Who were those people, after all?

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"After 2-3 hours, it became clear that when it comes to the powerful, the voices of middle-class people are often ignored. The police, aware of Ved's influence, chose not to take action and instead focused on placating him to avoid any media attention. They let him leave, knowing the situation could escalate further.

Ved, being cunning, realized it was wise to remain silent for the day. However, before leaving, he ominously warned Tapsvi Ji that he would ensure the land is vacated, no matter what."

"As Ved retreated, Tapsvi Ji felt a sense of pride in his daughter, who had bravely stood up for their rights. Palak, too, felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that even when all doors seemed closed, the law provided a way forward. She felt proud of herself for seeking help from the authorities.

Witnessing Palak's bravery, some onlookers began to applaud and praise her. Tapsvi Ji, beaming with pride, gently patted his daughter's head and led her into the shop, asking, 'Beta, when did you do all this?'"

"'Sorry, Papa...' Palak began, but Tapsvi Ji interrupted her, gently patting her cheek. 'You've done a great job, but I'm also worried about the consequences.'

Palak reassured him, 'We don't need to be afraid, Papa. The police helped us today, but we should take this to court to resolve the issue once and for all.'

Tapsvi Ji nodded in agreement with his daughter's words, but his expression turned somber. 'You're right, beta, but out of the 20 shops, only three or four of us are left who refuse to sell our land. The others have already given in...'"

"Hearing this, Palak's spirits sank. If only they had all stood together, they would have won. Seeing his daughter's disappointment, Tapsvi Ji comforted her, 'Just like today, our troubles have been temporarily averted, one day they will disappear forever. We just need to fight with courage.'

Palak's father's words boosted her morale. Together, the father-daughter duo continued to work at the shop, but their minds were preoccupied with thoughts of what to do next. They both had different approaches to tackling the situation."

In Udaipur, Rajasthan,

It was nighttime, and Bhavesh and Balram were sitting in their haveli, drinking liquor. Ever since they learned that Palak had called the police and Ved had to leave empty-handed, the two brothers had been seething with anger. Balram was clenching his teeth, lost in thought, while Bhavesh occasionally spoke up to calm him down.

Balram was fuming, and Bhavesh tried to reason with him, saying, 'Balram, calm down. The police must have forced Ved to back off, but mark my words, he'll take revenge. He can't stomach defeat...'"

"Balram slammed his glass on the table, his anger boiling over. 'Bhai sa, you're blind to the facts! If Ved was capable, he would have done it by now. Giving them a month's notice? And then backing off because a girl called the police? This is pathetic! This isn't a story of brave men, it's a joke!'

Bhavesh could see the genuine anger in his brother's eyes and tried to placate him, assuring him that the job would be done soon. But Balram was beyond reason, refusing to listen. He opened a new bottle of liquor and began gulping it down, draining the bottle in one swift motion."

"Bhavesh realized that his brother was beyond consolation, so he remained silent. Balram, having finished the liquor, lit a cigarette and a strange, enigmatic smile spread across his face. Bhavesh found it difficult to decipher the meaning behind this smile.

'What's wrong, why are you smiling like that?' Bhavesh asked, his curiosity piqued. Balram turned to his brother, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. 'Bhai sa, now something will happen... something that no one will expect.'

'What do you mean?' Bhavesh asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion as he gazed at his brother."

"Balram said, 'Tapsvi is the only obstacle in our way, and now that I know his weakness, I'll make him suffer so much that he'll be willing to give up the land.'

Bhavesh looked worried and said, 'Balram, have you lost your mind? That's why I'm getting someone else to handle this, so we don't get involved and no one points fingers at us.'

'Yes, bhai sahab, I understand everything,' Balram replied. 'No one will point fingers at us. Just watch what I'm going to do. Don't you trust me?'"

"Bhavesh said, 'I trust you more than myself, but Balram, I don't want one mistake from you to ruin everything.'

Balram reassured his brother, 'Nothing will go wrong, bhai sa. Just watch what your little brother does.'

Bhavesh asked immediately, 'What are you going to do?'

Balram replied, 'You'll find out after it's done. I can't say anything right now.'"

In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,

The Mishra household was celebrating with joy. Garima Ji was beaming with pride over her daughter's bravery. Tapsvi Ji had ordered sweets to be prepared, and everyone was enjoying the festive atmosphere.

However, Dadi's face was somber, her expression a stark contrast to the celebratory mood. She was unhappy with Palak's bold behavior, worrying that it would lead to trouble in the future. Dadi feared that people would gossip and label Palak in unfavorable ways.

Despite Dadi's concerns, Tapsvi Ji was unfazed, proud of his daughter for saving their land. His pride only grew stronger, and he didn't let Dadi's worries dampen the celebration."

The next morning,

The two sisters got ready for college, having missed it the previous day. Tapsvi Ji had instructed them to attend college and not worry excessively. Following his advice, they left for college.

After college, Palak walked out, lost in thought about the events of the previous day. Her worried expression was evident, and anyone could tell she was troubled.

As she exited the college, a car was parked in the distance. Unbeknownst to Palak, the car began to follow her as she walked down the road. Her attention was consumed by her own concerns, and she didn't notice the car trailing behind her."

"After walking for about 20 minutes, Palak had covered a significant distance. Lost in thought, she was suddenly approached by a child who asked, 'Didi, I'm hungry. Can you give me something to eat?'

Palak's heart went out to the child, and she checked her bag for something to eat. Not finding anything, she looked around and spotted a street food stall selling bhel. She took the child there, unaware of the impending danger.

As she ordered bhel for the child and paid the vendor, the child suddenly waved a handkerchief in front of her, releasing a cloud of white powder that obscured her vision. Everything went dark, and Palak was unaware of what happened next..."

To be continue...

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