Part 48 | And the Choice is Yours

Hey fellas!

* Bear hugs *

Good to see y'all again!

🥺

Thanks for all the love and waiting

❤️

Let's put an end to the wait and

jump right into the story!!!

( Quick suggestion: read the previous chap once before, so as to pick up the story from where we left. )

So here we goooooo!!

Love you peeps

🤍

: : ✷ : ✷ : :

The intercom in his office buzzed violently, interrupting the on going conversation between the four men gathered in the cabin.

" Yes, Tina. " Kartik received the call.

" Sir, There's a man asking for you. " Her voice low but urgent, " Says it's about Mrs. Oberoi. "

Kartik's breath hitched, as soon as he heard those words.

He could only think of one man.

Arjun moved faster to snatch the device from his bestfriend.

" Connect the call. " He ordered in a stone cold tone.

" Right away, Sir. "

The room was dead silent as Kartik stared at the intercom, just like the others awaiting for a lead to find her.

" Is this a right time to have a little chat, Mr. Oberoi. " Kartik clenched his fist at the familiar voice yet loathing voice.

" Cut the Crap Malhotra. Where's my Wife? " He demanded.

Twenty hours had passed since he last saw her.

Dhruv and Rudra had dashed into the conference room the day before interrupting the meeting, carrying the dreadful news.

Outside Tiwari's office, who was apparently working for Malhotra, laid the bodies of two personal bodyguards, assigned the duty of protecting Naira, shot dead.

Only her phone and handbag was retrieved from the spot.

" I suppose you are in No position to raise your voice at me, son. Unless you want your wife to suffer. " Kartik gritted his teeth, clenching his fist.

" Whatever it is, deal with me. Keep her out of this! " He warned in a dangerously low tone.

" Well, That is in your hands, young man."

Controlling his raging breath, Kartik spoke with a calm demeanor, " What do you want? "

" See, That's what I was talking about! " Malhotra exclaimed with a smirk.

" Not bad! Must say, my girl has quite an effect on you. " Raghav commented. " But that had to happen, she is one hell of a hot women. " Lust dripped in his words.

Kartik's hand itched to punch that moron's face till he fails to recognise his very own reflection in mirror.

The moronic audacity of Raghav to tag Naira as his girl, to comment about his wife, infuriated Kartik. Rage coursed through his blood but he remained silent. He had to afterall, They need a clue.

" You bastard! " Arjun Piped in furiously. " Wait until I rip your head off. "

" Oh Arjun, calm your ass down. You can't do anything, she is in my captive now. "

Kartik silenced his bestfriend before Arjun could counter talk.

Raghav's a maniac and the last thing Kartik would want is for Naira to get hurt.

" I don't have time to waste." Malhotra's voice boomed through the device. The Oberoi brothers, Arjun and Dhruv exchanged glances.

" So here's the deal..... "

-------

" Endangering your life sounds fine to you? Cause to me, it certainly doesn't! "

" Kartik " Taking his right hand between both her palms, she spoke gently.

" This is no longer just about my safety. It's about doing the right thing."

He sighed in defeat, resting his forehead on hers , " It would kill me if something happens to you, because of me. " His voice low and breaking.

She smiled stroking his cheek. Their eyes bore into each other's , " Hey, Listen to me. We will have a complete family, kids and grandkids. A cozy house that will be noisy with laughter in every corner.

We are gonna grow old together, wrinkles and grey hair, still fighting over the last pizza bite. You might become bald, but It's okay, I'll still love you. " He chuckled softly which made her smile.

" Hazed eyesight will not stop us from Counting the stars at night. A walking stick might be needed, but we shall continue to take morning walks holding hands.

We will die old and warm in our bed. That's how it will be. " her voice laced with warmth and love.

" How can you be sure of that? "

He wanted every word of hers to come true, but is there a guarantee?

He could only wish to be as optimistic as her.

Imprisoned in a dungeon of darkness, yet she dreams of rainbows.

Resting her hand against his thumping chest to feel his steady heartbeats, Naira flashed him a warm smile.

" I just know. "

It was an hour past midnight when Kartik stood in his balcony. Naked above his waist, his tensed muscles screamed wrath as he held on to the railing.

