The corridor is an eerie silence, only disturbed by the growls of the two massive black dogs. Hulk and Shardul are poised, their fur standing on end, eyes locked onto the doppelganger with a primal, terrifying focus. The air crackles with tension. Every second feels like it could rupture into chaos.

Kiyansh is held tightly in the doppelganger's grasp, his small body trembling in anticipation. She tightens her grip, nails digging into his soft skin. But Kiyansh isn't as frightened as one might think.

The growls of the dogs intensify as Hulk takes a slow, predatory step forward as his body ripples with strength with his teeth bared. Meanwhile, Shardul circles around as his eyes glowing with a malicious intensity that makes the doppelganger's blood run cold.

"Get away from me." The doppelganger hisses dodging Hulk's attack. but the dogs don't budge. They are not intimidated by her. Because she is nothing compared to the persons they have teared apart before.

The tension snaps when Hulk lunges with terrifying speed which the doppelganger barely sidesteps. Her heart pounding in her chest as Shardul circles behind her, effectively trapping her.

Out of nowhere, the doppelganger pulls something from her side- a blade, jagged and black. She slashes with a vicious roar, the knife cutting through the air toward Hulk's throat.

Instantly, Hulk sidesteps just in time, the blade grazing his fur. But the momentary distraction is enough for the doppelganger to gain a few more steps back. She is ready to bolt but Shardul's eyes narrow as he reacts before she can move.

He lunges at her from behind while the sharp crunch of bone can be heard as his teeth sink into her elbow, causing the doppelganger to wail in pain. The impact of the bite is so powerful that her body jerks backward. But she isn't ready to accept defeat by two mutts. Her hand raises again to attack Shardul who is still holding onto her elbow. However, before she can even touch him, Hulk moves faster than she could possibly anticipate and bites into her side leg knocking the wind from her lungs. She stumbles, clutching Kiyansh tighter in desperation but the pain from Shardul and Hulk's bite is too much that her grip falters and Kiyansh slips away from her grasp as his tiny body landing hard on the cold floor.

"NO!" The doppelganger shrieks but Kiyansh has already wriggled away from her.

Kiyansh scrambles to his feet, his eyes wide with shock but there is a flash of recognition. He can feel the presence of the furry members of his family- his protectors and that's all he needs right now.

The doppelganger tries to move again. But the moment she attempts to raise her hand, she is gripped by Hulk. His claws digging into her arm while he mercilessly tears apart a huge chunk of her leg. She thrashes to get away but it's totally useless.

She finally understands that she is powerless and defeated. Her knees buckle under her as Shardul releases her elbow, not before tearing a huge chunk of meat allowing her to collapse to the ground in a heap. She breaths heavily as her body is covered in cuts and bruises. Yet her eyes still burn with an unnatural fury.

"What's going on here?"

A voice rings out from far away. It's the Principal, rushing in with the royal guards close behind. The teachers too, stumble into the corridor wide-eyed and terrified as they take in the site. Seeing the Principal Ma'am and teachers, Kiyansh rushes towards them.

"Ma'am! She is not my Maa." Kiyansh cries out making everyone's eyes widen. Because the woman is exactly looking like Varenya but they can't ignore the tremor in Kiyansh's tone.

One of the guards quickly surveys the scene, taking in the massive dogs and the chaos unfolding. He grabs his communicator, speaking in urgent tones.

"We need backup. Now."

The doppelganger's eyes widen in realization. She has been trapped from all the sides. But before she can act, the Principal is already dialing a number as her trembling fingers pressing the buttons. The phone rings once, twice and then it connects.

"Ma'am, it's an emergency. Someone tried to abduct Kiyansh. He is safe, but the intruder is still here." The line cuts off but the message is enough.

On the other hand, Varenya's heart pounds in her chest as her hands start shaking with a fury so raw, so uncontainable that it feels like the world itself might collapse under its weight. The moment the phone goes dead, she doesn't wait. She runs out of her room after taking the keys. She can hear the voices of her mother-in-law calling out for her. But she isn't in a state to response. Because right now, only her son matters.

The garage door groans open with a metallic hiss and Varenya doesn't pause for a second. Her fingers grasp the bike's cold handlebars, a muscle memory she thought had faded over the years instantly flooding back. It's been years since she has ridden like this, since she has felt the raw thrill of the engine beneath her. But the moment her foot hits the pedal, it's as if no time has passed.

The engine roars to life with a guttural growl, breaking the silence with a brutal clarity. She swings onto the bike effortlessly, like it's a second skin and without missing a beat her hand twists the throttle. The bike surges forward, tearing through the road as though it was born for this, born for her.

She drives with a terrifying precision, faster than most could dream of going but it's as if she has done this every day of her life. The bike responds to her every movement as if in tune with her and she weaves through the streets at breakneck speed. Red lights, sharp turns, obstacles- none of it matters. She takes each corner like a seasoned pro, the tires screeching and the engine roaring but she is perfectly in control.

