In his office, Darshil stood by the large glass window, his phone in hand as he paced restlessly. Shiv sat nearby, his face lined with worry as he gripped his phone, trying to reach any contacts who could help them locate Poorva. Both men were on edge, the room thick with tension.
Iâve combed through all my contacts, Shiv. And Iâve got nothing. Every single source is silent. Darshil said, his voice tight with frustration.
Shivâs jaw tightened, his hands clenched.
She has to be out there somewhere, Darshil. Poorvaâs smart. Maybe she left a clue. Maybe she⦠Itâs been hours now. Shiv said , his voice filled with desperation.
Darshil turned to him, his eyes scanning Shivâs expression.
You care about her a lot, donât you? Darshil asked, his tone was gentle but probing.
Shiv hesitated, looking away, trying to mask his worry.
Sheâs your sister, Darshil. And sheâs important to me. We canât let anything happen to her. Shiv said, his voice wavered, but he managed to keep his composure.
Darshilâs gaze softened, sensing the depth of Shivâs concern. But before he could say more, his phone rang, breaking the silence. Darshil glanced down, recognizing the international number, his blood running cold as he answered.
Vittorio?? Darshil said, his tone icy.
A low chuckle echoed through the line.
Darshil⦠I was wondering how long itâd take for you to call. I knew youâd come running the moment you found out. After all, family is so precious, isnât it? Vittorio replied, a chilling satisfaction in his voice
Darshilâs jaw clenched.
Where is she? Darshil said, his voice was low, barely controlled.
Shiv watched him intently, fists clenched, trying to gauge the conversation from Darshilâs tone alone.
Sheâs safe, for now. But if you want to keep her that way, you know what to do. I want you, Darshil. No bodyguards, no tricks. You come to me, surrender, and maybe Iâll consider sparing her. Vittorio replied with a mocking tone
Why drag her into this, Vittorio? Your grudge is with me, not my family. Darshil said, his voice held a controlled fury.
Oh, Darshil. If youâre so eager to end this, then you better not waste time. Every minute counts. She doesnât have all day. Vittorio said as he sighed, clearly relishing the moment.
With that, the line went dead, and Darshil stared at his phone, a cold rage brewing beneath his calm exterior. Shiv, sensing something was wrong, stood up.
What did he say? Shiv asked
Darshilâs eyes were hard as he met Shivâs gaze.
Itâs Vittorio. He has her. And heâs making it clear â if I want her back, I have to surrender myself to him. Darshil said
Shivâs face paled, and he took a step closer.
Darshil, you canât. There has to be another way. You know what Vittorioâs capable of. Shiv said
I know exactly what heâs capable of, Shiv. But this isnât about me. Poorvaâs life is at stake. If going there alone is what it takes, then thatâs what Iâll do. Darshil said, his voice was resolute.
Shivâs eyes flashed with anger and desperation.
Youâre not going alone. Weâll figure this out together. We won't let anything happen to her. Shiv said
Shiv, I know how to handle it, Poorva don't even know about all this. Once Poorva is put of his grip, I'll find a way to deal with him. Darshil said
Okay.... Let's execute this plan. Shiv said
Poorva slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurred as she took in the dim surroundings. The cold floor beneath her sent a chill up her spine, and as her senses returned, the realization hit her: she was in a large, empty warehouse. Heavy shadows blanketed the room, broken only by the faint beams of light coming through a few dusty windows. Her heart pounded as she tried to move, but her hands were bound, leaving her trapped and vulnerable.
Footsteps echoed across the room, and she looked up, her eyes widening in fear as she saw a tall man approach â Vittorio. His dark eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint, and a mocking smile curved on his lips as he regarded her.
Well, look whoâs finally awake. I was beginning to wonder if youâd sleep through the entire show. Vittorio said, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
Poorva glared, summoning whatever courage she had.
Why am I here? What do you want from me? Poorva asked
Vittorio laughed softly, a menacing sound that made her shiver.
Youâre here because of your dear brother, Darshil. You see, he thought he could cheat me, snatch something of whatâs rightfully mine, and get away with it. But thatâs not how this works. No one crosses Vittorio and escapes unscathed. Vittorio said
Poorva's face was pale, a mixture of fear and shock settling in. She shook her head, refusing to believe it.
