Night time.
In the dense forests of Shimla…
A twenty-four-year-old girl, breathtakingly beautiful like the moon, was running for her life. Her large, deep blue eyes—now bloodshot from crying—were filled with terror. She was dressed in a heavy red bridal lehenga. Her soft pink lips trembled in fear, and her long, silky hair clung messily to her tear-streaked face. The dupatta that once rested gracefully on her shoulders now hung loosely, stained with mud from her desperate escape—though she had no awareness of it.
Clutching a five-year-old boy tightly to her chest, shielding him with her arms, she kept glancing back as she ran barefoot through the forest. Her feet were badly bruised and bleeding, but she didn't stop. Her kajal had smeared across her face, yet even in that shattered state, her beauty remained untouched.
The little boy cried uncontrollably in fear. She covered his mouth gently, whispering for him to stay quiet as she ran faster, trying to save both their lives. Her breathing grew heavier with every step.
Suddenly, she realized the child had gone quiet.
Her heart skipped a beat. She looked down at him—his eyes were closed, his small body limp in her arms.
"Aarav… A-Aarav… baby, wake up! What happened to you? Open your eyes, sweetheart…" she cried, patting his cheeks desperately. But Aarav didn't respond.
Before she could process anything further, the sound of gunshots echoed through the forest.
Her body froze in terror. Quickly, she hid behind a large tree, clutching Aarav tightly, trying to stay out of sight.
Not far away, fifteen to twenty bodyguards armed with guns were searching for her.
"Hurry up, boys! Find that girl. She must not escape. If she slips away, the boss will kill us. She has to be hiding somewhere in this jungle," one of them ordered.
Hidden behind the tree, the girl heard every word clearly. Sweat drenched her body. Death stared back at her through fear-filled eyes. She didn't understand who these men were—or why they were after her and the child.
Just then, someone suddenly covered her mouth from behind.
Her eyes widened in shock. She turned sharply—only to see a familiar face.
It was her friend, Riyaansh.
He placed a finger on his lips. "Shhh… be quiet."
The guards searched around but couldn't find her.
"Sir, I think she ran further ahead. We should move forward before she gets away," one guard suggested.
The group nodded and moved ahead cautiously.
As soon as they left, Riyaansh removed his hand. His face was pale and covered in sweat—he had been terrified seeing so many armed men.
"Nishka, are you okay?" he asked, his voice shaky.
"I'm fine… but look at Aarav. He's not opening his eyes. What happened to him? If something happens to him, I'll never forgive myself," Nishka cried.
Riyaansh, who was studying medicine, checked Aarav quickly.
"Relax, Nishka. He fainted out of fear. He's okay. We need to leave this place immediately," he said, holding her hand and leading her quietly away.
He had hidden his car behind dry branches. They quickly got inside. As the car started moving, Nishka let out a breath of relief.
But suddenly, her blood ran cold.
The same guards were blocking the road ahead.
"R-Riyaansh… in front…" she stammered.
Riyaansh panicked but quickly grabbed a shawl from the back seat and covered Nishka completely.
"Whatever I say, just agree. And when I signal, scream in pain," he whispered.
"What are you going to do?" she asked nervously.
"Just scream as if you're in severe pain."
The car stopped in front of the armed guards.
Riyaansh rolled down the window.
"Sir, is there a problem? Why did you stop my car?" he asked politely.
One guard asked, "Have you seen a girl in a bridal outfit running through the forest?"
"No, sir. I haven't seen anyone. Please let us go. My wife isn't well. She's pregnant—I need to take her to the hospital urgently," Riyaansh said calmly.
On cue, Nishka screamed in fake agony, "Ahh! Riyaansh, please hurry… it hurts…"
The guard glanced at her swollen belly—actually Aarav hidden under the shawl—and gestured for them to leave.
Riyaansh didn't waste a second. He drove away quickly.
After some distance, he exhaled deeply. "We're safe for now."
Nishka was still trembling.
"Don't worry. You're safe," he assured her.
But a question formed in her mind.
"How did you know I was in danger?" she asked.
Riyaansh's expression changed.
"I'll tell you when we reach home," he replied quickly, avoiding her gaze.
She didn't press further. She was too traumatized.
Her mind drifted back to what had happened just hours earlier.
It was her wedding day.
Nishka Arora, the only sister of businessman Mihir Arora. Their parents had been murdered when they were children. Mihir had raised her alone and built a powerful infrastructure empire from scratch. He had sent her abroad for higher studies.
A few months ago, she had returned home. Soon, a marriage proposal came. Trusting her brother's choice, she agreed.
Dressed as a bride, she was descending the stairs with her brother Mihir, sister-in-law Mahi, and little Aarav.
Suddenly—
A massive explosion tore through the wedding venue.
Her groom and the priest were blown apart instantly. Chaos erupted. Before anyone could react, armed men in black opened fire indiscriminately.
Mihir quickly dragged Nishka, Mahi, and Aarav into an empty room upstairs.
"Nishka, Mahi, stay here. I'll check outside," Mihir said, loading his gun.
Before he could act, another explosion shook the building. Screams echoed.
Despite Mahi's pleas, Mihir stepped out.
Soon after, Mahi handed Aarav to Nishka. "Take care of him. I'll bring Mihir back," she said, kissing their foreheads before leaving.
Time passed.
Neither returned.
Gathering courage, Nishka stepped outside with Aarav.
What she saw shattered her world.
Mihir and Mahi lay on the floor, soaked in blood, reaching for each other.
"Bhai… what happened?" she screamed.
Through labored breaths, Mihir whispered, "Nishoo… take Aarav and run. Save him."
"No! I won't leave you!"
"Please… for Aarav's sake. Go."
Gunshots rang out again. A bullet grazed past her.
Four armed men approached.
"Run!" Mihir shouted his final word.
His hand slipped from hers.
His eyes closed forever.
Before the men could shoot her, another group of guards attacked them. Seizing the moment, Nishka ran.
Back to the present—
Elsewhere, the guards who failed to find her stood before a twenty-seven-year-old man.
His presence was terrifying.
His dark eyes burned with fury. Veins throbbed across his hands and forehead.
"Boss… we searched everywhere. She escaped," one guard stammered.
Before he could finish, a bullet pierced his mouth.
He fell dead instantly.
The others trembled.
"You have one day," the man said coldly. "Bring her to me. Or you'll end up like him."
They nodded silently.
"OUT!" he roared.
They disappeared immediately.
The man closed his eyes, trying to control his rage. But suddenly, the face of a girl flashed in his mind.
He opened his eyes and growled,
"Nishka Arora… I won't let you go so easily. When I find you, you'll beg for death—but death won't come easily. I'll destroy every trace of happiness from your destiny. If I don't… then my name isn't Idham Randhawa."
This was Idham Randhawa—Mumbai's most eligible bachelor and a powerful diamond merchant.
Once gentle, now ruthless.
Something in his past had turned his heart to stone.
Who is Nishka Arora?
Why were her brother and sister-in-law murdered?
Is Idham truly behind it—or is there a bigger enemy in the shadows?
What happened in Idham's past that made him this merciless?
And whose face haunted him for a moment?
To uncover the answers… stay tuned.
To be continued…