Chapter 36

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“Ahn!”

“Paniii”

( Water)

“Nav…” I tried to say in my broken and heavy voice…

Why did it feel so heavy? My arms refused to move. Again, I felt someone, no, something, around me.

I struggled, slowly forcing my pounding eyes open. My throat ached. Everything felt so heavy. My lips were dry. 

I looked around and found myself surrounded by steel and boxes, the air thick with a dusty smell mixed with something stronger,sweat, alcohol? 

I struggled. My chest stuttered. My legs were tied. My wrists, my legs..

I was tied to a chair. In a warehouse, maybe? 

My eyes widened. I forgot to breathe. 

‘What the hell happened?’

My mind flashed back to my office parking lot.

‘A car. I ran. Someone forced me—’

A handkerchief. Chloroform. 

Oh myyy

As I started to realize how serious this was, I felt heat. My heartbeat roared, panic crawling into me. 

Nav…
Galla…
Today…
Cheap….

I try to tugged the ropes, but  my skin burn as the ropes cut into me. The pain sharpened my thoughts. 

Oh my god.

“Vani, no one’s coming for you. You have to escape.”

Think, Think of something.

I looked around again, more carefully this time. 

Nothing. 

Wait—alcohol bottles.

Could I—? 

I started shifting my weight toward them, my chair scraping the floor when footsteps echoed. 

No.

I instantly acted, slumping like I was still unconscious. 

“ she is still sleeping” a man said, touching my chin.

“Behosh kehte hai use, akal ke andhe,”
other man said.

(Its called unconscious, you blind fool) 

“Tune mujhe andha kaise bola?” the former one snapped.

(How dare you call me blind?) 

“Muh se,” the second replied,

(*”With my mouth.”*) 

“Agar mukka mara na, to yehi muh tut jayega.”

(If I punch you, that same mouth will break.) 

“Tu mukka kaise marega be ?”

(How will you punch me?) 

“Hath se.”

(With my hand.) 

Are they serious? Pehli baar ka hai kya inka?

(Is this their first time?)

Are they kidnappers or comedians? 

‘These fucking idiots.’

“Are you guys done?” A third voice cut in, sharp with dominance, husky but maintaining the terror

“yes…. yess…yes…sir…” they mumbled, instantly obedient. 

As they moved away out, i opened my eyes slowly. As they go, I tried again reaching for the bottle. But my hands were tied too tightly to bend. 

‘Mahadev, koi toh raah dikhao.’ I prayed, staring at the ceiling. 

(Lord Shiva, show me a way.)

Then my gaze fell back on the bottle. 

I stared at it for a full minute. 

Its risky.

But..

I made my chair scrap the floor and my chair stumbled, and fall on the bottle ls and some of the bottles broke down.

Ahh!!

I squeezed my eyes tightly.

The glass cut deep into my skin.

But i blink the tears away.

I make my hand struggle until it finds a piece of a broken glass. Then i started to move it around my tied wrist…

The glass still cutting in my arm…

A pool of blood started to develop around me.

But i am not backing out.
I have seen worse …
I am vani Rathore. I’ll show them if they don’t know

It feels like I forget how to breathe.

I stood in the parking lot of Vani’s office, the same spot where her scent still lingered, perfume and fear. The CCTV footage played on loop in my mind, the black car, the screech of tires, her blue dress vanishing into the dark. 

Gone.

My phone buzzed, another update from Dad’s men. No leads.

I crushed the device in my grip. 

Failure.

A hand came, down on my shoulder. I turned to see Ranvijay Uncle, his face like a stone. But his eyes, A father’s terror, sharp enough to eat me alive. 

“You promised,” he said, voice somewhere between disappointed and hurt and anger…

Two words. That’s all it took to gut me. 

I had no defense. Only the echo of Vani’s words, the weight of her trust, and the way I’d let her walk straight into hell. 

“I’ll bring her back,” I said, the vow scraping my throat raw. 

Uncle’s grip tightened. “You better.” 

Then Dad was there, sliding into the driver’s seat of the SUV, his silence louder than any curse. 

We moved. 

✧

The warehouse was another rotting shell in the industrial district.

I took them to where I tied the some suspicious man from vani’s office.
Coincidentally, the black car is also registered in his name.

The moment we stepped in, the air shifted. 

“Sir” one of old consigliere breathed, spine snapping straight.  My eyes widened a little

Because he was the oldest consigliere who is known to have attitude. And he is scared of dad?

Dad didn’t acknowledge him. His focus was on the man tied to the chair in the center of the room, blood trickling from his split lip. 

Ranvijay Uncle circled him like a wolf. 

“Where is she?” 

The man spat. “Go to hell”  even though he have no Power in his body left. He still have–

Uncle’s fist cracked against his jaw. A tooth skittered across the floor. I raised my eyebrows in astonishment.

