Third person's pov!

Nidhi walked quickly through the narrow pocket road, the dim streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. The evening had been pleasant- meeting up with Swati and the gang, laughing over coffee at the café. But now, as the familiar sounds of the city faded behind her, a sense of unease began to creep in.

She quickened her pace, clutching her bag tightly. The laughter and chatter from earlier seemed distant now. She was almost halfway through the alley when she heard footsteps behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw three men approaching, their eyes predatory and filled with malice.

"Hey, pretty lady, where are you rushing off to?" One of them sneered, stepping into her path.

Nidhi's heart pounded in her chest, but she squared her shoulders, refusing to show fear.

"Leave me alone," she said firmly, trying to sidestep the man.

Another one of the goons grabbed her dupatta, yanking it from her shoulder.

"Oh, come on, we just want to have some fun," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

Nidhi snatched her dupatta back, her eyes flashing with defiance.

"Stay away from me!"

The third man, who was larger and more intimidating, lunged forward, trying to grab her hand. Nidhi swiftly moved away, evading his grasp.

"Don't touch me!" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

But the men were relentless. They were double her size and clearly not deterred by her resistance. The first man reached out and grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her towards him. Nidhi cried out in pain, struggling to break free, but his grip was too strong.

Just as she felt herself being dragged, a powerful roar filled the alley - the unmistakable sound of a Harley Davidson engine.

The goons turned in surprise as a man appeared, skidding to a stop on his motorcycle. His eyes blazed with fury as he took in the scene.

"Let her go!" The man's voice was a low, dangerous growl.

The goons sneered, clearly not intimidated by the lone rider.

"Or what?" one of them taunted, tightening his grip on Nidhi's hair.

Without another word, the man dismounted his bike and charged at the men.

The first punch he threw landed squarely on the jaw of the man holding Nidhi, sending him sprawling to the ground. Nidhi stumbled back, freed from his grasp, but the danger was far from over.

The second goon lunged at the man, swinging wildly. He dodged the blow with ease, countering with a swift kick to the man's midsection, followed by an uppercut that left him gasping for air.

"Back off!" The man commanded, his voice like thunder.

But the third goon, the largest of the three, wasn't backing down. He grabbed Nidhi and pushed her against the wall, trying to use her as a shield.

"Stay back, or she gets hurt!"

The man's eyes narrowed, calculating his next move.

"Let her go," he repeated, his tone deadly calm.

The goon's response was to shove Nidhi harder against the wall. Her head struck the rough surface, and she gasped as pain and dizziness overwhelmed her. Blood trickled down her forehead, and the man's heart clenched at the sight.

He knew how she reacted to blood- he'd seen her nearly faint at the sight once before.

"Nidhi!" He shouted, rushing to her side.

Seeing their opportunity, the goons made a hasty escape, leaving the man to care for Nidhi.

From a distance, Viraj watched the scene unfold, cursing under his breath. His plan to swoop in and "rescue" Nidhi had been thwarted by Siddharth Singh Raichand's unexpected arrival.

Silently, he slunk away, disappearing into the shadows.

"Nidhi, look at me. Stay with me." Siddharth knelt beside Nidhi, gently cradling her head.

"Siddharth ji... it hurts..." She blinked up at him, her vision swimming.

"I know, sweetheart. Just breathe. I am here." He ripped a piece of his shirt and pressed it against her wound, trying to staunch the bleeding.

"I thought... I thought they were going to..." Nidhi's eyes fluttered as she struggled to stay conscious.

"Shh, don't think about that now," Siddharth interrupted, his voice softening. "You are safe. I won't let anything happen to you."

He lifted her gently, carrying her to his bike.

"We need to get you to a hospital," he said, his voice filled with urgency. He used her dupatta to secure her by tying her to him. He didn't have the time to call for one of his car. Nidhi was already bleeding.

As they sped through the streets, Nidhi clung to him, her fear gradually giving way to a sense of safety in his arms.

Siddharth's mind raced, filled with a mix of relief and fury. He would find out who those men were and ensure they never laid a hand on her -or anyone else -again.

Reaching the hospital, Siddharth carefully helped Nidhi off the bike and carried her inside. The staff quickly took over, and he watched, helpless but resolute, as they tended to her wounds.

In the sterile brightness of the hospital corridor, Siddharth made a silent vow. He would protect Nidhi with everything he had. No more would he let her walk through danger alone. The playboy image he had so carelessly cultivated would be shed. From now on, he would be the man she deserved- the man who stood by her side, come what may.

As the doctors worked, Siddharth paced, his mind replaying the night's events. The rage he felt towards those men was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

When the doctor finally emerged, Siddharth was there in an instant.

"How is she?" He asked anxiously.

"She will be fine," the doctor assured him. "A few stitches, but nothing serious. She just needs rest. We will keep her in observation for the night. Inform her family too."

Siddharth nodded, relief washing over him.

He quickly dialled Laksh's number in his phone and informed him about the incident and asked Laksh to inform her family too. He then walked into the VIP room in which Nidhi is admitted and found her lying awake on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Nidhi..." He called out gently as he took her hand in his.

She stared at him blankly..

"How are you feeling now?" He asked softly, wanting so badly to take her palms to his lips and kiss on it. But he refrained from it, knowing clearly that Nidhi wouldn't appreciate it.

"Was it one of your game plans, Mr Raichand? Playing Knight in Shining armour when nothing else seemed to work?"

A/N

Here it goes...

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Love,

SF❤️