces grim and cold. One of them hissed, "Jaanki, the game is over. It's time for you to die." Another sneered, "You can't ensnare our prince with your beauty and innocence. Your time has come."

Prince? Trap? What...what are they talking about? My lips parted to speak, but the words never came. Another grabbed my hair, yanking me forward with brutal force, and slammed me against the rough bark of a tree. Pain exploded at the back of my skull as my vision blurred. Blood trickled down my neck, warm and thick, mixing with the cold dread spreading in my veins.

I was defenseless, without a weapon, and the realization that I was vastly outnumbered crushed me. They were armored, prepared-unlike the foolish thugs from before. I knew I could fight, but in this condition? There was no chance. Desperation clawed at me as I dodged a sword aimed at my chest. I staggered, but another man blocked my escape. Four men in total surrounded me, their cruel intentions clear.

I managed to push one back, using his momentary surprise to grab a handful of sand and fling it into his eyes. He screamed, stumbling backward as I seized a sword from the ground. My grip was shaky, my energy waning, but I raised the blade, ready to fight for my life.

A man lunged at me, and I swung the sword, aiming for his neck, but he dodged.
I only managed to slice his arm. He roared in pain, but before I could react, I heard a voice calling out my name-"Janki! Janki!" I knew it was Hari.

Relief flooded me, but it was too late. A searing pain erupted in my abdomen as a sword plunged into my stomach. The world slowed. I gasped, the pain unbearable, my body trembling. I tried to run, but my strength failed me. I crumpled to the ground, blood spilling over my hands as I clutched my wound.

The men, upon seeing Hari approaching, shouted in fear and fled. I could barely focus. The pain was all-consuming, and the weight of my own body became unbearable. I whispered through gasps, "I... I think I'm going to die."

Just then, from the haze, I heard his voice. "Jaanki!" Hari. He was here. I turned weakly, my body betraying me. Everything felt distant. I saw him running towards me, his face etched with terror, but I couldn't move. I couldn't even speak. The pain... gods, the pain was unbearable. Darkness started swallowing me whole, pulling me deeper. I'm dying... I whispered to myself.

My body fell forward into the grass, broken.

Pov RUDRAKSH

As I reached the garden, the chaos unfolded before my eyes. I spotted the men-those wretched souls responsible for this. My voice cracked with desperation as I shouted for them to stop, but they bolted, trying to escape. Fury surged through me like fire. I ordered my soldiers, my voice thunderous, to pursue them. "Capture them! They must not escape! I WANT THEM ALIVE....." My heart pounded, my chest tight with rage. The soldiers chased them down, finally dragging them to the torture chambers, but my focus had already shifted to jaanki.

I rushed to her side, breathless, my heart sinking as I saw her lying there. Her breaths were shallow, each one weaker than the last. Blood stained all over her dupatta ,lehenga,"he..r..her stomachh....." and her eyes, half-closed, struggled to stay open. I fell to my knees beside her, cradling her delicate form in my arms. Tears blurred my vision, and the world felt as if it had shattered around me. "No... no, no, no!" My voice cracked as I held her tighter, my chest heaving with the weight of it all.