Chapter- 38

Ekansh held Ekta’s hand as she thrashed in her unconscious state. Hours passed by, evening slowly melting into night, yet she was still yet to wake up. It wasn’t a panic attack that she had suffered from, but a severe traumatic episode as per what the doctor described. He was still struggling to understand what actually happened. She had been fighting herself so much in her sleep since the past few hours that the nurse had to inject a sedative to calm her down before she harmed herself further.

Gently, he patted her head, noticing how she calmed down. Her fists unclenched from the bedsheets, her breathing slowing down to normal, the tremors wracking her body finally stopping. Quietly, he pulled back, rising to his feet and turning toward Eshita, who sat on the couch silently staring into a blank corner of the room.

He settled down beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her into his warmth effortlessly. He couldn’t forget that Eshita was just eighteen’. a teen who had witnessed something far more horrifying than she was supposed to today. Ekta’s bloodcurdling screams still rang in his ears. That terrified look on her face refused to leave his mind. If it affected him this much, he couldn’t even imagine what his sister might be going through. Ekta’s breakdown was enough to shake both of them apart.

“Kuch bol, Eshu.” He nudged softly.

Eshita sat like a rock. She could breathe, feel, hear, and even understand everything around her, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak anything. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. Ekta’s screams of agony sent chills down her spine. That kind of pain, that kind of terror, she had witnessed only in films; real-life experiences were foreign to her. So today, when she witnessed something so raw, brutal, and heartbreaking, she didn’t know how to actually process it. Eshita Sehgal was not scared of anyone’. that was what she believed, and it was in fact true. But today was the first time she felt scared, not of Ekta, but of the monsters who had hurt her.

Tears filled her eyes helplessly. “I am scared,” She whispered, leaning further into Ekansh’s touch.

Ekansh stilled. He looked down at his sister, his grip tightening protectively as he noticed the sheen of tears. “Of whom?”

Eshita pulled back, meeting his gaze. The answer was written in her eyes louder than words ever could.

Ekansh immediately cradled her face in his palms, shaking his head firmly. “No! Aise ghatiya logon se darne ki meri bhen ko koi zarurat nhi hai. Tujhe aise logon se darne ki ijazat nhi hai! Such bastards are like pesticides Esha... destroying everything they touch we should kill them, not fear them, bacche.”

Eshita’s gaze lowered. “To kill them, we have to find them, bhaiya...”

“And I will.”

Eshita shook her head sadly. “How? Aap jaante bhi nhi woh log kaun hai... and her family... we don’t have proof against them...”

“They are locked up behind bars,” Ekansh replied quietly, shocking her.

He nodded. “I am sure they triggered her memories. It’s better they stay behind bars until I find a way to get her custody and look for those monsters. I will find them, Esha.”

Eshita glanced at Ekta. “Jo aaj mujhe mehsoos ho raha hai woh usse bhi hua hoga na, bhaiya? How did she survive that? How did she live with all of that alone? Aaj uski cheekhen sun kar meri rooh kaanp gayi... Usne toh woh sab...” She choked on her words, unable to complete the sentence.

Ekansh pulled her back into his warmth. He didn’t have anything to reply to that. Eshita was right in every sense. One can’t say that they relate to someone’s trauma. It’s easy to say, ‘I understand your pain,’or that you know what is the definition of assault. But the one who actually survives it, who carries it in their bones every single day, knows there is no comparison, no true way to measure that suffering against anything else.

Ekta flinched violently, waking up with a startled gasp. Her hand flew to her neck as panic clawed at her throat, trying to breathe. For a second, it felt like someone was choking her to death before she felt a pair of hands wrapping around her like a warm blanket in the chilling winters, grounding her back to reality and pulling her away from the nightmare that had swallowed her whole. Her body relaxed on its own accord.

Ekansh creased her hair in a soothing manner, reaching for the glass of water and helping her sip it. Her trembling hands couldn’t even hold the glass properly.

