Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“My Entire Life Can Be

Described In One

Sentence…

…

…

Well, That Didn’t Go As

Planned”

Somewhere around 8 in the morning, back-to-back cars entered Yashodhan society. Security did not stop them. Since it was Sunday morning there were not many people out still some who were already out and about looked on in awe and curiosity. A man in his early thirties got down from the car. He had an entourage of nine bodyguards and five cars. People recognized him; he was Vansh Raisinghania…

The doorbell rang continuously.

“Coming” Sejal called out loudly. God who is in such a rush? Sejal murmured as she opened the door. She was shocked to find Vansh Raisinghania on her doorstep

“What? What’s going on? What are you looking for” Sejal asked no one in particular as one after the other five people entered her apartment including Vansh and started to go through their stuff.

“Where is Riddhima?” Vansh glared at her

“Riddhima? She went to some seminar yesterday. You were here to drop…”

“I know that” Vansh glowered at her “She ran away from there. Did you help her? Confess right now.”

“Ran away but why? and why would I help her? In fact, why would she run away in the first place?” Sejal asked, shocked.

“Don’t. I will check that room” Vansh stopped his guard from entering Riddhima’s room.

Her room was exactly the same as he had seen last time. It smelled like her and he missed her already. He never thought Riddhima could pull this off. He was little amused even proud of her when she ran away. She was his equal in every sense. She fooled two of his best men. He let her play this game thinking when he will capture her this time it will eliminate all thoughts of running away from her mind. He closed her cupboard there was nothing there. The bag which he received had her clothes and cash and his tracker.

How did she find the tracker and if she did then why didn’t she threw just the tracker and went away with her bag??? Maybe she must have thought he had placed more than one tracker in her bag…

He took a picture from the bedside table. It was a family photo of four. Riddhima with her sister and parents. He started checking drawers. Nothing useful… Suddenly his eye caught a bouquet of red roses who gave this to her? Vansh frowned and looked for the card. There was none. What if this is from…Did she take his help? Vansh’s gaze hardened but how is that possible he made sure she did not have any contact with him. He started to go through the room more frantically. He flipped the pillow and a card fell on the floor it read “CONGRATULATIONS!” from Kabir…congratulations why? for running away from him? Vansh left her room with murder on his mind…

*****

“Riddhima ran away and Vansh bhai can’t find her”

“REALLY? Thanks, Aryan it feels like I received some good news after ages” Ishani answered back gleefully

“This is not funny. Do you have anything to do with this? Trust me Ishani no one can save you from Vansh bhai’s wrath if you are involved in this. I have never seen Vansh lose control like this. He always looked mad and angry. This time it has reached another level. He looks demented. Holi's party is canceled. Every bodyguard is involved in this search…”

Ishani scowled at him “Do you think I will help her? How do you think I can be involved in this? and you said she ran away.”

“Yes, but Vansh can’t find her and that’s a first. This can only be done by someone who has resources or maybe someone who knows Vansh. I mean that girl alone can’t pull this off right?” Aryan gave her a suspicious look

“I don’t care. I just wish she stays wherever she is and never comes back” Ishani replied with a huge smile

Ragini moved away from the door silently…

*****

As the time passed her hope that someone will come and save her started to fade as well. It was well into the night now, which means it’s been almost a day now that she is missing. Who can find her? She had already told her friends not to call her and that she will call them when the time is right. Vansh, he must be looking for her but she was not sure if he can find her in this place with no cell phone to track… Sejal will think she is on her seminar, Kabir didn’t know she was going anywhere, and anyway he was angry with her, the flower bouquet was proof of that…By the time her friends realize that something has gone wrong with the plan, these people…

No… This can’t happen to her. She will have to find a way out. She looked ahead, 2 people who kidnapped her were playing cards, the third man, wrong he was a young boy must be 15-17 in age, he looked nervous but was sitting beside them.

Riddhima tapped her foot continuously and moved her chair to gain their attention.

“What is your problem? Can’t you see we are playing?” one of them asked irritated 

Riddhima moved her head trying to say something. The boy removed the cloth stuffed in her mouth.

