"What happened, Vijay brother… Sharda… what was that sound?!"
The explosion had barely faded when Savita came rushing out of her room, her voice trembling as she hurried down toward the ground floor.
But the moment her feet touched the staircase… something changed.
Her steps slowed.
Then… almost stopped.
Her eyes widened—filled with an unspoken shock… and a strange, creeping fear. Her legs trembled as she descended each step slowly, as if her body already knew something her mind hadn't accepted yet.
And she wasn't the only one.
Everyone in the house stood frozen.
Vijay and his entire family were stunned, unable to understand what had just happened in the last few seconds. Riya and Soumya's eyes were still locked on the shattered pieces of the main door lying across the floor—just moments ago it had been perfectly intact… and now it was nothing but splinters.
Manoj, reacting instantly, rushed to his daughter and pulled her tightly into his arms.
Sharda came running out of the kitchen, panic written all over her face, and immediately gathered her children close, holding them tightly as if shielding them from something unseen… something dangerous.
And Vijay…
He stood there, staring.
The house he had built with years of hard work… his dream… broken in a single blast.
His eyes were wide, fixed on the entrance.
But before anyone could process anything—
A man walked in.
Alone.
Wearing a coat.
A remote control in his hand.
Whistling.
Slow… calm… almost playful.
As if he hadn't just blown the door off someone's house.
As he stepped inside, he glanced at Vijay and Savita… smiling… making strange hand gestures, as if he was enjoying a private joke no one else understood.
Vijay frowned, confused.
But Savita—
Savita's condition was far worse.
The moment she saw him… her throat went dry.
Her body began to sweat.
Her eyes filled with fear.
She looked like she had seen a ghost… or worse.
She tried to think, tried to react—but her mind refused to work.
And just then—
A voice broke the silence.
Sharp. Angry. Fearless.
"Who are you? What do you want? Who do you think you are, barging into someone's house like this?!"
It was Vijay.
Fury burned in his eyes as he stepped forward, confronting the man directly.
But the man… just smiled.
Listened.
As if Vijay's anger amused him.
Vijay's voice grew louder, harsher.
"Is this how you enter someone's home? Do you have no manners? No decency? Do you even realize how much a man works his whole life to build a house like this—and you just walk in, blowing the door apart?! Who are you? And what's the meaning of this?!"
His voice echoed through the hall.
Then silence.
Heavy. Tense. Waiting.
Vijay stood there, breathing hard, staring at the man.
But before he could say another word—
Movement.
From the door.
One by one…
Men began entering.
Armed.
Cold.
Dangerous.
And then Vijay saw him.
His expression changed instantly.
Shock.
Disbelief.
And then—
"Singhania… you?!"
At the same time… outside a beautifully lit hotel.
Om pulled his car to a smooth stop.
The moment the car halted, a valet hurried toward the door, ready to open it—but Om smiled politely and stopped him with a small gesture.
"It's okay."
He stepped out himself.
Then walked around to the other side… opened the door for Anshika… and gently extended his hand, bowing slightly in a soft, charming gesture.
Anshika's face lit up.
She hadn't expected this.
Not from him.
Not like this.
With a small smile, she placed her hand in his… stepping out of the car gracefully.
Om straightened, then bent his arm slightly, offering it to her like a perfect gentleman.
Anshika looked at him—surprised, amused, and happy all at once.
Without hesitation, she slipped her hand into his arm.
Together, they walked toward the hotel.
Om handed over the car keys to the valet, and as they reached the entrance, both of them glanced up at the name glowing above the doors—
"Apsara."
Anshika smiled.
Om noticed.
And without another word… they stepped inside.
The atmosphere inside was elegant, warm, almost magical.
They were led to a reserved table.
The moment they sat down, waiters began serving drinks and food one after another with perfect timing.
Anshika looked around, impressed… then back at Om, smiling sweetly.
"Well, well… Om. I'm seeing a completely different side of you today. Not bad… hmm?"
Om chuckled softly.
"Oh… thank you for the compliment. I just thought—why not make my first date a little memorable? So I'm doing whatever I can. Who knows if I'll get another chance… and anyway, beautiful people deserve to be treated beautifully, right?"
Anshika laughed.
There was warmth in her eyes now.
"Really? I must say… you're looking quite handsome today."
That caught Om off guard.
For a moment, he actually blushed.
But far away from this soft, blooming moment—
Back at Vijay's house…
The tension had thickened.
Vijay stood surrounded.
Goons.
Weapons.
And in front of him—
Singhania.
And Bali.
Both smiling.
But those smiles… carried death.
Vijay's shock turned into anger.
"Singhania… what is the meaning of all this? Remember one thing—this won't end well!"
Singhania stepped forward slowly, a deadly smile forming on his lips.
"Well, well… I never thought the man Bali brother has been searching for… would be hiding in your house. Looks like today is my lucky day. Both mine and Bali brother's prey… in the same place."
He paused.
Then turned his head.
Looking straight at Savita.
"Isn't that right… madam?"
The moment his gaze locked onto her—
The entire room shifted.
Everyone followed his eyes.
And when they realized he was looking at Savita…
Confusion spread across their faces.
Because now, one question burned in every mind—
What connection did Savita have with Singhania?