Dedicated to @neharika21sharma, for not giving up 🙃🙃

Aryan.

"We will make sure these kinds of fake photos won't circulate anymore sir," The officer said and I looked at the guy who was inside the cell.

The cybersecurity people in the company has already found out where the leak came from.

I looked at the guy who was petrified to see me. According to the police, he is working in an internet cafe near our college.

"I... I really didn't know sir," he said. "I didn't know it was fake, I was just asked to expose it," he said.

I looked at the poor excuse of a human being that has no connection with me.

I walked to him.

"How dare you..." I whispered and looked at him.

Even though he was inside the cell, he flinched and moved away from me.

"Do you know how much my reputation is worth? Do you know who I am?" I said deadly.

"I... I didn't know it was fake, they just told me that I just have to expose it,"

"Who asked you to do it?" I asked again. "I suggest you tell me the truth or you will be very sorry when you come out of here."

"I... I really don't know sir..." the guy trembled. "The Pen drive was delivered to me by post," he said. "I was just... I was just having a difficult time and I was... I had no choice to get that kind of money."

Of course...

Money!

It all comes down to that every time.

I looked at the police officer who looked nervous.

"He was paid Rs: 50,000 by cash, we have no way to follow the source," he said.

I see red.

I turned to the bastard.

"You sold my reputation just for a mere 50,000 Rupees!?" I stepped near him, standing so close to the cell. "Do you know what you have just done!?" I whispered. "Do you know what just happened?" I stared him down.

"I... I was desperate. The bank already issued the last warning and I thought I will lose my house-"

"Shut the hell up!" I can't believe that the guy is giving me excuses when he could have just affected the company if the pictures were not taken care of in a short time!

"It's your mistake if you are not competent and a failure. You should have just begged in the street instead of trying to ruin people," I whispered, lowering my voice just like my Dad do whenever he is angry and trying to control it.

"I... I will... pay you back," he said. "I will really... pay you back-"

He was cut off when I laughed loudly.

I can't believe this guy! He dared to do something like this and he is acting like some sort of saint.

"You don't have to pay me," I looked at him coldly, "I always get my debts repaid without anyone's help," I walked out of there.

I was still fuming and I was afraid that I would burst inside there.

As soon as I was in the car, I started to take deep breathes. When I was sure that I won't lose it, I took out my phone with trembling hands and dialled.

"Hello sir?" it was my lawyer.

"Get me every detail on this guy locked up inside. I need you to take care of this guy."

"Ah... yes sir, I will do that as soon as I settle everything in the company," he said immediately.

I disconnected the call.

"Aryan," Jay tapped on the side window and I relaxed slightly.

"Well done, You took care of it yourself," Jay said while he opened the door and got inside on the driver side. "That was fast."

"I have to be fast and alert 24/7 to deal with emergency situations like this,"

"Did the police ask anything about the photos?" I asked him and he shook his head.

"No. They think it's fake," I said.

"Of course, it is fake." Jay grinned and I chuckled, slightly calming down.

"Then let's go back," he said.

I leaned back to the passenger seat.

I am glad that someone is here with me when I am facing problems.

If there is one person to whom I am thankful to in my life, it's my best friend; Jay.

I know that Jay came here to drive me back, he guessed that I would not be able to do it.

Some day, I will surely pay you back, Jay...

Just like I don't like people taking from me or using me, I can't accept help without paying back as well.

I watched him driving.

Maybe I am shallow to think of it like this, but I don't want you to be tired and fed up because of me one day, I don't want you to leave me alone too.

Everyone I treasured always left me back.

Jay sighed slightly.

"What? Are you unhappy about something?"

"I just remembered that I have to take care of something unpleasant," he said and looked at his watch, a frown on his face.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, I will take care of it."

Jay.

It's probably not the best time to tell Aryan about Ananya.

He will only get angry, besides, we still don't know who asked that guy to expose it.

So I might not be completely wrong about Ananya.

As soon as we reached Aryan's apartment, I stepped out and took my phone out.

I dialled Rahul.

