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(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)

After tracking down those men, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. A newfound hope surged within me, convincing me that I could indeed find Avantika's murderer. Just a short while ago, the inspector had called to inform me that those men were heavily involved in drug trafficking. The revelation was staggering.

I immediately shared this information with Sohana, and she was equally shocked. I was deeply disturbed by this news, but considering the nature of these men, it wasn’t entirely surprising. The inspector assured me that he would leave no stone unturned in tracking down their mastermind.

Once the mastermind is in my hands, I will ensure he pays dearly for what he has done. There will be no escape from the punishment he deserves.

The next morning, I decided to go back to the office. Due to my prolonged absence, I had lost several important deals. However, feeling somewhat better, I knew it was time to return to work. After spending hours catching up on various tasks, I decided to call Sohana. To my dismay, she didn’t answer. I tried calling again, but the phone just rang and then went to voicemail.

“Maybe she’s busy with work,” I thought, trying to reassure myself.

I continued working for a few more hours and finally headed home in the evening. Upon reaching home, I tried calling Sohana once more, but again, she didn’t pick up. A sense of unease began to creep in.

I decided to talk to my mother about it, and she suggested that maybe Sohana was just very busy with her work. After all, she is a doctor, and her schedule can be unpredictable. My mother tried to comfort me by saying that Sohana might also be overwhelmed with the effort she was putting into helping find Avantika's murderer, along with managing her own work. She advised me to give Sohana some time. Though I understood her point, I wasn’t entirely convinced. No matter how busy we both were, we always made time for each other.

Three days passed without any communication from Sohana. I missed her terribly. Her smile, her sweet voice, and her comforting words that always gave me hope were constantly on my mind. I found myself reminiscing about our conversations and the way she always lifted my spirits.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, I decided to call her again. This time, her phone was switched off. Panic began to set in as negative thoughts flooded my mind.

I tried to calm myself down, deciding that I would go to her house to find out what was going on. Without wasting any time, I drove to her place.

When I reached her house, I rang the doorbell. Her father answered the door, and he looked extremely distressed, as if he hadn’t slept for days.

"Uncle, actually, I’ve been trying to reach Sohana for some urgent work, but she isn’t picking up my calls. What’s happened to her?" I asked, noticing tears welling up in his eyes. He began to sob uncontrollably.

"Mr. Ruhaan, I don’t know where my daughter is. Three nights ago, she was walking on the terrace. When I went to tell her it was late and she should come inside, she was gone. Her phone was on the ground, but she wasn’t there. I’ve searched everywhere, spoken to our neighbors, and contacted her friends, but she’s nowhere to be found. I don’t know what’s happened to her," he explained, his voice breaking.

Hearing this, it felt like the ground beneath my feet was slipping away.

“What are you saying, Uncle?” I asked in disbelief, and he nodded, confirming the worst.

My legs felt weak, and I stumbled back to my car. I sat inside, feeling hopeless and lost. I started the engine and began driving aimlessly.

The same pain returned, and I chuckled bitterly.

“Why, God? Why? What did I do to deserve this? Why have you started this torment again? Where do I look for my Sohana now? In what condition is she? Where could she be? Why do you always bring misery into my life? And if it had to be me, why did you involve Sohana? What did she ever do to deserve this? Where is she now? Just when I had started to believe in you again, you shattered my faith once more. Isn’t that just wonderful?”

I started driving recklessly, overtaking cars without caring for my safety. Suddenly, I realized I was about to crash into a tree. I slammed on the brakes just in time. Tears streamed down my face, and I felt broken once again.

After regaining some composure, I drove back home and went straight to my room. I walked into the washroom and sat under the shower, letting the water pour over me.

“Where are you, Sohana? Where are you? I miss you so much. How could you just leave me like this? Where am I supposed to find you now? In this vast city, which corner should I search for you? You didn’t think about me even once, did you? What would happen to your Ruhaan without you? I will fall apart again, Sohana. Please come back, wherever you are, please come back. I can’t live without you. I don’t have the strength to go on without you. Please, wherever you are, come back to me. Please!!!”

After some time, I emerged from the washroom, feeling somewhat refreshed. I put on my trousers and a t-shirt, but my mind was still preoccupied with worry. I needed help, and I knew just the person to call. Kabir, aside from being a biker, was also an expert hacker.

I picked up my phone and dialed his number. After five rings, he finally answered.

"Hello, Kabir!" I greeted, my voice heavy with emotion as thoughts of Sohana flooded my mind.

"Yeah, what's up? What happened?" he responded, sensing the urgency in my voice.

"It's Sohana... she's gone," I said, trying to keep my composure. Kabir's sharp intake of breath was audible on the other end.

