✨ Saving her ✨

Abhimaan

I flinched at the gunshot before I could even step into the building. It wasn't just a sound, it was a warning, a scream in the silence, a cruel reminder of how fragile everything was. My heartbeat stuttered, my body froze, and for a moment, I felt as if the world had stopped moving.

We had finally tracked down Samantha's location, but at what cost? It wasn't just about her anymore. The moment we got the footage of Amaira walking straight into the trap, every breath I took felt like a struggle. The fear that surged inside me was unlike anything I had ever known. We tracked her phone within seconds, but the relief was short-lived because now, everything was at stake.

Samantha and Amaira, both lives are in danger and the gunshot is definitely not a good sign.

"Bro... did you hear that?", Ruhaan's voice was tight, uncertain.

I didn't let him finish. My feet moved before my mind could even process it. I rushed inside, my lungs burning, my heart pounding out of my chest. The building was an old penthouse, abandoned, haunted by something unseen but undeniably real. There were no men, no movement but only an uncomfortable silence that sent chills down my spine.

"Samantha..."

"Amaira..."

We both called out as we stepped deeper inside. I know what I was entering inside, the building which can change our life entirely. But that doesn't even matter for us anymore. I just needed my wife and my sister to be safe.

With every step I took inside, my breath hitched somewhere inside my throat when I saw the wobbling figure walking to us.

And it was the moment, my heart shattered. I failed to deprive how lost I felt as if my world was trapped and I'm stuck inside it. I saw Amaira walking towards us, her face was drained of color, her lips trembling, her eyes empty. She wasn't just afraid. She was broken.

"Bhai...", she murmured.

Her voice cracked, her legs kept wobbling for something for support and before she could fall, I caught her. Her body shook in my arms, cold and fragile, as if life itself had abandoned her.

"Amaira....", I shuttered, fear rushed down my spine as I watched tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Bhai....", Amaira's broken voice erupted every inch of rage inside me but my heart searched for more.

"Amaira, I'm here. I have got you, okay? You're safe now", I whispered, but my voice held no certainty. I tried my best to console her as she regained her breath.

"Amaira, where is....where is Samantha?", I asked back, with tons of feelings inside.

She looked at me with teary eyes when she said, "Bhai, bhabhi....she sacrificed.... her life for me....", the words left her mouth and my world crumbled beneath it. I felt a lack of oxygen as my leftover breath got hitched somewhere inside me.

The ground beneath me trembled and I just wanted to dig myself with no mercy. Hee simple words were too much for my ears to take in as I couldn't be more shattered, my pieces were already lost just by the idea of it.

Amaira clung to me, fingers weak against my shirt as I faced her. I gulped the lump in my throat before she simply pointed towards a door left ajar. I felt my chest constrict as I stepped forward, leaving Amaira with Ruhaan as I gestured for him to take her back.

"Samantha....", her name barely escaped my lips. I roamed my eyes around the fainted walls of the house, my gaze kept an urge to look at her, but not for the last time.

"Samantha....", my voice echoed inside as I shouted her name like a lost child.

I rubbed my face in frustration before I called out for her again, "Sam.....", and then, my eyes fell on her. I glued at my position as I failed to move from my own place. I saw her standing in the middle of the hall, tears welled up inside my eyes as she was a few feet away from me. My eyes couldn't stop looking at her and everything started flashing back.

Pain. Hurt. Helplessness.

Divorce.... What I really did to her.

She was standing as I noticed her trembling feet, unmoving, barely breathing but carrying countless battles inside her. I didn't ignore the bruises on her arms and that was enough for me to make my knuckles turn white.

I faced her more with guilt and self loathing, I knew she was there because of me, my focus shifted when I heard a voice, "So, the hero of the night finally arrives", Shaurya Raichand stood beside her, his gun pressed against her temple.

My world was crumbling just with the sight of it. I realised he did a gunshot a few minutes ago just to make us horrified and I also knew it by then that my one mistake could do a lot more damage than I can imagine.

"Shaurya...", my voice was low, warning, shaking with an anger I could barely contain. "Stay away from my wife", it was more of a warning but I knew what I was up to. I just needed to be at my best composure.

He chuckled slightly, his voice devoid of venom and bitterness, "Come on, Abhimaan. Respect her decision once at least for once," he mocked, his laughter sending ice through my veins.

