The music screeched to a halt, and the spotlight swooped down, bathing the indignant girl who was throwing daggers with her sharp glare. The sudden silence was oppressive by the collective gasps and held breaths of the stunned crowd, and the faint hum of the disco's idle machinery.

Rudraksh's eyes widened in alarm and he instantly recoiled on hearing the familiar voice slicing through the air like a knife.

Siddharth, meanwhile, let out a deep, exasperated sigh, his gaze settling on the culprit with a look of stern disappointment, like a parent at their wit's end with a misbehaving child.

"Push? People like you should be buried alive, Sanam Grover."

Sanam's eyelids snapped open, and she jerked her face upwards, her gaze locking onto the figure looming above her. The dim light danced across the person's features, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and the piercing intensity of his stare. A flutter in her chest accompanied the whispered word, "Karan?" Her voice trembled, laced with a mix of surprise, annoyance, and a hint of vulnerability.

Karan's lips curled into a wry smile, the corners twitching upward as he wrapped his arms tightly across his chest. His eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief, but tone remained laced with a subtle undercurrent of bitterness. "Yes, Karan. Glad the great sorcerer still recognized me." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Sanam struggled to rise, her fingers brushed against the soft, dusty fabric of her red crimson off-shoulder gown. The loose folds rustled softly as she moved. Her jaw clenched, and she shot Karan a withering glare. But her high heel skidded on the polished marble floor, and she felt herself falling, her arms flailing wildly before she fell gently. Sanam's face burned with humiliation upon hearing the crowd's stifled snickers, making her face burnt in embarrassment.

Karan's voice dripped with malice as he sneered, "Oho! You're trying so hard, but you've already fallen from everyone's eyes long ago." The crowd erupted into a chorus of snickers and applause, their mocking gazes piercing Sanam like a thousand needles. Her face twisted in a grimace of frustration.

A tall figure emerged from the crowd, his muscular body and tanned skin drawing admiring glances from a group of women. With urgency, he rushed towards Sanam. "Are you okay, baby!?" he exclaimed in his raspy voice, his hands enveloping hers in a warm, possessive grasp.

Karan's eyes rolled heavenward in a dramatic display of disdain, his lips curling into a scornful smile. He mouthed the word "baby" with exaggerated slowness.

Sanam's voice barely registered above a whisper as she forced a weak smile onto her lips. "I'm fine, Kabir," she whispered, her fingers instinctively clutching at her stomach.

Kabir's large hand cradled Sanam's belly with a gentle touch. His other hand wrapped around her shoulder, thumb tracing soothing circles on her skin. "And-"

"It's fine too." With Kabir's supporting hands, she slowly rose to her feet, her movements stiff and cautious. As she stood upright, Kabir's hands slid towards her waist, holding her steady.

"You're pregnant!?" Karan's voice exploded in shock in an unpleasant way. The disco fell silent, with eyes fixed on Sanam's belly with a mix of shock and empathy.

"That's none of you-"

"Congratulations!" The deep and husky voice turned raspy from earlier outburst cut through the tension, sarcastically. The slow, deliberate claps that followed were like a cruel taunt in sudden silence. All eyes snapped towards him, his mesmerizing features illuminated by the flashing disco lights, gaze fixed intently on Sanam.

"Rudraksh..." The name emerged from Sanam's lips like a blooming flower on its own, and her throat bobbled up and down.

"Congratulations." Rudraksh's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he offered his congratulations. A half-smile played on his lips as he stretched out a hand that seemed to hesitate between warmth and accusation.

He leaned forward, and his eyes locked onto hers, the question tumbling out in a low, husky tone, "You didn't invite me to your wedding?" The lump in his throat was visible, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

Sanam's glassy gaze locked onto Rudraksh's, her eyes searching his eyes for a glimpse of emotions he was hiding behind his sarcastic smile. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out, her hand brushing against his in a tentative handshake. "Thank y-"

"We are not married yet."

Everyone gasped in unison, mouths hung agape, eyebrows shot up in surprise, and the room erupted into a mix of shocked whispers and disbelieving murmurs. Sanam felt weighing down under the weight of people's judging glances and stiffled talks. She looked at Kabir with an incredulous expression. The pulsating lights seemed to strobe in sync with the crowd's collective heartbeat.

Rudraksh's hand retreated, his fingers curling into a fist as he shot Kabir a searing glare, his jaw clenched in a mix of anger and frustration. With a low growled whisper, he warned, "You didn't need to say it this loud."

"Do not talk to my man like that, Rudraksh!" Sanam's raised voice snapped Rudraksh back to attention. She stood tall, her eyes flashing with a fierce protectiveness as she jabbed a finger at Rudraksh accusingly.

Rudraksh's eyes narrowed, his gaze burned with a deep-seated hurt, the pain of her betrayal once again came into view. "I'm trying to save you," he protested, his tone dripping with incredulity, as if he couldn't believe her audacity.

