🦚

Years had passed, and Rukmini had transformed into the woman she was always meant to be.

She had completed her studies, and now, she stood as a fully-fledged lawyer—sharp, relentless, and unyielding. No longer just a girl seeking justice, she had become a force of law itself. She had trained under some of the best legal minds in the country, honing her skills, sharpening her instincts, mastering every loophole in the system that men like her enemies exploited.

But justice alone wasn't enough.

Not for her.

Because while the world knew her as an exceptional lawyer, her real battle had always been in the shadows.

All the years she had spent studying, she had also spent searching.

Tracking.

Hunting.

Every single clue, every whisper, every hidden trail—she had followed them relentlessly, piecing together the fragments of the truth. The name, the face, the identity of the monster who had stolen Aditya's innocence.

And now—she had him.

Seated across from her at the small café, Vrinda watched her with growing unease.

"You can't do this," she pleaded, her voice urgent. "Rukmini, listen to me. This isn't the way."

Rukmini leaned back in her chair, fingers tightening around her coffee cup, her expression unreadable.

"You think the law will punish him?" she asked, her voice laced with quiet fury. "You think men like him—protected, powerful—ever face real justice?"

Vrinda swallowed. She knew Rukmini was right. But this... this was dangerous.

"Then what?" Vrinda whispered. "What are you going to do?"

Rukmini set her cup down, her eyes dark with unwavering resolve.

"I'm going to end this," she said.

And then—she stood.

Vrinda's breath hitched as she watched her friend turn on her heel and walk away, each step taking her closer to the storm she had been preparing for all these years.

Rukmini's coat billowed slightly behind her as she pushed the café doors open, stepping into the cold night. There was no hesitation in her movements, no second-guessing—only purpose.

Vrinda remained frozen in her seat.

Her heart pounded as she clasped her hands together, eyes shutting tight. She didn't know who to pray to. She didn't even know if it would work.

But as Rukmini disappeared into the streets, Vrinda prayed anyway.

"If you exist, if you're listening... please, protect her."

Rukmini was ready.

This was the day she had waited for—the day she had built herself for.

She stood in her apartment, the dim morning light spilling through the window, illuminating the neatly stacked folders spread across her desk. Years of effort, of chasing whispers, of gathering every shred of evidence—all laid out before her, tangible proof of the darkness she was about to destroy.

She carefully collected the files, her fingers running over the pages she had studied a thousand times. There was no room for error. No room for escape.

Dhanraj—the man responsible for Aditya's suffering, the monster who had hidden behind power for far too long—was finally going to fall.

With her bag slung over her shoulder, she stepped out, her pulse steady, her resolve unshaken.

At the police headquarters, the atmosphere was thick with tension.

Rukmini slammed the files onto the table, her sharp gaze pinning the officers in place.

"I have everything you need to arrest Dhanraj," she stated coldly.

The officers exchanged glances, hesitating.

One of them scoffed, flipping through the pages lazily. "Miss Rukmini, you can't just walk in and—"

"If you turn me down," she cut in, her voice dropping to a deadly calm, "I will personally make sure your careers crumble alongside Dhanraj's empire."

A heavy silence followed.

The men shifted uncomfortably. They had heard of her—of the cases she had fought and won, of the battles she had taken on without flinching.

And more than that—they weren't just scared of her.

They were scared of the man standing beside her.

Inspector Arjun Singh—a senior officer with a reputation as fierce as Rukmini's own. A man known for breaking corruption instead of bending to it.

He took the files, flipping through them, his sharp eyes scanning every page before nodding firmly.

"The evidence is solid," he declared. "We're making the arrest."

The officers had no choice but to obey.

Within minutes, a team was assembled, orders were barked, and the wheels of justice—finally, after years of delay—began to turn.

Rukmini knew exactly where to find him.

The dam.

It stood vast and unwavering, a towering structure against the backdrop of a gray sky. The water below churned with a quiet menace, its surface rippling with the wind. It was the perfect place for a man like Dhanraj to lurk—isolated, hidden, detached from the prying eyes of the world.

She had already informed the police.

Sirens blared in the distance, growing louder by the second.

The storm was coming.

And this time, Dhanraj wouldn't escape it

Rukmini spotted him.

Dhanraj stood near the edge of the dam, his posture relaxed, his hands tucked into his pockets as if he had no care in the world. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the water. The sky was clear, a beautiful contrast to the filth that stood before her.