He hated the cool breeze brushing his skin. It should have been her tender fingers instead.

His breathing slow and concentrated as he stared beyond the horizon. Despite the thousand stars, the sky looked desolate without the moon.

Just like the void her absence had left in his heart.

Kartik walked inside to take his third Hot shower of that night but paused when his gaze fell on a transparent packet that contained her phone, lying on the side table.

He sat on the bed to unlock her phone and the wallpaper surprised him. It was a picture of him sleeping with a Duvet that covered half of his face leaving behind his messy hair and closed eyes.

He shook his head and found himself smiling at the thought of her.

Kartik proceeded to check her call logs. He cursed internally for missing her call due to the stupid meeting. That was the last call from her phone.

If only I had picked up the call....

His brows narrowed at the undelivered Voice message in her chat box. He wish he hadn't opened it, for it pulled the last string that held his heart together.

" I love you, Kartik Oberoi. "

Those words he yearned to hear her say, for months.

He took a sharp yet difficult breath. His heart skipping a beat upon hearing her voice after about a day and half. His sleep refrained, red shoot eyes turned glossy but his face showed no ounce of joy.

A shattering sound piecered the silence of the night. Rudra rushed upstairs alerted by the sudden noise.

Rudra looked at his brother in dismay. The glass table beside the bed was in shards. Blood trickled down from the fresh cut in Kartik's palm forming a pool on the wooden floor.

" Have you lost it! " Rudra yelled at Kartik before dragging him to the washroom, Letting the cold water run over the wound.

Worry skated on Rudra's face when Kartik didn't flinch, even slightly as he cleaned the wound with antiseptic.

" This isn't gonna help us bring her back, Brother. " Rudra said, dressing the cut with gauze.

Kartik uttered nothing but spat his hand away, standing on his feet.

" Where are you going? Lis..." Rudra hurried behind his brother descending the stairs as Kartik darted across the living room. Rudra jumped on the passenger seat before Kartik drove the car past the main gate.

The car moved over the highway, lights on full beam. His wounded hand held the steering wheel in a death grip as the vehicle whizzed across the empty track.

" You must sign the merger of Malhotra and Oberoi industries, and give a public statement. You will declare me as an official member of the board of committee in Oberoi industries. "

" what makes you think I'll agree to this?"

" Oh you will, My boy. Unless you want to see your dad behind bars for murder charges and I'm sure you're smart enough to realise how it will affect your business."

The consequences would be heavy and Kartik knows it.

His family would be devastated, broken. Everything the family had built over years, would be ruined. The company's morale would be questioned, bankruptcy, lawsuits and much more. Fall of the company would create a havoc in lives of numerous employees.

The business and his family would be a total wreck.

" In return I'll give you two choices.

Either you can have your wife back Or I'll drop the case, hence you can save your father and the business. Now the Choice is yours. "

" Brother.... Slow down a bit. " Rudra's plea fell on deaf ears as Kartik refused to decelerate.

" I'll give you time till tomorrow. Exactly by 10 in the morning, The Police will reach your mansion with an arrest warrant.

And before you try to do something funny, spare a thought about your wife who's in my captive. "

The car picked up speed with a roar as the accelerator pedal was pushed to the floor as the speed reached 120kmp. Kartik felt the adrenaline rush weirdly comforting.

" You got to make a decision.Your clock is ticking, Son. "

As They approached a curve, Kartik steered the wheels without slowing down, making the tyres screech as the car took a sharp turn with ease.

" It's either her or your family. "

Foolish was the old man, to think Oberoi family would be complete without her.

She is the home he love coming to.

Is it possible to make a choice between the heart and it's beat?

An incoming call from an unknown number flashed on his car screen. Noticing his brother wasn't acknowledging the phone call rather had his eyes focused on the road as he drove recklessly through the streets, Rudra answered it.

The car swiveled to an abrupt halt, jerking their bodies forward when Kartik heard a feminine voice from the other side.

" Kartik. "

********

A choice has to be made

What will be his next move?

Stay tuned to find out

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter and the upcoming!

Do not forget to drop your comments

I am awaiting to read them !!!

See you soon!