Aisha Seth's office in Horizon Enterprises was a sleek fortress, its glass walls catching Hyderabad's monsoon drizzle. Her black dress sharp and commanding, belied the storm within. Sanjay Gupta's resignation—his entire security team defecting to Robin Seth—felt like a calculated strike, fresh off yesterday's divorce filing and that audacious bet: one year for Robin to outstrip her wealth or lose Tara forever. A nobody with no public achievements, unraveling her empire? Impossible. Yet, Sanjay's defection stung, and Robin's vow—"I'll toss you 10 Crores when your empire crumbles"—gnawed at her.
Vikram Malhotra's call didn't help. "Aisha, Robin's a snake," he sneered, his voice dripping with glee from a Banjara Hills café. "Manipulating Sanjay to tank Horizon? He's using Tara as a pawn. "I've got you, I will do everything to help you win the bet," he said, aimed to counter Robin's pull on her.
Aisha's eyes flashed. "He's sabotaging me, Vikram. For the divorce, the bet—everything." Her paranoia painted Robin as a mastermind, not the quiet dad she'd dismissed.
At Priya Reddy's villa, the monsoon's hum softened the tension. Priya, that glowed with urban chic, sipped chai, smirking at her phone. "Aisha di's trending," she told Robin, her eyes glinting. "Horizon's stock dipped after Sanjay's exit. Your move, Robin."
Robin's smartwatch tracked a steady pulse, a black flame flickering within. "Aisha's problem," he said, voice dry. "I'm here for Tara."
Priya leaned in, catching the light. "You're shaking her empire already. Tara's lucky to have you." Her loyalty burned fiercely.
At Horizon, Aisha faced Sanjay, her voice venomous. "You're betraying me for Robin? A nobody?"
Sanjay's jaw tightened. "Nobody? We secured your first club, broke bones for your contracts. You stood on Robin sir's shoulders. Process our resignations—we're done."
Aisha froze, memories of that bloody night surfacing—Robin and Sanjay, unyielding, building her foundation. "Get out," she whispered, shaken but defiant. "Horizon will replace you."
Sanjay Gupta arrived at Priya's house, his presence commanding. "Robin sir, my team's with you," he said. "We left Horizon because we owe you. You and I built Aisha's first club—fought goons, risked our lives. She forgot, but we didn't."
Robin's gaze sharpened, Don Robin fire flaring. "You burned your career, Sanjay."
"Loyalty's not a paycheck," Sanjay said. "Aisha's empire? Half yours."
Priya pounced, calling Sanjay. "Join Reddy Ventures," she said, voice smooth. "My startup needs your skills. Work with Robin." Sanjay agreed, binding Priya's ambitions to Robin.
Later, Aisha and Vikram met at a HITEC City lounge, her mood brittle despite the champagne. Vikram grinned. "To crushing Seth." he said, raising his glass.
Aisha's smile faltered, Sanjay's words lingering. Before she could reply, Daniel Fernandes burst in, pale. "Aisha di, Ma's stomach condition's worse. Robin's Ayurvedic medicine—it's gone. Nothing else works. I need to call him."
Aisha's glass shook. "Robin? We're divorced!" she snapped. "He's out of our lives!"
"Only he can help Ma," Daniel pleaded. "His medicine kept her stable for years."
Aisha's defiance cracked. Robin, the man she'd cast out, held her mother's life. "Call him," she said, voice cold. "But this changes nothing."
At the villa, Meera Reddy sauntered in, her dress shimmering, voice dripping with pride. "Robin, still here? Priya di, my fiancé, Naga's Son, runs Hyderabad. Met him in college—my senior, my king. You're nothing next to him." Her engagement fueled her swagger.
"Meera, enough," Priya snapped. "Robin sir's worth more than your underworld prince."
Robin's phone buzzed—Daniel. "Robin, Ma's sick," Daniel said. "Her stomach condition's bad. We need your medicine."
Robin's gaze darkened. "I'll get it to Margaret," he said, voice low. "Tell her to hold on."
Priya's eyes softened. "Still saving them, Robin."
"It's not about Aisha," Robin said, heart thrumming. "It's about what's right."
Outside, Vikram's call to Rocky Bhai stirred the newcomer's interest, while Naga's Son, alerted by the spy, closed in. Robin, caught between rival factions, faced a brewing storm.