My eyes scanned Samantha but she barely showed any effect as if she had already accepted it as her life's biggest truth. I could see it in her eyes. The devastation. The exhaustion.

The Samantha who never give up on a last bite of her pancake has now given up on her life. As if she doesn't have any reason left to live.

And I'm the reason. It's me before Shaurya who has put her at stake.

But no, Samantha. I'm not letting you fall this time, even when I'm the reason behind your fall.

So, no, wifey. Even if you have given up on yourself, I'm not giving up on you.

"Thank your ex- wife for saving your sister's life, Mr. Malhotra. She chose to sacrifice her own life and I promise I didn't force her. It was her choice....", he voiced out in a mocking tone, as I kept looking at Samantha not before ignoring his remark on wife.

She chose to sacrifice her life for Amaira?

But I'm not letting someone take her life either.

"Abhimaan, leave", Samantha's voice was barely above a whisper, yet it hit me harder than any bullet ever could.

I looked at her, searching for something, anything in her expression. But all I saw was emptiness. I had done this. I had let her break to the point where she no longer fought back. Where she literally started counting her breaths. I know I have done a sin this time, it's not even a mistake. And I can't reverse it either because the loss is already done. But I would spend every last breath making it right.

Because I can't let her do this. I just can't.

"I'm not here to leave, Samantha. I'm here to take you home", I said, my voice unwavering as I stood straight over my reply.

An annoyed expression brought up to her face, "Stop being a fool, Abhimaan. Just leave, I said....", she voiced out with rage but I knew what she was trying to do.

She was making me leave her. To die.

Does she really think I'm going to let her die. Like not even after my own death.

My eyes remained focused as I didn't listen to her outrage or failed trials to make me leave her. Instead I stepped forward, my heart pounding when Shaurya tightened his grip on the gun but I barely had my feet controlled. It just kept marching towards them.

"Stop....", he gritted his teeth in anger as a warning to me but I had to be courageous enough to do what I was really up to. Especially before it's too late.

"I said stop!", he shouted. "One more step, and I'll....", he marked the gun above Samantha's temple as she flinched back.

"You will kill her, right?", I completed his words, trying not to show how much I was getting affected by his aggressive gesture.

Shaurya looked at me with confusion but my eyes were filled with nothing but tons of urge to punch him. "Then why haven't you killed her already?", I continued, my eyes locked onto his.

For the first time, I saw a hesitation flicker in his gaze but he continued with venom in his voice as he was trying to read me. "Because I wanted her to suffer," he spat giving a glance to Samantha while his voice laced with something deeper than hate.

Pain. Vengeance.

"The way my mother did", he completed his words, putting extra effort into those words. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm, but the sight of Samantha, her bruised hands, her dull, tear-streaked face and especially the fear in her eyes was enough to make my blood boil.

Even though I knew Shaurya's story, it still doesn't justify the cause Samantha was in pain. At that moment, I just wanted to rush to her, take her into my arms, cover up every bruise and then kill every reason behind it.

I know it's me as well.

"You hurt my wife", I said, my voice was dark and low. "And now I don't give a damn about your revenge, Shaurya Raichand", my eyes became intense.

"You think you're avenging your mother?", I tsked. "No. You are just becoming your father."

His eyes darkened, "Mr. Malhotra", I knew mentioning his father would distract him and I just needed that.

"Don't you dare do the same mistake she did and that is provoking me. Because I gave her the choice but I won't be kind enough with you", he said, pointing towards Samantha and then, he gazed back at me.

I maintained my poker face, I knew Samantha would have tried her best to do her part and he is calling that a 'Provoke.'

"To you too, Mr. Raichand. I think you should stop being your father's puppet", his face twisted in rage, but before he could respond, I pulled an envelope from my pocket and tossed it to him.

He frowned back at me before flipping it open. The moment his eyes scanned the contents, I saw the color drain from his face and to be honest, I enjoyed it.

"This... this is..."

"A little surprise", I said coldly.

Samantha looked at me in confusion as she couldn't comprehend anything but I didn't take my eyes off Shaurya. "This is nonsense", he muttered before he faced me.

