Chapter 29: Chapter 25

A U T H O R

The tension in Nikshant's office was palpable as he sat in his leather chair, staring at the reports spread across his desk. His mind, however, was elsewhere—caught in the web of suspicion that had been consuming him for weeks. His phone buzzed, breaking his thoughts.

A single message glowed on the screen, the sender’s name unmistakable.

Ravi: Sir, the photos are real.

The words felt like a slap to his face. His fingers tightened around the phone, and his jaw clenched so hard it ached. Bloodshot eyes scanned the message.

Nikshant slammed his fist on the desk, sending papers flying. Hurt flickered across his features, but it was quickly replaced by something darker—an anger so fierce it threatened to consume him.

Reaching into his desk drawer, he grabbed a set of keys and his wallet. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor as he stormed out of the office.

His driver, startled by the sudden orders, barely had time to start the car before Nikshant snatched the keys from him.

“I’ll drive myself,” he barked, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.

As the car roared to life, Nikshant’s knuckles whitened against the steering wheel. The sound of the tires screeching matched the storm brewing within him.

"I knew it," he muttered, his voice cold and laced with venom. "I fucking knew the photos are real. Just wait, Aaravi. Just wait to see what I do to you now."

The penthouse was quiet when Nikshant arrived, but his fury shattered the calm like glass.

“AARAVI!” he bellowed, his voice echoing through the house.

Aaravi rushed out of the room and descended the stairs, her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

As Aaravi reached the living room, she saw him. Nikshant stood there, his tall frame exuding a terrifying intensity. His fists were clenched at his sides, and his eyes—those usually cold and indifferent eyes—were bloodshot red. It sent a shiver down her spine.

“Nikshant ji?” she called, her voice hesitant, laced with fear.

His eyes snapped to hers, burning with anger.

“I knew it,” he hissed, each word sharper than a blade. “Those photos are real. You’re nothing but a disgraceful woman.”

The accusation hit her like a freight train. She stared at him, stunned, unable to process what he was saying.

“Photos? What… what are you saying, Nikshant ji?” she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“Don’t act innocent!” he spat, his voice rising. “Stop this pretense, Aaravi. Your lies won’t work anymore. I know your true face now.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about. What photos? What lies?”

“What lies?” Nikshant roared, his voice booming. “I won’t waste my breath explaining. I’ll show you!”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a stack of photos and flung them at her. The glossy papers scattered across the floor, some hitting her face. Aaravi flinched, tears spilling over as she bent down to pick them up, her hands shaking violently.

“LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS, AARAVI ROY KAPOOR!” he yelled, his voice breaking with fury.

Aaravi’s vision blurred as she stared at the images in her trembling hands. The photos showed her with many men, lying beside them. Aaravi closed her eyes tightly, unable to bear the sight of herself in those pictures. The shock was paralyzing. Her mind scrambled for answers, but none came.

Her mind scrambled for answers, but none came.

“This… this isn’t me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her knees buckled, and she sank to the floor. “I swear, Nikshant ji, this isn’t me!”

But Nikshant wasn’t listening. He grabbed her arm, yanking her up with such force that she gasped in pain.

“How many more lies will you tell me?” he shouted, shaking her slightly. His grip was firm, almost bruising. “DAMN IT, AARAVI!”

“Leave me, Nikshant ji! You’re hurting me!” she cried, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Dragging her along, he stormed up the stairs. Aaravi struggled against his iron grip, tears streaming down her face, but he didn’t let go.

He kicked the door of store room and opened it, its dark, dusty interior looming like a prison. Without a word, he shoved her inside.

“This is where you’ll stay from now on,” he said coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Aaravi stumbled, barely catching herself as she turned to face him, her eyes wide with shock and betrayal. “Nikshant ji, please… don’t do this. Let me explain. I swear, I don’t know anything about these photos!”

Her sobs were heart-wrenching, but Nikshant’s face remained unmoved.

“You’ve said enough,” he muttered, slamming the door shut.

The sound of the lock clicking into place was deafening. Aaravi banged on the door, her cries muffled by the thick wood.

“Please! Let me out! Nikshant ji, please!”

But he didn’t turn back. Her desperate sobs echoed behind him as he walked down the hallway, his steps heavy, his mind a chaotic mess of emotions.

As Nikshant reached the living room, he sank into a chair, burying his face in his hands. The rage that had consumed him moments ago was now replaced by a hollow ache in his chest.

