डिमना, आपने बहुत ही शानदार और रोमांचक चैप्टर लिखा है! सस्पेंस, धोखा, सुपरनेचुरल एलिमेंट्स (जल रक्षक) और फिर रिधम ओबरॉय का एक्सीडेंट—कहानी की गति बहुत कमाल की है। यह ग्लोबल पाठकों को बांधकर रखेगी।

मैंने इस पूरे चैप्टर को NovelToon के स्टैंडर्ड के हिसाब से एक बेहद थ्रिलर और रोमेंटिक इंग्लिश स्टाइल में ट्रांसलेट किया है। डायलॉग्स और सीन के इमोशन्स को इंग्लिश में और भी गहरा बनाया है:

# My Savior: The Guardian's Vow

## Chapter 1: Betrayal and the Deep Waters

The dead of night. Delhi.

On a lonely bridge just outside the city, a girl stood leaning against the railing, tears streaming down her face. Pressing her hand tightly against her stomach, she glared with furious, tear-filled eyes at the tall, broad-shouldered man standing in front of her.

This girl was none other than Shradha. She had been brutally betrayed by her own boyfriend, Kartik, who now stood before her with a cold gun in his hand.

Kartik had already shot Shradha four times. Gasping for air, she was breathing her very last.

Gathering every ounce of her remaining strength, Shradha choked out, "Kartik... why? Why did you do this to me?"

Kartik’s expression remained chillingly calm, as if Shradha’s excruciating pain meant absolutely nothing to him.

Driven by betrayal, Shradha screamed with all her might, "If I survive tonight... remember this, Kartik, I will hunt you down and take my revenge!"

Kartik, who had been silent for a long time, finally broke his silence. A cruel smirk played on his lips. "You can only take revenge if you survive, Shradha."

With those cold words, Kartik pulled the trigger again. The fifth bullet hit Shradha, forcing her backward against the railing. Her eyes turned bloodshot, and heavy tears washed over her pale cheeks.

Her vision was blurring, her eyelids growing heavier by the second, but she fought to keep them open. Staring at Kartik, she whispered, "What you did to me, Kartik... I will never forget it."

Shradha Mathur was a girl who owned vast properties. In fact, she loved Kartik so much that she had already transferred a large share of her wealth to his name. But she also had a scheming stepfather who wanted nothing more than to usurp her entire inheritance.

By nature, Shradha had always been a cheerful, intelligent, and kind-hearted girl who loved helping others. But her kindness had met a brutal end.

Kartik spoke again, his voice devoid of any remorse. "From this moment on, all your property belongs to me. And tomorrow, I will marry Riya—your stepfather's daughter."

Without a second thought, Kartik fired the sixth and final bullet. Shradha’s piercing scream echoed through the deserted, silent night. With that, her breathing stopped.

Kartik stepped closer, casually lifted her lifeless body, and threw her over the bridge into the deep river below. Shradha's body slowly began to sink into the dark abyss of the waters.

Down in the depths of the river, Shradha’s body drifted deeper and deeper into the dark, silent trenches. Smelling the scent of fresh blood, schools of fish began to swarm around her. They gathered close, starting to nibble at her skin, tearing small wounds into her face and body, ready to reduce her to a mere skeleton.

Just as the aquatic creatures began to feast on her face and torso, a sudden, blinding flash of light pierced through the dark water. A figure wrapped in a brilliant aura came swimming toward Shradha at an impossible speed.

This mysterious man was breathtakingly powerful. He wore nothing but a pair of pants crafted from shimmering, metallic fish scales. His physique was flawless, boasting a chiseled six-pack. His eyes were deep, abyssal black, and his striking white hair flowed gracefully down to his shoulders. His complexion was so radiant that even the purest light would pale in comparison to him.

He was none other than the deity of the deep—the Protector of the waters, sworn to guard and govern every living creature beneath the waves. The world knew him as the **Water Protector**.

