CHAPTER 32 : "SECRETS BENEATH THE SEHRA"

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Please don't go without reading the author's note at the end!!💗

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FLASHBACK

Few hours back.....

The silence in the dimly lit room was thick with tension as Vishwanath sat with his brothers, Rudra and Raghavendra, and Officer Rituraj Solanki. His piercing gaze bore into the map of Oberoi Estate laid out on the table before them. The air crackled with his unspoken fury, the tension in the room was palpable. Time was running out.

Vishwanath had discovered Neel's vile plot earlier through his vast network of informants. His sources, scattered across cities like shadows, had pieced together the chilling truth, Ravi Sharma, Kashi's father, had sold his daughter to Neel in exchange for money and freedom from debts. But that wasn't the end of it. Ravi's treachery went even deeper. He had aided Neel in kidnapping his own wife, knowing that Kashi's love for her mother would compel her to obey any demand, no matter how dangerous. The betrayal was staggering, yet not entirely surprising. Vishwanath had long known Ravi to be selfish and heartless, a man who thrived on manipulation and greed. But to stoop this low, to trade his daughter's future and use her mother's life as leverage, it was beyond comprehension.

The thought of Kashi, his Kashi being traded like a mere commodity made his blood boil. His knuckles whitened as his fists clenched tightly, his mind replaying the details of the deal. Ravi had sealed his daughter's fate for a few measly notes, and Neel, the despicable man that he was, had used Kashi as a pawn in his twisted game. But the one thing Vishwanath couldn't piece together was why. Why was Neel so fixated on Kashi? What did he want from her?

"Bhaiya," Raghavendra's voice cut through his thoughts, cautious yet firm. "We have to act quickly. We are running out of time."

Vishwanath's jaw tightened. His voice was calm, yet it carried an edge that made everyone in the room straighten. "Raghav, take half of our men and go with Officer Solanki. Find Anjali Aunty. Neel has hidden her somewhere, and we need to ensure her safety before making any moves. Once she's secure, let us know immediately."

Before Raghav could respond, Officer Rituraj, who had been quietly observing the discussion, interjected. "My men are already working on tracking the location," he said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "It's a secluded area Neel has been using for his illicit activities. As soon as we pinpoint the exact location where Mrs. Anjali is being kept, we will move in swiftly."

Vishwanath gave a sharp nod, his expression unrelenting. "Good. We can't afford any delays. Rituraj, coordinate with Raghav and update us the moment you have the location."

His gaze then shifted to his younger brother. "Rudra, you will come with me. We will take the rest of the men and head to Oberoi Estate to rescue Kashi."

Both brothers and officer Solanki nodded without hesitation. Vishwanath's command was absolute, his leadership unquestionable. Despite the gravity of the situation, his composure was a testament to his power, a man who could bring empires to their knees with a mere glance.

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The Oberoi Estate loomed in the distance, its grandeur mocking the cruelty unfolding within. Vishwanath and Rudra, along with their team, disguised themselves as Neel's men. Their outfits and forged IDs were impeccable, crafted with precision to avoid suspicion.

The guards at the gate were vigilant, their sharp eyes scanning every face with suspicion. Vishwanath remained calm, his confidence disarming, though the stakes were higher than ever. When one of the guards stepped forward and questioned them, Rudra feigned irritation, his tone impatient. "Don't waste our time. Neel sir personally called us to strengthen security. Are you going to question his orders?"

The guard frowned and said, "Okay, wait. Let me confirm with sir once."

A flicker of tension passed through Vishwanath, but he didn't let it show on his face. Rudra, too, maintained his composure. Vishwanath took a step forward, his expression unwavering as he said smoothly, "Of course, you can confirm with sir. But be prepared for his wrath. He called us barely ten minutes ago, furious, asking why we weren't here yet. He is already agitated, and if you call him now to question his orders, trust me, he will take it out on you. But by all means, go ahead."

The guard hesitated, visibly conflicted. The mention of Neel's temper put him in a dilemma, just then another guard at the gate intervened. "Let them in," the second guard said firmly. "No need to disturb sir again and again. We have already checked their IDs, and everything is fine. If Neel sir has called for them, there is no point delaying."

