Very important Note:

I should warn you that this chapter might contain some traumatic content. I tried to minimize its length but whatever  abusive content is written, I put it inside the *****warning box.

If you are not comfortable reading it, skip the part between *** which comes much later in the chapter.

Keep your favorite music videos or movies scenes ready to make you move on from this. Also read the update at a time when you are comfortable in, helps you in moving on faster. 

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"You have made me so happy Omkara. It is so good to see you after years," the old man said.

"Pleasure is the same Mr. Vinod. I am sorry that I couldn't come earlier," Omkara replied with a warm smile, taking a seat beside the hospital bed.

"I am going to live way longer than these doctors predict. Do not worry about me," came the reply making him chuckle.

"So, I heard you are married and with the way your art transformed over the last few months I guess you are in love."

When Vinod saw the smile widen, he guffawed.

"Ah, finally I got somebody who could vouch for the power of love. The next time you say there is no God, maybe I can ask her to give you a good scolding?" the elder one jested.

"Oh God. She already does that. Do not remind me of all the poojas I had to go through."

Vinod laughed heartily and patted the younger ones shoulder.

"What is her name Omkara?"

"Gauri Omkara."

"Sweet. You wouldn't let her part from your name then."

"Naah, never."

"I am happy for you. Convey my greetings to Gauri Omkara," the old man said.

Before Omkara could reply, the door to the patient cabin burst open and in walked an angry old woman. Her eyes scanned the room and fell on the half eaten food on the side table.

"What did I tell you about wasting food?" she growled as the old man cowered in fear.

"Umm. This must be Mrs. Vinod. Isn't she?" Omkara asked with a smile.

The woman who did not note the young man's presence before, looked at him with a frown.

"Haritha, this is Omkara. Do you remember the painting I gifted you three years back on your birthday? He is the artist," Vinod introduced making her widen her eyes.

"Omkara Singh Oberoi?" she asked for confirmation and received a faint nod from the former.

"Hi Mr. Oberoi," she warmly greeted him.

"I prefer Omkara, Mrs. Vinod," the artist got up to greet her.

"Oh, then you can call me by my name too, young man," she said giving her hand for a shake.

"Good to see you Haritha ji."

"Nice, I like him Vinod," she said turning to her husband.

"You just met him wifey," the man said with an eye roll.

"Well, I liked the way he got up to greet me. Sanskaari ladka hai. He also did not call me aunty and his hands are warm for a shake."

Omkara laughed at the weird compliment while Vinod just sighed.

"Did you come for any work? But Vinod is not..." she started.

"No, I just wanted to see him. I got to know of his health only yesterday."

"That's nice of you. Come and have lunch in my home today."

"No, it is not necessary..."

"I did not ask you Omkara. You are coming," she ordered him.

"Don't threaten the poor kid woman, he will eat at our place. Maybe you should go and make the arrangements," Vinod asked.

"That's right. I will see you at noon then," she told them and walked away from the room just as hastily as she came.

Omkara gave his sponsor a pitiful glance and the former shrugged his shoulders.

"She is a tsunami. Didn't I tell you that love is a handful to handle? She is that handful," Vinod complained and Omkara shook his head with a smile.

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That evening,

"Gauri, your voice is so melodic. It is a pleasure to hear to you. After this performance also, you should continue to learn music," her music teacher advised her.

"I will madam," Gauri smiled, happy with the compliment.

"Good, we have practiced enough for today. I am sorry that I got late. Tomorrow, I will come exactly by five in the evening," the teacher said and the pupil nodded her head.

"Okay, it is late already. Shall we leave?"

"Yes mam," came the reply before she walked out of the room.

Gauri was walking towards the garden when she heard her name being called. She turned around and smiled.

"Sonia," she greeted her classmate.

"Hi Gauri. How did the practice go?"

"Good."

"I was to ask you about the rangoli designs. Can you..." Sonia stopped her sentence as she started to cough loudly

After a few seconds when she started to get breathless, Gauri began to worry.

"Sonia, what happened? Are you alright?"

"I... I think it is the cake," Sonia said clutching her throat.

"Ca...can you get me s.. some water?" she stuttered and Gauri nodded her head in a yes.

She made her sit in the nearby bench and leaving her bag there, she ran in search of water.

After her target was out of sight, Sonia stopped her act and opened her clutch. Removing Gauri's phone which she took earlier, just before the former went to the practice room, she placed it back in Gauri's college bag.

She turned back to signal her partner who was watching her, hiding behind one of the pillars of the college building.

Ajay nodded his head and took out his phone to instruct his men marking the start of his evil game.

"Sonia, here."

Gauri came rushing back with a bottle of water in hand.

The betrayer tried her best to look in discomfort and took the bottle with shaky hands. One or two gulps later she took long deep breaths and thanked her rescuer with utmost gratitude.

"Thank you so much Gauri," said Sonia with a relaxed smile.

Gauri placed a hand on her chest and sighed in relief.

"You scared me Sonia. What happened?" she asked taking a seat beside her.

"I am so sorry that I scared you," Sonia replied.

"It must be an allergic reaction. I ate a cake five minutes back. I think it had hazelnut."

