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Marks looked at Jhankar carefully. She was half unconscious, writhing in pain. When she had tried to escape earlier, the men didn’t simply subdue her; they had beaten her mercilessly. The mission was not just about capturing her; it was about inflicting pain. Marks had an old enmity with Vikrant, and he wanted to hurt him in the worst possible way. By now, he knew very well what Jhankar meant to Vikrant. Hurting her was akin to piercing Vikrant’s very soul. Mark believed Vikrant’s men were all dead. The farmhouse seemed utterly deserted. Not a single sign of Vikrant’s allies could be seen.

Mark’s men began to spread out quickly when suddenly the distinct sound of chopper blades filled the air. Everyone looked up; two helicopters were hovering in the sky. And then, without warning, Vikrant appeared at the edge of one of the choppers. Without hesitation, he pulled out his machine gun and began firing rapidly. Mark, who was completely unprepared for this sudden ambush, was stunned. Panic flashed across his face. His instincts took over, and he bolted inside the house for cover. The rest of his men, equally unready for this onslaught, also scattered in desperation to save themselves. But Vikrant and Akhil were ruthlessly firing bullet after bullet. Many of Mark’s men collapsed and died instantly under the relentless barrage.

Vikrant’s chopper was the first to land. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings for Marks and his men. That’s when his gaze locked onto a vehicle parked at the far end of the property. His expression changed instantly. He sprinted towards it because the transmitter embedded in Jhankar’s body had revealed herexact location. He quickly ran to her side. Vikrant bent down and peeked inside the vehicle. Upon witnessing Jhankar's condition, his eyes ignited with fury akin to an impending storm.

Without hesitation, he aimed his machine gun toward the house and unleashed a torrent of violence. The windows shattered, doors splintered apart, and terrified screams echoed through the walls. But Vikrant didn't stop; he continued advancing, shooting with relentless rage. Akhil, fully armed, trailed closely behind. He knew very well that no one could stop Vikrant now. His only role was to ensure Vikrant didn’t run out of ammunition; he had no intention of interfering. One by one, anyone who crossed Vikrant’s path was shot down without mercy.

Mark’s men were all dead. Marks, desperate to save himself, jumped out of a window and started running through the woods. Vikrant dropped his machine gun and chased him quickly. Mark was fully aware there was no way he could stand up to Vikrant. He had no weapon, and he certainly couldn’t match Vikrant’s strength. All he could do was run. But Vikrant, his mind consumed with rage, refused to back off even for a second.

As Marks ran, he grabbed a thick wooden log and suddenly turned to strike Vikrant. But Vikrant ducked in time, grabbed Mark by the waist in one swift motion, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him hard against the ground. Mark’s scream echoed throughout the forest, but it meant nothing to Vikrant.

He picked up the same log, looked briefly at Mark’s feet, and then began to thrash him mercilessly. The blows landed with terrifying force. Mark screamed in agony, but Vikrant’s hands showed no mercy. He struck his face, his nose, and his ears; blood gushed from every wound. Still, Vikrant didn’t stop. Suddenly, Akhil’s voice called out in the distance.

“Sir! Madam has regained consciousness!”

Vikrant’s hand froze mid-air. Marks, barely alive, struggled to open his eyes and looked up at Vikrant with pleading, broken words.

“I… I am sorry… I made a terrible mistake… Please forgive me…”

Vikrant knelt in front of him, locked eyes with him, and replied in a slow, chilling voice:

“If it had merely been a mistake, maybe there could’ve been room for forgiveness. But what you did… was a sin far beyond redemption. And sins like that can never be forgiven.”

He tossed the wooden log aside and forcefully grabbed both of Mark’s legs, spreading them wide apart. Mark began to scream in panic, but Vikrant was beyond reason. With one leg pinned beneath his boot, Vikrant grabbed the other and pulled with savage force. A horrifying crack ripped through the air. Mark’s body tore in two. His blood-curdling screams echoed through the forest, then slowly faded, replaced by utter silence. The only sound left in the air was Vikrant’s heavy, menacing breathing.

He turned around; Akhil was running toward him. He saw Vikrant’s blood-covered hands and immediately opened a bottle of water to wash them. Vikrant noticed that Akhil was naked from the waist up. Vikrant washed his face too, knowing full well he had to go to Jhankar now. Only when he was certain there was no trace of blood on him did he sprint back to where she lay. Jhankar, writhing in pain, was barely able to open her eyes. But the moment she saw Vikrant, a faint smile crept onto her face. Vikrant rushed to her, cradled her in his arms, and whispered in anguish,

“Jhankar… I’m so sorry…”

“I’m in so much pain… Please… take me away from here…”

Vikrant nodded, lifted her in his arms, and started hurrying toward the helicopter. But just then, Akhil’s voice stopped him.

“Sir… I need to tell you something…”

CHAPTER 39

HIDDEN BASEMENT

Vikrant's eyes remain fixed only on Jhankar. She is fast asleep at this moment, so without wasting a second, Vikrant gently lifts her in his arms and leaves her after taking a deep glance at her face. He quickly approaches Akhil and urgently speaks to him.

"How is she..."

"I... I don’t know… I mean…"

Akhil stammers, unable to form a coherent response. Vikrant’s feet, as if moved by instinct, take him toward the nearby room. There, Riya is sitting silently, her knees pulled tightly to her chest. She is glancing around repeatedly, her eyes darting with fear, confusion, and distress. The sight pierces Vikrant’s heart like a blade. Her tear-streaked face, constantly wet with fresh streams of sorrow, speaks volumes. Though she is desperately trying to suppress her sobs, the tears refuse to obey her wish. As Vikrant cautiously steps closer, she suddenly lifts her face. The moment her eyes fall on him, she starts screaming loudly in terror.

"Please, no… Please, no…"

Vikrant halts immediately, startled and shaken by her reaction. He raises both hands in front of him in a gesture of peace and tries to calm her.

“Riya… I’m not going to hurt you. No one is going to hurt you anymore. I just want to know… What were you doing there?”

“I need to leave this place! You left my mother behind! I have to go to my mother!”

Startled, Vikrant quickly looks at Akhil, whose eyes now widen as he stares at Riya in shock and confusion. Before they can process her words further, Riya attempts to run. In her panic, she doesn’t even register their presence clearly. But Vikrant reacts swiftly and holds her back, which causes her to scream in distress.

“No… No… Let me go!”