Author's pov

In two days, her life turned upside down. Samriddhi applied for a transfer but didn't get approval.

She is trying everything in her power but can't do enough for that.

Henry also didn't meet her after that encounter at Richard's place.
He followed James's advice and gave her some space.

After talking with Samriddhi, Richard also came to him and talked to him. He also advised him to be patient with her.

He told Henry that she definitely had some insecurities and fears that needed to be overcome.

Henry agreed with Richard and said he felt the same.

On the other hand, Abhinav is also restless. He is worried about his baby sister. She is also not picking up his calls. So he called Kohli Aunty and asked about her.

She assured him that Samriddhi was fine and apologized for what Vihaan did.
"I'm really ashamed of what he did. I'm sorry, Betta (son)." Mrs. Kohli apologizes.

"Please, Aunty, it's not your fault; in fact, I'm grateful that you take care of her as your own. We don't have to worry about her because you are there for her." Abhinav replied. Then he asked about Henry.

"What kind of person is this, Henry? Do you know him, Aunty?" Abhinav asked.

"So she finally told you? Well, I must say, Betta, he is the one for her. He is such a nice guy with great values. I don't know why she is not ready to give him a chance.
Did she like someone else?" Mrs. Kohli asked.

"No, Aunty, there is no one in her life." He sighed heavily.

"I thought maybe that could be the reason because she is always fighting with her mother whenever she brings any kind of match for her." Kohli Aunty said.

"We tried our best, but she is not ready." Abhinav replied.

"Is there any reason?" She asked worriedly.

"She is just scared. Every one of us tried to overcome that, but she is not even ready to listen to us." Abhinav said.

"I know she always runs from these things. Even if we tried to convince her, she didn't listen to us and ran away." Mrs. Kohli replied.

He took a deep breath and then asked, "Aunty, I know you are there for her, but do I really get worried about Henry?"

"No, definitely not. As I said before, he is a gem, Betta. He tried everything to talk to her, but your stubborn sister doesn't even talk to him. You don't have to worry about him; he will never hurt her if that's what you are worried about." Kohli Aunty assured him.

"No, I know she can take care of herself; it's just that she was crying and wanted to come back home." He said.

"You know she is sensitive; don't worry about her, and I'll tell her that running is not an option."
She said.

"I always say the same to her." He said, and then they cut the call after a few minutes.

"Hey, Mrs. Kohli, where is Sammii?" Hannah came to her and asked.

"She must be at your place. I don't know she didn't come here." Mrs. Kohli replied.

"I thought you two were having tea together as always." Hannah said.

"She didn't come to me for tea; it's been a week since Vihaan stayed here. I thought to visit her today; in fact, I'm about to come to your place after completing my work." Mrs. Kohli said.

"It's past 7, and she is always back around 5 or 6 o'clock," Hannah said worriedly.

"She might be late today; sometimes the workload is more than usual, so she is late." Kohli Aunty tried to calm Hannah.

"I know, but she always informed me." Hannah replied.

"She was upset; you know, maybe that's the reason she engrossed herself in work. Don't worry, she'll be on her way." Mrs. Kohli tried to assure her.

"I'll call her." Hannah called, but she didn't answer. "She is not answering."

"Don't worry, we'll keep trying; maybe she is driving or maybe in some meeting or something." Mrs. Kohli said.

"I hope so because I'm so worried about her. She hasn't talked to me since yesterday." Hannah replied, tensed.

They are all waiting for her and calling her. Neither she is picking up their calls nor has she come back. Now it's past 11, and they all got worried.

Samriddhi never does something like this, and it's too late now. Her state of mind was not good because of past events that scare them more.

What if something happens to her? Now her phone is also switched off, which gives them more tension.

They called some of her colleagues, but they don't know about her whereabouts.

"We should contact the police," said Mrs. Kohli.

"Police will not file a complaint within 24 hours of the disappearance." Namrita answered.

"Where is she? I'm worried about her." Hannah replied with tears in her eyes. "I know who's going to help us, and the police will listen to him."
Hannah said so and called Henry, but he didn't pick up. "He is not answering. I'll try again," but still no answer. Then she remembered that he told her to call Beck if there was something important and he couldn't be reached.

