Aayat's POV

Everyone looked at me in utter shock as I told them what had happened, Ruhani who was now dressed up as a bride sat on the floor without uttering a word in complete shock, why would she not? Today her biggest dream was going to come true she might have never imagined that it would turn into a disaster like this.

"Yeh kaisa Raja hai jo Mohabbat karne ke liye apnae paraja ka jaan letha hai, meeri bacchii ki zindagi barbaad karke voh apne mehal main jasan mana raha hoga, aisa Raja hameh nehi caahiye (What kind of a king is this who takes the life of his people for falling in love, he must be celebrating in his palace after ruining my child's life, we don't need such a king)"

Ruhani's father said as he went to his daughter.

"Tum figar mat karo beta, hum unnki maut ka badla lekar rahenge (you don't worry, we will take revenge for their death)"

Nushrat's POV

Oh god where is this Aayat? I thought as I started walking towards the village in search of her, I stopped abruptly as I heard some people talking, I hid behind a tree and peeped outside it was Roop's father along with few of the palace soldiers.

"Agar Raja sa ko patha chala toh tum logon ki jaan le lege (If the king gets to know he will kill all of you)" Roop's father said.

Wait the king doesn't know about all this then how come the palace soldiers are here?

"Mujhe ek baat samaj mein nehi aayi aapne humeh sipahi banne ko kyu kaha? (I didn't understand one thing why did you ask us to dress up as soldiers?)"

"Tujeh kya laga yeh sabb karne ke baat log humeh chain se jeene denge agar sabko lage ki inn sabb main raja sa ka haat hai toh daar ke maare koi kuch nehi bolega (What did you think people will let us live happily after doing all this, if everyone thinks that king has a hand in this no one will do anything due to fear)"

I was utterly shocked after hearing all this, but it was just the beginning.

"Abb jaao uss Zafar ko maar dalo, uske baat yaha dikhna mat (now go and kill Zafar, and don't stay here after that)"

***

Aayat's POV

I entered the palace, I just had to find Nushrat and get out of here, Ruhani's family along with all the people were going to attack the palace.

"Aayat kaha thi tu? (Aayat where were you?)"

"Voh cod, jalthi chalo yaha se nikalthe hai (Leave it, let's get out of here)"

"Kyu? (Why?)"

"Mehal peh hamlaa hone wala hai (There is going to be an attack on the palace)"

"Hamlaa? (Attack?)"

"Bevajaa do logon ke jaan lenge toh log toh gussa dikayenge hi (if they kill people for no reason people will be angry right)"

"Par Raja sa ne unn logon ki jaan nehi liya hai, voh nakli sipahi the jineh Roop ki pithaji lekar aaye the (But the king didn't kill them, those soldiers were fake and were bought by Roops dad)"

"Ya Allah, yeh kya kar diya maine (Oh god what have I done)"

"Voh Zafar ke jaan lene wale hai, tum jaao aur uski jaan bachaoo, main Raja sa ko inn sabb ki bare main kabar karthi hoo (They are going to kill Zafar, you go and save his life, I will inform the king about everything)"

***

Roop's POV

My mind was basically blank now, I had no thoughts I felt dead from inside as I sat in Dev's room, I wanted to kill him for what he had done, I wanted to Run out of here but I couldn't I couldn't get the image of Manpreet's dead body out of my head, Ruhani would be so crushed hearing the news she must be sitting there in a beautiful bridal lehengha waiting for her groom to only see his corpse instead.

The door opened and Dev came inside.

"Tum teek ho? Parishan lag rahi ho (are you ok? You are looking worried)"

I couldn't say a thing, he came and sat next to me. He placed his hand over mine I still didn't show any emotion.

That's when I heard a knock on our door. Dev went and opened the door.

***

Aayat's POV

"Aayat, kya hua? (Aayat, what happened?) Dev asked as he opened the door.

"Aapko Rani sa bula rahi hai kaha kuch zaroori kaam hai (The queen is calling you, she said it's something important)"

"Teek hai (Ok)"

"Vaise aapne Zafar ko kahi dekha kya? (By the way have you seen Zafar anywhere?)"

"Nehi main bhi usko doond raha tha, mujeh laga tumhare saat hoga (No I was also searching for him, I thought he will be with you)"

"Teek aap jaayiye Rani sa indazaar kar rahi hogi (it's ok you can go queen must be waiting for you)"

As soon as Dev was far away, I rushed into his room only to find a devastated Roop.