The first guard glanced at Vishwanath and Rudra again, then finally nodded. "Fine. Go ahead."

The barrier lifted, and they were waved through. Vishwanath's expression remained calm, but the moment they passed the gate, his sharp eyes darted around, quickly noting the estate's layout, the positions of Neel's men, and every possible entry and exit point. Every detail, every movement, was imprinted in his mind.

Rudra, walking slightly behind him, leaned in and whispered under his breath, "One step closer, Bhaiya. Let's end this."

Vishwanath's jaw tightened, his resolve sharpening like a blade. His voice was low but filled with unwavering determination. "We will Rudra. Neel Oberoi will learn the consequences of daring to lay his eyes on Vishwanath Rai Singhania's loved ones."

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Vishwanath, Rudra, and their men moved with swift precision, taking their positions among Neel's guards without raising suspicion. They blended seamlessly into the surroundings, each of them remaining calm and focused. However, Vishwanath's fury reignited when he saw Neel descending the stairs, his smug face wore a victorious grin, accompanied by Ravi, who too seemed really happy and satisfied. The wedding had begun, and Neel adjusted his sehra, his satisfaction palpable in the air.

The priest's voice echoed through the hall as he chanted the auspicious mantras. After a moment he asked for the bride to be summoned. Vishwanath's breath caught in his chest as his eyes locked onto Kashi, standing at the top of the staircase. Dressed in a breathtaking red and gold lehenga, she was a vision of ethereal beauty, almost like a goddess brought to life,yet her tear-streaked face shattered him. Her shoulders trembled as she fought to steady herself, her body language screaming of the anguish she was trying to hide. It was clear she was breaking under the weight of betrayal and fear.

But then he saw Kashi stopping abruptly at the sight of Neel. She didn't move, her eyes wide with panic as her body seemed frozen in place. The helper urged her forward, telling her it was time, but Kashi clutched the railing with both hands, her knuckles white as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Neel's patience, already wearing thin, boiled over at the sight. His brow furrowed in annoyance as he saw Kashi's resistance. "Come down, sweetheart," he called out, his voice dripping with false sweetness. "It's time for you to become mine."

When Kashi still refused to move, Neel's temper exploded. He stormed up the stairs, his steps heavy with fury. Reaching her, he grabbed her arm roughly, his fingers digging into her skin. "You'll come down, sweetheart, whether you like it or not," he hissed, pulling her towards him with a force that made her stumble. She cried out in pain as he dragged her down the steps, her body trembling with helplessness.

The sight of Kashi being manhandled by Neel sent a surge of rage through Vishwanath, the kind that burned hot and vicious in his chest. His fists clenched involuntarily, his nails digging deep into his palms as he fought the overwhelming urge to rush forward and end Neel right then and there. Every muscle in his body tensed, coiled like a spring ready to snap. His jaw tightened, and his eyes blazed with fury, the fiery storm within him threatening to break free. But just as he was about to make a move, Rudra's hand landed firmly on his shoulder, anchoring him in place.

"Not yet, Bhaiya," Rudra whispered urgently, his eyes were sharp with concern, scanning the area. "We don't know where Aunty is. If we act now, it could cost her life."

Vishwanath's breath hitched in his throat, and his body tensed further. The image of Kashi, helpless and vulnerable in Neel's grasp, made it feel as if the earth itself was crumbling beneath him. He could hear the sound of her sobs, feel the ache of her pain in his own chest. But Rudra's words, filled with urgency and wisdom, held him back, forcing him to think. His heart screamed to protect Kashi, to shield her from the monster that was Neel, but his mind reminded him of the bigger picture, of the fragile situation they were in.

Vishwanath fought to steady his breath, forcing himself to stay rooted, though every second of Kashi's suffering felt like a blade twisting in his side. He glanced at his younger brother, seeing the same fury and helplessness mirrored in his eyes. Rudra was feeling the same pain for his bhabhi, yet he understood the stakes, understood that acting rashly now could jeopardize everything.

