The sky had already started dimming, hues of burnt orange fading into dusk. The vibrant sounds of the village mela ...dhol beats, children’s laughter, bells and sellers shouting — slowly began to quiet down as the evening crept toward night.
Ved stood at the entrance of the fair with arms folded His eyes scanning every face that passed by.
Ved said to Arjun
“Ek ghanta ho gaya… usne toh kaha tha aayegi…”
(It's been an hour… she said she'd come…)
Arjun replied calmly
“Ved, maybe something came up at home. Tu andar chal, main check karta hoon…“
(You go inside, I'll check)
Ved shook his head with determination
“Nahi… agar usne kaha tha ki aayegi… toh aayegi. Main yahin rahunga.”
(If she said she’ll come… then she will. I’ll stay here.)
Arjun gave him a pat on the shoulder and walked inside the mela. Ved leaned against the gatepost, his expression slowly shifting from confusion to concern.
Minutes stretched like hours.
The last of the crowd began to thin.
Just as the last light faded, a figure came running from the far corner of the road... panting, stumbling, barefoot.
It was Vedita.
Her braid had loosened, strands of hair clinging to her tear-streaked face. Her dupatta was half off and the sleeve of her new kurta was torn.
Ved’s heart dropped.
Ved whispered
"Vedita..."
She reached him and before she could say a word, he wrapped his arms around her.
It was right, protective and firm.
Her body trembled in his hold. He could feel the hiccups in her chest. The wetness of her cheeks pressed to his neck.
He pulled back just enough to cup her face and looked over her .
Ved spoke quietly trying to stay calm
“Baccha… kya hua? Kisne kiya yeh sab? Tu ro kyun rahi hai? Yeh kapde… yeh aansu…?”
(Baccha… what happened? Who did this? Why are you crying? These clothes… these tears…?)
She couldn’t even speak. She just shook her head and more tears fell.
He wiped them gently with his thumbs and whispered again.
Ved spoke with a little firm voice now
“Bolo Vedita… kisne haath lagaya?”
(Answer me, Vedita… who touched you?)
She tried to speak through her hiccups but her voice cracked.
“Baba… woh baba Prabhanand…”
Ved’s blood froze for a second… then boiled.
He said in a dangerously low voice
“Kya… bola usne? Kuch kiya usne?”
(What… did he say? He did something?)
“Bhabhi ne bheja tha… keh rahi thi ki Baba mujhe theek kar denge. Main nahi jana chahti thi… par bhabhi ne kaha unhone bulaya hai bas ek baar. Main kuch nahi samjhi par..… Baba ne… unhone mujhe chhune ki koshish ki…Mujhe bahut ganda laga..maine bhaag ke bachaya apne aap ko...”
(Bhabhi sent me… said Baba would fix me. I didn't want to go..but bhabhi said he had called me just for once...I didn’t understand… but… Baba… he tried to touch me…I felt disgusted...I ran to save myself…)
That was it.
The string inside Ved snapped.
He stood up straight with jaw clenched and eyes blazing. His fists were curled so tight his knuckles turned white.
Ved said to Arjun, who had returned seeing her
“Usne haath lagaya isse… usi ne..”
(He touched her… that filth…)
Arjun was shocked
“Ved, ruk — tu ghusse mein hai. Soch samajh ke kuch karna…”
(Ved, wait — you're angry. Think before you act…)
Ved's voice was deep and guttural
“Nahi Arjun… ab main kuch sochke nahi karunga. Ab sirf karunga.”
(No Arjun… I won't think anymore. Now, I’ll only act.)
He turned back to Vedita cupping her cheek again. His voice soft again — like a flame with a raging fire beneath.
“Tu darna mat. Ab kuch nahi hoga tujhe. Main hoon na… aur main uss Baba ko zinda nahi chhodunga.”
(Don’t be scared. Nothing will happen to you now. I’m here… and I won’t let that Baba alive.)
He pulled her into his arms again, not for comfort now but protection.
His eyes were already burning with vengeance.
Vedita’s cries still echoed in Ved’s ears.
Her delicate frame trembled in his arms, clutching onto him as if he was the only ground beneath her feet.
And to her.... he was.
His hand caressed her back gently, trying to soothe her while his other fist remained clenched behind her, nails digging into his own palm.
Ved spoke softly near her ear
“Bas baccha… main hoon na. Kuch nahi hone dunga ab tujhe… main sab theek kar dunga.”
(It’s okay, baccha… I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you… I’ll fix everything.)
He looked over her shoulder at Arjun, who stood silently . His eyes burning not just with anger but heartbreak too.
“Arjun… isey ghar chhod de. Main tab tak Baba ko sambhalta hoon.”
(Arjun, drop her home. I’ll go deal with Baba.)
But the moment Ved tried to move, Vedita gripped his kurta tightly. She refused to let go of him.
Vedita still sobbed
“Nahi… aap mat jaaiye… mujhe darr lag raha hai…”
(No… don’t go… I’m scared…)
Ved holding her face
“Tu Arjun ke saath surakshit rahegi. Main bas kuch der mein wapas aaunga. Tere liye… sab kuch khatam karke.”
(You’ll be safe with Arjun. I’ll be back soon. To end all this… for you.)
But she shook her head, fresh tears pouring.
Vedita spoke like a child in broken voice
“Woh baba fir se kuch karega… bhabhi fir se bhejengi… mujhe mat chhodiye Thakur Sahab”
(That Baba will do something again… Bhabhi will send me again… don’t leave me, Thakur Sahab…)
Her voice cracked on the last words.
