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The Truth Unfolds

Bhumi sat alone on a bench in the garden, staring at the ground, her mind weighed down by worry. The dim evening light cast long shadows, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves above her.

Vaibhav approached cautiously, noticing the sadness in her eyes. "Bhumi, what's wrong? You look troubled."

She let out a deep sigh. "I'm just worried about my brother… Wick. Everything has become so chaotic, and I don't know how he's handling it all."

Vaibhav gave her a reassuring smile. "He's strong. Whatever happens, he'll get through it. You should have more faith in him."

Before Bhumi could respond, Varsha arrived, looking slightly hesitant. "Hey, Bhumi. I know this might not be the best time, but do you remember that book I asked you to check for me the other day? You were supposed to take a picture of it. Can you see if you have it? I need it urgently."

Bhumi unlocked her phone and scrolled through her gallery. As she browsed, she stumbled upon an unfamiliar video. Her brows furrowed. "Wait… this must have been recorded when I left my phone in the car."

Varsha peered over her shoulder. "Is it important?"

Bhumi pressed play. As the video progressed, her eyes widened in shock. The voices in the recording were unmistakable—Wick and Khusi.

---

The Truth from That Night

Khusi's voice rang out in the recording, laced with manipulation.

"Why do you trust Nick so much? You're the strongest of all. You could be leading this gang alone, and yet you let him stand beside you as an equal. He's nothing but an arrogant coward. He's only Vice President because of you—"

Wick's voice cut through the recording like a blade. "Not a single word more. Shut up and get out of the car."

Khusi scoffed. "I know you won't do that."

The sound of screeching brakes echoed through the recording.

Khusi's voice turned desperate. "No, no, Wick. You can't do this! Nick trusted you! He sent me with you trusting you! You can't just abandon me here!"

A car door creaked open. A moment of silence.

Then, Khusi's panicked voice. "Wick—Vikram—you can't do this to me!"

The recording ended abruptly.

---

The Realization

Bhumi clutched her phone tightly. Her heart pounded in her chest as the weight of the truth settled in. "I knew it… Khusi was playing the victim this whole time."

Varsha's lips curled into a smirk. "That little snake. She's been trying to manipulate Nick, turning him against Wick. Let's make sure she never dares to pull this stunt again."

Determination replaced Bhumi's initial sadness. She had been worried about her brother, but now she was furious—for him.

---

The Confrontation

Later that night, Bhumi stood in the middle of the party, her eyes scanning the crowd. When she finally spotted Khusi, a storm raged behind her gaze. She wasted no time, marching straight toward her.

Without a word, Bhumi raised her hand and slapped Khusi hard across the face. The sharp sound cut through the music, and the entire party fell silent.

Khusi gasped, stumbling back. "What the hell—"

Before she could react, Annu appeared by Bhumi's side, followed closely by Varsha. The three girls surrounded her like predators closing in on their prey.

Varsha yanked Khusi's hair, making her yelp in pain. "You lying bitch! You thought you could fool everyone, didn't you?"

Bhumi glared at her. "How dare you frame my brother? You played the victim and turned his own friend against him! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"

Khusi's lips trembled, but before she could speak, Nick's voice boomed across the room.

"Enough."

Everyone turned to see him standing there, his eyes burning with betrayal and fury. He strode forward, stopping just inches away from Khusi.

"I protected you," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "I guaranteed your safety. And you used that to stab my brother in the back?"

Khusi took a shaky step back, panic settling in. "N-Nick, I—"

"Shut up." His voice was ice. "You're dead to me. Do whatever you want, try whatever tricks you have left—but you'll never escape the consequences of this. Get out of my sight. And don't ever come near me again."

Tears welled in Khusi's eyes. Realizing she had no way out, she turned and ran, disappearing into the night.

As the party resumed, Dipanshu exhaled deeply. "We always knew Wick wasn't capable of something like that. It was just a matter of proving it."

Nick, still staring after Khusi, clenched his jaw. "Tomorrow, I'm going to find him. I'm bringing him back."

Dipanshu placed a hand on his shoulder. "I hope you do. Because if anyone can, it's you."

Nick's fists tightened. But would Wick even want to come back after everything that happened?

---

The Next Morning – A Shocking Discovery

The next day, the entire Shield gang gathered in the common area. Tension hung in the air as everyone exchanged nervous glances.

Nick's eyes scanned the group. "Has anyone seen Wick?"

Vivek crossed his arms. "I think… he's hiding somewhere. Maybe out of guilt."

Nick's head snapped toward him, his eyes darkening. "I swear, Vivek, if someone else had said that, they'd be dead right now. Wick is not guilty."

Deep, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Maybe we know he's not guilty, but does he? He was blamed, abandoned, and betrayed. Even now, we have proof of his innocence, but Wick doesn't know that. So tell me—why would he come back?"

Nick felt his stomach drop. He swallowed hard. "It was my fault…" His voice barely came out as a whisper.

A heavy silence settled over the group.

And then—Nick disappeared too.

---

Where Did They Go?

Now, with both Wick and Nick missing, the tension in the air thickened. No one knew where they were, or if they would ever return.

Would their bond survive this betrayal? Or had the Shield lost its two strongest warriors forever?

To be continued...