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******

"Muffin," Dhruv yelled being scared looking at the terrible state of his wife who was lying on the floor and was having difficulty breathing.

Everyone gathered listening to Dhruv's voice. Shrikant couldn't see his daughter in the state she was.

"Saavi," calling her he sat down beside her and not knowing what to do started rubbing her palms.

"Namit," Dhruv called his friend who understood what he had to do.

"I am calling the doctor," Namit said taking out his phone.

"Muffin, ple....please..be with me. Don't close your eyes, please."

"Dhruv, she is hyperventilating," said Hredhaan. Dhruv had handled her previously in that state. He was aware of what he had to do. So he pulled her closer, providing her oxygen through his mouth.

Rajni witnessed everything that happened with the precious daughter of Surbhi. Her distraught state scared everyone. She was stunned to see Shrikant alive and didn't understand whether he was a hoax.

After pulling back Dhruv pleaded, "Please, don't close your eyes." but even then Saavi had lost her senses.

"Call the doc...doctor," Dhruv said looking at Namit.

"I have called Riddhi's Uncle. He will be here in a few minutes." Namit assured his friend that everything will be fine.

******

Saavi was given the IV drip and was unconscious. Hredhaan had made sure of Rajni's safe arrival at her home, when she asked about the man who looked like Shrikant, Hredhaan provided her the answer that she had indeed seen the right person leaving her aghast. Shrikant and Dhruv stayed with Saavi while Arjun and Kiaan were making arrangements for her medication.

Namit like other aces was out of his mind. His head was throbbing. He wanted Dhriti at that moment who was not in his sight. He found her finally in his room. Quickening his pace he went to her and pulled her into a hug.

"Are you okay?" Dhriti asked her husband stroking his hair.

"I don't know. I feel ashamed and guilty." Namit replied strengthening his hold. Dhriti pulled out of the hug and made him sit on the bed. She took a seat beside her and Namit couldn't wait to go into his wife's embrace.

"Whatever happened...." Dhriti knew where the conversation was going so she interrupted her husband in mid by saying, "It wasn't your fault, no one is guilty. I agree what happened shouldn't have but you all are humans before being an ace and humans commit mistakes."

"Sama, I...I don't know what to do."

Dhriti pulled back even when Namit was reluctant. Palming her husband's cheeks she said, "You need to pull the other four together. They need you more at this point. Only you can make all of them stand straight with their heads high."

"Do you trust me?" Namit's trust in himself was shaken.

"I do."

"Even after what had happened."

"Yes, and that too blindly."

Namit smiled hearing his wife and pulled her in for a kiss taking her by surprise. When they pulled back Namit joined his forehead with hers feeling blessed to have her as his partner who knew how to make him stand on his feet as whenever he needed the strength she provided him.

"Namit, we need to fix things," Dhriti said.

"Hmmm."

"I have an idea," Dhriti said biting her lips unsure whether her husband would like it or not.

The idea term caught Namit's attention as he asked, "An idea?"

Dhriti informed Namit that she wanted to bring Surbhi to Saavi and Shrikant. The information on David's escape had reached all of them so Dhriti suggested to firstly ensure Surbhi, Naveen, and Shanvi's safety.

"Let me talk to others first, okay," Namit said as he couldn't execute a plan without everyone's approval.

"Okay," Dhriti replied before devouring her husband's lips.

******

The aces were in the Study room where Namit had assembled them. There hadn't been any leader between all the aces but whenever in the past tough situation arrived and the group needed assistance Namit stood in front always to protect his friends, to guide them out of the tunnel of darkness. That was one of the reasons why Dharmesh suggested his name first to Kozlov to be the first ace.

"What did Uncle say?" Namit asked about Saavi's health after he entered the room.

"She is in a state of shock. There is a possibility that when she gets back her consciousness she will be in that state for a while." Dhruv replied to his friend looking at the ground. Dhruv's meek voice hurt the other four.

"But she will get better fastly." Hredhaan tried to be positive.

"She will be fine, Dhruv" Kiaan said patting his brother's shoulder.

"Exactly, she is our brave Chubby Cheeks," Arjun said to Dhruv who seemed lost.

"She will hate me now." Hearing Dhruv Namit said, "She will never do that, Dhruv. Everyone knows how deep is her love for you."

