Meanwhile, Vikram was at work when his phone rang. He answered it casually at first, but his blood ran cold at the words he heard on the other end.

"Say goodbye to your wife and daughter," the voice hissed before the line went dead.

Panic gripped Vikram instantly. He tried calling Meher’s phone, but it was unreachable.

His heart pounded as he dialed her bodyguard, only to hear that she had decided to go without any security, wanting to spend a carefree day with Aarvi.

Without wasting another second, Vikram rushed out of his office and drove home at breakneck speed. By the time he reached the house, he was frantic.

He barked orders at his security team, instructing them to track down Meher’s location immediately. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios, the fear of losing both Meher and Aarvi gnawing at him.

Just as Vikram was about to storm out of the house to go looking for her himself, the front door opened, and in walked Meher, holding Aarvi in her arms, completely unaware of the storm brewing.

Vikram’s eyes locked onto them, and without thinking, he rushed towards her. He snatched Aarvi from Meher’s arms and pulled her into a tight embrace, his body shaking with the intensity of his relief.

His heart was pounding as he clutched Aarvi tightly, feeling her small, warm body in his arms, confirming that she was safe.

Then, he turned to Meher, his eyes blazing with a mixture of fear and anger. He glared at her, voice shaking with fury as he shouted,

"Phone kaha hai tumhara, huh? Aur bina security ke tum gayi kyun? Tumhe marna hai ya jo karna hai karo, mujhe koi fark nahi padta, lekin agar meri beti ko kuch ho jata toh? Haan?!"

(Where is your phone, huh? And why did you go without security? You want to risk your life or do whatever you want, I don’t care, but what if something had happened to my daughter, huh?!)

His voice echoed throughout the room, thick with panic and frustration. Meher stood there, shocked by the sudden outburst. But what stung the most were his words:

"Tumhe marna hai ya jo karna hai karo, mujhe fark nahi padta" (You want to die or do whatever, I don’t care). Those words echoed in her mind, their weight settling heavily in her chest.

For a moment, she felt her breath hitch, but she quickly masked her emotions, refusing to let his words affect her. Keeping her expression calm, she looked at Vikram, her voice soft yet firm.

"Sorry... mai sirf aaj ka din special banana chahti thi." (I just wanted to make today special.)

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked towards her room, leaving Vikram standing there, still holding Aarvi in his arms.

After some time, the preparations for Aarvi's first birthday were finally complete. The house was beautifully decorated, and the cheerful atmosphere slowly filled the air. Maa-sa and Dadi-sa were busy overseeing the final touches while Yug was running around playfully, helping here and there.

Meher eventually came out of her room, her face composed as if nothing had happened earlier.

She put on a brave front for the sake of Aarvi’s special day, pushing aside the hurt lingering from Vikram’s harsh words. Aarvi was excited and full of energy, giggling as she played in her grandmother’s lap.

Suddenly, Meher received a call from her PA.

"Ma'am, the gift is ready. Do you want me to deliver it?"

"Ah, no no, I’ll pick it up," she replied, her voice steady.

It was the special gift she had arranged for Aarvi—a keepsake for her to cherish throughout her life. She informed Dadi-sa and quickly left the house.

---

Meanwhile, back at the house, preparations for Aarvi’s birthday continued. Vikram was in the middle of helping out when his phone buzzed with messages, but he ignored them, focused on the cake cutting.

As the time approached, he realized Meher wasn’t there. His gaze swept the room, but there was no sign of her.

Dadi-sa, noticing his confusion, said from behind, "Kuch kaam tha, jaldi hi aayegi. Ye kaha tha usne."

(She had some work, she said she’ll be back soon.)

Vikram nodded, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face. Time passed, and with each minute, his frustration grew.

Meher’s absence was holding up the cake cutting, and the guests were starting to notice. His patience finally snapped.

"Let's proceed with the cake cutting!" he said angrily to Maa-sa, his tone clipped.

Everyone clapped and sang for Aarvi as the candles were lit, but Vikram’s phone was continuously ringing in his pocket.

He ignored it, forcing himself to focus on the moment. Aarvi, unaware of anything wrong, giggled and clapped as they cut the cake.

---

As the guests filtered out and the house began to quiet, Vikram finally glanced at his phone, countless missed calls flashing on the screen.

Before he could react, a fist collided with his jaw, sending him staggering back.

Dazed, he looked up, furious, only to see Arjun, his eyes burning with a rage Vikram had never seen before.

“Meher’s in the hospital!” Arjun’s voice boomed, each word trembling with fury.

“She was shot! She was calling you, and you ignored her, you pathetic excuse for a husband! She saw someone following her, and now… now she’s lying in that damn hospital bed because of you!”

Vikram felt the floor drop beneath him. Shot? The missed calls… the danger. His mind reeled.

Every second he had ignored could have made the difference between life and death.

Arjun stepped closer, fists clenched, veins pulsing with raw anger. His voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl.

“Tu kyun aaya humari zindagi mein, haan? (Why did you even come into our lives, huh?)” He pointed an accusing finger, each word dripping with venom.

“Pehle meri Shanaya ko kha gaya, aur ab meri behen! (First, you took Shanaya from me, and now my sister!)”

Vikram felt his heart slam in his chest as Arjun’s next words struck like a hammer.

“Agar Meher ko kuch bhi hua na, Vikram Singh Rathore… toh duniya ko idhar se udhar kar dunga! Tujhe barbaad kar ke rakh dunga! (If anything happens to Meher, I will turn the world upside down! I will destroy you!)”

His threat echoed through the room like a death sentence. Arjun stormed out, leaving Vikram standing there, his mind blank with shock.

Shanaya. Meher.

His world was unraveling, and it was his fault. Without wasting another second, Vikram raced to his car, heart pounding with a mix of terror and regret.