Chapter 26: ✿Chapter 20 ✿

ढलती रात के साये में एक खामोशी सी है,

दिल की धड़कन में छुपी हुई एक उम्मीद सी है,

छुपा लिया है आँसुओं को पलके झुका के,

वो समझ ले अगर, तो किस्मत की जीत सी है।

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Author Pov

The scene within the zoo restaurant has turned from tense to terrifying. Avantika, blood seeping from her head, her white t-shirt now soaked in red, sits motionless.

Her earlier defiance seems like a distant memory, her breaths shallow as the metallic scent of blood fills her nostrils. She feels the wet warmth against her scalp, and yet, her mind is numb—a hollow acceptance settling in.

She casts a slow, hazy glance around the room, noticing families huddled together, eyes wide with fear.

Her ears pick up fragments of sobs and whispered prayers from the frightened hostages.

Despite the pain in her head, her heart clenches painfully as her gaze lands on a young woman across the room.

The woman clutches her swollen belly protectively, a child not more than three or four years old held close to her side.

The child, sensing his mother’s fear, begins to cry—a soft, frightened wail that pierces through the tense silence.

“Chup,ho jao baby,”the mother whispers desperately, trying to soothe him. “Sab thik ho jayega, okay?”Her voice is trembling, thick with fear, and the boy’s small hands clutch her dress tightly.

But the child’s cries only grow louder, the pitch rising with every sob. One of the goons turns abruptly, eyes narrowing at the source of the noise.

The sight of a weeping child grates on his nerves, and he storms over to the woman, his boots heavy on the floor.

“ISSE CHUP KARWAO!” he roars, the veins in his neck bulging with anger.

“WRNA AGAR HUM CHUP KARWANE AAGYE…” He doesn’t finish the threat, but his hand moves to his gun, fingers itching dangerously close to the trigger.

The mother’s face pales as she holds her child closer, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Beta, chup ho jao,”she pleads, her voice breaking. “Please, chup ho jao…”.

The boy hiccups through his sobs, looking up at her with wide, tear-filled eyes.

Avantika watches the scene unfold, her pulse throbbing loudly in her ears.

The numbness from before slowly gives way to anger and a sense of helplessness.

Every fiber of her being wants to reach out, to protect the woman and her child, but her body feels too heavy, her vision still blurry from the blow to her head.

In the midst of the growing chaos, Avantika hears a voice—a low, furious whisper—coming from behind her. It’s Dev, still struggling against the ropes that bind his wrists. “Bhai will come soon Bhabhi”he mutters, his eyes never leaving the goon.

But even as he speaks, Dev knows they are powerless. Every attempt to move only tightens the restraints digging into his skin, and Avantika’s weak form beside him only strengthens his sense of helplessness.

The goon’s patience is running thin. His fingers tap menacingly on his gun, eyes flickering between the child and the rest of the hostages.

“Ek last baar bol raha hoon,” he says, his voice a deadly whisper now, almost a growl. “CHUP KARWAO!”

The child’s cries turn into desperate hiccups as he senses the danger, but he can’t stop himself from wailing.

The room holds its breath, and Avantika feels a tear roll down her cheek, unbidden, mixing with the blood dripping down her face. The hopelessness of the situation washes over her like a cold tide.

Before the goon can take another step, a voice cuts through the tension, firm and unyielding.

“Stop it!”.Vijay, speaks up, his voice rough with a mix of fear and defiance. “he's just a kid".He’s trembling, but his eyes are steady, fixed on the goon.

“Hum sab yahan hain. Tumhe jo karna hai, humse kar lo. But spare that mother and child.”

The goon’s eyes flash with anger, and he takes a threatening step towards Vijay. “Bahut bol rahe ho, buddhe,” he sneers.

Vijay swallows, his jaw tightening. He doesn’t back down, though every instinct tells him to.

Avantika’s eyes widen at the sight, and something stirs within her—an echo of the courage she felt earlier.

She bites down on the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to stay conscious. Forcing herself to stay awake, to think.

