Arman left Amaya's parents' house with fire in his heart.
He walked through the village streets with determined steps, ignoring the curious stares of people who remembered him.
When he reached the big stone house where Amaya lived, he paused only for a moment to steady himself.
He pushed the heavy gate open.
Two guards at the door crossed their spears.
"State your business!" one barked.
Arman lifted his chin.
"I'm here to see Lady Amaya."
"Lord Arif doesn't allow visitors."
Arman's eyes hardened.
"Tell Arif that Arman—the man Amaya loves—is here."
The guards exchanged worried looks. One ran inside.
Moments later, Arif himself appeared at the door.
He was tall and cold-eyed, sneering when he saw Arman.
"Well, well. The lost puppy returns. What do you want?"
Arman met his gaze unflinching.
"I want to see Amaya. Now."
Arif laughed cruelly.
"She's my wife. She doesn't see anyone without my permission. Go back to wherever you crawled from."
Arman's voice trembled with rage.
"Let me see her. Or you'll regret it."
Arif smirked at Arman's threat.
"Regret it? Oh, I don't think so."
He snapped his fingers.
The guards lunged forward and grabbed Arman roughly, twisting his arms behind his back.
"Throw him out!" Arif ordered.
But just as they started dragging Arman away—
A cry echoed from inside the house.
"STOP!!"
It was Amaya's voice.
Everyone froze.
Amaya stood in the doorway, pale and thin, her hair messy, eyes red from crying. But her voice shook with rage.
"Let. Him. Go."
Arif turned, furious.
"Get back inside!" he barked.
But Amaya took a step forward, fists clenched.
"You lied to me, Arif. You promised my family would be safe. But you hurt them. You hurt ME."
Arif's face went red.
"Shut up!" he roared.
Arman broke free from the stunned guards and ran to her side.
He grabbed her hands, looking into her eyes.
"Amaya. Come with me. Now."
She burst into tears and nodded.
Arif lunged at them with a roar—
Arif took out his gun and he shoot Arman.
Arman collapsed to the floor, blood spreading under him.
Arif thought he was dead and sneered.
"Pathetic."
He turned to the guards.
"Find that woman! Bring her back NOW!"
Meanwhile, Amaya escaped from Khan's Haveli.
The guards ran outside into the night, leaving Arif alone with Arman's still body.
But Arman's fingers twitched.
He wasn't dead yet.
His eyes fluttered open, pain stabbing through his chest. He could barely breathe, but he was alive.
"Ama...ya..." he choked out, blood bubbling at his lips.
He tried to push himself up but collapsed again.
Arif noticed the movement and froze.
"You're still alive?!" he spat in disgust.
Arman's eyes blazed with pain and fury.
"I'll... save... her... even if it's the last thing I do."
Arman's vision went blurry.
He could feel the blood soaking his shirt, warm and sticky.
His breath rattled in his chest.
"Ama...ya..." he whispered one last time, reaching out an empty, shaking hand as if he could still protect her.
But his strength faded.
His arm fell to the ground.
His eyes went glassy and still.
Arif stood over him, breathing heavily.
He wiped the blood from his dagger with cold indifference.
"Good riddance," he muttered.
Outside, Amaya ran through the dark village, her heart pounding with terror. She didn't know Arman was gone.
She still believed he was buying her time to escape.
She ran and ran, sobbing, the cherry blossoms falling like silent tears around her.