“I want to use the restroom” she spoke after a minute or two

“Not happening” one of them declared

“Come on, she is a lady and beautiful one at that. We should help her” The man who took her away on the pretext of his wife being ill gazed at her lewdly 

“But boss said…”

“Look at her, do you really think she can overpower us?”

They untied he and the man immediately pulled her close and warned “No funny business”

They took her towards the stairs, the washroom was situated on the ground floor. So, they were on the first floor, Riddhima observed. It was a half-done construction site. The lecherous man brought his face close to hers “all yours” he gestured at the old washroom door.

Throwing a disgusting glance his way Riddhima entered the washroom. The place was disgusting; it smelled of urine. But she was here to look for an escape. There was not much with which she could fight or even make an escape except an empty alcohol bottle. Gathering her wits, Riddhima threw the washroom door open. The men who were talking to each other were surprised, they did not expect her to leave the restroom so soon. Before any of them could react, Riddhima hurled the bottle which hit the lecherous man in the face, and started running away without looking back. 

She could hear the shouts of the other man who kept screaming. But she did not pay any heed. Sun was already set. Without proper light, it was difficult to run but she still kept running before someone grabbed her hair from the back.

“Aaa…” she screamed loudly.

He turned her to face him and slapped her hard. Their leader looked furious…

*****

“You are not part of this search anymore. LEAVE” Vansh bit out

“Boss, please listen. I know I let you down, but please give me one last chance. I will definitely find her” Aangre requested. For him, this was a question raised on his capabilities and he can’t accept that. Plus, it felt as if he let his friend/boss down and that he has lost Vansh’s trust. That should not happen. Pasha was already hospitalized. Vansh shot him because Riddhima ran away.

“NO”

“Boss, I know you think Kabir is involved in this, but he is not. I have a team of our men on Kabir from the start. They did not report anything suspicious. I think her friends may know more about her.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” Vansh glared at Aangre. “I promised Riddhima I won’t touch her friends if she manages to run away because I trusted your capabilities to handle a non-trained girl. And What did you do?”

“Does that mean you won’t question her friends?”

“That will be the last resort. I plan to capture Riddhima before that.”

“Boss…I…”

“3 hours. You have 3 hours to find her whereabouts. If you can’t then you can leave VR Mansion forever. Hope you can manage that much?”

“Definitely. Thanks a lot.” Aangre looked grateful. “I will immediately inform our agents…”

“Already did. Our people are keeping watch on Nia, Sahil, Sejal, Kabir, Ishani, and even Dr. Batra. Their phones are tapped as well. Do something useful will you?” replied a sardonic Vansh

******

Piercing pain seared through the right side of her cheek and arm as she was thrown onto the hard concrete floor. An unbearable pain seared through her right arm as she tried to move it. She cried out as she looked up scared to find her kidnappers. 

“Is this how you work? What if she had managed to run away today? Why am I paying you so much money?” A new voice joined them. It was another male. Riddhima glanced at him. He had covered his face except for his eyes. But his clothes suggested he was from a well-to-do family. Is he the reason for her getting kidnapped? Who is he?

“I don’t understand why you haven't killed her yet?” Riddhima looked shocked and scared. It was a girl this time. Even her face was covered.

“We don’t kill people, just kidnap them for ransom. I told him this already” the leader jerked his thumb towards the new entrant. Riddhima felt relieved but only for a moment as his next words reached her ears and dread filled her.

“But we can make an exception if you give us the amount we have asked for”

“That is too much we don’t have that much money” The new man hissed

“Then we will do something else with her which can fetch us some extra money. She has seen our face”

“I can give you whatever you want please let me go” Riddhima begged him

“Fat chance. You have seen our faces we can’t let you go now” Leader declared

“We will give you 50 cr if you kill her” The girl announced immediately 

“We want half amount before that”

“Done” The girl agreed

“I want to speak with you” the new man tried to take her away.

“Later. First, let me meet our guest of honor” The girl moved towards Riddhima and sat before her

“Who would have thought it would be this easy to lure her into our trap” the girl mocked her

Riddhima could not recognize her voice “Why? Why are you doing this? Who are you?"