"What the hell do you mean she's gone? Where did she go?" he asked, bewildered. I struggled to find the right words to explain the situation.

"I mean, she hasn't been home for three days. I've called her multiple times, but she hasn't picked up. The last time I tried, her phone was switched off. I went to her house to find out what was going on, and her father told me she’s been missing for three days. Even he doesn’t know where she is," I explained, my voice trembling.

"Hold on a minute! Tell me exactly where Sohana was the last time you saw her and where she was supposed to be," he instructed, trying to piece together the puzzle.

"The last time I saw Sohana was a few days ago, we caught some men who were involved in Avantika's murder. First we went to the police station and the went to the hideout of those men. After that she went back to her home. That night, she was on the terrace at her house, her father saw her there. He told her to come inside because it was late, but when he went back to check, she was gone. Her phone was found on the ground, but she was nowhere to be seen. I've searched everywhere and spoken to her friends, but no one knows where she is," I recounted, the gravity of the situation sinking in even deeper.

Kabir was silent for a moment, processing the information. "Okay, this is serious. We need to find her, and fast. I’ll use my resources to track her phone and see if I can find any clues online. But Ruhaan, you need to stay strong. We'll find her," he reassured me.

I felt a glimmer of hope. Kabir was resourceful, and if anyone could help me find Sohana, it was him. "Thank you, Kabir. I don’t know what I’d do without your help," I said, my voice steadying.

"Don't mention it. We're in this together. I'll start working on it right away and keep you updated," he promised before hanging up.

As I put down the phone, I took a deep breath. The situation was dire, but with Kabir’s help, I felt a renewed determination. I couldn't afford to lose hope now. Sohana was out there somewhere, and I was going to find her, no matter what it took.

Four more days had passed since Kabir began searching for Sohana, making it a week since she disappeared. My hopes were slowly crumbling, and my anxiety was growing with each passing day. I felt like I was losing my mind, like there was nothing left in my life worth living for. Everything seemed bleak and hopeless. Then, finally, Kabir called.

"Hello!" I answered, my heart pounding.

"Hey, Ruhaan. I’ve gathered some information," Kabir said. A spark of hope ignited within me.

"Tell me, what did you find out?" I urged.

"You know, I have a friend who lives opposite Sohana’s house. I contacted him to see if he had noticed anything unusual. He told me that on the night Sohana disappeared, he saw her being taken away in a car. She looked like she was asleep, but I think she was unconscious. My friend also noticed a man in the car tying her hands and feet," Kabir explained.

"What on earth happened that night? What do you mean by this?" I asked, panic rising in my voice.

"Sohana has been kidnapped," Kabir stated bluntly.

The phone slipped from my hand. My Sohana... kidnapped? She had been in such grave danger for a whole week, and I wasn’t there to protect her. I couldn’t save her.

Kabir’s voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.

I picked up the phone from the floor and tried to compose myself. "You know what, Kabir? I think those men we caught and the man who kidnapped Sohana are connected. I think the kidnapper is their mastermind," I said, just as I received another call from the inspector.

"Kabir, hold on for a moment. The inspector is calling me. I'll get back to you after talking to him," I told Kabir and quickly answered the call from the inspector.

"Hello, officer! What happened?" I asked.

"Mr. Ruhaan," the officer’s voice was nervous. "One of the men we apprehended has escaped. He ran away," he said.

"What the hell are you saying?" I shouted, my frustration boiling over.

"Is this your security system? A criminal escaped from jail, and you didn’t even notice? Who the hell made you a police officer?" I yelled without thinking.

"Mr. Ruhaan, we are so sorry. But we are tracking him. It would be better if you could come here too. We can still catch him," he said, trying to calm me down.

"Okay, I’m coming," I replied.

And suddenly, my phone rang again, this time from an unknown number. I hesitated for a moment before picking it up and responding.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Ruhaan." The voice on the other end was familiar, yet I couldn't quite place it.

"Who is this?" I asked, a sense of unease creeping over me as I heard a dark chuckle.

"You love her, don't you?" The person asked, and I felt a cold sweat forming on my forehead.

Was he talking about Sohana?

"What the hell are you saying? Who are you? What are you talking about?" I demanded, my voice rising with anxiety.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that today is the last day your beloved doctor has in this world, Ruhaan." The line went dead before I could respond.

My heart pounded in my chest. He had to be talking about Sohana.

I sat on the bed palming my face unable to control my unshed tears. I looked at the idol of Kanha on my desk.

[Flashback]

That was the day when Sohana came to meet me after she found out that Avantika's death was actually a murder.

I broke down in front of her, pouring out all my emotions. She tried her best to console me, to make me understand.