The moment the Water Protector arrived, the swarming fish scattered away in terror. He cast his eyes upon Shradha, and for a fleeting second, he found himself completely mesmerized, unable to look away. Without wasting a moment, he swept her into his powerful arms and vanished into the shadows.

In the blink of an eye, they appeared in a mystical underwater sanctuary. The walls looked like seamless crystal glass, holding back the massive pressure of the ocean, while vibrant sea creatures and exotic fish swam peacefully just outside.

The Water Protector gently laid Shradha down on a bed that looked as fluid as water itself. Gazing at her broken body from head to toe, he leaned down close. Then, he pressed his lips, which were more beautifully sculpted than rose petals, against Shradha's lifeless lips.

The moment the Water Protector had touched her, Shradha's heart had already begun to flutter back to life. But as his lips met hers, consciousness flooded her senses. She gasped, drawing in a deep, sharp breath.

Seeing her breathe, a brilliant spark flashed in the Water Protector’s dark eyes, and the intensity of his kiss deepened passionately.

Inside her mind, Shradha felt an overwhelming sensation, as if this stranger's touch was reaching into the very depths of her soul. Startled, she snapped her eyes open, her gaze locking instantly into the deep, black eyes of the Water Protector.

Finding herself trapped beneath a strangely breathtaking entity, panic gripped her. She placed her hands against his chest, trying her best to push him away. But the Water Protector’s grip was unyielding, and his kiss was so intoxicatingly dominant that he refused to let her go.

Tears welled up in Shradha's eyes, dissolving into the surrounding currents as a soft blue mist—a magical sight that only the Water Protector could see.

Noticing the tears in her eyes, the Water Protector finally pulled back, breaking the kiss. His deep voice resonated through the chamber. "Why are you crying?"

The moment he released her, Shradha scrambled back, sitting up and pulling her knees to her chest. She looked around in absolute awe. It was a magical world. Brilliant light illuminated the crystal room, and despite being deep underwater, she could breathe perfectly.

Then, the brutal memory flashed across her mind. *Kartik shot me six times. I was dead.*

Remembering her demise, she turned her gaze back to the man standing before her. With his silver-white hair falling to his shoulders and his staggeringly handsome, magnetic features, he looked unreal.

"Am I... am I dead?" Shradha asked, her voice trembling.

A soft, mesmerizing smile graced the Water Protector’s lips. He leaned in and gently pinched her nose. "You *were* dead. But I have brought you back to life."

*Brought back to life...* The words echoed in her head. She had been given a second chance.

Looking around the glowing sanctuary once more, she asked, "You saved my life... but who are you?"

"I am the Water Protector. The guardian of every soul that resides in these waters," he revealed calmly.

To Shradha, every single word sounded absurdly surreal. It was hard to believe. She stared at him, suddenly wondering if he was an Angel of Death who had come to claim her soul after her demise.

"No..." Shradha whispered, fear creeping into her voice. "You must be a Grim Reaper... an angel who has come to take my soul away."

Amused by her fear, the Water Protector leaned down swiftly and nipped her lower lip with a gentle, playful bite.

"Ah!" Shradha gasped out loud.

The Water Protector smirked. "Do you believe me now? A Reaper wouldn't make you feel this alive."

Shradha’s heart raced. She finally realized that the magnificent being in front of her was no angel of death.

The Water Protector’s expression then turned serious. "I know everything, Shradha. I know you were betrayed, and I know you burn for revenge."

The fear that had temporarily clouded Shradha’s mind instantly vanished, replaced by a cold, familiar rage. Images of Kartik’s smiling face as he betrayed her flashed in her mind. A roaring fire of vengeance ignited within her soul. *God has given me a second life,* she thought to herself. *I must make him pay.*

Watching her expression, the Water Protector raised an eyebrow. "You can only seek revenge if you are allowed to leave this place."

Shradha snapped her head up. "What do you mean by that?"

