The Return from the Dead

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.

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