Prachi sits on the hospital bed, her face pale, hands nervously clutching the blanket. The sterile smell of antiseptic fills the air, but her mind is far away. A small mirror lies untouched on the bedside table; she hasn't dared to look into it. Her fingertips gingerly graze the bandages on her face and arms, her heart sinking.

Prachi (to herself, broken voice):

"Sab kuch khatam ho gaya... Ranbir ke liye toh main hamesha beautiful thi... ab? Yeh scars? Yeh jalne ke nishaan? Woh mujhe dekh kar kya sochta hoga? Uska pyaar bhi toh... meri beauty ke liye tha, na(Everything is over...I was always beautiful for Ranbir...now? These scars? These burn marks? What would he think after seeing me? His love was also for my beauty, right?)" 

Esha: Aapako sach mein lagata hai ki woh aapake looks ke kaaran aap se pyaar karata hai(You really think he loves you for your looks!)😠

Flashes of Ranbir's voice echo in her mind:

"Tum sabse alag ho, sabse sundar(You are different from everyone, the most beautiful.)"

"Tumhare bina toh meri duniya hi adhoori hai, Prachi(My world is incomplete without you, Prachi.)"

She clenches the blanket tighter, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Prachi (whispering, trembling):

"Ab main uske pyaar ke laayak nahi rahi... Woh toh shayad mujhse nafrat kar lega ab(Now I am no longer worthy of his love... He will probably hate me now...)" 

Esha: Vah tumhaare prati apane pyaar se poori duniya ko jala dega(He will burn the entire world with his love for you!)🤧🔥

The door creaks open, breaking her spiral of despair. Kunal, dressed sharply in a suit, steps in, a chilling smirk on his face. He shuts the door quietly and leans against it, his presence suffocating.

Kunal (mocking):

"Kaise ho, Prachi? Dekh kar khushi hui ki tum abhi tak zinda ho. Lekin shayad tumhe pata nahi, tumhara zinda rehna meri plans mein nahi tha(How are you, Prachi? Glad to see you're still alive. But perhaps you don't know, your survival was not in my plans.)" 

Prachi looks up, startled, her expression shifting from sadness to confusion and then fear.

Prachi (stammering):

"K-Kya matlab? Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho? Aur yeh sab kya keh rahe ho, Kunal(Wh-What do you mean? What are you doing here? And what are you saying, Kunal?)"

Esha:  Yahaan suraksha kyon nahi hai(Why is there no security here?)😱

Kunal walks closer, his eyes gleaming with malice.

Kunal:

"Woh aag, Prachi... Woh tumhare liye nahi thi(That fire, Prachi... it was not for you.)"

Prachi's breath hitches.

Prachi (terrified):

"K-kya? Tumne... tumne woh aag lagayi? Tumhe kya mila mujhe maar kar(Wh-what? You...you started that fire? What did you get by killing me?!)"

Esha: Umm...Prachi yah tumhare liye nahi hai(Prachi it is not for you!)🤕

Kunal chuckles darkly, sitting down on the chair beside her bed.

Kunal (calmly):

"Tumhe maarna mera maksad nahi tha, Prachi. Tum toh bas collateral thi. Woh fire Ranbir ke liye thi. Main chahata tha ki woh jal ke khatam ho jaye. Lekin tum... tumhare kuch zyada hi sapne the na apne pati ke saath(It was not my intention to make you die, Prachi. You were just collateral. That fire was for Ranbir. I wanted him to perish by burning. But you...you had too many dreams with your husband.)" 

Esha: Kamina kahika! 😡☠

Prachi gasps, clutching the blanket to her chest.

Prachi (furious, trembling):

"Ranbir? Tumne usse kyun target kiya? Tum usse kyun maarna chahte ho, Kunal(Ranbir? Why did you target him? Why do you want to kill him, Kunal?!)"

Kunal (leaning closer, smirking):

"Simple hai, Prachi. Tumhe paane ke liye. Jab tak Ranbir zinda hai, tum mujhe kabhi nahi milogi. Woh hamesha tumhara hero ban kar samne aa jata hai. Toh maine socha... hero ko hi kahani se hata dete hain(It's simple, Prachi. To get you. As long as Ranbir is alive, you will never meet me. He always appears before you as your hero. So I thought...the hero is being removed from the story.)" 

Esha: World War 3 officially starting! 🦶

Prachi shakes her head in disbelief, tears brimming in her eyes.