Just then, the goon raises his gun, his face twisted with rage. “Ek aur lafz bola, toh—”

But the goon never finishes his sentence. A sharp noise—a commotion from outside—distracts him momentarily, and his head whips toward the entrance.

The room holds its breath, the tension reaching a breaking silence.

A sinister smile curled on the head goon’s face, like he had just won some twisted game. He slowly approached the trembling woman holding her child, who was still crying softly despite his mother’s desperate attempts to shush him.

“Please… I’m begging you don't do anything to him I will do anything. ,” the woman muttered, her voice trembling with terror.

The goon grabbed her chin roughly, lifting her face to meet his dark, predatory eyes.

He chuckled, almost savoring the moment. “Oh, so you’re willing to do anything, huh?” he mocked, his voice dripping with menace.

The mother’s eyes widened, and she could only nod, her lips trembling. The goon’s sinister expression deepened as he spoke again, louder this time so everyone could hear. “She says she’ll do anything!” he taunted, turning to his men.

“What do you say, boys? Should we… have some fun with her?”

Laughter erupted among the other goons, their jeers making the woman’s face pale in horror. Avantika’s heart pounded as she fought to keep her consciousness.

Her breath quickened as she tried to gather the strength to stand up, to do something—anything. But the room seemed to be spinning, and her body was failing her.

Then, suddenly, a voice cut through the chaotic noise. It was trembling but resolute.

“Stop!” Devika shouted, tears streaming down her face. Her voice wavered, but she didn’t falter. “Take me instead!” she cried out, her words filled with desperation and resolve.

The room went silent as the head goon turned towards Devika, his grin widening like a predator sensing easy prey.

“Oh?” he sneered, taking a few steps closer to her. “The little hero speaks up,” he taunted, looking her up and down.

“Devika, what are you saying?!” Anjali screamed, her voice laced with panic and disbelief. “Are you out of your mind?!”

But Devika didn’t look away, her hands trembling as she stared down the man who was deciding their fate. “I… I’ll do it. Just leave her and her child alone,” she pleaded, her voice breaking.

The goon’s eyes glinted with cruel amusement as he closed the distance between them, his grin unwavering. “You’re brave,” he said softly, almost mockingly. “But bravery can be dangerous, little girl.”

The rest of the group looked on in horror, their expressions filled with dread.

Anjali’s face was streaked with tears as she tried to move forward, but Pakhi held her back, fearing what might happen if she intervened now.

“Devika, don’t!” Avantika whispered, her voice barely audible from her weakened state. But Devika stood firm, despite the fear evident in her eyes.

The head goon leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper but dripping with malice. “You’re willing to do anything?” he repeated, as if savoring the power he held over her. Devika squeezed her eyes shut, nodding as tears streamed down her cheeks.

A murmur ran through the group, everyone held in a paralyzing mix of horror and helplessness.

The air in the room turns cold as the head goon steps forward, his demeanor chilling. He looks different from the others—there’s a twisted confidence in his stride, an unsettling grin spreading across his face.

His eyes scan the room, lingering on each terrified face before settling on the sobbing mother and her child. He smirks, taking pleasure in their fear.

He took a step toward the mother and child, savoring the fear radiating off of them like a vulture closing in on its prey.

But as he reached out, Devika’s voice broke the silence again.

"I said, take me instead." Her voice was barely a whisper, but the determination was unmistakable. Her fists were clenched at her sides, trembling yet resolute.

The head goon turned, his grin widening as he looked at her. “Oh, I heard you the first time, sweetheart,” he sneered. “You think I care about your little noble act? You’re nothing but a pawn here.”

Devika’s face paled, but she stood her ground. “If you hurt them, if you lay a hand on that child… you’ll regret it.”

A dangerous silence fell over the room. The goon’s mocking smile faltered, replaced with a look of irritation.

He stalked towards her, gripping her arm roughly, forcing her to her knees in front of him. His face was close, his breath reeking as he hissed, “You think you can talk to me like that and get away with it?”

“Leave her alone!” Avantika’s voice, weak but sharp, cut through the air. She strained against the ropes binding her hands, feeling her head pound, but she forced herself to stay focused, to not let the dizziness overwhelm her.

