The voice through the speakers didn't rush.
It was calm… like it already knew the outcome of everything.
"Hello again… Rudra."
Aanya looked at Rudra.
He wasn't moving.
Not even breathing properly.
For the first time… the gangster looked frozen.
Aanya whispered,
"Who is this person…?"
Rudra slowly opened his eyes.
His voice came low.
"Someone who should not exist."
Silence filled the room.
The voice continued through the system.
"You've grown… but you're still reacting the same way."
A pause.
"You protect what weakens you."
Rudra's jaw tightened.
"Shut it."
A soft chuckle came through the speakers.
"I taught you not to beg."
Aanya stepped closer to Rudra.
"What is he talking about?"
Rudra didn't answer her.
His eyes were stuck on nothing.
Like the past was playing in front of him.
The voice continued—
"Do you remember the night you became Rudra Rathore?"
Aanya froze.
Rudra's expression darkened instantly.
"Stop."
But the voice didn't.
"I remember," it said softly.
"You were shaking… but you still pulled the trigger."
Silence shattered.
Aanya stepped back.
"Rudra…"
Rudra finally snapped.
"I said stop!"
All the screens in the apartment flickered violently.
Then—
a face appeared.
Not clear.
Distorted.
But watching.
And then the voice said—
"I am not your past…"
A pause.
"I am what you buried inside it."
Aanya's breath hitched.
Rudra whispered,
"No…"
The voice continued.
"You didn't erase me, Rudra."
"You only locked me away inside your empire."
Suddenly—
all lights shut down again.
But this time… no red alarm.
Only darkness.
Then footsteps.
Inside the apartment.
Slow.
Very slow.
Aanya grabbed Rudra's arm instantly.
"Someone is inside!"
Rudra didn't move.
Because he already knew.
A door creaked open in the hallway.
A shadow appeared.
And a man stepped into view.
Not Meera.
Not Riya.
Someone colder.
Calmer.
Worse.
He smiled slightly.
"Long time no see… Rudra."
Rudra finally spoke.
Barely above a whisper.
"You should be dead."
The man tilted his head.
"Funny…"
A pause.
"You said the same thing before you became who you are."
Aanya stepped back in fear.
"Rudra… who is he?!"
Rudra's voice shook slightly.
"The one I was before Rudra Rathore existed."
Silence.
The man looked at Aanya.
Then smiled.
"Ah… so this is the reason."
A pause.
"You replaced me with her."
Rudra stepped forward instantly.
"Don't look at her."
The man laughed softly.
"Still protective."
A pause.
"That didn't change."
Rudra's eyes darkened.
"You came back for revenge."
The man shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"I came back for correction."
Aanya whispered,
"Everyone wants to 'correct' him…"
The man looked at Rudra again.
And said the final line that broke everything—
"You were never meant to become Rudra Rathore."
A pause.
"You were meant to remain mine."