Aastik
"Woh mere samne se Ahana ko leke chala gaya... aur main? Main bas wahi khada reh gaya. Kuch bhi nahi kar paya." I murmured to myself as my grip tightened around the steering wheel.
(He took Ahana away right in front of my eyes... and me? I just stood there. I couldn't do anything)
"I'm such a fucking loser who couldn't even protect his wife... who couldn't even keep the promise he made to her just a few hours back." I delivered one more punch to the steering wheel, the pain in my hand feeling nothing compared to the guilt burning inside me.
I have been driving for hours, searching every possible road and every possible route that car could have taken. My men were looking everywhere, every exit was being checked but still there was nothing.
No clue. No trace. Nothing that could tell me where she was. Every passing second felt like it was slipping away from my hands. I wasn't afraid of any enemy, any threat or any consequence but knowing they have my sweetheart with them... felt like fighting something I couldn't see.
I let out a deep sigh before connecting a call to Daivik and the moment it was answered, my voice came out cold and direct.
"Report."
But instead of Daivik, Avyan's voice came through my earphones. "Cars blocked. Police have been fed money until they're full and now they're giving their best to help us. Every possible exit route is being checked. Highways, railway stations and all major roads are being monitored. We have people searching different areas and I also tried tracking Ahana's phone. The last location we received was near our house... after that it was switched off."
I remained silent for a few seconds, letting every piece of information register in my mind. "The car?" I asked, "Did you find anything about the vehicle? Number plate, route, driver... anything?"
"Nothing concrete yet" Avyan replied. "The person planned this carefully. The driver wasn't the same person who usually works for us. The real one has been killed as is found by our man in Daivik's garage. We are checking every camera footage from that route but whoever did this knew exactly how to avoid attention."
My jaw clenched in anger hearing all these.
"Try harder Avyan. Do anything. He's not just a random criminal or someone we deal with in our everyday business enimity. This one's different. Clever. We need to oversmart him."
"On it" His words came. The noise of keyboard typing came from the background.
After a brief pause I asked "what about Daivik?" My voice got lower. "Is he ok?"
The noise of the keyboard stopped.
After a few seconds of silence he answered. His voice was low, carrying the weight of everything happening there. "Everything inside this house has been shattered. We're trying to control him but we aren't able to do that. He has been calling every possible person he knows, every connection, every number, just to find one clue about Ahana. He is blaming himself for not stopping. He can't accept the fact that Ahana got kidnapped right in front of his eyes and he just kept standing there unable to do anything."
His voice lowered slightly before he continued "He keeps saying that he promised to protect her, that he was right there and still couldn't stop it. Bhuvan is trying to handle him, but even he is struggling. Dhirti, Jaanvi, and Ishani are at the police station, trying every possible way to get information. They are checking reports, speaking to officers, and following every small clue they can find."
I looked ahead, my expression unreadable. This is the real Daivik.
"Bring Daivik out of there." I ordered without a second thought. "Give this responsibility to Bhuvan and ask him to follow my car. I don't need anyone losing control right now. I need everyone to be focused." I paused before adding, "Avyan, check every CCTV camera in this city. Don't search randomly. Find patterns. The person who did this planned everything, but no one is perfect. One mistake is all we need to trace him down."
I then disconnected the call, leaving silence inside the car. From the corner of my eyes I looked at my phone screen, where in the wallpaper her picture was saved. She was smiling and playing with Doggesh. A smile that belonged to a world where nothing could touch her. A world I had promised to give her and failed.
Then something felt unusual.
My eyes narrowed as I looked at the picture again.
"Doggesh..."
I stared at the screen for a moment before a thought crossed my mind.
"But where is Doggesh?"
AHANA
I sat quietly on the edge of the bed, my gaze fixed on the lamp which I was continuously turning on and off. I tried searching every corner of the room. No exit. Not even a window is there. The door too is locked from outside.
For the last two hours My mind circled with the same thought-
'How do I get out of this place?'
I miss my family. I miss bhai. I miss duggu and..... I miss Aastik ji. I don't know how many hours have passed. I didn't know whether they had found any clue about me or not. But I know one thing. They would do anything... anything to find me. That much trust I have on each of them. Right now my one and only target is to survive and stay safe.
