4600+ words

Dil se teri yaadon ko nikalna na aaya,
tumhe bhoolna to kabhi bhi na aaya,
pyar ki raahon mein bas tum hi tum ho,
baaki sab to ek sapna sa lagta hai.

Author's pov:

The door to the dark room creaked open, casting a thin beam of light that barely cut through the heavy gloom. Everyone turned their heads, the tension snapping tight again. A tall figure in black entered, dragging something behind him. The silence was suffocating as the figure pulled a man forward, barely conscious, his head hanging low with blood dripping down his face, staining his clothes.

It was Yuvan.

Ashwin's eyes widened in horror. "Yuvan!"

The figure in black, faceless under the hood he wore, tossed Yuvan to the ground like he was nothing. Yuvan hit the cold floor with a thud, groaning weakly as he tried to lift his head. His face was swollen, blood oozing from a deep gash on his forehead, his breathing shallow and strained.

"Yuvan!" Viyaan shouted, his voice cracking. He strained against the ropes that bound him, the sight of his friend in that condition sending a surge of rage through him. "What the hell did you do to him?!"

The man in black remained silent, standing over Yuvan like a shadow of death, his posture menacing. There was an eerie calm about him, the kind that sent chills down their spines. He slowly turned his head toward Ashwin, Vikram, Anshika and Viyaan, his eyes cold and devoid of any emotion under the hood.

Ashwin's heart raced. Yuvan had been their last hope, their connection to finding a way out of this nightmare. Seeing him like this, barely clinging to life, was like watching their chances slip away.

"Yuvan..." Ashwin whispered, his voice breaking. He couldn't bear to see his friend like this. "Why did you bring him here? What do you want?" His voice rose, desperate for answers.

The man in black didn't respond. Instead, he nudged Yuvan's limp body with his boot, forcing him to roll over onto his back. Yuvan groaned, his body trembling in pain, but he managed to look up at Ashwin and Viyaan.

"Guys... I'm sorry..." Yuvan gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "They... they got to me before I could... before I could do anything..."

"Yuvan, don't talk," Viyaan said, his voice filled with panic as he watched his friend suffer. "We'll get you out of here, I swear. Just hold on."

Vikram's eyes were locked on the man in black, suspicion and dread swirling in his mind. He didn't trust anything about this situation. Something felt off. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "What do you want from us?"

The man in black slowly turned his gaze to Vikram, tilting his head slightly as if sizing him up. "I'm not the one you should be asking," he finally said, his voice cold and emotionless. "Your answers lie elsewhere."

Before anyone could respond, the door creaked open again, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the room. Another figure stepped in—this one much more composed, and someone they all recognized immediately.

It was Uncle Bhatra.

Vikram's heart stopped, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Uncle Bhatra...? Why are you doing this and showing up again and again?"

The older man stood there, dressed in an expensive black suit, his face calm but with a dark edge to his expression. He walked forward, his presence dominating the room, and stood beside the man in black, who was clearly one of his henchmen.

"Vikram," Uncle Bhatra said, his voice smooth and composed. "I told you... there's much more to this than you ever knew."

Vikram's shock quickly turned to fury. "You..." His voice trembled with rage as he stared at the man who had been like a second father to him. "You were behind all of this. But tell me the whole shit this time! please"

Uncle Bhatra smiled faintly, a twisted kind of satisfaction playing on his lips. "Because, Vikram, you were never meant to have all this power. Your father trusted me with everything, but when he died, you and your soft heart would've ruined it all. I had to take control—of the family, the business, everything. And you, blinded by your emotions, were the perfect tool to destroy yourself."

Vikram's chest tightened, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The betrayal cut deeper than anything he'd ever felt. This man—this man who had been there for him in his darkest moments—had orchestrated it all.

"You killed my parents..." Vikram whispered, the words like venom on his tongue. "You took everything from me. You made me believe it was Ashwin's family."

Bhatra's expression darkened. "I did what I had to. Your father was weak, and you were following in his footsteps. You were never meant to lead As I even said that before. But don't worry," he added with a cruel smile, "soon, none of this will matter. You, your friends, your family... all of you are loose ends that need tying up."