"Oh, are you okay now? My driver should come in a few minutes. We can go to the hospital," she offered.

Sonia shook her head in a no saying a thanks again.

"I will go home in some time and take the medicines. I am absolutely fine Gauri. It is past eight in the night. You should go home and rest. Don't worry," she replied gently squeezing the former's hands.

Gauri hesitated for a minute but Sonia again assured her, making her agree to leave her there.

Wishing each other a goodbye, they dispersed.

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It was way past her usual time to head home but she informed Shivaay in the afternoon that she will be late for the day and asked him to send the driver instead of personally coming to pick her up like always.

She checked her watch again and twisted her lip.

Why didn't her driver come till then? She wondered.

Deciding to call him, she searched her bag and took out her phone only to realize that it wasn't switched on. After a few unsuccessful trials to switch it on, she cursed the gadget and threw it in her bag.

"Madam, I should close the college gate. It is past the closing time," she heard the watchman say, looking at her apologetically.

"Chacha, can you wait for a bit longer? My driver must be on the way."

"It is against the rules madam. You can wait near the college hostel. It is at a little walking distance from here," he advised her.

Oh yeah. I can meet Himani too and call home from her phone..... thought Gauri and nodded her head.

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The night appeared darker than black as the only street light on the road blinked and fused off with an eerie sound.

Gauri stopped in her tracks and turned around.

The college gate at the far end of the street was closed and she couldn't see the old watchman from where she stood.

Should she head back?... she contemplated.

Not long after, the distinct sound of boots filled the air making her heartbeat fast.

In the darkness, she could faintly make out a group of people walking in her direction. Deciding to ask for help, she headed towards them.

However, a few steps later, she regretted her action.

It was a group of men who were twice her size and did not look friendly. Turning back, she increased her pace with an intention to reach the hostel faster.

One moment she was walking and in the other, she was roughly grabbed and arrested with a pair of strong hands. She tried to wriggle and scream but her voice was cut off when one of the gangsters firmly closed her mouth.

Her eyes watered with fear and helplessness as her hands were tied with a cloth  halting all her attempts to fight back. Before the feeling of dread completely numbed her, she was dragged away from the road into the darkness.

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Arjun drove his car through the streets with the speed of lightening. Though he lived at a ten-kilometre distance from the college, he was out for some work in the market when he received the call.

Praying that he wasn't too late, he broke another signal with no regret. When he pulled the breaks in front of the college some time later, the car stopped with a screech which sounded louder in the silence of the night.

Getting off the vehicle, he ran towards the gate and saw Sonia frantically waving for him.

"Where is she? Where are they?" he spoke in between his breaths.

"They took her that side," she pointed into the darkness. Without another word he ran, got back into his car, and sped in the direction.

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******Reader's discretion advised... disturbing content ahead*****

Gauri tried for freedom but her predators spared no mercy. She was driven to a worn-out place which seemed not far away from her place of abduction. With fear gnawing at her insides, she felt herself being sprawled on the ground despite her attempts to kick with her legs.

Two men held her down while the other two stood in front of her, as if waiting for the chance to pounce.

How can her Shankar ji let this happen to her?

Where was her husband when she needed him the most?

Her pleas didn't deter the devils from having their sadistic pleasure and her tears did not melt them. Her body shuddered with disgust as one of the men grabbed her dupatta and pulled it off her body. She cried through her gag and her moans only made them smile.

One of the smirking men settled beside her on the floor and firmly cupped her face with one hand. She twisted her head so forcefully to get off his touch that it pained her neck.

"Just a few minutes more," he murmured to her but she refused to listen to him, trashing her legs to show her anger.

The last man sighed and got to his knees to hold her legs in place.

***********end of mature content*********

"Gauri!!" she heard a distant call and the men looked in the direction of the door.

Knowing that she had help, her efforts increased and the men tried hard to hold her in place.

In the next few minutes, the door to the cabin was broken down and Arjun rushed inside to look at the blood curdling sight.

"Get off her," he screamed and lunged at them with anger.

The men succumbed with no effort and the two fair people were in too much trauma to understand the plot.

After the devils fled the place, Arjun reached Gauri and helped her up.

Asking if she was alright seemed to be a senseless question since she was clearly shaking as he took her into a comforting hug.

"Nothing happened Gauri, I am sorry you had to..." he mumbled caressing her hair and she numbly stood against him too shocked to respond.

"Gauri," he parted from her and cupped her face.

Her ears still rang with the eerie laughter and her voice didn't dare respond even to her rescuer.

When she stayed numb for a long time, he shook her shoulders with little force.

"Gauri, look at me," she heard him clearly this time.

As if woken up from a nightmare, she dazedly looked around the place for a few seconds and then at the worry-stricken face of her professor.

Reality pinched her hard and she burst into a fit of sobs, hugging him for saving her dear life.

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I am sorry if I hurt anybody here. I tried to write as less details as possible and make the experience less traumatic.

I hope you would forgive me if I crossed a line.

The rest of the story, you must be having an idea how it would proceed right? That should mark the end of the suspense.

Things will get better.

Until the next update, signing off yours Soujanya. ❤❤❤