"Roop, Zafar ki jaan kathre main hai (Roop, Zafar's life is in danger)"

Suddenly her expression changed into a confused one.

"Tumhare pithaji ne usko marne ke liye log beche hai, lekin voh kahi nehi mil raha maine use har jagah doonda (Your dad send people to kill him but I can't find him anywhere, I searched for him everywhere)"

Roop thought for a while.

"Voh nehi ladega unse, main jaanthi hoo use voh apni jaan de dega (he won't fight with them, I know him he will get himself killed)"

"Toh kya kare? (So what should we do?)"

"Uski paas jaana padega, yeh lehengha nikalne main meri madard karo (We have to go to him, help me get off this lehengha)"

***

Dev's POV

"Main apne praja ki kilaaf shastr nehi uttaoonga (I won't lift my weapons against my citizens)"

I heard bhai sa say.

"Mehal ke darwaaze khol do, sabbi sewakoon ko aur sipaahiyon ko ghar waapas bejo (open the doors of the palace and send all the servants and solders home)"

"Yeh aap kya keh rahe hai, aise matt kijiye voh log kuch bhi kar sakthe hai (What are you saying, don't do this, these people can do anything)" Bhabi sa said.

"Yeh sabb kya ho raha hai (What is happening here)" I asked even as I heard everyone rushing out of the palace.

"Mehal peh hamlaa hone wale hai (there is going to be an attack on the palace)" Rani sa said.

"Rani sa main unn logon ko saari sachayi batha doongi kuch nehi hoga (My queen, I will tell them the truth nothing will happen)" Nushrat said.

"Nehi, tumeh yaha rehane ki ijaazat nehi diya jaayega (No you won't be allowed to stay here)" Rani sa said.

"Par Rani sa....(But my queen......)"

"Chup (Quite)" She said.

"Dev, apni bhabi sa aur Roop ko lekar yaha se jald se jald chale jaao (Dev take your bhabi sa and Roop and leave this place immideatly)" Bhai sa said.

"Main kahi nehi jaa rahi (I am not going anywhere)" Bhabi sa said.

"Aap jaa rahi hai (You are going)" Bhai sa said.

"Mushkil waqt main chodne ke liye aapka haat nehi taama tha humne (I didn't marry you so that I could leave you at difficult times)"

She said looking stright into Bhai sa's eyes.

"Dev tum Roop ko lekar yaha se chale jaao, aur iss Nushrat ko bhi mehal ke baahar le jaoo (Dev you take Roop and leave, and also leave this Nushrat outside the castle)"

"Lekin bhabi sa iss haalat main aap logon ko chodke (But bhabi sa leaving you behind in such a situation)"

"Hamaari fikar mat karo tum, hum unneh samja denge (Don't worry about us we will make them understand)"

"Par....(But....)"

"Vaada karo mujse ki Roop ko kuch nehi hoga (Promise me that nothing will happen to Roop)"

She said handing me over her bangles.

"Teek hai (Ok)"

I said we heard people approaching the palace I took Nushrat's hand and walked away.

***

I went straight to my bedroom but Roop was nowhere to be found. Don't know why but I peaked through the window and saw Roop walking outside the palace with Aayat.

"Roop, Roop" I called out she stopped and looked at me and turn around and ran away.

"Chalo (Come on)" Nushrat said as she took out my sword and dagger from table.

"Lekin Roop (But Roop)"

"Kuch nehi hoga use (Nothing will happen to her)"

I followed Nushrat till the entrance, that's when a group of people tried to attack us Nushrat took my sword and in swift action wounded most of them as I stood there shocked because I didn't know what to do, we heard people approaching us.

"Main unn logon ko samaalthi hoo, tum Roop ke peeche jaao (I will take care of them, you go behind Roop)"

"Tum unse akele lad nehi paaoongi (You can't fight with them alone)"

"Jaanthi hoo, par iss waqt tumhara jaan bachana zyaada zaroori hai (I know but saving your life is more important now)"

"Kyu kar rahi ho yeh sab? (Why are you doing all this?)"

She looked deep into my eyes.

"Agar aap voh samaj paathe toh aaj yeh sabb nehi hotha (If you could understand that then today all this wouldn't have happened)"

I looked at her confused she had a special type of rage in her eyes along with a slight smile, it was really confusing to understand her, and before I could say something with a swift motion she pushed me outside the palace and closed the doors.