Slowly, my palm rested over my stomach and an unfamiliar calm settled within me. My life no longer belonged to me alone. A tiny heartbeat is growing inside me, depending entirely on my strength and my decisions. Every reckless move I made would affect more than just myself. I am not fighting only to survive anymore. I am fighting to protect the little life that had silently become my greatest strength and weakness at the same time.
Several times the maids entered the room carrying trays filled with food but every single time I refused to touch them. Their expressions carried nothing but sympathy and helplessness, yet that wasn't enough to earn my trust. I had no idea what that deranged man was capable of. Whether the food was poisoned, drugged, or completely harmless no longer mattered. In enemy territory, trust wasn't weakness-it was suicide.
I never imagined my life would reach this point because of the man I had once called my father. Yes I knew he had never been worthy of that title. Not for me and not for Bhaiya either. Yet somewhere deep inside, we still believed there were certain boundaries no father could ever cross.
But guess what? We were foolish enough to think humanity would stop him. Instead, he shattered every limit we thought existed and proved that greed could erase even the weakest traces of blood.
Money.
Everything in this world eventually returned to money.
Relationships.
Trust.
Humanity.
For some people, every bond carried a price tag. Take my father as an example.
A soft knock against the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I immediately straightened my posture as one of the maids stepped inside carrying a silver tray filled with freshly cut fruits. Unlike the others, she avoided meeting my eyes directly, constantly glancing over her shoulder as though terrified someone might catch her. Even the way she walked reflected years of fear, making it obvious that this mansion wasn't a prison for me alone.
"I brought some fruits for you, Miss" she whispered, placing the tray carefully on the table. "Please... eat something. You need your strength. Don't let him win. You have to keep fighting... just like her." She hesitated before lowering her voice even further. "And I promise... nothing has been mixed in them."
Giving a brief silence in between I ordered...
"Taste them."
She looked at me in surprise.
"Miss?"
"I said..." My voice remained calm, but firm. "Taste them."
Without questioning me again, she nodded. She peeled a banana, ate half of it before picking up a strawberry and a slice of watermelon, taking a bite from each. Then she looked back at me, silently waiting for my approval.
"We'll wait five minutes... Then maybe I will eat it" I replied, never taking my eyes off her. "Until then... tell me who you meant when you said her."
The colour immediately drained from her face. She lowered her head, nervously twisting the edge of her apron between her fingers. "Miss... I shouldn't..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "If he finds out I told you anything, I won't live long enough to regret it."
Before I could question her further-
Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.
The maid's eyes widened with sheer terror. She instinctively stepped backwards, preparing to leave but before she could reach the door, it swung open with enough force to make both of us flinch.
"Who dared to come in here?" His cold voice sliced through the silence, making the maid beside me visibly tremble in fear. Her entire body stiffened as she immediately lowered her head.
"S-Sir... I-I.." she stammered, her words dying before they could form a proper sentence.
"I called her." My voice cut through the room before she could say another word.
"I asked her to bring me some fruits. Is there a problem with that?" I said covering her smoothly...... meeting his gaze without the slightest hesitation. I can't let this innocent girl suffer because of me.
Seeing how much she's scared I can tell she did mean well for me.
For a brief second, his eyes remained locked on mine before a slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"If it's my play doll asking for something, then how could I possibly refuse?" he said, his tone laced with amusement. "After all, I wouldn't want my precious doll to stay hungry.... right?"
"Stop calling me by that shitty name." I hissed, my voice dripping with undisguised disgust.
Hearing my reply the amusement vanished from his face almost instantly. His jaw tightened as an unreadable darkness settled behind his eyes.
"Leave."
The single word was directed at the maid. She didn't waste even a second. Lowering her head one last time, she hurried out of the room almost as if she had escaped death itself. The heavy door closed behind her, leaving only the two of us standing inside the suffocating silence.
My gaze instinctively drifted towards the tray of fruits resting on the table.
The knife...
It was still there.
Did she forget it... or did she leave it here for me on purpose?
