65. Ankit's family

In the Ranawat mansion, Niharika was sitting in her room, deeply engrossed in her books. The past few days had been overwhelming, filled with grief, unexpected revelations, and emotional turmoil. Studying was the only escape she had, a way to keep herself distracted from the storm brewing inside her heart.

She flipped through the pages, trying to focus on the words, but her mind kept drifting back to everything that had happened. Her parents and Raaj were gone, leaving behind a void she never thought she would feel. Despite the lack of love she had received from them, their loss weighed heavily on her. A sigh escaped her lips as she rubbed her temple, frustration creeping in.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Shivaay stepped inside. He had been keeping an eye on her, knowing how she bottled up her emotions. His gaze softened when he saw her sitting by the study table, a deep crease forming on her forehead.

“Niharika,” he called gently, making her look up.

She blinked, momentarily surprised to see him. “Hmm?”

Shivaay walked over and placed a cup of coffee beside her. “You’ve been studying for hours. Take a break.”

She shook her head. “I need to catch up on my studies. I missed so many days because of...everything.” Her voice trailed off, and Shivaay noticed the sadness in her eyes.

He leaned against the table, arms crossed. “Niharika, pushing yourself like this won’t make the pain go away.”

Her grip on the pen tightened, but she didn’t respond. Shivaay sighed and crouched beside her chair, gently taking her hand in his. “You don’t have to pretend you’re fine. I know you’re hurting.”

A lump formed in her throat, but she forced a small smile. “I’m okay, really.”

Shivaay wasn’t convinced. He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a moment. “You don’t always have to be strong, Niharika.”

Her eyes welled up, and she quickly blinked away the tears. “I just...I don’t know how to deal with all of this.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Shivaay exhaled deeply, then gently pulled her into a hug. “You don’t have to do it alone. I’m here.”

Niharika stiffened for a second before slowly relaxing against him. It was strange how his presence, his touch, provided her with a sense of comfort she didn’t even realize she needed.

For the first time in days, she allowed herself to lean on someone.

Riya walked into her room, her mind still spinning from what had just happened outside the college gates. Her heart raced, her thoughts fixated on the unexpected intensity of the moment between her and Arav. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she tried to regain her breath.

Her lips still tingled from the kiss, and she couldn’t stop replaying the scene in her head. The way he’d pinned her against the car, the heat in his kiss, the urgency — it was all so overwhelming. She hadn’t expected that from him. Arav, the man who had always seemed so distant and controlled, had completely surprised her.

She absentmindedly touched her lips, feeling a strange mix of emotions. One part of her was angry, frustrated. Why had he kissed her like that? And why had she responded the way she did, letting herself get lost in it?

But there was another part of her, the part she didn’t want to acknowledge, that couldn’t help but feel something else. Maybe it was the thrill of the kiss, or maybe it was because for the first time in a long while, she felt truly wanted. It left her with a confusing longing she didn’t know how to deal with.

Riya paced the room, trying to make sense of everything. She had always been able to keep her emotions under control, especially when it came to relationships. But now, with Arav, everything was different. She wasn’t sure where they stood anymore.

She sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling. “What just happened?” she whispered, her mind swirling with uncertainty.

The kiss, the passion, the confusion — it had stirred something deep inside her. She wasn’t sure if she should be angry at him, or at herself. All she knew was that things had changed, and she couldn’t just brush it off.

With a frustrated sigh, she grabbed the pillow and buried her face in it. This wasn’t how she had planned things. She had wanted to focus on her future, on her goals, but now, with Arav, everything felt tangled and messy.

“I need to figure this out,” she muttered into the pillow, hoping that somehow, she could make sense of it all soon.

Shivaay and Arav were in the car, driving through the darkened streets. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was tense, the air thick with urgency. Both men were focused, determined to get to the location they had just uncovered. The address they had received was a lead, and they couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Arav glanced at Shivaay, his expression serious. "We’re getting close. We need to be ready for anything."

Shivaay nodded, his jaw clenched. "I don't care who or what they are. No one messes with my people, especially not Niharika."

Arav’s eyes narrowed as he checked the address once more. "Agreed. But this feels different, Shivaay. There’s something about this whole situation that's off. Ragini and Natasha... they're connected to something bigger. This isn’t just about a simple grudge."

Shivaay’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. "We’ll find out what they’re really up to, and when we do, they’ll regret ever coming after my family."

The car sped down the street, the headlights cutting through the darkness. As they reached the end of the road, the building ahead loomed in the distance—old and seemingly abandoned. It was exactly as the address had described.

Arav’s hand instinctively went to his weapon, ensuring it was within reach. "We’re here. Stay sharp."