🦋

The school gate appears before Varenya and the guards scramble to open it in time. But Varenya doesn't slow down. Instead, she slams the bike into the parking lot, skidding to a halt just feet from the doors.

In a single fluid motion, she is off the bike as her eyes already scanning the scene. The guards are standing at the door, watching as Kiyansh is held in the Jivika's arms who have arrived from her class right after getting informed by one of the teachers.

Kiyansh's face is streaked with tears, his small arms marked with scratches where the doppelganger had dug her nails into him. Seeing the condition of her son, Varenya's breath catches. The rage in her veins surges faster and more violent than anything she has ever felt. The world around her goes still as the tears in Kiyansh's eyes pierce her heart. Her feet are moving before she even realizes it and then, in an instant she is kneeling before him.

"Maa!" Kiyansh sobs, throwing himself into her arms.

Varenya holds him close as her hands moving over his arms, feeling the fresh marks where the doppelganger's nails had slashed him. The fury burns hotter inside her. Her fingers tremble as she presses them against the wounds as her heart a pounding drumbeat of vengeance. The need for action is immediate, the pain of seeing her son in distress eclipsing everything else.

"Shh..it's alright, Kiwi." Varenya murmurs, holding him tighter as his sobs echo in her chest. Her lips brush against his hair and the heat of her anger simmers beneath the surface, barely held in check. She will never forgive the person who did this.

"Maa, she has hurt me." Kiyansh says while sniffling as big, fat tears falls from his eyes.

"She?" Varenya asks to confirm.

"Yes, Tai. The person looks exactly like you." Jivika says while Varenya stands up, holding Kiyansh in her arms.

"How can this be possible?" Varenya asks, unable to understand what they are saying.

"Ma'am, that woman's voice is also exactly like you." The principal says while Varenya gets confused.

"Maa, that bad woman told Principal Ma'am that she was you and wanted to take me home early. But then I noticed a small scar on her finger, which you don't have. She also called me by my name." Kiyansh replies, tightening his hold on her.

"Hulk and Shardul saved me, Maa. They are the best." Kiyansh says, causing Varenya's eyes to snap towards the furry members of the family, who are now sitting on their haunches.

"Thank you, Babies." Varenya says rubbing her hand over Hulk and Shardul's head who stick out their tongues feeling at bliss.

"Tai, I am sorry. I couldn't keep Kishmish safe." Jivika says, the guilt of seeing her nephew's crying face eating her alive.

"You did, Angel. In fact, it was your idea to take Hulk and Shardul to school every day so they could look after Kiwi." Varenya replies while rubbing Kiyansh's back.

"By the way, where is that woman?" Varenya asks after sometime when she feels the soft breathing of her son, indicating that he has fallen asleep.

"I have ordered the guards to lock her in the store room." Jivika replies while Varenya takes a deep breath.

Varenya deliberately hands Kiyansh to Jivika. Her movements slow yet firm making sure her sister understands the unspoken command in her eyes.

"Keep him with you." Varenya says as her voice is steady, leaving no room for argument. Varenya's gaze hardens and with a single glance, she signals one of the guards.

"Take me to that woman." Varenya orders, her voice sharp as steel. The guard hesitates for a fraction of a second, as if sensing the storm about to be unleashed, but he dares not disobey. With a curt nod, he gestures for her to follow.

The journey to the room is silent but the air is thick with an unspoken tension. Every step Varenya takes is laced with purpose, her strides unyielding, her presence an wilful force that seems to make the very walls tremble. The dimly lit corridor stretches before them, shadows clinging to the edges like fearful whispers. The guards stationed along the path exchange wary glances, their eyes filled with apprehension. They have seen battles, endured war, but the wrath of a mother whose child has been harmed is an entirely different kind of destruction- one that leaves nothing in its wake but ruin.

Finally, they reach their destination. The guard halts before a heavily bolted door, his fingers trembling ever so slightly as he reaches for the keys. The heavy lock clicks open and with a deep breath he pushes the door inward. Varenya steps inside without hesitation, the air in the small room thick with the scent of sweat and blood.

The doppelganger sits in the farthest corner, her body slumped against the cold wall. Her once confident posture is now broken, her form bloodied and weak, her breath ragged. The flickering light overhead casts eerie shadows across her face- highlighting every bruise, every cut, every sign of the battle she has already lost. She doesn't dare to move, her limbs trembling from exhaustion. But even in her weakened state, she knows- this is only the beginning of her punishment.

The guards stationed in the room stand rigid, their hands unconsciously tightening around their weapons, though they know they won't be needed. They are not here to protect the prisoner, they are here to witness. They exchange uneasy glances, their expressions tense, but deep down they know the truth- they are powerless against the storm that is about to be unleashed.

