The sacred fire of the havankund burned steadily, its golden flames dancing and reflecting in countless eyes gathered around.

Ruhanika sat there, her gaze fixed ahead, watching as the groom gently filled the bride’s parting with vermilion. The ritual unfolded with quiet sanctity, yet for her, the world seemed distant, muffled, almost unreal.

Beside her, Abhiraaj did not look at the ceremony even once. His eyes were fixed solely on Ruhanika.

In the flickering glow of the fire, he could see everything she tried so hard to hide. The fear, the pain, the helplessness, and the quiet despair that sat deep within her eyes.

Every emotion was laid bare before him, and it tore through his heart like a silent blade. Yet he remained composed, unable to let the storm inside him show on his face.

“What are you thinking, Ruh?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ruhanika did not respond. Her eyes grew glossy, shimmering under the firelight. A silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

“Are you remembering our wedding, biwi sahiba?” Abhiraaj tried again, a faint attempt to lighten the moment.

At that, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. Before it could fall, Abhiraaj gently wiped it away.

“CM sahib…” her voice trembled, fragile and broken, “can that time not come back?”

She turned her face towards him and Abhiraaj felt his chest tighten. He had no answer. None that could mend what was already shattered. The helplessness in him was overwhelming, suffocating him from within.

“I’m sorry,” was all he could manage, his voice heavy with guilt.

Ruhanika let out a painful breath, her lips curving into a hollow smile. “I wish your sorry could fix everything. But it is all ruined. You went away… forever. And now, my daughter is gone too.”

Abhiraaj tried to interject, his voice urgent. “No, it’s not like that…..”

But she cut him off. “I wish it were not true,” she said, her voice steady yet filled with grief. “But you know why she gave up her UK citizenship. So that she never has to come back here… so that I can never bring her back.”

Her words hit him harder than any accusation.

“And the worst part is,” she continued, her voice breaking slightly, “even after knowing everything, I am so helpless that I cannot even try to make her understand. Because if I do… I might lose my child forever.”

Abhiraaj ran a hand over his face, struggling to gather himself. “I tried. I tried so many times to bring her here back to you. It was because of that, in stubbornness she went ahead and revoked her citizenship there and applied here… just to stand her ground.”

Ruhanika let out a soft, bitter chuckle. “That stubbornness… wo toh Raichand Khandan ki rago mein daudhta hai (it runs in the Raichand family's blood,)” she said, shaking her head slightly. “And unfortunately, half of that Raichand blood she got from me.”

Her gaze drifted away, lost in memories.

“Now I understand what Papa must have felt. What he must have gone through when I stopped talking to him because of my own stubbornness. He used to fight so much with Dadu because of his temper. I was also short tempered and stubborn like him… and Ruru has inherited that same anger from me.”

Her voice softened, laced with fear.

“That's why I’m scared. I don’t know how Papa endured my coldness… CM Sahib, now that I’ve become a mother, I understand how helpless a person becomes for their child. I won’t be able to bear it if Ruru ever gets upset with me or stops talking to me…. I would die, CM Sahib.” She paused. “That’s why I never impose my decisions on her… the way Papa once did on me.”

Abhiraaj’s heart clenched painfully at her words.

Because the decision she spoke of… was him.

That forced decision. That marriage.

Ruhanika continued, her voice carrying both warmth and sorrow, “That decision became the most beautiful part of my life. But what we suffered later… it was us, and our children, who paid the price.”

Her eyes met his again, this time filled with quiet fire and pain.

“You said you chose that power again to protect us. That you stayed away for our safety. I accepted that too. I endured that distance.”

Her voice hardened.

“Par ab agar us satta k rehte bhi, agar meri bachi par waha ek anch bhi ai na kabhi Abhiraaj toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. (But if, even after all that power, even a scratch comes upon my daughter… then Abhiraaj, no one will be worse than me.)”

The warning in her tone was not loud, but it was absolute.

“Ek bacha mai apki satta ki bali chdha chuki, apne maa baap, apna pyaar tak kurban kar chuki par ab aur nhi karungi. (I have already sacrificed one child at the altar of your power. I have given up my parents, my love… everything. But not anymore.)”

Suddenly a voice broke through.

“Sir, we have reached home.”

Abhiraaj blinked, pulled back into the present. The car had stopped.

For a moment, he remained still, his fingers tightening unconsciously as the weight of that memory settled over him once again.

That conversation had happened months ago. Their last meeting. Their last conversation.

At Hamza and Manvi’s wedding.

Yet every word Ruhanika had spoken that day echoed in his mind constantly, refusing to fade. Her pain, her fear, her warnings… they had carved themselves into his soul.