"Your breath, your life—it all belongs to me now," the Water Protector stated, his voice suddenly dropping into a harsh, commanding tone. "Have you forgotten so easily that I defied the very laws of my gods just to revive you?"

A dark cloud of sadness washed over Shradha’s face. She looked down bitterly. "If I have been betrayed so brutally, and I can't even avenge my own death... then what is the point of this second life? Just kill me again. I don't want to live like this."

The Water Protector was known to be ruthless and fiercely aggressive to those who crossed him, but he was also capable of deep mercy. Above all, he had grown inexplicably fond of Shradha.

Softening his gaze, he said, "Fine. If it means that much to you... I will take your revenge for you."

"No!" Shradha countered fiercely. "The wrong was done to me. I will be the one to destroy him."

The Water Protector possessed the power to wipe out her enemies in a single heartbeat, but looking at her fiery determination, he found her words justified. She was the one who suffered; she deserved the closure.

After a moment of silence, the Water Protector nodded. "Very well. You shall have your revenge. But... I am coming with you to your world."

Shradha’s eyes widened in sheer shock. "No! Look at you... you look completely out of this world! I can't just walk around with you."

The Water Protector tilted his head, a mysterious glint in his eyes. "Tonight, alongside your death, another soul is destined to die on that very same bridge in a fatal car accident. I will take his place."

"Whose life is going to end?" Shradha asked, her voice trembling with anxiety.

The Water Protector closed his eyes, sensing the strings of fate. "Rydham Oberoi. A powerful, ruthless billionaire businessman. From tonight, I will step into his shoes."

Opening his dark eyes, he suddenly pulled Shradha close by her waist, forcing her to look straight into his mesmerizing gaze. "But remember this, Shradha... it will only be his name and status. The face will always be mine."

His intense words sent a shiver down Shradha’s spine. She realized then that this powerful entity who had saved her life was never going to let her go.

Back on the bridge, it was nearly 3:00 AM.

A sleek luxury van was speeding through the dark, empty road. Inside, a man sat with a dark, furious expression. "Every single share in that company will belong to me," he muttered ruthlessly to himself. "I will not give up even a fraction of my empire to anyone."

This man was Rydham Oberoi, a billionaire infamous for his cold heart and tyrannical nature. Rydham was a deeply selfish man who never cared for anyone else's life; he lived strictly for his own power and profit.

As Rydham’s van sped across the bridge, a massive truck suddenly appeared from the opposite direction, blinding the night with its high beams. It seemed deliberate—as if the truck was intentionally steering straight into Rydham’s path.

Before Rydham’s driver could even react or swerve, the heavy truck rammed into the van with a deafening crash. The luxury van flipped over multiple times, rolling violently across the asphalt before exploding into a fierce, roaring fireball.

*Will the Water Protector be able to successfully impersonate a ruthless billionaire? And will Shradha be able to exact her burning revenge on the man she once loved?*

Next Morning.

Every news channel was broadcasting the exact same breaking news — "The Death of Rhythm Oberoi!"

A massive crowd of media reporters was gathered outside his office. Everyone was trying to turn this news into a sensational story in their own way.

Just then, a shiny black van pulled up into the parking area. The camera flashes went crazy. This van belonged to none other than Rhythm Oberoi.

As the door opened, a tall man wearing a black suit and sunglasses stepped out. Everyone’s eyes widened in sheer shock.

Rhythm Oberoi was alive!

But only one person knew the real truth — this wasn't Rhythm. It was Jal Rakshak (The Water Protector), who had taken Rhythm's form.

The reporters immediately surrounded him.

"Sir, you are alive?! Your car caught fire, and there was absolutely no chance of anyone surviving that accident. How did you make it?"

Jal Rakshak smiled to himself.

Then, he replied in a cold, calm voice, "God saved me. I managed to get out of the car before it caught fire. But since it was close to the bridge, I had to jump into the river. I was just lucky enough to survive."

