Avni's POV

I could feel the anger radiating off Mr Khanna but again who am I kidding, the icy look on Mr Khanna's face made it absolutely clear that he didn't give a damn.

Mr Khanna wrapped his fingers around my wrist and dragged me with him to his room.

He opened his mouth but closed it instantly and this repeated two times more. I sighed and hesitantly wrapped my arms around him. What the hell am I doing?

I felt Mr Khanna stiffen and I became sure, this was a wrong move. I was about to pull back when I felt Mr Khanna's arms around my waist.

He didn't say anything and I didn't compel him as well. A peaceful silence prevailed between us which was soon broken by DD, how amazing! Note the sarcasm!

'Don't strangle him. Don't strangle him.'

"Sir."

Mr Khanna raised his perfectly plucked eyebrows at him urging him to continue.

"Sir I'm afraid we didn't catch that man, he himself made us catch him.", DD paused and looked at me." He has a message for you ma'am."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go." I stepped forward to move, but a warm hand clasped around my wrist stopped me in my tracks.

"You're not going.", he declared.

A wave of anger coursed my veins but a part of my mind knew he was doing all this for me only, and if I started an argument right now I'll be defeated by him in no time.

"Mr Khanna please let me go, I need to know what's going on in that psycho's mind."

"Did James talk to him?", Mr Khanna asked DD.

"Sir James and Charles even threatened him to ca," he paused giving a side glance to me." Sir, he's not opening his mouth in front of anyone."

"This is not a good idea.", Mr Khanna mumbled running a hand through his black hair.

We moved towards the basement, Mr Khanna hot on my tail. 

The basement was not like the typical criminal basements you watch on television. It was worse, a stale stench of smoke and sweat filled my nostrils making me scrunch my nose in disgust. DD guided me towards a prison cell-like chamber.

I witnessed a man tied to a wooden chair, his face had a sick pallor, purple-blue bruises covered his face making it nearly impossible to identify him. James was yelling at him, continuously cursing at him to open his mouth but the mentally sick man didn't seem to get affected by him. Charles slapped him right across his face but he just spat some blood and laughed off.

'Mr Dwayne's army is just like him-Mentally crack.'

"Oh look who do we have here.", the man smirked, even with these injuries and all he had the audacity to smirk."Now, I know why the boss is so crazy for you. You're worth it, gorgeous."

Behind me, I could feel Mr Khanna's patience getting reduced to half.

"Oh, we have Neil Khanna here too. Mr Khanna sir how gracious of you to join us in our pity party."

"Shut up bastard.", James yelled.

"Oh Hulk, I'm here to give the message to Miss Gorgeous or better Boss' love huh.", his words were cut off by a loud smack which was given by Mr Khanna himself.

"I don't give a damn about your message but don't you dare take her name from your filthy mouth again or I'll kill you with my bare hands.", Mr Khanna threatened him, he had a very hard look on his face, his either hands on the arms of the chair.

The man laughed maniacally at this."This is so fun, first Boss and now Khanna."

"I'll kill you.", Mr Khanna choked him. I gasped and moved to separate him.

"Mr Khanna stop it for God's sake."

"I don't know why have I not killed him yet?", Mr Khanna clenched his fists tightly.

"Because we need to know Vidyut's next move."

"Beauty with brains. I like it.", the man chuckled evilly and James hit him again.

"Okay tell me what's the message you want to give me?", I said sternly to him. He shook his head and a burst of mock laughter echoed in the room.

"Why no hello, Gorgeous?", he was sick, absolutely screwed in the head.

"Kill him, James.", I commanded and looked at the man whose laughter had died but his evil smile didn't leave his face." Anyway, he wasn't going to tell us, just kill him already."

"Scared now are we, Darlin' ?", he faked a British accent. My eyes peeked at Mr Khanna's side profile and at that moment I could have sworn the anger that Mr Khanna was bottling would be more dangerous than volcanoes bursting simultaneously. 

"Alright alright!", he stopped laughing." Before you guys kill me, lemme give the message to you Gorgeous.", he paused and a menacing look plastered on his face." Let me just recall it, just a second darlin'."

A moment of silence and all of us watching his dramatic faces later.

"Before that a question for you, beautiful."

"What?", I snapped at him, impatience and raw rage flowing my nerves.

"No need to be angry.", he said patiently. There was no way a man could be patient with all these injuries and knowing he was on the edge of life if he was not screwed in his head." Remember what year is this?"

"You're so freaking infuriating.", I clenched my jaw.

"Aww, how cute sweetheart can't curse.", he mocked and I could feel Mr Khanna tense behind me." Well, it's June 2021 ain't it? Remember what happened in June 2007?"

Anger left my senses and got displaced by anxiety and panic when I thought about that certain month.

"W-What are you implying?"

"Haa looks like your pretty head lit up. Well, darlin' remember a certain Arlan?"

My knees began to wobble when that name fell on my eardrums. 

'He is speaking rubbish. That's not true.'

"How? How do you know about him?"

"Oh, sweetheart that's for me to know and you to dot dot dot."

The breath in my lungs got knocked seeing the evil look in his eyes, he wasn't lying.

