The gentle breeze from the towering trees and the trilling of the crickets cocooned them from the hustle and bustle of the city. They had agreed to catch a quick dinner at a cozy restaurant near Avantika's home to celebrate their first win.

Avantika had decided to walk home and Abhay had wasted no time in declaring his intention to accompany her. She could only grumble under her breath and shake her head in dismay, knowing there was nothing she could say to dissuade him from accompanying her.

"Saksham won't be stopping any time soon, but at least he will know he won't get his way," remarked Abhay, loosening the tie which already hung loose from his neck.

Avantika's steps were resolute as she walked beside Abhay, the weight of the day still heavy on her shoulders despite the small victory they had achieved. She glanced over at him, his profile illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights, and couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support.

"You were right about Deepti," she began, her voice soft but resolute. "Her presence made all the difference today. I don't think we would have swayed the investors without her backing."

Abhay nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "She definitely has a way with words and influence. Having her on our side is a game-changer."

The night air was cool against their skin, a refreshing change from the tension-filled atmosphere of the conference room. Avantika stole a glance at Abhay, noting the way his features softened in the gentle glow of the streetlights. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that had formed between them over the years.

"I must admit, I didn't expect Mr. Gupta to support us either," Avantika spoke, "He was a tough nut to crack when I pitched to him."

Abhay chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I've known him for a few years now. He has always been a man of principles, and I think he saw the integrity in your words today."

Avantika's steps faltered for a moment as she mulled over Abhay's words, the truth in them resonating deep within her. She had poured her heart and soul into building InnoVault from the ground up, navigating countless challenges and setbacks along the way.

The distant sound of a car engine grew louder, pulling Avantika from her thoughts. She glanced over her shoulder, a furrow forming on her brow as she tried to locate the source of the noise. Before she could react, a sharp screech of tires cut through the night, followed by the blinding headlights of a speeding car careening towards them.

"Abhay, watch out!" Avantika's voice was a desperate cry as her heart pounded in her chest. Time seemed to slow as she felt the searing pain of impact, a sickening thud echoing in her ears as the world spun around her.

The sleek, silver car struck Avantika with brutal force, propelling her body through the air and onto the unforgiving pavement. A symphony of shattering glass echoed through the streets as she landed in a tangled mess of limbs and debris. The glare of the headlights scattered into blinding streaks of light, blurring her vision as the vehicle swiftly disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind a trail of destruction and pandemonium. The smell of burnt rubber and gasoline lingered in the air, mixing with the metallic scent of blood. Avantika lay there, shaken and disoriented

Panic clawed at Abhay's throat, his voice a hoarse shout as he sprinted towards Avantika's lifeless form. His gaze flickered to the retreating vehicle, memorizing every detail from the make to the license plate number, determined to bring justice to whoever had caused this tragedy. He fell to his knees beside Avantika, his hands shaking violently as he cradled her head with a desperate tenderness, willing her to open her eyes and come back to him.

"Avantika, stay with me!" Abhay's voice trembled with fear and desperation as he frantically assessed her injuries. Blood gushed from a deep gash on her forehead, mixing with the tears streaming down her face. Her breaths were shallow and ragged, each one a struggle to hold onto life. But as Abhay looked closer, he realized there was far too much blood for just one wound. It pooled around Avantika like a river, staining her once pristine clothing and leaving no doubt that she was fighting for her life.

The frigid night air seeped into their bodies, a chilling contrast to the warmth that had surrounded them just moments ago. Abhay's trembling fingers pressed down on the bloody gash, his mind racing as he fumbled for his phone.

With shaking hands, he dialed for the ambulance and desperately relayed their location and the gruesome details of the hit-and-run.

Each passing second felt like an eternity as Abhay waited for the ambulance to arrive. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind reeling with a whirlwind of emotions. Fear, anger, and desperation all battled inside him as he held onto Avantika's hand, refusing to let go.

He could feel her life slipping away under his touch, her once warm skin now turning cold and clammy. He desperately wanted to do something, anything to save her. But all he could do was wait.

The distant sound of sirens grew louder and louder, bringing with it a glimmer of hope. Abhay's heart soared at the thought that help was finally on its way but was soon replaced by a gnawing fear that it might be too late.

As the ambulance screeched to a halt in front of them, Abhay felt a flood of relief wash over him. A team of paramedics rushed out with a stretcher, their faces set in grim determination as they quickly assessed Avantika's injuries.

Abhay followed closely behind as they lifted her onto the stretcher and began administering life-saving measures. He watched anxiously as they worked tirelessly to stabilize her condition before rushing her into the back of the ambulance.

"Sir, we need to know if she has any pre-existing medical conditions or allergies." One of the paramedics turned to Abhay with a sense of urgency in his voice.

Abhay quickly shook himself out of his daze and composedhimself enough to give them all the information about Avantika that he could recollect. He couldn't help but feel helpless when he realized the information was years old and he knew nothing about her present health status.

The journey to the hospital felt like an eternity. The flashing lights and blaring sirens blurred together into a cacophony of noise as Abhay sat beside Avantika's motionless body, holding onto her hand tightly.

Things were just beginning to fall into place. They couldn't scatter away so soon, could they?