The moment the slap landed, the men were filled with rage.
Their expressions darkened, and they began treating Swarna even more cruelly.
Panicked, Swarna started screaming for her brother and sister.
But the music in the club was blaring so loudly that no one could hear anything.
Voices drowned beneath the pounding beat, and her cries disappeared into the noise.
A few moments later, Prashna arrived, holding a glass of liquor in her hand.
The instant she saw several men troubling Swarna, fear gripped her heart.
Without thinking twice, she flung the drink straight onto their faces.
The sudden commotion drew everyone's attention.
Prashant and his friends rushed over, asking,
"What happened here?"
The moment they realized that their own sisters had been mistreated, their anger knew no bounds.
At once, they lunged toward the men, and a fierce fight broke out.
The chaos spread quickly.
Prashant and his friends were badly hurt, yet the fight only grew worse.
No one there could control them.
Terrified, some of the other people in the club called the police.
The moment Swarna and Prashna heard the word police, fear washed over them.
A dreadful thought began haunting their minds—
What if the police arrested their brother?
They desperately tried to stop the fight, but it was already too late.
Within a short while, the police arrived.
They arrested everyone involved in the fight and took them all to the police station.
Swarna and Prashna went along with them.
Once at the station, both girls explained everything that had happened in the club.
They clearly told the officers that it was not their fault, but the fault of those troublesome men.
However, the police replied coldly,
"No matter whose fault it was, no one can be released before twenty-four hours."
They were then advised to go back home.
Hearing this, their anxiety only deepened.
And with their flight abroad only one day away, how could they possibly not worry?
On top of that, many calls and messages were already coming from home.
They had said they would return by eight in the evening, yet it was already one in the morning.
The thought of what they would say once they got home tormented them.
At last, they decided that somehow, they had to meet their brother once.
So they repeatedly requested the police.
After much pleading, the officer finally allowed them a short visit.
"Not more than five minutes," he said.
They hurried inside.
Seeing his sisters crying, Prashant gently tried to comfort them.
"Don't worry. I'll be out soon."
His body was bruised and injured, and yet no one knew when he would actually be released.
Still, he forced a reassuring smile and said,
"You two go home now. It's already very late. Otherwise, Mother and Father may come out looking for us.
When you get home, tell them that one of my friends met with an accident and I had to take him to the hospital.
And no matter what, I will come home tomorrow."
After hearing their brother's words, they finally returned home.
As soon as they entered, they saw Man Bahadur and Priya waiting, visibly angry.
Fear immediately gripped their hearts.
Man Bahadur asked sternly,
"Where had you gone?"
Trembling, they repeated the lie Prashant had told them.
They said that one of their brother's friends had suddenly met with an accident on the way, and that Prashant had taken him to the hospital.
They also added that he would return the next afternoon.
Then Man Bahadur asked,
"Which hospital?"
Swarna quickly lied,
"He took him to Bayodha Hospital."
After that, Man Bahadur simply told both of them to go inside and rest.
As soon as they entered their room, Swarna suddenly burst into tears.
Blaming herself for everything, she began hitting her hand against the wall.
"It's because of me that brother had to go to jail!" she cried.
Prashna tried her best to console her.
But Swarna kept sobbing and shouting,
"It's all because of me. He only went to the club because of me. The fight happened because of me."
Prashna held her tightly and said softly,
"At least, if not for yourself, think about brother.
If Father and Mother find out that he is in jail, then even if he comes back tomorrow, Father may never agree to send us abroad.
None of this is anyone's fault.
So please, don't hurt yourself."
But because Swarna had struck the wall so many times, her hand was badly injured.
Blood began flowing from it.
Prashna quickly dressed the wound, and after some time, the bleeding slowed.
That night, neither of them could sleep.
The entire night passed in silent worry for their brother.
They kept waiting for dawn, hoping that morning would bring him home.
As soon as daylight broke, both of them rushed up to the rooftop and looked down toward the gate.
"Has brother come back?"
But Prashant was nowhere to be seen.
After some time, Man Bahadur came and said,
"What is this? Your brother still hasn't come? Call him once."
Prashna replied that she had already tried, but his phone was unreachable.
Priya then insisted,
"Call him once more."
Having no excuse left, they called again right in front of their mother.
But still, the phone did not connect.
After a while, Man Bahadur said,
"Prashant still hasn't returned. I'll go to the hospital myself and bring him back."
Hearing this, both Swarna and Prashna were terrified.
In desperation, they made up another excuse.
"Brother just called. He and his friend have already left the hospital and will be home soon."
But this time, Man Bahadur did not seem convinced.
He said quietly,
"If he doesn't return soon, I will go to his friend's house myself."
And with that, he stepped outside.
Now Swarna and Prashna were trapped in fear.
They could neither go outside to check on their brother nor remain calm inside.
Every passing moment made them fear that perhaps Prashant would truly not be released.
At last, they decided that the truth had to be told.
They agreed that both of them would tell everything to their parents and somehow bring their brother back from jail.
A little while later, Man Bahadur returned home.
Gathering all their courage, Swarna and Prashna stood before him and confessed everything.
They admitted that their brother had not taken anyone to the hospital—
he had been taken to jail.
They told him everything that had happened in the club.
But after hearing everything, Man Bahadur and Priya did not react strangely.
Nor did they scold them.
Seeing no reaction at all, Swarna and Prashna were stunned.
They quickly pleaded,
"Please go to the police station and bring brother back."
At that, Man Bahadur finally spoke.
"I already heard everything last night when I came near your room.
We knew the truth from the very beginning.
And as for your brother…"
He paused, letting the mystery hang in the air.
"I had already gone to the station last night and brought him home."
For a moment, both girls stood frozen in shock.
Then, almost together, they asked,
"Then why didn't you tell us anything?
And if you already brought him back… where is brother?"