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"Time is slipping away..."
"It's ticking... slipping away..."
"Tick... tick... tick..."
"I hate this ticking sound!"
"Shut up!"
"What should I do? I'm so lost..."
"The hearing date is closing in."
"How many times was the body replaced... and who hit me on the head? And why?"
"Does someone have a personal vendetta against me? Is this revenge?"
"Is it someone I know… or a complete stranger?"
"When will Isha wake up?"
"Why can't I find Chhavi Kapoor?"
"What is happening to my life..."
"I just keep popping mental painkiller pills... one after another... again and again."
"This outhouse of Akshat's… it's actually quite nice. Spacious too."
"The servants come in daily, food is served on time..."
"At least Anushu and Papa are comfortable here."
"Anushu's happy… more than this house, I think she's just relieved to be away from our stepmother and stepsister."
"Papa… he's always sad because of me anyway. And I can't even help him... because I can't help myself right now."
"And for the past few days, neither Roni nor Akshat has shown up."
"I've just been walking… aimlessly. It's midnight. I can't sleep. I'm wandering outside in this freezing cold."
"I don't feel well either... and to be honest…"
"I'm looking for Chhavi Kapoor."
"I'm searching for her, but she's nowhere to be found… or maybe, she's hiding from me."
Suddenly, Roni appears out of nowhere.
"Roni?"
"How are you?" he asks.
"What do you think? Why do I look like I've been hit by a storm?"
He goes quiet... doesn't press further.
"I'm tired..."
"Yeah… it shows.
You need to take care of yourself.
If you don't, how will you even make it to the next hearing?"
"I'm not able to focus on my health in this condition... I just need to breathe."
"Where were you?
I haven't seen you in days...
And what are you doing out here so late?"
"Umm... actually I just…"
Before Roni could finish, Akshat appears — panting, running, exhausted.
He stops in front of both of them.
"Akshat? You? At this hour?
What happened? You look worried. Why were you running?"
"I woke up... and came straight to find you.
I searched everywhere... but you weren't there.
Anushu and your father had no idea about this outhouse either.
I panicked... thought maybe you left...
So I ran out to look for you."
"You live in this outhouse?" — Roni asks, shocked.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"It's a long story…"
Akshat takes a deep breath and asks —
"What are you even doing here?
I mean... what are you both doing here at this hour?"
"Counting stars," Roni jokes.
"Stop it, Roni. This isn't the time for jokes."
"Akshat... I couldn't sleep.
So I stepped out for some fresh air.
And then I ran into Roni."
"Anyway… did you come to see me this late for a reason?"
"You look stressed... and I haven't seen you in days.
What happened?"
"Actually...
Maybe... just maybe… we can win this."
"What? Really?"
My eyes lit up — and so did Roni's.
We both ask at the same time —
"How?"
"I've been thinking non-stop the past few days…
And then I spoke to your lawyer.
Together, we did some research...
And an idea struck."
"We need to re-analyze Khushi's body... check the reports again.
Maybe we missed something."
"When we looked closer…
Her body was drenched in blood — hands, feet, mouth… everything.
But when we examined further,
We noticed dried blood stuck under her fingernails."
"Maybe... she fought back.
Maybe she scratched her attacker in self-defense...
And his blood got stuck under her nails.
And maybe... we ignored it the first time."
"Okay... so did you get the test done?
Do we know who it is?"
"No... not yet.
We only took the sample."
"But it's possible... that blood isn't hers…
But belongs to the killer."
"Exactly. We can't say for sure.
But it's worth trying."
"So… did you give it to the lab?"
**"No… that lab wasn't efficient enough.
If I gave it to them, the DNA report would come after the hearing.
And that would be pointless."
"We need a lab that's fast, reliable, and accurate."
"But even then, it'll still take time…
And the hearing date is already here…"
The light in my eyes starts to fade again.
That's when Roni steps forward, confidently —
"I can do it.
Give me the sample.
I'll find out who it is."
"But how?"
"Our family friends are launching a high-tech lab next month.
The technology there is advanced — reports are fast and highly accurate.
Yes, the official launch is next month,
But the lab is already set up and operational.
If I request them... they might agree."
Akshat, who usually held nothing but anger and annoyance toward Roni…
His eyes sparkled as he looked at him.
"Wow, Roni...
At least you're being useful for something."
(He smiles.)
"But… will you really be able to do it?" I ask.
"Don't worry."
"Yeah... you will! We believe in you!"
I say, hugging him tightly.
He hugs me back.
Wait… are they really hugging?
I can't believe it.
I'm so happy watching them like this.
They're doing all of this for me.
Maybe… just maybe… we'll find the truth.
Maybe we'll win.
I shouldn't be so negative.
If they're working this hard for me...
Why shouldn't I give it my all too?
While I'm lost in thought…
Roni suddenly grabs my hand and pulls me between him and Akshat —
And the three of us… share a warm, hopeful hug.
...Ahh...
And in that moment…
Three hearts… beat in one rhythm.
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