"Hello? Did you take care of everything at the station?" He asked me.

"Yes, thanks to you, the media didn't pick it up."

He was working on this until Aryan called us to inform that the culprit has been arrested.

"That's good then."

"Are you free now?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Then do me a favour, go to our old boxing-ring, I locked up-"

I stopped as Aryan appeared near me with a glass of water.

"What?" Rahul asked me from the other side while Aryan was listening to me as well.

"Isn't the old ring under renovation?" Aryan asked me.

"Um..."

"What did you leave there?"

"I just... I think... yeah, a kitten, I went there to have a look and now that I think about, I think I saw a kitten inside," I said more confidently. "You have to unlock the door for it," I told Rahul.

"Are you crazy!? Do you want me to go there now? look at the time, it's already seven!"

"Um... yeah, but I think it was locked inside for the last 5 hours," I said.

"It's a kitten, It can go out whenever it wants, Jay, it will find the way out."

"It won't!" I said sternly now. Aryan raised his eyebrows while Rahul started to curse in colourful language.

"I have better things to do, Jay." he disconnected the call.

I sighed and moved a little away from Aryan, then started to type.

"Ananya is trapped inside the old ring, Release her now. I will explain everything tomorrow," I typed. "If you keep this to yourself, I will think of giving you that boots you were asking me," I hit the sent button.

I know Rahul cannot resist that. I also know that Aryan will come to know about it, But I don't want to tell him this when he is already in a crappy mood.

I walked inside and plopped opposite to Aryan on the sofa.

"Who do you think did that?" Aryan asked.

"Since there are a lot of people who "love" us, It can be anyone," I shrugged.

"But still... It looked well planned..."

"What about your stalker?" I asked back. "He has been stalking you for a while now, he never turned up in front of you," I said thoughtfully.

"So this is his or her way to capture my attention?" Aryan asked me.

I nodded and he laughed.

"You are starting to watch too many dramas with Megha," he said.

Megha is my on-and-off girlfriend.

"Think about it, Aryan, This stalker has been around you for the past 8 years,"

"Only on special occasions, Jay."

"Yeah right," Jay snorted, "Every birthday and other yearly celebrations he sends you a gift, He keeps track of the events in your life too."

Ananya.

The darkness engulfed me and I was trying everything to keep calm.

My hopes were slowly starting to get crushed.

Jay had taken everything including my phone and I am truly stuck here in the dark.

I was thirsty, hungry and tired. Nothing compared to the fear inside me.

I had thought that people would come for me, but now I realise that I am as good as nothing to them.

Jay.

My phone was ringing for a long time before I decided to answer it.

"Hell...o?" I attended the call. "Who is-"

"Jaydev?" I heard an unfamiliar voice and frowned in my sleep. "Where is Ananya?" The next question slowly registered in my head and I opened my eyes.

"Who-"

"Ananya is missing, Her classmates told me that you took her out today," the girl's voice came again and I was completely awake.

"She's not back yet?"

"No," the girl confirmed. "I am here outside your apartment, tell me where Ananya is or I will have to go to the police station to...to file a complaint," The girl told me.

"I am not there at the moment, wait there, I will come now," I said and disconnected the call.

What the heck happened!? Didn't Rahul open the door for her?

I looked at the time.

It was 11:34 pm.

Crap! Ananya was locked inside there all this time?

I pulled my jacket on and took the car key and moved out.

Aryan had already taken his sedative before going to sleep, I don't want to disturb him.

I started the engine and accelerated the car.

For the first time in my life, I was starting to feel uneasiness.

I hope Ananya is alright, I was simply trying to scare her, I didn't intend to do this.

I reached the old ring in record time and ran to the door.

I didn't even put on the lights!

I unlocked the door and got inside. I switched on the lights and the room was bright.

I turned around to the motionless figure on the floor, her hands still tied to the wall, preventing her escape.

Something flashed through me, Something unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

"Ananya?" I walked to her slowly.

I was scared to reach her.

"Ananya?" I reached near her and turned her around.

I stilled as she started to shiver. There were tear tracks down her cheeks.

