*Anusha Pov*

It's been twenty four hours since I heard those words from him. It's been twenty four hours since the whole family is worried for Aunty.

"Satvik! Twenty four hours finished and I think the police will take the complaint now." I mumbled when he slumped on the chair after calling everyone we know.

"I already called them." Uncle said, walking near Satvik with a normal face, but I can see the tension covering his features.

"When were you going to tell us about this man, Satvik?" he asked when Satvik stayed silent.

"Uncle! We didn't think he will..." he stopped showing me his hand and just stared at Satvik.

"Do you even know what danger your Mom is in? And she has nothing to do with him or anything else." He continued and before I can say anything to stop him he shook his head with a frown at me.

"If anything will happen to her..." he trailed off, looking at both Satvik and me, after which Satvik finally glanced at his father.

"Dad! Police are not serious after talking to our neighbors." We heard his brother walking towards us with Manvi.

"Why?" Satvik asked him.

"Our neighbors informed them that Mom used to be disturbed and sad after your marriage and the police are thinking Mom wantedly left." He explained and I closed my eyes hearing those words.

"How can they do that? I wish... I wish there is one clue to show them that he kidnapped Mom." Satvik mumbled and we all heard the bell ringing.

Manvi left us to see who it is and returned after a few minutes with a courier and stared at us with worry.

"No one was there except this." Saying that she passed the cover to Uncle but Satvik snatched it and opened it.

He took out one paper and started reading not making a sound, but suddenly glanced at me making me frown.

"What is it?" Uncle asked and he calmly passed the letter to him before taking out another thing which turned out to look like a legal document.

"What is it, Satvik?" I asked, feeling the tension passing through him.

"He wants both of us to sign this document." He replied and I frowned at him.

"He wants our company? Okay! We will sign off." I said, moving near to him.

"No! He wants us to sign the divorce papers." His words stopped me in my tracks with air rushing out of my body.

"What?" I asked in a whisper.

"He said... he said that after signing we need to drop them near our gate within two hours. Then... then tomorrow evening he wants... he wants you to meet him after which he will drop Mom at home otherwise..." he trailed off closing his eyes holding his hands in fists while I felt mine shaking after hearing the words.

"Why is he behind her this much to even hurt Mom?" Manvi asked and I turned to see her crying.

"I will talk t police now showing this. Now, they will realize this is kidnap." Saying that Uncle walked off with Jatin following him while Manvi left the room to prepare something to eat for all of us.

I finally slumped beside Satvik not feeling any strength to stand before placing my hand on his shoulder but he sat like a statue.

"Satvik!" I whispered, feeling scared with everything and he slowly turned towards me to stare at me.

"What do you think we should do?" he asked in a blank voice and I felt the tug seeing the pain he is hiding.

"Uncle went to talk to the police. Now we have proof." I whispered, telling him in a way that I don't want to sign the divorce papers.

"Will they find him within two hours? He said he will harm her if the document is not there." He mumbled, closing his eyes and held the document in a tight grip.

"What do you think we should do?" I asked back repeating his words.

"My mind is not working except the guilt that is eating me. How my Mom must be feeling to be abducted like that and not understanding why such thing even happened?" he mumbled and I bit my lip from letting out a sob.

"She will be safe, Satvik." I mumbled, but he shook his head.

"This is all because of me. I underestimated him to be involved in this battle only through business but now my Mom..." he broke down at the last word and I immediately embraced him letting my tears flow.

"It's already one hour over. I hope police can find her within the next hour." Manvi whispered when we both sat silently on the couch.

"I don't have any trust on that." Satvik word's made me turn and stare at him realizing he is in blank mood.

"Satvik! If by our signing Aunty can be spared with a few more hours to be searched then... let's..." I couldn't finish it but he stared at me before closing his eyes.

"I am sorry!" saying that he opened his eyes before leaning over the table and calmly signed while my heart broke at the helplessness surrounding us.

"He will not have time to let this divorce process continue within one day. By that time he will be caught." He explained, holding my hand and I nodded, trying to stop my hands from shaking and held the pen.

"And even if it goes through that, you guys can get married again with your families present this time." Manvi offered and covered her mouth from letting out any sound of sobs.

With her words ringing a strength passed and I signed the document. After which there was complete silence, but broke when he hugged me tightly.

Then he walked out to drop the document as instructed while I sat there still feeling the shock of doing one thing which I never thought will happen in my life and that too when Satvik is the person to whom I got married.

By evening the whole house filled with the commisioner and many people who are involved in making a strategy.

"As he asked her to meet him, we will catch him right that moment. And he will not be stupid to keep your wife somewhere far from his side." Commisioner explained to Uncle.