He then started moving towards me, his slow footsteps echoing through the room.
"Play doll..." he said in a fake sweetness more like a mockery "Did your husband never teach you that a flower like you should speak sweet words instead of throwing curses?"
"Stay fucking back, you bastard." I warned, immediately stepping onto the bed to keep distance between us.
"And yeah he never said those things to me because he knew.....in this world shits like you exist" I spat hiding the knife behind me.
His face slowly turned red with anger as he suddenly with three big steps stormed towards me. And before I could try to move from there he seized my wrist with bruising force, yanking me back toward him.
Before I could twist free, his hand whipped across my face.
A sharp, hot sting exploded across my cheek, leaving it throbbing.
He slapped me.
I fell down onto the bed with the force of the hit as my body collapsed onto the mattress with a jolt that sent pain shooting through me.
But I would never give him the satisfaction to watch me in pain. So I swallowed the cry that was about to leave my mouth.
Blood oozed slowly from the corner of my mouth as its metallic taste filled my tongue.
He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head up roughly, forcing me to look into his eyes. My scalp burned with the intensity of his grip as he made sure I could not even turn my face. "I like your voice but uska matlab ye nahi ki tujhe jaisi larki ko apni aukat bhool jaane dunga. Samjhi?" he snarled.
(I like your voice, but that doesn't mean I'll let a girl like you forget her place. Understood?)
But after that the next thing he did made My heart race in fear. Fear gripped my chest tightly as he loomed above me, trying to come closer to me. My lips.
Panic surged through me as I realized he's about to kiss me... No... no no no....
My eyes were filling with tears whereas his head was tilting slightly with unmistakable intent.
Quickly without a second thought I raised my hand with desperate strength and scratched his face with full force digging my nails deep into his skin as much as I could. Blood and flesh welled up under my fingertips as I tore across his cheek.
My entire body trembled uncontrollably as adrenaline surged through my veins, drowning every coherent thought. My pulse pounded so violently that I could hear nothing but the frantic rhythm echoing inside my head. And my mind screamed only one thing-
Run.
I saw him stumbling back on the bed, clutching the fresh scratches on his face as he let out a muffled groan. For the first time since I had been brought here, his confidence cracked. He's focused on himself, his burning pain rather than me. I didn't waste a single second looking back. Because if I lose this chance I might never get a second one. This is the opportunity I created for myself and I won't let it slip away.
I dashed towards the door. My fingers were fumbling with the lock before finally managing to twist it open. Just as I stepped outside, I caught him recovering from behind me. Our eyes met for a fleeting second. His eyes widened as he stood up and tried to catch me running towards me but before he could I slammed the door shut from the outside and locked it.
My chest rose and fell violently as I moved backwards. Sweat trickled down my forehead while my breathing sound, my heartbeat thundered in my ears.
The next second, deafening bangs shook the wooden door behind me. "You can't run that easily, play doll!" his furious voice echoed from inside. "This entire mansion is a living hell for you. Every hallway is guarded. Open the door before you make this worse for yourself!"
"As if I'd ever listen to a bastard like you. Die you fucker!" I gritted before sprinting in the opposite direction
The corridor outside felt endless. Every wall looked identical, every doorway unfamiliar. Don't stress ahana. Just think. Don't let your mind race.
But just when I called myself down and took a few turns.... a shrill alarm blared throughout the mansion. The piercing siren echoed through every corridor, instantly swallowing the silence. My footsteps halted for a fraction of a second as my heart sank.
I looked up and the sound is echoing every where in this house.
In every corner.
Damn it...
I glanced over the railing and saw guards pouring into the corridors below, rifles clutched firmly in their hands as they rushed towards the upper floors.
I have to hide.
Fuck I have to. Quickly.
I quickly looked around, searching desperately for somewhere....anywhere to disappear. Just then, I noticed another group of guards approaching from the opposite end of the hallway. My eyes widened.
Kanha bacha lo please.
(Gof please save me)
Taking god's name I slipped behind a narrow wall at the corner, pressing myself against it. One hand covered my mouth as I forced my breathing to quieten, praying they wouldn't hear even the slightest sound.
They'll open that door any second...
