The moment the name was spoken, a heavy silence fell. Every officer in the room stiffened, their faces draining of color. Even Vidya looked shaken. Only Rajesh stood unmoved, confused by the sudden shift in atmosphere. To him, Lalan sounded like just another local criminal. But before he could speak, the senior officer broke the silence, stammering, "N-No… you're just blabbering… Lalan Raj? That can't be. Two years ago, the CID declared him dead. He wasn't just any goon—he was a brutal monster. He murdered men, women… even children. And he did it for fun."
As the words sank in, Rajesh's thoughts flashed back to that dreadful night—the fight, the pain, the brutality of the man he had faced. That couldn't have been an ordinary thug. Everything now pointed in one direction: the man who had injured him so severely must have been Lalan Raj.
Suddenly, Vidya stepped forward, fear in her eyes. "The man who grabbed me… the leader of these disgusting demons…"—she pointed toward the captured goons—"it was Lalan Raj. From the beginning, his network has been strong. He ruined everything we had planned."
Her voice trembled as she turned to her brother. "Please, bhaiya… we have to save her. She took my place. She chose to be the bait instead of me to protect me. But now… I'm here too."
Rajesh looked around at the officers. Without a word, they all exchanged determined glances. The time for hesitation was over. They were ready to move. Ready to save Vidya.
While the officers discussed their next move, far away from them, hidden in silence, stood the very man they feared—Lalan Raj. The same man who had nearly killed Rajesh and hold Madhu captive. Unseen, he listened to every word of their conversation, his expression unreadable. Without a sound, he slipped away and got into a car parked nearby. Taking out a phone, he made a brief call.
"Boss, we're exposed… Sorry. We have to move," he said coldly, then ended the call. Without leaving a trace, he vanished like the wind.
Back at the police station, the officers prepared to launch a rescue mission for Vidya. But doubt still lingered. The senior officer hesitated, his voice low and uncertain. "But… he was dead. I know it. I saw it. He was too arrogant to be arrested. When CID cornered him in that club two years ago, he chose to shoot himself rather than be taken down by another man in uniform. He died on the spot… So how is this possible?"
One of the junior officers stepped forward with determination. "Sir, I understand your fear. But we can't back down now. Your daughter—and other women—are still being held. For years, we've turned a blind eye, but this is our time. We must act."
The senior officer took a deep breath, nodded, and loaded his pistol with resolve. "Alright. Let's catch this bastard."
Rajesh stepped forward. "Sir, I want to come too."
But the officer shook his head firmly. "No. Your sister is saved. You need to go home. Our team will take you both to the hospital first. Let us handle it now—it's our duty."
Rajesh nodded silently. But Madhu, unable to hold back, stepped forward. "No, sir. I want to see Vidya ma'am. She's still there… and she's waiting for me to come save her."
The senior officer gently placed a hand on her head. "I know, beta. But don't worry—we're going. We'll bring her back. Just stay close to your brother."
With that, he walked away. Madhu clung to Rajesh's shoulder, like a lost child, her heart heavy but hopeful—praying that Vidya would be safe.
As the officers assembled around their jeeps, the senior policeman stepped forward to deliver final instructions. His voice was firm, yet carried the weight of something deeper—something personal. "Listen carefully. This may be our last and final revolt against Lalan Raj. I don't know how he survived… or what he really is. But now, our only mission is to bring him in—alive. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" the officers responded in unison.
A faint smirk crossed the senior officer's face. "Alright then... let's move."
---
Half an hour later, their convoy reached the countryside of Delhi. The scene was deceptively serene—endless green and yellow grasslands rolled over the hills, and local villagers could be seen returning to their homes as dusk approached.
But there was no time to appreciate the view.
Guided by the tip-off from the captured goon, they made their way toward a black, abandoned factory hidden near the edge of the village. Its worn-down structure loomed in silence, bearing the secrets of something sinister.
Following the plan, the officers moved silently, weapons drawn. The senior officer led from the front, communicating through hand signals as the teams split and surrounded the structure.
When they reached the entrance, something felt wrong—there were no signs of vehicles, no guards, not even a whisper of resistance. Still, they pressed forward and broke open the door.