"It's okay... I... I got you,"

I started to untie her and released her. My hand started to shiver as I hurried to get her free.

As soon as she was free, I lifted her up and ran outside.

I placed her in the passenger seat and sprinkled water in her face.

"Ananya?"

I was starting to panic, I had never felt like crap before.

"Ananya...?"

Her eyes moved and her eyelids fluttered open.

"Are... are you okay?" I asked her. "How do you feel-"

I stopped as her eyes clouded with fear and her body started to shake.

"I... I will not hurt you, I am... It was not my intention-" I stopped again as she shrank back to the seat.

What the heck did I do?

"Okay...hold on..." I said. "I will take you to the hospital," I got up and removed my jacket and turned to her.

Ananya still looked scared to see me, she tried to stop me as I wrapped the jacket around her.

"Not...me... please... It was...not me..." She kept on repeating.

"I know... shh... it's okay... I will not hurt you..."

I came around and got inside the driving seat.

I took out the phone and dialled Megha.

Megha's family run a hospital in town.

"Jay..." She attended the call, sounding sleepy. "What's it?"

"I need your help," I said as I started the engine and took the car forward. "I want you to make a call to the hospital and get a good Doctor, I am bringing someone there now,"

"What? Who is hurt?"

"I don't have time to explain, just make a call and find someone good, I don't want to deal with interns or duty doctors," I disconnected the call and made another call to Ananya's roommate to whom I had asked to wait.

"Preeti, Let's meet at the casualty of  Medstar hospital," I said and disconnected the call.

........................

"Not... me... photo..." She was shivering again. She was still sleeping, but her lips kept repeating the same words.

The doctors had already given her IV and anti-anxiety shots, but she was still trembling in her sleep.

"Her physical condition will be improved with proper treatment, but it looks like she's emotionally not stable now," the Doctor told me. "She might need some counselling and psychological help later," he added before leaving the room.

Her friend was still not there yet, so I sat on the chair next to the bed, watching her.

"Who is she?" Megha asked me, She was standing near me.

She was trying to talk to me from the moment I brought Ananya inside. She was waiting along with the Doctor.

"My batchmate," I turned to her. "You must go back now, It's already very late,"

"Then come with me, you can stay at my place-"

"I need to stay with her today."

Her eyebrows shot up at that.

"She got in this condition because of me, I have to take responsibility," I said.

"You already got her the best treatment and you are paying her bills," She said.

"Megha, you should go back," I said firmly now. "Let's talk later," I added.

I was not really in a mood to talk with her.

"You didn't forget about the party, Right?" She asked me.

I closed my eyes.

"I remember," I said. "But Megha, I would like you to go back now, I have things to take care of here," I said firmly. "Thank you for your help, I will definitely pay you back."

Megha looked at me and I looked back. I could see that she wants to argue with me, then decided against it and nodded.

"I will see you then," She walked back.

As soon as she was outside, I took Ananya's hand in mine and looked at her face.

"It was not intentional, I am sorry," I said and looked down her hand that was resting in my hand.

I saw the bandage around her wrist. She was hurt. obviously, she must've tried to get rid of the rope.

"I am really sorry...I was-" I stopped as someone pushed open the door.

"Ananya!" Preeti ran inside. "What happened to her?" She asked me, both of her eyes were filled with anger.

"It was...a mistake..."

"Mistake is something people do without knowing!" She exclaimed. "You intentionally hurt her!" She added. "You were targeting her."

"I will compensate her-"

"Do you think that you can get away with anything as long as you compensate with your money and power." She said incredulously. "Get out of here."

"I will... stay and-"

"Do you think Ananya will be happy to see you first thing when she opens her eyes?" She looked at me angrily. "Get out of here and leave her alone," She said sternly.

I would have answered and challenged her before, but now I know that I deserve this.

I got up.

"I will be outside, call me if she needs anything," I said.

The girl gave me a dirty look.

"Since she is in this condition because of me, I will take responsibility."