"You don't need to," she spat, emphasizing each word with a quiet confidence. "And, he didn't say anything wrong," she continued, her eyes never leaving Rudraksh's face. "We are not married," she declared, her chin held high, "and I'm not ashamed of anything," she said, cradling her belly.

Rudraksh's eyebrows twitched in stunned disbelief, his fists clenching momentarily as if to restrain himself. "Have you lost your mind?" he spoke through his gritted teeth. "Get out of this mindset of yours." His words dripped with a mixture of anger and concern.

Sanam's face contorted, her lips curling into a snarl as she spat. "Don't tell me what to do!" Tears brimmed in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she stalked towards Rudraksh. Her feet pounded the floor, fists clenched by her sides.

"Six years," she whispered in trembling voice. "Six years of our relationship..." Her words trailed off, her chest heaving with ragged breaths. "What did you do, huh?" she demanded, her voice rising to a shrill cry. "What did you do!?"

Rudraksh's eyes widened as Sanam's palms slammed into his chest, sending him stumbling backward. His feet scrambled to regain balance on the shiny floor before he finally steadied himself. With a swift motion, he grasped Sanam's right arm, fingers wrapping tightly around her left wrist, holding it upward.

His sharp eyes narrowed and jaw clenched as he spoke, "What did I do?" His low, even voice was a stark contrast to the fury blazing in his eyes. He whispered through gritted teeth, "It was you who left me... without any reason." His gaze locked onto Sanam's, accusation burning in his eyes like a fire.

Sanam's face twisted in pain as Rudraksh's grip tightened. More tears rolled down her cheeks. Gritting her teeth, she wrenched her hand free and grasped the collar of his jacket, her fingers closing around it tightly. "Reasons?" she spat disbeliefly. "What reason do you want, huh? What do you think of me? Am I your mother!?"

She shoved his shoulders with alternate palms, and continued mockingly, "Baby Rudraksh is sad, make him happy! Baby Rudraksh is crying, make him cheer up! Oh, poor baby Rudraksh is shy-shy, give him an eternity to get comfortable with you, or he'll pass out. Huh!?" The crowd erupted into laughter, their faces contorted in amusement as they switched allegiances with the ease of politicians, drawn in by the drama unfolding before them.

Karan's fingers closed around a laughing man's collar, his knuckles white with tension. He yanked the man forward, the sudden jerk cutting off the laughter mid-guffaw. The man's eyes, still sparkling with amusement, met Karan's blazing gaze. "What are you laughing at, you punk? Is there some circus going on here!" Karan's voice was low and menacing.

The man's gaze swept over Karan, his eyes lingering on every detail before finally settling on his face. A smirk spread across his lips in a scornful amusement. "Yes, and you all are fools." His eyes seemed to glint with mockery, the smirk deepening as he took in Karan's growing anger.

Karan's face darkened, his jaw clenched in rage. He bit down on his lower lip, the pressure whitening his lips. With a sudden burst of fury, he shook the man violently, his fingers digging deep into the collar. "You fucker, watch your words or else I'll make you a fool."

The man's eyes widened, his smirk faltering for a moment before he regained his composure.

Rudraksh's hands limped by his sides, his gaze holding thousands of emotions remained fixed at her lifelessly. As Sanam pushed him, his feet slid backward in a slow, mechanical motion without any resistance. His chest rose and fell with slow, deliberate breaths, like a peace before the deadly strom.

"You stupidly believe I'll wait for you forever, rubbish." An amused chuckle escaped Sanam's lips, the sound husky and confident. With a flick of her wrist, she flipped her hair with the back of her palm. Her eyes sparkled with defiance as she tilted her head to the side, her gaze locking upward onto Rudraksh's with narrowed eyes.

"Are you even a man, Rudraksh?" Placing her hands on waist, she asked with a dramatic emphasis on his name. She straightened her posture and began pacing around Rudraksh in a slow, circular motion.

The crowd watched with bated breath, their eyes wide with anticipation. "First of all, who gave you this name-'Rudraksh'? It definitely doesn't suit your personality." Her face twisted in disapproval, lips curling into a sneer. "Powerful, fierce, intense, dominance... nah." Each word was emphasized with precision in mocking and disdainful tone.

With a sudden, swift movement, Sanam reached out and grasped Rudraksh's chin, caressing it gently. Her voice took on a babyish tone, the sound grating and mocking. "You are a baby, who still needs his mother's lap to sleep." The crowd erupted into cheers, whistles, and applause, the sound waves crashing against the tense atmosphere like a tsunami.

Karan's face darkened with rage, his eyes blazing as he stomped forward, shoving people out of his way. The crowd seemed to swallow his footsteps. "I will not leave this bitch today!" he snarled, his hand shooting out towards Sanam's neck. But it halted mid-air, frozen in a sudden, impotent rage.

