To be defeated by injustice is not only defeat, but it is equivalent to extinction. A human is not necessarily dead by the literal failure of the heart, but a person could die umpteenth time by the grieved hollow of the soul. And time might heal the wounds but leave behind the vicious scars. Scars that would neither let you forget nor let you hold onto the past.

The gravest betrayal Priyanka experienced was probably by her father, who left more than fifteen years ago. The family scattered after that, and she was left all alone. Sara never even had a chance to remember their father because he never showed up again. But Priyanka never hated him, and not even Sara did; she couldn't because Vijay resembled him—a constant reminder of her loss. However, Vijay was nothing like their father; instead, he proved to be the best son and brother. And the time didn't heal them, but the love filled the void.

Whereas, Krishant was left with nothing, not even his ex-stepmother bothered showing him the love of a mother. Her selfishness ruined him, along with his end with his father.

"Kajal!" Krishant yelled again, "How are you here?" He asked again in disbelief.

The woman never stopped crying; her swollen and the bags under her eyes narrated the tale of her tormentful insomniac nights. She suffered the pain she didn't deserve because she loved and cared too much. And looking at Krishant Sanghvi was more painful for her. Her face scrunched in disgust.

"YOU!" She screamed before wavering on her injured feet but eventually stabilizing herself as her hatred fueled her energy, "You are a murderer."

Priyanka stood stunned by the door, not really intent on blocking the path for Kajal to escape again. Everything that she never wished to hear. Her face flushed at the realization that the woman was solemnly alleging Krishant for a crime he was not really capable of committing. Or was he?

Who was she?

Her light brown eyes look ridiculously familiar but more alive and traumatized. Her slim face and sharp nose resembled the person from her dreams, but her wobbling thin lips were the only difference.

Krishant glanced back, miraculously expecting Priyanka to understand the situation without explaining. The hopeful glints, however, were unnoticed by his befuddled companion. It was unexpected for Kajal to barge into his house while escaping such a gruesome place. He really underestimated her as weak, but apparently, he had never tasted the thirst for justice.

She was much languished and distracted than the last time Krishant saw her, enabling her to fight against the mighty him. He glared at her, ready to pounce on the unworthy trouble. Priyanka was his remaining prioritized trouble, and in the meantime, she deserved his attention.

"How did you got here?" Krishant ignored her allegations, as knowing the source of her escape was more critical. An average woman like Kajal somehow cracked his guarded cage, proving the risks to him she further was capable of committing. She was a threat to his safety.

Surprisingly, Kajal glared back with much more hatred than a human could feel, proving her resolute disgust as if his mere existence was a curse upon her.

"It doesn't matter," she mumbles angrily as if all the escaping wasn't tiresome enough. She was determined and suggested a dare to ruin her further if Krishant was truly humanly capable of doing so. She challengingly pointed a sharp finger at him, "You!" She slowly exclaimed, "You'll rot in hell." Her wobbling lips cursed as the tears of sorrow escaped. She couldn't speak without crying, couldn't look without hatred. Each word stung her mercilessly as she rasped, "You killed her!" She collapsed.

Krishant sighs, and for a mere second, he exhibits guilt. But rage maintained his composure, blinding him against his own sins. "Just tell me how did you escape."

Priyanka couldn't stay quiet anymore as the questions itched her tongue, "Who is she?" Krishant's glare softens purposefully before he turns around to explain. Only then did Kajal noticed Priyanka and more anguish overflowed her senses.

"She's Kajal. She's--"

"You got yourself a new whore already?" Kajal sarcastically asked with hysterical laughter.

It visibly changes Krishant's demeanor. He got on his knees before dangerously invading her breathing space and curling his fingers on her fragile throat.

Priyanka failed to hear the words the alleged murderer whispered to the pitiful Kajal, but she saw her choking in his grasp. It alerted her. "Krish, what are you doing?"

"Don't believe a thing she says," Krishant lets Kajal go and stands in front of Priyanka, "She's crazy." He felt silent as he thinks, "I'll be right back." He left after closing the main gate.

Kajal was in a different trance after Krishant choked her, probably threatening to stay still. But why? She didn't look crazy to Priyanka, traumatized but not crazy. She let her eyes roam around her bedraggled weak body and noticed her bleeding knees and elbows. The pity emitted within her.

Priyanka offered her some water and quickly started to treat her wounds. All the while, Kajal watched her like a predator without even flinching or hissing when Priyanka touched her open wounds as if she was used to the pain.

But no one can get used to the pain; a person can pretend but never get used to it. Priyanka thought terrifiedly.

"How do you know him?" Priyanka carefully asked. Kajal's burning gaze didn't bother her.

Kajal failed to respond in a few seconds as if she didn't hear the question, "He killed her." She muttered, still in her trance but successful to register the words of Priyanka.

"Her?"