The thought alone urged me to move. The moment the guards rushed past my hiding spot, I carefully stepped out, scanning the corridor. My eyes landed on a locked room just a few metres away. It wasn't much but it was my only chance.
I hurried towards it and quickly slipped inside unlocking it. I pressed my body against the door, shutting it behind as I kept my hand on my chest.
when suddenly someone kept their hand on my shoulder.
I opened my eyes only to find a woman standing before me. Seeing only one person before me built my confidence and before she could call anyone I quickly used the defensive move Aastik had taught.
I struck her neck in a way which made her crumple unconscious to the floor.
AUTHOR
Nearly fifteen minutes passed before the unconscious woman finally stirred. A faint groan escaped her lips as she slowly opened her eyes, instinctively raising a hand to her neck where a dull ache lingered. She blinked several times, allowing her vision to adjust to the dim light inside the room. But the moment her gaze landed ahead, her breathing faltered.
Ahana sat silently in front of her holding a knife inches away from her neck.
"Don't try to outsmart me" Ahana said in a low, unwavering voice. "One scream... one suspicious move... and this knife will be inside you. Nod if you understand." The woman swallowed hard before giving a quick nod. Only then did Ahana lower the knife slightly, though her grip around its handle never loosened. She didn't let her guard down.
After a brief silence, the woman spoke softly. "Tumhara naam... Ahana hai na?" Ahana frowned but nodded cautiously.
Hearing that the woman smiled a little. "I know you have no reason to trust me" the woman continued.
"But believe me... I mean no harm to you. I actually know who you are. I-I have heard a lot about you and your husband's love story. Maybe you guys were always described to me in a negative light... And I was expected to hate you both. But somehow, all I could see was how deeply the two of you loved each other. You both really proved to me that love isn't always a curse... sometimes, it's the most beautiful thing this universe has to offer."
Ahana studied her carefully. There was no mockery in her voice, no deception she could immediately detect-only exhaustion and years of quiet suffering reflected in her eyes. "How do you know all this?" Ahana finally asked, unable to hide her curiosity any longer.
Before the woman could answer,
a violent bang echoed through the room. The colour drained from both of their faces instantly.
Ahana quickly stood up from her place. Her eyes were wide with hearty racing like in a race and she was visibly trembling in fear.
The woman noticed this and she held ahana's arms and muttered. "Don't say a word and hide behind that sofa. Whatever happens... don't come out." Realising she had no better choice, Ahana urgently slipped behind the large sofa, where a mirror across the room gave her a partial view of everything unfolding.
As the woman confirmed ahana huf herself well she prepared herself knowing what was about to happen and quickly ran and unlocked the door.
The moment the door opened she was attacked by a familiar hand as the person grabbed her throat painfully squeezing the life out of her.
He was none other than Her husband.
Who stood there with rage burning in his eyes. Ahana could see what was happening from the mirror in front of her. She gasped and cupped her face with wide eyes. Her face had already turned pale seeing the scenery in front of her.
"Darwaza q lagai thi! Huh? Kisse puch k tune apne se ye kia!" He snapped at her struggling form, His voice dripped with venom. She held his hand her nails digging in his thumb. She couldn't breathe. Her face had turned red and her veins pulsed in agony. But surprisingly she was laughing in that moment even as pain shot through her. He left her neck with a jerk as she coughed up taking in the precious air.
(Why did you lock the door?! Huh? Who gave you the permission to do this on your own?)
After a few seconds of catching air she looked up at him sharply and chuckled. Her hand slowly reached his injured cheeks with fake tenderness that hid her revulsion "Aree wahh larki mey dam to hai. Ye khoon dekh k dil ko itni santushti mili kaise samjhau mey..." She paused for a breath.
(Well, well... this girl really has some spirit. The satisfaction I got from seeing this blood... I don't even know how to put it into words... seriously)
"Waise uss aurat ko chor k mere kamre mey kaise aaye? Tum to uss k sath aiashi karne wale thee na?" She spat with hatred turning her back at him. The words cut through the heavy air between them.
(By the way, how did you end up in my room after leaving that woman? Weren't you planning to have fun with her?)