"It's the truth, Mr. Raichand. All these years, you were just a puppet for your father," I continued. "Your father runs a news channel, so, he knows what you're up to and he has prepared an article to release once you are gone. The article states that you were a psychopath just like your mother....."

His breathing became uneven, and for the first time, I saw it, the conflict. "How dare you talk about my mother like that?", he outraged in anger when I countered him back.

"Look at those articles", I pointed back, as he flipped back the pages and scanned the contents.

I crossed my arms across my chest before I started speaking, "These are the articles published years ago. Trust me, I literally got into that depth when I said this. When your mother found out about your father's extra marital affair, she claimed to expose him in front of the world. As his new channel just started its success phase, it was a threat for your father. So, he proved that your mother was mentally ill. It started as a rumour and her fights with your father became an advantage to him", I licked my lips, as I focused on each and every word I said to him.

I knew it was difficult for me to take it all in so I better needed to be frank for him to digest my words, "Soon, everyone started believing it and that depressed your mother. You were just two years old then and the world already started looking at you with that cruel eye. She needed to protect you from that harsh image as she kept fighting from your father. When she didn't find a way, she took her own life", I said, as I read both disbelief and pain in his eyes.

Even Samantha was in the same state to gulp all that in, "But how is that making me my father's puppet?", Shaurya asked out of nowhere.

I chirped at my lips before I replied back, "Years ago, your father used your mother's love against her. She kept fighting just to prove that she was mentally fine and unfortunately she couldn't. And now, you are running on the same page. He is using your hatred to kick you out of his way because you are the only person left to give justice to your mother. Since Samantha's mother is also a part of all this, putting Samantha at stake would be an easier choice for them. In fact, all these years you have been looking for an opportunity to take revenge from Samantha when she is at no fault", I completed my words with utter seriousness.

His eyes became darker but it showed less battles than before as he gazed at Samantha then at me. He didn't pull away the trigger from Samantha's temple, "But how will the article affect me?", the venom filled eyes were replaced with curiosity.

And for me, it was a good sign.

"You forgot you are the ruler of the IT Sector. And you literally reallocated your company just to set a trap for me which caused disruptions to the livelihood of thousands of employees. They have become outrageous now and will act as live evidence to prove that you were a cruel person who just lived for his baseless revenge. You thought about your own, in fact you killed someone blah...blah...blah...blah....", I smirked back as a matter of fact.

"And that will once again be an extra remark to your mother's death. In fact of her being mentally ill. You know the society. They blame mothers for every sin their children do", I uttered back when I saw him trembling at his feet.

"But....but....who will....kill me?", he asked back.

I passed him a playful smirk before I took out the gun from my blazer's pocket, "Touch my wife again and I will give you your last answer", I stated coldly.

Samantha startled at her position looking at me in utter shock but she didn't say anything.

But that was the truth. If he touches Samantha in front of me again, I'm going to kill him.

"Killing the killer game, I like it, Mr. Malhotra", he surpassed a soft laugh as he was still marking the gun above Samantha's temple.

I pulled my trigger while maintaining my poker face,"I wish it was just a game, Mr. Raichand", I just wanted to intimidate him enough.

"That's the master plan of your father. He knows that you are behind my wife. But I believe he is smarter than you. At least he knows whom he is challenging to....", I smirked back maintaining my calm posture.

"What if I kill you both?", he twitched his eyebrows at me while he glared back at Samantha.

"If you lay your hands on her, I will kill you. It doesn't matter if you kill me back, I'm happily going to die for her", I stated coldly as I noticed Samantha's soft gaze at me.

"Your mother literally died protecting you from getting tagged as a son of a mad woman and here you do, acting nothing more than a psychopath who is literally searching for reasons to kill people", I continued back as a flicker of emotion appeared on his face.

He looked at me devoid of any emotions yet I managed to hit him where it was needed, "If I were at your shoes, I would have died to turn the tables and prove my mother's dignity to the world. I won't let the one who caused her death live in peace", I blurted out.

He knew I had something to say to him and it's one of those things he really wanted to hear so I continued, "She will surely be in pain looking at her son's death and even after that, thousands of employees will celebrate your end. And your father would be from his sin once and for all...."

Shaurya trembled at his feet when he realised the truth behind my words. A sudden burst of conflict appeared on his face when I didn't fail to notice the tears gathering inside his eyes which he successfully hid. The gun fell down crackling on the floor as his hands hung down, he took steps back from Samantha as he faced me and I knew what he meant by that.

