Chapter 35

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I am back with another chapter… And I re-edited many of the chapters from the starting.
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Because i realised Ki everyone starts from scratch. And i myself see my improvement. I’ll am getting through my writer’s block because of you

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Total words:- 1795

Hmm. This should be okay.

I thought, flicking my pen between my fingers, My screen glasses sat on my nose ,and the air from my office window messed up my locks

While editing drafts on my laptop, a pop-up sound went off, and I glanced at my buzzing phone

Nav;

“Vani maam, today is galla. If you maybe forget in your very busy schedule. Pick up my call which you are ignoring.”

Why is he suddenly acting sarcastic?

I dial his number, removing my glasses and placing them on the table

Vani;

“hmm, bolo.”

( Yes, say)

Nav;

“vaaanni, yaar, where are you? Galla’s entries start at 10pm its 9 now. Shouldn’t you be here by now?”

Vani;

“calm down Mr. Brar. And are you worrying for me?”

I said with a smile tugging at my face.

Somehow, I had started to enjoy challenging him-to tease him, to fight with him. It’s entertaining

Nav;

“weren’t we over the fact of Mr.Brar and Miss Rathore? Come on yaar. And second I am worrying for my project. You know am selfish. “

Vani;

“ohhoo reallyyy ? Hmm i can understand..”

And I chuckled.

Vani;

“And no. Mr brar suits you much… More professional touch you know?”

Nav;

“”offcourse!” he said with a scoff and
I can practically see him roll his eyes.

” now maam, when are you coming? Or do you want me to pick you up. Actually you can decide in my car or in my arms.”

Vani;

“Besharmi ki bhi hadd hoti hai… Banda flirt toh dekh ke kare.”
I can hear him chuckle.

( “There’s a limit to shamelessness… at least see who you’re flirting with.”)

“And listen I will be late, i have some office work so I’ll join you at galla directly, do one thing pick up ayanshi on your way.”

Nav;

” hmm. Theek hai… But finish you work soon okay? ” hmm i said. He took a pause and a breath, which i caught. ” annndd if you feel anything’s off just give me a call. Or I’ll just pick you up yaar. My instincts are saying bad will happen.”

I smiled and this time genuinely.

Vani;

” its okay. You don’t have to pick me up, I’ll be there early. I’ll just leave in some minutes. You take care of our siblings, they are kids, you should be with them. And nothing’s gonna happen to me. Relax.”

Nav;

” hmmmm..” he didn’t sound convinced ” vani are you wearing the pendant I gave you?”

Vani;

” umm yes.. ”

Nav;

“hmm”

Vani;

okay let me wrap up. See you soon.”

Nav;

“See you.”

I waited for him to hung up the call but neither of us even moved.

Vani;

” take care”

And I moved my phone away and hung up the call

I lean back to my chair
A slow smile crept onto my face.
And i started doing my work again.

✧

After a few good minutes, I packed up my things. I packed up my things
and give a good glance at my outfit.

I picked my golden clutch, that looks spectacular with my royal blue dress.

I turned off the office lights and headed out

I will prove that I’m worth it, not like they said

I reached the parking lot.
My phone buzzing and I know it must be Mr. Brar.

I started to open my clutch and take out my phone while walking

A loud car engine roared in my ears.

I froze. My eyes widened, and my heartbeat quickened.

My eyes widened. My heartbeat started rising.

A black car,not far away or just a few feet away stood infront of me with its headlight on, in a dim parking lot.

I took a step back then another, and
the car slowly started moving toward me and I turned and started to run,
my heels clicking rapidly fast against the floor, and the car engine sound grew more louder.

I stood at the gate, tapping my foot restlessly.

Why the hell isn’t she picking up my call?

“Vani, Vani, Vani… pick up the damn phone. Where are you?”
I kept calling her, again and again. No reply.

“Bhai…” Ayanshi said softly behind me, and I turned to look at her.
Her eyes were wide, searching mine. “Bhai… di?”

“She must be alright,” I said quickly, trying to reassure both of us. “You know she doesn’t pick calls when she’s driving. She must be on her way.”

I paused.

Mujhe bhi toh fikar ho rahi hai uski… Is she okay?

(“I’m worried about her too… Is she okay?”)

“Wait, I’ll go check. You guys stay here.”

My steps came to a sudden halt when I saw them, Papa, Vani’s father Ranvijay Uncle, Mom, and Divya aunty, standing near the entrance.

Ayanshi ran toward her father and hugged him tightly.

“Papa,” I said, quickly walking over. I bent to touch his feet. Mom cupped my cheek with a smile, and I did the same with Ranvijay uncle, who gave my shoulder a gentle pat. Subh did the same.

“Aap log… achanak yahan pe?” I asked, surprised.

(“You all… here all of a sudden?”)

“Kyu bhai, hum aa nahi sakte kya?” Papa replied with a grin.

( “Why, can’t we come or what?”)

“Haan haan bhai,” Uncle added, “ab hume apne bachon ko dekhne ke liye permission leni padegi.”
They both laughed.

(“Yeah, yeah,” Uncle added, “now we’ll have to take permission just to see our own children.”)

