Kumkum Bhagya: Rishton Ki Ankahi Kahani - Chapter 108 updt on pg 22 - Page 7

Chapter 50

The Brewing Storm

Sanju and Aryan make their way towards Shahana, who is standing right in front of the stage, cheering for Prachi. Aryan is still lost in thought, struggling to process the revelations about his father and his newly discovered elder brother.

Shahana turns around and, noticing Sanju with Aryan, frowns in irritation. “What are you doing here?” she asks Sanju sharply.

Sanju, visibly nervous, stammers, “I just... I just came to watch the fashion event with Aryan.”

Shahana crosses her arms, unimpressed, and is about to question Aryan when Mishti rushes toward them, calling out his name. As soon as she spots Sanju, memories of the Diwali night flash in her mind—how he had tried to misbehave with her. Fear takes over, and without a second thought, she clings to Aryan, exclaiming, “Aryan! What is this creep doing here? I’m sure he’s up to no good again!”

Shahana’s face falls as she watches Mishti holding Aryan so closely. Meanwhile, Aryan snaps out of his thoughts and gently reassures Mishti, “No, Mishti. I’m here, and I won’t let him do anything to you.”

Sanju, sweating, tries to explain, “I swear, sister, that was a mistake…” He takes a step closer, attempting to apologize, but Mishti recoils in disgust.

“Stay away from me, you creep!” she yells. “Don’t even try to come near me!”

Then, turning to Aryan, she pleads, “Please take me away from here, Aryan. I can’t stand to see his face!”

Aryan nods and leads her away.

As they leave, Sanju mutters under his breath, clearly annoyed, “What’s wrong with my face? I’m way more handsome than that Aryan or her brother!” He huffs, watching Aryan and Mishti disappear into the crowd, then smirks. “And just look at them… A few minutes ago, Aryan was insisting that Mishti isn’t his girlfriend, but now he’s acting like her knight in shining armor. Best friend’s sister, huh? There’s definitely something going on between those two.”

Shahana’s expression darkens, and her eyes well up with unshed tears. Without a word, she abruptly walks away.

Sanju, startled, calls after her, “Hey! Where are you going?” But she doesn’t stop.

He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Great. Aryan went his own way, Shahana ran off… and now I’m just standing here alone. What am I even supposed to do now?”

The Elders' Discussion

As Mishti and Aryan pass by, they notice Vikram, Abhi, and Purab deep in conversation about an upcoming international concert.

Vikram spots his daughter and looks surprised. “Mishti, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with the other contestants?”

“Yes, Dad,” Mishti nods, “I was just about to go back when I ran into that creep who misbehaved with me on Diwali night!”

All three men stiffen at her words. Vikram’s face clouds with concern. “Did he try anything again?”

Mishti shakes her head and smiles. “Come on, Dad. He got such a solid thrashing last time; he wouldn’t dare try anything now!”

Then, still smiling, she tightens her grip on Aryan’s hand. He looks surprised, but she doesn’t let go. “Anyway, Dad, Aryan is always there to protect me.”

The elders exchange amused glances. Purab affectionately ruffles Aryan’s hair, while Abhi chuckles. “Alright, Mishti, you better get going now. The fashion event is about to start.”

Mishti nods and walks away, still holding Aryan’s hand. Vikram watches them with a knowing smile before turning to Purab. “Have you ever thought about Aryan’s marriage?”

Purab raises an eyebrow at the unexpected question. Nearby, Sunny, who happens to be passing by, stops in his tracks, curiosity piqued.

“Marriage?” Purab repeats incredulously. “Vikram, Aryan is just twenty-one and a half! He’s still a kid, and you’re already talking about his marriage?”

Abhi laughs, shaking his head. “I swear, Vikram, sometimes I wonder what goes on in that brain of yours.”

Vikram shrugs, embarrassed but determined. “Oh, come on! He’s not a baby anymore! He’s grown up enough to start thinking about marriage.”

Purab sighs. “I want my son to choose someone he truly loves. A loveless marriage is nothing but a cage.”

A shadow crosses his face as his thoughts drift back to Disha’s revelation about her past with Hrithik. His eyes turn misty. Abhi notices his distress and places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Meanwhile, Sunny, observing from a distance, smirks before walking away.

Sunny Discovers Priyanka’s Plan

As Sunny moves forward, his sharp eyes catch sight of Priyanka standing near Prachi’s green room, speaking to a suspicious-looking man. Curious, he stealthily approaches and listens in.

Priyanka holds up a photo of Shahana. The man scans it, his expression turning lecherous. “Oh, she’s a real firecracker,” he remarks with a disgusting grin.

Sunny’s jaw tightens in anger.

Priyanka, unfazed, smirks. “You know what to do, right?”

The man nods wickedly.

“Good,” Priyanka continues. “I’ll send her into this room, and after that... you know the rest.”

The man hesitates. “But madam, this place is crowded. What if she screams? Won’t we get caught?”

Just then, the PA system blares, announcing the start of the fashion event. Priyanka’s smirk widens. “Don’t worry. No one will ever know what happens to Shahana in this room.”

A chill runs down Sunny’s spine. He clenches his fists, his mind racing. What the hell is Priyanka up to? He quickly follows her as she walks away, her evil grin never fading.

The Fashion Event Begins

The event kicks off with contestants lining up on both sides of the stage, preparing for their turn to walk the ramp.

Abhi, Vikram, and Purab sit in the front row when Pragya arrives, searching for a seat. Noticing this, Purab immediately stands up and offers her his spot next to Abhi.

Pragya smiles in gratitude and takes the seat.

Vikram leans toward Abhi and whispers teasingly, “Lucky you, Abhi. You got Anuradha ji to sit right next to you.”

Abhi shoots him a glare, but Vikram quickly looks away, pretending to focus on the event.

The announcer’s voice rings through the hall. “Next on stage, Ms. Rhea Mehra and Ms. Prachi Arora!”

Abhi and Pragya sit up eagerly, their faces lighting up with pride. Without realizing it, they reach for each other’s hands, fingers entwining.

On stage, Rhea and Prachi walk in from opposite ends, their gazes locked in a silent battle. They stride forward together, maintaining their composure. But in the crowd, Ranbir’s voice suddenly cuts through the noise, cheering loudly for Prachi.

Rhea flinches. Her confidence wavers as jealousy takes over.

As they turn to leave the stage, Rhea missteps and stumbles. She is about to fall when Prachi instinctively grabs her arm, steadying her.

Gasps ripple through the audience. Abhi and Pragya immediately rise from their seats in concern. The judges exchange glances, making notes.

Meanwhile, Priyanka watches from the crowd, an amused smirk playing on her lips. Poor Rhea… jealous over Ranbir’s love for Prachi. She shakes her head mockingly. Well, it’s just helping my plan fall into place.

A memory flashes in her mind—how she had stolen both Rhea’s and Prachi’s phones, using Rhea’s to make a hoax bomb threat to the police. And as an added touch, she had slipped Prachi’s phone into Shahana’s bag.

Back in the present, Priyanka grips Rhea’s phone tightly, her smirk deepening.

From a distance, Sunny watches her suspiciously.

Just as the judges prepare to announce the winner, a gunshot echoes through the hall. A police officer rushes in, shouting, “There’s a bomb under the stage!”

Panic erupts. The crowd screams, rushing in every direction.

And amidst the chaos, Priyanka simply grins.

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To be continued.

Chapter 51

Chaos and Deception

Priyanka smirked as she watched the chaos unfold, the panicked crowd turning into a stampede. Amidst the frenzy, Sunny, who had been keeping a close eye on her, was shoved by the rushing people, losing sight of her. Frustrated, he muttered, “Damn it! Where did she go? What is she up to now?”