"We should have been attentive." Arjun was feeling guilty and uttered those words which encouraged others to drown themselves in the pool of guilt.

"If not for the incomplete information, this should have never happened." Hredhaan closed his eyes feeling hurt more than he ever was.

"I feel ashamed," Kiaan said. Hearing the dispirited voice of the three aces Namit's anger triggered.

"Enough." Namit's voice was stern. He couldn't let his friends drown in guilt. At that time the aces needed to be in action and Namit had understood they couldn't waste a single minute as every second was precious for them.

"Do you guys have amnesia or you all have lost your senses?"

Everyone was shocked at Namit's sudden outburst."You all know right, who we are?" Namit asked looking at his friends.

Receiving not a single reply he said, "I am asking something."

"Hredhaan, who are we?" Namit questioned the one who sensed the seriousness in his friend's voice and replied, "The 5 Ace."

"Arjun?"

"The 5 Ace."

"Kiaan?"

"The 5 Ace."

"Dhruv, what about you? Do you remember?" Namit asked the one who looked up at his friend feeling a little bit hopeful that at least someone was there who stood strong even in the adverse situation.

"We are the 5 Ace."

"Exactly and what does the 5 Ace do?" Namit looked at Arjun for an answer first who replied, "They fight their battles."

When looked at Hredhaan he replied, "Without any guilt."

"They save the innocent.", Kiaan added further.

Now everyone's eyes were on Dhruv who stood up from the seat and added in the end, "And never back down."

Even when all of them were getting encouraged Namit decided to make them realize the gravity of the situation."We do whatever it takes to save the ones who are in need. Right now it's our Saavi and what are we doing? Drowning ourselves in guilt? Seriously? Are you guys oblivious that David ran away?"

Pausing for a few seconds Namit continued."Despite being in tight security he is out of our hold. He was always a step ahead but that doesn't mean that we can't outsmart him. But we might lose if we do nothing and sit here like losers which we are not."

"You are right. We need to work on the plan." Hredhaan said. Hearing him Arjun and Kiaan nodded.

"Dhruv, we need you. Guide us through your plan." Arjun said looking at his friend.

"We can't move ahead without you," Kiaan said to his brother trying to restain the lost confidence in him.

"Dhruv, it has always been your plan. Just because of one mistake you can't underlook your achievements. We need you and most of all your wife needs you." Dhruv sighed hearing all of them. He had to stand again on his feet for his wife, for his friends, for those who have always trusted him.

After gaining the lost confidence in him he made the plan and distributed the tasks among each ace.

There was still one thing left which Dhruv knew only Namit and his little one was capable of.

"Namit, I want you and little one to go to Surbhi Aunty's house." Namit stared at his friend when heard the same plan his wife had suggested to him a while ago.

"Why are you staring at me as if you have seen a ghost?" Dhruv questioned.

"What do guys eat?"

Not understanding what Namit was asking about Dhruv asked, "Who?"

"You and your sister, because she suggested me the same."

Dhruv smiled feeling proud of his sister and said, "My little one is smart."

"Indeed," Namit replied keeping his hand over his heart.

"Whipped," Hredhaan commented.

"Whipped Cream. I am hungry now." Arjun licked his lips as he felt the sudden urge to have some sweet dish.

"Kiddo." Kiaan patted Arjun's head making him frown.

"Guys, let's not reveal the main part of the plan to anyone, not even little one." Dhruv didn't want anyone else to know what he was going to do as confidentiality was required.

"Dhruv, are you sure that Naveen is the one who is unfaithful?" Hredhaan asked as Dhruv was doubting him ever since heard the bitter past of his wife and her parents from Rajni.

"I am certain but need proof to confirm," Dhruv replied.

"Kiaan and Arjun, this is in your hands and it's important," Dhruv said as they both had to find something about Naveen as soon as possible.

"Don't worry, dude. The deed will be done." Arjun assured his friend that the task would be accomplished overnight.

******

Dhriti was nervous and was not quite confident of herself when she and Namit stood at the entrance of Surbhi's house. Namit held her hand to let her know they could do it as they both were together.

Dhriti smiled and when looked at her husband she said, "I hope everything goes according to the plan."