A pained whimper left her as the girl slapped her once again. “She is the most stupid girl I have met till now. And to think that she seduced Vansh and is going to be future MRS. VRS. I am going to be MRS. VRS. He is mine. Do you understand” The girl shouted gazing at her spitefully

“Vansh? Is this for him? Look, you have got it all wrong. I was running away from him anyway. You don’t need to do this”

“And he would have caught you by now…you idiot. Do you even know his connections…” The girl sneered at her 

“Exactly why we have to finish this soon” The new man looked at the girl meaningfully

“Sure. Just a few minutes.” The girl backhanded her and slammed her head on the floor. Riddhima felt faint. The girl got up to leave “let’s go bro” she kicked her in the stomach with her heel-clad boot for the last time and left.

“Keep watch on her now” The new man warned the leader and Riddhima felt someone pull her up harshly and tie her to the chair. The last thing she saw before losing her consciousness was the departing figures of two newcomers.

*****

Something's Wrong…

Vansh felt it for the nth time that day. His sixth sense was telling him something has gone terribly wrong and he has always trusted his instincts; they never failed him. Something is happening behind the scenes. But What? He should have gotten her back by now. 

Surely, she is not that pro at evading him in his game. His agents could not fetch any information yet. Where are you, Riddhima? He cursed himself. He should have sent more security with her. He hoped she was alright because this feeling was not going away. The feeling of impending doom.

*****

“It’s morning now and yet we have not received a call from Riddhima” Nia looked tense.

“But she said she will call by evening. Do not worry. We must wait for her call. She has managed to evade Raisinghania till now. Let’s not ruin her plan in any haste” Sahil tried to calm her

“Hmm” Nia agreed 

“Where are you going?” Sahil was startled when Nia suddenly started to leave. 

“I have a few appointments. I will talk to you later” she bid him farewell hurriedly and left before Sahil could reply.

She went to her room. Hurriedly canceled her next appointments on an urgent basis, informed her senior, and left the hospital.

*****

“The man is calling me consistently. How are we going to manage that sort of money? We already gave him 5 cr for Kidnapping” Sunny hissed at Ragini

“I am selling my jewelry and my bank account has some money. I will ask some from dad. What do you have? Let’s give them half the amount now. We won’t give them the remaining amount. Once she is killed they can’t do anything to us.”

“Are you mad?”

“Look we have to kill her, if we do not then Vansh will kill us. Because we both know that Vansh will find her soon. Already his men are keeping watch on Ishani. We managed to visit those kidnappers today, we can’t be lucky each time. We have to act fast”

Sunny sat down tiredly “You are right”

*****

Sahil opened his email and was shocked to see the mail. He quickly opened his locker, took out the extra phone, and tried calling Riddhima, call was disconnected…. 

Riddhima will never do this. He called Nia and reached her cabin. The nurse outside informed him she left a while ago. He must do something but what?

He packed his stuff and left the hospital stating he has some family emergency…

*****

“Wait a second there. So, you are telling me that Riddhima wanted some peace of mind and wanted to think about something, so she left for a road trip without informing anyone where she is going?” Kabir asked her sarcastically

“Yes” Nia replied rigidly

“You do know that I know you are lying”

“Yes” Nia confirmed

“Tell me the truth. Because the Riddhima I know, did not like to change a single thing in her daily routine, she can’t do this. Not that I can be too sure now, she has changed quite a lot. What with the sudden announcement of marriage with Vansh Raisinghania and all…” Kabir spoke softly but there was an edge to his voice

“Look can you keep your personal grudges aside for the time being and help me find Riddhima’s location. I don’t want to disturb her. I just want to know that she is safe wherever she is. And I am not telling you anything aside from this.” Nia finished as she forwarded the number “Riddhima’s number can you trace her location”

“What’s wrong? Do you think Riddhima is in any trouble?” Kabir asked her seriously. Suddenly he got the feeling that everything is not as it seems. And he was behind the time.

“I don’t know okay. Can you check her location or not?” Nia snapped at him

“Okay…” Kabir called someone 

*****

The lady that stood before him, shook. 

“She is the wife of this restaurant owner. She saw Riddhima go away with the man” Aangre informed Vansh.

