Anay was standing outside Tiwari Ji's house, gathering the courage to go in. In the silence of the night, cloaked in darkness, the only sounds were his breath and the loud beating of his heart — so loud that he could almost hear it from the outside. After watching for a few moments, he finally stepped inside.
Moments later, as he slowly entered, one of the guards grabbed him before recognizing who he was. But the moment he saw Anay, he immediately stepped back and began apologizing with a bowed head.
Anay gave him just a glance and walked in quickly. A faint smile played on his lips — he had clearly hired the right people.
Inside the room, Advika was sitting on the bed, eyes glued to her phone screen, where news reports against Rudraksh were flashing one after another. She had contacted several lawyers, but none were willing to take Rudraksh's case. She didn't even know how to contact his family, so she couldn't inform them either. Still, she was doing everything in her power.
Anay stopped at the door. He stood there for a while just watching her. He knew he had lost even the right to be there — but his heart wouldn't listen. After a while, he quietly walked away.
The next day was Rudraksh's court hearing, and also the day Ayushi's post-mortem report was to arrive.
Thakuraiin (Rudraksh's mother) was gripped by a sense of dread. Strange thoughts kept troubling her. She had spoken to Anay many times, and he assured her everything was fine. But the village head (sarpanch) wasn't answering her calls anymore, and now she was starting to worry about Shrey too.
Finally, she called Shrey:
"Hello... Shrey, where are you? You've been missing since yesterday!"
Shrey replied in a tired voice,"Aunty, a friend's father passed away… I came to attend the last rites."
Thakuraiin sighed in relief and said,"Oh… alright, take care."
Shrey sensed something was wrong and asked,"Aunty, is everything okay?"
She hesitated, then replied,"Yes, son… everything is fine… I'm just feeling very uneasy today. These strange friends of his have started coming to the house. He never used to bring work people home before… but now they're here every day. And Anay is away on work too… the loneliness is getting worse."
Shrey fell silent for a moment.
Then he said, "Aunty, I'll try to come as soon as possible."He hung up.
After the call, Shrey thought for a moment — he was left with only one option now. He decided to send Mauli to stay with Thakuraiin. At least they could support each other.
The next morning, Advika got ready early and left for court.
Anay had already sent a lawyer, but didn't go himself. He couldn't afford to be seen, especially not by Rudraksh or Advika.
As Rudraksh climbed the court steps, Advika spotted him and rushed toward him.
Rudraksh was handcuffed — the police officer held him firmly. His face had withered overnight, deep lines had formed under his eyes.
"Rudr…" Advika's voice trembled.
He looked up at her for a moment, then burst out angrily,"What are you doing here…? Are you mad? Don't you know how dangerous this is for you? How many times do I have to explain, Advika?"
"So should I just let you die alone?"she replied sharply.
"My family must have heard by now… they'll get me out. You go!" Rudraksh said, turning his face away.
"Rudr…" Advika tried to say something, but he interrupted her.
"Go, Advika! If something happens to you, I'll never forgive myself!"
"It's time for the hearing," the inspector said, and walked him in. Advika followed silently.
"Mr. Rudraksh, where is your lawyer?" the judge asked, seeing no defense attorney.
Rudraksh lowered his head and said,"I… I don't have a lawyer."
Just then, a voice rang out in the courtroom:"I am his lawyer, my lord!"
All eyes turned — and everyone was stunned."Advocate Mohan Pahadiya!"The whole courtroom went silent. A renowned criminal lawyer who only took high-profile cases — who had hired him?
Both Rudraksh and Advika were full of questions.
"Apologies for the delay, my lord… if permitted, shall we begin the proceedings?"
The judge granted permission, and the hearing began.
Elsewhere, Raka was shouting like a madman at the village head (sarpanch):
"You said the moment that guy was out of the way, the girl would be completely alone, and I could easily capture her! Then why is there so much security around her? None of my men could even touch her!"
The sarpanch himself was stunned."I had kept Shrey occupied… Rudraksh is in jail… Advika was shattered…Then who is this third person? Anay? But… he doesn't remember anything… how is this possible!? That girl was just an ordinary reporter… no parents…Then who has suddenly shown up to protect her? I already got rid of her brother… who could it be?"
Raka interrupted him —"Listen, Ravindra Thakur. I sided with you because I wanted that girl. But if I get trapped because of you… remember, you won't survive either."
