Chapter Two: The Ambush

Aditya and Sameer arrived at the Arena, their eyes scanning the growing crowd. Among the faces, they spotted Anamika. Aditya offered her a confident smile, but she quickly turned away, leaving in a rush of visible fear. The interaction did not sit well with Sameer, whose face darkened with irritation.

"By any means, you have to beat this girl," Sameer hissed, his voice tight. "She’s trying to take your chance again."

Aditya adjusted his jacket, his expression cool. "Don’t worry, I got this." Without another word, they headed inside.

Meanwhile, at the Jaykar house, the air was thick with tension. Raju had arrived unexpectedly, accompanied by a suitor he had chosen for Anamika—a move made entirely without the family's knowledge. Mohini confronted him, her displeasure clear as they spoke.

"So because I want to get her married, I’ll have to ask you or her?" Raju asked defiantly.

Mohini’s eyes flashed with anger. "Stop acting like she’s your daughter," she snapped.

The words struck Raju hard. He looked at her, shocked and deeply upset by the dismissal. "You and her are all my responsibility," he replied, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "Now go get Anamika." He turned and left the room in a blind anger.

OUTSIDE

A dark car sat idling near the Arena. Inside, Vihaan sat behind the wheel, his face obscured by a mask. Beside and behind him were three other masked men. They exited the vehicle and slipped into the building with practiced stealth.

Inside the Arena, the atmosphere was frantic, but the restrooms offered a momentary, quiet sanctuary. Aditya was tucked away in one of the stalls, inhaling cocaine to steady his nerves. He froze when the door swung open and Vihaan entered with the three masked men.

"Kidnapping Dev Malhotra is the aim," Vihaan stated firmly, his voice muffled by the fabric.

Aditya’s heart hammered against his ribs. Is that Vihaan? he wondered, his mind racing. He shook his head violently, trying to clear the fog of the drugs. No, maybe this thing is telling me lies.

Back at the house, Mohini caught up with Priyanka, her suspicion rising. "Where is Anamika?" she demanded.

Priyanka didn't miss a beat. "Padma was sick," she lied smoothly. "So she escorted her to the clinic down the road."

"Poor Padma," Mohini sighed, her face softening with concern. "I’ll tell your dad." As Mohini walked away, a slow, triumphant smirk spread across Priyanka’s face.

THE HALL

The time for the auditions had arrived. Anamika stood in the wings, her heart in her throat. Suddenly, she was called to the stage. Onstage, Aditya was struggling; his voice was choking, the notes failing him.

As Anamika listened, she realized he was singing the same song she had prepared. Without hesitation, she stepped into the light and picked up the melody exactly where he had faltered. They began to sing together, their voices intertwining in a powerful harmony. Encouraged by her presence, Aditya found his strength again, and the two finished the performance with a brilliance that left Dev Malhotra looking on in genuine amazement.

The triumph was short-lived. Following the event, chaos erupted. Vihaan and his men moved with ruthless efficiency, successfully kidnapping Dev Malhotra in the shadows of the exit. Once they were clear, they placed a call to their employer to report the success. The man on the other end, the architect of the scheme, was none other than Robin’s father—Dev’s most bitter rival.

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