Ashwin, still stunned by the revelation, gritted his teeth as he glared at Uncle Bhatra. "You destroyed Vikram's life... for what? Power? Control? His Money?"

Bhatra shrugged nonchalantly. "Power is the only thing that matters in this world, Ashwin. You, of all people, should know that by now."

Uncle Bhatra touched the side of Anshika's face. "How are you sweetheart?". Ashwin's moved from his place a bit as he felt uneasy because of the act of uncle Bhatra. "Don't you dare touch her you fucking jerk."

Uncle Bhatra looked at him and said "Awww see who's saying! the one who never wanted this brat to be with him." He clinched Anshika's face a bit hard. 

Anshika's eyes filled with tears, her body wracked with pain. "I just want this to be over... I just want to go home."

Uncle Bhatra watched the emotional scene unfold with cold detachment. "Touching," he muttered, before signaling his henchman. "Finish them off. We don't have any more time to waste."

The man in black stepped forward, reaching into his jacket for his weapon.

Vikram , placing himself between Anshika and the man, his resolve hardening. "You'll have to go through me first."

Ashwin and Viyaan tensed, readying themselves for whatever came next. They weren't going down without a fight.

But Uncle Bhatra just smiled. "Oh, I don't think that'll be necessary," he said smoothly. "After all, there's always another way to break someone's spirit."

He snapped his fingers, and from behind him, more men entered the room, surrounding them. The odds had just grown even worse.

Tension snapped like a bowstring as Uncle Bhatra's henchmen moved in. The room was dim, the atmosphere thick with the threat of violence. Ashwin, Vikram, Viyaan, and Anshika were outnumbered, wounded, and tied, but they weren't about to give up. Not now.

Ashwin's eyes flicked to Vikram, their past tensions momentarily forgotten in the face of the overwhelming danger. There was no time for lingering anger, only survival. Vikram gave a slight nod, understanding without a word being exchanged. They had to fight, even if the odds were against them.

The first of the men lunged toward Vikram, a knife glinting in the low light. Vikram twisted, still tied to the chair, and kicked out with brutal precision, knocking the man's legs out from under him. He fell hard, but another man was already on top of Vikram, swinging a heavy fist toward his face.

Ashwin, tied but not helpless, rolled his chair backward into the man charging at him. The impact knocked the attacker off balance, and Ashwin used the moment to twist his body and stand up with the chair still attached to his back. He threw his weight into the man, sending him sprawling onto the floor.

"Get to Anshika!" Ashwin shouted at Viyaan, who was struggling to free himself from the ropes binding his wrists.

Viyaan's fingers worked frantically at the knots, his wrists raw from the effort. "Almost—almost there," he muttered through gritted teeth.

Uncle Bhatra, standing back and watching the chaos unfold, smirked. He had anticipated a fight, but it wasn't going to save them. His men outnumbered and outarmed Ashwin's group. He felt confident, but he also knew how dangerous they could be when backed into a corner.

One of Bhatra's henchmen swung a steel pipe at Ashwin, aiming for his head. Ashwin ducked just in time, the pipe whistling through the air above him. He dropped to the floor, rolling to the side as the pipe smashed into the concrete. In one fluid motion, Ashwin used his chair-bound arms to trap the man's legs, pulling him down and headbutting him as he fell.

Vikram, despite the odds, fought like a man possessed. He headbutted another attacker, sending blood spurting from the man's nose. His muscles screamed from the effort, but the fire of determination blazed in his eyes. He wasn't going to let Bhatra win—not after everything he'd lost.

"Now!" Viyaan finally freed himself from the ropes and lunged for Anshika, untying her quickly. She was weak, barely conscious, but her eyes fluttered open as Viyaan whispered, "We've got you, Bhabhi. We're getting out of here."

Anshika groaned in pain, her body too weak to move much, but the relief in her eyes was evident. "Viyaan... I'm sorry," she whispered. "I tried to help Dadu, but— I don't know where he is and how he is!"