His anger hearing that increased and he quickly grabbed her hand and twisted it brutally before pushing her to the wall. The cold surface bit into her skin as her front was attached to the wall while he stood behind her pressing his body to hers in a dominating, filthy way.
"Tu meri property hai. Meri biwi. I can come to this room whenever I want. Who are you to ask this huh?" He muttered near her skin with a cruel edge. The woman felt disgusted as she tried pushing him back. She hated every second of his touch.
(You're my property. My wife. I have every right to come into this room whenever I want. Who the hell are you to question me, huh?)
"Tujhe jaise insaan ko apna pati manne se achaa mey khud ko zinda jala lungi." Her voice came out sharp and challenging.
(I would rather burn myself alive than accept someone like you as my husband)
Listening to this he turned her around roughly and pushed her on the bed. "Zubaan bohot barr gyi hai teri." He said with a dark glare.
(Your tongue has gotten way too sharp.)
"Your punishment awaits you tonight. Meri doll mil jaye ek bar fir tum dono ko ek sath sabak sikhaunga." He said and left from there locking the door from outside.
(Once I find my doll then I'll teach both of you a lesson together.)
As Ahana heard the sound of the locking door she quickly came out from behind the sofa and rushed to the woman and asked with worry lining her voice. "Tum thik ho?"
(Are you okay?)
The woman slowly nodded, but tears of anger and humiliation glistened in her eyes. Her eyes first fell on ahana at first and at the hand where she held the knife.
Her eyes locked on Ahana's as she begged...
"Can you please give me the knife. Please. I beg you." The woman said.... Ahana gave it not understanding the reason behind that want.
And the second the knife came in the woman's hand she immediately gave a cut on her shoulder herself. Within no second blood started to ooze out, warm and dark.
The woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath as if seeking relief in the pain. Ahana seeing that quickly snatched away the knife, horror filling her chest. "Are you mad. Do you know how much blood is coming out?" Ahana asked as she looked everywhere to find some cloth to stop the bleeding.
"It does not burn Ahana. Calm down. It's actually peace. A relief. That monster's breath fell on my skin that's why I had to do this. I always want to do it. You know if I could I would have given cut to my entire body every fucking night but I can't. I JUST CAN'T" She cried, her voice cracking with years of buried torment.
Then suddenly she pulled Ahana in a hug making ahana also freeze for a second... "I married him. I chose him. That was my biggest mistake and I've been paying for it every single day since then. I despise that man so much that if someone asked me to trade my own life for his, I wouldn't hesitate. But there's one condition... if that day ever comes, his end will be by my hands alone. The pain he has inflicted on me... on countless innocent women... I won't let it go unanswered"
Ahana quietly wrapped her arms around her and gently patted her back. "Please... don't cry anymore. The fact that you've survived all these years tells me how strong you are. He may have trapped you here but he hasn't taken away your courage. And one day... you'll make him answer for everything he's done. I believe that."
Yeah, Ahana hadn't trusted her before but after witnessing the way that monster had tortured this woman, she realised that no one could fake pain like that. The hatred in the woman's eyes, the helplessness in her voice were all too real.
For the first time since being brought into this mansion, Ahana felt she had found someone who was just as much a prisoner as she was. Maybe more than ahana. So she finally believed that this was someone she could trust.
Several minutes passed before the woman finally calmed down and broke the hug. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, taking a slow breath as the silence between them became lighter.
Ahana offered her a faint smile and asked. "Tumhara naam kya hai?"
The woman looked at her for a moment before answering softly.
"Mera naam... Lavanya hai."
(My name is lavanya)
A genuine smile appeared on Ahana's face.
"Bohot pyara naam hai."
(Such a beautiful name)
Lavanya let out a quiet chuckle.
"You're the first person who's ever said that."
"Then maybe" Ahana smiled, gently cupping her face, "I'm the first honest and intelligent person you've met. Your name is beautiful... but it's a little long. If you don't mind, can I call you Anya instead?"
For the first time in what felt like years, a genuine smile reached Lavanya's eyes.
"I'd like that."
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That's it for today sweet peas. See in the next chapter.
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