I waited for the blow but instead I was dragged towards the car kicking and thrashing. The masked figure opened the door and shoved me into the car as I struggled to get as far from the door as possible. The door locked behind me with a click. The man opened the door on the driver’s side and got behind the wheel.

The engine of the car started and it sped off along the road.
I was sweating with fear and tried to think of one way to escape from this deathtrap.

Nobody knew me in this foreign city. So who would try to kidnap me here? I was at my wits end. Should I try an attack on him from behind? He may lose control of the wheel and the car may crash. I had to think of some other way, but what?

“W…Where are you taking me,” I finally managed to ask.

No answer.

“Why did you kidnap me?”

No answer.

There was no response of any sort from my captor, though I had not expected any. My mouth was dry and I knew screaming would be as futile as attacking him. The windows of the car were sealed as it was air-conditioned. No sound would go out. I searched for some light in my pocket to signal any passerby, as they did in movies. Nope, nothing for my rescue.

I now needed a miracle to escape.

I resorted to keeping calm. Yes, I would attack him once I reached our destination. I was planning my moves in advance when suddenly he swerved dangerously to the left at a crossing and skipping a traffic signal, flew towards the residential areas of Moscow.

I decided to talk to keep me distracted. Some part of me also wanted to distract him, to trouble him as much as I can before the worst befell.

“So,” I said, “You have picked up totally the wrong person to kidnap. I have got no money, no family and no one to care for me if I disappear. What will you get my kidnapping me?”

Ignoring the silence from the front seat I continued, “Aren’t you afraid to do such kidnappings in the middle of the street?”

I paused for a bit to let the message sink in. He let out a sigh and shook his head in contempt. Well that was some progress.

“Look,” I said,” I have nothing which could be of any interest to you. You really should let me go and find someone worthy of all the effort. And moreover I am not that beautiful if you are thinking of…”

“Just stop it Rose,” a strong voice reverberated in the car shaking me along with it, “For God’s sake, just stop.

A chill ran down my spine. I knew the voice. It was a voice I could recognize anywhere. I didn’t know what to do or what to say. I didn’t know whether to be afraid or surprised. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at my fate.

“You,” It sounded like an assertion than a question.

“Where are you taking me?”

It was the stupidest question to ask at that moment. He slammed the brakes. The car came to a halt with a screech and I was thrown forward. I managed to catch the seat before I could hit my head. The man took off his mask and threw it on the dashboard. Then he turned around and looked straight at me, “Roza, we need to talk…”

Roza, that one word which meant the world to me. That one word which I had never hoped to hear again, the world which appeared in the sweetest of my dreams, that word which held the passion of the whole world.

“Why did you do it? I was so afraid,” I started to cry involuntarily.

“Roza, I am so sorry, I had to do it. You don’t know how difficult my life is. The paparazzi are always after me and they would follow me to the hell if they can. Damn! They wouldn’t let me get a minute alone with anyone. Sorry to attack you in that wa…but we needed to talk, and there was no way I could do it without going to that extreme. Sorry a million times, Roza,” he went on in one breath.

I just nodded all along, too stunned to speak. His life was really so different from ours. But none of it caught my ear except the fact that he wanted to talk to me. About what? Oh no! Oh no! That was going to be tough.
I wiped away the tears and blinked fiercely.

Then I said very slowly, measuring each word carefully,” We have nothing to talk.”

“Come on Roza,” he said,"Don’t be so shy. We are friends still. We have a lot of things to catch up. It’s been five years,"the cheer in his voice sounded false. I could feel his sorrow and my heart reached out for him. I wanted to hug him and kiss him and forget all that had happened but, there was a big but here.

He had moved on with his life. I won’t pull him down in anyway. I won’t create a hindrance for him anymore. It’s all over between us.

“Fine,” I said putting on my most casual tone. “We can talk.”

“Let’s talk while driving to my apartment."

I got out from the back seat and occupied the one beside him as he started the car.

“So, how’s Sam.”

Bolt from the blue.

“Sam?”

“Yeah your boyfriend. How’s he doing?”

“Oh…um…fine…fine. He’s a…big businessman you know,” I tried to say as convincingly as I could. I honestly had no idea where Sam was. I never cared anything for him.

“Oh!” was his only reply as I looked straight ahead at the windshield.

“So, you are happy with him, right? It’s been a long time,” I couldn’t exactly catch the tone in his words.

“Yeah…I guess I am…”

“So how are you keeping contact with him, phone? How could you lust leave him and come here?”

“We keep talking on phone,” I lied, as each word cut my heart into pieces, “And I came here for my work.” Well that was some truth.

He didn’t respond and seemed to be concentrating on the road. I waited with bated breath for the next interrogation. I was beginning to dread his questions. I made up mind to stay strong, no matter what. I will not let my shadow ruin his life once more.

A/N Thanks to all for reading. Hope this part was unexpected. Thanks for all the opinions and all your love and support. I really appreciate your votes and comments and hope to hear from you all soon.

Thanks to MaryFahey without whose timely help I would have never got this far. Pipigrin, nana_gn my two most avid readers. teamhathaway morema_m my two good supporters and last of all @wattpawormss my new reader for your comments on my story.

My love and best wishes for all. This part was great to write. Hope you enjoy it.
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