To their surprise, there were no goons inside—only the women and girls who had been held captive, gathered together in silence.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from above.
The senior officer bolted up the staircase and reached the upper level—his heart pounding. There, in the dim shadows, he saw Vidya, standing with a pistol in her trembling hands, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Opposite her stood a tall figure cloaked in darkness—Lalan Raj.
His face was still obscured, but the aura was unmistakable. Before the officer could react, Lalan hurled himself through the window, disappearing into the night.
The senior officer rushed forward and fired his weapon at point-blank range, the bullet tearing into Lalan's back and leaving a deep wound. But even then, the man didn't stop.
Below the factory lay a dark river, and with one final leap, Lalan Raj plunged into its depths, vanishing once again into the shadows.
But now, a haunting question lingered—how did Vidya get the pistol? Why was she crying? Where had all the goons and trucks vanished? To understand what truly unfolded, we must turn back the clock—nine hours earlier, when the sun had just begun to rise.
---
Nine hours ago…
Vidya had been chosen—marked as the tenth "slave" to be auctioned before monsters in human skin. Alongside nine other women, she was led from the basement to the upper hall, where she saw him again—Lalan Raj.
He stood tall, monstrous in build, with dark skin, a scar slashed across one eye, and a cigar resting between his lips. Silent, yet exuding raw danger. One of the goons lowered his head and muttered, "Boss, I brought them all."
Lalan's deep, gravelly voice rumbled, "Hmm… take them upstairs. And send the maid to clean them properly."
"Yes, boss," the goon replied.
Each woman was shoved into a separate room and locked inside. Vidya was taken to the last room. To her surprise, the interior was well-furnished, almost luxurious—a striking contrast to the abandoned shell the factory appeared from the outside.
But her mind wasn't on the furniture. Her heart pounded with one thought: Madhu must be delivering the photos and videos I gave her. I need to do my part too. I have to give everything I've got to save her.
She crept toward the door, cautiously turning the knob—when an old maid appeared at the threshold. Startled, Vidya stammered, "I-I was just going to the bathroom."
The maid said nothing. She simply raised a wrinkled hand and pointed to a door inside the room.
Vidya nodded. "Uh… thank you."
Inside the bathroom, she stood frozen. I need to get out of here. But this old woman… she won't let me pass. Her thoughts raced.
Then, unexpectedly, the old maid's voice drifted through the door. "I know what you're trying to do. You want to escape. But you can't. Believe me, I've seen it before. There was a girl like you… she tried too. She was pregnant… and he killed her. Killed her and the baby in her womb."
Vidya's breath caught. She stepped out of the bathroom, her face pale. "W-What are you saying? A… a woman with a baby?"
The maid's eyes welled up. "Yes. She was expecting. But that monster, Lalan… when he found out, he killed her . The baby died with her."
Vidya collapsed to her knees, trembling.
The old woman stepped closer, her own tears falling. "She looked just like you. We shared a bond… like mother and daughter. And he took her from me…"
Vidya's voice cracked. "She was my sister."
The maid's eyes widened. "Beta…? You—" Her voice faltered. Then, gently, she pulled Vidya into her arms. "You must leave. I don't want to lose you too. Please… escape. While you still can."
But Vidya shook her head, her voice low but firm. "No. I came here hoping to meet her… but now I know. And I swear—I will kill Lalan Raj."
The old maid gripped her shoulders, panicked. "No, beta! He's not human. You don't have a weapon. He'll crush you with his bare hands!"
Vidya fell silent for a moment… then asked quietly, "How… how did she die exactly?"
The maid hesitated. Then, with trembling lips, said, "He pushed her… from the upper floor. She hit her head. She died… with her child."
Vidya's body went still. Her pupils seemed to fade, leaving her eyes glassy and white. She said nothing. But inside, something had changed.
She wasn't broken anymore.
She was becoming something else—something fierce, something dangerous.
Something that even Lalan Raj had never planned for.
But did Vidya survive? Did she avenge her sister's cruel death?
The answers lie ahead... as everything begins to unfold in the next chapter.