"Oh, Kamla, son… you're here?"
Mr. Chauhan stepped forward with a polite smile the moment he reached him.
"Yes, Mr. Chauhan," Kamla replied, his tone carrying a sharp edge of arrogance. "Dad was a little busy, so I came in his place."
Something about the way he spoke—cold, dismissive—made Chauhan hesitate for a split second. Still, forcing a smile, he said gently,
"That's alright, that's alright… come, let's enjoy the party. I'm glad you came."
As he reached out and lightly held Kamla's hand, trying to guide him forward—
Everything changed.
Kamla's expression twisted.
His eyes flared wide with rage.
And the next second—
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME, YOU BASTARD?!"
His roar tore through the hall like thunder.
The entire room froze.
All eyes snapped toward them.
Chauhan's face drained of color instantly. Fear gripped him from within, his body stiffening as Kamla's anger radiated like heat. Meanwhile, the men who had come with Kamla stood nearby, smirking cruelly, enjoying every second of the humiliation unfolding before them.
"Forgot your place, huh?" Kamla snarled, his voice dripping with venom.
Chauhan stammered, his voice trembling, "N-no… I… I didn't mean—"
"And what's with this 'son' nonsense, huh?" Kamla cut him off, his tone turning even darker. "Am I your kid? Or your nephew? Or what? Looks like you've got a death wish today… planning your own funeral at your own party?"
The air grew suffocating.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Chauhan's throat went dry. His lips quivered as he whispered,
"I'm… I'm sorry, Kamla…"
But before he could finish—
Kamla grabbed his face with one hand, gripping it tightly, forcing him to look up.
"Speak with respect," he hissed. "I'm not your relative… don't talk like you own me. Don't forget your status."
Seeing her father in the grip of a gangster—
Seema snapped.
Tears in her eyes, she rushed forward, grabbing Kamla's arm, trying to pull him away.
"Leave my dad!" she cried. "He didn't disrespect you! I'm telling you—leave him!"
But instead of anger—
Kamla smiled.
A twisted, amused smile.
He looked at her struggling hands, her trembling voice… and he enjoyed it.
"Listen, all of you!" he suddenly shouted, his voice booming across the hall. "Don't forget your place. I'm not your friend, not your family—I am Kamla Thakur. The same Kamla who showed Singhania and Bali their place."
His voice rose with pride and madness.
"What was happening till now… won't happen anymore. You might be rich, you might think you're powerful—but I… I am the king of this city. And don't you dare forget that… if you care about your lives… and your families."
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Even the Mayor stood still.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
And in the middle of it all—
Om stood quietly.
Watching.
Observing.
A single man…
And an entire hall full of powerful people reduced to silence out of fear.
It didn't sit right with him.
Meanwhile, Kamla still held Chauhan's face tightly. Seema kept trying to pull his hand away, even going as far as biting him—but his grip didn't loosen.
Instead—
He laughed.
Loud.
Unhinged.
And that's when—
Something inside Om began to burn.
Slowly, he stepped forward.
But just then—
Kamla suddenly let go of Chauhan.
Chauhan collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with tears, his body shaking. Even after everything… he couldn't say a word.
And then—
Kamla grabbed Seema.
His fingers tightened around her arm as he pulled her closer, a disgusting smile spreading across his face.
"My dear…" he said mockingly, "you can't do anything. But these marks you gave me…"
His voice turned darker.
"You'll pay for them… by warming my bed tonight. And then… I'll leave some marks on you too."
His laughter echoed.
Sick.
Vile.
The moment those words landed—
Chauhan shot up, desperation overtaking his fear.
"Kamla sir… please!" he begged, folding his hands. "She's just a child… please leave my daughter!"
Kamla looked at him, his smile turning even more sinister.
"Oh? When she bit my hand… why didn't you say that then?" he mocked. "Now when I'm about to mark your daughter… suddenly you care?"
He leaned closer to Seema, his eyes filled with lust and cruelty.
"This beautiful gem… deserves to be seen, doesn't she?"
That was it.
Something snapped inside Chauhan.
"Shut up!" he roared, his voice breaking through the fear. "She's my daughter! Watch your mouth, you worthless thug!"
The entire hall went dead silent.
Utterly still.
Kamla's men stiffened.
Even they hadn't expected that.
Kamla's face darkened.
His eyes turned blood red with rage.
"What did you just say… you dog?"
In a flash, he grabbed Chauhan by the collar, lifting him slightly.
Seema rushed again to protect her father—
But Kamla shoved her away with one hand.
Hard.
She fell to the ground.
Gasps filled the hall.
People stepped back in fear.
And finally—
The Mayor stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes.
"That's enough, Kamla Thakur!" he shouted. "If you don't stop right now, the consequences will be very bad!"
But before he could say another word—
"SHUT UP, MAYOR!" Kamla roared. "You're next after him!"
And with that—
He raised his fist.
A powerful punch aimed straight at Chauhan's face.
The moment froze.
And then—
A voice cut through the air.
Cold.
Sharp.
Deadly.
"Hey… try moving that hand even an inch forward… and I'll make sure you won't have that hand left to eat with tonight."
The entire hall turned.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Who… dared to threaten Kamla Thakur?
All eyes searched for the source of that voice…