Ekta looked around, snapping out of her nightmare. Slowly, reality settled around her and the walls of her room came back into focus, the shadows she was running away from now finally stood before her. Truth be told, she didn’t know anymore what to feel. Fear settled deep into her veins like a slow poison, ran through her mind like a relentless storm, and wrapped itself around her heart like a rusted chain. Her eyes were too drained to even shed tears of terror.

All she felt was lost in her own emotional labyrinth. Feelings ran within her, but now they all drowned in the oceans of exhaustion and numbness.

Ekansh sat before her, holding her hand in his. “You don’t have to be scared of anyone, Ekta. Maine kaha tha na, no one will reach you. Your fam... your father and brother are behind the bars.” He squeezed her hand in assurance. “They won’t reach you. Tujhe darne ki koi zarurat nhi hai. Hum sab hai na yaha tere saath.”

Ekta stared at him blankly, his words laced with unwavering certainty. He did what he promised her. Even earlier in court when she noticed how her family tried to approach her with disdain written all over their faces. Ekansh stood before her like a shield. One look from Virendra made them stop. Even Eshita looked fiercely like a protective lioness.

Ekta chuckled out loud. What a life she had. When was the last time her own family did something for her? When was the last time someone actually kept their promise asking nothing in return? When was the last time she felt like laughing despite seeing who she might face in her future? Again. Why was she being so pathetic?

“Ekta?” Eshita called out, concerned, glancing at her brother. Why was the girl laughing all of a sudden?

Ekta shook her head, shrugging away her thoughts. She looked back at Ekansh. “Mere ek sawal ka jawab doge?”

Ekansh nodded instantly.

Ekta held his hand in hers. “Agar main aapse kuch maangu toh mujhe woh doge?”

“Haa, Ekta... bolna tujhe kya chaiye. I will give you anything you want. You want to see them suffer. I will make sure...”

“Release them, bhaiya,” Ekta interjected softly.

Ekansh stiffened. He didn’t expect her to ask that. To release the people who were the reason behind her past miseries. Despite saying yes to her earlier, he couldn’t bring himself to say it again. He would never agree to that one thing Ekta wanted. It was the first time in all those years she had asked him for something and he was denying her that one wish. She might end up getting hurt or hating him, but he wouldn’t allow her to walk back into the same fire that once burned her alive for her own betterment. Be it selfish or overprotective, he doesn’t care.

“Tu pagal ho gayi hai!” Eshita murmured quietly. She couldn’t believe that she heard that from Ekta. She could understand her fears, but she couldn’t understand the compassion she was showing towards people who never deserved it. Some wounds were simply unforgivable. Empathy towards the people who gave her scars for life couldn’t be forgiven’. family or strangers, it didn’t matter. Period.

Ekansh held her gaze. “Mene tujhe apni bhen dil se mana hai. Aur agar ek bhen galat faisla le toh uske bhai ka farz hai usse sahi raah dikhana. Itna haq toh hai na hum dono ke rishte mein?”

Ekta’s eyes fogged with tears. She nodded. “Aap se zyada iss poori duniya mein kisi ka mere faislon par koi haq nhi hai. Aapke siwaye toh mera koi bhai bhi nhi hai.”

Ekansh wiped away the tears trickling down her cheeks. “Dard mein rona hume insaan hone ka ehsaas dilata hai, Ekta. Lekin kisi ke darr mein rona hume kayar banata hai. Aur Ekansh Sehgal ki bhen kayar nhi hai. Tu unnn logon ko kyun chhudwana chati hai... Mujhe wajah bata. Uske baad main decide karunga ki woh log bahar aane chaiye ya nahi.”

Ekta looked away. “Aap un logon se ladna chahte hai jo bahut taqatwar hai.” She glanced back at him, tears shimmering in her eyes all over again. “Maine aapse kaha tha ki main nhi jaanti ki jinhone mere saath... Jinke saath mujhe itne saal beetane pade, woh kaun hai. Lekin agar main aaj aapse kahun ki unmein se ek insaan ka chehra maine aaj itne saalon baad dekha toh aap kya karoge? Agar main aapse yeh kahun ki woh insaan bahut powerful hai... Itna ki shayad aap uss tak pahunch bhi nhi sakte, toh aap kya karoge?”