“Wrong answer.” 

I stepped forward, my own hands shaking, not with fear, but with the need to “break” something. “He’s not talking. Let me try.” 

Dad’s gaze flicked to me. Not trusting. I know but Then he nodded. 

I grabbed the man’s collar, yanking him close. “Listen carefully. You’re going to tell me who took her. Or I’m going to peel the skin from your bones “slowly”.

His laugh was a wet gurgle. “You? The Brar boy? You’re soft

A mistake. 

My knife was at his throat before he could blink. “Try me.” 

For the first time, fear flickered in his eyes. 

“Last chance,” I whispered. 

He gulped.

“ I don’t want to drag your family into this but–”

“Shekhawat’s men! They, they wanted payback for the warehouse raid! And rohan’s beating, which you did. They’ve got her at the old textile mill near the river! ” 

The world narrowed to a single point. 

Shekhawat.

The name was a bullet to my chest. I’ll make them pay.

I turned to Dad and Uncle, their faces mirroring my fury. 

“We ride now,” Dad said. 

Uncle was already loading his gun. “No mercy.” 

I followed, my heart a drumbeat of vengeance. 

Hold on, Vani.

We’re coming.

As we walk, dad and uncle shoot a bullet each which lands on his forehead straight.  That too Without even looking?

“ wow…” I said with surprise and enviousness. But they ignored me completely.

Be safe vani.

The glass was slippery with my blood.

Every pull against the rope sent fresh fire up my wrist, but I kept cutting. Cut. Cut. Cut. The ropes snapped one by one, slow as torture.

My breath came in short bursts.

Nav would’ve made some sarcastic comment right now.

“Miss Rathore, bloodstains don’t match your outfit.”

The thought almost made me laugh. Almost.

The rope gave way.

I didn’t celebrate.

I just run

My bare feet stuck to the floor, wet with something I didn’t want to identify.

Three steps.

Five

I tried to find my way…

A hand clamped over my mouth from behind.

“Naughty girl,” raunit hissed, his breath reeking of greed, ans lust.  His fingers dug into my waist, pulling me flush against him. “You think you can eacape? Yep if you give me a chance.”

I drove my elbow back-hard.

He grunted, grip loosening.

I spun, knee aiming for his groin.

He blocked it, laughing. “Still a wildcat.”

Then-CRACK.

He slapped me. hard

I spat blood at his shoes. “That all you’ve got? Ajj kal ke mardon mai takkat hi nahi hai..”

His men chuckled until he silenced them with a glare.

“Tie her up again,” he ordered. “And gag her. I’m tired of her mouth.”

As they dragged me back, I struggled but it was useless..

Nav.

Hurry.

✧

We reached the location.

Guns ready, I pulled the trigger to check.

No guards?
Suspicion crawled in.

“Yaa to yeh bahut chaalak hai, ya bahut bewakoof.”Uncle said, voice tight with anger but layered with fatherly fear.

(“Either he’s very smart, or incredibly stupid.”)

“I think it’s the latter, Vijay.”
Papa muttered.

“Ap logon ke liye chai ka table laga doon yahan pe, so you guys can discuss?”

(“Should I set up a tea table here so you two can discuss things?”)
I shot back sarcastically.

Really? They’re having a strategy debate now?

Both glared at me like they’d rather kill me than the kidnapper.

“Apni dosti baad mein dikhana… pehle jo kaam karne aaye hain kar le? Baccha le usko? ”
(“Show your friendship later. First do what you came here for — should we save her? !”)
I snapped.

I’d already gone through the layout of this place. I knew the entry and exit points.

“Nav and Team C will take east.
Randeep and Team B will take west.
And Team A, with me, will go north. We’ll go scattered.”
Uncle instructed.

I nodded. We broke off into our paths.

As I entered, a man spotted me.
But before he could alert anyone, I muffled his mouth and snapped his neck.

Dead? Unconscious? Doesn’t matter.

I grabbed his gun.

A second guard came.
Same story.

This place wasn’t big, but I was frantic. My heart ached just for a glimpse of that one person.

Please let her be safe.
I prayed silently to my Waheguru.

Then—I saw her.

Tied to a chair.
Hair hanging over her face.

My heart clenched.

I ran to her, dropping to my knees, my hands shaking as I started untying the ropes.

“Vani… Vani meri jaan, wake up… please…”

(“Vani… Vani my love, wake up… please…”)

I patted her cheeks.

She stirred.

“N-Navv…” she whispered, her eyes shimmering.

I pulled her into a hug, relief crashing through me.

As I pulled back, I saw dried blood near her swollen lip. Slap marks.
Her arm—bleeding. Glass pieces stuck into her skin.