But when his eyes landed on her—he stiffened.

Shock flickered across his face. "Well, well," he drawled, recovering quickly. "If it isn't the lost princess of the Rathore family. I thought you had disappeared."

Rukmini smirked, tilting her head. "Surprise."

His eyes narrowed. "What the hell do you want?"

She stepped forward, her heels clicking against the pavement, each step slow, deliberate.

"I want what you've been running from all these years," she said, her voice steady, unshaken. "Justice."

Dhanraj scoffed, crossing his arms. "And what exactly do you plan to do? Cry about it? Run to your daddy?"

Rukmini smiled, but there was no warmth in it. Only cold, sharp determination.

"Actually," she said smoothly, pulling out a legal document from her bag, "I'm a lawyer now. And I'm here to sue you."

Dhanraj's cocky smirk faltered.

"You?" he laughed, but there was a forced edge to it now. "You're joking."

She raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Dhanraj's confidence wavered.

"You've spent years hiding behind power, thinking no one would dare go against you," she continued, her voice dropping to something lethal. "But today, that ends."

His jaw clenched. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into," he hissed. "I have people backing me—powerful people."

"Ah," Rukmini nodded, mocking understanding. "You mean Jarasand?"

Dhanraj flinched at the name.

"Yes," she said, smirking. "I know about him. And trust me, he'll fall right after you."

Panic flickered in his eyes just for a moment.

Then—sirens.

The blaring sound cut through the peaceful evening air, growing louder as police cars pulled up, their tires screeching against the pavement.

Dhanraj's body went rigid.

And then—he ran.

Rukmini was right behind him.

The wind whipped against her face as she chased him, adrenaline roaring through her veins. Behind her, the police followed, their voices barking orders, but she didn't slow down.

She had trained for this.

For years, she had pushed herself—learning self-defence, building her stamina, making sure that when the moment came, she wouldn't be the one running.

She wasn't the prey.

Not anymore.

"Dhanraj!" she called, her voice carrying over the rushing wind. "Stop running! Your crimes are as heinous as the filth you are! It's over!"

But he didn't stop.

So she made him stop.

With calculated precision, she lunged—her arms locking around his leg, twisting it just enough to send him stumbling forward.

Dhanraj lost balance.

With a strangled grunt, he crashed onto the cold, hard pavement.

Within seconds, the police swarmed him.

Inspector Arjun Singh stepped forward, his face grim as he yanked Dhanraj up and snapped the handcuffs around his wrists. "Dhanraj Verma, you are under arrest," he declared.

Dhanraj thrashed, his face contorted in rage, but it was useless.

He was caught.

Finally.

Inspector Singh turned to Rukmini, his gaze filled with admiration. "You did well, Rukmini. Not many would have had the courage to chase him down like that."

She only offered him a small, knowing smile.

Because she knew—this wasn't over.

This was just the beginning.

She turned, ready to leave, her mind already racing with the next steps she had to take.

And then—it happened.

Dhanraj's voice spat venom into the air. "You think this is victory?" he snarled. "You think you've won? You're nothing! And soon, you'll be nothing!"

Before anyone could react—before the officers could restrain him—he lunged.

His hands slammed against Rukmini's back, shoving her with brutal force.

She barely had time to gasp.

Her body tilted forward—

The edge of the dam disappeared beneath her feet.

And then—she was falling.

The world became weightless.

The warm air rushed past her ears, drowning out the shouts from above.

And then—the water swallowed her whole.

A sharp, merciless cold wrapped around her body, dragging her down.

Her limbs **flailed instinctively, panic surging through her veins—**but it was useless.

She didn't know how to swim.

The deep, endless water pulled her under, the surface drifting further and further away.

She tried to move, tried to fight, but the heaviness—the exhaustion from the chase, from the years of battle—made her limbs slow.

Her lungs burned.

Her heartbeat slowed.

And then, for the first time in years—Rukmini let go.

She closed her eyes.

At least... I did something.

At least I got justice for Aditya.

A faint smile curled at her lips.

And then—everything faded.

The darkness felt endless.

Rukmini drifted between consciousness and oblivion, her body weightless in the water.

Then—a warmth.

Something firm, unyielding, wrapped around her.