“Where did she go?” Vansh asked his voice-controlled

“I don’t n..no…” she stammered “I just saw this girl” she indicated towards the photo come out of the washroom. One man called her, and she went away with him but she did not return and after some time, this driver came looking for her”

“I was scared, sir. When this lady told me, she went away with a man I thought she left on her own accord…” the driver looked worried as he glanced at Vansh

“What was the location you were going to drop her at?” Vansh glared at him

“Mahabaleshwar, The Lerida hotel. She has booked a room there. But she has not checked in yet” Aangre replied instead.

Vansh kicked the table in anger which means something has happened to Riddhima. Right now, they were standing at the restaurant where Riddhima was seen for the last time. Both drivers and the restaurant owner’s lady were also present. 

“I want that man’s sketch.” Vans ordered.

“Yes, Boss.”

Suddenly Aangre received a call. It was from VR Mansion Security Guard.

“What? Who?” Aangre frowned. He passed the phone to Vansh. “It’s Sahil. Riddhima’s friend. He is at our Mansion gates. He wants to speak with you”

Vansh snatched the phone “What?” he barked “Send me the details” 

Aangre looked at Vansh to see his expressions turn livid by the minute.

“Sahil opened a bank account for Riddhima. He just saw an email with multiple cash transactions and the account is empty now. When he tried calling the number, Riddhima has with her right now. The call was disconnected” 36 hours 20 minutes 15 seconds he was away from Riddhima. Whoever has his Riddhima is going to pay the price worst way possible. 

*****

You idiot. Why did you switch on this phone? The man shouted at his companion. “If our boss gets to know about it…someone called. Now anyone can trace our location”

“Calm the fu*k down. That account held some money. Boss does not need to know about it. We will split this. And I needed to switch on that phone because I needed otp to remove the cash. I already withdrew some cash yesterday. Nothing happened. The account is empty now”

*****

“Shh…Shh…Shh” Riidhima opened her eyes, someone was poking her shoulder. 

“Hey, I will untie you, can you run away from here? No one is present this is the best opportunity” Someone whispered

Riddhima felt more awake now. Pain, that is all she felt, still she focused her attention on the person. He was a young boy. He looked nervous. Riddhima nodded her head with difficulty. Anything to get away from this hell

She felt the boy untie her. He helped her to stand. “You are on your own now. I can’t help more”

“Thank you” Riddhima stood unsteadily. The gunshot was heard. The boy fell he was dead.

Riddhima started screaming. The man, their leader grabbed her arm and flung her towards the wall. She hit her head and could feel the warm liquid ooze from her head. He raised a gun. She slid down the wall and closed her eyes, accepting the fact that she is going to die today…

*****

“Someone is here” Two men were back.

“Go check” their leader ordered them. Before anyone could move, someone fired a gun. One of the men fell as someone shot at his leg. More people poured in. 

“Don’t kill them. I want them alive” Vansh ordered silkily and moved inside the room. What he saw made his heart stop for a second.

“Riddhima” He ran to her and took her in his arms. “Can you hear me?” he patted her cheek lightly

Riddhima opened her eyes with difficulty. He is here…Vansh is here…He hugged her. 

“Riddhima” someone else called out “Is she okay?” It was Kabir…

 Her eyes watered. Maybe there was still hope for her…

“Don’t touch her” Vansh hissed as he picked her up. “Aangre bring the car. We need to take her to the hospital. Riddhima, don’t close your eyes”

”Vansh…” she called him. Her voice was but a mere whisper.

“Yes, baby I am right here. Everything is going to be fine now. It’s over” He kissed her forehead

She hummed a soft reply, her voice was barely audible.

She felt him move her in his arms to hold her more securely. That mere action brought shot an agonizing pain in her side making her cry out.

“Watch out! You are hurting her” Again it was Kabir

“Riddhima…” Vansh called out “I am so sorry”

They were moving. She could hear someone shout frantic orders; she was being moved around.

“Just stay with me Sweetheart. Don’t close your eyes” he repeated once again

And she wanted to do just that, she wanted to keep her eyes open to see herself get out of this mess, but her body did not listen to her this time as darkness took over. She gave into her body’s command to shut down hoping that when she opens her eyes again everything will be better.

She hoped that she would wake up…

*****

Note:

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