Kya haal bana diya meri Vani ka…

(“What state have they left my Vani in…”)

I will not spare a single one.

“It’s all right, we’ll get out… just trust me.”

“I trust you,” she whispered, looking into my eyes.“I knew you would come.”

I shouldn’t be thinking this right now, but… you’re still so beautiful.
I shoved the thought away. Focus.

As I untied her final rope,

PAIN.

A sharp pain surges through my arm.

“NAVV!!”

I stumbled, but gain my firmness and  stood firm, shielding her body with mine.

She immediately stepped in front of me, arms out like a human shield.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

“I can’t let you die,” she said.

“Aur tum mar jaogi?! Wah. Drama chal raha hai kya Vani? Gun hai uske haath mein bhartiya narri… maar dega woh!”

(“And you’ll die instead?! Wow. Is this a drama show, Vani? He has a gun indian lady… he’ll shoot you!”)

“Main toh bhool gaya tha… mere paas bhi toh gun hai. Woh bhi do-do.”

(“I forgot… I also have a gun. Actually, two.”)
I whispered.

She turned and glared at me.

“Are you FUCKING serious? Kis cheez ka wait kar rahe ho fir? Ki woh aayega, aarti utaarega?”

(“Are you FUCKING serious? What are you waiting for? That he’ll come and perform a welcome ceremony?”)

“ yeh dialogue kiss film ka tha yaar?” i asked her with ny eyes narrowed

“ nav!!!!!!!! Akal ke andheee… Yeh time hai kya? Shensha ka tha gya?
Nai nai… Kisi aur film ka tha…” she said. Cute

“ nai nai.. koi aur thi… Syd…
Before I could say further—

“Here.  Here.. i am here.. film ka set hai yeh? Toy gun nahi hai mere bath mai… damshraj khel rahe hai yeh, aur inki zindgi inse… btw.. ” he sounds so frustrated, but he gain his composure “ Rathore and Brar… deadly combination, right? But too bad, you won’t go alive.”
The man standing opposite us said, gun pointed at us.
Vani still stood in front of me.

“Too bad—you won’t be alive to kill us.”
I growled, pulling Vani gently behind me and raising my gun.

“Opps… Look back first,” he sneered.

I turned,
Another man.
Gun pointed at Vani’s head.

“Drop your gun.” he ordered. I get tense and i made plan in my mind how i will slowly murder him but before i can snatch the gun from him or kill him-

“You drop your gun, child.”
Uncle’s voice came from behind his head, gun pressed to it.

I smirked.

“Papa…” Vani breathed, her voice cracked between relief and tears.

“I’m here, meri bachi.”Uncle said gently.

(“I’m here, my child.”)

“You think I’m scared to die? Why don’t we all die then?”
the kidnapper said, laughing.

My eyebrow twitched.

“Vani, Nav, get out. We’ll take care of him.”
Uncle ordered.

I was about to obey when he pressed a button,

Explosions.
The warehouse shook.

Before we could react, he shot himself.

The fire started to spread, fast.

I wrapped Vani in my arms, covering her with my blazer.

“Uncle, let’s go before it burns down!”

As we ran, pillars began collapsing.

“AHHH!”

I screamed as flames licked my back and arm,

“NAVV!!”
Vani shouted but her voice broken , trying to look at my burn.

“Vani, time nahi hai abhi, Let’s go.”
I dragged her toward the exit.

The blasts grew louder. The roof caved in behind us.

“Papa… Papa kahan hai?”

(“Papa… Where is dad?”)

I looked around then again asked Victor, my head of security.

“Sir, he might still be inside—”
he began, but I didn’t wait.

I shoved his hand away and ran back in.

I heard Vani and uncle shouting my name, but I didn’t stop.

My father matters more than me. I won’t let anything happen to him.

“PAPAAA!!”

“PAPAAA!!”

My voice echoed through the chaos.

I spotted him, collapsed. Alone.

How dare the guards leave him?
I’ll kill every last one of them.

“Papa… Papa, can you walk? Come—come with me.”

“Nav! Ah ki hoya tenu?! Tainu goli lagi! Te khote de puttar, tu ki kar raha hai ethe? Agg lagi hai ethe!”

(“Nav! What the hell happened to you?! You’ve been shot! And you idiot, what are you doing here? The place is on fire!”)

“Pata menu… bahar ja ke kutt leo pehle bahar chalo!”

(“I know… Beat me outside. First, let’s get out!”)

I tugged him up. One arm over my shoulder.
The bullet in me still throbbed. I could barely walk.

But I would not let my father fall.

“NAVVV!”
Papa screamed,

A pillar collapsed.
I pushed him out,

And it fell.

I heard his final shout before it did.

But I know one thing.
He is safe.
______________________________________

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