Meanwhile, Priyanka slipped into a secluded corner, pulled out Rhea’s phone, and dialed Prachi’s number. Inside the crowd, Shahana, struggling to find her way, was startled when a phone rang in her purse. Confused, she fished it out and was shocked to see that it was Prachi’s phone. Before she could process how it got there, she answered the call.

Before she could speak, a voice on the other end—eerily similar to Rhea’s—said, “Prachi, I need to meet you right now in your green room!” The call ended abruptly.

Shahana frowned, deep in thought. Why is Rhea calling Prachi to her green room now? Is she furious that Prachi won the Fashion Event Diva title instead of her? Is she planning something against her? Determined, Shahana clenched her fists. If she’s trying to mess with Prachi, I’ll make sure she knows her limits! Without a second thought, she rushed toward Prachi’s green room.

From the shadows, Priyanka watched with a triumphant smile. “I knew you wouldn’t think twice before stepping in, Shahana. That’s exactly why I planted Prachi’s phone in your purse and called you using Rhea’s voice. You, being the ever-loyal sister, will walk right into my trap. But tell me, dear Shahana—who will save you now?” She let out a dark chuckle, her eyes gleaming with malice. Now, nothing can come between me and Rishi.

Unfolding Rivalries

On the other side of the venue, the chaos had separated Prachi and Rhea, sending them running in opposite directions. However, fate brought them face to face amidst the turmoil. They exchanged sharp glares, neither willing to look away.

Suddenly, someone in a hurry collided with them, causing both to lose their balance. Just as Prachi was about to fall, Ranbir rushed in, catching her securely in his arms. Meanwhile, Rhea fell hard to the ground, wincing in pain.

As she looked up, her heart clenched painfully at the sight of Prachi in Ranbir’s embrace. The way he held her, the concern in his eyes—it was unbearable.

Ranbir gently asked Prachi, “Are you okay?”

Prachi nodded before wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Rhea’s fingers curled into fists, her gaze lowering in silent anguish.

It was only then that Ranbir noticed Rhea struggling on the ground. Without hesitation, he extended his hand to help her up. Rhea looked at him and then at Prachi, irritation flashing across her face. Ignoring his offer, she forced herself to stand on her own.

However, the pain in her leg made her stumble. Before she could fall again, Prachi caught her and steadied her against her own body. Both Rhea and Ranbir were taken aback.

“I know you hate accepting my help,” Prachi told her firmly, “but I’m not about to let you struggle alone in this condition. So just stop arguing and come with me.”

Rhea hesitated, trying to pull away, but Prachi held on. Realizing she had little choice, Rhea finally relented, allowing Prachi to support her as they made their way outside, guided by Ranbir.

A Sinister Trap

Shahana reached Prachi’s green room, pushing the door open as she called out, “Rhea, I know you’re in here!”

Before she could say another word, she heard the door lock behind her. Alarmed, she spun around—only to find a strange man leering at her with a disgusting look in his eyes.

Fear gripped her as she took a step back. “Who… who are you?” she stammered.

A Growing Fear

In the chaos outside, Aryan’s mind was clouded with unease. Sunny’s warnings about Shahana’s safety echoed in his head. His gut told him something was wrong. “God, I hope she’s not in trouble! But how am I supposed to find her in this mess?”

Just then, a tearful Mishti appeared before him, grabbing his arm. “Aryan, please! Get me out of here!”

Aryan’s eyes darted around anxiously, searching for any sign of Shahana. But seeing Mishti’s distressed state, he reluctantly nodded and led her toward the exit, his gaze still scanning the crowd for Shahana.

A Desperate Race

Elsewhere, Sanju spotted Sunny moving through the crowd, seemingly in search of someone. “Bhai, I was left all alone! Aryan went his way, and Shahana went hers.”

Sunny’s eyes widened in alarm. “You mean neither of you were with her?” His mind raced. That means she must have walked straight into Priyanka’s trap!

He turned on Sanju in anger. “How could you let her go off alone?!”

Sanju threw up his hands. “Bhai, you can yell at me later! Right now, we need to find her. Where do you think Priyanka set her up?”

That’s when it hit Sunny—Priyanka’s earlier conversation with the strange man near Prachi’s green room.

His heart pounding, he yanked out his phone and called Aryan, who had just reached the exit with Mishti.

The moment Aryan picked up, Sunny’s frantic voice rang through the line. “Aryan! Shahana is in serious trouble! She’s trapped in Prachi’s green room!”

Without a second’s hesitation, Aryan dropped Mishti’s hand and sprinted back inside. Sunny and Sanju wasted no time and raced toward the green room as well.

A Nightmare Unfolds

Inside the green room, the man lunged toward Shahana. She struggled with all her strength, shoving at him and screaming, “Don’t you dare touch me!”

The man slapped her hard, making her stumble. Before she could recover, he grabbed the fabric of her sleeve and tore it.

Terror flooded Shahana’s eyes as she shrieked for help. But outside, the stampede drowned out her cries.

However, among the rushing crowd, Rakhi—herself pushed around—caught a faint but desperate cry. The sound made her freeze. It sent a shudder down her spine, a chilling reminder of her own past—of the night she had been brutally violated by the man who was supposed to protect her, her own father.

Her breathing grew heavy. No. She would not let another girl suffer what she had.

Following the voice, Rakhi reached the door of Prachi’s green room and banged on it. “Who’s inside?” she demanded.

Inside, both Shahana and the man were startled by her voice. Shahana tried to call out again, but before she could, the man stuffed a cloth into her mouth, muffling her screams.

Outside, Rakhi’s suspicion deepened. Though she couldn’t hear words, she heard enough. She tried forcing the door open, but it wouldn’t budge. Desperate, she turned and ran.

Inside, the man grinned wickedly at Shahana. “See? No one is coming for you now.”

Just as he reached for her again—

CRASH!

The door burst open with a loud bang.

And there stood Rakhi, gripping an emergency axe in her hands, her eyes blazing with fury.

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To be continued.

Originally posted by: Aleyamma47

Episode 4

The episode starts with Sunny standing in front of FUSION BEATS, he remembers the day he first came into FUSION BEATS with PURAB. Purab and Sunny are seen in FLASHBACK, Sunny asks “PAPPA, when I become big will I work for your COMPANY”, Purab answers “Well, I don’t know that, it depends on you and your PASSION, do you like managing and handling business deals??? No, it is too boring to do that, “Then what does my lil’boy like????”, Sunny thinks for some time and then answers cheerfully, “Well I love to decide the style of dresses, PAPPA, you always wear these BORING suits, Look at ABHI CHACHU, his dresses are so cool, when I become big PAPPA, I will make much more stylish dresses for YOU and ABHI CHACHU”. Purab smiles and answers “Okay, then I think we don’t have to look for any other costume designer for our company, because my Mr. JUNIOR KHANNA has taken in-charge”. The father-son duo laugh. Fb ends.

Sunny gives a sad smile and thinks to himself “Today, I have achieved my dream to become the costume designer of FUSION BEATS, but not as Mr. JUNIOR KHANNA but as someone else. Just as Sunny continues to stare emotionally at FUSION BEATS, Purab comes out of the office, talking on his cell phone. At once, Sunny forgets all his anger and hatred for his dad and open his mouth to call out “PAPPA”, when from the other side there is a voice “DAD”. Purab turns his back towards SUNNY and is shocked to see Aryan in an injured state, helped by a stranger. Purab restlessly asks him “Aryan, what is all this???? What happened?? How did you get hurt???” Aryan answers “Calm down dad!!! I have just scratched my elbow and my knees!!!”, Purab gets angry “What scratches???, look at the way you are bleeding!!! Will you tell me what happened???”. Sunny is deeply saddened seeing Purab’s care and concern for Aryan. Aryan answers “Actually Dad while going for basketball coaching, I didn’t notice a pit on my way, squid my bike and fell.” Purab continues “What is this Aryan, can’t you be careful, come here, sit and have some water!! And why you didn’t go to a hospital??, Aryan justifies “Dad since your office was near, I asked this man to drop me till here and thought to get help from you.” Purab stops him “What rubbish!!! Aryan you are Mr. JUNIOR KHANNA”. Sunny is in tears on hearing that. Purab continues “You don’t need your DAD, anyone in this city would be glad to help you!!! Come let me take you to the hospital, did you inform Mom about this incident”. Aryan denies “No dad, she is already stressed, and I didn’t want her to get worried more”, Purab says “Yeah I know, just give her some other reason when she asks you about your injuries”. Aryan tells him “Fine, DAD”.

