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“Right here, next to me, and she looks a bit uncomfortable. But don’t worry. She’s my fiancée’s friend, and I will make sure she gets the best treatment.”

My body freezes. Is Jaya okay?

“What the hell are you talking about? What is Jaya doing with you?”

“That’s not the right question to ask, Jaan. She’s safe for now. Until you do exactly as I say.”

“Don’t you dare hurt her, Aarav.” I pace angrily.

Is this even possible? Can Aarav Raichand go to this extent to avenge us? He can kidnap my best friend?

“Why are you doing this?” I scowl. “Jaya has nothing to do with you and your revenge. Spare her.”

“I told you she is safe for now. So, you shut up and listen to me. The driver is already waiting for you. Get in the red car parked at the mansion. That’s all you have to do to keep her that way. And I don’t need to mention, keep the police out of all this if you want to save your best friend. Now come on, don’t waste time. We have a lot to do today. The clock’s ticking, Jaan.”

The phone disconnects.

“Hello? Aarav??” I scream, but the line goes blank.

Out of all the things, I never thought Aarav would be so revengeful to hurt people by kidnapping them? Does he even know what he is doing? I take a minute to decide what to do? Mohit!! He can help. I dial him, but the call goes on voicemail.

“Mohit, call me. It’s urgent. I need to speak to you. Please call me back as soon as you get this message.”

I disconnect and grabbing my veil, rush out to obey Aarav’s orders. The red car he told me about belongs to Mohit, but the driver today is not the regular one. I wonder if Aarav has bribed him for this entire stunt. Why has Aarav kidnapped Jaya? I could have asked him to let me speak to her. How can I be assured that Jaya is really with him? I get in the car, and shortly I am out of the mansion. My heart beats frantically at the thought of Jaya being tied and threatened by Aarav and his goons, if he has hired any, which I am sure he has, to pull this act. In thirty minutes, I am out of the city. The deserted road gives me a chill. The car climbs the steep hill roads, and in another 15 minutes, it parks before a small temple.

The moment I get down, I see a vanity van stationed, and before the vehicle stands Aarav Raichand. That’s it. Unable to contain my anger, I run to him.

“Where is Jaya? What did you do to her?”

I am about to clutch his shirt when he grabs my wrists, not letting me touch him.

“Easy.”

“Easy my foot,” I shrug off his hold. “Do you even know you can go to jail if I complain to the police about this? I swear I will do that once I am out of here with Jaya.”

He grins as if I just joked.

“You won’t.”

“Try me!!” I challenge.

“I will, Jaan. I will challenge every emotion and feeling you have pent up within you all these years, but right now you need to decide to what extent you can go to save your friend’s life?”

His question scares me, puts me in another dilemma. What does it imply?

“I am here,” I scowl. “Isn’t it enough to prove I can go to any damn extent to save Jaya?”

Aarav watches me intently.

“And not just Jaya, if it had been Daadi or Mohit, I would have done the same. That’s what people do for their families, which you won’t understand. Your doom is near, Aarav. I will not spare you this time. I will make sure you-”

“Sshh” His finger presses my lips shut.

There’s so much intensity even in that simple gesture that makes me cringe.

“You have wasted enough time bragging about what you could do, Jhanvi,” he mutters. “Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do any of that. So, why waste time on such unproductive talks? Let’s come to the point. You can’t meet Jaya until you do what I say.”

What else does he want me to do? I am here to save my friend. Isn’t that enough?

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