At the Hospital:
As soon as they reached the hospital, Shrey called the doctor and began the treatment. Then he stood quietly in a corner.
Mauli was still sobbing.
"Why are you crying now...? He'll be fine..."Shrey said in a firm voice.
His concern was hidden in his tone — something he didn't want to reveal.
Mauli quickly wiped her tears and tried to compose herself, but her emotions were still overflowing in her eyes.
On the Streets of Banaras:
"Who was that girl...? And what's her connection with Rajvansh...?"Anay was speaking on the phone with one of his men while driving.
"Sir, we couldn't find out much... but she had been staying here for a few days... Mr. Rajvansh brought her here. Our men have seen them together several times...What their exact relationship was — we couldn't figure that out..."
Anay suddenly pressed the accelerator, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly.Ever since he heard what the Sarpanch said, he had stationed his most trusted men around Advika's house —so if anything happened, he could take immediate action.
"Sir... what now?"
"Keep an eye on madam...""Not a single scratch should come to her."
"Okay, sir."The call ended, and Anay sped up the car.
At the Police Station:
Advika sat silently in the police station.Inside the lock-up, Rudraksh was held — accused of Ayushi's murder.
"Ma'am, please go home. Nothing else will happen tonight. Sitting here is pointless..."a lady constable told her. A while ago, Anay had called the inspector and asked them to send Advika home.
"But Rudr..."Advika looked toward the lock-up.
"Ma'am, this isn't a small case. It's a murder case. Bail won't happen tonight. It's better you find a lawyer for him."
"Can I... just once... meet him, please?"Advika's voice trembled.
The constable went inside to ask. A few moments later she returned —"You may go in. You have ten minutes."
Advika slowly walked over to him.Behind the lock-up bars sat Rudraksh — quiet, but deep in thought.
"Rudr..."
He looked up and said with mild anger —"Why are you still here...? Go home."
"Rudr... all this..."Advika's voice was shaking.
"This is all that Sarpanch's doing..."Rudraksh gritted his teeth.
"I'll look for a lawyer..."Advika said quickly, but Rudraksh stopped her —
"It's difficult, Advika... this was a well-thought-out conspiracy. We didn't see it coming. Maybe that Raaka betrayed us. On our instructions, he had stopped some of the Sarpanch's operations — and yet the Sarpanch didn't react... I should've seen it then..."
"You're being dragged into this hatred unnecessarily..."Tears welled up in Advika's eyes.
"Unnecessarily?"Rudraksh smiled faintly.
"I chose this path myself... Don't regret it.From the moment I saw you in college, I wanted to make you mine. When you said no, the desire grew even stronger. And when you came to me, I took advantage of your helplessness... I forced you into a life you never wanted."
He sighed deeply and said —"I deserve this, Advika...I stole happiness from someone else.How could I expect happiness for myself?"
"Go home safely... If I ever get out of here, I'll stand by your fight — at the very front."
As he turned away, tears rolled down Advika's cheeks.
When Rudraksh noticed she was still standing there, he said without turning —"Please go, Advika... just go..."
She couldn't stay any longer. With heavy steps, she walked out.Meanwhile, Anay was being updated about her every move.
Outside the Station:
Advika came out and began hailing a cab. She got one shortly and asked the driver to take her to a hotel — her home was now sealed.
At the hotel reception, while she was checking in, Tiwari Ji arrived.
"Mrs. Rajvansh..."he called out.
Advika turned in surprise —"Tiwari Ji...?"
"Yes, I heard about Mr. Rajvansh... Please come stay at my house. It's not safe for you in a hotel..."Tiwari Ji spoke gently.
"But your house...? No, please..."Advika hesitated and stepped back.
"Mrs. Rajvansh, please think carefully... Your husband is now accused of murder. You understand how much danger your life is in..."
"And if I stay with you, it'll put your family in danger too..."Advika replied softly.
"Oh, but our safety has already been arranged..."Tiwari Ji accidentally let it slip.
"Excuse me...?"Advika looked puzzled.
"I mean... I'm the MLA of Banaras. Anyone who dares to lay a finger on us won't live to regret it. You can stay with us peacefully..."he tried to recover the conversation.
"Tiwari Ji, but..."
"Please don't refuse... When Mr. Rajvansh gets out, what face will I show him if I didn't help you..."
"Alright..."Advika replied in a soft voice.
Tiwari Ji smiled and nodded, then gestured her to follow him.As they walked, he silently pulled out his phone and sent a text:"It's done, Thakur saheb."
On the other side, a slight smile appeared on Anay's face.He had been restless ever since Advika left the police station.Now, at last, a wave of relief washed over him.
Back at the Hospital:
Shrey stood outside the ward while Mauli sat collapsed on a bench, eyes fixed on the door.
Just then, the doctor came out.
"Doctor... Baba...?"Mauli ran to him.
The doctor lowered his eyes —"I'm sorry... we couldn't save him..."
"What...? What are you saying...? No! This can't be true!"Mauli grabbed the doctor's collar,"My Baba... he was fine just a few days ago... he used to work, laugh... how could this happen?"
"Control yourself, girl..."Shrey stepped in and pulled her back.
"Master... my Baba..."Mauli had lost all control. She fell to the floor and broke down sobbing — despair consumed her every breath.
Shrey just watched her. She was weeping, writhing.
He couldn't bear it any longer. Frustrated, he shouted —"Get a grip, Mauli!"
Mauli flinched... her scared eyes looked up at him... then she began mumbling,"No... no... Baba's fine... he'll wake up... he'll get up..."
"I'm an orphan now... I'll be all alone... Baba... how can you leave me...? I'm alone..."She kept mumbling to herself. Her voice cracked with every word, like her heart was being torn apart.
Shrey didn't know what to do.Then he bent down and held Mauli tightly against his chest.
"You're not alone..."he said, holding her."I'm here... do you hear me...? I'm here for you..."
Mauli began crying louder, as if the dam inside her had finally burst. Her tears soaked Shrey's shirt, but he said nothing — just kept gently stroking her hair.
Shrey's parents had lived abroad since his childhood, and he had always lived with Anay. He never felt the absence of family.But today, seeing Mauli break like this, something inside him broke too... something he had never been able to name before.