"Nushrat"

***

Roop's POV

"Jaldi chalo (Come fast)" I told Aayat as we ran away from the palace.

"Pakado unneh (Catch them)"

Someone from the group of people attacking the palace said as they ran towards us. I took a thick brach of wood from the ground and hit a guy in the head with it, Aayat took few huge rocks and threw at them.

"Roop" Aayat said.

I suddenly looked behind me a guy was about to stab me, but suddenly he stopped, he was stabbed from the back by Dev who just came there. After the person fell down I pointed the log at Dev.

"Door raho mujse (Stay away from me)"

"Roop uski koi galthi nehi hai (Roop, he didn't do anything wrong)" Aayat said.

"Sukveer and Manpreet ki jaan lena galthi nehi toh kya hai? (if killing Sukveer and Ruhani is not wrong then what is?)"

"Maine kisi ki jaan nehi liya (I didn't kill anyone)" Dev said.

"Voh log nakli sippahi the Roop tumhari pithaji ne beja tha, they were fake solders Roop your dad sent them)"

I realized my mistake and dropped the branch. I stepped back a few inches. Dev was not guilty infact he knew nothing  it had been so mean of me to react like that. I didn't realise when did my right leg hit a tree while I stepped backwards.

"Ouchh!"I winced in pain.
It wasnt the tree merely. Its branches were burning. The goons had set the entire palace on fire. Unmindful and callous I have stepped on the burning branch sending unbearable ache throughout my body.

"Roop?" Dev came forward as he noticed that a part of my kameez has been torn at the end by fire.

I wailed in pain. It felt like I would collapse on the floor. But I could not I have to rush. To Zafar. I had succumbed to greater injuries than this.

"Hay Allah Roop yeh kaise hua?"(Oh God Roop how did this happen?)" Aayat asked worried.

"Ye kuch nhi hai bas thoda sa hai main theek hu. Hume chalna chahiye (Its nothing only a little. We should go" I said.

"Yaha peh chal kya raha hai? (What's going on here?)" Dev asked.

"Yeh saari baton ke liye waqt nehi hai Zafar ko doondna hai uski jaan kathare main hai (We don't have time for this conversation we have to find Zafar his life is in danger)"

"Zafar?"

"Par Zafar hai kaha? (But were is Zafar?)" Aayat asked.

"Mujeh patha hai voh kaha hai (I know where he is)" I said.

***

Radhika's POV

"Meri baat samajne ki koshis karo aap log (Please try and understand)"

Rajveer said but people didn't listen to him and attacked him instead, some started lighting the palace on fire, I couldn't stand seeing all this I ran in the middle of the fight and pointed a sword at the people.

"Peeche hatto (Step back)"

I said in a stern voice and they obeyed. The drapes in the courtroom were already on fire I pulled them down and now there was this wall of fire separating us from the people, feeling safe I ran back to my husband who was lying on the floor wounded. I sat next to him and cried.

"Kuch nehi hoga aapko (Nothing will happen to you)" I whispered he held my hand and smiled.

"Aap iss baar toh unka jaan bacha loge Rani sa lekin Raja sa ne berahami se unki preja ka kathil kiya hai voh bhi apne swart ke liye iske liye hum kabhi unneh maaf nehi karenge marthe dum tak ladenge (You will save him now my queen but the king mercilessly killed his citizens for his personal gain we will never forgive him for that and we will fight till our last breath)"

"Unhone aisa kuch nehi kiya lekin aapko hum par yakeen nehi ho raha toh humeh aapki sazaa manzoor hai (He didn't do anything like that but if you don't believe us then I accept your punishment)"

I said and stood up but Rajveer held onto my bangel and signalled me not to go. But I couldn't listen to him this madness had to end right now, I loosened his grip. I dropped the sword and walked towards the people, without looking back I closed my eyes and stepped into the fire.

Rajveer's POV

"Radhika......." I called; I heard faint voices of people before blackness took over me.

***

Dev's POV

"Zafar yaha kya kar raha hai? (What is Zafar doing here?)" I asked as I looked around the building we were in, Roop didn't answer me and Ran inside.

"Zafar......Zafar....."

She called out. I saw Zafar on the floor with an middle aged women he looked devastated.

Roop's POV

I saw him and suddenly felt alive again, he stood up; I ran towards him and hugged him tight both of us started crying for some unknown reason.

