The Turning Point

Vijay, filled with rage, slams his hand on the table as he stands up and yells, "I said, get out of here! Can't you hear me?"

Sharda, a bit frightened, tries to calm him down, "Please, calm down. What happened? Why are you speaking to him like this?"

Vijay glares at her and retorts, "Keep your mouth shut! This is my life. I've worked hard to get where I am, and in just one meeting, this kid has achieved what took me years! That's why I didn't want this curse in my house. I left him behind that day, and now you know why. Does this answer satisfy you?"

Mr. Kathwani, trying to defuse the situation, says, "Mr. Vijay, please, calm down. After all, he's your nephew. You should be happy for him. Abhay wouldn't have offered him the job without reason. But if it upsets you, we won't talk about it anymore. Please, cool down; it's not that big of a deal."

Vijay, seething with frustration, lashes out, "I never expected you to side with him, Mr. Kathwani. After all these years of friendship, you never offered me such an opportunity. But you give this huge offer to someone you met just half an hour ago? What do you even know about this street rat?"

Vijay glares at Om, who remains quietly seated, expressionless.

Sharda, unable to hold back anymore, speaks up, "Enough! He got that job because he has a good heart, and he's capable. People can see that, but you, blinded by your false pride, cannot. He doesn't manipulate people for his gain like you do."

"He doesn't just think about himself. He came to you, forgetting all the wrong you did to him for years because you're his family. He doesn't need you, but he came for the sake of his uncle and aunt, because he values family," Sharda says, taking a deep breath.

"But enough is enough. He believes you'll change one day, but I now know that's impossible in this lifetime. If you kick him out, Somya, Ria, and I will go with him."

Vijay, ignoring her, snaps back, "Shut your mouth and sit down quietly!"

Finally, Om can't hold back anymore. He stands up and says, "Enough, Uncle. I came here to see you happy, not to cause a fight. But I forgot, you'll never change. Aunt, please calm down. What was the need for me to come here if it would only lead to this? Please stop fighting because of me."

Sharda, raising her voice, says, "No, Om. If you leave today, we'll go with you!" Then, turning to Vijay, she demands, "Now I'm asking you one last time—can he stay or not?"

A sudden voice from the doorway interrupts, "Can he stay or not?"

Everyone turns to see who it is.

At the door stands the Mayor and his son Ayush, whom Om had treated just the day before. The Mayor's gaze is fixed on Vijay, his face stern. Seeing the Mayor, everyone stands up. The Mayor approaches Vijay and asks again, "I asked, can he stay or not?"

Vijay realizes he no longer has control of the situation and lowers his head. Everyone is shocked to see the Mayor speaking up for Om.

The Mayor continues, "I don't understand you, Dr. Vijay. Why do you hate this boy so much? Have you forgotten what happened yesterday? He asked for nothing for himself, and instead, he pleaded for your life. Does none of this ring a bell? What kind of man are you?"

Sharda, surprised, asks the Mayor, "Sir, what are you talking about? What happened yesterday?"

The Mayor, glaring at Vijay, says angrily, "Oh, so you didn't tell them, did you? Because telling the truth would shame you, right? Listen, ma'am, your husband has been treating my son Ayush for several days now. Due to some wrong medications, Ayush's condition worsened terribly, and despite your husband's best efforts, my son was as good as dead. In my grief and rage, I was about to choke your husband to death when, at the last moment, this young man here performed a miraculous treatment that saved my son within minutes. And when I, overwhelmed with joy at getting my son back, asked him what he wanted in return, he said he wanted nothing, only that I spare his uncle's life."

Everyone is stunned by the Mayor's words. He turns back to Vijay and says, "I don't know what kind of person you are. Your life is intact today because of this boy. I'm telling you, if it weren't for him, you wouldn't be here to throw him out right now. You're lucky to have a nephew like Om, who loves you so much and cares about you, yet you hate him after all he's done for you. Instead of being proud of having such a precious nephew—talented, capable, and humble—you're jealous of a young boy. I can't decide if I should be angry at you or pity you."

Om, who had remained silent until now, speaks up firmly, "Please, Mayor Sir, that's enough. This is a family matter, and no one has the right to speak to my uncle like this. As for yesterday, we both know very well that my uncle is an excellent doctor; otherwise, your son wouldn't have survived for so long. You also know that someone tampered with your son's medication. So please, stop talking to my uncle like this. This is a family issue, and I don't want it to become a scandal. So please, just stop."

The Mayor, surprised by Om's defense of his uncle, laughs and says, "What kind of people are you? This man won't even hear a kind word about you, no matter how much you do for him, and here you are defending him after he's humiliated you so badly. Om, you're truly one of a kind. Vijay, I hope you can understand this."

As the conversation continues, suddenly, 10-12 armed men burst into the private hall, surrounding everyone and pointing their guns at them. The doors are blocked to prevent anyone from escaping. The people, already shocked by the earlier events, are now terrified by this new threat. The women and girls, in particular, are on the verge of tears.

Shortly after, a man in a suit, smoking a cigarette, walks in through the door. Smiling as he looks around at everyone, he says with a sinister grin, "Well, well… looks like we hit the jackpot. Even dessert with the main course. My dad's going to be so pleased today."

The Mayor, recognizing the man, shouts in anger, "Jake, what are you doing here? And what is all this nonsense? Don't you value your life? Do you even know what the consequences of this will be?"

Mr. Kathwani, supporting the Mayor, adds, "You're the son of our business rival, Singhania, aren't you? What are you doing here?"

Jake, grinning, replies, "Yes, you've got it right, Kathwani. And Mayor, sorry to say, but you've got a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. So now, as a bonus, I'll kill you and everyone else who's unlucky enough to be here. Happy?"

The Mayor, stunned, turns to Kathwani and asks, "Kathwani, what is going on here?"

Mr. Kathwani, thinking for a moment, says, "Sir, a few days ago, I refused to hand over my business to his father, so I guess he's here to finish the job by killing me."

Jake, pleased, shouts, "Bravo, Kathwani, bravo! You guessed it right! Well done. Now I'll give you an easy death. And Mayor, you have to die too because you've always been a thorn in my father's side. I didn't expect you to die so soon, but here we are. Does anyone have any last words before you die? Because, you know, dead bodies don't talk."

Everyone looks at each other in fear. The women and girls, especially, are terrified. Everyone is in a state of shock, not expecting this sudden and deadly turn of events.

After a brief pause, Jake, in a menacing tone, says, "Good… Gentlemen, happy death day to all of you. Now say your prayers and get ready to die. Come on, boys, let the blood flow. On my count—three… two… and one…"