Ananya opened her eyes as light streamed through her room. She turned fixing her eyes on her husband, she kept staring at him for long, a hope in her heart that he would open his eyes and smiled at her. He didn't. It had been almost a month and with each passing moment Ananya Rathore was losing her mind.  She caressed her head and went about doing her morning chores.

''How do I look Ranvijay? I am wearing Orange.'' She asked playfully. He didn't respond, she didn't give up . She briefed him about all that happened since  the fateful day. She turned and watched him, waiting for some response. She huffed, walked to him and sat beside him watching his face. ''I know, all your life you have never rested much because of your duties but that doesn't give you the right to sleep all day. I need you.'' She sobbed placing her head on his chest. She took a moment to absorb his heart beat.

Slowly she lifted her head up, ''What I sad the other day, I meant every word of it. with each passing day I am killing your Anu. I am turning into something heart less. Outside that door..'' She pointed towards the suite entrance, ''I am a woman looking for revenge. Don't test me Ranvijay, I might burn the world down.''

He still didn't respond. she wiped her cheeks, ''Ranvijay Proud Rathore, I challenge you to stop me.'' She watched him with a smile, ''I know you can hear me and must me twisting all angry to stop my rampage.'' Leaning closer, she whispered, ''I have never stepped into Suryagarh, now I am going to. Let the enemies know what Mrs Ranvijay Rathore can do.'' She kissed him before walking out wearing her ruthless expression.

***

''Dipu think again.'' Veer requested his wife who looked in a hurry to leave. 

''Veer , there is no time to think. Its time to act. Just don't leave Ananya alone. I don't want her killing anyone. Not now. When time comes , she will have the chance to return her pain with interest.'' Dipika said. She walked to Veer and hugged him tight, ''Bhai fought to keep us together. He promised my son to get me back and he did. Now its our turn. And I am ready to do anything for that, even if it means killing the last of my own blood. ''

''I don't understand what has gone into the Rathore females. Ananya seems like someone unknown. You are like a missile, ready to shoot anytime and anywhere.'' Dipika could understand his agony  

''Veer, I had a brother but he was as good as no one. I got a brother in bhai. It wasn't his battle to save me or my child. Yet he did, not thinking about his own. Now, its my turn.''

Veer  huffed giving up, ''What are you planning to do?'

''Give a little reminder and then free her...of everything.''

''She is your mother.'' he reminded 

''I wish she could be one.  She never treated me like I was her own. She never fought or stood up for me. The last nail, she didn't stop my father from slowly poisoning the only one who loved me, my grandmother. Its time I answer back.''

Veer nodded. Their conversation broke with a knock. Sitara stepped in looking like a ghost. Since the fateful day, she hadn't slept. For that fact none of the guards had rested but with Sitara it was like someone had snatched her guardian. She was beyond mad.

Dipika took a step to her, ''I chose you because you know nothing about going weak  and I want you to prevent me from going when time come.''

Sitara neither blinked nor showed any emotion, ''If this is about anyone from Mahendra Singh's family, rest assured I won't give you time to think.'' Dipika just smiled. She had given Sitara the job to locate her mother . Sitara cursed herself for not being around when she heard of Ranvijay being shot.  The incident made her all the way more determined to locate Vasudha and when she did, it took her lot of control not kill her that very moment. Now,when they had her Dipika decided to show her mother the reality she purposely chose to be blind to. 

Veer took a deep breath , he stood watching her till her car disappeared. He huffed, he too had things to do. The Palace was his duty and so were other properties.

***

Chitra picked up the tray once Sona finished her dinner. She locked the door, tucked the key in her pocket and walked towards the kitchen. 

CHitra instructed the staff about the evening and made her way back to Sona's room. As she made her way back to the elevator, her fingers debated about which floor to press. Taking a deep breath she pressed 3, the floor to Vansh's suite. She hadn't seen him much and when ever they crossed paths, he looked broken. They had been friends for life and she did care for him. 

Chitra took a deep breath and knocked, she stepped in when there was no response.  The suite was dark, blinds down and lights off. She called him out but there was no response. She moved towards the switch but a hand covered his before she could turn the lights on. ''darkness is escape right now. let it be.''

She gasped, he was to close for her comfort. Even in that darkness she could feel the warmth of his body. She looked up towards his face, ''escape is not your thing.'' She replied slowly

''For now it is. I feel so useless.'' He replied broken. Chitra heard the disappointment in his voice. She didn't know what she was doing , she took a step. She could feel his warm breath on her forehead. Chitra slowly lifted her palm, placing it on his chest over his heart she lifted her eyes up. She wasn't sure if could read her eyes but she wanted him to believe what she said, ''You have been my best friend. I have always believed that you can fight anything. If not for self, believe that you can fight for me. This is the time to fight and push the darkness away.'' 

Chitra felt his heart racing under her palm. His fingers lifted her chin and she felt the warmth of his lips on hers. He brushed against hers gently before pecking them. His lips moved to her forehead and kissed her deep before wrapping his arms around her. ''Hukum.''

''Vansh....call me Vansh. Please just once.''