She hurriedly calls Beck. After a few rings, she picked up the call.
"Hello." Beck answered the call.

"Henry is not picking up the call; do you know where he is?" Hannah asked in one breath.

"Boss is in an important meeting..."

"It's urgent, please. Sammii is missing. We need his help." Hannah cut her off.

Listening to Hannah's words, Beck didn't waste a second and got inside because she knew her boss had a thing for that girl.

"Boss, sorry to interrupt, but it's urgent." Beck said this while giving him the mobile phone.

He took the phone from Beck and answered, "Hello."

Hannah told him everything in one breath, and he got up from his seat in a swift moment.
"Why didn't you inform me before? Wait. Stop crying. I'm coming. Yeah, I'm on my way." He cut the call and roared, "WHERE IS SMITH?" He asked Beck, and Smith came inside instantly.

"Call the NYPD commissioner and tell him to send a squad. Hurry up; we don't have time." He said this to Smith, and Smith obeyed him instantly. Then he turned to his employees and said, "The meeting is over," and he stormed out. Beck also ran after him.

"Boss, what happened?"

He didn't answer her question but instead ordered her to "call every hospital and private clinic and ask if Samriddhi is admitted there or not." He said that while entering the elevator.

Downstairs, Smith met him ready with his car.
"Give me keys, Smith." He demanded.

"Boss, you are not in a state to drive; I'll drive."

"Don't fucking teach me what to do or what not to do. Give me fucking keys and do what I said." He barked. Smith gave him the keys and sat on the passenger seat beside him. Henry drives recklessly.

"What about the squad?" He asked.

"They started their work, and I sent them her details." Smith answered.

"Tell them to search the whole fucking New York City." He said, and his knuckles were turning white due to his firm grip on the stearing wheel. "Tell them to meet me now at her place."

"Yes, boss." Smith obeyed and called the squad; they informed them they were already there for an investigation.

The whole NYPD team is searching for her, but there is still no clue about her.

Henry got inside, and Hannah started crying and hugging him, "Please find her." She pleaded.

"I'll get her to you, okay? Stop crying." He assured Hannah and wiped her tears. "Officers, what have you got?" He asked the officer.

"Mr Brown We are looking for her everywhere. We already started investigating if there was any accide......"

"No, she has to be fine; please say that she is fine." Hannah didn't let the officer complete.

"They are doing their work; we have to be strong." Namrita tried to coax her.

"Ms We are doing our best. Her call records and location will be in our hands at any moment." The officer replied and left.

"Smith, let's go and find her." Henry said.

"Let me come with you." Hannah pleaded.

"Stay here, and I promise you, I will bring her to you. Okay, stay." He left.

"Boss I think we should start looking at her bank. That's the last place she was seen, according to them. We will definitely find something there." Smith said.

They both drove to her bank, but the building was closed, and the security didn't let them in. Because they were night staff, that's why they didn't know anything about her arrival or departure.

Henry tried to manhandle them, but Smith stopped. He requested them, but in the middle of the conversation, his phone rang.

"Yes, detective. We are already here. Yes, please hurry up." He cut the call. "The police are saying that her last location is somewhere near this place." He said this to Henry.

"Will you please look inside the building for her cell phone or if her car is parked inside or something?" Smith requested security.

"Sorry, sir, but this is a bank, and we can't let you in." One of the security guards said:.

"I know that's why we're telling you to look around." Henry replied in a pissed-out voice.

"There is a black Hyundai parked in there." Other security guards said.

"Open the gates; she is in there." Henry is getting restless.

"Sir, we can't let you in." Security answered.

"DO THE FUCK WITH YOUR PROTOCOLS." Henry lost his mind completely. It's the gate that was protecting the guards or one one them will definitely facing his wrath by now.

"Please go inside and check for yourself." Smith requested the guards.

"SMITH, ARE YOU FUCKING OUT OF YOUR MIND? LET ME IN." He barked at security in aggression, "WHERE THE HELL IS THE POLICE?".

"We are checking CCTV, and there is no one inside, sir." Security replied.