"Ruhaan, please don't cry like this. All of this happened because of the person who killed Avantika. None of this is your fault, Ruhaan!" she tried to comfort me, her eyes filled with concern.

"But—"

"Shh! Everything will be okay," she said softly, and then she took something out of her handbag.

It was the same small idol of Radha Krishna that I had given to Sohana when she was leaving for Singapore. At that time, I didn't believe in God, but as she was about to go far away from me, I felt that only her Kanha could always keep her safe. That’s why I gave her this gift when she left for Singapore.

"This?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Yes, do you remember? You gave this to me when I was going to Singapore," she said, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips.

I looked at the idol, memories flooding back. "I remember. I was so scared for you. I didn't know but I felt scared for you. I was worried for you. This little idol was my way of feeling connected to you, my way of hoping that you would always be safe."

Sohana held the idol gently, her fingers tracing the delicate features. "And it worked, Ruhaan. This little Kanha has been my constant companion. Whenever I felt lonely or scared in a foreign land, I would look at it and remember your words, your belief in my safety."

Her words brought a strange kind of comfort. It was as if the past, with all its cherished moments, was holding me together in the present. "I never knew it meant so much to you," I said, my voice choked with emotion.

She nodded, her eyes moist. "It did. And it still does. Just like how you mean so much to me, Ruhaan. We will get through this together. I promise."

In that moment, amidst the overwhelming grief and the bitter truth about Avantika’s death, there was a glimmer of hope. Sohana’s presence, her unwavering support, and the small idol of Radha Krishna—each held a promise of better days ahead.

[Flashback ends]

I walked towards the desk and brought the idol of Radha Krishna with me.

"Why god? Why you are punishing my Sohana? She was never at fault. Why she has to suffer for my fate? Please god! Don't repeat the past please. I won't be able to handle myself this time. I won't be able to endure the pain again. Don't do this to me. I request you. Mar jaunga mere Sohana ke bina main." I sobbed between my cries and requested to God.
(I'll die without my Sohana)

"Mat kijiye mere saath aisa. Mere Sohana ke saath aisa mat kijiye. Agar kiske saath bura karna hai toh mere saath kijiye main chup chap seh lunga bina kuch kahe. Lekin mere Sohana ke saath nahi. Main woh nahi seh paunga.  Please."
(Don't do this with me. Don't do this with my Sohana. If you want to do something bad with anyone then do it with me. I'll endure all the pain without complaining but I can't endure if anything happens to my Sohana)

After convincing myself a lot, I composed myself quickly informed Kabir about this, he was in shock after hearing this.

"What the hell? It's one thing after another!" he exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.

I tried to control my rising anger. "Agar mere Sohana ke upar ek bhi kharoch aayi na. Jaan se maar dunga uss jaanwar ko." I vowed.
(If even a single scratch comes on my Sohana, I will kill that scoundrel. I promise)

"Ruhaan, we should track down that man who escaped from jail. What if he leads us to his boss, and the boss is the one who kidnapped Sohana?" Kabir suggested, and I nodded in agreement.

"Yes, we have to move fast," I said.

As we rushed out, my mind raced with thoughts of Sohana. Memories of her laughter, her kindness, and the way she made every day brighter flooded my mind. I couldn't lose her, not like this. The thought of her in danger fueled my determination.

And in this situation, Kabir was more useful than those incompetent officers.

Why, God? Why are you putting me through one ordeal after another?

We were driving to the location the inspector mentioned. Kabir and I were in the same car. I was driving, and he was looking out the window, scanning for any sign of the fugitive.

"See anything?" I asked.

"No, not yet," he replied, then suddenly shouted, "Wait, stop!"

I slammed on the brakes and looked at him.

"Look over there. That guy talking on a cheap phone. Recognize him?" he asked.

It was the man we were looking for.

"That's him, the scumbag," I said.

"Then what are you waiting for? Follow him. Look, he's heading somewhere," Kabir urged.

"This place is too deserted. If we follow him in the car, he'll know someone is tailing him. I’ll go on foot and follow him. And if he’s heading to where Sohana is, I can’t risk alerting him. One wrong move and it could cost Sohana her life. I have to do this carefully," I said and was about to get out of the car when Kabir stopped me.

I looked at him, and he pulled out a gun from his back. My eyes widened in surprise, and he smirked.

"Last time that bastard got away, Ruhaan. This time, he shouldn't even get a place in hell. Remember, if we lose him this time, we might never get another chance. Your every step now has to be calculated and powerful," he said. I nodded, understanding the gravity of his words.

This was my only chance to fulfill my promise to always protect Sohana, no matter what.

I got out of the car and began following the man silently.

🌷

Yups! How was the chapter? The next chapter is longggg..
All the mysteries are revealed in that! 😌

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