"Shh, don't worry about that now. We're going to make it out of this," Viyaan assured her, though he wasn't entirely sure how. He glanced around, the situation getting worse by the second.

Just then, Vikram landed a powerful kick to one of the henchmen, sending him crashing into another attacker. But the fight wasn't letting up—more men poured into the room from every side, overwhelming them with sheer numbers.

Ashwin, drenched in sweat and blood from a cut above his brow, saw the new wave of attackers and gritted his teeth. They couldn't keep this up. He needed to think fast.

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded across Ashwin's back as one of the men slammed him with the butt of a rifle. He stumbled forward, barely keeping his balance. Another man kicked his legs out from under him, and Ashwin fell to his knees. The world spun as he fought to remain conscious.

Vikram, his breath ragged, saw Ashwin fall and knew they were running out of time. He stood over Anshika, determined to shield her from the chaos around them. "We can't hold them off like this forever," Vikram growled, sweat dripping down his face. "We need a plan."

Ashwin, gasping for breath, pulled himself back up with every ounce of strength he had left. His vision blurred, but he wouldn't give up. He caught a glimpse of Uncle Bhatra, still watching with that smug grin plastered across his face, untouched by the violence around him.

"Vikram!" Ashwin shouted, his voice hoarse. "Bhatra's not leaving this room alive!"

Vikram's eyes locked onto Bhatra, a murderous rage igniting in him. He had been waiting for this moment—waiting to finally put an end to the man who had ruined everything. His knuckles were white as he stepped forward, the room around him fading away.

But before Vikram could make his move, the man in black—the henchman who had brought Yuvan in—stepped in front of Bhatra. He pulled a gun from his jacket and leveled it at Vikram's chest.

Time seemed to slow.

"Vikram!" Anshika's weak voice called out, but it was too late. The gunshot rang out like thunder, deafening in the enclosed space.

Vikram's body jerked as the bullet tore through his shoulder, the pain immediate and blinding. He staggered, but he didn't fall.

Ashwin's world snapped into focus, adrenaline flooding his system. He surged forward, tackling the man in black to the ground before he could fire another shot. The gun skidded across the floor, lost in the chaos. They grappled viciously, each trying to gain the upper hand.

"Vikram!" Viyaan shouted, rushing to his side as Vikram clutched his bleeding shoulder. "Stay with me, man! We're getting out of here."

Vikram's breath came in shallow gasps, but his eyes were still locked on Bhatra. "Not... without him," he snarled, wincing through the pain.

Ashwin, still struggling with the man in black, slammed his fist into the attacker's face, dazing him just long enough to break free. He grabbed the fallen gun and aimed it directly at Bhatra, his finger trembling on the trigger.

"Enough!" Uncle Bhatra finally shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a whip. He raised his hands, a mocking smile still on his face. "You think this ends with me? You think killing me will stop any of this?"

Ashwin's jaw clenched, the gun steady in his hands. "You don't get to talk anymore."

Vikram, blood dripping from his wound, stepped forward despite the agony. "This ends now, Bhatra."

But before either of them could pull the trigger, the sound of sirens filled the air, growing louder by the second. Backup had finally arrived.

Bhatra's smile faded. The game had shifted.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and armed police stormed the room, shouting commands and quickly subduing the remaining henchmen. Bhatra was yanked down to his knees, handcuffed, his smugness gone as reality crashed down around him.

Ashwin lowered the gun, his entire body trembling from the adrenaline and exhaustion. He glanced at Vikram, who was barely standing but still holding his ground.

It was over.

As the police secured the area and paramedics rushed to tend to their wounds, Ashwin walked over to Vikram, the weight of everything that had happened still hanging in the air.

"We survived," Ashwin said, his voice rough. "Somehow... we survived."

Vikram, his face pale but his spirit unbroken, nodded. "But it's not over yet."

As Vikram's words lingered in the air, a chilling voice cut through the tension.

"Yes, it's not over yet."