Vishwanath's fists trembled, his mind clouded with rage, but his sharp instincts cut through the fog. He couldn't afford to let emotions cloud his judgment. Kashi's safety depended on him keeping his composure. Every breath felt like fire, but he fought it down. He had to be the one to make the right call. He had to stay focused.

His voice, when it finally came, was a low growl of frustration. "I know," he muttered through gritted teeth, his gaze never leaving Kashi, as Neel continued to drag her toward the altar. "But I will make him pay. I'll make him wish he never crossed paths with me."

Rudra nodded silently, his hand still on Vishwanath's shoulder, both of them standing frozen, their hearts heavy with the unbearable weight of helplessness, yet understanding the necessity of waiting for the right moment.

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As the ceremony began, Vishwanath's disgust grew. Ravi sat next to Neel, performing the kanyadaan with a smug grin. The man who should have protected his daughter was now happily handing her over to a man like Neel.

Vishwanath's men who had blended seamlessly with Neel's guards, began their silent operation. Slowly and methodically, they overpowered Neel's men one by one. The tension was perceptible but the plan was unfolding perfectly.

At this moment, Rudra signaled to one of their men to cut the power. Moments later, the room plunged into darkness. A wave of confusion spread through the estate.

"What's happening?" Neel barked, his voice cutting through the murmurs.

One by one, Neel's men went to check the fuse, but none returned. Frustrated, Neel got up, signaling for the ceremony to pause. He ordered Ravi to stay there before storming out to investigate.

Vishwanath's eyes followed Neel as he disappeared into the darkness. This was the moment they had been waiting for. He glanced at Rudra, who nodded. Together, they slipped into the shadows.

In the cover of darkness, Vishwanath's men along with Rudra worked swiftly, overpowering the remaining guards. The sound of muffled struggles and thuds filled the air as more than half of Neel's security was neutralized.

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Neel strolled toward the corner to inspect the lights, unaware of the shadow following him. Just as he reached a darkened area, a cold, chilling voice stopped him mid-step.

"Neel Oberoi."

The sound sent shivers down his spine. He turned slowly, his eyes scanning the dimly lit corridor until they landed on Vishwanath Rai Singhania. The sheer darkness couldn't hide the red fury radiating from Vishwanath's eyes. Neel had not expected Vishwanath to easily breach the multiple layers of security he had so meticulously arranged but nevertheless he was prepared. In fact, he suddenly relished the idea of facing Vishwanath directly, confident in his belief that no one could truly thwart his plans.

The frozen look on Neel's face quickly transformed into a sinister smirk. "Ohh, so you have finally figured it out, that It's me behind all this. Impressive, I must admit" he drawled. But you are too late now, Vishwanath. You won't be able to stop me."

Vishwanath's voice was dangerously low, each word dripping with outrage. "Neel, I would have forgiven you if you had targeted me. But bringing Kashi and her mother into this....That was your biggest mistake. And now, I'm not going to leave you."

Feigning fear, Neel widened his eyes mockingly, then burst into laughter. "Oh, I'm so scared!" he jeered. His smirk widened as he stepped closer, his voice taunting. "You are powerless, Vishwanath. In front of your very eyes, I will marry Kashi. I will make her my wife, break her spirit, and keep her as mine forever. That will be my final victory stealing your precious Kashi from you. Imagine her in my arms every night, calling me her husband. And you? You will rot in despair, losing every shred of hope, dying a little every single day."

Vishwanath's fury boiled over. The provocative words were too much. His fist flew, landing a blow straight to Neel's nose, the impact drawing blood. Neel staggered, clutching his face, but before he could recover, Vishwanath lunged again.

"How dare you put your filthy eyes on my Kashi?" Vishwanath roared, landing another punch. "I will kill you today, Neel Oberoi!"

The two men clashed in a violent brawl. Vishwanath, fueled by the rage of a scorned lover, dominated the fight. Neel managed to land a punch, splitting Vishwanath's lip, but it only ignited his fury further. The ferocity with which Vishwanath fought left Neel struggling to keep up. Blow after blow landed on Neel's face and body as Vishwanath's wrath knew no bounds.