As they leave, Sunny still in tears, gets thinking “WOW PAPPA, you are a good and proud father of one son, do you even know you have another son too??? Now I will show the PAIN of being a FATHER!!! I will make ARYAN fall so LOW in your eyes, that you will regret every day of your LIFE of being a FATHER to such a HUMAN-BEING” And I know what I have to do for that.

In Abhi’s Office

Ranbir comes tells Prachi, I have settled everything with DAD and listen you need not work overtime to complete all that he has asked to do, you can go home and take rest and prepare for the FASHION EVENT. I will handle your part of work or give it some other staff. As Ranbir starts to leave, Prachi calls him and asks “COFFEE???” Ranbir is surprised “WHAT?????? The girl who pushed me yesterday when asked to drink is herself asking to have a coffee with her now, REALLY!!!! Prachi justifies “See, I really felt bad of not behaving well with you, when actually you were planning Gulaal’s birthday and after that we got locked together in this OFFICE and at that time I realised you are not really a FLIRT as I’m always misunderstanding you to be, today when you and Aryan were helping me with the FASHION EVENT, I felt what you said yesterday was TRUE”, Ranbir is puzzled “What did I say yesterday???” Prachi says “THAT YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON”. Ranbir is impressed, he looks smilingly into PRACHI’S EYES. And after seeing Rhea over here with you in the night, I understood that you have no interest in girls like me.” Ranbir sniffs around and says “Oh ho!!! I can breathe smoke here I think SOMEONE is JEALOUS!!!” Prachi shakes her head, she says “I think we also agreed yesterday to become “FRIENDS”, at least to irritate each other, So does this friend of mine want to drink a COFFEE” Ranbir says “Of course, why not???” Prachi goes forward, Ranbir looks smilingly at her from behind and follows her.

At Pragya’s House

As she continues to think about Rhea, she gets thoughtful, I didn’t see Mr. Mehra at the restaurant, did he even notice my message, I really need to talk to him about the depressed condition of Rhea, he needs to take care of her. Oh ho!!! How did I miss him??? Then she remembers how she had met Abhi and recalls the romantic moments she spent with him the previous night, she keeps thinking and smiles as ALLAH WARIAH plays in the background.

Just then Saritha behen and Rishi enter helping SHAHANA, Pragya is shocked to see Shahana in bandages, she asks “What happened Shahana???? How come, you are hurt???” Sarita behen interferes and says, “Oh that rich spoilt brat, is the cause of everything!!!” Pragya asks “Who???”. Shahana stops Sarita behen, “Oh leave it nah! Maasi, it wasn’t really his fault” Sarita behen says “What not his fault?? These RICH people think, they can play however they want with the poor and middle class!!!” Rishi and Pragya are reminded of Priyanka’s words and look at each other. Pragya is extremely tensed and says to Shahana “I have already lost two daughters, now I can’t let anything happen to you or Prachi!!!” Everyone else present there is shocked and puzzled about whom Pragya is talking. Pragya says I meant I have already gone through the fear of losing my two daughters and can’t let anything happen to them. Everyone leaves their gazes down. Pragya slowly retires to her ROOM.

In Pragya’s room, Pragya gets thinking about Kiara, She says “MAMMA really misses you a lot KIARA, if you were with me, then me and your dada together with your two younger sisters would have all have stayed together, Mamma wouldn’t have seen your dada in that inebriated state yesterday. He really misses me a lot and I too miss him very much, but 20 years BACK we came together because of YOU and we got separated because of YOU, you shouldn’t have left us, you shouldn’t have left us” Pragya cries bitterly.

Mussorie, 35 km approx. from Delhi

A young woman is seen from behind walking on the streets with a bag of books hanging on her shoulder. She goes and plays with kids coming out of schools, blows bubbles from a man selling the bubble bottles and slowly goes inside a SMALL HOUSE and calls out MAMMA!!! Tanu is revealed from the other side,,,,”Years back you LOST your daughter PRAGYA and the same day when you lost her, I became her mother. She is not your KIARA anymore Pragya, she is my DAUGHTER, my RAKHI”””she smirks.

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To be continued.

Wow. What a twist about kiara👏

So Nikhil is still torturing Kiara😡😡. He is just too much. Hope Kiara finds out about her actual parents and siblings soon.

Chapter 52

Rakhi’s Fierce Battle and the Unraveling of Truth

Rakhi bursts through the door, gripping the emergency axe tightly as she storms toward the pervert. Without hesitation, she swings the axe at him, aiming to strike. However, the man swiftly overpowers her, shoving her forcefully. She stumbles backward, crashing onto the table, her hand scraping against its sharp edge. Blood trickles from the wound, but Rakhi barely flinches.

"Di!!" Shahana cries out in concern, watching in horror as Rakhi clutches her stomach, checking for any harm. Finding herself unharmed, Rakhi lifts her gaze and shoots a fierce glare at the man. But he pays her no mind, turning his attention back to Shahana. Rakhi tries to stand her ground again, but dizziness washes over her. She grips the table for support, raising a trembling hand in an attempt to stop him, but her strength is failing.

The man smirks at her weakness and moves closer to Shahana. Just as he is about to lay hands on her, a powerful punch crashes into his cheek. He stumbles backward, spitting blood, and looks up to find Aryan standing before him, eyes blazing with fury.

Shahana, overwhelmed with relief, rushes into Aryan’s arms, clinging to him tightly. Aryan reciprocates her embrace, shielding her protectively with his jacket. Meanwhile, Rakhi, feeling even weaker, starts to collapse when a pair of strong arms catch her just in time. Sunny, who has just arrived with Sanju, looks down at her in shock.

"Chashmish?? You’re here??" he asks, his voice laced with disbelief. But Rakhi barely registers his words—her vision blurs, and she faints against his chest.

Sanju, standing nearby, watches the scene unfold with curiosity. "Chashmish, huh? That’s a cute name, Bhai. Is she our future Bhabhi?" he teases.

Sunny throws him a murderous glare, making Sanju gulp and shut his mouth instantly.

Meanwhile, the attacker recovers and lands a vicious blow on Aryan. Shahana gasps, covering her mouth in shock. "Aryan!!!" she screams as he stumbles back. But Aryan quickly retaliates, delivering a brutal punch in return.

Sanju steps forward, attempting to de-escalate the situation. "Hey, man! Just stop this madness and leave!" he warns. But the pervert only sneers at him and shoves him aside, making him fall.

"I’m not leaving without taking what I came for!" the man growls, his eyes darting toward Shahana.

Aryan, now seething with rage, lunges at him with even more force, turning the fight vicious. Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Sunny carefully lays Rakhi on a bench and instructs Sanju to watch over her. He then steps between Aryan and the attacker, halting the brawl with a firm hand. Both Aryan and the man stare at him in surprise.

"Take Shahana and leave. I’ll handle him," Sunny commands.

Aryan hesitates for a moment but nods, scooping Shahana into his arms and rushing out of the room. The pervert tries to chase after them, but Sunny swiftly extends his foot, tripping him. The man crashes to the ground, cursing in frustration. Enraged, he scrambles up and charges at Sunny, attempting to strike him.