Everyone turned sharply to see Yuvan, standing behind Ashwin, a sinister smile twisting his face as he held a gun pointed directly at Ashwin's back. The atmosphere, already thick with fear and adrenaline, froze.

Ashwin stiffened, eyes narrowing as he glanced over his shoulder at Yuvan. "Yuvan," he muttered, disbelief and betrayal mingling in his voice. "What the hell are you doing?"

But Yuvan's expression was calm, unnervingly so. His once meek and quiet demeanor had transformed into something cruel, something calculating. "Did you really think it was going to end like this?" he asked, his voice eerily steady. "You thought Bhatra was the mastermind? No. He's just a pawn, Ashwin."

Before anyone could react, the doors that the police had come through burst open again—but this time, it wasn't the police. A swarm of men in uniform, dressed like the officers who had just saved them, stormed in. Only something was wrong. These weren't real officers; the disguise was perfect, but their movements, the way they carried themselves—something felt off.

Vikram's eyes darkened as he realized the truth. "It was a setup," he muttered, his hands still clutching his injured shoulder.

Yuvan's twisted grin widened. "Smart as always, Vikram. But not smart enough." He stepped forward, keeping his gun trained on Ashwin, while the fake officers closed in on the rest of the group. They cuffed Vikram, Ashwin, Viyaan, and Anshika, forcing them back into their chairs.

"You always wondered who was pulling the strings," Yuvan continued, pacing in front of them, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You always thought it was some big, shadowy figure behind the scenes. But it was me. All this time. It was me who setted up Charlie for meetings just to get you back to London and I knew Vikram is smart enough that he won't ever miss such an opportunity and yes as per the plan he didn't! and that's when it all started! we got enough time to shatter you into pieces and see here you are! and I got close to my dear Bhabhi Jaan! and see here she is now! All weak just like Tanaya! my only sister"

Ashwin's fists clenched, his eyes burning with anger. "Yuvan... why?"

Yuvan laughed—a bitter, mocking sound. "Why? You really have to ask? Do you know what it was like? Watching the two of you—Vikram and Ashwin—the golden boys of the school, best friends that everyone admired. You had it all. And then there was me. Always in the background, always second place, the shadow of your friendship. Everyone praised you two, everyone wanted to be you. And what did I get? Nothing."

Vikram, wincing from the pain in his shoulder, spoke through gritted teeth. "This is about jealousy? You're doing all of this because we were friends?"

Yuvan's expression darkened. "No, it's more than that. I was never good enough, Vikram. You and Ashwin took everything, even the attention of my own family. My parents always compared me to you. 'Why can't you be more like Ashwin? Why can't you have friends like Vikram?' They never let me live it down. I was the failure—the weak one. The unwanted one. So, I left. I went to London, trying to escape the shadow you two cast over me."

Ashwin's voice softened slightly, confused. "And that's when you met Riya..."

Yuvan's eyes flashed with recognition at the mention of her name. "Yes. That's where I met her"

Anshika looked at Yuvan "Riya? Why does that name sounds so familiar..."

Ashwin looked at Anshika and inquired "How come?"

Anshika said "There was a girl named as Riya who came in my office seeking for help from a weird man! His name was same as yours Ashwin Singhania but then I asked her where is he? she told me to follow her. I did followed her but she suddenly vanished in air. I don't really know where she left after that but I saw you in cafee with a girl maybe that was Noha so I minded my own Business and went back to my office."

Yuvan smriked "Yes dear bhabhi jaan! that same girl! but our bad! our plan actually flopped that day. Nevermind we are finally here now so..."

Ashwin looked at him disbelief "You are such a jerk my whole life became hell just because of you! at least you could have talked to me about all that Yuvan! and that guy in hotel who almost killed me in hotel was that you?"

Yuvan chuckled darkly at Ashwin's question. "Yes, Ashwin, that was me. The guy at the hotel was one of mine, just a little test to see how far you would go for your precious Anshika. But you survived, like you always do—playing the hero. It's quite pathetic, actually." His eyes flickered with disdain.

...!!!Flashback!!!...

