chapter 78

YOU ARE THE RHYTHM OF MY HEART!GChapter 78 :Aadhya’s final words jolted Sruthi to her core. Realizing that Aadhya wasn’t making empty threats, she swiftly grabbed her mother’s arm and began pulling her toward the exit.But Saagarika resisted, her feet dragging against the floor.“No! I can’t leave her like this!”, she cried, trying to move back toward Aadhya.“Mom! Please!”, Sruthi begged, her voice cracking. “Let’s go and check if brother has arrived—or call someone, anyone for help. This isn’t the time to be stubborn. We can’t fight him alone. He’s blinded by revenge. Please… come with me!”.Without giving her mother another moment to resist, Sruthi pshed Saagarika out of the house and slammed the door shut behind them, startling her mother.Saagarika turned back immediately, banging on the door in desperation. “Sruthi! Open the door! What are you doing?!.”But Sruthi didn’t turn back. With determination blazing in her eyes, she whirled around, ran toward Rajveer, and landed a strong blow on his back with her fist, trying to free Aadhya from his grip.Enraged, Rajveer turned to face her. Snarling, he yanked his arm from Aadhya’s hold and slapped Sruthi hard across her face. She stumbled backward, crashing into the sharp edge of the coffee table. The sound of impact echoed as she slumped to the floor, blood trickling from a cut on her temple—unconscious before she even hit the ground.Aadhya let out a horrified scream, her heart splitting at the sight of Sruthi lying still.Enraged beyond control, Aadhya, like a tigress protecting her cubs, lunged at Rajveer. She slapped, punched, and kicked with all the strength she had left, her fury matching the horror she had just witnessed.Rajveer, now completely infuriated, grabbed her harshly and dragged her into the nearest room. Throwing her onto the bed with brutal force, he growled menacingly,“Today, no one can save you from me!”.With a snarl, he tore off his shirt, his eyes burning with cruelty.Trembling, Aadhya crawled backward, her back pressed to the headrest as she curled into herself, trying desperately to shield her body. But Rajveer climbed onto the bed, forcefully dragging her toward him. Her agonized screams echoed through the house, her pleas for help rising with every second.Outside, Saagarika heard Sruthi's painful cry and her heart clenched. Her panic doubled as she heard Aadhya’s bloodcurdling screams. Helplessly, she looked around for something—anything—to break the door. Spotting an iron rod near a tree, she sprinted to grab it and returned to strike the door with all her might.Suddenly, the screeching sound of tires hitting the gravel filled the air. A couple of hurried footsteps followed. Saagarika turned, hope flashing in her eyes as she saw Nandu racing toward her, followed closely by Eshwanth, Akil, and Gaurav. She collapsed into Nandu’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.“Nandu... inside... Sruthi... Aadhya... that monster...”. Her words choked in her throat as despair overwhelmed her.Nandu’s jaw clenched, his eyes blazing with wrath. Gently pushing his mother toward Eshwanth, he turned to the door. Without hesitation, he kicked it hard, again and again. Akil and Gaurav joined him, and the door finally burst open.What he saw first made his blood run cold.Sruthi lay unconscious, blood seeping from her forehead, her body sprawled on the ground beside Laila who sat frozen in shock.Nandu gestured to Gaurav to attend to Sruthi and dashed toward the source of the anguished cries— of Aadhya.What he saw next ignited the beast within him.-  *KRISH*