Shivaay’s eyes hardened. "Always. Let's move."

The car slowed as they neared the building, parking a short distance away. Both men stepped out, their faces set in determination. They approached the entrance cautiously, their senses heightened. This was no ordinary mission—they were dealing with a dangerous network, and they needed to be prepared for whatever awaited them inside.

Shivaay glanced at Arav, his voice low. "Stay close. No matter what happens, we stick together."

Arav nodded. "Understood."

They exchanged a brief look before stepping into the shadows, moving silently towards the building, ready to uncover the truth and take down whoever was behind it.

As the trio—Shivaay, Arav, and Ankit—stepped cautiously into the dimly lit room, the atmosphere was tense, each of them anticipating the unknown. The silence was almost suffocating, the weight of the mission pressing down on their shoulders. But when they entered further, the sight before them made their hearts skip a beat.

There, in front of them, were three women, conscious but bound. They were sitting with their backs against the wall, their hands tied tightly behind them. Their faces were worn and weary, but they were alive. Ankit's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat as he saw them.

"Amrita... Nikita... Alisha..." Ankit's voice trembled, disbelief and overwhelming emotion flooding through him. His legs gave way, and before anyone could react, he rushed toward the women. He scooped them up into his arms, holding them tightly as though he feared they'd disappear.

Shivaay and Arav stood still for a moment, processing the sight in front of them. Shivaay’s expression softened with relief, but there was also a sharp edge to his gaze. His eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of the two women they had been hunting—Ragini and Natasha. But there was no sign of them.

Shivaay stepped forward, his voice calm but full of authority. "Ankit, they’re safe now. You did well."

Ankit, still holding his wife and daughters tightly, looked up at Shivaay, tears streaming down his face. "I’ve been searching for them for months. Four months, sir... Four months, and I’m finally holding them again." His voice cracked as he hugged them tighter, feeling a mixture of relief and agony.

Arav approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the area. "Shivaay, there’s no sign of Ragini and Natasha. Why would they leave the family here and not show up themselves?"

Shivaay’s brow furrowed as he took in the scene. "It doesn’t make sense. If they wanted us to find the family, why weren’t they here?"

He turned to Ankit, his voice stern yet comforting. "Where did you find them, Ankit? What happened?"

Ankit shook his head, gently brushing his wife's hair from her face as she regained some composure. "I don’t know, sir. They were kept here... tied up, probably for leverage. They said they were safe, but I couldn’t understand why they were here alone. I thought... I thought they were with Ragini and Natasha."

Shivaay exchanged a glance with Arav. "We need to find out what happened here. Whoever did this, they’re still out there."

Ankit, still holding his family close, nodded silently. "Thank you, Shivaay sir. I don't know how to repay you for this."

Shivaay gave a nod, his expression serious. "We’ll get to the bottom of this. Right now, let’s get them out of here and make sure they’re safe."

As Ankit slowly helped his family stand, the relief and gratitude on his face was evident, but so was the concern for the women who had yet to be found. Shivaay’s mind raced, piecing together what had happened and who was still behind the scenes. The game was far from over, and they were just starting to uncover the truth.

Kanishk leaned back in his seat, the car gliding smoothly through the night. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest as he glanced over at the two women seated beside him. Natasha, her face a mix of exhaustion and relief, sat quietly, while Ragini stared out the window, her expression unreadable.

"Thank God we escaped on time," Kanishk said with a smirk, his voice laced with satisfaction. He had been calculating every move, and it seemed everything had gone according to plan. They were safe for now.

Ragini’s gaze flickered briefly toward him, but she remained silent. Natasha let out a soft sigh, her shoulders relaxing as the weight of their near escape seemed to dissipate.

"You did well," Natasha finally spoke, her voice hushed but thankful. "I thought we were done for when they started closing in."

Kanishk gave her a reassuring smile. "It was close, but I knew what I was doing. We got out before they even realized what was happening. No one suspects a thing."

Ragini’s eyes narrowed slightly, her mind clearly still processing everything. "What now?" she asked, her tone cold but determined. "We’re safe for the moment, but how long before they catch up to us?"

Kanishk exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. "We lay low for a while. I have connections in the right places. We’ll move on soon enough, but for now, we need to stay off the radar."

As the car continued its journey through the darkened streets, Kanishk's thoughts were sharp, calculating every step. They’d managed to get Natasha and Ragini out of harm’s way, but there was still much to be done. His plan wasn’t finished yet, and he couldn’t afford to relax—not now.

He glanced over at the two women. "The game has just begun, ladies. And we’re in control now."