Ananya shook her head.
"No, Aarav… don't—"
But he had already decided.
"Take me," Aarav said.
Raghav raised an eyebrow.
"Just like that?"
"Let her go," Aarav repeated."And I won't fight back."
Ananya's eyes filled with tears.
"Are you insane?!"
Aarav looked at her.
Softly.
Calmly.
The same way he used to… years ago.
"I told you," he said.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
Her heart shattered.
"No… I won't let you do this!"
But it was too late.
Raghav laughed.
"Touching," he said."Really touching."
He gestured to his men.
"Release her."
The ropes were untied.
Ananya ran toward Aarav.
"No… we'll find another way!"
Aarav gently held her shoulders.
"There's no time."
Tears streamed down her face.
"I just got you back…"
His hand moved to her cheek.
"And you won't lose me again."
For a moment—
Time stood still.
Then—
Everything happened at once.
A gunshot.
A scream.
And silence.