Yuvan's pov

As I stood over Ashwin, the darkness of the corridor seemed to deepen, mirroring the abyss I had dragged him into. My satisfaction was palpable, a cruel, twisted pleasure that surged through me like a drug. His attempts to evade my wrath had only intensified my resolve, and now, witnessing him sprawled before me, vulnerable and helpless, I savored the moment as one might savor the final act of a grand, tragic play.

The heavy object I had used to strike him lay discarded on the floor—a simple, blunt tool that had become an instrument of retribution. The dull thud of its impact against his skull had been music to my ears, a perverse symphony that signaled the culmination of my elaborate plan. The way his body had jerked with the force of the blow, the way his vision had clouded and his strength had waned—it was a sight that I would remember with a grim satisfaction.

Ashwin's efforts to cling to consciousness were futile. His world had become a haze of disorientation, every sound a distant echo, every movement sluggish and labored. He was trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake, unable to escape. The sight of him struggling, the look of confusion and fear in his eyes, only deepened my sense of triumph. The chaos that had consumed him mirrored the chaos I had endured for so long, and now, I was the one in control.

"Let's make it equal, Ashwin," I whispered, my voice a dark caress filled with malice. "Let's make it equal this time." The words were laced with a venomous satisfaction, a declaration of my newfound power. I had long been relegated to the sidelines, a shadow in the background, but now, I reveled in the role of the aggressor. The balance of power had shifted, and I was the one holding the reins.

My laughter, dark and chilling, echoed through the empty corridor like a sinister symphony. It was devoid of mercy, a stark reminder of the depth of my resolve and the extent of my vengeance. Each note of my laughter was a reminder of how far I had come, how deeply I had embraced my role as the orchestrator of this twisted drama.

In that moment, I felt an intoxicating rush of power. It surged through me like a potent elixir, an adrenaline-fueled high that left me feeling invincible. The weight of my previous failures seemed to dissipate, replaced by a cold, unyielding sense of triumph. Morality and conscience were nothing more than distant, irrelevant concepts. I was the master of my fate, the architect of my own destiny.

Towering over Ashwin, lying defeated at my feet, I felt a perverse sense of fulfillment. It was a small victory in a grand, tragic narrative, but it was enough to sate the burning hunger for revenge that had consumed me for so long. The sight of him lying there, broken and powerless, was a testament to my cunning and resolve.

With a final, cruel smirk, I turned away from the scene. The shadows of the corridor seemed to close in around me, the darkness a fitting cloak for my departure. As I walked away, the echoes of my laughter faded into the oppressive silence, leaving behind a lingering sense of dread and foreboding. Ashwin was left to grapple with his fate, his world irrevocably shattered by the relentless pursuit of vengeance that had driven me to this point.

The darkness that enveloped me as I walked away was a reminder of the path I had chosen, a path that had led me to this moment of twisted triumph. And as the corridor swallowed my form, I knew that this was only the beginning. The world I had set in motion would continue to unravel, each new twist more devastating than the last.

!!!Flashback ends!!!

Ashwin's jaw tightened, and his hands gripped the arms of his chair, knuckles white with tension. "So all of this... the accidents, the threats, the manipulation... you did it all just to bring me down?"

Yuvan leaned in closer, his voice a low, venomous hiss. "It was never just about bringing you down, Ashwin. I wanted to destroy everything you care about—your friends, your family, your reputation. You took everything from me without even realizing it. So, I decided to take it all from you—piece by piece, until there was nothing left."

Anshika's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes wide with disbelief. "And Tanaya... all this started with her, didn't it? You used her."

Yuvan's gaze hardened as he turned to Anshika. "Tanaya was weak. She loved Ashwin, but she was just another pawn in my game. Her death, tragic as it was, served its purpose. It created the perfect storm of misunderstandings between Vikram and Ashwin. I needed Vikram to believe that Ashwin was responsible for her death, to fuel his hatred, so he would play his part in my plan."

Vikram's eyes blazed with fury, but the pain in his shoulder held him back. "You manipulated all of us... for what? Some sick revenge fantasy?"