"I need to meet him?" I asked them with wide eyes and suddenly everyone looked at me.

"We will be near you only, Mrs. Satvik. You need not worry about that. We will place our men near the warehouse from morning itself and there may be no need for you to come there also if we find him before hand." He explained and they left after some time while I just stood there.

"Sha! I will also be there with them. I have already talked to them." Satvik said reaching me.

"You will be there?" I asked, feeling the relief and he nodded hugging me.

However, when I reached our room, I took out my mobile and called the one person who can actually give me complete strength, but when he didn't lift the phone I dropped a message on voice mail before throwing the phone on the chair.

The whole night we both lay silently holding each other and I prayed that everything settles by tomorrow itself with Aunty safe in this house.

"You understand what we are saying, Mrs. Satvik?" Commissioner asked after giving the instructions.

"Try to make him stall as much as I can." I replied and he nodded before giving me the bluetooth which I placed before covering it with my hair.

"No matter what, just follow the instructions. Because even a small mistake can harm your mother-in-law's life." He stated before moving away while Satvik stilled beside me.

"I need to have a word with you, Mr. Satvik." Saying that Commissioner took him away along with Uncle and Jatin.

"Be safe, Anusha." Manvi said hugging me.

"Everything will be fine!" I said the words that I am chanting in my head from morning.

"Let's go!" we suddenly heard Satvik and saw his face fuming making me frown.

"What happened?" I asked him, but he took a deep breath, calming down before giving me a smile and shook his head.

We reached near the warehouse area a little away from the main path. We all got down before they started spreading themselves.

I turned and hugged Satvik tightly, but heard a sound to see a car arriving and his whole family with Manvi got out of the car.

"We thought they will be more safe with us if he plans something else." The officer explained and I stared at him thinking why didn't they tell me.

I took a deep breath and started walking but stopped hearing the officer saying, "It is better if we are more careful and you shouldn't push away the scenario of her working along with Laksh. You only told us her marriage was fixed to him."

I covered my mouth hearing those words from bluetooth making me remember Satvik called me when we started from home to check the device.

"Don't say such things again." Satvik warning calmed me down and I cut the call before walking towards the path and felt my phone vibrating.

I picked it up only to hear the sick laughter before he asked, "These many police for some old woman?"

"Laksh! Leave her alone." I pleaded with him.

"Sure! But you shouldn't have hugged him, Anusha." He stated and looked around to find me.

"You are here?" I asked and he laughed again.

"Do you think I am stupid? I am not there and even your Mother-In-Law is not there." His reply brought a shock.

"Then... then why am I here?" I asked, holding my hands together to stop them from shaking.

"I want you to escape from there, not letting anyone know before reaching your soon to be Ex-husband's house if you want her to be alive. And if I found out from my men that you informed anyone there then she is dead." He replied and I heard a scream which definitely belongs to Aunty.

"I... I will come. I... will be there." Saying that I looked around to see the police that are in disguise before reached a curve where no one is there except the plants on either side.

I took my escape right then before catching an auto and just them my phone started ringing. When I saw it is Bhai, I immediately lifted crying before telling him how I am going back to Satvik's home without thinking feeling the fear.

Realizing what I did, I hung up and covered my face to stop the sobs. With them, I know I can't do anything right now and Aunty's life depends on my actions.

I entered the house running and looked around but didn't find anyone except a sound from backyard and I immediately ran out through the backyard to see him smirking.

I looked past him to see Aunty standing a little away with her hands and legs tied and her face has a bruise making me clutch my stomach but I ran to her and removed the wire.

"Are you okay, Aunty?" I asked her kneeling down to touch the wire around her legs.

"You shouldn't have come, Anusha. He is a sick person." She replied with weakness, crying out of her body.

"How can I not come? You are my family." I said, holding her hand and heard a loud curse.

"Didn't I tell you that you shouldn't inform anyone?" he shouted, making me look at him before I can remove it.

"I didn't!" I replied, to which he scoffed.

"Then why is everyone returning and that too here directly?" he asked, but before I can say anything he took out a gun.

"I always keep my words, Anusha. You informed them and now she needs to die." Saying that he lifted it, but I immediately started walking near to him.

"Please! I am here, right? Leave her alone." I pleaded with him, to which he smirked.

"It's perfect! They will be here within a few minutes and if I kill her, they will be concerned with her while I can take you away." Saying that he pointed the gun at her making me stop in my tracks.

"No!" I screamed and turned around running to her, but before I can pull her aside with her legs still tied, but then heard the gun firing to which I turned back to face him and stepped before her closing my eyes and pushed her aside from behind.