"Hey, Mr Hulk.", he looked at James." Looks like Miss Gorgeous is getting a panic attack. I'm a doctor, or at least I can try. Open me, will you?"

Mr Khanna whirled me towards him, his face blocked my view from watching anything. I could see his lips moving, telling me he was speaking something but I was too distracted to concentrate on his words. All I could think was he was back. He was free and he was again ready to ruin our lives.

"Can't.. can't breathe.", I choked, tears rolling down my cheeks. Mr Khanna picked me but I was too weak to protest. I felt all those memories came rushing down to my mind. At that moment all I wanted was to escape, escape from all these terrifying memories, escape from this pathetic excuse of a life, escape from acting all brave.

Just when I felt my eyes closing, a certain voice fell on my ears." Miss Mehta stay with me. Don't you dare close your eyes.",  It was Mr Khanna, only he could make a request look like a command.

I tried to open my eyes but they closed and I welcomed darkness with open arms.

______________________________

"When will she wake up goddammit?" A clear cold voice was the first I heard when my eyes squinted. I blinked repeatedly due to the sudden brightness.

"Miss, how are you feeling?", a man wearing a white surgeon coat, definitely a doctor asked me.

Pain coursed my body as soon as I tried to move followed by me coughing. The doctor brought a glass of water to my mouth and I took a few sips.

"Doctor when is..", Mr Khanna stopped once his eyes locked with mine. His emotionless face wore a distinct emotion but it was not the one that I always fail to recognize it was something else, close to happiness.

'Happiness and Mr Khanna, together?'

He walked to me and engulfed me in a warm hug, as if afraid I'll vanish in thin air.

"You scared the living daylights out of me Miss Mehta.", Mr Khanna mumbled for only me to hear, but his words tugged at my chest.

"Ahem, sir I'll be out.", the doctor said but we both ignored him.

All I could think was that he was scared for me?

"I told you it was a bad idea, but you never listen to me. Stubborn-Impulsive-Careless-Woman.", he grumbled, his arms firmly wrapped around me. A laugh escaped me seeing him getting so tensed.

"You find it funny?"

I shook my head." What happened to I-don't-get-afraid-by-anyone-Khanna?", I mocked at him but it seemed he didn't care.

"You're not anyone Miss Mehta. You're the only one for me, you're an exception.", his eyes sparkled.

"You confuse me.", I whispered blankly.

"Why are you so oblivious?" he muttered, which I think was not meant to hear.

"Oblivious?"

He let out a shaky breath preparing himself to say something." I want to tell you something. I -I..", his words was cut off by the door practically bursting.

"Avni.", Liza pushed Mr Khanna aside and hugged me squeezing the life out of me.

"C..can't breathe..", I gasped and Mr Khanna pulled me towards him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Avni. I got so scared when Neil .."

"Okay, that's enough.", Mr Khanna interrupted her but the realisation had already hit me like a truck. The panic attack. The conversation with that man. Arlan.

My thoughts came to a sudden halt when Reece pulled me in a warm hug." You okay?"

"Peachy.", I gave him a sheepish smile.

 Beside him was Mrs Khanna who had a pained expression on her face."Thank God! You're fine child."

I gave her a smile assuring her I was good but in reality, I wasn't.

"Sir, If you allow I need to ask a few questions from Miss.", the doctor popped up from behind. I looked at Mr Khanna silently requesting him to refuse him and as if he read my face he said the doctor to come back later. Mr Surulean or the doctor went off and immediately after Mr Khanna ordered everyone to move out of the room.

"Come here.", Mr Khanna pulled me in a gentle, warm hug. 

And at that moment I felt his arms were everything I wanted right then.

"I won't ask you anything until you're ready to tell." Again I felt a tug at my chest and I knew he was going to wait for me to be ready to speak but the question was that I myself didn't know when I'd be ready.

"I don't know when that time will come Mr Khanna.", a tear rolled down my cheek.

"You trust me?", he looked down at me. All this while, I was afraid he would feel pity for me. I hated when someone looked at me with sympathy, it made me feel weak how I can't fight my battles and how pathetic I am, but Mr Khanna's eyes never showed pity. His face may have been emotionless 90% of the time but at least he never showed pity.

"I do. I trust you."

"Then try to come out of your shell. You are very strong and I know you can do that."

"I'm not strong Mr Khanna. I'm weak, pathetic, an escaper, who always tries to run away from her problems."

"Listen to me, Miss Mehta.", Mr Khanna made me look into his eyes clutching my shoulders." You are the strongest woman I've ever known and I'm proud of you. You made me have second thoughts of women being incompetent. You proved me wrong every single time and for once I'm not ashamed of my defeat, I'm proud of you Miss Mehta."

His words were like a reality check to me and for once I couldn't believe he was the same Mr Khanna who said Women are weak.

"That's one thing that no one has ever defeated me, but you, you are an exception.", he said earning a laugh from me.

"self-conceited jerk.", I mumbled burying my head in his chest.

________________________________

Done! 

 I hope you liked today's chapter.

Now back to the most exciting and most wonderful news. Aditi Rathore, our Queen she's back in an entirely new avatar, in the most unexpected way.

Do watch aapki nazro ne samjha only on star plus @6:00pm. She'll be on screen today.

Thank you so much for reading. Much Love!

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