6.

Ketki was sitting in her room. She had not gone to the bakery. Usually, she stays home on this day and locks herself up. Samarth understood his sister and wanted to stay by her side, but she wouldn't even let him in her room.

She was sitting on the bed hugging her knees and staring in a direction, her eyes were fluffy red due to crying. No matter how she says to herself not to cry, she ends up crying. She never blamed God for taking her eyes; she thinks it's her punishment for putting her mother in danger.

"Aai, I miss you. Why did you have to leave me? It's me who should have been gone. Why did you have to protect me?" Ketki cried. Her heart hurt like someone stabbing a thousand knives in it. She heard a knock on the door. Bache?"

Samarth called her out in a faint whisper, her sobs could be heard out of the room, "please open the door baby please don't cry" Samarth spoke but his own heart was breaking. Ketki didn't move an inch she could hear him, she knew it hurt him but she also knew she had to suffer this alone.

Even Simba was trying to open the door. A scratching voice could be heard from outside, indicating Simba was trying to scratch for the door to open. Ketki just lay down on her stomach, ignoring the people outside the door. Her eyelids became heavy, and she slowly fell asleep.

Samarth noticed the silence in the room. He panicked, and in the first year after the accident happened Ketki tried to self-harm,

Samarth returned from work, he came early so that he could spend some time with Ketki. The doctor suggested spending as much time with her. He went to her room and knocked. "Sunshine?" He called her out but didn't get any response in return. He knocked again but all he got was silence.

"Bache?" Now he was panicking and asked the maid to bring the room's spare key. He grabbed the key and unlocked the door. As soon as he entered he saw the most heartbreaking scene. She was sitting leaning on the headboard with her eyes closed, blood oozing off her wrist.

Her bedsheet, her clothes, everything was bloody, samarth rushed to her side and held her in his arms "Bache... What did you do? Why did you do it?" Lata Didi quickly called the doctor. Soon the doctor arrived.

"It's good that she didn't cut her main vein or else we would have lost her today. Mr Kulkarni, I suggest you give her professional help." The doctor patted Samarth's shoulder. "She might slip into depression if she keeps her feelings bottled up."

Like that, he got her psychological help and in all those years Ketki never tried to self-harm ever again. She showed a facade of a happy girl who is fine but internally she's breaking.

Samarth didn't waste a single minute and unlocked the door with his shaky hands. His breathing became normal when he saw her sleeping. He walked to her and sat down beside her. "You scared me Bache" he whispered and removed the hair on her face. He covered her properly and left the room after kissing her forehead.

Samarth leans on the closed down and sighs "Ketki I couldn't save Mom... Please don't leave me I won't forgive myself ever... I have only you now..please" he sits down on the floor leaning to the door. Simba understands Samarth comes and sits in front of him keeping his head on Samarth's lap. Samarth lets out a small smile and pats Simba's head. And both of them sit in silence.

Next day:

Rudra was on his way to do a deal. It was a dangerous deal as he was going to meet his rival. He was fully prepared to go meet him. "Sir, are you sure you'll go alone?" Aryan asked while driving to the location. "Do you think I won't be able to handle it?" Aryan shook his head "Not like that sir" Rudra nodded "Good be it that way and wait for me outside the building once the deal is done I'll meet you there"

Aryan pulled aside and Rudra got out of the car. Khanna's men checked Rudra if he had any weapons, after making sure everything was okay khana's men led Rudra to the VIP room. Siddharth Khanna was sitting there smoking waiting for Rudra. As soon as he saw Rudra he got up with a smirk holding his cig in his forefinger. "Finally Mr Chauhan is here" Khanna spoke in a mocking tone.

Rudra just walks in like a king and sits on his chair like sitting on a throne crossing his legs. "What the deal hurry up I don't have much time" Rudra spoke taking one cig liting it and keeping it between his lips. Siddhart didn't like the way Rudra behaved. He curls his hands in a tight fist. "You are in my area and behaving like you have the upper hand" Siddhrat spoke gritting his teeth.

Rudra smirked "Your area? Did you forget I am the king whole of Mumbai is under my control should I be scared of a low goon like you?" Siddharth grits his teeth and was about to sit on his chair but Rudra kicks the chair before he can even sit. "You didn't hear me" Rudra spoke throwing the cig butt after crushing it.

"I am the king and only had the right to sit on the throne, you sit on your knees or just stand but your eyes should be down" Siddhart gulps down his pride and sits down in a kneeling position. Rudra leans back at the chair with a proud smirk "Good now tell me what's the deal" Siddhart closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"I need your permission to open the club" Siddhart spoke, rudra raised his brow "A club? Or illegal rapport where you'll provide hostess to businessmen?" Rudra asked as his eyes turned cold. Hearing him sweat form on Siddharth's forehead, he was caught. "Do you think I won't know what goes on in that petty brain of yours?" Rudra got up circling Siddhart. "Where are the girls?"

"W..what girls?" Siddharth shuttered he was fully exposed and now there's no way he'll get away with it. "I don't repeat where are the girls?"

"There are here only.." Siddharth answered in a low voice looking down. "While buying them you didn't have shame now you are having shame while freeing them?" Rudra roared, he held Siddhart's chin forcing him to look up at him. "I'll say it only once" Rudra tightened the grip around his chin "FREE THEM" Siddhart winched in pain due to the grip on his chin. He signals his men to free the girls.

His men saw how vulnerable their boss was in front of Rudra, Rudra didn't even need a gun to bring Siddhart to his knees. His man quickly left and freed all the girls. Rudra satisfied by now Siddhart's man listened without any questions. He let go of Siddhart's chin and gave me a warning look. "If I hear about this shit again you'll be gone not from Mumbai but this world"

With that Rudra left the room, siddhart was still kneeling his knuckles turned white by how tightly he gripped his coat. "Rudra Chauhan you'll pay for it..."

Aryan was already waiting for Rudra out of the building, he made sure all the girls who were freed were taken care of with medical treatments and sent to their respective homes. He saw Rudra coming out tugging his hands in his pant pocket. Aryan got out of the car and rushed to Rudra. "You okay?" Rudra pats aryan's shoulder.

"Is there anyone who can hurt me?" aryan chuckles and shakes his head. "Let's go" aryan spoke opening the car door for him. Rudra got in the car and aryan started driving to the mansion. Aryan stopped at a single, Rudra was just looking out of the window when his gaze fell on a familiar figure. "Aryan you go home I'll call you later" Before Aryan could say anything Rudra had already gotten out of the car and gone in a certain direction.

Ketki was walking alone, that area was near her home so she was aware of it and could go by herself nearby. Rudra was following her quietly for some reason she seemed sad to him. He saw a man walking to her, he didn't notice her and was about to bump into her. He held her hand and pulled her inside. Ketki stumbled a little and ended up hugging him.

She panicked "i... I'm sorry" she spoke in a low voice. Rudra didn't say anything just patted her back assuringly. He knew if he opened his mouth she'd recognise him. He'll just follow her to make sure she reaches home safely. Ketki lets go and slowly starts walking again. While Rudra just follows her quietly making sure no one bumps into her.

Rudra watches her go into her house and smiles

"chashni why do you go out all alone... How would I be in peace when you are walking alone when I am not with you?"