A quiet dread had taken root in his heart ever since.

For Rudrakshi.

Because in politics, no one was truly your own. He knew that better than anyone and ever since he had lost Aarav, that fear had only grown stronger. It had made him sharper, more alert, constantly watching, constantly guarding.

Because he did not know when, where, or from whom the next attack would come.

And this time, he could not afford to lose anyone again.

Especially not his child again. He had already lost their elder daughter but not again.

Abhiraaj stepped out of the car, the weight of his thoughts still clinging to him, and began walking toward the house. The night was quiet, almost too quiet, when a faint movement near the garden caught his attention.

His steps slowed and then he saw him.

Gazi was climbing out of the window, carefully and suspiciously, holding two large tubs of ice cream like they were some kind of precious contraband.

For a moment, Abhiraaj just stared. First at Gazi. Then at the ice cream. Then back at Gazi.

His mind genuinely struggled to process what exactly he was witnessing.

What on earth is he doing?

Without making a sound, Abhiraaj walked over and stood right behind him.

Gazi had just finished shutting the window when a deliberate sound of someone clearing their throat echoed behind him.

Gazi froze. His eyes squeezed shut as he muttered under his breath, “Aa gaya Mucchad Singh…”

Very slowly, almost like a criminal accepting his fate, he turned around and came face to face with Abhiraaj.

“My house has a perfectly good door,” Abhiraaj said, his voice calm but laced with danger, “as far as I remember.”

Gazi did not even blink. “Kya karu darwaze par aap bhi toh mil jate ho. (What do I do? You stand at that door.)”

“Teri toh…” Abhiraaj snapped, immediately grabbing him by the nape.

Gazi jolted, clearly startled, but he straightened the very next second. Lover of his Guiya, but he was not about to retreat from his own battlefield.

“So now you have become a thief too?” Abhiraaj said sharply. “Should I call the police?”

Gazi let out a dramatic gasp. “Thief? What did I steal?”

Abhiraaj pointed at the ice cream tubs in his hands.

Gazi rolled his eyes so hard it was almost theatrical and Abhiraaj’s hold on his collar tightened.

“Why would I steal something so cheap?” Gazi shot back without thinking. “I am not a politician.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. His eyes widened and he bit his tongue. Slowly, very slowly, he looked at Abhiraaj.

“Oh. Oh no.” His voice softened instantly, panic creeping in. “I was not talking about you, sasur ji. It is just a general statement. Not all politicians are honest like you.”

Abhiraaj smacked the back of his head. “I am not your father in law.”

“You will be in the future,” Gazi replied instantly. “Better get used to it.”

“Shut your nonsense,” Abhiraaj snapped. “Take that ice cream inside. Those are my daughter’s favourites….”

“Exactly. That is why I am taking them.” Gazi cut in instantly.

Abhiraaj frowned. “What do you mean?”

Gazi leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing classified information. “Guiya’s shark week is going on.”

Abhiraaj blinked. “Her what?”

For a full second, Gazi just stared at him. The kind of stare that silently judged his entire existence.

Then he took a deep breath, his face turning extremely serious, though his tone dripped with sarcasm. “Sorry, my bad, I forgot. It’s not your fault. Your profession itself is such that the only qualification required is having no qualification at all.”

Abhiraaj’s eyes darkened as he gave him a death glare.

“You do not even know what shark week means,” Gazi continued in one breath. “I do not know what it is called in Hindi, but she is on her menstrual cycle. If she eats ice cream like this, her pain will increase. So I am taking it away and you are not allowed to bring more on her demand. I was even distributing it among your guards, but no one has ever taught ministers how to listen. Especially Chief Ministers.” He finished in a single breath.

Abhiraaj stared at him for a second, both shocked and surprised. How did he even know about his daughter’s menstruation cycle? What the hell was going on?

Then calmly pulled out his gun and placed it against Gazi’s head. “You are not afraid of me?” he asked quietly. “The entire Delhi fears me.”

Gazi replied just as quickly, “Why should I be afraid? I have the support of the one person you are afraid of.”

Abhiraaj’s gaze sharpened instantly.

Ruhanika. Of course, who else. It’s under her influence that this idiot dances on Abhiraaj’s head.

He narrowed his eyes, silently thinking that his Ruh had spoiled this boy far too much.

Gazi, meanwhile, continued speaking, even though he was scared out of his wits, he just didn’t let it show on his face. Instead his chest puffed out even though there was a very real gun against his head.

“And what is this habit of yours, pulling out this toy every time? I am not scared of it.”