There was so much confidence in his words that no one doubted him for a second. After all, everyone knew how dangerous Rhythm Oberoi’s anger could be.

**On the Other Side.**

Shraddha's house was filled with wedding celebrations. Kartik sat in the wedding mandap with a forced smile on his face.

Right next to him, Riya’s eyes were shining with joy.

Seven rounds around the holy fire. Seven vows.

The priest was chanting the holy mantras.

Finally, Kartik placed the mangalsutra around Riya's neck.

Just then...

"You didn't even wait for your sister before getting married?"

A voice echoed, and every single face turned pale.

Standing at the main gate was Shraddha—the very girl everyone assumed was dead.

Ketan’s face turned completely white with fear. *'How... how is Shraddha here?'*

For a split second, tears welled up in the eyes of Shraddha's mother, Janvi. But in the very next moment, she completely ignored her daughter.

Shraddha fixed her gaze on her mother.

Her heart hammered loudly against her chest. *'Mom must have been told lies about me. That’s why she is angry with me.'*

Even though Shraddha had returned, the wedding was already over.

The incomplete story had only just begun.

Shraddha slowly walked toward her mother. Meanwhile, Kartik, who was sitting silently in the mandap, felt his heart racing. His hands began to tremble. He wanted to get up right that second, run to Shraddha, and demand answers. But he couldn't do a single thing.

Shraddha came and stood right in front of her mother. All she said was, "Mom..."

The moment she spoke, Janvi raised her hand and slapped Shraddha hard across the face. Shraddha held her cheek, looking at her mother with deep sadness.

Janvi gritted her teeth in extreme anger. "I can't believe you are my child! You turned out to be a runaway, just like your father!"

Hearing the word "runaway," tears filled Shraddha's eyes. Before she could even process anything, her mother continued, "If you didn't want to get married, you should have told me! But running away from your own wedding at the very last moment... what you did was horribly wrong!"

Shraddha cried out, "No, Mom! That’s not the truth! The truth is something else! I..." Before Shraddha could say another word, her stepfather stepped forward.

"Look at the nerve of this girl!" Ketan sneered. "She showed up only after the wedding was over, just so she wouldn't have to sit in the mandap!"

Shraddha’s eyes overflowed with tears. She didn't have a single word to say. She realized that something was terribly wrong. As she stood there lost in thought, Riya walked up to her and, without a second thought, slapped her hard across the face.

The slap made Shraddha’s head spin. Riya immediately started faking her tears, crying dramatically. "Because of you, I had to marry the man I always looked at as my brother-in-law! This is all your fault! How shameless can you be? If you had told me just once that you didn't want to marry him, we wouldn't have made all these preparations!"

Shraddha looked blankly at Riya, then at her stepfather Ketan, and then at Kartik. She already knew that Ketan and Riya hated her. But last night... Kartik had tried to kill her.

Thinking about this, Shraddha said to herself, *'What is happening to me? Riya and Ketan are my enemies, but Kartik... the man I loved, tried to kill me? And that too because of Riya?'*

Shraddha’s eyes pooled with fresh tears. Kartik was still sitting in the mandap, staring intensely at her. This was the most painful moment of her life because her own people were plotting against her.

She looked at everyone and thought, *'I need to find out the truth. Did Kartik really try to kill me for Riya, or did he just want my property?'*

While Shraddha was lost in her thoughts, Janvi said angrily, "Shraddha, you didn't care about my respect at all. You cannot be my daughter!"

Shraddha flinched at her mother's harsh words. She desperately wanted to tell her the whole truth, but seeing her mother completely turned against her, she couldn't utter a single syllable.

Then, Ketan cleared his throat quietly and asked Janvi, "Are we seriously going to keep Shraddha here with us?"

Janvi turned to Ketan and glared at him. "No matter how many mistakes my daughter makes, she is still my daughter. I will not kick her out of this house."