Darshil bhai.⦠cheated you? My brother wouldnât do that. Poorva said
Oh, believe me, he did. Your brother â or should I say, the infamous mafia boss of Italy â stole from me. Heâs one of the most feared men in Italy, so he thought he could play games with me. It was only a matter of time before I showed him the consequences of his arrogance. Vittorio replied, his tone cold and ruthless.
Poorva's breath caught in her throat. She felt a wave of disbelief, her mind struggling to piece together this revelation.
He is a mafia boss? Youâre lying. My brother isnât like that. Poorva said
Vittorioâs laugh was sharper this time.
Oh, you poor, naive girl. You think your brother is some hero? Everyone knows him in Italy â a ruthless boss with power in every corner. People fear him, bow to him. But now? Now, heâs made an enemy of me. Vittorio said
If this is about a mafia deal, why bring me into it? I have nothing to do with his world. Poorva said
Vittorioâs eyes narrowed, his voice hardening.
Because taking you is the one way to make him feel vulnerable. Heâs powerful, yes, but power means nothing if you donât have leverage. You⦠are my leverage, Poorva. Vittorio said
Youâre wasting your time. Darshil bhai will find me, and when he does, he wonât let you get away with this. Poorva said
Iâm counting on it. Thatâs exactly what I want. I want Darshil to come for you, to step right into my trap. He thinks heâs untouchable, that no one can threaten him. But he has no idea whatâs coming. Vittorio said
Why the hell are you doing all this? Is this just about power? Money? Poorva asked
Itâs about taking everything from him. He took what belonged to me. Now, Iâll take everything from him â his power, his empire⦠and his precious sister. Vittorio said, his eyes cold and calculating.
Poorva clenched her fists, anger sparking in her eyes.
Youâll never break him. My brother is stronger than you think. Poorva said, her voice filled with rage
Vittorioâs gaze was unyielding, his smile turning icy.
Weâll see, wonât we? Letâs see just how much he values his sisterâs life when everything heâs built is on the line. Vittorio said, as leaned closer, his voice a low, menacing whisper.
Poorvaâs pulse quickened, and despite the fear coursing through her, she maintained her composure.
Youâll regret this. My. Brother. wonât let you walk away. Poorva said in anger
Vittorioâs smile faded, replaced by a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Iâm not walking away. Iâll be waiting right here when he comes. And when he does⦠Iâll make sure he watches everything crumble before his eyes. Vittorio said
ð«ð«ð«
As the dusk settled, casting long shadows across the vacant warehouse, Darshil stepped out of his car alone, his expression as sharp and cold as steel. Shiv, stationed a few blocks away in a surveillance van, was watching his every move through a screen, tracking each detail as Darshil entered the dark building where Vittorio had called him.
Darshilâs eyes scanned every corner, searching for any trace of Poorva while maintaining a calm, impenetrable composure. The low hum of tension hung in the air, punctuated by the faint sound of Vittorioâs footsteps as he approached, a sinister smile curling on his lips.
Ah, Darshil. Finally, we meet face-to-face again. Iâve been waiting for this moment. Tell me, how does it feel to have your family torn apart because of you? Vittorio said , folding his arms as he stopped a few feet away
Darshil didnât flinch, his gaze ice-cold as he kept searching for Poorva.
Where is she, Vittorio? Youâll regret every second of this if even a single hair on her head is out of place. Darshil said, his voice low but filled with menace.
Oh, donât worry. Sheâs safe⦠for now. But that all depends on you, doesnât it? Whether she remains unharmed or not lies entirely in your hands. I warned you, Darshil. You crossed me, and now youâll pay the price. Vittorio said as he leaned closer, his eyes glinting with malice.
Darshilâs jaw tightened as he fought to maintain his composure.
The only one whoâs going to pay here is you. Iâll make sure of it. Darshil said
Meanwhile, Shiv had hacked into Vittorioâs network, following Darshilâs subtle hints to locate the room where Poorva was being held. His heart pounded as he confirmed her exact location, and he quickly communicated his next steps to Darshil through their hidden earpieces.
Darshil. Iâve found her location. Sheâs in a side room to the right, near the storage area. Iâm heading in now. Shivâs voice crackled softly through the earpiece.
Without breaking eye contact with Vittorio, Darshil gave a barely perceptible nod, his posture remaining as tense and guarded as ever.
