Om lay unconscious on the cold hospital bed, his body still, his chest rising and falling unevenly as machines beeped around him. Time had slowed inside those walls. Every second felt like a burden.
Outside, the entire family waited… helpless… broken… watching the door like their lives depended on it.
Meanwhile, in another ward, Maya rested.
The chaos had passed—but the aftermath had only begun.
Maya slowly opened her eyes.
For a moment, everything felt distant… blurred… unreal.
Then the pain hit.
A sharp, burning ache spread across her body, pulling a faint groan from her lips.
"Ah…"
Her entire body was wrapped in bandages, almost like she had been stitched back together piece by piece. Every movement felt heavy, every breath slightly painful—but she was alive.
And that alone meant something.
She turned her head slightly… her eyes adjusting to the light… when suddenly, the sound of a news broadcast caught her attention.
"…breaking news… last night, a mysterious car explosion on a deserted road in Pratapgarh has led to the deaths of industrialist Mr. Singhania and the notorious underworld don Bali…"
Maya froze.
Then… slowly… a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Never change… Number 00."
She exhaled softly, almost like she already knew the truth behind that "accident."
"Are you feeling better, child?"
A warm voice came from the door.
Maya immediately looked up—and saw Vijay and Manoj standing there.
For a second, she instinctively lowered her gaze in respect.
They walked in slowly, their expressions filled with concern… but also relief.
Vijay stepped closer and smiled gently.
"It's good to see you awake. How are you feeling now?"
Maya immediately joined her hands politely, almost like a servant standing before her masters.
"Yes, sir… thank you for everything. Once I recover, please let me know the expenses of my treatment. I will repay it. I'm sorry… I became a burden on you."
For a moment, both Vijay and Manoj just stared at her.
Shocked.
Not because of what she said—but because of how she said it.
Even in this condition… she wasn't thinking about herself.
Vijay's eyes softened.
"Hey… no. You don't need to say that," he said gently. "If anything, we should be the ones apologizing. Because of us, you're in this state."
He paused… his voice turning heavier.
"And thank you… for doing what even family sometimes doesn't do. You were ready to risk your life for us."
Maya looked at him quietly… her voice soft.
"It was my duty… sir. I'm just sorry I couldn't protect everyone. Because of me… your nephew ended up like this."
That humility… that honesty…
It hit them harder than anything else.
Vijay stepped closer… and gently placed his hand on her head.
"Live long, child. From today… if you ever need anything, you come to me. You're my daughter now. And if you want… you can stay with us."
Maya froze.
Daughter.
That one word… shattered something inside her.
All her life, she had lived like a soldier.
No family.
No warmth.
No belonging.
Only pain, training, survival… and darkness.
She had fought beasts… fought men… fought herself…
But she had never felt this.
Not once.
Her lips trembled… her eyes filled… and before she could stop herself—
Tears rolled down.
Silently.
Uncontrollably.
For the first time in her life… she felt what it meant to have someone place a hand on her head like a father.
For the first time… she felt safe.
Vijay smiled softly.
"From today… you have a family."
Manoj nodded beside him.
"Take rest, okay?"
They both turned to leave…
But then Vijay stopped mid-step.
He turned back slightly.
"By the way, Maya… that man Bali… he called you '002'… didn't he?"
Maya's heart skipped.
Her eyes widened for a split second.
But before she could say anything—
Vijay raised his hand gently.
"It's okay. There must be a reason. Tell us when you feel the time is right. I trust you."
And with that… they left.
Maya sat there… still… silent…
Then slowly… she joined her hands and looked up.
"00… now I understand…"
A soft smile broke through her tears.
"…what peace feels like."
"…now I understand why you left us."
Meanwhile…
Far away…
In the dark belly of Delhi's underworld—
Chaos had already begun.
Bodies lay scattered across the underground fight den.
Men groaning… broken… defeated.
And in the middle of it all—
Vipul stood.
Breathing heavily.
Eyes burning.
Rage pouring out of him like fire.
Ever since he heard Om's name…
Something inside him had snapped.
He walked forward slowly…
Each step heavy.
Each step dangerous.
In the corner, Bhadr lay on the ground—injured, terrified, dragging himself backward.
His robotic limbs trembled.
For the first time…
He was afraid.
"W-what did you say…?" Vipul's voice came low… deadly.
"That you'll smash… my son's head?"
Bhadr froze.
"B-brother… please… you're mistaken… I don't even know your son…"
His voice trembled as he joined his hands.
"I was talking about that Om! He ruined my life! He—"
He didn't get to finish.
In a flash—
Vipul grabbed his head.
Tight.
Crushing.
Bhadr screamed, trying to fight back with his iron arms—but it was useless.
Vipul didn't even flinch.
He pulled Bhadr closer… their faces inches apart…
And his voice dropped into something monstrous.
"That Om… is my son."
Bhadr's eyes widened.
Fear turned into horror.
"And before threatening him…" Vipul continued, tightening his grip, "…you should've checked who stands behind him."
CRACK.
A sickening sound echoed.
Then silence.
Vipul crushed Bhadr's skull between his hands.
Just like that.
Lifeless.
Dead.
Vipul stood there… breathing heavily… staring at the corpse…
Then suddenly—
He roared.
A raw, earth-shaking scream that sent chills through every person still alive in that place.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!"
People froze.
No one moved.
No one dared.
And at that exact moment—
Miles away…
Inside the hospital—
Om's body jerked violently.
His eyes snapped open.
He shot up from the bed… breathing hard… eyes wide with shock—
"PAPA…!"