"Monica." She whispered after a second, and Priyanka froze. She was skeptical.

"How do you know that?" She whispers back.

"You don't have to do that." Krishant snatched away Priyanka from his weak enemy immediately after reentering the room.

"She's hurt," Priyanka argued.

"So?" He asked, making Priyanka narrow her judgemental stare at him.

"Why are you acting so heartless?"

"Because she's not my responsibility." Kajal had triggered Krishant into becoming so malevolent as if basic humanity had felt his virtues.

Why was he so angry? Because she accused him of killing Monica? But why? Oh, my head is spinning.

She didn't notice earlier when Krishant reentered with cuffs with him, but at the moment, he was restraining her lanky arms from committing any triggering attack. He would definitely kill her for that.

"Krish, what's happening?" Priyanka asks, "I am quiet right now because I understand that it is not the right time to discuss anything, but what is really happening right now?" She panicked.

Women are trouble, his mind stated, but his tongue stayed quiet. His mind swirled with options of explanation, and he concluded with the fabricated truth.

"Later, Priya." He suggested, and she nodded. She seemed too relaxed for his liking, as if she was expecting it or blatantly cared too little about it.

Priyanka was screaming from inside, though, begging for her mind to solve the mysteries on its own. Monica is dead, and Kajal is accusing Krishant of killing Monica. But was it true? What really happened to her? Krishant's secrets were growing, scaring Priyanka every now and then. But he was becoming aggressive as the days elapsed. The considerable Krishant was gone as a malicious had surfaced which was beyond any rational understanding.

Will he ever tell me everything? Why is he hating Kajal so much? What will he do with her?

More than anything, Priyanka was worried for Kajal. Julian could be so brutal with her. Even if she had never met her before, she pitied the woman. She is probably traumatized by the loss of her sister. Priyanka had to act cold toward her in front of him, but she was scared for life for her.

"What will you do with her?" Priyanka risks asking about his intentions. She saw him smirking for a mere second, before his pupils dilated, and he stopped pacing. Priyanka gulped.

Kajal was scaredly quiet the whole time, as if she had fallen asleep with her eyes open, but she wasn't snoring. She was tired and reasonably weak to fight or speak any further. She was probably preserving her energy for upcoming challenges. Why is this woman so stubborn? Why is she thinking of fighting with Krishant Sanghvi? And that too without any plan? She just barged into the house to fight him. She should have gone underground instead.

Priyanka too, complied with the silence while keeping a watchful eye on Krishant. She couldn't leave the fragile lady with Krishant alone. His raging attitude was enough to alert her. She quickly texted Vijay to come the next day to take her back to their home.

"She will return to the asylum," Krishant informed a few minutes later.

"Asylum?"

"Yes." He confirmed, "Back to the place she escaped from, I don't know how, though." He mumbled thoughtfully.

Kajal busted again, and her cries echoed throughout the mansion, making Priyanka wince in pain. Kajal was in pain, both physically and emotionally, but mostly because she was high on sedation, her behavior stayed inconsistent. She appeared utterly broken, but Krishant paid no attention to her sorrowful wails. He just wanted to get rid of her.

They waited for a few hours in complete stillness. No one uttered anything, but at some point, Kajal started chanting that Krishant killed Monica, which was petrifying for the baffled Priyanka. Something like this had never occurred to Priyanka before; this was not normal. Priyanka also convinced Krishant to let her feed Kajal and treat her wounds.

It was almost time for sunset when the sound of tires screeching gathered their attention. Krishant was sharply alerted of the approaching party, and so was Priyanka.

Two men dressed in their green uniforms entered the premises. Both of them took hold of a nonplused Kajal, who soon started thrashing and struggling against their firm grips. Kajal clung to her heart at the scene of Chloe fighting for her freedom. She almost jumped up to fight until Kajal was again injected with the sedates.

"Stay here," Krishant ordered with a firm nod at her and followed the guards to their vehicle. Priyanka collapsed onto the lounging chair with her hands tangled in her messy hair. Frustrated sighs left her frowning lips. She couldn't help Kajal, and she couldn't get her answers either.

The sound of soft thudding captured her concentration. Krishant had returned and appeared more relaxed than a few minutes ago. Again, she could witness his changing attitude as he looked benign again. What other lie will he feed her to hide the truth about Monica and her sister Kajal who is in the asylum.

Nothing was usual that she witnessed, so Krishant could no longer lie to her.

His tall figure dawdles to her, and she held her breath. No more rage looms over him, but exhaustion has wearied him out. Calm and collected Krishant was back, but he didn't bother with the charming facade as Priyanka had already seen enough to deceive her anymore.

"I assumed I have some explaining to do," he said, "I hope now you change your mind about leaving." He flatly states and gets inside the kitchen.

He's back to pretending as if everything is alright in his life. How fucked up is he?

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