Recap: Aryan saves Sana from kidnappers

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Aryan stepped out of his room, feeling refreshed, and made his way to the dining area. He settled into his seat, waiting for Sanjana. Moments later, she appeared, gracefully walking in and taking the chair opposite him.

Kousalya served them dinner before quietly excusing herself, leaving them in a heavy silence that neither seemed willing to break.

Sanjana hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Aryan."

Aryan's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. She rarely addressed him by his name, always opting for the more formal 'Mr. Chaitanya.'

"Hmmm?" he responded, curious.

"Thank you."

His gaze remained steady on her. "For what?"

"For saving me," she said, her voice quieter this time.

Aryan didn't say anything in return. Instead, he simply gave her a long look before resuming his meal. Sanjana didn't push further. Once she finished eating, she stood up and left for her room.

Unlike every other night, she left her door open and kept the lights on. Aryan noticed it as he passed by. His footsteps halted, and he turned his head slightly to glance inside. Sanjana stood on the balcony, gazing at the night sky. He cleared his throat, making his presence known.

"I know you're here," she said without turning.

A small smirk played on his lips. "Good. Did you take your medicine?"

"Hmmm."

"Good," he replied. "Now go to sleep."

She finally turned to face him. "Aryan."

His gaze softened. "Yeah? Looks like you want to ask something."

She took a deep breath. "Why are you trying to save me?"

A slow smile spread across Aryan's face. "You'll understand with time. For now, don't overthink it. Just sleep."

Sanjana hesitated before admitting, "I'm still a little scared."

Aryan's expression turned serious. He stepped forward, his tone gentle. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Sanjana. Go to sleep, I'll stay here until you do."

She nodded slightly and climbed into bed. Aryan sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone but keeping an eye on her. After a while, he noticed her breathing had evened out. He got up quietly, walked to her bedside, and carefully pulled the duvet over her. Leaning down, he pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before retreating to his own room.

A small, unconscious smile formed on Sanjana's lips in her sleep.

The next day, Sanjana immersed herself in tending to her garden and feeding the birds. She spoke softly to the flowers, her fingers gently brushing over their petals. She cooed at the little birds that fluttered around her, smiling as they pecked at the seeds she scattered for them.

Aryan, standing on his balcony, watched her intently. He didn't realize how long he had been observing her, captivated by her little quirks. Watching her this carefree brought him a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time.

The days passed, and soon, a week had gone by since the incident. Their relationship had subtly changed. The heated arguments had ceased, replaced by quiet conversations. They weren't exactly close, but the air between them had softened.

Sanjana had started noticing the way Aryan's gaze lingered on her when he thought she wasn't looking. She felt butterflies every time their eyes met, and her heart raced when he pressed a gentle forehead kiss before retiring for the night. There were moments when she found herself yearning for that kiss, for the unspoken comfort it carried.

Aryan, too, had found solace in the small changes. Sanjana no longer threw sharp words at him, and even the tiniest smile from her brightened his day in ways he couldn't explain.

The much-anticipated product launch day arrived. Sanjana woke up early and got ready, determined to reach the office before the rush. The entire team was already buzzing with excitement.

The launch was a grand success. Inside the conference hall, Aryan and his team watched the live response from the market. A sense of satisfaction settled in Aryan's chest as he witnessed his cosmetic business reaching new heights. Cosmetics was just one of his many ventures, but today's victory was special.

Later in the afternoon, Aryan called Sanjana into his cabin. She stepped in, noticing him standing near his desk, rolling his sleeves back down.

"Yes, Aryan?" she asked.

He glanced at her. "I'm heading out for an interview regarding the new product launch. Would you like to come with me?"

For a moment, she was tempted. A small part of her wanted to say yes, to sit beside him, to be included in this success. But reality set in. There was too much work left to do, and she never liked facing the media.

"No," she finally said. "I have a lot of tasks to complete. You go ahead."

Aryan studied her face. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Yes, you carry on."

He grabbed his blazer and started walking past her, but suddenly stopped. Turning back, he closed the distance between them. Before Sanjana could react, he leaned in and pressed a quick but firm kiss to her temple.

Sanjana froze, her breath hitching. By the time she fully registered what had happened, Aryan had already walked out of the cabin, leaving her standing there, her heart pounding in her chest.

Sanju felt the heat rise up her cheeks, turning crimson red as she blushed. Trying to regain her composure, she hurried to her cabin and buried herself in work. Hours passed, and at around 4 PM, Pavi called her for coffee.

Sanjana stretched her arms and stood up, feeling a bit drained. "A coffee sounds like a good idea," she murmured, following Pavi to the cafeteria.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as they settled into their seats. Sanjana ordered her usual,a cup of hot chocolate, savoring the warmth it brought to her palms. What she didn't notice, however, was Daniel observing her from a distance. He spotted the waiter carrying her drink and swiftly intercepted him, pretending to adjust his watch. In a matter of seconds, he slipped two drug pills into her cup, stirring them in before letting the waiter continue on his way.

