The Journey of Revenge to Love

The village headman (Sarpanch) stood with Rudransh between him and Advika. His eyes were fixed on Advika, and so was the aim of his gun.

Shrey came running, his breath short and panicked.

"Uncle! What are you doing! Please take Anay to the hospital first… he will die…" he cried.

The Sarpanch glared at him, then shoved him aside and was just about to pull the trigger when—

Someone grabbed his hand.

The Sarpanch turned, shocked. His fingers were still on the trigger, but the bullet had already fired into the air.

Anay stood before him, having turned the gun upwards with his hand.

"Anay…" the Sarpanch growled, but Anay didn't step back even an inch. The Sarpanch pushed him back, and Anay staggered slightly.

"Thakur... go to the hospital... they need you more there..." Rudransh said as he caught Anay from behind.

Advika's eyes were still locked on the Sarpanch, and his eyes were locked on Anay—because now he stood between them.

"Take Advika away..." Anay said, his voice revealing the pain he was in.

Then, the Sarpanch pointed the gun at Anay.

Everyone froze—those who saw it were in utter shock.

A father pointing a gun at his own son?

Thakurain (the Sarpanch's wife) broke down into sobs.

Anay chuckled softly. His laughter carried rebellion, sarcasm, and unbearable pain.

"Why are you stopping? Go ahead, shoot... kill me the way you killed Abhinav bhaiya..."

The street fell into an even deeper silence.

"He wasn't your brother!" — the Sarpanch roared.

"I know..." — Anay's voice was soft now. "He was uncle's son..."

Advika was stunned.

She looked at Anay in disbelief.

"Abhinav... wasn't Thakur Ravindra's son?"

"Anay, stop it, man... let's go... you'll die here..."

Shrey tried to pull him, his face twisted in pain.

"I told you to get Advika out of there..."

"I did..." — Shrey sobbed, still trying to drag him away — "We can talk later... just come now..."

Shrey tugged him toward the car, but Anay didn't move.

Thakurain fell to the ground, clutched the Sarpanch's feet.

"Let him go... he's just a boy... he must've made a mistake... forgive him... he's your blood..."

The Sarpanch's face turned to stone. He spoke quietly —

"That's exactly what I regret..."

The Sarpanch, now like a defeated but venomous serpent, hissed as he moved forward, his eyes blazing with madness.

He lunged toward Advika.

But Anay blocked him.

Yet his body was weak, wounds fresh and pain intense.

His steps faltered.

Shrey and Rudransh caught him immediately.

"Anay...!" — Thakurain's scream echoed.

Meanwhile, the Sarpanch had reached Advika.

He grabbed her by the neck, his face filled with hatred, eyes burning like embers.

"You turned our own blood against us... you won't live..." — the Sarpanch growled.

Advika kicked his knee with all her strength, but his grip was like iron.

He was overpowering her.

Anay jerked himself free—his eyes now only saw Advika, her life.

He rushed forward and grabbed the Sarpanch, pulling him away.

"Sarpanch, let her go!" — Anay shouted, his voice trembling.

Rudransh and Shrey ran in too.

Together, they tried to pull him away from Advika.

But the Sarpanch's grip remained strong, the volcano of hate boiling in his eyes.

Rudransh shoved the Sarpanch forcefully, his rage now past limits.

The Sarpanch stumbled back—

But in the push, Anay also staggered.

His body already injured, too weak…

He couldn't keep his balance and leaned against the bridge railing.

Suddenly, the weather turned.

Black clouds rumbled and in moments, heavy rain began to pour.

Anay's wounds now bled down with the rainwater — streams of red painting the tragedy in sharp color.

"Anay!!" — Shrey screamed.

He rushed toward him, but by then...

Anay's foot had slipped.

The soaked railing gave no grip.

He couldn't hold on…

And in a flash... Anay fell off the bridge.

"Thakur..,.,,Anay....,,Thakur Sahab!!"

Everyone screamed.

The rain grew heavier, the wind now sent chills through the air.

Advika's eyes moved from the Sarpanch to the falling figure of Anay, her breath frozen...

But the Sarpanch seized the moment —

He pulled out his gun and fired at Advika.

Bang! Bang!

Just then, Rudransh spotted him and leaped forward, pulling Advika toward him —

A bullet hit his arm.

"Ahh!!" — Rudransh cried in pain,

But he didn't let go of her.

Meanwhile, Shrey didn't hesitate and jumped off the bridge —

To save Anay.

Furious, Rudransh pulled out his gun and fired at the Sarpanch —

One bullet hit his leg, the other his arm.

Bang! Bang!

The Sarpanch's men began to surround him,

But Thakurain stepped forward.

"No one will fire another shot!" — she shouted.

Rudransh and Advika looked at her in shock.

"Thakurain...?" — even the Sarpanch growled.

But she ignored him. The men stopped.

She turned to Advika and said —

"No matter who you are, you are my Anay's choice...

And he wants to see you happy and safe…

He risked his life for you."

"I beg you, leave this place..."

"If anything happens to you, our son won't survive..."

"I… I beg you..." — she bent to touch Advika's feet.

"Thakurain...!" — Advika stopped her.

Just then, a voice came from below — "Anay!"

It was Shrey's shout.

Everyone instinctively ran toward the bridge.

Shrey had pulled Anay from the river. Anay had a head injury.

Blood flowed from his scalp, mixing with the rain in a horrifying sight.

His breath was uneven, and Shrey was struggling to hold him.

"Thakur!" — Rudransh's voice rang out.

He grabbed Advika's hand and rushed to a nearby car.

He flung the back door open, nearly tossed Advika inside, then jumped into the driver's seat.

"Ahh...!" — Advika winced,

Her back had hit the hard metal of the seat.

Rudransh drove the car under the bridge, rushed to Shrey.

His face went pale seeing Anay's condition.

"Get in... we need a hospital..." — Rudransh said firmly,

Helping lift Anay.

Shrey was in no state to think.

His childhood best friend, the one he shared every memory with —

was dying, and he couldn't do anything.

Rudransh laid Anay on the back seat.

Shrey held Anay's head in his lap, pressing a handkerchief against the bleeding wound with trembling hands.

Advika, sitting in the front seat, stared at Anay in shock.

Her hand reached out toward him, trembling—

"Don't touch him!" —

Shrey's scream rang out.

"Your love has taken away all my friend's happiness..."

"My cheerful friend now lies at death's door..."

"Don't even let your shadow fall on him..."

His eyes burned with fire, and his gaze toward Advika was full of hatred.

Silence filled the car.

Rudransh sped the vehicle toward the city.

Treatment in Thakurpur wasn't possible, and time was slipping fast.

The rain hit the windshield like ticking seconds of a race for life.

As soon as they reached the hospital,

Shrey picked Anay up and ran inside.

"Doctor! Doctor!!" — he shouted.

Staff came running, placed Anay on a stretcher, and rushed him to emergency.

Rudransh and Advika followed,

But as soon as Shrey saw Advika—

"What are you here for now?!" — he exploded.

"Why don't you leave Anay's life?! If anything happens to my Anay… I'll kill you!"

"Get out of my sight! Go!!!"

His shouting echoed through the corridor.

Advika turned to stone, her eyes wet... but now void of any words.

Without a word, Rudransh held her hand and took her outside.

She walked like a puppet beside him.

As they got in the car, Rudransh took a deep breath, was about to start the engine when—

"Your hand..." — Advika's soft voice came.

Rudransh looked at his arm —

Blood still trickled where the bullet had passed through.

Rudransh gave a bitter laugh.

"You actually care about someone else's pain too?"

Too be Continued.....