Manya reached the room, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The maid made her sit on the bed and gave her water, but to Manya, it felt as if the glass didn't contain water, but that same old poison her stepmother had dissolved into her life. She remained sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands and feet turning cold. She was remembering that dark room where she used to be locked away for weeks. She lightly touched her head—would she truly go back? Would Reyansh hand her over to those monsters?

Just then, the door opened and Sandhya Ji rushed inside. Her face was etched with tension. “Child, that wretched woman is standing outside. And this time she isn't alone; she has brought some old enemies from the village and the police with her.”