Then, Varenya steps forward and the entire atmosphere shifts. It's as if the air itself thickens, pressing down on everyone present, crackling with an unseen force. She is not just angry. She is wrath incarnate, an unstoppable force of nature.

The doppelganger lifts her head with great effort, her eyes once filled with arrogance are now wide with unfiltered fear. Her lips part slightly as if to speak but no words come. She knows, without a doubt that the woman standing before her is no longer the same person she thought she could manipulate.

Varenya is something far, far worse.

"You dared to touch my son, my Kiwi." Varenya's voice is quiet, but the venom in it is unmistakable.

The doppelganger tries to rise but her body trembles. She forces a smile, one that falters as Varenya approaches.

"Yo-u-u won't g-g-et away with this..." The doppelganger sneers, her voice weak but defiant.

Varenya's eyes glow with a fury so cold that it could freeze the blood in anyone's veins. She is no longer just a mother- she is a force of destruction. So, without a word, Varenya grabs the doppelganger's wrist. Her fingers curling around it with deadly strength. The doppelganger gasps, her breath sharp as the bone beneath her skin begins to give way.

SNAP.

A sickening crack fills the room as the doppelganger's wrist is broken- the bone shattered under Varenya's unyielding grip. The doppelganger screams in pain, but Varenya doesn't relent.

"Even a scratch on my Kiwi's body is enough for me to kill anyone." Varenya's voice is a whisper but the weight of it is more than enough to crush the doppelganger's spirit. The pain in her wrist is unbearable, but the doppelganger can only cry out in desperation.

She tries to twist away, but Varenya holds her fast as her eyes burning with a fury that is unrelenting, primal. She slams the woman back against the wall with a force that knocks the breath from her lungs.

"Remember this. The last thing you will ever feel is the strength of a mother protecting her child." Varenya hisses, bending down to look into the doppelganger's eyes.

With a final, bone-crushing twist, Varenya releases the doppelganger's broken wrist only to take hold another one, breaking that one in a snap as well. She steps back to watch her doppelganger crumple to the ground, gasping for breath. She doesn't care about that pathetic woman's suffering.

The guards exchange uneasy glances but stay silent. Although this is theit first time seeing Varenya like this, but they have seen enough of the members of the Royal family to know not to interfere.

"You thought wearing my face would make you me? How laughably naive you are. There is a darkness in me that you will never comprehend, a depth of cruelty you can't begin to fathom. But don't worry, I will carve each lesson into your very bones until you beg to understand. And remember this- a doctor can kill without spilling a single drop of blood. So brace yourself, because you are about to become the perfect subject for my practice that I am about to start." Varenya promises, her voice low and lethal while the doppelganger gulps as nonstop tears run down her face.

🦋

Kavyansh and Ritika arrives just as Varenya exits the room, her expression dark and unreadable. They both stop at the threshold, their eyes meeting Varenya's and instantly they understand the gravity of the situation.

"Is Ansh alright?" Kavyansh asks softly, his eyes searching for their son.

"He is fine. Just a little scared." Varenya replies with a nod, her voice taut with barely contained rage.

Kavyansh walks towards her, his gaze flickering over to the room but he chooses to concentrate on his son and wife. By looking at Varenya, he understands the depth of her fury.

"Good, let's go to him." Kavyansh mutters.

"Yes, Bhabhi. You both go to Kishu, I will take care of this termite." Ritika says, her voice is laced with calmness yet there is no calmness in reality.

"Don't kill her. I will interrogate her." Varenya speaks, her voice extremely cold.

"Okay." Ritika replies nodding her head before she steps inside the room leaving Kavyansh and Varenya alone.

Kavyansh then pulls Varenya into his embrace. His strong arms wrap around her, holding her as if shielding her from the storm raging inside her.

He can feel that his Lotus is barely holding on. He can feel it in the way her body shudders against his.

"Our son is safe, Lotus." Kavyansh murmurs, pressing a firm kiss to the top of her head hoping his words will sink into the chaos brewing in her mind.

"But what if he wasn't? What if that doppelganger had taken him away? Kavi, I have already lost too much. I can't lose anything else. I won't." Varenya's voice cracks, raw with unspoken terror.

Varenya's grip tightens on Kavyansh's coat, her fingers curling into the fabric as though letting go might shatter her completely. Her breathing is uneven, her chest rising and falling in panicked desperation. Kavyansh cups the back of her head, forcing her to look up at him. His gaze is steady, unwavering.

"You won't lose me. You won't lose Kiyansh. I swear it, Lotus. I won't let anything touch what's ours." Kavyansh says holding Varenya's face as he caresses her face who nods her head.

But deep down, Kavyansh knows that Varenya isn't just scared. She is furious and at this time he needs to be the calmer one out of them, although he wants to kill that doppelganger very much.