Chapter-16

Author's Pov,

As Pihu reached her apartment with Rudra, conflicting emotions swirled inside her. Relief washed over her momentarily, knowing she was back in a familiar place, but the apprehension remained, knowing she was still under Rudra's watchful eye.

As she prepared to step out of the car, Rudra tightened his grip on her hand, a stark reminder of her captivity. His intense gaze bore into hers, filled with possessiveness and warning. "Remember, Pihu," he said in a low, dangerous tone, "your loved ones' safety depends on your compliance. Neel's condition applies to them too. If you try anything foolish, they will suffer the consequences."

Her heart sank, realizing that the stakes were not just her own life but also the lives of her family and friends. She nodded, the weight of the responsibility sinking in, and replied weakly, "I won't do anything foolish, Mr. Rathore."

Rudra's grip on her hand loosened slightly, and he studied her intently, as if searching for any hint of deception. "Good," he said, his voice softening ever so slightly. "I don't want to hurt you or your loved ones. Just remember, Pihu, I'll be watching you closely. Don't test me."

With a nod, Pihu acknowledged his warning, feeling trapped and suffocated by the situation. As she made a move to step out of the car, Rudra surprised her by leaning towards her slowly. Fear gripped her heart, and she instinctively placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to stop him, but he didn't relent.

Rudra pressed a possessive kiss on her cheek, causing her to shudder with discomfort and fear. "Take care, My Pearl," he said, his voice tinged with possessiveness. "I'll see you soon."

Her emotions were in turmoil as she stepped out of the car, watching Rudra's car drive away. The glimmer of hope she had earlier felt was overshadowed by the realization that she was still very much in his grasp She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions, and made her way to her apartment.

As Pihu reached her apartment, her trembling fingers pressed the doorbell, and each passing second felt like an eternity. Finally, the door flew open, and there stood Shivani, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Tear stains marred her face, a reflection of the restless night she had spent worrying about her best friend. Shivani was too shocked to react initially, but when she saw Pihu standing in front of her, she couldn't contain her emotions and instantly jumped on her, enveloping her in a tight, desperate hug.

"Pihu! Oh, thank God you're okay," Shivani sobbed, her voice trembling with relief and concern. "Where have you been? I've been so worried sick about you!"

Pihu hugged her back tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Between hiccups, she managed to utter, "I'm okay, Shivani, I promise." With Shivani's support, she made her way inside the apartment and settled on the couch, Shivani sitting beside her, still holding her close.

Shivani's eyes were filled with worry as she asked, "Where have you been all this time? I tried to find you last night, but I couldn't get any clue. I even informed my Dad, and he's been searching too."

Pihu's voice quivered as she tried to recount the horrors she had endured. Her story came out in broken fragments, interrupted by sobs and gasps for breath. Shivani held her hand tightly, providing a comforting anchor as Pihu relived the terrifying ordeal.

Shivani's face turned pale as she listened, her heart sinking with each word. Fear gripped her heart, knowing that her friend had been in such grave danger. But she gathered her courage, determined to be strong for Pihu.

"I can't believe you went through all that," Shivani said, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and sadness. "I am so sorry, Pihu. If only I hadn't left you alone at the party, none of this would have happened. I've been trying to find you, but I couldn't."

As Shivani expressed her remorse and apologized for leaving Pihu alone at the party, tears welled up in Pihu's eyes. She quickly shook her head, refusing to accept any blame.

"No, Shivani, it's not your fault," Pihu said firmly, her voice quivering with emotion. "You couldn't have known what would happen. It's just...my destiny, always playing cruel games with me. I feel so unlucky."

Shivani's heart ached for her friend, seeing the pain and fear in her eyes. She reached out and took Pihu's hand in hers, offering comfort and support.

"You're not unlucky, Pihu," Shivani said with determination. "This is not your fault. It's that monster's fault, and he will pay for what he's done. You don't have to face this alone. I will inform my dad; he's the police commissioner, and he will do everything he can to help us. We'll face this together, I promise."

Pihu hesitated for a moment, torn between the desire for help and the fear of involving her best friend and her family in such a dangerous situation.

"No, No, Shivani, I can't let your family get involved," Pihu said, her voice filled with fear. "Rudra...he's powerful, and he's threatened me with my loved ones that he will do anything with them if I disobey him. I can't risk putting you in danger."

Shivani squeezed Pihu's hand reassuringly. "We won't let him hurt anyone, Pihu. My dad is experienced, and he knows how to deal with dangerous people. He definitely help you."

Pihu looked into Shivani's eyes, seeing the determination and love in her friend's gaze. She knew that Shivani meant every word she said, and that gave her a glimmer of hope.

"Okay," Pihu finally whispered, her voice filled with both fear and trust. "But please, be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you or your family because of me."

Shivani pulled Pihu into another tight hug, feeling the weight of responsibility but also a sense of purpose.

"Don't worry," Shivani said softly, "We'll be careful, and we'll make sure Rudra doesn't get away with what he's done. You're not alone in this, Pihu. We're always together from childhood and now also we're in it together, and we'll fight together too."

As Pihu felt the warmth of Shivani's embrace and heard the unwavering conviction in her voice, a glimmer of hope flickered within her. With Shivani by her side, she felt stronger and more determined than ever to fight for her freedom.

After Pihu's tears had subsided, Shivani gently urged her to rest and assured her that she would prepare something to eat. Grateful for her friend's care, Pihu retired to her room, changing into comfortable clothes before finally surrendering to the heaviness in her heart and mind.