The sarpanch clenched his jaw in anger.Raka, boiling with rage, yelled —"The girl we planted did her job, but we still gained nothing! What was the point of all that effort? Because of you, I had to get rid of that old man… and for what!?"
The sarpanch stood silent. Then, thinking for a moment, he said slowly —"Get the Rajvansh family's horoscope checked… there must be something going on there."
Raka immediately ordered his men:"Investigate every person who's been seen around Rudraksh or Advika."
Back at court…
The time of Ayushi's death and Rudraksh's arrival at her home were almost the same.Also, his fingerprints were found on the knife.All these things were strengthening the murder charge.
But… Mohan Pahadiya — India's sharpest criminal lawyer — completely changed the direction of the case using his expertise.
He presented arguments that didn't completely dismiss the charges, but at least raised enough doubt.
Though bail was denied, a new hearing date was set.As Rudraksh was being escorted out, he finally spoke to the lawyer:
"Sir, thank you… you came at the right time… by the way, who hired you?"
Mohan Pahadiya smiled lightly,"Umm… your wife did."
Rudraksh froze for a moment —"My… wife? Advika?"
"Yes. She hired me just last night."
Rudraksh couldn't say anything.Mohan continued —"Look, I've argued based on the limited information I had. But now you need to tell me the whole truth —so I can gather evidence and prepare your defense strategy properly."
Rudraksh took a deep breath and said — "Yes, of course…"
"I'll visit you soon with the court's permission. Be prepared… some of my questions may disturb you,"Mohan said seriously.
Rudraksh nodded and walked off with the police.
Mohan was just leaving the court when Advika approached him.
"Sir…" she said softly.
"Yes, and you are?" Mohan asked, surprised.
"I'm… Mr. Rudraksh Rajvansh's wife. The one whose case you've taken…"
"Oh, yes… got it. Please, let's talk on the way. Have a seat."
Advika sat in the car with him.
After a brief silence, she asked,"By the way sir, who hired you?"
Mohan smiled faintly,"Mr. Rajvansh hired me."
"Rudraksh?" she asked, surprised.
"No-no, his father did. I got a call from him last night."
"Oh… thank you… but please, sir, save Rudr…"
"Don't worry, Mrs. Rajvansh.I've handled many such cases. I know how to turn a case around."
"But Rudr… is not a killer!" Advika suddenly flared up, thinking Mohan had implied otherwise.
Mohan quickly reassured her,"Oh no-no, Mrs. Rajvansh! Don't be upset…What I meant is that I know Rudraksh isn't the killer — and I'll prove it soon."
Then, becoming serious, he asked —"By the way, can you tell me everything about that night?And first, tell me — what was your connection to that girl? Why was she in your house?"
Advika began explaining —"We had no personal connection with her, sir. One night, she had an accident with Rudr's car. There were no nearby houses, so Rudr brought her home. From that day, she began working as a maid. She told us her parents were dead, and her brother and sister-in-law were forcing her into marriage, so she ran away."
"And you kept her without any background checks?"Mohan was now fully in professional mode.
"Rudr did check… and it was all true…"
"Okay. What happened that night when the incident occurred? Where were you?"
"Rudr and I were returning from a conference. I needed to pick up something, so Rudr dropped me at a shop and went ahead. When I reached home, people were shouting at Rudr, calling him a murderer. Soon the police arrived and took him away… the rest you must've read in the papers."
"Hmmm… did you have any ID or documents for that girl?"
"No… maybe Rudr does."
"Alright, I'll talk to him. Now tell me, where should I drop you?"
"Thank you, sir, but I'll go on my own."
"Okay… take care."Mohan pulled over to the side. Advika thanked him again and walked away.
Just as Mohan drove off, he glanced in the rearview mirror —
A car had blocked Advika's taxi, and two men dragged her inside.
She struggled, but one of them injected her and she went unconscious.
Mohan's eyes widened. He immediately called Anay.
Meanwhile, Anay's men —who had been secretly trailing Advika's cab —also informed Anay and began following the kidnappers' vehicle.
The ground slipped from beneath Anay's feet.
"Kidnapping Advika despite high security…?It must be her father's doing!" he growled, and rushed out in his jeep.
Anay had men constantly tailing Advika.But the moment they reported she had been kidnapped —everything came to a halt.
On the other side, Raka, upon hearing the news, was overjoyed.He immediately ordered the convoy to leave for Banaras.
The sarpanch went with him too —he wanted to see Advika destroyed with his own eyes.He wanted to see her broken, crying, begging.