THE END

Author's pov

Kabir and Roohi drove into the dense forest. As the car came to a halt, Kabir handed her a small Bluetooth device.

"Here, take this," he said. "You go first. Siddarth still doesn't know that I'm alive, so I'll stay back and give him a little... surprise. You go ahead and greet him in your own way."

Roohi nodded, taking the Bluetooth and fixing it in her ear. She glanced at him, a faint smile crossing her face.

Before she stepped out of the car, Kabir reached over and pulled her into a tight hug. "I promise, Roohi. Today, you'll get the revenge you've been waiting for."

She pulled back. "I know. Let's finish this."

Roohi opened the car door and stepped into the cold, dark forest. She adjusted her jacket and made sure the gun Kabir had given her was secure in her pocket. As she began walking, Kabir stayed behind, watching her disappear into the shadows before preparing to make his move.

The forest was quiet, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves beneath her boots and the distant crackle of a fire. She walked for a few minutes before she spotted Siddarth sitting by a small campfire. He was roasting marshmallows, his posture relaxed as if he didn't have a single worry in the world.

"How long are you planning to stay here, Siddarth?" Roohi called out, as she stepped into the clearing.

Siddarth didn't flinch. Instead, he turned his head slowly, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Ah, Roohi Malhotra," he said, drawing out her name with mock enthusiasm. "What a surprise."

Roohi stopped a few feet away, her eyes narrowing. "Don't be dramatic, Siddarth. You knew I'd come. Vikrant must've told you everything by now."

Siddarth chuckled, tossing a marshmallow into his mouth. "Oh, Vikrant? Yes, he was very chatty. Though I have to admit, I didn't think you'd actually show up. Bold move, Roohi. Bold, but foolish."

She ignored his taunt, her hand brushing against the gun in her pocket. "Stop playing games, Siddarth. You know why I'm here."

Siddarth leaned back slightly, the smirk never leaving his face. "Do I? You've always been so full of surprises. But tell me, how's Kabir? Oh, wait..." He paused, pretending to think. "He's dead, isn't he? Such a pity."

Roohi's jaw tightened as anger flashed in her eyes. "Keep his name out of your mouth," she said sharply.

Siddarth's laughter echoed through the forest. "Still as fiery as ever. But tell me, Roohi, what's your plan? Do you think you can walk in here, point a gun at me, and just... end this?"

"I don't think," she said, taking a step closer. "I know."

Siddarth smirked as he stood up, brushing his hands together as he started walking toward Roohi.

"I guess you still miss your dead husband, don't you?" he said casually, watching her reaction with amusement.

Roohi's fists clenched at her sides. She refused to let him see how his words affected her.

In her ear, Kabir's steady voice came through the Bluetooth. "Roohi, don't let him get to you. He's trying to push your buttons. Stay focused."

Siddarth chuckled, clearly enjoying himself as he stepped closer to her. "It's been a long time since your husband died, hasn't it? Tell me, Roohi, what about your... needs?" He tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Surely you must get lonely at night. Maybe you need a real man like me to warm your bed."

Roohi's stomach churned with disgust, but she stood her ground, glaring at him with cold eyes.

Meanwhile, Kabir sat in the car, listening to every word through the Bluetooth. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as Siddarth's words echoed in his ears. His anger built with each second until it boiled over. He couldn't take it anymore.

With a loud bang, Kabir kicked the car door open, the sound cutting through the quiet forest. He stepped out, slamming the door shut behind him as he stormed towards siddarth.

Siddarth, still focused on Roohi, hadn't noticed Kabir's approach. He smirked as he continued taunting her.

"Come on, Roohi," Siddarth said, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Why waste your life mourning a dead man when you could..."

Suddenly, a bang filled the air. The sound of a gunshot echoed through the forest, causing birds to scatter from the nearby trees.

Siddarth froze mid-sentence, his smirk vanishing. Slowly, he turned around, his expression changing from amusement to shock.

There, standing a few feet away, was Kabir. His gun was pointed at the ground, the barrel still smoking from the warning shot. Kabir's eyes were cold and furious, his presence commanding and dangerous.

Siddarth flinched, his body stiffening as realization hit on him. "K-Kabir?" he stuttered, taking a step back. His voice, usually so full of confidence, filled with fear.