"Anusha!" Aunty screamed when the impact hit me and she fell down while I staggered to my feet.

I bent down, fearing she got hit and leaned over to check her pulse, but it was strong, however I felt an immense pain slamming in my stomach and looked down to see blood oozing out and falling on her.

We heard the shouts just then and he started running off from side space with madness covering his features. What if he will point out at Satvik? I thought hearing their voice and took a strength from fear before running behind him holding my stomach.

Just when I passed the house from the side, I saw one officer entering the house and I couldn't shout at a voice which can reach him so I followed Laksh.

But then when he reached the gate, he staggered back and I stopped in my tracks seeing him get hit by a gunshot on his knee.

When he raised his gun over the gate, another hit his shoulder and finally he fell down while I stood still with shock.

"Aun!" I heard the voice making me look at Bhai who is rushing near me with two more people while two others held Laksh.

"Bhai!" I whimpered staggering back and his eyes widened.

"Ambulance!" he screamed and someone immediately called.

"He is unconscious and don't worry, he will not see the outside world again or maybe this world again." One of the person said.

"Thank you!" I whispered to him.

"We should thank you for helping us to catch the child trafficking dealer here and if your brother hadn't asked for our help we wouldn't have ever known Laksh is the one." Saying that they hauled him and walked away while Bhai held me with tears in his eyes.

"Bhai! Satvik will be worried for me. I need to go and tell him I am fine." I said taking a step back but looked down to see myself covered in blood.

"Bhai! It will scare him to see all this. Give me your jacket." Saying that I took it from him and started walking back into the house through side space with surprise strength feeling one goal to finish.

I whispered his name when we reached the backyard but still away from him not able take another step but then... then hearing his words made me step back with Bhai already holding my shoulders.

"Bhai!" I whispered and turned around feeling the blankness even though my eyes are open but after a few seconds they closed off on their own.

*Satvik Pov*

"What? What is she doing there?" officer shouted after lifting the call.

"I should have followed my way, Mr. Satvik. Your wife is not here but reached your house and that's why we couldn't reach her. It's a good thing one of my team member was asked to be there and he just reached there to see this." Saying that he called up everyone.

"There must be a reason." I warned him but turned to see Dad's and Bhai's accusing eyes at me.

We just reached the house with my heart fearing for Mom and Anusha. And when we reached there we heard a gun shot and a loud scream of Mom saying Anusha's name.

I ran inside along with everyone to the backyard to see Mom lying on the ground with blood covering her body, making all of us stagger in shock but reached her in the next second.

"Mom! Mom!" I screamed, shaking her and felt being pushed away before Dad and Bhai along with Manvi occupying her side.

"Mom!" I screamed, feeling the fear and everything rushed back remembering how hurt she was because of my actions and these few months I was made to be distant from her.

And now... now she... No! She can't leave us like this. I need to apologize to her and make up for everything for the mistakes I made. I cursed myself while Dad called an ambulance, but I stared at her lifeless body.

"Satvik!" I heard a whisper and turned to see her standing away with her brother.

And suddenly all the guilt and anger rolled out of me before I shouted asking, "Why Anusha? Why didn't you follow like the officer said when you know her life is in danger?"

"I like a stupid was fighting for you but... but you couldn't even follow the instructions? Wasn't my distance from her enough that she had to be in danger too?" I shouted.

"This is all my mistake. What was I thinking all those months back? I should have never met you then my Mom would have..." I stopped not able to say the words and my Mom's pleadings entered my mind.

"Were you with him?" Dad asked and I closed my eyes tightly.

When she whispered my name again, "Get out! Get out from this place before I do anything stupid."

I fell down beside my Mom and felt her hand moving. I stared at her and just then we heard the ambulance.

"Mom!" I whispered and she opened her eyes, making my breath rush out of me in relief.

"Sha! Mom is awake. Anusha! Mom is awake see." I continued to talk but didn't feel her beside me.

"Anusha!" I called looking around and asked Bhabhi about her, but she just glared at me.

"You are searching for her after throwing her out of the house and saying all those things?" she asked with disgust.

"What? I didn't... I..." I stopped remembering what and all I talked.

"Anusha!" Mom whispered.

"Anusha... Anusha... he shot her." She whispered.

"Mom! What are you saying?" Manvi asked her and just then we heard the ambulance leaving.

"He... he shot me, but she took the bullet. She... she saved me." Hearing her words there was nothing but silence around us while I felt like I can't breath anymore.

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so, here it is the break point... next chap onwards it will be the time where "against all odds" happened... i will not repeat many things but some may get...

how is it???

comment plz and vote...