Her eyelids fluttered, barely lifting, her vision hazy and unfocused. Through the rippling water, she saw a figure—strong arms holding her tightly, guiding her upward, muscles tensing with each stroke.

The light from the surface shimmered above, but she was more focused on the one carrying her.

She wanted to see his face.

But her exhaustion won.

Her eyes drifted shut again.

.

.

.

The next thing she felt was air.

A sharp, burning inhale filled her lungs as she sat up violently, her body coughing out the water she had swallowed.

Each breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving, her fingers digging into the damp ground beneath her.

Someone was tapping her back gently, steadily.

And then—a voice.

Deep. Smooth. Masculine.

"Are you okay?"

Rukmini's body froze.

Slowly—almost hesitantly—she turned her head.

And the moment her gaze landed on him, her breath caught in her throat.

A man.

Not just any man—but the most breathtakingly, ridiculously handsome man she had ever seen.

His face was all sharp angles and striking features, as if sculpted by the gods themselves. His jawline was strong, his nose perfectly defined, and his eyes—dark, intense, holding a quiet power beneath their surface.

His hair was drenched, the wet strands clinging to his forehead, making him look effortlessly alluring. His white shirt was soaked through, the fabric clinging to his toned frame, revealing just enough to make her mind falter.

Rukmini stared.

For a moment—too long of a moment—she admired him, her exhausted brain struggling to process anything other than the sheer perfection sitting in front of her.

Then, realisation struck like lightning.

What am I doing?!

Tearing her gaze away, she quickly nodded, rubbing her arms, trying to shake off the bizarre feeling settling in her chest.

She blamed it on the near-death experience. That had to be it.

She was cold. She was drenched. She had just been shoved into a dam by a criminal. That was the only reason she was thinking nonsense.

Right?

Then—something warm settled over her shoulders.

Startled, she looked up to see the man draping his coat around her.

Up close, he was even more intimidatingly handsome.

"It's okay," he said, his voice smooth, grounding. "Don't panic. Just keep the coat."

Rukmini didn't move.

Didn't breathe.

For the first time in her life, she didn't know what to say.

The police arrived not long after, sirens cutting through the evening air. Officers rushed toward her, their expressions laced with both concern and admiration.

"Miss Rukmini, we should take you home," one of them offered, his voice firm but careful.

Before she could answer, the man—her rescuer—turned to her.

He didn't assume. He asked.

"Do you want to go with them?" His voice was smooth, steady—the kind that could command a room without ever needing to be loud.

Rukmini hesitated for a brief moment before giving a small nod.

Yes. She needed to leave. Immediately.

Away from this man who had already invaded her thoughts far too much in the last few minutes.

She quickly stepped toward the police jeep, climbing in as the officers busied themselves chatting with the man.

From inside, she watched them.

More specifically—she watched him.

Even in the midst of conversation, he carried himself with ease—confident but not overbearing, commanding but not arrogant.

And then—he smiled.

Rukmini's breath hitched.

What a smile...

It wasn't just handsome—it was dangerous. The kind that could make people believe in impossible things.

Had she ever seen a smile like that before? One that was so effortlessly charming, so unfairly perfect?

Her heart pounded violently in her chest.

Frowning, she tore her gaze away.

Only for her eyes to drift back to him again.

She clenched her fists.

This was ridiculous.

She had far bigger things to worry about than a stupidly attractive man with a heart-stopping smile.

With a final deep breath, she forced herself to look away, staring blankly ahead as the jeep pulled away from the dam.

That night, as she lay in bed, exhaustion settled over her—but sleep did not come.

Her mind was still racing.

She had won today. She had taken another step toward justice, toward making those criminals pay for what they had done.

And she was ready for the next battle.

But instead of strategies and revenge, her thoughts kept circling back... to him.

The man.

The way he had looked at her, the way he had spoken, the way his presence had felt so steady in the chaos.

The way her heart was still hammering just thinking about him.

Rukmini groaned in frustration, grabbing her pillow and burying her face into it.

"Why?!" she muttered against the fabric, kicking her feet against the mattress like a restless child.

She had spent years training herself to be calculated, rational, unshakable.

So why was she acting like this over some stranger?!

Scowling, she flipped onto her back, staring at the ceiling.

No. This was nothing.

She was just tired.

Yes. That had to be it.

With a final sigh, she shut her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.

But somewhere in the depths of her mind, his stupidly perfect smile refused to fade.

🦚