She wrapped her arms around his middle, ''I believe in you Vansh!'' He let out out a desperate breath pulling her closer. His fingers moved to switch on the lights but she stopped him, ''you can be Vansh to me in darkness , the moment the lights goes on I will go back to being your staff.''

Vansh kissed her earlobe and pressed his lips over its, ''listen to me carefully, you fear accepting me in the lights. I promise, I will hold your hand in the broad day light. I will accept our relationship to the whole world. Do you trust me?''

''I always have!'' She went on her toes, pecked his cheek and ran off before he could react. The moment she stepped out, he pressed the switch filling his room with light. He deiced to confess to the world once the mess was over, for now he knew he should be picking up the pieces. If Sona was looking for something it had to be a secret passage. He wasn't sure how much she could locate, but if she did he had to secure before it was late.

***

Vikram entered the Palace like a volcano. He hadn't cleaned after creating the havoc in Suryagarh. He hadn't stepped into his suite since the fateful day, he feared he would kill Sona at the first sight, on the other hand he felt guilty about hurting her. He still loved her.

Chitra's eyes widen when she saw Vikram approaching , his clothes were soaked in blood and his face too had some of it. She had been asked to keep Vikram off the limits of the room and looking at him she knew there is nothing which could stop him. She took a deep breath and blocked his way. Vikram looked down, she hardly reached his shoulder and stood like a little Sepoy in his way.

''Out of my way.''

''Hukum, I will get whatever you need. You can rest in the adjoining suite.'' She requested, her eyes on his shoes.

Vikram leaned down, ''You aren't grown up enough to  stand before me.'' He warned. She looked up for a second quickly lowering her eyes next moment, ''I can never be that big, its a request. I am just following orders.'' He studied her. Vikram took a deep breath and kept her palm on her head, ''I won't do anything reckless, I promise.'' She nodded moving out of his way. 

Vikram stepped into the suite locking the door behind him. He reminded himself about keep the calm but each fiber of his body defied it. He entered his bedroom with soft steps and froze. Sona lay on the bed curled up. She looked weak and defeated. In normal circumstances hes would have gathered her in his arms and kissed her sadness away. Things were different, her brother shot Ranvijay and she wasn't sorry about it.

Turning his eyes away he moved to the dresser. The ruffling of clothes woke Sona up. She lifted her body , her eyes focused towards the dresser. She gasped when Vikram stepped out of it, he smirked, ''Its not your brother's blood. Yet.''

''But someone's. What more can be expected out of you all.'' She replied pained. 

''Yes, and you will see the worst.''

''he will rescue me and then you will have to answer him.'' She challenged. He smiled, walking to the bed he leaned placing his palms on either side of her, ''Whom do you think he will rescue first, you or Sagar.''

Sona paled, the eyes which had anger now were full of fear. ''What did you do with him? How can you target an innocent boy.''

''Just as your brother targeted my uncle. MY innocent uncle. Dev didn't had the guts to fight us like a man but I promise,  I will look straight into his eyes before extracting last of life out of his body.'' There was a silence and she knew he meant every word. She felt raged and helpless at the same time. The anger in her wanted to kill the man opposite to her, he broke her heart and now he was becoming a danger for her family. Sona lost all the control, her hand moved and landed on Vikram's cheek.

''I hate you Vikramjeet Rathore.''

He took a deep breath, ''The feeling is mutual, and don't try that again or you might never see the light in your life.'' With that he made his way to freshen up as Sona kept screaming , begging him to leave Sagar alone.

***

Veer had been looking for Rolli all over the Palace. He knew she didn't express like others but she was hurting bad. He thought for a moment before racing to the high pillar of the terrace. It had been her favorite place since she was a kid and they would always find her there in case she took a flight.

Veer took a deep breath when he finally found her sitting at one of the stone benches  with her knees hugged to chest.His heart clenched at the sight. His niece was brave funny and loving. He had memories of messing and then pacifying her. Instead of calling her, he made his way to her and sat beside her.

She slowly turned feeling the presence and without a word hugged him. ''I am sorry Princess. We forgot that you might be hurting too.''

She sobbed, hiding her face in his chest. ''I am sorry!'' She whispered . Veer rubbed her back, ''You aren't at fault.''

Rolli knew her family knew nothing about Dev and her. Since the incident she had been blaming herself for loving a man like him. The guilt had been taking toll on her and she knew it was just Veer whom she could bear her heart too, and she did. Oblivious, that even she was being watched. With a doubt of having a mole in Palace, Ananya had secured places with guards,cameras  and microphones. The guards served all Rathores but for now, they took orders from just one.

***

Ananya disconnected the call throwing her phone in a corner. Devansh Singh had soft feelings for her daughter. If she was seeing it right, he even tried to abduct her. Even if it was to get them on tight spot. She smiled, she was going to play the game of confusion. She would pretend going normal, relaxing security to outer world and invite the enemy in. She was going to take a step back to lunge forward in full force. 

Her plan was clear, she picked her phone and dialed Siddhant, ''I need to see you and soon.''

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Done