But Sunny effortlessly catches his fist and twists it mercilessly, delivering a round of punishing blows. Sanju watches in awe, murmuring, "Bhai’s name shouldn’t be Sunny or Sunil… it should be Shaktimaan! How much ghee does he drink to have this kind of strength??"

Defeated and battered, the pervert realizes he’s no match for Sunny and flees for his life.

Sanju claps enthusiastically. "Superb, Bhai!!! You turned that rhinoceros into chutney!!!"

Ignoring him, Sunny turns his attention back to Rakhi, noticing the blood still trickling from her hand. Concern flashes across his face as he pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket—only to realize it’s the very same one she had given him on Diwali night. Without a word, he wraps it gently around her wound, securing it firmly.

Sanju smirks. "Bhai, should we take Bhabhi ji to the hospital?"

Sunny glares at him, making Sanju shut up again. Then, without hesitation, he lifts Rakhi into his arms. But as he carries her, a puzzled expression crosses his face.

"Why does this bony girl feel so heavy?" he mutters.

Sanju chuckles. "Maybe because Bhabhi ji has strong bones like you, Bhai!"

Sunny shoots him another deadly glare. "She is NOT your Bhabhi!!!"

Sanju instantly zips his lips.

As they step outside, Mother Superior rushes forward, searching for Rakhi. Her eyes widen in shock upon seeing her unconscious in Sunny’s arms.

"Is she alright?" she asks, her voice laced with concern.

Sunny nods. "She just fainted from the shock. She’ll be fine."

Handing Rakhi over to Mother Superior, he takes his leave with Sanju.

Moments later, Mother Superior sprinkles water on Rakhi’s face, bringing her back to consciousness. Blinking groggily, Rakhi looks around in confusion.

"How did I get here?" she asks weakly.

Mother Superior smiles gently. "A man and his friend helped you when you fainted."

Rakhi frowns as flashes of the night’s events return to her. Her mind fixates on the moment she collapsed into Sunny’s arms. She recalls his face and murmurs, "Mr. Perfect…?"

Glancing at her bandaged hand, she notices the familiar handkerchief wrapped around her wound. Realization dawns upon her—it’s the very same one she had given to the man who comforted her on Diwali night.

A strange warmth spreads through her as she whispers to herself, "Mr. Perfect is so soft on the inside and so hard on the outside… Strange!"

A Moment of Passion

Meanwhile, Aryan brings Shahana to an empty classroom, his heart aching at the sight of her trembling. Her tear-streaked face and the deep scratch marks on her neck and shoulders fill him with rage and sorrow.

Gently, he reaches out to tend to her wounds, but she stops him, still shivering in fear.

Unable to see her in this state, Aryan pulls her into a warm embrace. "Shh… Shush, Shahana. Don’t worry. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you," he murmurs reassuringly, holding her even tighter.

Slowly, Shahana begins to relax in his arms, her trembling subsiding. Overcome with emotion, she hugs him back just as tightly. Their bodies draw closer, the intensity of the moment consuming them. Aryan presses a soft kiss on her shoulder.

Shahana doesn’t stop him.

Emboldened, he trails kisses along her face, brushing away her tears. His lips hover near hers, their breaths mingling. Looking into her teary eyes, he gently wipes away the last traces of her pain before closing his eyes and pressing his lips against hers.

Shahana responds instantly, tangling her fingers through his hair as they share a deep, passionate kiss—hidden away from the world.

The Truth Unfolds

Outside, one by one, everyone emerges safely—first Abhi, Pragya, Purab, and Vikram, followed by Mishti, and then Rhea, supported by Prachi and Ranbir. Abhi and Pragya rush to Rhea, concerned about her injuries.

Just then, Priyanka, Sunny, and Sanju arrive.

Pragya looks around, suddenly realizing someone is missing. "Where’s Shahana?" she asks, her voice filled with worry.

Prachi scans the area, unable to find her. "I… I don’t know, Maa."

Sunny tenses. "Now where has Aryan disappeared with Shahana?" he mutters under his breath.

As if on cue, Aryan and Shahana finally arrive. But everyone is left stunned at Shahana’s disheveled state.

Pragya and Prachi rush to her, holding her as she breaks down, recounting everything that happened—except who had called her.

Silence falls over the crowd as shock registers on their faces.

Abhi’s blood boils. "Tell me, Shahana. Who did this? Who played this dirty game?!"

Sunny and Sanju instinctively turn to Priyanka.

Shahana hesitates for a moment before uttering the name.

"Rhea."

A gasp echoes through the crowd.

Prachi steps forward, eyes blazing. "You set a trap for me, Rhea, but my sister fell into it instead!"

Priyanka smirks in satisfaction.

Rhea, stunned, stammers in denial, but Ranbir cuts in, revealing all her past misdeeds.

Abhi, heartbroken, raises his hand and slaps Rhea hard.

"Dad!! How could you?! You’re choosing Prachi over me?!" Rhea screams in anguish.

Abhi’s voice thunders through the air.

"Because Prachi is your elder sister, Rhea."

A stunned silence follows.

Everyone is thunderstruck.

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To be continued.

Chapter 53

The Moment of Truth Unfolds

Abhi’s revelation leaves everyone frozen in shock. A tear escapes Rhea’s eye as she processes his words. Pragya, overwhelmed with emotion, cups her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears. Abhi, realizing he has just exposed a long-buried truth, lowers his gaze and turns his back on his daughters, unable to face them.

Rhea wipes her tears, takes a deep breath, and steps forward. She grips Abhi’s shoulders and demands, “Dad, what did you just say? Dad, I’m asking you…”

Before she can press further, Abhi interrupts, his voice heavy with emotion. “Yes, Rhea. Prachi is your elder twin sister. You were separated at birth, and the mother you’ve always longed for—she is Pragya. She gave birth to you.”

A shiver runs down Rhea’s spine. Flashes of her past encounters with Pragya flood her mind—the inexplicable bond she felt with her, the comfort in her presence. But then, another set of memories takes over: the lonely years, the birthdays spent without her mother, the longing for maternal warmth that was never fulfilled. Her pain outweighs the truth.

Pragya, her heart aching, reaches out and places a hand on Rhea’s shoulder. But before she can say anything, Rhea jerks her hand away. Pragya flinches at the rejection.

Abhi, watching this unfold, clenches his fists. His patience breaks, and he turns to Rhea with fury. “You always had this deep hatred for your mother, didn’t you, Rhea? But now, look at yourself! Tell me, whatever Ranbir just revealed—about the drug scam against Prachi, about asking him to win her heart only to break it, and about that Diwali accident—was all of that your doing?”

Rhea swallows hard, her eyes flickering toward Prachi. She is still struggling to process the truth, but she knows there is no point in denying it. Clenching her fists, she nods.

Gasps echo in the room.

Rhea then attempts to defend herself. “But Dad, from the time I promised Ma—” She pauses, the word "Mamma" almost slipping out. She stops herself, her face hardening. “…I mean, I promised Prachi’s mom…”

Pragya’s heart shatters. She recalls all the times Rhea had called her "Mamma" with love, and now, hearing her address her as "Prachi’s mom" feels like a dagger through her soul.

Rhea continues, “…I swear, Dad, after that, I never tried to hurt Prachi or anyone else.”

Abhi exhales sharply, his disappointment evident. “But who will trust you now, Rhea?”

From behind him, Pragya speaks firmly. “I trust her.”

Abhi turns, startled. Pragya steps forward. “I trust Rhea.”

Abhi shakes his head in frustration. “Pragya, encouraging children when they’re wrong is not the right thing to do!”

But Pragya meets his gaze unwaveringly. “I strongly believe that my daughter is not wrong.”

Rhea, however, scoffs. “I am not your daughter, Prachi’s mom.”

Pragya stiffens.

Rhea’s voice rises with bitterness. “Even if you gave birth to me, you were never my mother. You were never there when I needed you the most. And it was my mistake that I ever called you Ma—” She stops, biting her lip before correcting herself. “Well, I don’t need any support from you. Just take care of your daughter!”

