Chapter 12 : She was Gone

The evening air was thick with tension as we prepared for the operation. Tonight was going to be crucial. We had everything planned—our goal was to lure the culprits into one of Vikrant’s clubs, where they would bring all the girls they had been trafficking. The boys were already on their way to pick me up, and I could feel the weight of the night ahead pressing down on me.

Tanu , as usual, insisted on coming along. I had tried to tell her it wasn’t necessary, but she wouldn’t hear it. “I’m not staying behind, anshi ,” she said, her voice firm. “I’m coming with you . I can't leave you alone .”

I didn’t argue with her. We both knew what was at stake, but there was something in the pit of my stomach that told me tonight might not go as smoothly as we hoped.

I got downstairs, my heart racing. The boys were already there, waiting in the cars, their engines humming softly. My gaze immediately found Vikrant, who was leaning against one of the cars, looking... ridiculously good. He was dressed in a sharp black jacket, his dark hair tousled just enough to look effortlessly sexy. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away.

I quickly looked away, my cheeks heating up. Why was I feeling this way?

“Checking each other out already?” Karan’s voice broke the silence, teasing us from across the yard.

I rolled my eyes, but didn’t argue this time. I knew exactly what he meant, and I wasn’t going to deny it. Vikrant was still looking at me, his intense gaze never leaving mine. He smirked, clearly enjoying the moment.

“You ready?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I replied, trying to keep my cool.

I climbed into the car with Vikrant, while Tanu  and Karan took the other one. Rohan and Aryan were already in the other vehicle, ready to follow us. As the engines roared to life, the drive to the club was filled with an uneasy silence. The plan was set, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Vikrant glanced over at me as we drove. “You’re quiet tonight,” he said, his tone playful but with a hint of concern.

“I’m fine,” I said, trying to sound confident. “Just thinking.”

He raised an eyebrow. “About?”

I hesitated, glancing out the window. “About how everything is going to happen tonight. We’re about to bring down these bastards, but I’m not sure what to expect after.”

Vikrant’s expression softened for a brief moment before he quickly masked it with his usual smirk. “We’ll handle it. You’re not alone in this.”

I nodded, though the uncertainty gnawed at me. The closer we got to the club, the more tense the atmosphere became. When we finally arrived, the club was already buzzing with activity. The music was loud, the lights flashing in chaotic patterns, and people were everywhere. But beneath the glitz and glamour, I could sense the darkness—the culprits were here, somewhere, hiding in plain sight.

We split up, with Vikrant and I heading to the VIP section where the culprits were supposed to be. Tanu , Karan, Rohan, and Aryan were stationed at different points, keeping an eye on the crowd.

Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity. Then, we saw them. The men we were after, flanked by a group of girls who looked terrified but tried to hide it behind fake smiles. The tension in the air was palpable as we made our move, surrounding them and forcing them into a corner.

Vikrant stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. “You’ve been caught. There’s nowhere to run.”

One of the men sneered, his eyes dark with malice. “wait didn't you want the girls ? Huh? You think you’ve won?  You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

“You’re wrong,” Vikrant said, his voice low and dangerous. “We’ve been dealing with people like you for a long time. This ends tonight.”

I stepped forward, my gaze fixed on the man. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to answer for everything you’ve done.”

A tense silence followed, and then everything exploded into chaos. The men tried to make a run for it, but we were ready. The fight that followed was brutal—punches were thrown, bodies collided, and the sound of chaos filled the air. I fought with everything I had, my mind focused solely on the mission. But amid the confusion, I saw one of the men pulling a gun from his waistband, aiming it at one of the girls.

Before I could react, Tanu rushed forward, pushing the girl out of the way. The bullet hit her chest, and she collapsed to the ground with a strangled gasp.

“No!” I screamed, rushing to her side.

Vikrant was by my side in an instant, his expression filled with rage and worry . “tanu !” I shouted, my voice cracking.

I couldn’t breathe. My best friend, the one person who had always been there for me in this new world , who taught me everything , who first believed in me , was lying in a pool of blood. Her eyes were wide, filled with pain, but she still managed to smile weakly at me.

“anshi ...” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I... I’m sorry...I should have listened to you .”

Tears blurred my vision as I held her in my arms, my heart shattering. “No, don’t say that. You’re going to be fine. We’ll get you help.”

But she shook her head, her breathing shallow. “I... I knew the risks. I wanted to protect... them...just . .. don't get angry anshi .. please ..”

Her words were fading, and I could feel her slipping away. Vikrant’s hand was on my shoulder, his grip tight, but I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t look at anyone. All I could focus on was Tanu , my best friend .

“aaradhyanshi , ” she whispered, her eyes locking with mine. “don't ever forget yourself . I love this Anshi too just as I loved my aaradhya .”

With that, her body went limp in my arms. I couldn’t hold back the sobs anymore. My best friend was gone.