"DO HELL WITH YOUR CCTV." Henry said aggressively that the police were also reached by the time, along with her bank manager. The bank can't be opened for anyone at this hour.

"Mr. Brown." The manager tried to say something, but Henry shut his mouth.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND TELL THESE FUCKERS TO OPEN THE GATES." Henry roared.

The guards open the gates for them and the police. Henry is ahead of everyone. He stopped right at her desk and found her bag and mobile right there.

"She is in here," Henry said, holding her phone.

Everybody started searching for her, but still, she is nowhere to be found.

"I told you, Mr. Brown, she is not here." The manager said, but one deadly glare from Henry made him shut his mouth.

"THEN WHAT THE HELL ARE HER PHONE AND BAG DOING HERE? NOT TO FORGET HER CAR? HUH? " Henry screamed in his face. "Where is the inside footage of your bank?" He asked impatiently.

"We can't show you that, sir." Manager said.

"Yes, you can, sir. It's a matter of a person's life," the police officer said.

Defeatingly, he showed them the footage. Samriddhi was in the bank the whole day. But around 4 p.m., she left her desk and didn't come back.

"Where did she go?" Henry asked.

"But we find every corner of this bank; we find nothing." The detective said.

"But Ms. Samriddhi didn't leave the building." Smith said.

"Oh, shit!!!!!!!" The manager exclaimed.

"What?????"

"I think she is trapped in the storage room." The manager replied, sweating.

"WHAT THE FUCK??? WHERE THE HELL IS THAT STORAGE ROOM?" Henry asked, enraged, and he is really worried for her. He can't even imagine anything bad happening to her. Even thinking about anything possible made his heart restless.

"But if she is trapped, then there must be some sort of shouting or struggling?" Detective asked.

The manager opened the door, praying not to find her trapped here but as if God were not ready to answer his prayers. He saw her half-conscious body lying there. Henry pushed him away and reached for her.

"Hey. You okay." Henry asked, holding her in his arms.
"M-Mr. B-brow..." she replied, losing her fully conscious.

"Samriddhi, don't close your eyes." He pleaded, tapping her cheeks, "Look at me. Don't...." But it was too late; she had already gone into a deep slumber.

"Smith, call the doctor." He said that and scooped her into his arms in bridal style. "I will clear the accounts later with you, Mr. Manager." He said it in a deadly, dangerous voice and left.

The police surrounded him and started asking questions about how an employee could lock in the storage room like this. He tried his best to justify himself, but only he knew what Henry was going to do to him.

Smith is driving, and Henry is sitting in the backseat with Samriddhi in his arms. His heart is breaking into a thousand pieces looking at her lifeless and unconscious self.

"Smith, drive fast." He said impatiently.

"Boss hospital is near her place; why don't we..."

"She is already stressed enough. I don't want the media to get her more  stressed."He replied by cutting Smith off.

Smith drove as fast as he could. When they reach there, All the ladies are already waiting for them at the door.

Henry stepped out with Samriddhi in his arms. Hannah runs to them.
"What's wrong with her? Is she's............"

"She is fine. Let the doctor examine her. Let me take her inside." Henry replied and got inside.

He took her inside her room, laid her down on the bed, and covered her with a duvet. He gently pulled her loose strands away. By the time everyone comes inside, along with the doctor,.

The doctor examined her and said she was faint because of suffocation and weakness. "Don't worry, she will wake after a few hours. I have given her an injection. She will be fine."

"Thank you, doctor." He turned and said, "Smith, please take the doctor and take care of his check."

Smith nodded and left. Mrs. Kohli sits beside Samriddhi and strokes her hair. "What happened to her?" Mrs. Kohli asked.

"I don't know. We find her trapped in a storage room." Henry replied in a broken voice. "Only she will tell us what actually happened."

"She is fine. The doctor said it himself. Don't worry, she'll wake soon." Namrita said. "Hannah, mom, take some rest. I'll stay with Samii."

"No, I'm not leaving her side." Mrs. Kohli denied, and finally, after a series of arguments, Mrs. Kohli stayed in Samriddhi's room.

"If you don't mind, Mrs. Kohli, can I stay here? I'm not leaving her side until she wakes up." Henry asked.