Ved’s chest tightened, his heart torn between the storm outside and the storm inside her.
That’s when Arjun stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Ved’s shoulder.
Arjun spoke quietly yet strongly
“Tu use leja ghar, Ved. Main abhi ke abhi apne aadmiyon ko bulaata hoon aur uss baba ko pakadta hu.”
(You take her home, Ved. I’ll call our men right now and catch that baba.)
Ved looked at him still unsure.
Arjun with his eyes dark
“Us baba ne sirf Vedita ko nahi… hum sabki izzat ko chhuna hai. Ab woh zinda nahi bachna chahiye”
(That Baba didn’t just touch Vedita… he touched the dignity of all of us. He won’t live now.)
He stepped back and took out his phone, calling trusted men — voices filled with urgency.
Then he looked up at Ved, giving him a cold nod.
“Jab tak tu aata hai… sab taiyyar hoga. Aaj raat… Baba ka ant hoga.”
(By the time you reach… everything will be ready. Tonight… Baba meets his end.)
Ved gave one last look at Arjun — the kind of look shared only between brothers born of fire.
Then he picked up Vedita in his arms gently like she was something broken that only he could protect.
Ved spoke to her softly
“Chal, main tujhe lekar chalta hoon… apne saath. Ab tujhe koi haath bhi nahi laga sakta, meri kasam.”
(Come, I’ll take you with me. No one can even touch you now, I swear.)
------
The village lanes had begun to empty. The fair was almost packed up. But the real storm was just beginning.
Ved’s jeep came to a halt in front of Vishal Tripathi’s modest house.
He didn’t wait for the car to fully stop. He jumped out, still carrying Vedita in his arms like a lifeline — as if even the wind could harm her now.
Vishal was sitting on the charpai in the courtyard, casually sipping water, assuming Vedita must’ve stayed late at the fair.
But then he saw Ved Pratap Singh step down from his jeep with his little sister in his arms.
His hand froze mid-air. His entire body stiffened.
Vishal was furious
“Vedita!! Yeh kya ho raha hai?!”
(Vedita!! What is happening?!)
He stood up sharply, eyes darting between her bruised state, her torn sleeve and the fire in Ved’s face.
From inside, Meena rushed out hearing his shout — her face going pale seeing Vedita’s condition.
Meena mumbled to herself
“Yeh toh… yeh toh gayi thi… Baba ke paas…”
(She… she had gone to Baba…)
Vedita buried her face into Ved’s chest again. Her body still trembling.
Ved said calmly but firmly
“Zyada sawaal mat poochho Vishal. Pehle apni behen ko dekho, sambhalo usey.”
(Don't ask too many questions Vishal. First see your sister, handle her.)
Vishal rushed forward to take Vedita but she clung harder to Ved, shaking her head.
Ved spoke in a soft tone
“Vedita ... Tu surakshit hai. Yeh tera ghar hai. Tera bhai hai yeh. Mein yahin hoon.”
(Vedita... You're safe. It's your home. It's your brother. I'm here only.)
Vedita, still sobbing, slowly let Ved place her on the charpai where Meena tried to touch her arm but Vedita flinched.
And that’s when the real drama began.
Vishal yelled at Meena
“Tujhse kaha tha na Meena! Meri behen ki zimmedari thi teri! Kya kar diya uske saath?! Kis haal mein bheja tune usse mele mein?!”
(I told you Meena! My sister was your responsibility! What did you do with her? In which state you sent her to fair?!)
Meena tried to defend herself with watery eyes
“Maine kuch nahi kiya! Mujhe laga… main sirf uske bhale ke liye soch rahi thi! Woh baba… sab log jaate hain uske paas... maine sirf chaha woh thik ho jaye...uski shaadi jaldi ho jaaye… bas isi liye—”
(I didn't do anything! I thought.... I was just thinking about her well being! That baba... everyone goes to him... I just wanted she gets well... She gets married soon... So that's why–)
Vishal shouted louder
“Shaadi?! Woh pagal baba jise kuch pata bhi nahi ?! Tune isko uss ke paas bheja?!”
(Marriage? That crazy baba who don't know anything? You sent her to him?)
Ved snapped in a powerful and firm voice
“Bas Vishal!”
The room fell silent.
Ved looked at Meena for a moment. His gaze cold but composed.
“Yeh waqt dosh dene ka nahi hai. Pehle tum dono apni behen ko sambhalkar bitha lo. Main us baba ko sambhalta hoon.”
(This isn't the time to blame. First, you both carefully handle your sister. I'll handle that baba.)
He turned to Vishal, his tone low but deadly serious:
“Main jaa raha hoon. Jab tak lautun, yeh ghar sirf Vedita ke liye hona chahiye — shant, surakshit aur samajhdaar.”
(I'm going...Until i return back, this house should be for Vedita— peaceful, safe and understanding.)
Vishal nodded, finally calming down. Meena broke down in tears, realizing the mistake and fear she had caused.
Vedita turned slightly, her eyes following Ved. Before leaving, Ved paused at the door and glanced at her
softly . He gave a small nod, like a silent promise:
He murmured to himself
“Ab kuch nahi hoga, baccha. Main hoon na.”
(Nothing will happen now, baccha. I'm here)
That's it for today
• Any suggestions on how you want Ved to take revenge from baba?
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