Prachi (choking on her words):

"Tum pagal ho gaye ho, Kunal! Tumhe lagta hai ki main tumhare saath jaungi? Kabhi nahi(You have gone mad, Kunal! You think I'll go with you? Never!)" 

Kunal's expression darkens, his voice turning icy.

Kunal:

"Agar tumhe lagta hai ki tumhare paas choice hai, toh tum galat ho. Tumhe Ranbir ko chod kar mujhe accept karna hi padega. Warna agli baar, main sirf Ranbir ko nahi, tumhare poore parivaar ko target karunga(If you think you have a choice, then you are wrong. You will learn to accept me by leaving Ranbir. Otherwise next time, I will not only target Ranbir, I will target your entire family.)" 

Esha: You are ruthless! 😭

Prachi stares at him in horror, her mind racing.

Prachi (weakly, tears falling):

"Tum itne gir gaye ho, Kunal... tumhe lagta hai tum mujhe dara kar kuch pa sakte ho(You have stooped so low, Kunal... you think you can get something by scaring me?)" 

Kunal stands, adjusting his cufflinks casually.

Kunal:

"Dar aur pyaar mein bahut patli line hoti hai, Prachi. Main tumhe dono sikhaunga. Agli baar jab tumhare parivaar se miloge, mujhe apna family member ke roop mein introduce karoge. Main chahata hoon ki tum Ranabir se alag hone ki wajah bano. Aur agar tumne yeh nahi kiya (There is a very thin line between fear and love, Prachi. I will teach you both. Next time you meet your family, introduce me as a member of your family. I want you to be the reason of seperating from Ranbir. And if you didn't do this...)"  

He leans in closer, his voice a deadly whisper.

Kunal:

"Main guarantee karta hoon, Ranbir ko ek bohot painful death milegi(I guarantee, Ranbir will have a very painful death.)"

Esha: NOO! 😱😭

Prachi's heart pounds in her chest as Kunal leaves the room, his sinister laughter echoing in her ears. Alone again, her hands shake as she realizes the weight of his threats.

Prachi (to herself, sobbing):

"Ranbir... main tumhe kaise bachaungi? Tumhe yeh sab kaise bataoon? Tumhe bachane ke liye mujhe tumse dur jaana hoga... par kya tum mujhe samjhoge(Ranbir... how will I save you? How can I tell you all this? To save you, I have to go away from you... but will you understand me?)"

She hugs herself tightly, feeling trapped between her love for Ranbir and the horror of Kunal's manipulative games.

Prachi sits upright on the bed, her face pale but determined. Bandages cover parts of her body, and the weight of the recent events lingers heavily in the air. The family gathers around her, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern.

Prachi (softly, yet firmly):

"Main theek hoon... mujhe kuch nahi hua. Main... maut ke samne thi, par main wapas aa gayi. Aap sab mat chinta kijiye(I'm fine... nothing happened to me. I was near death, but I came back. Don't worry all of you.)"

Her voice trembles slightly, but she forces a reassuring smile. The family reacts immediately, their emotions spilling over.

Babita (tears welling up, holding Prachi's hand):

"Prachi, meri beti! Tu theek hai, bas itna hi kaafi hai. Par kyun? Yeh sab kyun hua? Kisne tujhe yeh dard diya(Prachi, my daughter! You are fine, that's enough. But why? Why did all this happen? Who gave you this pain?)"

Esha: Babita Aunty! 😢

Raj (voice breaking, patting her head gently):

"Tu toh meri beti hai, Prachi. Jab suna tha ki tu hospital mein hai, toh lag raha tha ki sab kuch khatam ho gaya. Tujhe aise dukh sehna pada, yeh soch kar mera dil toot raha hai(You are my daughter, Prachi. When I heard that you were in the hospital, it seemed that everything was over. It breaks my heart to think that you had to endure such sorrow.)"

Namrata (wiping her tears):

"Prachi, agar tujhe kuch ho jata toh? Socha bhi nahi ja sakta... tu bas ab hamesha safe reh, samjhi? Jo bhi hua hai, woh insaaf milega. Main tujhe akela nahi chhodungi(Prachi, what if something happens to you? Unthinkable...you are always safe now, understood? Whatever has happened, justice will be given. I will not leave you alone.)"

