Anshika just stood there, watching Om walk away, her eyes following him until he disappeared through the door ahead, and even after he was gone, her mind remained tangled in everything he had said, leaving her confused and restless, and after a moment, she slowly made her way back to the hall where the party was still in full swing, while Om had already blended back into the crowd as if nothing had happened, but Anshika couldn't look away from him anymore, no matter how much she tried, because something had started to change inside her, a feeling she couldn't name yet, and his words kept echoing in her mind again and again, so much so that she didn't even notice when Supriya, Riya, Soumya, and Seema came and stood beside her, because her entire attention was lost somewhere in thoughts of Om.
Everyone else was busy enjoying the party, laughing, talking, living in the moment, but there was only one person there who seemed more drawn to Om than the celebration itself—and that was Anshika, although she wasn't the only one, because almost every woman present there found Om incredibly attractive, and it wasn't just his personality anymore, something about him had changed, his spiritual powers were slowly transforming him, making his presence stronger, more magnetic with each passing day, and Om himself was living proof of that change, and on top of that, the way the Mayor had introduced him earlier had only added to the curiosity, making people eager to know more about him.
The party continued like this for a while, calm yet lively, with everyone lost in their own conversations.
"How are you, Mayor?"
A heavy voice suddenly came from behind where Om and the Mayor were standing.
The Mayor, Om, and everyone nearby turned toward the voice.
A man stood there… dressed in a black suit, holding a thick cigar in his hand, smoke curling around his face, and a strange, unsettling smile resting on his lips.
The moment the Mayor and Mr. Kathwani saw him, both of them were visibly surprised, because they hadn't expected him here at all.
Because the man standing before them was none other than Abhay Singhania—the same man who had attacked the Kathwanis just a few days ago through his son.
"Singhania… what are you doing here?"
The Mayor asked, clearly surprised.
"Oh come on, my dear friend… you throw a party and I don't show up? How can that be possible? Though I must say, I felt a little hurt that you didn't invite me… but it's alright, I forgive you."
Singhania replied with a sarcastic smile.
"After everything you did to us, you still had the nerve to show up here? Do you even have any shame left?"
Mr. Kathwani snapped angrily.
Singhania looked at him and smiled.
"Oh… so the Mayor's pet dog has started barking at me now? Interesting. Looks like you people have gained some courage."
He said, slowly scanning all of them.
"Mr. Kathwani, we don't pay much attention to barking dogs, because the more attention you give them, the louder they bark… so tell me, Singhania, why are you here?"
The Mayor said, his tone turning serious.
"To see you all… the people who put my son in that condition are throwing a party today, so obviously I had to come. I just wanted to see how happy you all look… and also meet the one who dared to do that to my son. I want to see who has gathered the courage to stand against Singhania."
His eyes widened slightly as he spoke.
"He was lucky… that he survived."
Om finally spoke, his voice calm but serious, his eyes still lowered toward the drink in his hand.
Everyone turned toward him. Singhania looked at him too—this time with anger and curiosity.
"He was lucky the bullet hit me… because if it had hit someone else, you wouldn't be standing here barking like dogs… you'd be mourning their death today."
Om finished, lifting his gaze.
Singhania's eyes turned red with rage.
"What's this, Mayor? You've started letting a kid speak on your behalf? Times must be really bad for you."
"The same 'kid' beat your men and your sons like dogs and left them lying on hospital beds… and I've heard some of them are still in coma."
Om replied, a faint smile touching his lips.
Singhania's expression darkened.
"So it was you… kid. Fine. For what happened to my son, I'll leave you alive… along with the Mayor and Kathwani… but your families? I'll turn them into corpses. I'll make you suffer so much that not just you, but generations in this city will remember it. This confidence of yours… will destroy you."
There was something almost inhuman in his eyes now.
"I'll take care of the treatment… free of cost."
Om said calmly.
"What did you just say?"
Singhania snapped.
"I said… when I beat you and every one of your dogs so badly that your soul starts trembling, and still I won't let you die… I'll personally treat you for free. So don't worry about that."
Om's voice didn't shake even for a second.
For a moment… silence spread.
"Seems like you're new here, kid. You don't know who I am yet. If I don't turn your life into something worse than death, I'll change my name. Every crime in this city passes through the Singhania house."
With that, he turned to leave.
Everyone standing there felt a chill run through them, because they knew exactly what kind of man he was—ruthless, merciless, a name that often showed up in the news for one crime or another.
But Om… stood there without blinking, fearless, as if none of it affected him.
"Just tell me the time and place… I'll come alone… and I'll take down every one of your dogs."
Om called out, challenging him again.
Hearing this, Singhania stopped and turned back.
And what he saw… made him pause.
Om stood at the front, calm, unshaken, without a trace of fear in his eyes… and behind him, the Mayor and even the entire Kathwani family stood firmly, almost as if Om was their shield, their protector.
But what truly unsettled Singhania… was Om's eyes.
There was a fire in them.
A silent warning.
Anyone who even thought of harming the people behind him…
would first have to face the man standing in front.
And for a brief moment…
even someone like Singhania felt his soul tremble.