This was not the time to falter.

The goon’s eyes shifted to Avantika, an amused smirk crossing his face.

“Oh? The silent one finally speaks?” He let out a dry laugh, releasing Devika and stepping towards Avantika.

Avantika’s heart raced, but she forced herself to look up, her gaze unwavering, meeting his eyes with all the defiance she could muster. The pain, the fear, everything faded in that moment. She had nothing left to lose.

Devika gritted her teeth, defiance blazing in her eyes. "My brother will kill you," she spat, her voice steady despite the fear in her heart. "He'll chop you into pieces and feed you to the crocodiles, you bloody-"

SLAP!

The man's hand collided with her face, cutting off her words as her head snapped to the side. She stumbled, her cheek burning from the impact.

"Devika!" Dev shouted, his voice cracking with urgency. "Leave her alone, damn it!"

Ajay voice trembled with a mix of fear and rage. "You coward!" he yelled, straining against his bindings. "How dare you touch my daughter?!"

Vijay's face turned crimson, his eyes blazing with fury. "You'll pay for this!" he growled, voice deep and threatening. "The moment I get free, I swear-"

"Enough!" the goon snarled, pointing the gun at Vijay. "You think you can threaten me?"

"Try me!" Vijay shot back, his voice unyielding. "You have no idea who you're dealing with!"

Avantika's heart pounded in her chest tears slipping down her cheeks as she shut her eyes, a silent plea in her mind. Avyansh ji... where are you?

Meanwhile

Avyansh paced back and forth, the tension in the air thick as he listened to his men. The sound of sirens blaring in the distance echoed in his mind, a reminder of the urgency of the situation.

“Sir, we have got it,” one of his men said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. “We’ve located the main entrance, but it’s heavily guarded. There are at least four armed men stationed outside.”

Avyansh clenched his fists, his jaw tight with frustration. “What about the back entrance? Can we breach it?”

“The back is less guarded,” the man replied, glancing at the surveillance footage on a tablet. “But there’s a security alarm system. It’ll take a few minutes to disable it. We’ll have to move quickly once it’s down.”

Avyansh nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. “We can’t risk any delays. Get our tech team on it. I want that alarm disabled in two minutes. We’ll create a diversion to keep their attention away from the back.”

“Understood, sir,” the man replied, already relaying instructions to the team.

Avyansh felt the weight of the world pressing down on him. Every second felt like an eternity, and he could almost hear Avantika’s voice calling out to him, urging him to hurry.

“We need a plan to neutralize those guards at the back. I want them taken down quietly. No alarms, no fuss.”

One of his senior operatives stepped forward, determination etched on his face. “I can handle the guards. Just give me the go-ahead.”

“Do it,” Avyansh said, his tone clipped. “And make it swift. If anything goes wrong, I want to know immediately.”

As the team set to work, Avyansh’s mind flickered back to the last moment he’d seen Avantika—her smile, her warmth. The thought of her in danger ignited a fierce protectiveness within him. He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her.

“Let’s move!” he commanded, feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins. “For her. For all of them.”

The atmosphere outside the zoo was thick with tension. Police vehicles formed a perimeter, and black-clad SWAT teams moved with a deadly precision, their eyes cold and focused.

Avyansh paced outside, jaw clenched, fighting every instinct to charge in. His guards stood by him, equally tense, but the lead officer had made it clear: he needed to stay back.

“Mr. Raghuvanshi,” the officer had warned, “you’re valuable and too close to this situation. For your safety and that of the hostages, you’ll remain here. Let our team handle it.”

Avyansh’s fists clenched tighter, but he’d nodded, albeit reluctantly. He was a CEO, not a soldier, yet his training and instincts told him he was capable of fighting if it came to that.

He had trained for scenarios like these, mastering various forms of self-defense, survival tactics, and even the art of tactical silence—knowing when to strike and when to stay still.

Still, his composure faltered as he watched the SWAT teams disappear into the zoo, silent as shadows, each equipped with bulletproof vests and tactical gear.

He could hear faint radio transmissions as one officer held up three fingers, signaling his team to split and cover every exit. The plan was meticulous—clear the outer perimeters and work their way inward, room by room.