"It will," Namit replied before kissing her forehead.

When they rang the bell the house help welcomed them and made them wait in the guest room beside the living room before going to inform Surbhi about the guests' arrival.

Surbhi was looking into some documents in her study when heard the knock. She got dumbfounded when the house help informed the arrival of guests. She looked at her watch and realized it was late and no one had ever visited her without a prior appointment. She pondered who it could be as neither she was expecting any guests nor Naveen who was out of the town.

"Did you ask their names?" Surbhi questioned the house help putting back the file she was looking into on her desk.

"Namit Khanna and Dhriti Kapoor Khanna."

'What are they doing here?' Surbhi mumbled to herself.

Surbhi couldn't get why they wanted to meet her. She made sure first that Shanvi was in her room and then only appeared in front of the Khanna Couple. Just like she had acted every time she wore the facade and greeted them before taking a seat.

"Dharmesh Uncle didn't inform me you guys were coming to meet me," Surbhi said trying to be arrogant.

"He doesn't know we are here," Dhriti replied.

"Any significant reason to come here at this hour." Surbhi was hoping it not to be any bad news as the tensed expressions of the Khanna couple didn't put her to ease.

"Saavi is the reason," Dhriti replied. Surbhi when heard her daughter's name fisted her hand dripping the nails in her palm. She got scared but didn't let anyone see her real emotions.

"I don't understand," Surbhi said confidently.

"Saavi is ill."

"So you should go to the doctor, then." Hearing Surbhi's suggestion Namit said, "We couldn't find any better doctor than a mother."

"Mr. Khanna, I am a busy woman. If you want to play riddles then please go somewhere else." Surbhi acted as if she couldn't understand but the truth was something else. When she had heard the term ill, she panicked, her heart was pleading for her to go to her daughter but a wife had a revenge to take. She was not ready for the mother in her to come out before the wife avenges her husband's death.

"Aunty, Saavi is not fine. She needs you."

"Ok, enough. I don't have time for the bullshit...." Namit couldn't let her complete and said, "Stop playing the role of a rude, heartless woman which you are not. We know everything. Ever since Saavi heard the truth from Rajni Aunty she is in the state of shock."

"Which truth?"

"About your identity, about your revenge, about everything."

"Please come with us. I don't want to lose my best friend. Ple..please." Dhriti pleaded with tearful eyes.

"We know why you are doing this but please don't get blind in your revenge this much that you lose your daughter forever," Namit said and got up from his seat. He extended his hand to Dhriti who held it and stood.

"We will be waiting outside."Saying this Namit left with Dhriti.

Nothing affected Surbhi as she was close to her revenge but what Namit said in the last scared her. She might lose her daughter forever. She had gone through the pain of losing her more than once, was she ready for it again.

Namit and Dhriti waited for Surbhi who after fifteen minutes came out and took a seat in the backseat praying for her daughter. Surbhi had talked to Rajni before agreeing to go with Namit and Dhriti. She couldn't ask more as her heart started racing when she heard her daughter had become unconscious.

Dhriti wondered how strong of a woman Saavi's mother was. But she was certain her facade would be gone when she would see her daughter. Dhriti was confident that Saavi will take the mother out of Surbhi.

Surbhi was made to wait in Dhruv's room first, the reason being, there was someone else who needed to meet Surbhi first, the one for whose murder she wanted revenge, her husband Shrikant.

Surbhi waited thinking about what was taking Dhriti that much time as she told her to wait for a minute or two and then she will take her to Saavi. She thought it was Dhriti when heard the footsteps and looked at the doorstep. When Shrikant appeared in front of her she couldn't believe it. She thought she was dreaming until he removed the glasses he was hearing.

"Surbhi." she heard her name from the voice she hadn't heard in years. Surbhi took a step back and stumbled.

"Careful," Shrikant said taking a step towards her.

"Stop. Stop, right there." Surbhi asked him to stop showing him her palm. She thought she was being played.

Composing herself she asked, "Who are you?"

"Shrikant."

"No, you are not," she said sternly.

Her eyes brimmed with tears thinking how ill someone could be to play with her. She had been played in the past as well when she used to receive a call that his husband was alive. She used to run to the given address but it always used to be a prank played on her by either Rajesh or Pankaj, who used to make fun out of her miserable state.