Just as Vishwanath was about to strike again, Rudra and a group of their men rushed in. Rudra grabbed his elder brother, pulling him back. "Bhaiya, stop! You are going to kill him!"

"Let me go, Rudra!" Vishwanath's voice was thunderous. "I won't leave this man today. He dared to set his filthy eyes on my Kashi!"

"I know, Bhaiya," Rudra said urgently. "But we still don't know where Kashi bhabhi's mother is. Only he knows."

Neel, beaten and bloodied, managed to lift his head, a sly grin spreading across his bruised face despite the pain coursing through his body. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction as he forced out his words through clenched teeth. "You are too late, Vishwanath Rai Singhania. If I'm not at the mandap (altar) in next five minutes, my men will realize something is wrong. And when they do, they will immediately message my other men holding Kashi's mother captive, who will kill her.

Vishwanath's heart froze at the mention of Kashi's mother. A cold, biting rage swept over him, but Neel wasn't finished. "And if anything happens to her," Neel continued, his grin widening, "Kashi will never forgive you. She was ready to sacrifice herself just for her mother. What do you think will happen if she comes to know that because of you, she lost her precious mother?"

The words hit Vishwanath like a physical blow, each syllable digging deep into his soul. His blood boiled, and every inch of him screamed to kill Neel right then and there. Neel leaned back against the wall, savoring the effect his words had on his enemy. His sickening laugh echoed through the space, filled with satisfaction.

Vishwanath grabbed Neel's collar, his fingers digging into the man's flesh as if he could crush him with sheer willpower. His voice was a low, deadly growl, vibrating with fury. "If anything happens to Kashi's mother, I swear I will make you suffer like no man ever has." His words were filled with anger, each one sharper than the last. He could feel the heat of his rage building inside him, like a storm ready to break.

Neel's smirk widened, a glint of madness in his eyes. "Oh, I believe you," he mocked, his voice dripping with mockery. "But here is the thing, you won't get that chance if you let me go and allow me to marry Kashi." He paused, savoring the tension in the air before adding, "Face it, Vishwanath, you are powerless. You can't stop this."

Vishwanath clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with rage and indecision. He had been seconds away from landing another blow on Neel when Rudra stepped between them, his expression grave.

"Bhaiya, stop!" Rudra's voice was urgent, his hands held up to halt Vishwanath. "We don't have time for this. I have a plan."

Vishwanath froze, his chest heaving with the effort of reining in his fury. "Plan? What plan Rudra? Tell me quickly?" Vishwanath said with a urgency in his voice.

Rudra took a deep breath, his jaw tight as he seemed to weigh his words carefully. Finally, he spoke, his tone firm but tinged with hesitation."Bhaiya, you.....you need to take Neel's place at the mandap." (altar)

"What?" Vishwanath froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. The weight of Rudra's words hit him like a thunderbolt. His heart sank, torn between the storm of emotions raging within him. "No, Rudra. I can't....I can't marry her like this. Not under his name." His voice cracked, filled with raw emotion and turmoil. "Kashi doesn't deserve this. How can I betray her trust like this?"

His fists clenched at his sides as his principles waged war against the reality of the situation. Yes, he wanted to marry Kashi, more than anything else in the world. But not like this. Not by deceiving her. Not under the guise of the very man who had terrified her and torn her world apart. His heart ached at the thought of Kashi, her tear-streaked face flashing in his mind. She was already scared, broken, and vulnerable. Impersonating Neel and marrying her felt like a betrayal of everything he stood for.

"She's been through enough," Vishwanath said, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's so terrified of this man, Rudra. I can't stoop to this level. I can't marry her like this, without her consent, not even to save her. It's wrong. It goes against everything I believe in. I'm a man of principles, Rudra. How can I justify this?"