Ketan cursed silently in his mind. *'This girl should have died! Why is she still alive? How will I get my hands on the property now? I'll have to do something myself.'*

Ketan then started arguing with Janvi. "If this girl stays here, I won't live in this house! She almost ruined our family reputation, and that is humiliating enough for me!"

Shraddha, who had been quietly listening to everything for so long, couldn't take it anymore. She snapped, "Fine, then leave! Anyway, this house doesn't belong to you!"

Hearing this, Riya rushed to Janvi. "Look, Mom! Look how Shraddha is talking to him!"

Janvi looked coldly at Shraddha. "Fine. If all of this belongs to you, then live all by yourself in this palace of a house. I am leaving with Ketan to his place."

Hearing Janvi's words, Ketan felt dizzy. The truth was, he had already sold his own house long ago and had absolutely nothing left. All this massive property belonged to Shraddha’s biological father, and it was entirely in Shraddha’s name. The property would only transfer to Janvi if something happened to Shraddha.

He slowly stepped closer to Shraddha, his voice dropping into a cold whisper.

"Do you really think I need an address?"

Shraddha's throat went completely dry.

How could she forget? The person standing in front of her wasn't human. He was a Protector.

Rhythm raised his hand and gently touched Shraddha’s cheek — where the burning marks of the slaps still lingered.

A dangerous anger flared up in his deep eyes.

"If you want, I can destroy all of them. Right now. In a single second."

Shraddha immediately brushed his hand away. "No! I told you before. This revenge is mine. I will be the one to finish it!"

A faint smile appeared on Rhythm's face.

He closed his eyes — and used his powers to see everything that had happened throughout the day.

Shraddha's helplessness.

The slaps on her face.

Every painful moment.

Everything flashed clearly before his eyes.

The next second, Rhythm snapped his eyes open. He aggressively pushed Shraddha back against the wall.

"This is how you take revenge? You are so weak that you wouldn't even be able to swat a fly!"

Shraddha trembled, looking at the intense anger reflecting in his eyes. She had never wished bad upon anyone. How could she suddenly change into a different person?

Rhythm gripped her arms tightly.

"Forget about your love and all that nonsense. From now on, there is no love for you in this world."

"Whatever is left... is just me."

Suddenly, a spark ignited inside Shraddha. She fiercely stomped her foot right down onto Rhythm's foot.

Rhythm winced and pulled back slightly from the pain.

He glared at her angrily — but this time, Shraddha stood her ground, staring straight into his eyes.

She pointed a finger at him. "How many times are you going to remind me of this? We already talked about this yesterday!"

"Don't ever bring up this garbage again. And one more thing — do not enter my room without my permission ever again!"

Rhythm looked at Shraddha in utter shock.

Slowly, his angry expression softened into a slight smirk.

"Where you actually need to speak up, you stay completely quiet. But to fight with me, you suddenly turn into a fierce lioness?"

Shraddha snapped back, "Because you are being rude! Why should I tolerate your misbehavior?"

The annoyance returned to Rhythm's face.

He mocked her coldly, "Just like how you tolerated everyone else's slaps?"

All of Shraddha's bravery instantly vanished into silence. A deep sadness clouded her eyes.

Rhythm felt the sharp pain hidden in her eyes, and something boiled deep within him.

He made a silent vow to himself — *'Whoever hurt my Shraddha... I will personally ruin them.'*

But this revenge belonged to Shraddha. And she needed to light her own inner fire.

Shraddha found herself getting lost in Rhythm’s piercing blue eyes. For the first time, she was looking at them this closely — they were as deep, blue, and mysterious as the ocean.

Smiling to herself, she thought, *'His eyes match the decorations in my room perfectly.'*

"My eyes are real. But the decorations in your room are fake," Rhythm stated calmly.

Shraddha's smile instantly froze.

She narrowed her eyes in disbelief. "Can you... read my mind too?!"

A playful, mischievous smirk appeared on Rhythm's face.

"I don't just read your mind. I can even hear the rhythm of your heartbeat."

