Bang!
The sound echoed loud and sharp. My eyes widened. The man's grip around my neck loosened, and he collapsed before I could even process what was happening. Another gunshot rang out—I flinched, blinking fast.
Kathir Rathore stood up, fury dripping from every breath. Two men lay on the ground, bleeding—dead. Kathir's gun was now aimed at the other two, the ones trying to force Renuka aunty into the car. Without a second thought, he pulled the trigger again.
I flinched, my heart pounding painfully against my ribs. Kathir's eyes… they were burning. Fierce. Ruthless.
Charan, shocked, grabbed for his own gun.
"I know who you are," Kathir said, his voice cold and razor-sharp. "But don't make me show you who I am."
He pointed his gun straight at his father.
Charan did the same.
I stood there, trembling, barely able to stay on my feet. The pain from Winston's bite was throbbing, and my vision blurred, but I couldn't look away. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
"Am I alive just to see this?" Grandma cried out, her voice cracking.
Maya stood frozen, tears pouring down her cheeks.
Kathir's jaw clenched tight. His eyes didn't leave Charan.
"I won't hesitate to kill you, Kathir!" Charan roared, hatred lacing every syllable.
My chest tightened. How can a father hate his son this much?
"Same here," Kathir said, trembling with fury. "But I swear… if I ever die, it won't be before you."
They didn't look like father and son anymore.
They looked like enemies.
Strangers.
I turned to Renuka aunty—she sat facing the car, helpless. The two men beside her were dead. She couldn't move, couldn't speak… but her eyes were open.
She could see everything.
Ignoring the sting in my arm, I ran to her. I pushed her wheelchair forward, placing her between the two men holding guns. My voice shook.
"Please… stop fighting.
Did you both forget?
She can see and hear everything—even if she can't move."
Kathir's eyes flickered. He clenched his jaw.
"Take her inside, Vidya," he ordered.
But I wasn't ready to just obey.
I took a breath and faced Charan.
"Mr. Charan… I believe your wife is happiest with her son. She wants to be with him."
His eyes darkened. Kathir's jaw tightened, sensing the tension rising again.
Because you're just her caretaker, don't act like you can read her mind!" Charan growled, stepping toward me.
But Kathir's gun stayed fixed, stopping Charan instantly.
"I can't read her mind," I said firmly. "But she can talk."
Everyone froze.
Eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Even Kathir's jaw ticked.
"Stop blabbering, Vidya. Take her inside," he snapped, his glare burning into me, frustrated that I was making things worse.
My vision blurred slightly, but I blinked the fog away and nodded slowly.
"She can talk… through her eyes."
I knelt down in front of Renuka aunty, urgency trembling in my voice.
"Aunty," I whispered, locking my eyes with hers. "You don't want to see your son and husband kill each other… right?
Blink once for yes, three times for no."
Everyone's gaze shifted to her.
And then—
One blink.
Kathir's eyes widened.
His arm lowered slightly, gun shaking with emotion.
But Charan tensed, ready to move.
Kathir instantly raised the gun again, eyes burning into his father.
He then glanced at his mother, his jaw clenched tight.
I spoke again, softly but clearly.
"Aunty… who are you comfortable with?
If it's your husband, blink once.
If it's your son, blink three times."
Charan scoffed. "What a stupid question! Of course, she'll choose me!"
But Kathir didn't blink.
He just stared at her eyes.
Waiting.
One blink.
Two.
My heart dropped.
Kathir's jaw locked painfully—until—
A third blink.
My lips trembled into a smile.
Kathir's eyes welled up. He quickly blinked, trying to stop the tears, swallowing the pain rising in his throat.
He turned to his father, raising an eyebrow.
"Enough?"
His voice was cold, sharp.
"You want to walk out… or should I make sure you leave in a coffin?"
Charan's eyes darted, unsure. His confidence cracked.
Right then, a white van pulled up.
Three tall, well-built men stepped out.
Before Charan could react, they grabbed him, disarmed him, and restrained him.
Kathir slid his gun behind his back and gripped the wheelchair handle.
He looked down at his father with a glare colder than steel.
"You want her, not because you love her, Mr. Charan Rathore."
The words sank deep into me.
What… does he mean?
All this time, I thought Charan's madness was because of love. Because he didn't want to be separated from his wife.
But… was it something else?
The men shoved Charan toward the van. Before getting in, he shot us one last furious glare—at me and at Kathir—before disappearing into the vehicle.
I finally exhaled, my chest heavy.
Kathir turned the wheelchair and began pushing her home.
Maya and Grandma followed behind.
Without looking back, Kathir said, "Don't say anything to me right now."
His jaw clenched hard.
Then his eyes dropped to my arm. The bite mark.
His voice shifted slightly—still cold, but now laced with concern.
"Call the doctor. Right now."
Maya nodded quickly and rushed inside.
As everyone entered the house, I lingered behind for a second.
I turned around.
Four lifeless bodies lay on the ground.
The aftermath of everything.
My heart thudded.
I gulped, haunted by what just happened—
—and stepped inside the house.