That only made Abhiraaj pressed the gun slightly harder against his head and Gazi swallowed very visibly.

“Just wait,” he muttered, trying to maintain his bravado. “I will get one too soon. I am already eighteen.”

Abhiraaj’s eyes narrowed further. “I will never let your license get approved. And if you keep one illegally, I would love nothing more than to throw you in jail.”

Gazi straightened, regaining his confidence as quickly as he had lost it. “I will get such guns that yours will look like toys. And they will not be illegal. Nor will I need your permission.”

There was a brief silence. A very dangerous one.

Then Ghazi continued, “Just wait, you’ll be saluting me one day.”

“Get out of here before I’ll beat you up properly,” Abhiraaj said in a threatening tone, still glaring at Gazi, his patience hanging by a thread, when a voice came from behind them.

“Raaj, why are you scolding the child?”

Both of them turned at the same time.

Yogeshwar stood there, watching them with an amused expression.

The moment Gazi saw him, his entire demeanor changed. He slipped out of Abhiraaj’s hold and ran straight to him.

“Bade Dadu!” he bent down quickly to touch his feet. “How are you?”

“I am fine,” Yogeshwar replied warmly, placing a hand over his head in blessing. “How are you, mere chote Sher (my little lion)?”

“I am perfectly fine, standing right in front of you,” Gazi said proudly, then glanced sideways at Abhiraaj. “Just that some people cannot tolerate that.”

Abhiraaj shot him a sharp look. If a look from eyes could kill then Gazi would have been six feet under the ground.

Yogeshwar chuckled, patting Gazi’s back affectionately before Abhiraaj stepped forward and bent to touch his feet as well.

“Bless you,” Yogeshwar said, placing his hand on Abhiraaj’s head. Then, noticing the gun, he added lightly, “He is just a child, why are you scaring him?”

Abhiraaj straightened, still glaring at Gazi. “He is not afraid of anyone.”

Yogeshwar laughed softly. “My Shekhar has returned in his form. He never feared his father, so why would he fear his future father in law?”

“Bade Papa, please,” Abhiraaj said, already exasperated. “Do not start this again. Ruh has already spoiled him enough. Please do not compare him to Shekhar Papa.”

Yogeshwar’s expression softened, a hint of emotion surfacing in his eyes. “The day Shekhar left us… that very day, this boy came into our lives. Whether you accept it or not, let this old heart live with the comfort that my friend Shekhar has returned.”

He pulled Gazi closer in a side embrace and Gazi practically lit up with happiness, his chest puffing out even more.

“In that case,” he said with a grin, looking straight at Abhiraaj, “I am his father in law, right? Bade Dadu you haven't taught him how to behave with his sasur ji…”

He did not even get to finish. Abhiraaj lunged forward instantly.

Gazi yelped, “Haye Begum!” and bolted, running for his life before Abhiraaj could reach him.

Yogeshwar laughed, catching Abhiraaj by the arm. “Let him go. He is just a child.”

“He is not a child,” Abhiraaj muttered irritably, watching him run. “He is a blood sucking parasite.”

Meanwhile, Gazi had already handed the ice cream tubs to the guards and was rushing toward his car.

“Do not give ice cream to Guiya even if she asks!” he shouted loudly. “Mucchad Singh, I am warning you!”

That was it.

Abhiraaj lost whatever patience he had left and charged toward him again.

But Gazi was faster. He jumped into his car and sped off before Abhiraaj could reach him.

“I will have him locked up for underage driving!” Abhiraaj snapped in frustration.

Yogeshwar, still amused, shook his head. “He has a license.”

That only seemed to irritate Abhiraaj even more as he stood there, watching the disappearing car, his jaw clenched.

And somewhere behind all that anger… was a reluctant, unspoken acceptance that this chaos was not leaving his life anytime soon.

Abhiraaj stood there for a moment, jaw clenched, watching the tail lights of Gazi’s car disappear into the distance. Beside him, Yogeshwar let out a soft chuckle, still amused.

After a brief silence, the two of them began walking toward the house.

“How come you are here at this hour?” Abhiraaj asked, glancing at him.

Yogeshwar took a deep breath, his steps slowing slightly. “I do not feel at peace in the haveli anymore. Whenever I feel suffocated, I just step out and come here or go somewhere else. I am only waiting for death now, so that I can go and finally meet my Sonarika ji again. But death refuses to come to me.”

“Bade Papa, please do not say such things,” Abhiraaj said immediately, his tone firm but filled with concern. “We need you. Aadiv needs you. And if it is about passing time and distracting yourself for a moment, you should go to London for a while. Spend time with Ruh and Rudransh. You will feel better.”