With that, she storms away, leaving Pragya sobbing in anguish.

Abhi watches Pragya’s pain but quickly follows after Rhea. Vikram and Purab, along with Mishti, exchange glances before nodding in concern and leaving with him. Before heading out, Vikram asks Ranbir to drop Prachi and Pragya home. Ranbir nods.

Purab calls for Aryan. Aryan, who had been holding Shahana’s trembling hands, slowly loosens his grip, assuring her silently that she is safe. With one last glance at her, he follows his father.

Priyanka, on the other hand, is lost in thought. So, that Pragya is Chuck’s ex-wife and Rhea’s mother? Unbelievable. If she could fight for Rishi, she will definitely fight for her daughter too. If she uncovers the truth… No, I can’t let that happen!

Without a word, she signals to Sunny and Sanju, and the three of them slip away.

Prachi Confronts Pragya

Once everyone has left, Prachi turns to her mother, her voice shaking. “So… Mr. Mehra is my dad?”

Pragya, her face streaked with tears, nods.

Prachi immediately pulls her into a tight hug, breaking down. “That’s why I always felt such a strong bond with him, right? But why did you both keep this truth from us?”

Pragya cups her face. “Because we were scared… scared of your disappointment, scared of Rhea’s hatred. And see what happened? Rhea has started hating me even more after learning the truth. And you…”

Prachi interrupts, her tone resolute. “No, Ma. I can never dislike Pappa.”

Both Pragya and Ranbir look at her, surprised.

Prachi wipes her tears. “Even when I used to call him Sir, I always wished I had a father like him. And now, knowing that he is my father… I feel so happy.”

Pragya smiles through her tears and kisses Prachi’s forehead.

Ranbir, trying to lighten the mood, says, “Chalo, Miss Fashion Event Diva. Don’t you want to go home?”

Prachi chuckles, but her smile fades when she looks at Shahana. She walks over to her and holds her hand. “Rhea is my sister by blood… but you have always been my sister since childhood. I promise you, Shahana—I will get you justice.”

Pragya stiffens at her words, disturbed by the determination in her voice.

In Mehra Mansion – Purab and Aliyah’s Bedroom

Aliyah stands frozen, her face drained of color, as she learns that Abhi has exposed Prachi and Rhea’s truth. Purab, seething with rage, confronts her.

“You manipulated Rhea for twenty-one years. You turned her into… this. You made her just like you.”

Aliyah snaps back, “I never manipulated her, Purab! She is like my own daughter!”

Purab’s eyes darken. “Then tell me, Aliyah… how did she become so twisted? How did she start playing such dirty games against her own sister? Just like you plotted against me and Disha…”

His words trail off, his breath hitching. His eyes widen in horror as he notices Aryan standing at the doorway, staring at him in disbelief.

---------

To be continued.

Chapter 54

Purab’s Room – A Shocking Revelation for Aryan

Purab froze in shock as he saw Aryan standing at the doorway, having unknowingly walked into the middle of a heated argument between his parents. Trying to regain his composure, he cleared his throat and asked, "Aryan? What are you doing here?"

Aryan, pretending not to have overheard their conversation, flashed a small smile and held out a wallet. "Dad, you left this with me earlier. I just came to return it." His voice was calm, his expression unreadable.

Purab hesitated for a moment before taking the wallet. Aryan gave his parents a polite nod and turned to leave. But once outside, he quickly hid behind the wall near the exit, his heart pounding. He knew something was wrong—something that had shaken his father to the core. Holding his breath, he pressed himself against the wall and listened.

Inside, Purab exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair before shooting a wary glance at Aliyah.

"What now?" Aliyah snapped, frustrated by his reaction.

Purab's voice was cold. "It’s a relief that our son doesn’t know your true colors."

Aliyah’s eyes darkened. "And what exactly is your problem with me, Purab? You speak as if I’m some criminal!"

Purab’s patience snapped. Gripping her shoulders, he shouted, "Don’t even get me started on all the crimes you’ve committed, Aliyah!"

Outside, Aryan stiffened. His breath hitched as his father’s words sank in.

Inside the room, Purab continued bitterly, "First, when I was in love with Bulbul, you did everything in your power to separate us. You went so far as to force your own brother into a marriage just to break us apart. But fate had its own plans—Abhi and Pragya found love, and Bulbul and I got our happy ending. Or so I thought." He paused, his voice breaking slightly. "But Bulbul was taken from me too soon. And then… life gave me another chance—with Disha."

He turned away for a moment, gripping his forehead as if trying to contain years of buried pain.

"But you…" he whispered before turning back to Aliyah, his eyes burning with rage. "You never let go, Aliyah! Your obsession with me destroyed everything! You made me lose my Disha… and my first son!"

Outside, Aryan felt the ground shift beneath him. He stumbled back, his mind racing. First son? His head spun as memories came flooding back—the hidden photograph he had found in Purab’s wallet, the picture of a woman he now realized was Disha. The way she had reacted when she met him for the first time, the sadness in her eyes.

"Does that mean…" Aryan whispered to himself, his chest tightening. "Dad still loves Disha Ma?"

Back inside, Purab's voice was filled with disgust. "Was my life not enough for you, Aliyah? You had to ruin others too?!"

Aliyah scoffed. "What are you trying to say, Purab?"

His next words cut through her like a blade. "That Rhea is just like you, Aliyah. The same jealousy, the same hatred, the same possessiveness. You turned her into your mirror image!"

Aliyah clenched her fists. "I have loved Rhea more than I ever loved our son, Purab!"

Purab’s jaw tightened in fury. "Then thank God Aryan is more like me! But Rhea… Rhea is still Pragya di’s daughter. No matter how much she hates her mother now, one day, she will understand her love."

With that, he stormed out of the room, not once glancing back—completely unaware that Aryan had been standing there, listening to every word.

Inside, Aliyah exploded with rage. She began throwing objects across the room, shattering glass and tearing through her belongings.

Outside, Aryan peeked through the door, his heart heavy with turmoil. He watched his mother’s breakdown in silence before turning away, his mind clouded with confusion and grief. He slowly walked back to his room, his steps unsteady.

Aryan’s Room – A Heartbreaking Realization

Sitting on the floor, Aryan felt as if his entire world had collapsed around him.

Sunny’s words echoed in his mind—the revelation that Sunny was Purab’s eldest son, returning only to seek revenge for the pain his mother had endured. Then came his father’s words, confirming everything.

"Mom… what have you done?" Aryan whispered, his voice breaking. "In your madness, you’ve destroyed so many lives. And now, I realize—the one who suffered the most in all of this was Bhai!"

Tears streamed down his face as he thought of Sunny.

"I can’t even imagine the kind of childhood he must have had… how much pain he must have gone through to become this vengeful."

He clenched his fists. "How do I stop him? How do I make things right for all the sins you committed, Mom?"

With that, he collapsed onto the floor, sobbing bitterly.

The Kohli Household – A Shocking Truth Unfolds

In the Kohli living room, Beeji and Pallavi sat in stunned silence, struggling to process what they had just learned.

"Anuradha ji… is actually Abhi’s ex-wife? Rhea’s mother?" Beeji whispered in disbelief.

Vikram looked equally shocked. "How is that possible? We’ve met her so many times, and her name was always Anuradha!"

From behind, a voice answered. "Her real name is Pragya Abhishek Mehra."

Everyone turned to see Purab standing there, his expression grim.

Meera, who had been listening quietly, felt her entire body freeze. A chill ran down her spine. She recalled all the times Rhea had felt an inexplicable connection to Prachi’s mother—now, it all made sense. She remembered Abhi confessing that he still loved Pragya, that he had never moved on.

A cold sweat broke out on her forehead. "Pragya… is back in his life."