“Maine tere sar ki kasam khayi thi kal...” Ekansh’s voice turned dangerously quiet, “Tre saath jisne bhi galat kiya hai, usse uski saza main dunga. Aur main apni kasam kabhi nahi todta. Who is he?”

Ekta shook her head, her eyes pleading with him to let it go. She wanted to answer him, but the man was no ordinary person anymore. How could one fight a person who was mingled up in the very law that was supposed to bring justice to people? How would they fight a person who had influence reaching far beyond ordinary power? How would they fight a man who could bury truths before they ever reached daylight?

Maybe sometimes letting go of justice and suffering in silence was the only fate one could choose for themselves. She was scared for Ekansh, for the trap he might get stuck in without even realizing it.

“Ekta, naam bata.” Ekansh pressed, rising to his feet. His blood was boiling beneath the surface. The truth that the person was near her and he knew nothing about it was enough to piss him off. He would make sure that bastard paid for every single thing.

Ekta’s gaze found Eshita. Maybe she could help her. She had noticed that whatever Eshita said, Ekansh listened to. The agitation in him was palpable, and that was exactly what she feared’. the consequences he might face for going against powerful people.

Eshita shook her head. “Mera bhi wahi sawaal hai jo bhaiya ka hai. Tell us the name. The power you have seen in the past might be dipped in greed, lust, abuse of authority, but Sehgal’s...” She sat beside Ekta. “Hum bahut kuch kar sakte hai. The name we carry holds much more than influence or social status. Whoever that person is... his status doesn’t matter, his job, his surname’. nothing matters. Except for his deeds. Please naam bata de.”

Ekta swallowed hard, her fists clenching on the bedsheets. It wasn’t easy. Their unwavering conviction reached her just as much as their anger and concern. Her heart shook with fear and hesitation. Even remembering the man’s face now, with a name attached to the anonymous identity, made her feel physically sick.

“Samar Singhania.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper, yet in the silence of the room the siblings heard it loud and clear.

Ekansh met Eshita’s gaze, a silent message passing between them before he turned on his heels and left the room. The moment his back faced them, the storm he had been holding in check broke loose. His jaw clenched so hard that a muscle ticked visibly, veins standing out sharply along his neck and forearms. His eyes burned with a dangerous shade of red, fury and disbelief colliding into something far colder than rage.

Every step he took echoed with restrained violence, his hands curling into fists as if stopping himself from breaking something. The shock of what he had just learned still pounded through his veins, but beneath it settled an iron-clad determination. Samar Singhania made the biggest mistake of his life and Ekansh Sehgal will hunt the man down making him face them without any remorse.

“Bhaiya...” Ekta called out worriedly.

Eshita stopped her as she tried to get up. “Kya kar rahi hai? You are still weak.”

“Unhe rokiye please...” Ekta pleaded, panic evident in her voice. “He was angry. Vo kuch kar denge... Aap... aap log uss insaan ko nhi jaante. Woh kuch bhi kar sakta hai... Vo...”

“Kuch nhi kar sakta hai, Ekta.” Eshita interjected firmly. “Iss poori duniya mein aisa koi paida nhi hua jo Ekansh Sehgal ko chhoo sake.” She held Ekta’s hand gently in hers. “Darr mujhe bhi lag raha hai... lekin mujhe apne bhaiya aur dad par poora bharosa hai ki unke hote hue hume koi kuch nhi kar sakta. Aur jitna main apne bhaiya ko jaanti hoon...” A faint smile tugged at her lips despite the tension. “He will break the man’s few bones for now. He believes in slow torture. Clean death isn’t his thing.”

Ekta sat there, utterly shocked by the casual certainty with which Eshita had said that. For a moment, she had absolutely nothing to say in response. The confidence the siblings carried was so foreign to her that she didn’t know how to react. In her world, people got hurt. They disappeared. They failed to return.

She clasped her trembling hands together and silently prayed that Ekansh would come back to her unharmed. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing the only person who had stood beside her without asking for anything in return. The mere possibility of harm touching him sent a fresh wave of fear through her veins.