Unaware of the sinister act, Sanjana took slow sips, enjoying the rich taste. She exchanged casual conversations with Pavi before heading back to her cabin.

Not long after, something felt terribly off.

Her body turned unnaturally warm, her skin tingling as an unfamiliar heat spread through her veins. A strange dizziness overtook her, and her heartbeat quickened. She tried to shake it off, but every passing minute made it harder to focus. The sensations growing inside her were unmistakable, she had been drugged.

Her mind raced back to the past few months, to the previous traps laid for her. The realization hit her like a thunderbolt.

"No... not again," she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.

Her gaze darted to Aryan's cabin, but she instantly remembered—he had already left. She clenched her fists, struggling to control the storm of emotions raging within her. Her body screamed for relief, for something she could not allow. She needed to escape before she became vulnerable.

Summoning all her strength, she staggered towards the restroom inside her cabin. She switched off the lights, locked the door, and collapsed against it. With trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone and dialed Aryan's number.

The phone rang.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

No answer.

Her heart pounded harder. She tried again, but the call went unanswered. Aryan was in the middle of an interview, his phone was on silent.

Desperation clawed at her, but she refused to surrender. Fighting against the waves of desire clouding her mind, she turned on the shower, letting the icy water cascade over her body. She stood under the stream, her arms hugging herself tightly, hoping to subdue the drug's effects.

Meanwhile, Aryan finished his interview and checked his phone. The sight of multiple missed calls from Sanjana sent alarm bells ringing in his head.

His jaw clenched as he dialed her back.

No response.

Concern deepened into panic. He immediately called Kousalya. "Did Sanjana reach home?"

"No, sir. She hasn't returned yet," Kousalya replied, worry evident in her voice.

His chest tightened. He then called the driver. "Where is she?"

"Sir... Madam hasn't left the office," the driver hesitantly admitted.

Aryan's grip on the phone tightened. "It's past office hours! Why didn't you inform Ranjith?!"

"I..I thought she was busy with work," the driver stammered.

"Damn it!" Aryan cursed under his breath. He ended the call and turned to Ranjith. "Call security. Tell them to check Sanjana's cabin. NOW!"

At the same time, in a dimly lit corner of the city, Daniel received a call.

"Did you drug her?" a voice asked.

"Yes," Daniel confirmed, a smirk playing on his lips.

"And?"

"She's nowhere in the office."

"What?!" The voice grew impatient. "That drug is potent. She won't be able to resist for long. She should've been easy prey by now."

"She hasn't left the building. She must be hiding somewhere," Daniel said, rubbing his temple in frustration.

"Then FIND HER! She must be locked in a room, trying to fight it. She's smarter than I gave her credit for."

A sinister chuckle escaped Daniel's lips. "Maybe the restroom?"

"Exactly. Now listen, this is your chance. She won't be able to resist any man right now—not even you. Just get her, record everything, and send me the footage. I'll make you rich beyond your wildest dreams."

Daniel hesitated. "Aryan will kill me if he finds out."

"Forget Aryan. I'll get you a job that pays twice what you earn now. Just do it quickly, before he gets involved."

Daniel exhaled sharply before making his decision. "Fine. But you better keep your word."

"Then stop wasting time and go get her."

Daniel wasted no time. He hacked into the security panel and disabled the CCTV cameras on Aryan's floor before heading to her cabin.

Ranjith, meanwhile, was closely monitoring security. He noticed the sudden blackout of Aryan's floor cameras and his blood ran cold.

"Sir!" he called out urgently. "The CCTV cameras for your floor have been hacked!"

Aryan's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. His foot slammed on the accelerator, pushing the car to its limit. "Tell security to check immediately!"

Daniel reached Sanjana's cabin and found it in complete darkness. He pushed the door open.

Empty.

His gaze flickered to the restroom. A sinister grin spread across his face.

"She's in there," he muttered, stepping forward.

He knocked once.

No response.

He knocked again, harder this time.

Still nothing.

Growing impatient, he kicked the door. The loud bang echoed through the restroom, making Sanjana jump in terror. She pressed herself against the cold tiled wall, her body trembling in fear and the unnatural heat consuming her.

Another kick.

The lock gave way, and the door flew open.

Daniel's predatory eyes glinted as he stepped inside. "Sanju, darling... you really made me wait, but it was worth it."

Sanjana's breath hitched. "Stay away!" she spat, though her voice wavered.

Daniel smirked, stepping closer. "I know what's happening to you right now. There's no use fighting it."

His hand shot forward, gripping her wrist. "Come on, sweetheart. Stop resisting."

Sanjana screamed at the top of her lungs.

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A/N:

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