The BRIDE of Three Shadows!! You are not like what my brother is saying?

It was a moonless evening.... The streetlights flickered as Inayat Singh Riezada walked out of her college gate, her dupatta clenched tightly in one hand, phone in the other.

Her face burned with anger—at herself, at Vihaan, at the world...

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

"Why did I even go to say sorry... uske samne jhukne ki zarurat kya thi?" **muttered under her breath** ("Why did I even bother apologizing… I didn’t need to bow down to him.")

Suhani had offered to drop her home, but she refused...

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

"Bhai already stressed hai… chhoti chhoti baatein use kyun batani?" ( "Bhai is already stressed… why should I tell him such small things?")

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

"Ek cab hi toh hai." ("it's only about a cab.")

She crossed the road, looking down at her phone screen to check the driver's location— And then—screeching tires... A blinding light... A sharp thud.

Pain exploded in her ankle as she fell to the ground, her phone flying from her hand...

Inside the luxury car, Devansh pressed the brake so hard it jolted his chest forward...

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Shit!"

He stepped out, confusion turning into concern as he saw her lying on the ground, trembling slightly, holding her ankle...

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Aap thik hain?" (Are you okay?) **crouched beside her**

Her face was barely visible under the flickering streetlight...

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Kya aapko hospital le jaaun? Main...main zimmedar hoon." ("Should I take you to a hospital?...This was my fault.")

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

**looked up, wincing**

And for a strange second both of them just stared...

She had no idea who he was... He didn’t know she was a Riezada!!

And in that moment… there was nothing but breath and silence.

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Chaliye" (let's go) **said gently**

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Main aapko lekar jaata hoon. Ghabraiye mat." ("Come on. Let me take you. Don’t worry.")

She nodded, biting her lip from the pain...

He didn’t wait and He lifted her in his arms with ease as if she weighed nothing...

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Aapka phone...?" ("Your phone…?")

He picked it up from the road, glanced at the lockscreen, and without thinking dialed the first saved contact...

__________________

Inayat lay on the hospital bed, her ankle being wrapped by a nurse...

Devansh stood near the wall, arms crossed, eyes focused on her not cold, not curious, just… quietly attentive...

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Main sorry kehna chahta hoon. Mujhe dhyan nahi tha road pe." ("I want to apologize. I wasn’t paying attention on the road.")

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

**Gave a faint smile** "Galti meri bhi thi. Phone dekh rahi thi..." ("My mistake too. I was staring at my phone.")

He stepped forward, placing her phone beside her hand...

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Main... aapke bhai ko call kar chuka hoon. Shaayad wo bas kuch hi der mein aajayein." ("I already called your brother. He should be here any moment now.")

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

"Oh thanks... Aapka naam...?" (Your name?)

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

**Smiled faintly** "Devansh."

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

"Devansh..."

She repeated, unaware that this was the name her family never said without venom...

Just then...

The door slammed open...Ekash stormed in, followed by Swara and two guards.

Swara Singh Riezada [FL SIS-IN-LAW]

"Inayat!"

Swara ran to her while Ekash glared at the man standing near his sister...

Their eyes met.... And the world tilted.

Ekash Singh Riezada [FL BROTHER]

"Tum?" (you?) **voice was cold as steel**

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Devansh Singh Rathore?"

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

**eyes widened** "Wait... Singh Rathore?"

Devansh’s smile vanished.... His shoulders stiffened.

He hadn’t known. Not until now.... Not until he saw that same face he had seen years ago...

🌑 FLASHBACK!!

A woman screaming... Blood.

His mother… broken...

Her dignity shattered at a Riezada party humiliated by power... Ignored by law!!

Inayat's Father(in past): "Rathore ka naam kabhi izzat ka nahi raha..."

He remembered Ekash’s father laughing...

He remembered his mother’s tears...

__________________

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

**blinked, looking between the two men** "Aap dono… ek dusre ko jaante hain?" (“Do you both know each other?”)

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Kaafi achhi tarah." **answered without looking at her** ("Well enough.")

Ekash Singh Riezada [FL BROTHER]

**gaze sharpened** "Kya kar rahe the meri behen ke saath?" ("What were you doing with my sister?")

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

("Abhi tk to kuch nhi kiya...") ("I haven't done anything yet...") **dark smile**

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

**took a small step forward, unfazed** "Usse road par chot lagi thi...Maine use uthaaya. Hospital laaye. Tumse pehle uska khayal rakha...Bas yahi kar raha tha." ("She was hurt on the road. I helped her. Brought her to the hospital. Took care of her. That’s all.")

Ekash Singh Riezada [FL BROTHER]

**clenched his jaw** "Acha insaan toh kab se ban gaye tum?" ("When did you start becoming the good guy?")

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

**gave a slow smile sharp but calm** "Jab se burai ki pehchaan badal gayi, Ekash." ("Since the world started confusing good and evil.")

Swara Singh Riezada [FL SIS-IN-LAW]

**stepped in to calm the air** "Jo bhi hua, usne Inayat ki help ki. Humein shukriya kehna chahiye." (Whatever happened, he helped our Inayat. We should be thankful.")

Inayat stayed quiet, sensing something deeper than she understood...

Devansh finally looked at her again... His tone softened!!

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Aap thik ho, Inayat?" ("Are you okay, Inayat?")

Inayat Singh Riezada [FL]

**Nodded slowly** "Aap… waise nahi lagte jaise mere bhai keh rahe hain." ("You… don't look like what my brother is saying.")

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Main waise hoon bhi nahi." ("That’s because I’m not.")

He turned to leave… but paused at the door...

Devansh Singh Rathore [ML•1]

"Khayal rakhna apna, Inayat. Milte hain phir." ("Take care of yourself, Inayat. We’ll meet again.") **said and walked away**

With a calm face… and a mind already weaving her destruction...