Ananya, sobbing uncontrollably, said, "Dev... he's gone, Mom. He left me. The thought of him won't let me live. I saw his dead body, yet it feels like he's still around me. I even buried him myself..." She abruptly stopped, realizing the gravity of what she was about to reveal.

Devki ji stood stunned, while Dev, standing outside the window and overhearing the conversation, smiled and thought, "This is exactly the result I wanted from step one."

Devki ji, with tears in her eyes, asked, "When did this happen...how? Why didn't you tell me?"

Ananya thought to herself, "If I tell Mom the truth, I risk losing her too. I've already lost everything else; I can't afford to lose her."

Devki ji, desperate for answers, asked, "Tell me, child, how did all this happen?"

Ananya, stammering, replied, "It... it happened in the US, Mom. There was an accident, and they sent his body here. You're not here, nor maa.I... I buried him myself."

Ananya was dying inside, shedding tears, and Devki ji hugged her tightly, trying to console her.

After a while, Devki ji informed Karuna about Dev, thinking she was unaware of the situation. Karuna was stunned to hear the lie about Dev and, without replying, cut the call and informed Dev.

Dev said, "This is exactly what I wanted, Mom. Step one has yielded the desired result. She has accepted that I'm dead and even confessed it herself."

Karuna ji responded, "But she said it was an accident; she didn't admit to causing it."

Dev smiled and said, "The pain she caused me is nothing compared to this. She took my life, so what difference does it make now? Go to your beloved daughter-in-law and console her. Behave as if I’m gone, but stay by her side."

Karuna ji protested, "No, Dev, I can't listen to the one who..."

Dev interrupted, "Maa, Apne is bete ke liye hi please go. Only then can I move forward with my plan."

Reluctantly, Karuna left. She went to Ananya and consoled her, hugging her even though she was fuming with anger inside.

Karuna said, "Ananya, take me to where you buried Dev."

Ananya nodded, and soon, Karuna ji, Ananya, and Devki set off. It was almost night when they reached the cemetery where Ananya claimed to have buried Dev. She walked slowly, looking around due to fear.

After shedding some tears, Karuna couldn't bear her son's pain any longer and left. Devki ji also went to get the car from the parking lot.

Ananya was about to leave but stopped when she heard a voice, "Ananya." Her heart skipped a beat. She looked around but couldn't find Dev.

Her eyes filled with tears, and she ran from there. Dev, hiding behind a tree, smiled as he watched.

Every moment with you was beautiful,
Every second joyous, every dream wild,
But it was all a deceit, a false tale,
She was unfaithful, and I was her lover."

Later, in Dev's room, he and Sid were discussing something when Dev said, "Sid, take over Mrs. Devki Sharma's company and simultaneously offer her the London deal for partnership."

Sid nodded, and in half an hour, everything was done as Dev instructed. The next morning, Devki ji discovered someone trying to take over her company and received the London deal. She was stressed.

Ananya saw her mother distress and asked what was wrong. Devki ji replied, "Someone is trying to take over our company. I can handle things here, but there's an important deal in London. If we lose it, everything will be ruined. I need to stay here, but I also need to go to London."

Ananya asked, "What needs to be done in London?"

Devki ji explained, "There’s a business partnership conference. I need to deal with Mr. Debu Vyas and work on the partnership."

A shadow passed through her face, before she quickly shook her head.

Ananya assured her, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll handle the London project. Besides, I need to get away from the memories here."

Devki ji agreed, "Okay, then. It will keep you occupied. Goo and pack your bags. You need to leave tonight. I'll book the tickets."

Ananya nodded and went to her room to pack her bags.

Meanwhile, with Dev:

Dev said, "Come to London, Ananya, come." He looked in the mirror, put on his glasses, and changed his appearance.

Dev continued, "So far, you've seen Dev Joshi's madness. Now you'll witness Debu's love. The face is the same, but for you, I'm just a look-alike."

Mohobat kii haa manzil kayii
Haseena wahi, deewana wahii
Bas ab yeh dastaann ha nayii

Ananya arrived in London, unaware that Dev was sitting just behind her on the same plane, wearing a mask so she couldn't identify him. His eyes were on her while she was lost in her thoughts about him. Her tears were a testament to her grief for him. His presence made her restless, her heart ached as she mourned his loss, her soul yearned for his return.

Dev, filled with tears, breathed for revenge. His heart harbored no emotion for her, but his soul was still devoted to her.

Their love was lost in betrayal, yet it hadn't died. They were both lost in each other's thoughts.