Any last words Darshil Rajvanshi? Vittorio taunted, taking pleasure in what he assumed was Darshilâs helplessness.
But Darshilâs lips curved into a smirk.
Just one. Run. Darshil said
Confused by Darshilâs response, Vittorioâs expression faltered slightly, but his confidence quickly returned. He signaled his men to tighten security, though he remained unaware that Shiv had already slipped past and was making his way toward Poorva.
In the storage area, Shiv finally spotted her, bound to a chair and visibly exhausted but still alert. The moment Poorva saw him, her eyes lit up with hope.
Shiv! Poorva whispered, relief washing over her as he quickly cut through her bindings.
Itâs okay. Iâm here. Letâs get you out of here. Shiv murmured reassuringly.
As soon as Poorva was free, Shiv guided her toward an exit, his eyes scanning for any sign of Vittorioâs men. But just as they reached the door, two guards spotted them and lunged, their weapons drawn.
Shiv acted on instinct, pushing Poorva behind him and engaging the men, swiftly taking them down in a flurry of punches and calculated moves. He pulled Poorva close, shielding her from the chaos as he navigated them to safety.
Back in the main room, Vittorioâs men had finally realized something was amiss, and the air was soon thick with the sounds of a brutal fight as Darshil swung into action. He moved through them with precision, every strike landing with calculated force as he tore his way toward the exit. But just as Darshil took down the last guard, Vittorio sneaked up behind him, a solid iron rod clutched tightly in his hand.
Without warning, Vittorio struck Darshil on the back of the head with the rod. The impact was sharp and immediate, and Darshilâs vision blurred, his strength wavering as he staggered before dropping to his knees.
As darkness started to engulf him, Darshilâs thoughts drifted to Poorva and Shiv, hoping they had made it out safely. But before he could rise, Vittorioâs men grabbed him, dragging him back inside as Vittorio watched with a twisted smile of satisfaction.
Well, Darshil, I told you, no one crosses me and walks away. And now? Now, youâre right where I want you. Vittorio said as Darshil slipped into unconsciousness
As Poorva stumbled out of the warehouse, breathing heavily, she felt her heart racing with fear. Though she was free, a new dread filled her chest as the words echoed in her mind â Darshil was now in Vittorio's hands. Her gaze darted around, searching for a familiar face, and when she finally spotted Shiv, she couldnât hold back her tears any longer.
Shiv reached her in an instant, wrapping her in a tight hug, his hand gently patting her head as she trembled against him.
Itâs okay, Poorva. Youâre safe now. I was so much scared. Shiv murmered
Poorva buried her face in his shoulder, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Shiv... Bhai. Heâs... they took him. Vittorio has him. He went there... for me. Poorva whispered, her voice thick with fear.
Shiv pulled back slightly to look into her tear-filled eyes, his expression soft yet determined.
I know, Poorva. And believe me, weâll get him back. Darshil would do anything to protect you. Now itâs our turn to protect him. Shiv said
But what are we waiting for, Shiv? We canât just leave him there. Vittorio... heâs ruthless. He wonât spare him. Poorva said, her voice quivered with frustration and panic.
Darshil gave me one order, Poorva. He asked me to make sure you got home safely. He wouldnât want us rushing into this without a plan â it would only make things worse. Shiv said
I canât go home and pretend everythingâs okay, Shiv. Not when bhai is out there, alone, with that monster. Poorva said
I know itâs hard, Poorva. But Darshil needs us to keep a clear head right now. Heâs counting on us to be strong, especially you. Youâre the one he went through all this for. He knew youâd be safe with me. Shiv said gently, holding her shoulders firmly.
Poorva nodded, biting her lip as she struggled to control her emotions.
Please... just promise me, Shiv. Promise youâll bring him back. I canât lose him. Poorva said
Shivâs expression softened, a promise and conviction in his eyes as he spoke.
I swear, Poorva, I will get Darshil back, no matter what it takes. But first, I need you safe. Let me take you home, okay? Then Iâll do whatever I have to, even if it means storming Vittorioâs stronghold myself. Shiv said
Poorva nodded reluctantly, wiping her tears as she clung to Shivâs words. He gave her one last reassuring hug before leading her back to the car, his mind already racing with plans for the rescue.