Kabir took another step forward, his gaze locked on Siddarth. "Surprise mother fucker" he asked, his voice low but deadly.

Siddarth's breath hitched as he stared at Kabir. He stumbled a step back, his voice trembling. "H-how... How are you alive? I killed you that day with my own hands."

Kabir smirked, his eyes never leaving Siddarth as he slowly started walking toward him. "You thought you killed me," Kabir said, his voice calm yet sharp like a blade. "But I'm not dead, Siddarth. How could a pawn kill the king?"

Siddarth's eyes darted around, searching for a way out, but his legs refused to move. His confidence was crumbling with each step Kabir took toward him.

"What's that in your eyes, Siddarth?" Kabir asked, stopping a few feet away. His gaze bore into Siddarth, sharp and unyielding.

"Fear, I guess," Roohi said from behind, as she crossed her arms and smirked at Siddarth.

Kabir chuckled, glancing briefly at Roohi before turning his attention back to Siddarth. "She's right. You're afraid, Siddarth. It's written all over your face. And I don't blame you."

Siddarth swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure. "I-I'm not afraid," he stammered.

Kabir tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Oh, but you are. You know what's coming, don't you? You thought you could get away with everything you've done. You thought you could kill me and move on. But here I am, Siddarth. And now, it's your turn to face the consequences."

Siddarth's hands trembled as he stepped back. Roohi's smirk deepened as she watched the fear in his eyes grow, knowing the tables had finally turned.

Just then, Vikrant emerged from the shadows of the forest, his steps slow and deliberate as he approached. Siddarth's eyes widened with desperation as he spotted him.

"Vikrant!" Siddarth shouted, his voice trembling. He pointed toward Kabir like a cornered animal. "Look! Kabir is alive! He's alive! They're going to kill us!"

Vikrant stopped a few feet away, his face unreadable as he glanced at Kabir and then at Siddarth. He crossed his arms, his silence adding to the tension.

Siddarth's panic grew. "Do something, Vikrant! They'll kill us both if we don't stop them!"

Roohi stepped forward, her voice cold and cutting as she interrupted. "Nobody here is going to kill Vikrant." She locked her gaze on Siddarth. "We're here for you, Siddarth. You're the one who's going to pay for everything."

Siddarth's face turned pale, his mouth opening and closing as he looked between the three of them. He took another step back, his fear now unmistakable.

He didn't know that Vikrant is on Roohi's team now.

Kabir's smirk returned as he tilted his head slightly. "You heard her. There's no escape for you, Siddarth."

Vikrant remained silent, but the faintest hint of a smirk played on his lips as he took a step closer, standing firmly beside Roohi and Kabir. The message was clear, Siddarth was alone, and his time had run out.

■

An hour later

The dark forest is quiet, with only the sound of crickets filling the air. Siddarth is tied tightly to a tree, his face pale and his clothes soaked with sweat and blood. Kabir and Roohi stood in front of him, their faces emotionless but their eyes burning with rage.

Siddarth pleaded his voice trembling. "Please... don't do this. Kabir, Roohi, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for things to go this far."

"Sorry? Now you're sorry? After all the people you hurt, after you ruined our lives? It's too late for sorry, Siddarth." Kabir said coldly.

Roohi stepped forward, glaring at him. "You think saying sorry will bring back my family? You think it'll undo the betrayal Kabir faced? You don't deserve mercy."

"Please... just let me go. I'll give you anything you want. Money, power, anything!"

Kabir's voice raised with anger. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't about money or power. This is about justice. About making you feel every ounce of pain you caused us."

Kabir took out a knife and slashed Siddarth's arm, enough to draw blood but not kill him. Siddarth screamed in pain, thrashing against the ropes.

"Stop! Please, Kabir, stop!"

Roohi coldly, picked up a metal rod. "Anything? Did you listen when we begged for mercy? Did you stop when you destroyed everything we loved? No. So why should we stop now?"

She striked him across the legs with the rod, making him shout in agony.

"Please... I can't... I can't take this anymore."

Kabir leaned closer, his voice calm but deadly. "We couldn't take it either, Siddarth. But you didn't care. And now, neither do we."

Roohi took out a gun and fired it directly into his leg. Siddarth screamed, his voice echoing in the forest.

She smriked watching him. "Hurts, doesn't it? That's what you deserve. Every second of it."