“Why does it hurt so much?” he thought, his fingers digging into his temples.

Somewhere deep down, a voice whispered that he might have made a mistake. But he silenced it quickly, convincing himself that the photos were irrefutable proof.

She betrayed me, he told himself, over and over again, hoping that repeating it would numb the pain. But the image of her tear-streaked face and the desperation in her voice refused to leave his mind.

The storeroom was cloaked in suffocating darkness, the kind that seemed to press against Aaravi from every angle. The cold, dusty air carried the faint smell of mildew, and the silence was broken only by the sound of her desperate knocks on the heavy wooden door.

"Please, Nikshant ji, open the door," Aaravi cried, her voice trembling with fear. Her palms, red and raw from pounding on the door, throbbed with pain. But the pain in her hands was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.

She paused, leaning her head against the unyielding door, tears streaking down her cheeks. "I’m scared," she whispered, her voice barely audible now. But there was no answer, no sound of footsteps approaching to release her from this torment.

Was he ignoring her cries? Or had he truly left her there, alone in this dark, suffocating space? The thought made her chest tighten, and her breathing grew uneven.

Aaravi stumbled backward, her legs giving out as she collapsed onto the cold, hard floor. She hugged her knees to her chest, trembling as the darkness closed in around her. The silence felt oppressive, amplifying every fearful thought swirling in her mind.

She thought of the photos—those damning images that she didn’t understand and couldn’t explain. How could Nikshant believe them? How could he think so poorly of her? The man she had started to trust, to care for, had turned on her without a second thought.

"I had started falling in love with you, Nikshant ji," she murmured to herself, her voice cracking. "But maybe you never saw me that way. Maybe, to you, I’ve always been a characterless woman. Maybe… maybe you never deserved my love in the first place."

The words cut through her like a blade, each syllable a bitter reminder of the betrayal she felt. Her chest heaved as she sobbed, her tears soaking into the fabric of her saree.

The hours dragged on, the silence growing heavier, the darkness more suffocating. Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic spiral of anger, heartbreak, and despair until exhaustion took over.

Aaravi didn’t even realize when her sobs quieted and her body slumped to the floor, unconscious.

When she stirred, the pain in her head was the first thing she noticed. It was a pounding ache that reverberated through her skull, making it hard to focus. She groaned softly, her throat dry and parched, and tried to swallow, trying to wet her dry throat, as memories of what happened came rushing back. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Tears pricked her eyes again, but she blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t help her now. She shifted slightly, wincing as pain shot through her leg. Her foot had banged against something earlier, and the ache reminded her of her clumsy movements in the dark.

"You can’t sit here forever, Aaravi," she whispered to herself, her voice hoarse. "You have to get out of here."

Her words were shaky but resolute. Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, Aaravi pushed herself to her feet. Her legs wobbled, threatening to give way beneath her, but she steadied herself against the wall.

The rough texture of the wall was her guide as she shuffled forward, her hands outstretched to feel her way around the room. The air felt heavier here, and the cold seeped into her bones, but she kept moving.

Her foot hit something hard, and she let out a sharp cry of pain, stumbling slightly. Biting her lip to stifle another sob, she clenched her teeth and steadied herself.

"It’s just pain," she whispered, her voice trembling but determined. "You’ve been through worse, Aaravi. Don’t let this stop you now."

With each limping step, she forced herself forward, feeling the walls for any sign of a handle, a crack, anything that could lead her out of this nightmare.

Outside the room, Nikshant sat in the living room, staring blankly at the photos scattered across the coffee table. His anger had subsided, replaced by a hollow ache in his chest that refused to fade.

He picked up one of the photos, his eyes scanning the image again, but his heart twisted as he continued to stare at them.

“Why does it matter to me so much?” he wondered bitterly.

Shaking his head, he tossed the photo back onto the pile and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. But no matter how hard he tried to ignore it, the memory of her tear-streaked face and her desperate cries echoed in his mind.

"Nikshant ji, please… don’t do this. Let me explain."

He squeezed his eyes shut tighter, trying to block out her voice. He told himself he was right—that the photos were proof of her betrayal.

The storeroom was cloaked in an oppressive silence, broken only by Aaravi’s labored breathing. Her trembling hands moved across the dusty shelves, searching for something—anything—that could help her. The darkness pressed down on her, suffocating and unyielding.

Then her fingers brushed against something smooth and metallic. Hope surged through her as she realized what it was.

