LOOP (TS)

Part 2

"Humse galti ho gayi, Karishma di..." she whispered. "Bahut badi galti ho gayi..."

She turned toward the river again, hands pressed together, eyes squeezed shut. "Aapke bina kaise jeeyenge hum?! Humein maaf kar dijiye, Karishma di!"

Her sobs echoed into the night.

Pushpa Ji clutched her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Meri beti..." she whispered brokenly. "Woh hamesha hi sirf dene waalon mein thi... aur humne use bas khoya..."

Cheetah turned away, jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. His entire body trembled, rage and helplessness burning in his veins.

Billu stared blankly at the water, his lips parted, hands shaking. "Yeh toh bas ek scene hai na... yeh bas ek scene hai..." But the way his voice cracked betrayed the truth—he didn't believe his own words anymore.

And Haseena—

Haseena stood frozen.

The chill of the night seeped into her bones.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, the reality of it all pressing against her like a crushing weight.

She could still feel Karishma's presence beside her.

Still hear her voice in her ears.

"Main peeche hatne waalon mein se nahi hoon."

And now—

Now she was gone.

Something inside Haseena twisted.

Something that wasn't just guilt.

It was fear.

Because for the first time—

She wasn't sure if she'd ever get Karishma back.

The ancient temple groaned, its walls cracking under the force of the earthquake. Dust filled the air, making it impossible to see. The ground trembled, loose stones crashing down like deadly missiles.

MPT stood there—inside the moment, helpless, breathless, terrified.

And in the middle of it all—

Pushpa Ji.

Trapped beneath a fallen pillar.

"Pushpa ji!" Karishma's panicked voice cut through the chaos.

She sprinted forward, weaving through the debris. The temple threatened to collapse entirely, but she didn't stop.

Couldn't stop.

She reached Pushpa Ji and dropped to her knees. Her hands gripped the heavy pillar, her muscles straining as she tried to lift it.

"Chaliye, Pushpa ji! Hum aapko yahan se nikalenge!"

Pushpa Ji clutched Karishma's hands, desperation in her eyes. "Nahi, beta! Yeh girne waala hai! Tu hatt ja!"

A deafening crack echoed through the temple.

The ceiling began to cave.

Karishma gritted her teeth. With one final, desperate push, she shoved the debris off Pushpa Ji and threw her out of the way—

Just as the entire structure collapsed on her.

"KARISHMA!"

Pushpa Ji's scream shattered the air.

The dust settled.

Karishma was nowhere in sight.

"NAHI!" Pushpa Ji scrambled toward the wreckage, her hands clawing at the broken stones, desperately trying to pull them apart. "Meri beti ko wapas do! Karishma beta! Sun rahi hai tu?!"