Inside, the armed goons were restless, their leader pacing back and forth. The hostages had been corralled into a single, dimly lit room, bound and silent, their faces etched with terror.

One SWAT member, just outside the restaurant, gave a series of subtle hand signals, instructing his squad to fan out, systematically clearing the way to where the hostages were held.

With a swift hand motion, one team member took out a knife and disabled the security camera by the doorway, slipping in undetected. The SWAT teams moved like shadows, synchronizing each step, gliding down hallways in single file, weapons raised.

They communicated through sign language to avoid making a sound. One officer signaled for his partner to scout ahead, moving in formation to minimize the chances of alerting the captors.

Outside, Avyansh’s patience was reaching its limit. He turned to the officer with him. “I can’t just wait here. They’re my family. My wife. Let me help—I have training, and you know I can hold my own.”

The officer hesitated, then finally nodded. “We’ll prepare you. But you stay under our command and follow every instruction. Understood?”

“Understood,” Avyansh replied firmly, his expression steeled.

Quickly, they brought out a set of tactical gear, fitting him with a protective vest, a small communication device, and gloves.

One officer double-checked his vest while another explained the entry points and how he could provide support without compromising the mission.

Meanwhile, reporters had gathered outside, their cameras flashing and microphones pushed forward, a flurry of voices calling out.

“Mr. Raghuvanshi! How are you feeling?”

“Do you believe the police can ensure the safety of your family?”

“Are you concerned about your family inside?”

"Are you going to fight with them too?"

Avyansh ignored them, his gaze focused on the entrance where he’d soon be joining the team.

He felt the adrenaline surge through him as he listened to the police’s updates over the comms. Inside, one SWAT team had finally reached the room holding the hostages, peeking in from a side door.

With a precise gesture, the lead officer indicated they’d breach in five seconds.

Avantika stood frozen, a gun pressed against her temple as the head goon snarled, yanking her by the hair to pull her face up toward him. His voice was dripping with contempt, his anger sharp and violent.

"Your husband...he's the problem," he sneered. "Because of him, we have India's best-trained officers surrounding us. Not some useless local police. All because of him!"

He tightened his grip, causing her scalp to burn with pain, her head still throbbing from the earlier hit.

Blood trickled down her forehead, and her mouth was stuffed with a cotton cloth, gagging any cry of pain she might have let out. Her vision blurred slightly, but she could see her family watching helplessly, expressions twisted in worry and horror.

Dev's face was streaked with tears, his fists clenched, trembling in frustration. "Leave her alone!" he tried to shout, his voice cracking with speration, but his own captor held ck, ignoring his pleas. Devika wasping silently beside Dev.

Avantika stood frozen, a gun pressed against her temple as the head goon snarled, yanking her by the hair to pull her face up toward him. His voice was dripping with contempt, his anger sharp and violent.

Pakhi lay unconscious on the floor nearby, her face ashen, and Anjali was frantically trying to revive her, whispering soft words of comfort, her own eyes filled with terror.

Ajay and Vijay, both blindfolded, sat paralyzed with dread. They could only hear the sounds of fear and pain around them, unable to see the horrific scene unfolding.

The head goon looked around the room, reveling in their anguish, and sneered. He leaned in close to Avantika, his voice a chilling whisper.

"Let's see if your precious husband can save you this time," he taunted, pulling her head back even more painfully.

Avantika's mind raced. Every nerve in her body screamed for escape, but she was too weak, too bound to move.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, mixing with the blood on her face.

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To my readers,

You know... my mom is like any typical Asian Maa—she scolds me a lot for spending too much time on my laptop and phone. But what can I do? Writing is something I love, something I want to pursue. It's my way of expressing myself and, honestly, my hope for some appreciation too.

As the youngest in the family, I’ve often felt like my efforts go unnoticed, like I’m always in the background. So here, in this space, as an author, I look to you—my readers—for the appreciation I’ve craved. I just hope this platform can be where I finally feel seen. Will you give me that? Or will this place leave me feeling disappointed, too?

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Thanks for Reading

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