Kabir carves shallow cuts across Siddarth's chest, the blade moving slowly, while Roohi pours salt into the wounds. Siddarth's screamed grow weaker as his strength fades.

Kabir handed Roohi the gun, his face filled with anger. "Do it, Roohi. Make him pay for what he did to your family. He deserves to die."

Roohi was shaking, but she took the gun from Kabir. Her fingers gripped it tightly as she aimed it at Siddarth. She could hardly look at him, but she knew what she had to do. Her voice was full of pain as she spoke. "You ruined everything, Siddarth. Rot in hell."

With those words, she pulled the trigger, one shot after another. The sound of each bullet hitting Siddarth's body felt like a heavy weight in her chest. She didn't even stop to think. She just kept pulling the trigger until there were no more bullets left in the gun.

When it was over, Roohi's knees gave out, and she fell to the floor, tears flowing down her face. She couldn't control herself anymore. Everything she had held inside for so long was coming out, and she was overwhelmed with the grief and anger she had kept hidden.

Kabir quickly knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Roohi sobbed in his arms.

Just then, Vihaan and Arvind walked there. They froze when they saw the scene Kabir holding Roohi and Siddarth's body lying. Vihaan's eyes widened as he took in the situation, realized Kabir is back.

Arvind called his team and they took Siddarth with them.

Vikrant looked at arvind with regret in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm really sorry for betraying you."

Vikrant's face was full of pain, but he didn't speak. Instead, Arvind continued, his voice shaking. "But you deserve punishment, Vikrant. You can't just get away with everything."

Vikrant's face dropped, and he looked desperate. "Anything dad. I'll do anything for you. Just please, don't leave me"

Arvind stood there for a moment, the weight of the situation hitting him. But despite everything, he couldn't stand to see his son like this. He walked up to Vikrant, pulling him into a tight hug.

"I'm not going anywhere, Vikrant," Arvind whispered, his voice soft but firm. "But you need to make things right. We have to fix this."

Vikrant hugged him back, his grip tight with relief. "I will, Dad. I promise. I'll do whatever it takes."

Kabir and Roohi pulled away from each other, but when they turned around, they saw Vihaan standing there, watching them.

Kabir walked toward him, without a word, he pulled Vihaan into a hug. "You're a good man, Vihaan," Kabir said softly. "And I'm really sorry for everything that's happened. Roohi still feels guilty about it all, and I hope you can forgive her."

Vihaan was quiet for a moment, his arms around Kabir. When they pulled apart, he looked over at Roohi, his expression kind. He smiled at her, and there was no anger in his eyes. "You did what you had to do, Roohi," he said.

He stepped forward and gave her a gentle side hug, speaking in a soft, reassuring tone. "I forgive you."

Roohi felt a weight lift from her shoulders as he spoke those words. She managed a small smile, grateful for his understanding.

Vihaan then turned and walked over to Vikrant and Arvind.

Roohi smiled at Kabir. He looked at her with a soft expression and, without saying anything more, gently wrapped his arm around her waist. "Let's go home, sweetheart," he said.

Hand in hand, they walked from there.

■

Vihaan sat alone in the forest, his head resting against the tree. Tears rolled down his face as he thought about everything he had been through. His heart felt shattered, but seeing Kabir and Roohi together brought him some joy, even though it also hurt deep down. As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard a voice calling his name.

"Vihaan."

He recognized the voice immediately and turned around. Standing there was Kriti, his ex-girlfriend.

"Kriti?" Vihaan said, his voice filled with both surprise and excitement.

Kriti stepped forward and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry, Vihaan. Please forgive me."

Vihaan was taken aback for a moment but quickly wrapped his arms around her. "What happened, Kriti?" he asked.

Kriti pulled back slightly, looking at him with guilt in her eyes. "I'm the reason we broke up back then. I was wrong for the way I spoke to you, for how I treated you. I know I hurt you, and that's why I'm here now, to say sorry."

Vihaan's heart softened, and he gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Kriti. That was in the past," he said.

Kriti looked at him, unsure if he truly forgave her. "You forgave me?" she asked.

Vihaan nodded, and without saying another word, he pulled her into a gentle hug.

Kriti hugged him back, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love you, Vihaan. I love you so much."

