His Bride

26 / The Showdown

Arushi's Pov

We set the trap at an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. It was the perfect place—isolated, dark, and falling apart. The rusted walls were stained with time and neglect, the shattered glass windows allowing the cold night breeze to slip through. The only sounds were the distant howls of stray dogs and the occasional creak of metal under pressure.

The plan was simple—make Saif think I was alone and vulnerable, and when he took the bait, we'd strike.

I stood in the center of the dimly lit warehouse, dressed in black cargo pants and a fitted tactical shirt. My hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and my gun was holstered at my hip beneath the leather jacket I wore. The cold metal of the weapon pressed against my skin, grounding me.

The shadows stretched across the cracked concrete floor, flickering under the soft glow of a single hanging lightbulb. My heart was steady, my breathing measured. I had done this before. But this time, it was personal.

Footsteps echoed from the far end of the warehouse. Slow. Confident. Arrogant.

And then I saw him.

Saif Ali Khan.

He looked exactly as I remembered—ruthless, smug, and dripping with arrogance. His dark eyes gleamed under the dim lights, his perfectly tailored black suit completely out of place in the grimy factory. He walked toward me with a lazy grace, a pistol hanging loosely in his hand.

"Well, well, Trivarna," he smirked. "Or should I say, Arushi?" His voice was calm, almost amused. "What a pathetic little life you built for yourself. Did you think you could escape me forever?"

My grip on the gun beneath my jacket tightened. "I wasn't escaping. I was waiting for the right moment."

He laughed, the sound sharp and hollow. "And you think this is it? You're alone, Trivarna. Just like the night I burned your family alive."

Rage boiled through my veins, sharp and cutting. But I kept my expression cold, unreadable. "You think I'd come alone?"

His smile widened. "Do you really think your pathetic husband and his family can protect you?" His eyes darkened. "I know more about the Chauhan family than you think. I know exactly how to dismantle them."

"And yet," I said evenly, "I'm still standing."

A low growl rumbled from his throat. "Not for long."

At my signal, the sound of gunshots cracked through the air. The doors at the back of the warehouse burst open, and Dhruv and his men emerged from the shadows, weapons drawn. Chaos erupted as bullets flew through the dark space, and Saif's guards scrambled to fight back.

Dhruv moved through the chaos like a predator, precise and lethal. Naksh and Lakshay flanked him, cutting down Saif's men with ruthless efficiency. Hardik fired from behind a stack of crates, taking down two guards in quick succession.

But I wasn't focused on them. My eyes were locked on Saif.

He lunged at me.

I twisted, sidestepping his attack, but he was fast. His fist connected with my jaw, and I stumbled back, tasting blood. Before I could recover, he struck again, knocking the gun from my hand. It slid across the floor, disappearing into the shadows.

"You think you're smarter than me?" he hissed, grabbing my arm and twisting it painfully behind my back. "You've always been a foolish little girl."

I gritted my teeth against the pain and drove my elbow into his ribs. He grunted, loosening his hold, and I spun, kneeing him hard in the stomach.

He stumbled back, his eyes flashing with rage.

"You've gotten better," he sneered, wiping the blood from his mouth. "But not good enough."

He pulled a knife from his jacket.

My heart raced as he lunged at me again. I dodged, but not fast enough. The blade sliced across my arm, pain flaring through my body. I hissed, pressing my hand against the wound to stop the bleeding.

He smiled darkly. "You're slowing down, Trivarna."

"I'm just getting started," I shot back.

He came at me again, but this time I was ready. I ducked beneath his swing and kicked his knee, sending him to the ground. I spotted my gun a few feet away and dove for it, but Saif grabbed my ankle and yanked me back.

I twisted, kicking him in the face. He roared in pain, clutching his nose as blood poured down his face.

I scrambled toward the gun, my fingers closing around the grip just as Saif tackled me from behind. We hit the ground hard, his weight crushing me beneath him. His hand wrapped around my throat, squeezing.

"You think you've won?" he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "You think you've escaped your fate?"

My vision blurred as the pressure increased. My lungs screamed for air.

But then I remembered Aadhi's smile. My mother's voice. Aarav's laugh.

I wasn't going to die here.

I reached into the holster beneath my jacket and pulled out the small backup pistol. I pressed the barrel against Saif's side.

"This is for my parents," I whispered.

Bang.

Saif's eyes widened. He choked, blood bubbling from his mouth as his body sagged against me.

I shoved him off, gasping for breath as his lifeless body hit the cold concrete floor.

The sound of gunfire had stopped. The warehouse was quiet except for my ragged breathing and the distant sound of Dhruv's footsteps.

He was at my side in an instant, his hands gripping my face. "Arushi! Are you hurt?"

I shook my head, my vision clearing. My arm throbbed where the knife had cut me, but it didn't matter. "It's over," I whispered.

Dhruv's arms wrapped around me, pulling me tightly against his chest. His heartbeat was rapid against my cheek.

"It's over," he repeated, his voice thick with relief.

Naksh and Lakshay approached cautiously. Naksh nudged Saif's body with his foot. "Well... that's one way to handle things."

"I'll make sure the body disappears," Lakshay added. "Quietly."

I sighed, resting my head against Dhruv's chest. "No need. Let the world know he's dead. Let them know that Trivarna took him down."

Dhruv's hand curled around my neck, his thumb brushing against my jaw. "You're terrifying," he murmured.

"And you love it," I teased, managing a small smile.

He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering. "Yes. I do."

Hardik approached, his eyes still sharp with adrenaline. "We should go before the authorities show up."

Dhruv nodded and helped me to my feet. My legs were shaky, but his arm around my waist steadied me.

I looked down at Saif's lifeless body one last time.

"My family can rest now," I whispered.

Dhruv kissed my temple. "And now you can live."

I leaned into him, letting the weight of the moment sink in. My past was no longer chasing me. Saif was dead. My family was avenged.

Now, I could finally breathe.

Now, I could finally live.