"Of course, son. Stay here." Mrs. Kohli replied.

Hannah offered him her room, but he denied it and sat on their couch. The whole night, his eyes did not leave the site of her room's door.

It was early in the morning when she opened her eyes. Mrs. Kohli is sitting beside her.
"Ah, mera bacha (ah, my child). How are you feeling now? And what happened there?" Mrs. Kohli asked in one go.

Her lips are dry and her throat is itching. She is not able to speak, but with utter difficulty, she said, "Panni (water)."

"Wait, I'll get you some water." Mrs. Kohli replied and rushed to the kitchen. Samriddhi is hungry, so she also followed Mrs. Kohli.

When she came out of her room, She saw Henry half-awakened on her couch, and yesterday's event came to her mind. She remembered that when she lost all her hopes, he showed up as always and saved her.

"Is she awake?" He asked Mrs. Kohli.

"Hummmm." Mrs. Kohli replied

"Let me help you, Mrs. Kohli." He said that while getting up. When he turned, he saw Samriddhi coming out. "What are you doing outside? You should be in your bed." He said, going towards her and making her sit on the couch. "How are you feeling now? Do I call the doctor??"He asked, but she only shook her head in no.

Mrs. Kohli brings water for her, and she drinks it in one go. "Ek hor (one glass more)," she said to Kohli Aunty.

She gave her a glass of water again. She drinks this one slowly, sip by sip.

"Are you sure you don't need a doctor?" Henry asked.

"I'm fine, Mr. Brown," she replied.

"What happened there? I will find out who is behind this; tell me how you were trapped in the storage  room."Henry asked.

"I need some stuff from the storage room. I went in there almost before 5 o'clock, I guess. When I found what I was looking for, it was almost past 5:30. That's the reason someone locked me in there. I guess they think no one is in there because it was past closing time. When I knocked on the door and screamed for help, no one was in there; everyone was gone. It's my fault; I should have taken care of time, and I also left my cell on my desk." She tells her side of the story.

"It's not your fault. Whoever is in charge of locking doors should have looked around carefully before locking the doors." Henry replied, fuming in anger.

"Kohli Aunty, bhukh lg rhi hai (I'm starving)" Samriddhi said this to Mrs. Kohli and didn't reply to Henry.

"There is nothing here, but wait, I'll make something for you. I'll be back in a bit." Mrs. Kohli said and left hurriedly.

"Are you hungry?" Henry asked because he didn't understand what she just said to Mrs. Kohli. She replied yes while nodding her head in yes.

There is an apple on her dining table. He gets up and cuts the apple for her and gives it to her. She started eating it.

"Your manager will pay for his carelessness." He said.

"He didn't do anything."

"He was not letting me in to look for you. Do you have any idea how much I was scared?" He said that while kneeling in front of her.

"Mr Brown......"

"Shssh." He placed his index finger over her lips. "Let me for once." And cupped her left cheek. "I was scared. Weird thoughts were coming into my mind. I thought... I never felt this kind of thing in my life. Your existence now means so much to me. Your unconscious state was killing me." He said and worry was lacing in his words.

"Please, Mr. Brown, don't." She turned her face to the other side and took his hand off her face.

He turned her to face him and held her shoulders. "Samriddhi, I never faced rejection, and your resistance is testing my patience, which I'm also surprised by myself. I want to help you; whatever is holding you back, just try to open up and talk to me." He pleaded.

"There is nothing; why don't you leave me alone?" She replied in frustration.

"I have said this before, and I will say it again: I'm not going to give up on you." He replied confidently.

"I DON'T WANT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE IN MY LIFE. WHY DON'T YOU GET IT?" She screamed, and his grip tightened on her shoulders, he said.

"Why don't you understand that you don't have the same fate as your mother and that everyone is not like your father?" He replied.

She was stunned and didn't understand what to say. Only one thing was going inside her head. How? How? How he does he know that?

By then, Kohli Aunty had come back, and he stormed out. Kohli Aunty called him from behind, but he didn't listen and was gone.

And left confused Samriddhi behind. It's the thing she never even dared to say herself then how does he know that?

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