Episode -----39
Morning broke slow and heavy over Kolkata, pale light bleeding across the river like a bruise.
Inside the ruined safehouse, silence hung thick — broken bodies, broken walls, and the echo of violence not yet gone.
Raian stood over Rajveer's corpse, blood dried to black along the blade that had ended his past.
Aria watched him, heart caught between relief and dread.
"Does it feel real yet?" she asked, voice soft.
Raian didn't look up. "No," he rasped. "Not yet."
---
Ayan and Lina moved through the wreckage, collecting weapons, dragging the wounded into a corner.
Every breath came sharp; every glance held questions no one dared speak.
Then, beyond the broken windows: the low wail of sirens.
Closer this time.
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Lina's gaze snapped to Raian. "Police?"
"And worse," Ayan rasped, eyes narrowing. "Word of Rajveer's death won't stay buried. The families will come. And they'll want blood."
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Raian turned, scars stark under cold morning light. "Then we leave," he said, voice rough but sure.
"Where?" Aria whispered. "They'll chase you anywhere."
"They'll chase us," he corrected, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Because I dragged you into this."
"And I stayed," she whispered back, fierce despite the tremor in her voice.
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Ayan stepped closer, jaw clenched. "Raian — the men are split. Some say you killed Rajveer for power. Some say you'll bring ruin to everyone left."
"And what do you say?" Raian asked, quiet but sharp.
"I say you're still deciding which man you want to be," Ayan shot back.
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Raian's gaze lowered. "They're not wrong," he murmured. "My father taught me to kill. Rajveer taught me to rule through fear. But no one taught me how to stop."
Aria stepped closer, hand brushing his wrist. "Then let me," she whispered.
His breath caught, raw. "And if I fail you?"
"Then fail forward," she whispered, tears bright in morning light. "Fail fighting to be better, not to be feared."
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A distant rumble — car doors slamming outside.
"They're here," Lina breathed, voice shaking.
Raian's chest rose, slow and heavy. "Then we decide now."
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Ayan raised his pistol. "We fight?"
"No," Raian murmured. "If we fight, more die. And it never ends."
"Then what?" Aria asked.
Raian looked at her — really looked: blood dried to his shirt, darkness under his eyes — but something softer breaking through.
"I surrender," he whispered.
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Ayan's eyes widened. "You'll hang."
"Maybe," Raian rasped. "But maybe this ends it. The blood. The fear. Rajveer is dead by my hand — let them judge me for it."
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Aria's breath hitched. "And me?"
Raian's voice cracked. "They can't blame you for my sins."
"But they will," she whispered, tears slipping free.
"Then let them," he rasped, hand brushing her cheek. "I won't let you pay for me."
---
Outside, boots on wet stone. Voices barking orders.
Raian turned to Ayan and Lina. "Go. Take her with you. Far from here."
"We won't leave you," Lina whispered.
"You must," he growled, softer than steel. "If I'm gone, they'll need someone left to protect them."
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Ayan's breath trembled. "You think you can buy peace with your own head?"
Raian's jaw tightened. "Maybe not. But it buys time — and that's all I've ever had to trade."
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Aria stepped closer, tears streaking down bruised skin. "And what if I can't go?" she whispered. "What if I won't?"
"Then they'll take you too," he rasped. "And I couldn't live if they hurt you for me."
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Her voice cracked. "Then what was all this for?"
"For you," he whispered, voice shaking. "For the first time in my life… for someone else."
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The door shuddered under fists and steel. "Raian Khan! Come out!" a voice thundered.
Raian turned, shoulders squaring under blood‑stained cloth.
Ayan's voice, rough with grief: "We'll find a way to free you."
Raian's breath trembled. "Live first. That's how you free me."
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He stepped to Aria, hand cupping her cheek, thumb brushing away tears.
"I never deserved you," he rasped.
"And yet," she whispered, voice cracking, "you have me."
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Their foreheads touched — one heartbeat, raw and quiet.
"Run," he breathed.
"No," she whispered, tears spilling.
"Run," he hissed, voice breaking.
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Ayan gripped her wrist, pulling her back. "Aria!"
She stumbled, breath tearing in her chest, the world spinning in grief and rain.
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Raian turned, steps slow but steady, and walked to the ruined doorway.
Outside, police aimed rifles, eyes hard. Rain dripped from barrels and uniforms.
Raian raised blood‑streaked hands, breath ragged. "I surrender," he rasped.
---
Aria's sob tore free — raw, helpless.
Two officers seized Raian, shoving him to his knees. Metal bit his wrists; blood dripped onto stone.
Yet his gaze sought Aria — and found her.
Eyes locked: love, fear, defiance — and hope, stubborn even in chains.
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Lina clutched Aria's arm, voice small. "We have to go."
"I can't," Aria sobbed.
"You must," Lina cried. "For him."
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Outside, engines roared. A black van swallowed Raian's bruised figure.
A final glance — grey eyes burning through distance and despair.
Then the doors slammed, and he was gone.
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Silence settled. Rain whispered across broken marble.
In that silence, Aria felt the echo of his promise: "Fail forward."
And she swore, through salt and tears, she would.
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Teaser for Episode 40:
Raian behind bars, haunted by ghosts and guilt. Outside, Aria, Ayan, and Lina must decide: flee, hide — or fight to bring him back from the darkness.