Rudra stepped closer and grabbed Vishwanath's shoulders firmly, his own expression pained but resolute. "Bhaiya, I know this is hard. I know how much you value your integrity, and I respect that. But this isn't about deceiving bhabhi, it's about protecting her and her mother. Neel's men are still out there, and if they suspect anything is wrong, they won't hesitate to harm Aunty. We can't take that risk."

He softened his tone, looking his brother directly in the eye. "You are not betraying her, Bhaiya. You're saving her. Saving her life and her future. And once we get Raghav Bhaiya's message and we are sure Aunty is out of danger, you can end this. You can tell Kashi bhabhi everything. But right now, she needs you. Both of them need you."

Vishwanath's jaw tightened, his emotions boiling beneath the surface as he wrestled with the impossible choice before him. Every fiber of his being wanted to protect Kashi, to shield her from this nightmare. But the thought of taking advantage of her fear and vulnerability, even for her own good, tore at his conscience.

Before Vishwanath could respond, Rudra continued, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You have always done the right thing, Bhaiya. And I know this feels wrong. But this is the only way to protect her. Once this is over, we will make it right. I promise."

Hearing their plan, Neel's face tensed. His victorious smirk disappeared, replaced by panic. He began struggling fiercely against the grip of Vishwanath's men, his movements wild and desperate. "You can't do this!" Neel shouted, his voice filled with rage. "She will never forgive you, Vishwanath. Never!"

He had already sensed Vishwanath's hesitation, so he decided to manipulate him further. "Think about it, Vishwanath. You are a man of principles, aren't you? What will Kashi think when she finds out you married her like this? She will never forgive you. She already hates deception, doesn't she? You will lose her forever."

For a moment, Vishwanath faltered. Neel's words struck a chord. He remembered Kashi's heartbreak when she discovered his true identity, the pain in her eyes. What if she misunderstood his intentions again?

But Rudra's sharp voice sliced through Vishwanath's spiraling doubts. "Don't listen to him, Bhaiya! You are doing this for her, to protect her. She will understand once she knows the truth. We don't have another choice." His grip on Vishwanath's shoulders tightened as urgency laced his words. "You have to go now, Bhaiya! We don't have time. It's only a few minutes before Neel's men outside start suspecting something is wrong."

Vishwanath's breath hitched as his resolve wavered, his heart heavy with conflict.But Rudra's words echoed louder. This wasn't about him or his principles, it was about saving Kashi and her mother. The stakes were too high to let emotions cloud his judgment.

Taking a deep breath, Vishwanath's hands curled into fists as he made a silent promise to himself. Once Raghav's message comes, and Aunty is safe, he will end this charade. He will tell Kashi everything. He exhaled slowly, his face hardening with determination. Finally, he gave a single nod, his voice steady yet filled with quiet emotion. "For Kashi and Aunty."

Rudra stepped back, relief washing over his face as Vishwanath straightened his shoulders, his mind made up. The clock was ticking, and there was no turning back now.

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Vishwanath prepared to take Neel's place at the mandap, his every movement heavy with hesitation. He dressed in Neel's golden sherwani, the fabric feeling suffocating against his skin as though it carried the weight of betrayal. This wasn't how he had envisioned marrying Kashi,not under the veil of deceit. But this wasn't about him anymore, it was about Kashi and saving her from a fate she didn't deserve.

With a deep breath, he placed the sehra over his face, its flowery strands obscuring his features and sealing his disguise. His heart ached with every step as he walked toward the mandap (altar), each footfall echoing the heaviness in his chest. The lights flickered back on, illuminating the grand hall and casting a golden glow over the room. But for Vishwanath, the grandeur felt hollow and mocking.

Words : 3.9K

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Author's Note 📖

So, you all were right, it's Vishwanath behind the sehra! Our hero has finally stepped in to save the love of his love. I have been eagerly building up to this moment, and I can't wait to dive into their wedding sequence. However, this chapter had already grown quite long as I absolutely love writing scenes and emotions in detail. I want every moment to feel alive, so the detailed wedding scene will be covered in the next chapter. Stay tuned for the upcoming chapters as their journey takes a beautiful & emotional turn. 💌💗

Thank you for your love & support, it really means alot to me!🫶🏻❤️

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