"Trust me, Hriday,” he said, his voice breaking but resolute. “I really love her. What happened that night… it wasn’t planned. We were both drunk. I swear, my intentions were never wrong.”

I stared at him, my anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“And what about your engagement, Dev?” I asked sharply, my voice cutting through the tense air like a blade.

He looked at me, and for a moment, I saw the gears turning in his mind. Before I could push further, he spoke, his tone calm but laced with a strange resolve. “Kidnap her.”

I froze, staring at him in utter disbelief. “What?” I shouted, my voice echoing through the warehouse. “Are you out of your damn mind?”

But he didn’t flinch. Instead, he looked at me with the same confidence I had once admired in him.

“No, I’m not kidding, Hriday,” he said firmly. His face was serious now, no trace of the broken man I had just seen.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Kidnap her?” I repeated, incredulous.

He nodded, his lips curling into a faint smile  The real Dev was back—the one who always found a way to get what he wanted, no matter the odds.

“Think about it,” he said, his voice steady. “If the bride isn’t there, who will I get engaged to?”

I stared at him, horrified. “You’ve lost it,” I said, shaking my head. “This is insane. Do you even hear yourself?”

He didn’t back down. “Take her to Rajasthan with you,” he said, as if it were the most logical solution in the world.

“Keep her there for a few days, away from all this mess. I’ll handle everything here. Once the engagement is called off, I’ll come there. I’ll make things right.”

“Are you out of your mind?” I shouted, my anger flaring again. “This isn’t some movie, Dev! You think you can just kidnap her and fix everything? Do you even understand the consequences?”

But Dev’s resolve didn’t waver. He stood up, wiping the blood from his lip, and looked me straight in the eye. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Hriday. I love Mayra, and I’m not letting her go and my baby. Not like this.”