As Pihu lay in her bed, she couldn't help but replay the events of the last night in her mind. The memories of Rudra's possessive grip and threatening words lingered, causing her heart to ache with fear and frustration. She wanted to forget about the storm called Rudra, but his presence seemed to loom over her like a dark cloud. Finally, after some time sleep consumes her, which became a sanctuary, an escape from the storm called Rudra that had violently swept into her life.

Shivani returned after sometime with some sandwiches as she doesn't know about cooking much and gently woke Pihu, urging her to eat some. "You need to keep your strength up," Shivani said softly, concern evident in her eyes.

Pihu forced a small smile, grateful for her friend's care, and began to eat. As she savoured each bite, Shivani tried to distract her with light conversation and memories of happier times. Slowly, Pihu felt some of the tension in her body ease, as if Shivani's presence was a calming balm to her troubled soul.

After finishing their meal, Shivani suggested they watch a movie together, hoping it would provide a temporary escape from their worries. Pihu agreed, wanting to take her mind off Rudra and the suffocating situation she found herself in.

As they laughed and shared popcorn during the movie, Pihu felt a sense of normalcy return, if only for a brief moment. She cherished these moments with Shivani, knowing that her friend's unwavering support was her lifeline in these dark times.

Pihu's Pov,

As the days passed, my world felt smaller and suffocating within the confines of my apartment. Mr. Rathore's presence may have become elusive, but the constant surveillance, his daily message for checking on my well being and his watchful eyes on me made it impossible to forget the danger I was in. His words lingered in my mind like a haunting echo, a constant reminder of the consequences I would face if I dared to defy him.

As Mr. Rathore said he had his men stationed outside the society gate, and they were always on high alert. Cameras were fixed right outside my door, ensuring that I couldn't escape unnoticed. As my remaining exams approached, I felt a suffocating sense of helplessness.

Two exams had already gone by, but there were still four more to face. Every day brought new challenges as I tried to navigate this suffocating situation. On the days of my exams, the driver appointed by Mr. Rathore always waited in the society, making it nearly impossible to slip away unnoticed.

Determined to break free, Shivani and I attempted to dodge the watchful eyes of his men on the first day of exams as we don't want to attract any attention on the last few days of our college. We stealthily moved through the society, trying to blend into the surroundings, our hearts pounding with anxiety, hoping to evade detection. However, luck was not on our side, and his men caught sight of us. In no time, they reported back to their ever-present master.

As I heard my phone ring, my hands trembled as I reluctantly answered the call. It was him, the man who held my fate in his hands. His voice was cold and commanding as he issued his ultimatum. "Don't try anything foolish, Pearl," he warned, "Or else, forget about giving your exams."

My heart sank, torn between my desire for freedom and the fear of the consequences that defying him might bring. I didn't want to risk losing all the effort I had put into my studies and my dreams. Reluctantly, I had no other choice but to accept his conditions, at least for the time being.

Amidst the whirlwind of thoughts, my phone suddenly rang, jolting me back to reality. It was my mother, and I knew why she was calling. Guilt gnawed at me, knowing that I had been avoiding her calls for the past fifteen days, pretending to be immersed in my studies through text messages. The truth was, I couldn't bear to share my troubles with her and burden her with worry.

But I also realized that ignoring her call would only raise suspicions. I couldn't risk putting my family in danger, and so, with a heavy heart, I hesitantly answered the call.

"Hello, Mummy," I managed to say, trying to mask the turmoil in my voice.

"Pihu, finally! I've been so worried about you," my mother's voice held a mix of concern and relief.

"I'm sorry, Mummy," I replied, my voice trembling. "I've been really busy with my exams and didn't want to disturb you with my stress."

There was a brief pause on the other end, and I knew she sensed something was amiss.

"Are you sure everything is okay?" she asked gently, her motherly instincts keenly attuned to my emotions.

Struggling to hold back tears, I reassured her, "Yes, Mom, everything is fine. I'm just stressed about my exams, but I promise I'll be alright."

Her words of understanding and support brought both comfort and guilt. I missed my family's warmth, but I couldn't bear to put them in danger by revealing the truth.

"I trust you, Pihu," she said warmly. "Just take care of yourself, and remember, we're always here for you. Also, don't take so much stress for your exams or anything else. I don't want you to fall ill, especially during exams. You tend to fall sick easily when you're stressed."

"I know, Mummy. I'll try to take care," I replied, my voice still carrying the weight of my worries.

As my mother continued to inquire about my well-being, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of comfort and guilt. Comfort, knowing that my family cared deeply for me and was ready to support me in any way they could. But I am feeling guilty, because I was hiding the truth from them and preventing them from sharing my burdens.

"And how are everyone else? Where are they right now?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"As you know, it's daytime when I'm calling, so your dad is at the bakery, and your brother is at his coaching classes," my mom replied, her voice carrying the warmth of a mother's love.

A sense of relief washed over me as I imagined my family going about their daily routines, unaware of the turmoil I was facing.

As the conversation drew to a close, my mother once again emphasized, "Take care, Pihu, and don't hesitate to call if you need anything. We're always here for you."

"I will, Mummy. Love you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I love you too, beta. Take care," she replied, and we said our goodbyes.

After the call ended, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I wanted nothing more than to confide in my family, but the fear of endangering them silenced me.

To be continued............