This time it was too much for her as she presumed they had implanted a fake person who looked like her deceased husband only to break her more. She wondered was Dhruv and the others were involved with David.

"Surbhi, I..."

"Don't you dare take my name from your mouth? Who had sent you? Pankaj?" Shrikant couldn't reply and his heart pained looking at the broken state of his wife.

"Of course, who else. So this was the plan and I like a stupid caught in his web." Surbhi's tears betrayed him, unlike every other time. She was once again feeling the dreadful pain she had to go through years ago when heard the news of her husband's death.

"Pankaj, come out. Stop playing your filthy games."Surbhi screamed. Hearing her voice everyone gathered in the room.

"Surbhi, I am Shrikant."

"He died. I killed him. If not for the information shared he would have been alive. I was told my husband will not be harmed but everyone deceived me." she cried remembering the day he was gone from her life. Pankaj had told her her husband will not be harmed but in the end, he did.

"Aunty, he is Shrikant Uncle," Namit said.

"No, he is not."

When everyone tried to convince her Surbhi yelled, "Is this a joke to you all?"

"You." she pointed at Dhruv before saying, "I knew it that my daughter will never be happy with you. I had a hunch that you are associated with David and will hurt her. That's why I wanted to take her away from you."

"I am leav.....leaving. I know my Saavi is not here. I will find her." Surbhi couldn't control herself from showing her true emotions towards her daughter. Looking at Shrikant she had broken more such that she got terrified thinking if Pankaj could arrange a fake husband of hers, he could do anything to harm her daughter. It was time to save her and to protect her.

'I need to find my daughter,' Surbhi mumbled and wiping her tears went ahead towards the exit of the room.

"Surbhi, wait!" Shrikant held Surbhi's hand who tried to jerk his hand off her.

"Leave my hand," Surbhi yelled trying to take her hand out of the grip.

"I won't spare you for touching me."

Shrikant didn't pay heed to what she was saying and took her inside the room Saavi was in.

"If you think I am not real, fine. What about her?" Shrikant questioned pointing towards Saavi who was lying unconscious on the bed.

"Do you think our daughter is also a lie? Do you think if Pankaj would have been here Saavi would have been here resting?"

Surbhi took slow steps towards Saavi and saw the pale face of her daughter, her hands connected with an IV drip, and lips chapped. She took a seat on the bed and caressed her daughter's cheeks.

"Saavi," she whispered.

She held the hand of his daughter and let her tears fall.

"what..what happened to her?" She asked Dhriti who put her hand on Surbhi's shoulder to calm her.

"She fainted when she got to know your truth." Surbhi's sobs increased when she heard once again she was the reason for her daughter's miseries.

"I will never be forgiven. Never."

"She will be fine, Aunty. She will be fine." Dhriti assured Surbhi who was inconsolable because of her daughter.

Dhruv gestured his sister to come out so she stepped out of the room leaving Saavi's parents with her.

"Do you still believe I am not real?" Shrikant's question caught Surbhi's attention. Surbhi looked up at her husband, noticed every feature of him from his eyes to his hair to the way he was standing. It was all same. She realized it was him, her husband whom she had loved more than her life.

Surbhi got up from the bed and questioned, "You were ali...alive?" She touched her husband's face and then pulled her hand away. She cried covering her face with her palms. Not able to take the enormous pain she slumped on the floor.

Shrikant bent down to her level and pulled his love to her and both of them cried in each other's arms.

"I am sorry for being away from you. I am so sorry." Shrikant apologized to his wife who had let her emotions out after so long. No questions were asked, only apologies followed, for the pain they both had to bear because of someone else's deeds.

Surbhi's cries turned into hiccups and after pulling back she wiped her husband's tears first just like her daughter for whom Dhruv's tears were always intolerable and painful.

Shrikant smiled and left a loving kiss on her forehead.

They still were in each other's arms when they heard Saavi groaning in sleep. Shrikant and Surbhi stood up. Surbhi took a seat on the bed while Shrikant sat on the nearby chair.

"Dhruv."Saavi took his name first trying to open her eyes. When she completely opened her eyes, her gaze first fell on her father and then on