It was almost 9 pm, when Poorva entered the house, her face was pale, her body trembling with the remnants of the nightâs terrifying events. The weight of what had happened pressed down on her like a heavy fog, thick with worry.
Aarvi noticed her instantly. She sat on the sofa with Ruhi, but her eyes fixed on Poorvaâs disheveled state. Concerned, Aarvi rose, gently handing Ruhi a coloring book before she moved toward Poorva.
Poorva, what happened? Where were you? I tried calling you several times. Shiv told me you were safe, but you⦠you donât look fine. Aarvi said, her voice was gentle yet filled with worry.
Hearing Aarviâs voice, Poorvaâs composure crumbled. She stumbled forward, tears spilling down her cheeks as she threw herself into Aarviâs arms, her body trembling with each sob.
Aarvi... Darshil.... Poorva whispered, her voice breaking into sobs as she tried to find the words.
Aarvi felt a chill pass through her, sensing something terribly wrong.
Her heart froze as she tried to process Poorvaâs words. She held Poorva tightly, stroking her back to calm her.
Darshil? What do you mean? Poorva, tell me what happened. Aarvi asked
Poorva pulled back, wiping her tears, her hands still shaking.
I was... kidnapped, Aarvi. Some men grabbed me outside my college... and it was all done by bhai's enemies. Vittorio... he did this... to get to him. Poorva said
Aarvi's heart pounded as she processed what Poorva was saying. Her stomach twisted with dread, but she forced herself to stay calm, holding Poorva close.
Poorva, I... I don't understand. But you're safe now, right? Shiv saved you? Aarvi asked
Darshil bhai..â¦Â came to rescue me with Shiv, but Vittorio⦠he took him instead. They⦠theyâre holding him, Aarvi. I donât even know where he isâ¦. Poorva said
Aarvi felt her own heart drop, her vision going hazy for a moment. She could barely believe what she was hearing. Darshil had always been the one protecting everyone, but now in the hands of his enemy.
Poorva, listen to me. We... we can't let Dadi find out about this. She would be devastated. Can you promise me you wonât say anything to her yet? Aarvi said, her voice barely a whisper but firm.
Poorva nodded, her lips quivering.
But Aarvi... what will we do? Bhai.... heâs out there... alone. Poorva said
Poorva, we wonât let anything happen to him. I promise, trust me. You take care of yourself and Ruhi, and donât worry. Iâll handle this. Aarvi said, her voice was steadier than she felt.
Poorva nodded weakly, sniffling as she tried to regain her composure.
Minutes later, Aarvi was on her way to Darshil's office, her mind racing with possibilities and fears. As she entered the dimly lit office, she saw Shiv standing near Darshil's desk, a dark look clouding his usually calm demeanor.
He looked up as she entered, immediately realizing why she was there.
Aarvi, you shouldnât have come here. Shiv said
How could I not, Shiv? You should have told me from the beginning! Darshil is out there, and you expected me to just sit at home waiting? Aarvi said, her voice was a mixture of desperation and anger.
Shiv closed his eyes, letting out a tense sigh.
Aarvi, it wasnât safe for you to be involved. Darshil wouldnât want you in harmâs way. I didnât want to risk anyone else. Shiv said
Aarviâs eyes flashed with anger.
Don't you understand, Shiv? Darshil matters more to me than anything else. I wonât just stand by. Tell me everything. Now. Aarvi said
Shiv nodded reluctantly, knowing there was no point in arguing further.
All right... Vittorio must have taken him somewhere remote. But we have a slight advantage. Shiv said
He walked to Darshil's desk and pointed to a digital tracking map on his laptop.
Darshilâs shirt has a hidden button tracker, and his watch is equipped with a similar chip. Both are still sending signals. Shiv said
Aarviâs breath hitched with relief, hope flickering in her chest.
So, you can locate him? Aarvi asked
Yes, weâre getting closer to narrowing down his exact location. But Vittorio is smart. He knows weâll be tracing him. Thereâs a chance heâll find the chip and move Darshil somewhere else. Weâre on a clock. Shiv replied.
Aarvi clenched her fists, her voice steady but filled with determination.
*********
So guys, that's all for today.
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How was the chapter?
I know I took time in uploading this part. I was busy preparing for festivals.
But I'll be uploading next part, tomorrow itself. Consider it as Diwali bonus.
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