Shraddha quickly made a face and turned to look out the window. She knew there was no point in arguing with this Water Protector.

"Fine, drop it. Weren't you going to take someone else's form? Did you do it?"

A charming smile played on Rhythm's lips.

He gazed deeply at her face. "Do you really want to see?"

Shraddha nodded with a hint of curiosity.

The next moment.

Rhythm closed his eyes — and when he opened them...

The real Rhythm Oberoi was standing right in front of her.

He wore a perfect, sharp black three-piece suit. His dark hair was flawlessly styled, and his jawline was razor-sharp. He looked so incredibly handsome that any girl’s heart would skip a beat.

Shraddha's eyes widened in complete amazement.

"Looking at you, no one would ever guess that you are the protector of aquatic creatures!"

Rhythm raised an eyebrow.

He stepped aggressively toward Shraddha, his voice low but icy. "I am not a human. I am the protector of the creatures of the water. Got it?"

Shraddha quickly rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. That’s exactly what I meant."

A slight smile played on Rhythm's lips again.

He leaned in closer. "So... which look did you like more?"

Without thinking, Shraddha blurted out, "Obviously this one. The one where your hair is black and styled."

Shraddha had no idea what her words would trigger. The moment she finished speaking, Rhythm pulled her sharply into his arms.

Shraddha's breath caught in her throat.

Rhythm looked deeply into her eyes, his tone becoming dead serious. "No matter how I look... you have to like me."

"Because from now on, I am your shadow. Understand?"

Shraddha's heart began to race wildly. She tried to pull away, but Rhythm’s grip was so firm that she couldn't move an inch.

For a few breathless moments, their eyes locked, completely lost in each other.

Finally, gathering her courage, Shraddha whispered softly, "And what if I don't like you?"

A wicked, playful smile stretched across Rhythm's lips.

He leaned down and whispered directly into her ear, "Then I will force you to."

"For the rest of your life... to like only me."

Chills ran down Shraddha's spine.

She quickly shoved Rhythm away, freeing herself, and spoke angrily, "I will absolutely not tolerate this kind of behavior from you!"

Rhythm slipped his hands into his pockets, a faint smile on his face. "Then whose bad behavior will you tolerate? The people who slap you?"

All of Shraddha's confidence shattered into sorrow once again.

Rhythm had easily read the pain hidden in her eyes. He stepped forward slowly, stopping right in front of her.

"You are not weak, Shraddha."

"You don't even know who you truly are yet."

"But I know. You are going to become the most dangerous girl in this entire world."

Shraddha’s heart hammered against her chest. She looked up into Rhythm’s deep blue eyes. He was a Water Protector — but now, he had become her shadow, her guardian.

Suddenly feeling overwhelmed and restless, Shraddha quickly stepped far away from him.

Riya was pacing back and forth across her room. Deep panic was written all over her face.

She muttered frantically to herself, "Kartik told me he killed Shraddha. If she's dead, how on earth is she back alive and completely fine?"

Riya immediately dialed Kartik's number, but the call wouldn't go through. Frustrated, she collapsed onto the bed, whispering, "Where did this Kartik go? Why hasn't he come back yet? And why is his phone unreachable?"

Riya sat on the edge of the bed for a while, anxiously wringing her fingers. A dim yellow bulb lit the room, making the atmosphere feel incredibly eerie and tense. The loud ticking of the clock echoed through the silence, as if mocking every fast beat of her heart.

She picked up her phone to try Kartik's number again, but this time, a busy tone filled her ear.

"What is going on? Kartik... where are you?" Riya whispered to the empty room.

Suddenly, the white curtains hanging by the window rustled softly, as if someone had gently brushed past them. Riya’s heart leapt into her throat. She spun around to look at the window in terror, but there was nothing there.

*"It’s just the wind,"* she told herself, trying to calm down.

But the very next second...

The room lights flickered and suddenly went completely black.

Riya’s entire body froze.

