The rooftop wind was sharp… almost like it was warning him.
Rudra stepped outside the building.
Every guard below froze when they saw him.
Because they knew—
when Rudra moves alone… something dangerous follows.
Above him, Meera stood on the edge of the rooftop.
Still.
Unshaken.
Like she owned the silence itself.
Rudra reached the top.
Their eyes met.
No surprise.
No fear.
Only history.
Meera spoke first.
"You changed too much."
Rudra replied coldly,
"You created me to change."
A silence passed between them.
Heavy. Familiar.
Meera tilted her head slightly.
"But not into this."
A pause.
"Not into someone who hesitates."
Rudra's jaw tightened.
"That hesitation saved lives."
Meera's eyes darkened slightly.
"And weakened your empire."
Below, Aanya watched through the security screen.
Her heart was pounding.
Not just fear…
But jealousy of a past she never lived.
Meera continued,
"You chose her."
Rudra didn't deny it.
"Yes."
That single word hit harder than any bullet.
Meera stepped forward slowly.
"So this is it?"
A pause.
"You abandoned everything I built… for a girl who doesn't understand your world."
Rudra's voice lowered.
"She understands me better than you ever did."
That silence… cracked something.
Meera's expression finally changed.
Not anger.
Something deeper.
"You think love makes you stronger?" she asked softly.
Rudra looked straight at her.
"No."
A pause.
"It makes me human."
A sharp wind blew.
Even Meera paused for a second.
Downstairs, Aanya froze at those words.
Human…
That word didn't belong to Rudra Rathore.
Meera's voice hardened again.
"Humanity gets you killed."
Rudra stepped closer.
"Then I'll die as myself."
Silence.
Long.
Dangerous.
Suddenly—
Meera spoke quietly.
"Then watch."
She pressed a button on her wrist.
At the same moment—
Aanya's apartment alarm exploded.
Red warnings flashed everywhere.
Rudra's eyes widened slightly.
"You didn't."
Meera looked at him calmly.
"I didn't touch you."
A pause.
"I touched what you protect."
Rudra's face changed instantly.
"Aanya…"
He turned fast.
Ready to leave.
But Meera's voice stopped him.
"If you leave now… you lose both."
Rudra froze.
For the first time… trapped.
Meera stepped closer.
"You can't save an empire and a heart at the same time."
Rudra's voice turned low.
"Watch me."
He jumped down from the rooftop without hesitation.
Disappearing into the chaos below.
Meera stood still… watching him go.
Then whispered to herself—
"He still chooses emotion over survival…"
A pause.
"…interesting."
Meanwhile—
Inside the apartment, Aanya saw red lights flashing everywhere.
Doors locked automatically.
System hacked.
And outside—
footsteps approached slowly.
Someone was coming for her.