Pallavi noticed her trembling and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down.

Vikram turned to Purab. "If that’s true, then why didn’t Abhi ever tell us?"

Purab sighed heavily. "Because of his daughters, Vikram. Both he and Pragya feared their children’s hatred. And now, just as they feared… Rhea has turned against her mother. The question is—what about Prachi? What does she feel about her father?"

Everyone exchanged worried glances, the weight of the situation sinking in.

Sarita Ji’s House – A Daughter’s Promise

Back at Sarita Ji’s house, the atmosphere was tense.

Ranbir turned to Prachi. "I think you should talk to Chief once, Prachi. After everything that happened, I’m sure he’s worried about how you feel."

Prachi nodded but hesitated. "I will, Ranbir. But not tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll meet Papa and tell him myself that I don’t hate him… that I’m happy to have him as my father."

Ranbir smiled at her words, relieved.

Just then, he received a call from Abhi. After hanging up, he turned to Shahana. "Chief wants you at Mehra Mansion tomorrow morning."

Sarita Ji immediately bristled. "His daughter is the reason for Shahana’s condition, and now he wants—"

Before she could continue, Pragya interrupted. "Rhea didn’t do anything, Sarita Ji." She turned to Prachi with determination. "And no matter what anyone says, I trust her!"

With that, Pragya walked into her room.

Prachi sighed, troubled. "Ma is blind in the love for her daughter. But if Rhea is her daughter, then she is my sister. And I won’t stay silent about what she did to Shahana!"

Just then, Shahana winced in pain. Everyone rushed to her side, but Rishi gently blew on her wound to soothe her.

Ranbir watched and smirked. "Looks like someone cares for Shahana more than a friend."

Prachi smiled. "And Shahana cares for him too. You know, Sarita Auntie even asked for her hand for Rishi."

Ranbir’s smile faded slightly. "After everything that happened today… do you think they still have a chance?"

Prachi sighed, looking at Rishi and Shahana with concern.

-----------

To be continued.

Chapter 55

Disha’s House

A loud smack echoed through the room as Sunny landed a hard slap across Sanju’s face.

"Didn’t I tell you not to hire someone who would take advantage of that girl? Now look at what’s happened!" Sunny roared, his eyes burning with fury.

Before Sanju could react, another slap followed. Then another. Sanju staggered, clutching his cheek as he wailed, "Bhai, I made a mistake! Do you want to kill me for it now? Please, let me go! I swear I only asked that man to scare Shahana—it was that psycho Priyanka who twisted everything with her insane plan!"

Sunny’s rage only intensified, and he raised his hand once more when Disha suddenly entered the room.

"Sunny! What’s going on? Why are you beating him?" she demanded.

The moment Sanju saw her, he dropped to his knees and clung to her feet.

"Mummy ji, please save me! Tell Sunil Bhai—no, I mean, Sunny Bhai—to let me go!" he pleaded, shaking her desperately.

Sunny stiffened at the slip.

Disha, struggling to maintain her balance, grew irritated. "First, get off my feet!" she ordered.

As soon as Sanju released her, she turned to Sunny with a questioning look. "What’s going on? Why are you so angry at him?"

Sunny, still fuming, replied, "Ma, stay out of this. You have no idea what he has done!"

"Then tell me, Sunny. What did he do?" she pressed.

Sunny hesitated. His frustration was evident, but he tried to divert the conversation. "Why are you so concerned, Ma? This fool keeps making mistakes! Do you even know what happened at the fashion event today?"

Disha’s expression darkened. "Yes, I know. Hritik and I had to leave early due to an urgent meeting with the Chief Minister, but I heard what happened to that poor girl. It was disgusting! Whoever brought that creep into the event deserves to rot in hell!"

Sanju swallowed nervously, thinking, "What is wrong with this mother and son? Both are cursing me while the real culprit is enjoying her life!"

Sunny nodded grimly. "I know, Ma. What happened was terrible, but at least Prachi and Rhea found out they’re sisters."

Disha’s eyes widened in shock. "What? Jiju and Pragya di finally revealed the truth?"

Sunny nodded.

Disha’s face lit up with hope. "Thank God! After twenty-one long years of separation, they will finally be united!"

But Sunny’s response was solemn. "Not yet, Ma. Rhea still refuses to accept Maasi as her mother. She resents her deeply."

Disha’s expression fell. "It’s always the same… When children are separated from their parents at a young age, they grow up blaming them for their misfortune. The resentment runs deep."

Before Sunny could reply, Sanju blurted out, "Yeah, no matter what, even Sunny Bhai hates his—" He stopped mid-sentence, realizing what he had just revealed.

Sunny shot him a deadly glare. Panicking, Sanju quickly made an excuse. "Uh… I’m feeling thirsty! I’ll just get some water!" He hurried away but didn’t go far. Instead, he hid nearby, eavesdropping on their conversation.

Disha turned back to Sunny. "Did you reveal everything to that idiot?"

Sanju flinched at being called an idiot but remained quiet.

Sunny exhaled sharply. "Ma, he’s with me 24/7. He knows everything about me!"

Disha’s expression turned serious. "So your hatred for your father has grown so much that even outsiders can see it, Sunny?"

Sunny clenched his fists, his voice filled with rage. "Don’t even bring him up, Ma! He lost his first son the day he chose his friend’s sister over you. I don’t care about his presence or absence in my life!"

Disha sighed. "Sunny, he was very close to finding out the truth today."

Both Sunny and Sanju froze in shock.

Mehra Mansion

Abhi was stunned after learning the truth from Purab.

"What?! Our designer, Sunil Sharma, is actually Hritik and Disha’s son? How is that possible? I always thought he was an orphan!"

Purab let out a weary sigh. "I was just as shocked, Abhi. But when Disha explained her past with Hritik after we separated, I realized the truth—Sunil is, in fact, their son."

Disha’s House

Sunny’s voice trembled with disbelief. "What? You told him that I’m YOUR and HRITIK UNCLE’S SON?! Why?"

Disha held her ground. "Because he was too close to the truth, Sunny. And as you said, I felt it was better to hide it from him."

Sunny stared at her intently. "Was it really just for me, Ma? Or was it also because you couldn’t bear to see him face my hatred?"

Sanju listened keenly.

Disha turned away, trying to hide her emotions. "There’s nothing like that, Sunny."

But Sunny wasn’t convinced. He stepped forward, grabbed her shoulders, and turned her to face him. "Ma… it’s been twenty-one years since he left you. And you still love him, don’t you?"

Mehra Mansion

Abhi looked at Purab with concern. "It’s been twenty-one years, Purab, and I know the kind of life you’ve been living with Aliyah. You still love Disha, don’t you?"

Purab gave a sad smile, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "What’s the point of discussing it now, Abhi? Disha has moved on. I shouldn’t bother her anymore. I should just live my life the way it is."

Abhi sighed. "And what about your son, Sunny?"

Purab took a deep breath. "Disha wants me to stay away from him. She insists he’s only her son, not mine." His voice broke as tears streamed down his face. "I’m sure wherever my firstborn is, he’s happy… without me. For me, Aryan is enough."

He turned and walked out, his shoulders slumped in defeat, leaving Abhi watching him with disappointment.

Disha’s House

Disha pulled away from Sunny. "There’s nothing left between me and Purab. I’ve moved on, and you should too. Get that clear in your mind!"

Hiding her tears, she quickly left the room. Sunny watched her go, his heart aching for her. He clenched his fists in anger.

Sanju patted his shoulder. "Bhai, you’re right. Mummy ji still loves Aryan’s papa. It’s written all over her face."

Sunny’s body tensed with rage. His whole frame trembled as fury consumed him.

Just then, Sanju’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen—Abhi was calling.

As he picked up, Abhi’s stern voice came through. "Meet me at Mehra Mansion tomorrow morning." Before Sanju could ask why, the line went dead.