In the heavy silence, a faint, low whisper echoed from somewhere in the dark. It sounded as if someone was standing right next to her, calling her name.

*"Riya..."*

Riya stopped breathing.

With trembling hands, she quickly turned on her phone's flashlight and shone the beam toward the sound. But the space was completely empty.

"I-Is anyone there?" her voice shook violently.

Suddenly, on the large mirror in the corner of the room, dark handprints began to appear out of nowhere, slowly dragging upward against the glass.

Riya’s throat went bone-dry. She scrambled to run toward the door, but—

*SLAM!* The door shut violently all on its own.

The same chilling whisper echoed again, this time much closer to her ear.

*"Kartik is never coming back, Riya."*

Riya wanted to scream for help, but the sound choked in her throat.

The temperature in the room began to drop rapidly. Riya swung her flashlight around frantically, and suddenly, right in front of her...

Two glowing eyes were staring at her out of the darkness.

"Your biggest mistake was assuming I was dead."

That voice... it belonged to Rhythm.

Riya gasped, her mind spinning with terror. "W-Who... who are you?"

Rhythm stepped forward out of the shadows, his footsteps silent.

"Your worst punishment... begins now."

The air pressure in the room surged heavily. Everything began to blur right before Riya's eyes.

Suddenly, a violent shock wave coursed through her body, and she let out a blood-curdling scream.

And then, just as quickly, everything returned to a dead, eerie calm.

But one horrifying detail remained — Riya's scream had never left the room.

Her scream died inside the suffocating walls. Her entire body was drenched in cold sweat, her breathing shallow and ragged. She stumbled backward, using the wall to support herself, but her eyes remained glued to the spot where Rhythm’s glowing eyes had been just moments ago.

The room sank back into a heavy silence.

"N-No... it's just my imagination. There's no one here," Riya whispered, trying desperately to comfort herself.

But then...

*Tick. Tick. Tick.*

The sound of the clock grew unnaturally loud. Terrified, Riya looked up at the wall. The hands of the clock were spinning rapidly backward.

A cold shiver ran through her spine.

"What... what is happening?"

Before she could process the horror, the white curtains began to whip wildly in the air on their own. The room temperature plummeted instantly, as if an icy blanket had been laid over everything.

With shaking hands, Riya unlocked her phone and dialed Kartik's number one more time. This time, it actually rang.

"Please... please, Kartik. Answer the phone," she begged, tears streaming down her face.

The phone kept ringing. But there was no answer.

Suddenly, the call disconnected on its own, and a single name flashed across the screen —

Riya's heart hammered wildly. Her breath hitched. In pure terror, she threw the phone away from her.

"W-What do you want from me?!" she shrieked into the darkness.

The chilling whisper filled the room once more.

*"You dared to challenge me, Riya."*

The floor beneath Riya's feet began to freeze, turning a pale, icy white wherever she stepped.

"No! No! I didn't do anything! It was all Kartik's doing! I only..."

*"LIAR."*

With a sudden gust of wind, Riya's hair flew up wildly. She felt the heavy grip of invisible hands locking around her neck.

Riya tried to scream, but the sound was choked out completely.

*"Now you will find out... what life after death truly feels like,"* Rhythm's voice echoed directly into her ear.

Riya's eyes widened in absolute horror. She desperately tried to call out for God, but Rhythm let out a cold, chilling breath.

"Now, even God cannot save you."

Suddenly, her own reflection appeared in the mirror ahead. But the reflection was smiling wickedly at her, while Riya's actual face was distorted with pure terror.

Riya wanted to scream until her lungs burst, but not a single sound escaped her lips.

Paralyzed by fear, she curled up into a corner of the room, covering both her ears tightly.

*Tick. Tick. Tick.*

The hands of the clock continued to spin backward in the dark.

Riya squeezed her eyes shut, trembling violently. But even behind her closed eyelids, the exact same terrifying face was waiting for her.