Naira (hugging Prachi gently, trying to stay strong):

"Prachi, tujhe dekh kar humein jaan mein jaan aayi hai. Tujhe kuch ho jata toh... soch bhi nahi sakte. Ab sirf yeh yaad rakh, hum sab tere saath hain(Prachi, we feel alive after seeing you. If something were to happen to you...I can't even imagine. Now just remember, we are all with you.)"

Kartik (nodding in agreement):

"Haan, Prachi. Tu hum sab ke liye family hai. Hum tujhe kuch hone nahi denge. Lekin ek baat bata, yeh sab kaise hua? Kya tu kuch chhupa rahi hai(Yes, Prachi. You are family to all of us. We won't let anything happen to you. But tell me one thing, how did all this happen? Are you hiding something?)"

Kairav (with innocent worry with tears in his eyes, clutching his mother Naira's saree):

"Chachi, mujhe laga aap chali jaogi jaise woh kahaniyon mein hota hai... I love you so much! Aap phir se mat darna, please(Aunty, I thought you would go away like they do in stories... I love you so much! Don't scares us again, please!")"

Naitik (placing a hand on her head, his voice heavy):

"Prachi beta, tu hum sab ke liye family se bhi badhkar hai. Mera mann nahi maanta ki yeh sirf ek accident tha. Lekin yeh waqt sab theek karne ka hai. Jo dard tu jhel rahi hai, woh ab hum sab ka dard hai(Prachi daughter, you are more than family for all of us. I don't believe that it was just an accident. But this is the time to set everything right. The pain you are facing is now the pain of all of us.)"
Esha: Best family ever! 🥰

Ranbir stands at the back, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes red and filled with unshed tears. Every word of hers cuts through him like a knife. He steps forward cautiously, his voice trembling.

Ranbir (desperately):

"Prachi... mujhe bas ek baar dekhne de. Mujhe bas yeh samajhne de ki tu safe hai. Main toh... main toh khud ko sambhal bhi nahi pa raha tha yeh soch kar ki main tujhe kho deta(Prachi...let me see just once. Just let me know that you are safe. I... I couldn't even control myself at the thought of losing you.)" 

Prachi's eyes meet his, and for a moment, the love and pain in their gazes collide. She feels her heart crack, but she hardens herself.

Prachi (pushing him away gently, her voice firm):

"Ranbir... mujhe mat dekho is tarah. Tum deserve karte ho... kisi aur ko. Tum deserve karte ho kisi aisi ladki ko jo tumhari zindagi ko khushiyon se bhar de. Main... main woh ladki nahi rahi (Ranbir...don't look at me like that. You deserve... someone else. You deserve a girl who fills your life with happiness. I...I'm not that girl anymore.)"

Esha: What in the world are you saying?! 😰😡

Ranbir's face falls, confusion and hurt flashing across his features.

Ranbir (pleading):

"Kya bol rahi ho, Prachi? Tum ho meri zindagi ki sabse badi khushi. Tum yeh sab kyun keh rahi ho? Tumhara pain, tumhare scars... yeh mujhe kabhi nahi rok sakte tumse pyaar karne se(What are you saying Prachi? You are the biggest happiness of my life. Why are you saying all this? Your pain, your wounds... these can never stop me from loving you.)"

Prachi (her voice breaking):

"Ranbir, main ab puri nahi rahi... main ab woh Prachi nahi rahi jo tumne pyaar ki thi. Tumhara saath... main ab nahi nibha sakti. Main sirf tumhari zindagi aur complicated kar dungi(Ranbir, I am no longer complete... I am no longer the Prachi you loved. I can't stand you anymore. I will only make your life more complicated.)" 

Esha: You are the same person! 🤧

Ranbir steps closer, his eyes searching hers desperately, but she turns her head away, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Ranbir (softly):

"Tumhe lagta hai ki main tumse pyar tumhare chehre ke liye karta hoon? Prachi, tum meri poori duniya ho. Par agar tumhe lagta hai ki main tumhara saath nahi de sakta, toh yeh tumhari galatfehmi hai(You think I love you for your face? Prachi, you are my whole world. But if you think that I cannot support you, then this is your misunderstanding.)" 

Prachi (snapping, her voice shaking):

"Bas, Ranbir! Main jo keh rahi hoon, woh karne do mujhe. Tumhara aur mera rasta alag hai ab. (That's it, Ranbir! Let me do what I say. Your and my path are different now.)"

Ranbir stares at her, his heart shattering, but he doesn't argue further. He steps back, his jaw tight, his love for her battling against her words. The room falls silent, the weight of her decision suffocating everyone.