He turned to Sunny. "Bhai, something feels off. You should come with me!"

Sunny shook his head. "I will never step foot in that house. But don’t worry—nothing will happen to you as long as Priyanka needs you to cover her tracks. Just be careful."

Sanju gulped and nodded. Then, hesitating, he asked, "Bhai… what if Purab figures out your real age? Your records will show that you’re much older than Ranbir and Aryan!"

Sunny smirked. "Orphans don’t have proper records, Sanju. Purab Khanna will never realize I’m his son. But one day, I’ll reveal my identity—when I destroy him and his family."

Sanju stared at him, confused and slightly afraid.

Mehra Mansion – The Next Morning

Everyone gathered at the breakfast table. Ranbir entered, grinning.

"Good morning, Chief!" he greeted Abhi, who smiled back.

As Ranbir sat beside Rhea, he shot her a look of disgust. She rolled her eyes and ignored him. Priyanka, watching them closely, smirked.

Abhi glanced around. "Is everyone here?"

Just then, a voice greeted him from behind.

"Good morning, Papa!"

Everyone turned in shock. Prachi stood at the doorway.

-------------

To be continued.

Chapter 56

Mehra Mansion

Everyone turned toward Prachi in surprise.

She hesitated for a moment before asking, “What happened? Aren’t you all happy to see me?”

Dasi quickly got up and rushed toward her, staggering slightly in her haste. She cupped Prachi’s face, kissed her forehead, and asked emotionally, “Prachi, aren’t you angry with us? We abandoned you and your mother when you were just a child.”

Prachi’s smile faded for a moment, but she took a deep breath and replied, “Dasi, for the longest time, I resented my father. I thought he had left Ma and me because he never loved me.”

Abhi’s eyes welled up with tears as he listened.

Prachi continued, “But when I found out that Mr. Mehra is actually my father… I was shocked. He was nothing like the image I had built in my mind—the father I resented for twenty-one years.”

Rhea stiffened, dropping her spoon. Her mind flashed back to the moments she had spent with Pragya. She had felt the same emotions toward her mother that Prachi now expressed about Abhi. But then she clenched her fists, shaking off the moment of weakness. No. I won’t give in. I hate my mother, and I always will.

Meanwhile, Prachi’s voice softened as she added, “At that moment, I remembered Papa’s speech at the award function… the way he spoke about his daughter, how special she was to him. And somehow, for the first time, I felt like those words weren’t just meant for Rhea… they were meant for me too.”

Abhi’s lips trembled with emotion. He got up abruptly and pulled Prachi into a tight embrace. They clung to each other, crying as years of pain and separation melted away in that single moment.

“I’m so sorry, Prachi,” Abhi choked out between sobs. “I made the biggest mistake of my life by letting you and Fuggy go when I had already lost Kiara. I should never have—” He broke off, his voice cracking as he folded his hands. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry.”

Prachi shook her head firmly. “No, Papa, please don’t embarrass me by apologizing.” She held his hands. “Instead, just promise me… that I’ll never lose my father again.”

Abhi looked at her in awe, before pressing a loving kiss to her forehead.

The entire family smiled at their reunion—except for Rhea, who remained stone-faced, staring at her plate.

Dasi glanced around and asked, “But Prachi, where is your mother?”

Prachi’s expression turned hesitant as she replied, “Ma said… she will only step into this house when her other daughter accepts her as her mother.”

A heavy silence fell over the table as everyone’s gaze shifted toward Rhea. She didn’t lift her head.

Aliyah and Priyanka exchanged satisfied smirks.

Thank goodness Pragya hasn’t come here, Priyanka thought. If she had, she would have figured out my plans in no time.

Aliyah, meanwhile, was smug. It’s for the best that that middle-class woman isn’t stepping foot in our house. And I’ll make sure she never does.

Just then, Vikram spoke up, trying to lighten the mood. “Arrey, Abhi! Are you going to make your daughter stand there all day, or will you invite her to breakfast?”

Abhi chuckled at his friend’s words and turned to Prachi. “Come on, beta, have breakfast with us.”

Prachi smiled but shook her head. “I already ate, Papa.”

Abhi insisted. “After twenty-one years, I finally have my daughter back. At least have a few bites for me?”

Prachi couldn’t refuse that. She nodded and took a seat beside Ranbir.

Abhi and Vikram exchanged knowing smiles as they watched them.

Ranbir leaned toward her and winked flirtatiously.

Prachi shot him an annoyed look before discreetly pinching his hand under the table.

“Ouch!” Ranbir yelped.

Abhi frowned. “What happened?”

Ranbir quickly covered up. “Nothing, Chief. Just an ant bite.”

Vikram smirked. “Of course. Ants do bite a lot… especially when someone’s in love.”

Ranbir flushed, while Rhea scowled.

Abhi rolled his eyes. “Vikram, shut up with your silly jokes.”

Meanwhile

Abhi looked around. “By the way, why didn’t Shahana come?”

Aryan’s gaze flickered toward the door, searching for her.

Aliyah, who had been quietly observing her son, noticed the longing in his eyes.

Aryan’s mind drifted to the events of the previous day…

(Flashback)

When he had seen another man forcing himself on Shahana, something inside him snapped. He had been overwhelmed by a fierce, unfamiliar rage—I will never let another man get close to her!

Later, in the empty classroom, he had barely been aware of how close they had gotten… how she had become so important to him. When she stood near him, her breath trembling, he had lost control and pressed his lips against hers.

To his surprise, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers stroking his hair, making his heart race.

But when his hands instinctively moved down her back, she had suddenly jerked away, pushing him off. She had run out of the room, leaving him stunned.

(Flashback ends)

Aryan frowned. Did I go too far? Is that why she’s avoiding me?

Just then, Shahana entered with Rishi.

Aryan exhaled in relief.

Priyanka, however, gritted her teeth at the sight of Rishi and Shahana together.

Aliyah’s gaze sharpened. She noticed how Aryan’s face lit up at the sight of Shahana and clenched her fists. Damn it. That middle-class girl is trying to trap my son. I need to do something before it’s too late.

Rishi, spotting Abhi, panicked and quickly made an excuse to leave.

Shahana walked up to Abhi and apologized for the delay. “I had a doctor’s appointment.”

Abhi nodded. “That’s fine, beta. Come, have a seat.”

Shahana sat beside Aryan. Sensing his tension, she slid her hand under the table and gave his a comforting squeeze. What’s wrong? she signed with her eyes.

Aryan shook his head and squeezed her hand in return, smiling.

She smiled back.

Aliyah, watching their exchange, seethed. Pragya may not have entered this house… but she’s sent her daughter to ruin my son’s life. I need to put a stop to this.

At the Door

Sanju hesitated before knocking.

Priyanka stiffened.

Vikram sighed dramatically. “Abhi, did you invite the whole city for breakfast today?”

Abhi smirked. “I didn’t call him to eat, Vikram. I called him for something else.”

Abhi turned to Sanju. “Come in.”

Sanju stepped inside nervously. His eyes darted toward the table, where Ranbir sat between Prachi and Rhea. Seeing Prachi, he lowered his head.

Abhi looked at Shahana. “Shahana, was this the guy who tried to force himself on you yesterday?”

Sanju’s face drained of color. Why is everyone after me?!

Shahana hesitated before shaking her head. “No, sir. It wasn’t him…”

Sanju let out a silent sigh of relief.

Mishti, however, snapped, “But this creep was at the fashion event yesterday! And he’s the same guy who misbehaved with me at the Diwali party!”

Everyone froze.

Aryan’s fists clenched.

Prachi interjected, “It was a mistake, Mishti. He mistook you for me.”

A wave of realization swept over the room. They finally pieced it together—Sanju had been responsible for the fire accident on Diwali night.

Ranbir stormed up to Sanju and punched him hard. “How dare you?! How dare you touch Prachi and my sister?!”