"A flashlight," she whispered, her voice hoarse and dry.

Fumbling in the dark, she searched for the switch. A dim beam of light flickered to life, piercing the inky blackness. Aaravi exhaled a shaky breath as the oppressive weight of the darkness lifted slightly.

The room came into focus, revealing a cluttered mess of forgotten belongings. Old furniture, broken picture frames, and dusty boxes were scattered haphazardly, their shapes grotesque in the faint light. Aaravi swept the flashlight across the room, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

Her eyes landed on the far wall, where several small windows lined the upper part of the room. She focused on one in particular—it was slightly ajar, and a faint draft seeped through the crack, brushing against her face.

"That’s my way out," Aaravi thought, her resolve solidifying.

But the window was too high to reach directly. She needed something to break the glass and clear her path. Determined, Aaravi began scouring the room. The beam of light fell on a rusted metal rod leaning against a pile of old planks.

With a wince, she limped toward it, her bruised legs screaming in protest. Her hands closed around the cold, rough surface of the rod. It was heavier than she expected, but desperation lent her strength.

Positioning herself beneath the window, Aaravi raised the rod and swung it with all her might. The glass resisted at first, but she didn’t stop. Blow after blow, the rod connected with the window until a loud crack echoed through the room. Shards of glass rained down, glittering in the flashlight’s glow.

Aaravi stepped back, breathing heavily as she surveyed her work. The window was finally open, but the sight of the sheer drop below made her heart race.

Her gaze shifted to a nearby pillar that ran down the side of the building. The surface was rough and uneven but climbable.

"You can do this, Aaravi. If you want to escape, this is your only way," she whispered, steeling herself.

Clutching the windowsill, she hoisted herself up onto the ledge. The cold night air hit her face, sharp and biting, but it felt like freedom. Her hands reached for the pillar, her fingers finding purchase on the coarse surface.

Aaravi’s body trembled as she began her descent down the pillar. The rough surface scraped against her palms, but she ignored the stinging pain. Inch by inch, she lowered herself, her focus unwavering despite the height making her head spin.

Her bare feet slipped once, and her heart leaped into her throat. She clung to the pillar with all her strength, her breaths coming in quick, shallow bursts.

The ground was closer now, but Aaravi’s body was on the verge of giving out. Her arms trembled from the effort of holding herself up, and every muscle in her body ached.

"Just a little more," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart.

Finally, with one last effort, she let go of the pillar and dropped to the ground. She landed unsteadily, her knees buckling under her weight, but she managed to stay upright.

The cool earth beneath her feet felt like victory.

Without another second thought, Aaravi turned and ran into the night, her heart pounding as she disappeared into the darkness.

♡♡✿⁠ ⁠♡♡

Nikshant sat in the living room, the weight of the world pressing down on him. His body felt like lead, every muscle tense, and his mind spun in circles. He couldn't escape the burning image of Aaravi's face, her tear-filled eyes, the raw pain he'd inflicted on her. The harsh words he'd shouted in anger had sliced through her, and it left him feeling empty, the echo of his own cruelty reverberating through his chest. The distance between them felt impossible to bridge now. Could things ever be repaired? Could he undo the damage he'd caused in the heat of the moment?

As the silence of the penthouse wrapped around him, the sound of a door opening broke through his troubled thoughts. He looked up sharply, his gaze instinctively snapping toward the sound. The sight of Ravi standing in the doorway, panting heavily, caught him off guard.

"What are you doing here, Ravi?" Nikshant asked, the sharpness in his tone a result of his unsettled mind. His thoughts were a blur, his temper still simmering from the events of earlier.

"Sir, why aren't you answering my calls and messages?" Ravi’s voice was breathless, as though he had run all the way from somewhere. His eyes were wide with anxiety, and his hands trembled as he took a step into the room.

Nikshant frowned and pulled his phone out of his pocket, checking it. There, displayed on the screen, were dozens of missed calls and messages from Ravi, all unanswered. He hadn’t even realized his phone was on silent.

"My phone was on silent mode; that’s why I couldn’t hear them," Nikshant replied, his voice flat, but his frustration beginning to creep back in.

Ravi looked even more distressed now. He bowed his head in apology, his hands clasped in front of him. "Sorry, sir, I made a big mistake."

Nikshant’s patience was wearing thin, the anger from earlier bubbling up once again. "What do you mean, Ravi?" His voice was tight, still controlled, but sharp.

