Chapter Title: When Rage Finds Its Way Home
"Anshika…"
Om's voice cut through her thoughts as the car slowed near her house.
She blinked, startled, snapping back to reality.
"Huh… yeah… what—what happened? Sorry… I was just… lost in my thoughts."
Om smiled softly.
"It's okay. I was just saying… we've reached your house."
Anshika looked outside.
And there it was.
Her home.
Right in front of her.
But for some reason… her heart sank.
She didn't want this night to end.
Not like this.
Not when everything had felt so perfect… so close… so real.
And most importantly—
She still hadn't said it.
What her heart had been screaming all night.
She knew she couldn't stop time.
But maybe… just maybe… she could speak her truth before it slipped away.
Gathering courage, her heart racing wildly in her chest, she looked at Om with slightly trembling eyes and said softly,
"Om… I want to tell you something…"
Om turned toward her, still smiling.
"Yeah… go ahead, Anshika."
But suddenly—
Fear crept in.
What if he didn't feel the same?
What if this ruined everything?
What if she lost him… even as a friend?
For a moment, she almost backed out.
Almost.
But then something inside her pushed her forward again.
She looked at him, nervous… vulnerable… and began,
"Om… I… I want you to—"
"Anshika, wait—there's no time."
His voice changed.
Sharp.
Urgent.
He cut her off mid-sentence, his eyes glued to his phone, his face suddenly pale, tense.
"I'm really sorry… but something's wrong. Something's definitely wrong at my house. I have to go. Please don't misunderstand."
The shift was instant.
The warmth in the air disappeared.
Anshika's heart skipped.
Fear replaced everything.
"What happened, Om? Is everything okay?"
Om started the car, his movements quick, restless.
"I don't know… but something has happened. I can't tell if it's good or bad—but I need to go. Take care of yourself, okay?"
The way he said it—
It didn't feel normal.
It felt… serious.
Dangerous.
"I'm coming with you," Anshika said immediately.
But Om shook his head.
"No. I don't know what's happening there… and I don't want to put you in danger. It's better if you stay here. If I need help, I'll call you."
There was no argument left in his tone.
Only urgency.
Anshika didn't resist anymore.
Slowly… she stepped out of the car.
The moment the door closed—
Om sped away.
Fast.
Without looking back.
Anshika stood there, watching the disappearing taillights, her voice barely above a whisper,
"Whatever it is… tell me…"
But he was already gone.
And now, standing alone, a strange uneasiness wrapped around her heart.
"What happened to him all of a sudden…? Why was he so scared? God… please let everything be okay at his house…"
Meanwhile—
Om's car tore through the roads at full speed.
His eyes burned with focus.
His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
Because what he had seen—
Wasn't normal.
An SOS signal.
From Maya.
And Maya only sent that signal when—
Things were completely out of control.
When lives were at risk.
When she was in danger.
Or worse—
His family.
And the moment Om saw it…
He didn't think twice.
He just drove.
Back at the house—
Hell had already broken loose.
Bali had reduced Maya to a near-lifeless state.
A bullet in her chest.
Another in her leg.
Her own blade… stabbed into her limb.
Her body was covered in wounds.
Blood.
Bruises.
Her face swollen, red, barely recognizable.
Yet—
She was still breathing.
Vijay and Savita's families watched in horror, their hearts breaking at the sight. Tears streamed down their faces.
But Singhania—
He watched with a twisted satisfaction.
And yet, even he couldn't hide the shock in his eyes.
Because what Bali was doing—
This wasn't cruelty.
This was something worse.
Even a man like Singhania felt small in front of that kind of brutality.
Bali crouched down in front of Maya, smiling as if he was enjoying a game.
"So… is that pride still there?"
He chuckled.
"003… tell me something—how did the organization fail to kill you? You were supposed to be a nightmare, right? A killing machine. I thought even demons wouldn't stand a chance against you. That's how the 'Numbers' are trained… isn't it?"
He leaned closer.
"But looking at you now… killing you doesn't seem that hard after all."
Suddenly, he grabbed her face harshly, squeezing it.
"Oh right… I actually came here to kill that runaway Savita. But you… you just had to step in and play the hero. And now look at you… about to lose your life for someone else."
The moment Savita's name came out—
The entire family turned toward her.
Shock.
Confusion.
Questions.
Savita trembled, her eyes meeting Vijay's—but he said nothing.
Not yet.
But everything was changing.
Bali pulled the knife out from Maya's leg.
Blood spilled.
And without hesitation—
He raised it.
Aiming straight for her stomach.
He was about to strike—
When suddenly—
Something hit him.
Hard.
So hard that Bali was thrown backward, crashing into Singhania.
Both of them slammed onto the ground, dragged across the floor by the sheer force.
The entire house fell silent.
Everyone turned—
Toward the door.
And there—
Standing at the entrance…
Was Om.
Still.
Unmoving.
But something about him—
Felt different.
Dangerous.
Even in her half-conscious state…
Maya forced her eyes open.
And when she saw him—
A faint smile appeared on her blood-covered face.
Because she knew—
Now…
Everything was about to change.