HOUSE OF LIES

10

Kneel before I shoot your wife," Asha commanded, her voice cold and unforgiving.

Rajveer's eyes locked onto Asha's. "If I kneel, you'll let her go?" he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Yes, but you must hand over the throne to my son," Asha responded, her eyes glinting with triumph.

Before Rajveer could speak, Anshuman cut in, voice firm, "No matter what you say, Rajveer will never kneel before a woman like you!"

Asha smirked, her gaze shifting as Anshuman's followed. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the man he admired most kneel before the woman he had hated his entire life—all for his pasandida Aurat.

Anshuman couldn't believe his eyes. Rajveer, the most dangerous man , kneeling in front of Asha.

The moment Rajveer's knees touched the ground, Asha burst into laughter. "Sukoon... finally, I have peace. Since I became queen, you never bowed to me. But today, because of this girl, my dream has come true."

Rajveer looked up, his face etched with sorrow. "I've knelt before you. Now let her go."

Asha reloaded her gun, pressing it closer to Nandani's head. "Oh, but I never said I'd return her to you alive. I'll show some mercy though—I'll give you her body."

Rajveer lunged forward, panic gripping him, but before he could reach Asha, a gunshot rang out. His heart stopped. He thought Nandani had been shot. But when he looked up, Asha had fallen to the ground.

He searched for the shooter, and there stood Advit, holding a gun. "Bhai sa, you owe me this one."

Rajveer wasted no time. He rushed to untie Nandani and glanced briefly at Asha's lifeless body. "Anshuman, call an ambulance. Get her to the hospital. I'm taking Nandani home."

With Nandani in his arms, Rajveer left, followed by Advit. In the car, Advit drove while Rajveer sat in the back, cradling Nandani's unconscious body.

The silence between the brothers was thick with unspoken words. Finally, Rajveer broke it, his voice barely a whisper. "Why did you do that? If she had killed Nandani, it would have destroyed me. You could have easily taken the throne."

Advit's eyes stayed on the road, his voice laced with pain. "I've already lost Maa sa and Baba sa. I can't lose you, even if I hate you. I know how much Bhabhi sa means to you... if you lost her, you'd burn this world down with yourself."

Rajveer didn't reply, but he felt the weight of his brother's words.

When they reached home, Rajveer carried Nandani inside. Abhimanyu met them at the door, his face full of concern. "Bhai sa, what happened to Bhabhi sa? What's going on?"

Rajveer's voice was low and firm. "Your mother kidnapped Nandani. There's a lot to explain, but for now, you should go to the hospital—your mother was shot."

Abhimanyu stumbled back, shock written on his face. "No... I don't believe this. Maa would never—" Before he could finish, he ran out, rushing towards the hospital.

Rajveer ignored him and took Nandani to their room. A female doctor was waiting outside. He laid Nandani on the bed, then stood in front of the doctor, his eyes sharp. "If my wife doesn't wake up, I'll make sure you and your family never wake again."

The doctor trembled but approached Nandani, performing her check-up. After a few tense moments, she turned to Rajveer. "Sir, she's fine. She's just asleep, likely due to sleeping pills. She should wake up by nightfall. I'll prescribe ointment for the bruises on her cheek, but she's otherwise unharmed."

Rajveer's voice shook with emotion. "Thank you... thank you so much."

The doctor couldn't believe this was the same man who had threatened her just moments before.

After everyone left, Rajveer sat beside Nandani, holding her hand. His heart ached as he whispered to her, "I would've died agar tumhe kucch hojata toh "