Ravi hesitated, his eyes darting nervously between the floor and Nikshant's face. "Sir, the message I sent you was wrong. There was a typing mistake. The photos are not real, sir. I don’t know how this happened," he said, his voice breaking slightly with guilt.

Nikshant’s mind froze. Not real? The words didn’t make sense. The photos—the ones that had destroyed any semblance of trust between him and Aaravi—were fake? How could this be? He couldn’t breathe for a moment, and then, like a flood, all his anger returned, but now it was focused on Ravi.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU EVEN SAYING, RAVI?" Nikshant yelled, his fists clenching. His voice was harsh, full of disbelief and confusion, and the truth hit him harder than he expected.

Ravi shrank back, visibly shaken, his apology coming out in a rush. "I’m sorry, sir."

"Can your sorry fix anything?" Nikshant snapped, stepping forward, grabbing Ravi by the collar. He shook him slightly, his rage threatening to spill over completely. Ravi couldn’t meet his gaze, his own guilt too heavy to bear. He stared at the ground, his shoulders slumped under the weight of his mistake.

Nikshant’s hands clenched harder, the fury and the guilt of the situation mixing into an all-consuming fire. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, RAVI, BEFORE I DO SOMETHING TO YOU!" His voice was a growl, and the command was final. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Ravi, but the anger inside him was wild, out of control.

"I'm sorry, sir," Ravi said again, his voice trembling, before he turned and rushed out of the penthouse, leaving Nikshant alone with his turbulent thoughts.

Nikshant ran his hand through his hair, the guilt overwhelming him. His entire world had been shattered by a lie—a lie that he had believed without question. And in that belief, he had hurt Aaravi in ways he couldn’t take back. She had trusted him. She had been there, trying to reach him, and he had pushed her away, believing the worst. He couldn’t erase what he had done. He couldn’t unring the bell that had been sounded.

The weight of his actions crushed him as he stood there for a moment, paralyzed by the horror of what had transpired.

Without thinking, he turned and stormed toward the stairs. His feet moved faster than his mind could keep up, his heart racing in his chest. He had to fix this. He had to make things right.

He reached the door to the storeroom and threw it open, stepping inside with a sense of dread hanging in the air. "Cherry?" His voice cracked, full of guilt and fear. But there was no answer.

He switched on his phone’s flashlight and scanned the dark room, his eyes frantically searching. The shelves, the old furniture, and the cluttered boxes were all familiar, but they seemed foreign now, unwelcoming. Aaravi wasn’t there.

A cold chill swept over him. The emptiness of the room hit him like a blow. His heart pounded in his chest as his gaze shifted, and then, just beyond the dim light, he saw something—a trail of blood drops leading away from him. His breath hitched, his stomach dropping.

His face drained of color. He stepped forward cautiously, his heartbeat quickening, as his eyes darted from the blood drops to the window. The realization hit him like a freight train.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath. His mind raced, the panic settling in like a heavy weight. He ran out of the storeroom, desperate to find her. Where is she?

His thoughts were all over the place. He couldn’t think straight. His entire body was tense, his mind spinning with worry and fear. He had done it again. He had pushed her too far. And now, the woman he had tried so hard to keep close was gone.

Nikshant tore through the penthouse, his eyes scanning every room, every corner. He was frantic, like a man possessed, his heart pounding in his chest, each beat louder than the last. He couldn’t lose her—not like this. Not after everything they had been through.

The panic clawed at his insides, the fear of losing her growing stronger with every passing second.

She’s gone. What if something has happened to her?

Nikshant’s steps grew more frantic as he raced through the penthouse. There had to be something, anything, that could lead him to her. He couldn’t let her disappear without a trace. He had to make it right.

The silence in the penthouse was suffocating. Nikshant’s heart hammered in his chest, his thoughts still clouded with the frantic search for Aaravi. He couldn’t let her slip away. He couldn’t let this be the end of it all. The bloodstains, the empty room, the fear gnawing at his insides—it was all too much. His hands were shaking, his head spinning with regret.

And then, as if the universe wasn’t done tormenting him, his phone rang.

His gaze shot toward the screen, and for a split second, his chest tightened even more. The name that flashed across the display made his blood run cold. It was Yash.

The dread that had been swirling inside him suddenly spiked. He wasn’t sure why, but a terrible feeling settled in his gut. He answered the call, his voice hoarse.