I took no moment in grabbing Samantha's hand as I pulled her towards me. She startled at my action but I did what I was waiting for. Holding her again in my arms.

I wiped off her tears from her cheeks as I hugged her again. Being there for a moment, I broke the hug as the silence between us already started disturbing. She was there standing still when I held her dropping a soft kiss over her forehead. "Samantha, you are fine, okay? I'm taking you home with me....", I said and she simply nodded with teary eyes.

My world started settling the moment I held her and nothing felt better. I didn't believe if the game of truth actually worked for Shaurya because that's what I actually learnt from Samantha.

Facing truth and reality.

I was looking for a moment to stare at her for a longer time when I heard a muffling voice, "This...this...can't be true....", I covered Samantha protectively from my body before she stood beside me. Shaurya rubbed his face in frustration and as a human, I knew it was too much for him to take yet I had to tell him the truth to save my wife.

"What do you want, Mr. Malhotra?", he asked in a defeating voice as I replied back.

"As I already explained to you the probable cause of your death, to be precise, if you kill, you die. But that won't be enough, I have my men around. The moment you are gone, they will help your father circulate his articles in every corner of this world. And that article says that your mother died because of her mental illness and you, her only son, was also the cruel person who destroyed lives. And the world will never know the truth. Once again, a person with an extra marital affair will win and your mother will never get her justice", I chirped my lips as I completed each word.

I know it's wrong but I have to make him stop it. And there is no other way for it.

"Samantha is not your culprit, Mr. Raichand. Your father is. Don't let your father win this time. He wants you to die just like your mother. Don't let your mother's life go in vain. She died because she wasn't mad. She was in love. But you might die because of the hatred you are carrying inside", his expression said he knew the reality.

Shaurya was smarter enough to know that I wasn't just lying if I said that I can actually kill him.

And I knew what I was saying but the only thing to cross his battle of vengeance is to make him realise his mistakes.

Somehow I was in the same situation, I blamed the whole world for my Mom's death and even despised everyone around me. It was Samantha who gave me my reality check and today, Shaurya needs the same. A reality check.

"Choice is yours. Put your revenge down and make your mother proud that you overcame something she couldn't. Or just destroy lives and let the world keep believing that you were a son of a....", I straightened my blazer with every word as I put my gun down.

Shaurya's feet wobbled, he looked at me and then his focus shifted to Samantha, his eyes flickered with emptiness.

"I failed....", he whispered, almost to himself but enough for us to hear.

"I... I hurt my mom....", his voice cracked, and he dropped to his knees like a broken doll drowning. I looked at him in shock, I barely believed if he would actually trust my words. But I think he did.

"I failed as her son. I failed you....mom.... I failed you. I was about to take it all away from you", he broke down in tears.

I couldn't believe the sight in front of me, the man who was filled with hatred inside was crying into tears right now. But I remember, no matter how cruel he became for the world, he never stopped becoming a son.

I heard Samantha sobbed beside me when I held her hands tightly into mine. She sighed heavily when she took a step forward, hesitant, "Mr. Raichand...."

I tightened my grip around her fingers as she glanced at me with pleading eyes. She didn't want to hate Shaurya and I could read it in her eyes. Even after everything, Samantha was feeling heavy with his tears. And that's Samantha for you. Putting everyone else above her.

But I wasn't ready to trust him yet. No matter how broken he was, I can't trust him especially when it comes to Samantha. Especially knowing the fact that he would have killed her if I was seconds late.

Shaurya lifted his gaze to her, his eyes red-rimmed, his hands trembling as he folded them in front of her.

"Mujhe maaf kar do, Samantha...", a sob broke from his lips. "Please. Forgive me...", he chanted those words and for a moment, it felt true. Maybe, it was.

("Forgive me, Samantha....")

"I beg you to forgive me for the sin I have committed today. At least I would be able to give answers to my mother....", his heavy sobs filled our ears.

Samantha welled up in tears before looking at me and I left her hand. I couldn't see her like that. It was her moment to decide her next steps and I was standing beside her no matter what.

The silence that followed was deafening. Samantha's breath got hitched, and I felt her tremble beside me while she took baby steps towards Shaurya.