Yuvan sneered. "It's not a fantasy, Vikram. It's reality. And you're all part of it. You've all been playing your roles beautifully."

Suddenly, the room went eerily silent as a new figure stepped out from the shadows. It was a woman, her face obscured by a black veil. Everyone turned toward her, tension thickening the air even further.

"Riya..." Ashwin muttered, taking a step forward, his voice hoarse with disbelief. "But you... you."

Riya walked forward slowly, her expression devoid of emotion. "Did you really think I was gone for good, Ashwin? No. I just found someone who truly understood me."

She moved closer to Yuvan, her hand sliding onto his shoulder. The sinister grin that played on Yuvan's lips only deepened.

"Meet my fiancée," Yuvan said, his voice thick with triumph. "Your ex, Ashwin. The woman you tossed aside like she was nothing. You didn't think she'd come back, did you? Not like this."

Ashwin's face twisted in shock and confusion. "Riya... what have you done? Why are you with him?"

Riya's eyes, once warm and full of love for Ashwin, were now cold, calculating. "You were always so naive, Ashwin. You thought you could just walk away from me, from us, and everything would be fine. You left me broken, lost. Yuvan found me when I needed someone, and together, we planned everything. You were never going to get away with what you did."

Anshika, standing frozen, finally spoke up, her voice shaking. "Riya... this doesn't make sense. What did Ashwin ever do to deserve this?"

Riya laughed—a bitter, sharp sound. "You think you know him, Anshika? Ashwin and I, we were supposed to be together. We had a future, and he threw it all away because of his family and maybe you now." She spat the last word with venom. "And now... now you're going to watch him lose everything."

Yuvan, his grin now completely unhinged, waved his gun mockingly. "You see, Ashwin, this was never about family. It was about breaking you. All those years I watched from the sidelines, playing the loyal friend while you had everything I ever wanted—Riya included."

Ashwin's heart pounded in his chest as he took a step toward them, fists clenched. "Yuvan... if this is about Riya, you should've talked to me. This doesn't have to end in blood."

But Yuvan's eyes burned with madness. "Oh, but it does! You took everything from me, Ashwin. Now, I'm going to take everything from you!"

Without warning, Yuvan fired a shot—narrowly missing Ashwin. The bullet whizzed past his head, embedding itself in the wall behind him. The room erupted into chaos. Vikram lunged forward, but the fake officers grabbed him, pinning him down.

Ashwin ducked and rolled to the side, grabbing a chair and hurling it at Yuvan. The impact knocked Yuvan off balance, and he stumbled, momentarily losing his grip on the gun.

Anshika, panic rising in her chest, rushed to Ashwin's side. "Ashwin, we have to get out of here!"

Before Ashwin could respond, Riya stepped forward, blocking their path. Her eyes gleamed with malice. "You're not going anywhere."

Vikram, struggling against his captors, shouted, "Ashwin, get her away from him!"

But Yuvan had recovered, snarling as he pointed the gun at Ashwin once again. "No one's leaving, not until I've had my revenge!"

Just as Yuvan aimed the gun to fire again, Ashwin charged at him, knocking the weapon out of his hand. The two men grappled, exchanging fierce blows. Yuvan was fast, driven by years of pent-up rage, but Ashwin's strength and determination allowed him to land punch after punch.

The fight was brutal—fists flying, blood spraying as they slammed into walls and furniture. Yuvan managed to pull a knife from his belt and slashed at Ashwin's side. Ashwin winced, but the wound wasn't deep enough to slow him down.

In the midst of the chaos, Riya picked up the discarded gun, her hands shaking slightly as she leveled it at Ashwin. "Don't make me do this, Ashwin," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Ashwin paused, breathing heavily, his eyes locking onto hers. "Riya, please... don't let him drag you down with him. This isn't who you are."

For a moment, her grip faltered, her gaze softening as memories of their past flashed through her mind. But Yuvan, clutching his bruised face, sneered. "Riya, shoot him! He left you! He never cared about you!"

Riya's expression hardened once more. "You're right. He never cared." Her finger tightened on the trigger.