His words hung in the air, leaving me torn between anger and an unsettling sense of inevitability. The man before me was desperate, but he was also determined. And deep down, I knew he meant every word.

~~~~~~~~

After finalizing the plan, we decided to act during the engagement, timing the kidnapping perfectly to ensure no one suspected anything until it was too late.

Dev and I agreed that his fiancée would be taken from her room just before the ceremony. The task was delicate, and I couldn’t trust anyone but my most loyal men to carry it out.

I pulled out my phone and called my trusted man, explaining the details.

“This must be clean and fast. No mistakes. Bring her directly to the palace,” I instructed coldly, my voice brooking no argument.

As I ended the call, Dev winced, rubbing his bruised jaw. “Bro, you punched me so hard,” he muttered, attempting to lighten the tension.

I glared at him, my patience wearing thin. “Be thankful I didn’t kick you where the sun doesn’t rise,” I snapped, my tone icy.

“Don’t think for a second that I’ve forgiven you.”

His face turned pale, a mix of guilt and horror flashing in his eyes. I wasn’t going to make this easy for him—he deserved every ounce of my anger.

Without waiting for his reply, I turned on my heel, heading for the door. “Go to the doctor first,” I said over my shoulder. “And Sort out the rest of your mess. And make sure you meet me in jaipur with your family within a week.”

Dev nodded, understanding the severity of the situation. I didn’t bother looking back as I stepped outside, where my secretary was already waiting.

“Let’s head back,” I said curtly, climbing into the car.

The drive back to the airport was silent, my mind racing with everything that had just transpired.

This wasn’t just about Dev or his fiancée anymore—it was about Mayra, her future, and the promises I’d made to protect her at any cost.

After landing in jaipur, I headed straight to my office, needing a moment to think and process everything. Once in my cabin, I stood by the large glass window, looking out at the bustling street below while taking a drag from my cigarette. My head was throbbing from all the chaos. That idiot Dev had dragged me into a mess that could blow up in unimaginable ways.

A knock at the door broke my train of thought. “Come in,” I said, exhaling smoke.

Ravi stepped inside, his face serious. “Sir, They’ve brought her to palace.”

I nodded, rubbing my temples to ease the pounding headache. "Good.  tell them to take her to the servants' apartment area in the palace. I don’t want her spotted by anyone just yet."

Ravi nodded and quickly left to relay the instructions. As the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a heavy sigh. The situation was spiraling faster than I had anticipated. My family, particularly Dadu, wasn’t going to take this lightly. The Rathore's didn’t operate in secrecy or deception—it was bound to stir up chaos, and I’d be at the center of it all.

Snubbing out my cigarette in the ashtray, I grabbed my blazer from the chair. If I was going to handle this, I needed to face it head-on.

I made my way to the Rathore Palace, the grandeur of the estate looming ahead as the car pulled into the driveway. The weight of what lay ahead settled heavily on my shoulders. There was no turning back now.

As soon as I stepped into the palace, I spotted Kaki Sa in the corridor. She greeted me with a teasing smile. “Arey, beta ji, aaj suraj kahan se nikla? Aapne itne jaldi darshan de diye!”

Vivaan, who was standing nearby, chuckled at her comment, clearly enjoying the rare occasion of me being home this early.

I ignored their teasing and asked, “Where is Mayra?”

Their expressions immediately changed, and the light atmosphere turned tense. Vihaan stepped forward and replied hesitantly, “Bhai Sa, she’s in her room. She hasn’t come out since morning.”

I nodded, my face impassive but my mind racing. “Vihaan, call her and tell her I’m asking for her,” I instructed.

He nodded quickly. “Ji, Bhai Sa,” he said before heading upstairs.

Turning to Vivaan, I added, “Vivaan, gather the rest of the family in the living room. I need everyone there.”

Vivaan looked at me curiously but didn’t question me. “Ji, Bhai Sa,” he said before hurrying off to inform the others.

Chachi Sa, who had been observing everything, stepped closer, her concern evident. “Hriday, sab theek to hai? Kya baat hai?”

I met her gaze and replied calmly but firmly, “kaki Sa, sab ko aane dijiye.”

She nodded, though her worry didn’t ease. I walked toward the living room, bracing myself for the storm that was about to follow. There was no easy way to explain this to my chaotic family, especially Dadu. But this needed to be done—for Mayra’s sake.

As all the family members gathered in the living room, Vivaan, ever the one for teasing, grinned mischievously. “Bhai Sa, don’t tell me you found a bhabhi sa for us!”

Rohan, who had been quietly observing, quickly hit Vivaan’s head with a soft thud. “shut up, Vivaan.”

Vivaan pouted, muttering under his breath, “Pta ni kab shaadi karenge? Inke wajah se humari shaadi mein der na ho jaye…”

I shot him a sharp glare, and he immediately went quiet, sensing the tension in the air.

My gaze shifted back to Mayra as Vihaan walked in, bringing her. She looked at me with uncertainty in her eyes, but I could see her trying to stay strong. I gently reached for her hand, holding it reassuringly to let her know I was there for her. Her eyes softened slightly at the gesture.

Maasa, who had been waiting patiently for an explanation, finally spoke with concern, “Now that everyone’s here, tell us what’s going on. Why did you call us all here, Hriday?”

I took a deep breath before turning to face my family, knowing I needed to protect Mayra at all costs and that whatever I said next would set the tone for what was to come. I looked at her, then back at the family, bracing myself for their reaction.

The room went silent as I spoke those words, the gravity of the situation settling over everyone like a heavy fog. "Mayra is pregnant."

A sob broke from her as she held onto my sleeves, her body trembling with the weight of everything. I could see the shock on everyone's faces.

Maasa, still processing, hesitantly repeated, “What? What did you say, Hriday?”

Mayra, struggling to keep herself together, began to speak through her sobs, “Sorry, Maasa...” But I gently cut her off before she could go further.

“It happened at a party... she drank... and... things happened,” I explained, trying to shield her from further pain, though my own anger boiled just beneath the surface.

Just then, we heard Baba Sa's furious voice from the other room. "Who is the father?"

Mayra, clearly frightened by his tone, clutched my sleeves tighter. I glanced at her, offering a silent promise to protect her.

With a steady voice, I answered, “Dev.”

A collective gasp echoed through the room, and I could see the shock and disbelief written on every face. The tension in the air was palpable, and I could feel the weight of what I was about to face—both from my family and the consequences of Dev’s actions.

As I watched Mayra, my heart broke for her. Mom and Chachi Sa were trying to console her, their words gentle, but nothing could ease the pain of the situation. Her tears were relentless, and the guilt she felt was clear in every sob she let out.

I heard Rohan’s voice in the background, full of anger. “I won’t leave that bastard!” He was furious, and I could feel his rage match my own. Vihaan and Vivaan, equally determined, stood with him, their faces a mix of disbelief and anger. They, too, were ready to defend her, to right the wrong that had been done.

Meanwhile, Mayra kept crying, repeatedly muttering, “Sorry, Dada Sa... I know I am not a good child...” Her voice was barely audible through her sobs, and it hurt to see her like this, so broken and overwhelmed by everything.

Dadi Sa, who had been quietly observing, finally stepped forward. She approached Mayra with concern in her eyes, gently embracing her. “Did he try to...?” Dadi Sa hesitated, her words cautious as she sought to understand the full extent of what had happened.

Mayra shook her head, cutting her off. “No, Dadi Sa... We love each other... we both... it happened because neither of us were in our senses...” She spoke quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush, as though she needed to explain herself.

The room fell into silence as everyone processed her words. The truth hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. It wasn’t a mistake, but a moment of lost control between two people who cared for each other—one that had now led to this difficult reality.