Sanju, terrified, blurted out without thinking—

“I-It was Rhea! She made the whole plan!”

The room fell silent.

Every pair of eyes turned toward Rhea.

Her face went pale.

-------------

To be continued.

Chapter 57

A Shattered Trust and Unfolding Secrets

The room fell into an eerie silence as everyone turned to Rhea, their eyes filled with suspicion. She glanced at Abhi, her expression defensive.

"What? Haven’t I already admitted that I was the one responsible for what happened to Prachi on Diwali night? Then why are you all looking at me like that?" she demanded, frustration evident in her voice.

Abhi’s patience snapped. He slammed his fist on the table, his voice heavy with disbelief.

"Unbelievable, Rhea! As a woman, you plotted such a heinous act against another woman—your own sister! How could you?"

Rhea, feeling cornered and exhausted by his constant accusations, shot back, "I know I was wrong! I have felt guilty for my mistakes, and that’s why I confessed everything to Ma—" She stopped abruptly, realizing her slip. Trying to cover it up, she corrected herself, "...I mean, I revealed everything to Prachi’s mom immediately after the incident."

A stunned silence filled the room.

Abhi’s eyes darkened. "Rhea, are you saying Pragya knew about this?"

Rhea hesitated but then nodded, her eyes shut tight.

Abhi’s disappointment was evident as he let out a heavy sigh. Rhea continued desperately, "And she forgave me! She gave me one last chance to change and make things right! Dad, I swear, after that, I never tried to harm Prachi or anyone else!"

Tears streamed down her face as she fell to her knees, clutching Abhi’s hands. "Please, trust me, Dad! I wasn’t behind what happened at the fashion event! Please believe me! I have truly changed!"

Abhi remained still, then slowly withdrew his hands from hers. Rhea looked at him in shock.

His voice trembled with emotion. "If I trust you just because you are my daughter, then I would be doing injustice to my other daughter, Rhea! Who will believe that someone who has already plotted against Prachi once would not do it again? You set a trap for her once—why should I believe you didn’t do it again? The only difference is that this time, instead of Prachi, Shahana fell into it. Am I wrong?"

Rhea vehemently shook her head, but Abhi was unmoved. He sat back in his chair and signaled for everyone to continue breakfast. Shocked, Rhea remained frozen in place.

Abhi’s voice boomed across the room without him turning around. "Do I need to give you a special invitation, Rhea?"

Rhea flinched at his words, quickly composed herself, and took her seat. She glanced at Ranbir, hoping for support, but he didn’t even spare her a glance. Instead, he tightly clasped Prachi’s hand, his expression frustrated. Rhea’s heart sank.

Sanju, observing everything, grumbled under his breath. "Wah! What does this Ranbir have that both my jaaneman and Lakshmi Ji are ready to play Raasleela with him?"

Just then, Abhi’s sharp voice cut through the air. "Why are you still standing here?"

Sanju, startled, fumbled as he turned to leave. But as he bent down to pick up his fallen wallet, his eyes landed on Aryan and Shahana holding hands. His brows furrowed in surprise.

"What? Aryan loves Shahana? But I always thought he was into Mishti! What is going on?"

As he remained crouched, lost in thought, Abhi’s voice snapped him out of his daze.

"By the way, I forgot to ask—how did you even enter an event organized by us?"

Sanju opened his mouth to name Sunny but immediately recalled the stinging slap he had received the last time he had done so. Rubbing his cheek instinctively, he muttered, "I came with Sunil Bhai!"

Aryan nearly choked on his juice. Mishti and Shahana immediately turned to him in concern, but Mishti was the first to react, gently patting his back and handing him juice.

Sanju smirked. "Wah! Raasleela Part-2."

Meanwhile, Abhi, Purab, and Vikram exchanged stunned glances.

"What? You mean our designer Sunil Sharma? Disha’s son?" Abhi asked, taken aback.

Sanju’s eyes widened as he realized his blunder. Unwillingly, he nodded.

Aliyah stiffened at the mention of Disha’s name. Her grip on her knife and fork tightened, the harsh clattering of cutlery against her plate filling the air. Both Aryan and Purab noticed, their expressions darkening. Sanju, however, watched Aliyah’s reaction with amusement.

Purab placed a calming hand over hers, silently signaling her to stop. Aliyah took a deep breath and relented.

Sanju, still in his own world, muttered under his breath, "Raasleela Part-3."

Vikram, suspicious, questioned Sanju. "How do you and our staff member Sunil know each other?"

Before Sanju could answer, Aryan jumped in, "Ah, Uncle, since Bhai is a designer, he often needs materials for his designs. He got in touch with Sanju, who owns a big textile business in Hoshiarpur. Right, Sanju?"

Sanju stared at Aryan in confusion. "One brother is trying to destroy the other, while the other is trying to save him? Weird!"

Ranbir, still skeptical, interjected. "What? Aryan, how do you even know that? You don’t even work in our office! And since when did Sunil become your bhai?"

Sanju, trying to recover, blurted out, "Since yesterday!"

Ranbir shot him a glare. Sanju panicked and stammered, "I-I mean, yeah! They met yesterday and became family!"

Aryan’s thoughts drifted back to his encounter with Sunny. A wave of sadness washed over him. Shahana, ever perceptive, noticed the change in his expression.

Sanju decided to leave, but as he turned, Abhi suddenly started coughing violently.

Rhea immediately offered him a glass of water, but Abhi shot her a piercing glare and refused to take it. Instead, Meera rushed to his side and helped him drink.

Sanju grimaced. "Raasleela Part-4! This entire house is filled with people playing Raasleela!"

Once Abhi regained his composure, Sanju hesitantly asked, "What is it, Sir?"

Abhi cleared his throat and declared, "I just wanted to inform you—my daughter Prachi will soon get engaged to Mr. Vikram Kohli’s son, Ranbir!"

A stunned silence followed.

Sanju’s jaw dropped. Prachi and Ranbir were completely blindsided, while Rhea looked absolutely shattered. Without a word, she bolted from the table, Meera and Aliyah rushing after her. The others quickly gathered around Prachi and Ranbir, congratulating them.

Both forced weak smiles. Prachi turned to Ranbir, looking dismayed. He gently squeezed her hand and closed his eyes, silently assuring her.

Vikram, noticing their reluctance, turned to Abhi, who was staring remorsefully in the direction Rhea had disappeared.

Abhi then turned to Sanju, who was still frozen in place, his mouth hanging open.

Abhi snapped his fingers. Sanju didn’t react.

Losing patience, Abhi delivered a sharp slap across Sanju’s face.

Sanju clutched his cheek in shock. "What, Sir?"

Abhi scowled. "Are you still here? Don’t you want to leave?"

Sanju quickly turned and started walking away, mumbling to himself. "Tadap tadap ke dil se… toh lut gaye hum..."

RK Puram – St. Thomas Cathedral

Sanju sat beside Sunny, wailing loudly. "Aaaah… aaa… aa! I don’t know why I agreed to that psycho Priyanka’s plan! Instead of getting my jaaneman, I lost her forever!"

Sunny, growing increasingly annoyed, rubbed his forehead in frustration.

Sanju sneezed into Sunny’s vest. Sunny clenched his fists but remained silent.

Meanwhile, at Mehra Mansion, Vikram hesitantly approached Abhi. "Abhi, we should postpone this engagement. You made this decision to punish Rhea, but this isn’t fair to Ranbir and Prachi."

Abhi frowned. "You think it’s too soon?"

Vikram sighed. "They aren’t ready. And honestly, I always wanted to settle my daughter before my son."

Abhi’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. "What do you mean?"

Back at the cathedral, Sunny suddenly declared, "MY LITTLE BROTHER WILL NOT GET HIS LOVE!"

He turned—only to find himself face-to-face with Rakhi.

------------

To be continued.