Dev, like many others striving to surge ahead, had taken numerous loans and was diligently repaying them. However, he committed a grave misstep. In the business realm, a single error can drastically alter one's trajectory, in ways unimaginable.

Owing to business rivalry, they resorted to unscrupulous tactics. While such practices are not uncommon, not everyone's destiny includes paths crossing with individuals like Ananya and Devaki ji.

We were determined to arrange a union between Dev and Ananya, compelling us to employ some unethical methods. After all, it was a matter of national security and protocols.

Flashback👾🍷

“Bhai, your strategy of investing in small companies to collect significant revenues was working perfectly. However, it appears the banks from which we took loans are suddenly sealing all our trading accounts,” Sid hurriedly entered Dev's office, bringing him out of his reverie about Ananya.

“What? How can they do this? We've paid all our loans on time. In fact, I was just awarded Best Businessman. There must be a mistake,” Dev exclaimed in confusion.

“No mistake, sir. These are just some protocols. Your accounts will be recovered within a month,” said one of the bank representatives.

“Are you serious? Do you even understand what it means to shut down all accounts for a month? The entire business will collapse! I want to speak to your superior immediately,” Sid yelled, his frustration evident.

“Mr. Joshi, due to certain protocols, we have to seal your passport. You cannot attend any flights for the next month,” a lady from the travel department informed them.

Suddenly, all the lights in the office went out.

“Mr. Joshi, I regret to inform you that we must disconnect the electricity to both your office and home,” another man announced as he entered the cabin.

Witnessing this sudden chaos, Sid became increasingly agitated, while Dev stood there, deep in thought.

“I'll call the police right now. This must be some cruel joke,” Sid declared, reaching for the office telephone. However, it too was disconnected.

“Mr. Joshi, we must cut the telephone connection to your office,” another official said as he arrived.

Soon, the cabin was filled with personnel from various departments, discussing protocols and stripping Dev of his legitimate rights. Sid was making a valiant effort to stop them.

“Everyone, be quiet!” Dev finally shouted, breaking the commotion. “I need to make a phone call, please,” he pleaded, grabbing his cellphone and exiting the cabin.

“I know you people are behind this. I'm ready for the plan, just stop all this,” Dev conceded to the task force, feeling utterly defeated.

To his astonishment, as soon as he ended the call, the electricity was restored, and the officers who had gathered around his cabin received calls simultaneously and left. Everything returned to normal.

Later, Karuna ji informed him that she had already arranged his marriage to Ananya. Now it was his turn to propose to her.

---

“But sir, what about Ananya? Will she agree to this marriage?” Riya inquired after a moment of contemplation.

“She has already said yes to Karuna Ji,” her senior replied.

“What? How? I mean, she thinks she loves Ray... Sir, I need to meet Dev, may I?” she asked, concerned because she knew Ananya believed she loved Ray. Accepting Dev was unthinkable for her, something was amiss.

Receiving permission, she rushed to Dev's office.

Fortunately, Dev hadn’t left for the plan. She called Dev with the help of the receptionist and entered his cabin.

“Dev, I need to talk to you about Ananya,” Rhea was out of breath, having hurried up the stairs as the lifts were occupied.

“You're Ananya's friend, right? The one I saw in the rain that day...” he said thoughtfully.

“Yes, I saw you then... But right now, I am Agent Rhea, and I need to tell you that Ananya might have agreed to this relationship under Ray's influence,” she said urgently, time was running out, and Dev had to reach the venue before Ananya.

“First, sit down and drink this water,” he offered her a glass.

After calming down, she narrated the entire story of how Ananya trusted Ray and how he emotionally manipulated her. She refrained from mentioning Ananya's feelings for Ray, not wanting to tarnish the relationship of the soon-to-be-married couple.

“It’s okay. I will keep a close watch on Ray... Just make sure your agency stays away from my family and business,” Dev warned. Rhea agreed and left. Now it was time for Dev to propose to Ananya elegantly, as she was his first love.

As instructed by the task force, he recounted the tragic story of his past and his intolerance for betrayal.

Then, they asked him to shoot a man (actually a criminal), ensuring Ananya witnessed the act, to instill fear in her.

Initially, Dev did not understand why they wanted to scare her. He was told that Ray was the target and Ananya was just a means to reach him.

He hated scaring his wife, whom he genuinely loved and cared for. He was even convinced she had accepted him as her husband. But the next day, he learned of his beloved wife's plan to assassinate him.

Dev was shattered upon discovering that she knowingly participated in Ray's scheme to take over his business. Everything that had happened was an illusion. The person he was ready to sacrifice his life for, whom he loved the most, had betrayed him.

Until the moment he was buried, he hoped Ananya wasn’t like this. But alas, she was gone. This fueled his hatred, and he was now ready to get Ray arrested and executed by any means necessary.

He was assigned one of the finest task force teams, led by Rhea herself. They helped him escape the grave safely and act as if he believed he had killed Ray with a fake bullet.

The team ensured Ray was safe by having another criminal (also Dev's rival) save him.

Knowing that Ray's followers would be watching, Dev had to hurt Ananya intentionally. Although his heart was filled with hatred for her, it pained him to see her suffer.

It was the only way to keep her safe and expose Ray, as he would eventually kill Ananya because she knew the truth about Dev's supposed death. She was a security breach for Ray.

They believed Ray would return to complete his unfinished tasks: killing Dev and Ananya. By trapping her in Dev's plan, Dev could keep her close.

Ray did come to them, but by then, Dev was broken by her confession that she loved Ray. It was always Ray for her. Dev might never have existed in her heart. Now, only guilt compelled her to accept she had feelings for him.

Dev had nothing left but the mission. Connected to headquarters by a Bluetooth device, he had to extract Ray’s confession when he arrived. According to them, Ray was there to kill both of them, and it was the only area where Ray was alone.

But they were wrong. Ray had backup. All telephonic connections were lost, leaving only Dev, Ananya, and Ray.

Dev had no choice but to handle things himself. He recorded their entire conversation, managing to capture Ray's attempted murder confession and the killing of another man. It was enough to get Ray arrested, and the task force knew how to extract the truth.

Unfortunately, in a hand-to-hand combat with Ray, Dev lost his phone. Before he could signal Rhea and her team about the situation, it was too late. Ray called the police, and Dev was arrested.

Flashback Ends -

“So much happened, and I knew nothing... Dev cared for me, and I... I was blind, trusting Ray,” Ananya broke down, realizing the extent of Dev's suffering due to her foolishness.

“Calm down, Ananya. Nothing is lost yet. We can still prove Ray wrong and send him to jail,” Rhea assured her.

“But how?” Ananya asked, her eyes filled with tears.

“By finding the recording…”

---