Yogeshwar shook his head slowly and his voice pained. “I no longer have the courage to face Ruhi. Seeing the two of you separated like this… it feels like I am the reason. Because of me, my children have been torn apart.”

“It was the situation, Bade Papa. Not you,” Abhiraaj replied quietly.

“Whatever it was,” Yogeshwar said, his voice heavy with sadness, “after I die, I will not be able to face Shekhar and Naintara. I could not take care of their Ruhi. After them, she is away from her home… away from you. What will I tell my friend and my sister? That I failed them?”

He sat down heavily on the couch, his shoulders weighed down with guilt.

Abhiraaj did not say anything. He simply walked to the side table, picked up a glass of water, and handed it to him silently.

Yogeshwar accepted it, his fingers slightly trembling. After a sip, he looked up again. “Where is Rudrakshi?”

“She must be in her room,” Abhiraaj replied. “She is not feeling well.”

Yogeshwar immediately grew concerned, placing the glass down. “What happened? Call the doctor.”

“She is fine,” Abhiraaj said calmly. “Your chaheta (beloved) took care of her.” His tone carried a clear hint of irritation but also relieved. “If it was serious, he would have turned the entire hospital upside down before I even found out.”

At the mention of Gazi, Yogeshwar smiled. “He is a good boy.” Then his expression turned serious again. “How much of Rudrakshi’s school is left?”

“Just the final year. It will be over in a few months.”

“Then send her to Ruhanika on the pretext of college,” Yogeshwar suggested.

“She will not agree,” Abhiraaj replied. “I have tried many times…..”

Before the conversation could go further, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Both of them fell silent and then Rudrakshi came running in.

“Namaste Bade Dadu!” she said brightly, wrapping her arms around Yogeshwar’s neck from the side.

Yogeshwar smiled instantly, placing a kiss on her head. “I just arrived, came to see my princess.”

“Did you have dinner?” Abhiraaj asked.

“No,” she replied. “I was waiting for you.” Then she turned to Yogeshwar. “You will have dinner with us, right?”

“Of course,” he said warmly. “What is for dinner today?”

“Papa’s favorite,” she said with a bright smile.

Soon, all three of them were seated at the dining table. The maids began serving food, the atmosphere unexpectedly light.

Rudrakshi reached for a glass of cold water. But before she could take it, Abhiraaj slid a glass of normal water toward her.

“Drink this. Your Gadha has already given instructions. Nothing cold for you.”

“Papa,” she protested immediately, “his name is Gazi, not Gadha.”

Abhiraaj made a flat expression. “Same thing.”

Yogeshwar could not help but laugh softly, watching the two of them.

It had been a long time since such warmth had returned to this house. Ever since Ruhanika had left, that warmth had disappeared with her. But now, with Rudrakshi, it had begun to return, slowly filling the empty spaces again.

For a moment, it felt like a home again.

After dinner, Yogeshwar left for the haveli, and Rudrakshi went to her room.

A little while later, Abhiraaj entered her room quietly, carrying a hot water bag.

He walked up to her and handed it over. “Keep this. It will help with the cramps.”

She took it without a word and he sat beside her, gently stroking her hair before placing a soft kiss on her head. “Do you feel like eating something? You did not eat properly.”

“I want ice cream,” she said immediately.

“That useless donkey of yours stole it,” Abhiraaj replied. “And he even warned me not to give you any.”

“Papa,” she whined, her voice rising slightly, “his name is Gazi.”

“Yes, whatever,” he muttered. “And I do not like him coming here at all.”

“He is my boyfriend,” she shot back. “Whether you like it or not, you will have to tolerate him.”

Abhiraaj opened his mouth to respond and then closed it. For once, he had nothing to say.

Instead, he quietly picked up her feet and began massaging them gently.

The room filled with a soft comfort as the two of them started talking about their day, sharing small details like they always did.

And slowly, that once empty house began to feel alive again.

Far away from that warmth, in another place, a person sat in the shadows.

Another person stood before the first person, speaking in a low voice.

“Abhiraaj Singh Rathore’s daughter is in India, just as per our plan. She has also given up her UK citizenship. She will stay here now. The information we fed her online worked perfectly. It has already planted enough thoughts in her mind. Now we can use her easily.”

The second person continued, “No one has been able to trace where she got that information from. Every digital trail was erased the moment it was accessed. No one will ever suspect you. There will be no evidence against you.”

The person sitting in the dark smiled faintly. “That is exactly what I wanted,” said slowly. “The destruction of Abhiraaj Singh Rathore… will now come through his own daughter.”