"Main tumeh kabhi chodkar nehi jaaongi (I will never leave you again)"

"Gayi toh jaan le looga main tumhara (If you leave I will kill you)"

I felt him smile a bit even I smiled, I didn't care about what was going on around me, in his arms I felt safe I felt happy, now that I was with him nothing could go wrong, we were in our own little world. I broke the hug to look into his eyes which were now red; I leaned in for a kiss.

Zafar's POV

That kiss like always felt magical for a moment I forgot all my sorrows I felt like we were the only people in the world nothing else mattered anymore. I was feeling dead from inside without her but when I heard her voice again I felt like my lost soul just came back, I didn't have a life without her if she leaves me I will be dead, but at this exact moment I knew that she is all I ever wanted, and if she is with me, I don't care what happenes I just wanna see her till my last breath.

Dev's POV

I always knew there was something missing between me and Roop and now when I saw her with Zafar I understood what it was.......Love. I could have given her all the happiness in the world, but I could never give her the love she deserves the love that she get from Zafar, the love that only Zafar could give her.

"Roop......." Aayat called.

Both of them parted and looked at her.

"Voh log kisi bhi waqt yaha pohanj jaayenge (those people can reach hear any moment now)" Aayat said.

"Roop abb kya karna hai? (Roop what should we do?)" I asked her because I thought it has to be her decision.

"Roop (Roop)" Zafar called.

"Ha voh hamla mere ghar walon ne karwaya tha Dev ki isme koi galthi nehi hai (Ya that attack was done by my family Dev didn't do anything)"

"Dev tum mujeh maaf kar paaoge ?(Dev will you be able to forgive me?)" Zafar asked.

I took a deep breath and said.

"Batha dethe bas (You could have just told me)"

"Main bathana caahthi thi par garwalon ki dar se...fir bhi humne jo kiya bohot galt hai (I wanted to tell you but I was scared of my family....still what we did was really wrong)"

"Chodo voh sabb, mujeh yeh zehar chodna padega tum caaho toh mere saat aa sakthe ho (Leave all that, I have to leave this city, so if you want you can come with me)"

"Chale? (Let's go?)" Roop asked looking at Zafar.

"Teek hai chalthe hai (Ok let's go)"

Roop's POV

I turned a looked at Nazeema begum.

"Mujeh laga tha ki tumse door karke iski jaan bacha sakthi hoo, par main galat thi tumhare bina iski koi zindagi hai hi nehi (I thought I could save his life by separating him from you but I was wrong he don't have a life without you)"

Nazeema begum said as she took off two of her bangles and handed it to me.

"Jaao (Go)" She said.

I hugged her tight. Zafar hugged her too.

"Hum aapse milne aayenge ammi, Aayat ammi ka khyal rakhna (We will come and visit you, Aayat take care of mom)"

Aayat shook her head and the three of us headed outside.

***

Within minutes we reached the railway station, there was a lot of rush there but we somehow passed though the crowed, but my dad's men had followed us there too, the three of us ran and borded the train, but when I looked back I didn't see Zafar so I went to the door and saw him fighting with a few of them.

"Zafar........"

I called out, the train had started to move.

"Zafar chalo (Zafar come on)"

I said holding out my hand for him, he pushed some of the men aside and ran towards me, suddenly my leg slipped and I was about to fall but Dev caught me in time.

"Zafar......."

I kept on calling. Finally he caught up to me and held my hand I smiled. This was it we were going to be together for the rest of our lives, my happiness had reached a whole new height, I saw the sparkle in his eyes as he might have thought the same. But I saw Junaid approaching us from behind I looked at him shocked. Within a swift motion he pulled Zafar back and Stabbed him....

My mind went blank, I felt like my heart just stopped beating, I was still holding out my hand I sat down near the door, I wanted to jump out of the train, I wanted to hold him next to my heart and sit there waiting for someone to kill me too, but I couldn't move, I saw his lifeless frame fall to the ground, he had a smile on his face, I started to cry, this is not how this should end, this is not how it should have been, this is wrong, we should be together, no one can separate us like this, this shouldn't have happened, this was wrong, very wrong.........

****
A special thanks to my friend who kindly let me use this amazing VM for this chapter please check out her YouTube channel itschaycreation and also her instagram accounts @bollywoodkahaani trust me its so worth your time.