Vikrant knelt beside me, his face etched with pain. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I never wanted this to happen.”

I looked at him, my heart breaking even more. “She’s gone, Vikrant. She’s gone... and it’s all because of me .”

We had won the battle, but at what cost? the girl who had been by my side through everything, was now gone. And I didn’t know how to move on from this.

The rest of the night was a blur. The culprits were arrested, and the club was cleared out, but all I could think about was Tanu . She had sacrificed everything for me , and now she was gone.

I didn’t know how to face anyone. How could I? The one person who had been my Friend  since the Start , was no longer there.

I watched her from across the room, her body slumped in a chair, eyes vacant. She was lost in a world I couldn’t reach, and I had never seen her like this before. It was as if the light had gone out of her, leaving nothing but the shadow of the girl she used to be. The girl who fought so fiercely for everything, who had always been so strong, was now broken. And it pained me more than I could ever express.

The weight of what had happened hit me harder than I expected. Tanishka, her best friend, the person who had been by her side through thick and thin, was gone. And I couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at me. We had done this—this whole thing—because of a bet. Because of a game. And now, Tanishka was dead. Her blood was on our hands, and no matter what we did from here on, we couldn’t bring her back.

I had completed the formalities—called in the authorities, made sure the police erased all traces where necessary, and sent the message to her parents. Aryan and Rohan had taken care of the rest, handling the logistics.

I walked over to her slowly, my heart heavy. I didn’t know what to say to her, how to comfort her. What words could possibly ease the pain of losing someone you loved so much? I shook her gently, and her eyes slowly met mine, but there was no light in them.

“You know,” she began, her voice hoarse, “she was the first one who believed me.”

I frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”

She blinked, staring at the floor. “Tanu... she still supported me, Vikrant. Even knowing that her best friend, Aaradhya, was dead. She didn’t blame me. She didn’t blame anyone. She believed in me... even when no one else did.not even myself .”

I felt a lump form in my throat. I didn’t know what to say. What she was talking about ? But she kept going, her words coming out in a rush, like she needed to get them off her chest.

“If I hadn’t come into your life... if I had never met all of you ... Tanishka would still be alive. She would still be here, living. I messed everything up, Vikrant. I ruined everything.”

Her words hit me. I didn’t know what to say. I had always thought I was doing the right thing . But this—this was something else. She was blaming herself, and somehow, I couldn’t help but feel responsible, too.

Before I could say anything, she stood up, her legs shaky. She looked like she was about to walk away, but her body collapsed against me, and I caught her just in time. Her face was pale, her body limp in my arms.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath. She had fainted, her body succumbing to exhaustion and grief.

I quickly scooped her up, my heart racing. She couldn’t stay in that apartment alone. Not after everything that had happened. I texted the boys, telling them I was taking her home . They would make sure everything was sorted, but right now, she needed to be with me. She needed someone who cared for her, someone who wouldn’t let her slip into the darkness.

I rushed her to my place, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. When I got there, I carried her up to my room, laying her gently on the bed. I called my maid, asking her to change Aaradhya into something more comfortable . I needed her to be safe, to feel safe.

I dialed my family doctor, who arrived within minutes. He checked her over, his expression grim as he took her temperature.

“She’s running a high fever,” he said, his voice calm but concerned. “It’s likely a result of the shock and stress. Her body is reacting to everything she’s been through. We’ll need to keep her hydrated and monitor her closely.”

I nodded, my stomach in knots. I felt completely helpless. She had always been so strong, so independent, and now she was lying in front of me, vulnerable, broken.

The doctor administered an IV drip to keep her hydrated and gave her medication to help bring the fever down. He assured me that she would be fine, but I could see the worry in his eyes. “Keep her comfortable,” he advised. “Make sure she rests. The body needs time to recover.”

I thanked him, and he left, leaving me alone with her. I sat beside her, watching her sleep, my hand resting gently on hers. She looked so small, so fragile.

I couldn’t stand seeing her like this. I couldn’t stand knowing that I had contributed to the mess she was in. I had pushed her into this life, and now I was watching her crumble.

I ran my fingers through her hair, brushing it back from her face, and I whispered softly, “I’m so sorry, Aaradhya. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

The night stretched on, and I stayed by her side, watching over her. I didn’t leave. I couldn’t.

As the hours passed, her fever slowly began to subside. Her breathing evened out, and the tension in her face seemed to ease. I let out a quiet breath of relief . She had lost her best friend, and the guilt was eating her alive. How would she gonna react ?

I wasn’t sure how to fix this, but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn’t going to let her go.she needed me, even if she didn’t realize it yet. And I would do whatever it took to make sure she didn’t lose herself in the aftermath of this tragedy.

I leaned back in the chair beside her bed, my eyes never leaving her face. The world could wait. Right now, all that mattered was her.