Scenes are shown in parallel as they both think:

"How could I have been so unfaithful?"

"How deeply I fell for you."

"I lost even after winning."

"I came alive after dying."

"You were my ground..."

"And I became your sky..."

Tears fell from both their eyes as they closed them and took deep breaths. Soon, the flight landed in London.

Ananya took a cab to her hotel, and Dev stayed in the same hotel, in the room next to Ananya's.

After a while, Ananya was resting in her room when her phone flashed with an unknown number. She answered, "He...hello?"

The person on the other end said, "Do you think leaving India will hide all your sins?"

The phone slipped from her hand. She gathered the courage to pick it up again and asked, "Wh...who is this?"

The caller remained silent and then hung up. Ananya tried calling back, but the phone was switched off. She froze in fear.

Meanwhile, with Dev:

He was the one who called her using a voice enhancer so she couldn't recognize his voice.

Dev looked at Ananya's picture and said, "You still have to sob in my memories,
I still have to smile in your pain,
You still have to go through my agony...
Your life has yet to be paused..."

He burned the picture and smiled with teary eyes.

He stood up, went to his room window, and gazed at the moon.

Ek dasstan phirse shuru hogi
Qayamat hii sahii per tumse mohobat hogi,
Woh deewana lauta ha phirse
Par dard mein ab woh haseena hogi
Jitne shiddat se chaha thaa tumhe
Ab utne hii mohobat se nafrat hogi

The Next Morning:

Ananya, meticulously prepared for her meeting with Debu, arrived at his office. The sleek, modern building exuded an air of professionalism and power. She was greeted by Kunal, Debu's manager, who asked for her purpose. Ananya, with a composed yet eager demeanor, explained her intent to meet Debu regarding a significant business deal.

Kunal, with a courteous smile, asked her to wait for a moment. "Mr. Vyas will be here shortly," he assured her. Ananya waited in the pristine reception area, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. The minutes seemed to stretch endlessly.

After what felt like an eternity, Kunal reappeared and informed her, "You may proceed to Mr. Vyas's cabin now. He is ready to see you." Ananya nodded, thanked him, and took a deep breath as she walked towards the cabin. Her steps echoed softly on the polished marble floor, each step bringing her closer to a meeting that would change everything.

Upon reaching the door, she knocked softly and then entered. The cabin was spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline. The morning sun casts a warm glow into the room. Dev, or rather Debu, stood with his back to her, gazing out the window, seemingly lost in thought. His posture exuded an aura of calm authority.

Ananya, trying to maintain her professionalism, introduced herself, "Good morning, sir. I am Ananya Dev Joshi." Her voice, though steady, carried a hint of trepidation.

Hearing her name, Dev's body tensed. He clenched his fist tightly, the name 'Dev Joshi' evoking a torrent of suppressed emotions. He fought to keep his composure, knowing that this moment was critical.

Ananya, unaware of his internal struggle, continued, "You called me for a business deal, right?" Her voice was firmer now, attempting to steer the conversation towards a professional direction.

At that moment, Dev turned around to face her. The transformation was instantaneous. Ananya's eyes widened in shock, her breath caught in her throat. The man standing before her was unmistakably her husband, Dev, yet something about him was different. His appearance was polished, his demeanor cold and unrecognizable.

Ananya’s lips parted, trying to form words, but no sound came out. She took an involuntary step back, her eyes filling with tears as she stared at him, her mind reeling with confusion and disbelief. It was as if she had seen a ghost.

With a voice barely above a whisper, Ananya managed to say, "D... Dev?"

Dev, maintaining his icy facade, responded curtly, "Sorry?"

Ananya, desperation creeping into her voice, said, "You... you are my Dev. You've come back."

Dev, his expression unchanged, replied, "I’m sorry, Mrs. Joshi. It seems you are mistaken. I am Debu Vyas, not your Dev." His words were precise and unemotional, yet they cut through Ananya like a blade.

The shock of seeing him, combined with the cold denial, was too much for Ananya. Her mind couldn't process the reality before her. Her vision blurred, and before she could react, she collapsed, her body giving in to the overwhelming emotions.

Dev, swift and composed, caught her in his arms. As he held her, a smirk played on his lips. He leaned in close and whispered, "Mrs. Ananya Dev Joshi." His voice was filled with a chilling satisfaction, a harbinger of the turmoil that was yet to come.

In that moment, as he held her unconscious form, the complexities of their past, the pain, the betrayal, and the unresolved emotions, all seemed to converge. The scene was a tableau of raw, unspoken tensions, setting the stage for the battles that lay ahead.