"Then keep away from her," Preeti told me. "It will not do any good if she and you get involved with each other, I will do everything to protect her." her friend looked furious as she looked at me. Her eyes were filled and I had an impression that she's trying her best to control her tears in-front of me.

I walked out of the room.

Ananya.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Preeti, who was sitting in a chair in front of me.

"Are you awake now?" She smiled.

"What... what happened?" I asked her. I feel like I have been crushed mentally and physically.

"You were unconscious when I found you in the ring," She said slowly.

And things started to come back.

I remember Jaydev abandoning me in a building.

"How did you...?"

"It was late and you were not back yet," Preeti said. "I thought you have some kind of meeting with Amit like you used to do some time and waited till 10, but you never came back and that's when I called him," She said. "Then I heard that you were taken away by Jaydev and asked him about you,"

At the mention of his name, My heart jumped.

He is a heartless beast...

"Thank you for saving me, Preeti," I said slowly.

"Do you want to press charges against him?" She asked me.

I shook my head. "I don't want to get involved with him,"

She nodded.

"I too think so," She said.

I looked around the room. The room looked more like a hotel room than a hospital room.

"Ah..." Preeti said quickly. "It was the only room available yesterday, so I took a VIP room for you."

My eyes widened at that.

"Don't worry about the money," She said. "I had an offer with my health insurance and I used it well..." She smiled. "It's free..."

"Nothing is free in this world."

"It's true, I had this offer and it was going to be expired," She told me. "So don't worry about this," She said firmly.

I still was confused.

"Do you really think I have the capacity to take you to the VIP room otherwise?" she asked me and I smiled.

Aryan.

"Oops!" Rahul looked troubled. "Then it was supposed to be a secret?"

He just told me what happened yesterday. Apparently Jay misunderstood Ananya and locked her inside the old ring for 8 hours.

I got angry instantly. I took my car keys and walked out.

"Um...Aryan, let's not make a big deal out of it-"

"Tell Jay to meet me at the ring," I said and before Rahul could do or say anything, I slammed the car door shut and took the car forward.

When I reached the ring, Jay was already waiting in there.

Good... I am going to beat the crap out of him today.

We didn't talk, we didn't even bother with changing before getting inside the ring and started fighting.

Jay.

Aryan is angry.

I could feel it from the way his punches landed.

It was strong and unyielding.

And strangely, I was happy every time I got hit.

"Fight back, you bloody rascal!" Aryan punched me again.

30 minutes later, both of us were panting and lying down on the floor side by side.

"How's... she?" Aryan asked me.

"Okay now," I said. "She opened her eyes and her roommate is with her."

"How are you?" His next question made me look at him in surprise.

"I know that you would feel like crap today," He said. "I know that horrible feeling I get after I hurt people," He looked at me. "I have felt it all these years..."

"Aryan... It must've been so difficult for you all these years," I said. "I only experienced it yesterday and I feel like crap, I cannot even think of how much pain you must have gone through before."

It was true.

I am feeling very down and depressed after causing Ananya pain. so I cannot imagine about Aryan who had this disability to control himself. Now I know why he always fell into depression mode after his attacks.

"You shouldn't be hard on yourself," Aryan said. "You didn't want to hurt her like that."

"Aryan, I just heard that mistakes are something people do unintentionally," I said. "You never hurt anyone intentionally, you shouldn't be hard on yourself," I said. "What I did to Ananya yesterday was my fault even though I didn't intend it to go that far," I said. "I can't even call it a mistake."

"Rahul said you asked him to free her and that he didn't see the message," Aryan said. "So let's call it a mistake, Jay," He looked into my eyes, "But don't hurt Ananya anymore," he said. "She was simply helping me that day," he said. "She is a good person, Jay."

To hear Aryan calling someone good means something extraordinary.

I nodded.

"I will not get involved again," I said.

As long as she keeps away from you.

—————————

Hi guys,

I am sorry, I know I didn't update for a while now. But I decided to put it on hold until I finish writing the rough drafts, or you might feel disconnected with the story and the characters with the slow updates. The plot is rather complicated, so it might confuse you too...

What do you think?