And for the first time, Shaurya Raichand, the man who wanted vengeance, the man who wanted her dead, looked utterly, irreparably lost in front of her.

"I have done a sin, Samantha. I couldn't see it wasn't your fault. In fact, we were in the same shoes yet you managed to grow with grace and I became a devil", he said with a broken voice.

"Please forgive me. I'm sorry.... I'm sorry for every pain I have given to you and your family. Please forgive me, Samantha....", he kept his hand folded.

Samantha nodded with tearful eyes, "I don't know what....to...say but...there....is always a loophole, Mr. Raichand", she said slowly.

"It's not in my case, Samantha. I failed my mother. I was about to end everything. I didn't think twice. My Mom would hate me.... She would...hate me....", he kept saying it restlessly until I watched Samantha bent on her knees.

I managed to stay as close to her, a part of me was scared though, "You still have your whole life to make it true, Mr. Raichand....", Samantha smiled softly when Shaurya faced her with puppy eyes.

This is it. This is the best thing Samantha has. She has the energy of turning her haters into someone who would actually love or respect her.

"How can I do that? Tell me, Samantha. What can I do to earn your forgiveness?", he asked, his voice became barely audible.

Samantha wiped off her tears immediately as she stood back on her feet, "I know the loophole, Mr. Raichand. Only if you want it....", she smiled softly while Shaurya stood back on his feet too.

His gaze fixed Samantha while he focused on her words, "I want your forgiveness, Samantha....", he repeated.

Samantha smiled softly before she said, Well, I can't forgive you for dragging Amaira into this. It will be her choice to do the aftermath", she stated clearly.

Shaurya looked at her with hope as she continued, "Remember you calling me your step sister?", he nodded at her words.

I looked at her in confusion, "I know blood is thicker than....etc...etc. but we can be a family", she said and I looked at her with utter disbelief.

Did she really say that? Where does that big heart come from?

Shaurya held his head low but even he had the same reaction, "You mean....?"

"A brother. A family", simple words yet tons of emotions.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your mother but my Dad has always taught me to live life on simple terms. He was my only family until I....", I looked at Samantha as she gazed back at me.

I didn't fail to notice the tears building inside those eyes when she immediately took her eyes off me, "But.... We can try, at least", she said while offering him a hand.

Shaurya hesitated while he looked at me when I simply nodded at him, "A family", he tried smiling, I know that was hard for him but he tried at least, before he shook Samantha's hands.

"Prove the world that your mother was a gracious woman. And punish the real culprit who set the trap for all these years", Samantha said, as he nodded back at her.

Then, I watched him take a step towards me as he folded his hands in front of me, "I'm sorry for dragging your sister into this, Mr. Malhotra. I'm sorry for hurting Samantha. I know asking for your forgiveness would be my selfishness but that's all I can do for now. I wish that you will forgive me one day", he said genuinely and I looked at Samantha who was already in tears and then I faced him.

I can't assure that I'm actually going to forgive him, I needed time. I couldn't just forget his deeds overnight so all I can do is have some patience, "The decision to forgive you lies with Samantha and Amaira. If they will ask me to shoot you, I'm in and otherwise too....", I said with a poker smile on my face.

I meant it though.

Samantha glared back at me while he chuckled softly with tearful eyes, "I take that."

Shaurya chuckled when Samantha replied back, "I will take some time. And for Amaira, the decision lies with her....and...."

Then, she shifted her eyes at me when she uttered coldly, "....and the Malhotra's", ouch, did that hurt?

I can't tell you.

And it was the moment of realisation for me that even though I managed to save Samantha but about our marriage, I doubt that.

Wish me luck!

Samantha's feet wobbled when she tried to make a move, "Mr. Malhotra, please take her back home. I'm sorry for causing this to you and your family....", I heard Shaurya saying when I took no time as I gazed back at Samantha.

And I lifted her up in a bridal style while she continued treating me with her silence treatment, "Told you, wifey, I'm taking you home....", I whispered back to her before I marched out, holding everything I ever wanted, right in my arms.

***************************************

Happy Valentine's Day! 💘

Loh bacha liya naa Samantha ko!

I don't believe in random violence so, I thought to make the chapter full of plots. I hope you liked it. 🥰

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