His face contorted in frustration, his eyes bulging as he felt the grip tighten around his nape. With teeth gritted, he curled his fingers around the firm hand, his body tensing as he ducked, then spun on his ankle, his eyes flashing with anger as he faced his captor.

Kabir loomed over Karan, his frame towering over the Karan. His hand closed around Karan's shoulder, holding him in place. "What is happening here!" he thundered in a horse voice. "Why are you all behind my girlfriend!" His fist clenched, the muscles in his arm rippling as he raised it, his knuckles inches from Karan's face.

Karan's eyes flicked wildly between Kabir's clenched fist and his bulging eyeballs. With a jaw clenched so tight it seemed to tremble, Karan lashed out his leg, kicking Kabir's calf with a vicious swipe. Kabir stumbled, his massive frame wavering for a moment, and Karan seized the opportunity to shove him harshly, sending Kabir crashing backward. "Ask your bloody girlfriend!" Karan spat loathly, before turning to resume his confrontation.

Kabir sprang to his feet, clutching his knee in a reflexive gesture, his face twisted in a snarl. He lunged forward, his massive frame propelling itself towards Karan's back with a singular focus. But just as he was about to collide with Karan, a firm hand clamped down on his collar. With a swift, economical motion, Kabir was yanked backward, his feet scraping against the ground as he stumbled to steady himself.

"What's your problem, man?" Siddharth's calm voice cut through the tension as he wrapped Kabir in a tight side hug. His other hand rested casually in his pant pocket. "Am I interrupting them?" He glanced at Rudraksh, Karan and Sanam, his eyes assessing the situation before returning to Kabir. "Let them settle their business first. Then we will talk, okay?" A gentle smile spread across his face as he spoke, and he ended with a reassuring pat on Kabir's back.

Kabir squirmed and twisted, trying to break free from Siddharth's grasp, but the other man's grip held firm. "Who are you now!?" Frustrated, Kabir's words burst out in a pent-up explosion. His eyes blazed with irritation and face reddened as he struggled against Siddharth's restraint, his movements growing more agitated by the second.

Siddharth's smile deepened, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he gazed at Kabir with a knowing glint. "Oh, buddy," he drawled, his voice dripping with amusement, "Don't try too hard or I'll have to break your neck, trust me." His lips curled up in a sly, teasing smile that only added to Kabir's growing frustration.

Karan's face twisted in a furious scowl as he lunged at Sanam, his hand reaching out to grasp her delicate neck. But just as his fingers were about to close around her skin, a firm hand clamped down on his wrist, halting his motion. His brows narrowed in confusion, a hint of anger etched on his face.

"Leave me, Rudraksh," Karan spat. "This girl has crossed all her limits. I'll not leave her today!"

Rudraksh's eyes locked onto Sanam's, his gaze burning with intensity. He approached her with slow, deliberate steps, his footsteps echoing through the silent disco. The crowd parted, their faces agog with fascination and intrigue.

Sanam's eyes widened as Rudraksh drew closer, her gaze locked on his face. She took a step back, her hands falling to her sides, fingers splayed and shaking slightly. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, her shoulders tensing as she seemed to hold herself rigid.

Rudraksh extended a hand towards her cheek, but halted mid-air when his gaze dropped to her belly. A dry chuckle escaped his lips. He withdrew his hand, sliding it inside his jacket, and leaned forward to meet her eye-level. In a whispery tone that conveyed the weight of his emotional fatigue, he poured out his heart's whispers:

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞;
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝,
𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞;
𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠;
𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞,
𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞.

Blinking away the unshed tears, Rudraksh turned on his heel, leaving Sanam in jumble of thoughts.

Karan's hand raked through his sweaty hair, his jaw clenched in a tight, angry line. His other hand rested at his waist. His eyes darted wildly, like a drug addict who would go insane if he didn't get his dose. His nose scrunched up in frustration and he spun towards Sanam, jabbing a finger at her like a dagger. His tall frame loomed over her, their faces inches apart with his hot breath washing over her. "If you weren't pregnant," he snarled, his teeth gritted, "I would have told you what it costs to mess up with my people."

Sanam's throat constricted as she swallowed hard, trying to moisten her dry throat. Her feet trembled beneath her on the slick disco floor, her eyes fixed on Karan's furious features. Her palms grew sweaty, but she refused to back down. A sly smirk spread across her face, and questioned loudly, trying to gaining Rudraksh's attention, "Why so angry, Karan!?"

She folded her arms across her chest, her eyebrows arching upward in a teasing gesture. "Are you still not over... my rejection?" She clicked her tongue, her eyes darting back and forth in a relaxed manner between Karan's shocked, angry face and Rudraksh's confused expression. A hint of triumph danced in her eyes seeing the spark she had just ignited.

A/N: Hey, everyone!

1. Do you want to see a glimpse of Karan's and Sanam's time together as flashbacks, or the revelation just through dialogues?

2. Do you want to give me any advice on anything?

3. What do you think will happen next?