"Hello, Nikshant, Aaravi... Aaravi..." Yash’s voice came through the line, uneven, panicked. There was something in his tone that made Nikshant's pulse quicken.

"What happened to Aaravi, Yash?" Nikshant’s voice shook with raw fear. The words felt impossible to say, but they were the only thing his mind could focus on. What had happened to her? Was she okay?

Yash’s breathing was ragged, and the desperation in his voice was palpable. "She... she got into an accident. I didn't see how she came in front of my car. Nikshant, please hurry, there's a lot of blood." His words spilled out in a torrent, a mixture of guilt and terror.

The world tilted beneath Nikshant’s feet. His stomach churned as if the floor had been ripped out from under him. Blood. There was a lot of blood. His mind raced, but nothing seemed to make sense. The sound of Yash’s voice faded into a dull roar in his ears, the reality of the situation hitting him with full force.

Aaravi—Aaravi was hurt.

The words “accident” and “blood” echoed in his mind, each one louder than the last. He couldn’t process the gravity of the situation. His hands tightened around the phone as his thoughts spiraled into chaos.

"Stay where you are. I'm coming. Tell me the address," Nikshant said, his voice clipped, every syllable driven by urgency. The time for hesitation was long past. He couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to get to her.

Yash relayed the address in a rush, his voice cracking. Nikshant barely heard the words—his mind was already several steps ahead, planning his route. There was no time to waste.

"I'm taking her to the hospital," Yash added, but his words did nothing to calm Nikshant’s frantic thoughts.

"No, it's only 10 minutes away. I'll be there in 5. Just stay there," Nikshant commanded, already moving toward the door. His heart thudded painfully in his chest as he grabbed his keys, the weight of the situation sinking in like a leaden anchor.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, NIKSHANT?" Yash’s voice shouted through the phone, a mixture of anger and disbelief.

Nikshant’s grip on the phone tightened. "Yes, I am, but you stay there, please." His words were a quiet command, a demand fueled by fear and determination. His mind was racing, and his body felt as if it was moving on autopilot. The only thing that mattered was getting to Aaravi—getting to her before it was too late.

Without another word, Nikshant ended the call and rushed out of the penthouse. The adrenaline surged through him, his heart thudding erratically in his chest. He didn’t know if he could get to her in time. He didn’t know what would happen when he arrived, but there was no choice. He couldn’t let her face this alone.

He jumped into his car and slammed the door shut. The engine roared to life, the tires screeching as he tore out of the parking lot. The city streets blurred in his peripheral vision, but his focus never wavered. He had to make it. He had to.

Every second felt like an eternity as he drove at breakneck speed, weaving in and out of traffic with reckless abandon. The world outside his car seemed to vanish, replaced only by the hum of the engine and the frantic pounding of his heart. He ignored the red lights, ignored the stop signs, ignoring every rule he had ever followed.

The minutes dragged on, but Nikshant's focus remained sharp. He knew the city. He knew the shortcuts, the back roads. He knew where he could cut time and shave seconds off the journey. And so he did.

N I K S H A N T

Five minutes—nothing more, nothing less. But in those five minutes, the world had tilted, the calm of the night had been replaced with panic and fear, and my heart had shifted into a frantic rhythm I couldn’t control. As I pulled up to the scene, my car screeching to a halt, the world outside the window felt distant, as if I were in a nightmare, helplessly watching through a haze.

I immediately took trembling steps towards the car where many people were gathered, standing in clusters, whispering in hushed tones. Their faces were a blur, their words incomprehensible to me. I couldn’t focus on any of them. My eyes were searching for one person.

My Cherry.

The name that had once felt like an endearing whisper now felt like a prayer I could barely utter without choking. It wasn’t enough to have thought of her in the moments leading to this. I needed to see her, hold her, make sure she was alright.

I froze in place, my body going numb as the horrifying scene unfolded before my eyes. It felt as though time stopped, and the world around me shattered into countless pieces, leaving me broken and empty.

A sharp, gut-wrenching pain pierced through my chest, as if a knife was twisting deeper into my heart, with every breath feeling heavier than the last.

And then, I saw it.

I SAW MY CHERRY LYING LIFELESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, DRENCHED IN HER OWN BLOOD.

Double update maang rahe the de diya maine double update

It took me six hours to write this chapter, and my eyes are already filled with tears.

Ravi ke liye doh shabd

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