✨✨✨

Singhania Firm stood impeccably tall against the Mumbai skyline, the ten-storey glass structure standing like a monument to power and influence. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows reflected the moon, turning the entire building into a shining fortress of wealth, authority, and ambition.

Ekansh walked into the building with long purposeful strides radiating the kind of confidence that made people instinctively step aside. Heads turned towards him’. some confused, some recognizing exactly who had just walked through those doors.

“Which floor?” He asked his guard Vijay, who followed him while updating him about Samar’s whereabouts.

“Fifth floor, sir,” Vijay replied, keeping pace beside him. “I asked the receptionist for an urgent meeting, but she declined, saying he is busy.”

Ekansh nodded, stepping into the elevator. “Stay out of his cabin. Kisi ko andar nhi aane dena,” he ordered, rolling up his shirt sleeves deliberately. “Dad ka phone aaye toh receive karne ki zarurat nhi hai. And yes, don’t call him even if the police enter the scene. Just give them the way. Clear?”

Vijay’s eyes widened. “Sir? Aapke papa meri jaan le lenge.”

He had been working with the Seghals for decades now. One thing that never changed was Ekansh’s ability to deal with devils head-on, even if it meant setting yourself on fire in the process. The man believed in sending a message loud enough for the whole world to hear. Virendra was not different. But dealing with an angry father afterward? Vijay didn’t know why he always ended up trapped between the father and son.

Ekansh stepped out, glancing over his shoulder. “If anything goes wrong, I will kill you myself.” The warning in his tone was unmistakable.

Finding Samar’s cabin in the last corner of the corridor, he barged in without bothering to knock.

There stood the man near the floor-to-ceiling window, his back facing him, cigar smoke curling lazily through the air like a poisonous serpent waiting to strike.

Samar turned slowly. Their gazes locked. One filled with challenge. The other with a promise of destruction.

“Hello, Mr. Sehgal. What brings you here?” Samar drawled casually, dropping the cigar and crushing it beneath his polished shoe.

The innocent question hid a thousand unspoken provocations beneath it.

A cold, dangerous smile danced on Ekansh’s lips. “Your death.”

Before Samar could react, Ekansh lunged forward. His fist crashed into Samar’s jaw. A brother’s fury knew no mercy. Years of restraint shattered in a single moment. His rage carried every tear his sister had hidden, every smile stolen from her lips, every sleepless night she had endured because of the man standing before him. It wasn’t a fight. It wasn’t revenge. It was a brother collecting a debt long overdue.

Samar chuckled, stumbling back and grazing his fingers over his split lip. “Nice punch, Mr. Sehgal.” He scoffed, wiping off the blood with his sleeve. “Mujhe nhi pata tha she will sing out my name so easily. I guess thodi training kam padh....”

Ekansh’s foot crashed into his chest. Samar fell onto the ground, his breath knocked straight out of his lungs.

Ekansh grabbed him by the lapels, shaking him violently. “Teri training kam lag rahi hai. Aaj tujhe kutta bana ke chodta hu. Tujhe bhi pata chale ki asli dard kya hota hai.”

Another punch landed. Blood came running down Samar’s nose and lips, staining his expensive shirt crimson. Yet that smirk on Samar’s face only fueled Ekansh’s anger further, making him hit harder than before...

The camera zoomed out. The laptop flap closed.

The man rose to his feet, chuckling darkly at whatever he had just witnessed through the CCTV footage. He liked it! Ekansh Sehgal was surely something. His butterfly had someone powerful enough to protect her.

But who in this city could stand before him when he decided to step into the game himself?

“Police se kaho uski haddiya tode,” He ordered his man. “Mumbai ke sabse bade lawyer par haath uthane ka anjaam kya hota hai... sabko pata chalna chaiye.”

The man walked out to comply.

The pieces were finally moving across the board. The game has begun. Power would clash against power, and when the dust settled, only one side would remain standing. Who will win? That was the question.

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Share your views!!!

Next Update: Wednesday!

Thanks for reading!!!

 

← Previous                               Next →