“Nahi nahi, main aisa nahi keh raha tha,” I said, trying to smile back, but the uneasiness in my chest only grew heavier.

(“No, no, that’s not what I meant.”)

“Hamare bachon ne Galla mein participate kiya hai… hum kaise na aate? Uncle continued.
“Hume bhi toh unhein jeet-te dekhna tha na.”
Mom and Divya aunty smiled warmly beside him.

(“Our children participated in the Galla… how could we not come?”“We wanted to see them win too, didn’t we?”)

I lowered my gaze.

Jeetenge…?
Bus… Vani sahi-salamat mil jaaye.

( Win? “I just… hope Vani is found safe.”)

“I’ll come back… aap log enjoy kariye,” I said, turning to leave in haste.

( You guys enjoy)

But Dad gripped my arm and stopped me. I looked up, and the sharp expression on his face said everything.

“Meri bachi kahan hai?” Divya aunty’s voice trembled behind me.

( Where is my daughter?)

“Mom-” Ayanshi tried to speak but couldn’t find the words.

I stepped in, quickly. “Actually…She’s in the office. I was just about to go pick her up.”

Papa’s eyes narrowed, and uncle stepped closer to me
” she is not here?”

I shook my head
” she said she’ll meet me at the galla.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I saw the change. Their expressions darkened instantly.

Divya aunty stumbled, and both Ayanshi and Ranvijay uncle caught her.

Papa and Uncle looked at each other,a silent exchange, heavy and immediate.

Uncle pulled out his phone and tried calling Vani.
No answer.

“You should have told us this the second we got here!” Uncle’s voice rose, sharper than I’d ever heard it.

“Meri… meri bachi… Vijay ji…” Divya aunty sobbed as her words collapsed mid-sentence.

( My …my daughter… ..)

“I’ll bring her back-” I began, but Dad’s glare cut me off.
Before I could say more, they were already calling someone.

“Give me her last known location” uncle said

Dad’s voice was quiet but sharp as he spoke into his phone. “Seal the city. Nobody leaves without my say-so. And get me traffic cams within a five-mile radius.”

Uncle was pacing, murmuring names I didn’t recognize, making calls so fast.

“Ranvijay come with me” papa said and uncle started to go with him

” I’ll come with you too.” uncle glared at me before going forward.

And that made me more guilty.

Ayanshi’s shoulders were stiff, tense-like she was holding her breath and didn’t even realize it.

Subh shifted a little closer.
He didn’t touch her, but she could feel the way his arm hovered near hers-just close enough to be felt, not seen.

It surprised her, how much that tiny gesture calmed her.

When she finally gathered the courage to glance at him, he offered her a faint, steady smile.
A silent message written in the softness of his eyes:
We’ll handle this.
We’ll get through it.
You’re safe.

Funny, she thought-how even in the middle of all this chaos, he still couldn’t stop noticing how her hair kept falling into her eyes.

Everything’s wrong.
Vani isn’t fine.
And I have no idea where the hell she is.

It’s all my fault.
My instincts told me something was off… and I still let her go.

Why?
Why did I let her go alone?

I gripped my hair in frustration, pacing like a madman. My team was trying to trace her location through her pendant.

“Track Vani’s pendant,” Dad ordered crisply.

I looked up, sharply.
“How do you know about that?” I blurted, before I could stop myself.

Dad didn’t answer, but Uncle’s voice cut through with biting sarcasm.
“You thought you invented that trick? Boy, we wrote the damn playbook.”

I swallowed hard. “Hers isn’t responding. It’s been disabled.”

They cursed under their breath.

“Which means whoever took her knew exactly what they were doing,” Papa muttered grimly.

Uncle turned to me, eyes piercing. “Nav, is there something else you’re not telling us?”

I hesitated. Then said it.

“She was drugged once before. By Shekhawat’s men. But I handled him. I even checked again-some of his guys are still locked up in my warehouse. It’s not them.”

Uncle’s face turned to steel. He grabbed my collar and yanked me forward.

“You didn’t think that was important to tell us earlier? You promised me. You promised me you’d protect her!”

“I’m sorry, Uncle-“

“Sorry?” he bellowed. “What the hell am I supposed to do with your fucking sorry?”

“Ranvijay! Chhod uska collar!” Papa snapped, stepping between us. “Baccha hai woh! Kya kar leta woh bhi? Tujhe nahi pata pichhli baar kya hua tha?”

( “Ranvijay! Let go of his collar!”“He’s just a kid! What could he have done anyway? Don’t you know what happened last time?”)

Uncle finally let go, anger still radiating off him in waves.

Papa placed a firm hand on his shoulder and turned to the rest.
“Spread out. Lock down the area. I’ll take east-you take west. We’ll find her.”

Then he looked at me. His voice was calm, commanding.
“Nav, check in with the family first. Then go to her office. Get the CCTV footage and send the information immediately. I repeat-immediately.”

I stood there for a second, watching them all split up.
Their teams moved like clockwork quiet, efficient, lethal. Calls were being made, commands issued, exits secured.

I’d never seen the city move like this before.

Like it belonged to them.

Maybe it did.
______________________________________

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