Vihaan closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth of her words fill the emptiness in his heart. He pulled away slightly to look at her and smiled softly. "I love you too, Kriti," he said.

After a few minutes of silence, Vihaan finally spoke, breaking the quiet tension that had settled between them. "Thank you for coming back, Kriti,".

Kriti looked at him, her eyes soft with understanding. "Don't thank me, Vihaan. Thank Roohi," she replied.

"Roohi?" Vihaan repeated, confusion evident in his tone. He hadn't expected Roohi to be involved in this conversation at all.

Kriti nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yes, she's the one who told me that you still feel something about me," she said quietly. "She was the reason I found the courage to come here today."

Vihaan's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Roohi's name. He wasn't sure how he felt about this revelation. "Roohi? How did she know?".

Kriti let out a small sigh, running a hand through her hair. "She told me a few months ago," she explained.

Few months ago

A few months ago, Kriti sat alone in a quiet café, sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone. She didn't notice Roohi walking toward her until the girl spoke up.

"Can I sit here?" Roohi asked politely, a smile on her face.

Kriti looked up, startled at first, but then smiled back. "Sure," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her.

Roohi sat down, her eyes studying Kriti for a moment. Kriti, still absorbed in her phone, didn't notice Roohi's gaze. But after a few seconds, she looked up and tilted her head, noticing the other girl's curious smile.

"Do I know you?" Kriti asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I know you, but you don't know me," Roohi replied, her tone casual, but with a hint of mystery.

Kriti's curiosity piqued, and she set her phone down. "Oh? How do you know me?" she asked, genuinely interested.

Roohi leaned in slightly, as if about to reveal something important. "I'm Vihaan's friend," she said, watching Kriti's reaction closely.

"Vihaan?" Kriti repeated, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn't heard that name in a while, and hearing it now stirred something inside her. "How is he?" she asked.

Roohi noticed the change in Kriti's tone and smiled knowingly. "You seem pretty excited about mentioning his name," she said, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "But you broke up with him over silly fights."

Kriti's face fell slightly as the guilt of the past resurfaced. "Yeah, I still feel guilty for doing that. Vihaan... he's a good guy."

Roohi leaned back in her chair, watching Kriti carefully. "Then why don't you go back to him?" she asked, as though it was the simplest thing.

Kriti shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. "I don't think he loves me anymore," she said quietly, almost as if she were trying to convince herself.

Roohi's expression softened, and she leaned forward again. "He does love you," she said, her voice firm.

Kriti looked at Roohi, puzzled. "How can you say that?"

Roohi's eyes met hers with sincerity. "He still talks about you every day. He has a picture of you two in his wallet, and he misses you. He's never really gotten over you."

Kriti felt a surge of hope mixed with disbelief. "But why do you care so much about Vihaan?" she asked, confused by the unexpected support from someone who wasn't even close to him.

Roohi let out a quiet laugh, as if the question amused her. "Even I'm using his goodness," she said, her voice lowering. "I'm going to break him, but I have to fix this. He's a good guy, and he deserves better than what happened."

Kriti frowned, not fully understanding what Roohi meant. "I didn't understand what you said," she admitted.

Roohi smiled knowingly, as if she were holding onto a secret. "You will understand when the time comes," she said cryptically. "I have your number, and I'll call you one day. If you want to fix things with Vihaan, meet him that day."

Without another word, Roohi stood up, leaving Kriti to absorb everything that had just been said.

Back to present

"So, it's Roohi who told you all this?" Vihaan asked, his voice quiet as he looked at Kriti, trying to fully understand.

Kriti nodded slowly.

Vihaan smiled, a small but genuine smile. Everything was finally starting to make sense. There was something about Kriti coming back, and about Roohi playing a role in it all, that made the situation feel different, better, even. Vihaan realized that Roohi had been the one to help repair the damage that had been done, even if she hadn't directly been involved in the past. It felt like everything was falling into place.

Vihaan thought about everything that had led them to this point. It was then that something clicked in his mind. He began to realize something he hadn't fully understood before: what Roohi had done wasn't just about fixing things between him and Kriti. It was about much more than that. Roohi had been the one to break everything down, but she also fixed it in a way that was better than it ever was before.

The end

Finally this short story comes to and end. Hope you guys liked it.

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See you all soon with another short story, till then keep reading the other one's

virtual hugs to all