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"Sir, are you okay?"

"Absolutely, we are completely fine; we are in the gap between the seats, and there are a lot of rods; they are going right over me, so cut carefully. Jhankar is in perfect condition and should not sustain any injuries from this incident."

While trying to stop her crying, Jhankar takes a deep breath and tells Vikrant,

“What about the driver…”

Vikrant knows very well that the driver cannot be alive because the way the rods are going right over their bodies, they have pierced fast through the seat to the back. Therefore, given the circumstances, it is impossible for the driver to be alive. Vikrantplaced one hand under her head to protect her from injury during the fall. It is still under her head, so while caressing her hair lightly, he tries to look at her. And as he caresses her like this, Jhankar understands very well what he wants to say to her. As soon as she understands what he means, Jhankar's breathing starts to become uneven with sobs. Vikrant, who is on top of her, is unable to do anything, so he hides his face in her crook. Meanwhile, Jhankar, who can only hold onto his shirt with one hand, begins to cry while clutching it tightly. Soon, they start hearing the sound of a cutter machine, from which they understand very well that efforts are being made to get them out by cutting the car and the iron rods. Jhankar, who is positioned below Vikrant.

"Are you okay? It’s just a matter of some time, and then we’ll be out of here,” Vikrant said.

Jhankar, without responding, tried to hold back her tears by shutting her eyes tightly. The thought that the driver had died in the accident and was still in the car with them filled her with fear. Vikrant continued to gently caress her hair, which helped her relax slightly. But each time the memories resurfaced, she broke down again. Vikrant was growing more concerned about her condition. Accidents were common in his line of work, but looking at Jhankar made him realize just how delicate she truly was—a realization that disturbed him deeply. He tried to explain,

“Some things are beyond our control. It was a minor accident—something could’ve happened to either of us. But I noticed in time, and we acted quickly. The driver was at the front, yet he couldn't react fast enough. Sometimes, even we don’t know what to do in those moments.”

“Hmmm…”

Suddenly, the roof of the car was pulled off, flooding the interior with light and raising the iron rods above Vikrant’s body. The rescue team began discussing how to cut the rods carefully to avoid hurting the two trapped inside. Jhankar could now see them clearly. One of the rescuers spoke to her:

“Madam, we’re covering your faces with cloth to protect you from the machine sparks. They’ll scatter quickly and may hurt you. It’s only for a short while.”

A thick cloth was draped over both their faces, casting everything into darkness. Jhankar immediately clung to Vikrant, who reassured her.

“I’m with you.”

“I know…”

The loud, shrieking sound of the cutter slicing through the metal was terrifying. As Jhankar clutched his shirt tightly, Vikrant continued to stroke her hair, trying to soothe her. He could feel her skin against him with every breath and noticed she grew even more frightened once their faces were covered. After nearly half an hour of effort, the team successfully cut through the rods. Vikrant was slowly lifted off her with help from his men. Jhankar started rising too, her eyes fixed on the driver’s seat. Vikrant understood what she was trying to see. The driver's body had not yet been recovered, still trapped by the rods. His guards already knew he was dead, so his severely bruised body remained slumped over the seat—a sight too horrifying to witness.

Vikrant quickly placed his hand over Jhankar’s eyes and held her hand tightly.

“We should leave. My men will take care of the rest.”

“The driver…”

“Jhankar, let’s go.”

He held her arm and gently but firmly led her toward another car. Despite his own injuries, which required immediate medical attention, he prioritized her safety. His men followed closely, while others stayed behind. Once they were inside the car, Jhankar looked at Vikrant's back and forcefully turned him toward her. Blood stained his clothes—he was badly hurt. She gasped in horror and began to cry.

“If you hadn’t saved me…”

Vikrant turned to face her.

“I’m totally okay. This is nothing.”

Despite his reassuring words, Jhankar couldn’t believe him. The sight of his blood kept flashing before her eyes. Overwhelmed by emotion and stress, she suddenly fainted in his arms.

“Jhankar… Get us to the mansion immediately!” Vikrant shouted.

Although Vikrant felt no pain, panic took over as he held the unconscious Jhankar and patted her cheek repeatedly. She remained unresponsive. He splashed water on her face, but she didn’t stir. His concern deepened. As soon as they reached the mansion, Vikrant rushed her to the medical room

“Doctor…”

The doctor, already alerted, was prepared with his team. They immediately attended to Jhankar and then began treating Vikrant’s injuries without delay.

The news of the accident had already reached home. Sharda was so distraught she fainted. When Jhankar regained consciousness and heard of Sharda’s condition, she rushed toher. The doctor was already there, trying his best to revive her. Jhankar, still shaken and worried about Vikrant, stayed by Sharda’s side. A maid kept urging Jhankar to rest, assuring her they would take care of Sharda. But Jhankar knew how Vikrant always appeared the moment Sharda even slightly fell ill. His absence now deeply troubled her. She kept scanning the surroundings for him, confident that he’d come to see Sharda as soon as he was able. Jhankar stayed near Sharda, waiting anxiously for Vikrant. She was certain he’d come the moment he could. Sharda, now conscious, began to worry about Vikrant too.

“How is my Vicky? Did anything happen to him? Where is Viku?”