49. Riya in danger

In India, Ankit Mehra sat alone in his dimly lit room, the stench of stale champagne and despair hanging heavy in the air. The once-pristine space was now cluttered with empty champagne bottles, overturned glasses, and crumpled pieces of paper scattered across the floor. The room, much like his state of mind, was in complete disarray.

He slumped in a chair by the small table, his bloodshot eyes fixated on a framed family photo that rested amidst the chaos. It was a picture of happier times—Ankit stood beside his wife, Amrita, her radiant smile reflecting pure joy. Their two daughters, Nikita and Alisha, beamed with innocent laughter, clutching their father’s hands.

The more he stared at the photo, the heavier his heart grew. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring the image of the family he loved more than anything in the world. He reached out with trembling hands, picking up the frame and holding it close to his chest, as if trying to feel their presence.

“I’ve failed you,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and trembling. “I couldn’t protect you... I couldn’t keep you safe.”

Memories of the night everything fell apart flooded his mind. The shattered glass, the overturned furniture, the eerie silence that greeted him when he returned home, only to find his family gone. The chilling phone call that followed still echoed in his ears:

"If you want your family alive, you’ll do as we say."

Ankit let out a shuddering sigh, the weight of his guilt and helplessness pressing down on him. The once-confident man was now a shadow of himself, trapped in a nightmare he couldn’t escape. Every day was a struggle, every decision a betrayal of his morals, but he had no choice. His family’s lives hung in the balance.

“I’m so sorry, Amrita,” he murmured, his tears falling freely now. “I didn’t want to do this... but what choice do I have? I just want to see you and the girls again, hold you all in my arms. I... I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”

The sound of his own voice broke him further, and he slammed the photo frame back on the table, his hands shaking violently. He buried his face in his palms, his body wracked with sobs.

As the room grew quieter, a knock on the door startled him. He hastily wiped his tears, trying to compose himself, though his red-rimmed eyes and disheveled appearance betrayed his anguish. “Who is it?” he called out, his voice cracking.

“It’s Arav,” came the reply, calm and steady.

Ankit’s heart skipped a beat. The spy assigned by Shivaay had been his unexpected lifeline, someone who had offered him a glimmer of hope in his darkest days. Taking a deep breath, Ankit stood up, straightening his wrinkled shirt. He had to stay strong—for his family, for himself.

As he opened the door, Arav stepped in, his sharp eyes immediately taking in the mess of the room. “Still staring at the past, Mehra?” he asked, his tone firm but not unkind.

Ankit nodded silently, his gaze dropping to the floor.

Arav placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find them, Ankit. Shivaay doesn’t leave things unfinished. You have my word.”

Ankit looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and despair. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold on, Arav. I just want my family back.”

“And you will,” Arav said firmly. “But you need to stay strong. For them. For yourself. We’ll get through this.”

With a heavy heart, Ankit nodded, clinging to the thin thread of hope Arav had offered. The fight wasn’t over—not yet.

Ankit's voice trembled as he grabbed Arav's arm, his face pale with desperation. "Save her, Arav!" he pleaded, tears brimming in his eyes.

Arav's brows furrowed as he tightened his grip on Ankit's shoulder. "Yes, we’ll save Amrita and your daughters. You have my word."

But Ankit shook his head vehemently, his voice breaking. "Not Amrita... save Riya."

The unexpected name left Arav momentarily stunned. He narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of Ankit's words. "Riya? Why? What’s going on?"

Ankit collapsed into a chair, burying his face in his hands before looking up, his expression one of utter torment. "They’ve planned something terrible," he stammered. "Riya... she’s in danger. A truck... it’ll come for her when she’s on her way back home from college. It’s no accident, Arav. It’s planned. They want to kill her, and they’ll make it look like a tragic road accident."

Arav’s heart sank. Riya, Shivaay’s younger sister, was one of the most cherished members of the family. The thought of something happening to her ignited a fire in him. He crouched down to meet Ankit’s frantic gaze. "Are you absolutely certain about this?"

Ankit nodded feverishly. "I overheard their plan during a call. They want to send a message to Shivaay... to make him suffer. Please, Arav! If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself!"

Arav’s mind raced as he processed the gravity of the situation. Without wasting another second, he pulled out his phone and dialed Shivaay.

The line connected, and Shivaay’s commanding voice came through. "What is it, Arav?"

"Sir, we have a critical situation," Arav said, his tone urgent. "Riya’s life is in immediate danger. A truck is set to target her on her way back from college. It’s a planned attack."

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Shivaay’s voice dropped to an icy calm. "Where is she now?"

"She’s still at college as far as I know," Arav replied. "We need to act fast to ensure her safety."

Shivaay’s voice hardened. "Mobilize our men near the college. I want her followed and protected at all costs. I’m sending reinforcements now. Keep me updated."

"Understood, sir," Arav said, ending the call. He turned back to Ankit, who looked at him with a mix of hope and fear.

"You’ve done the right thing by telling me, Ankit," Arav assured him. "Now it’s time for us to stop this before it’s too late."

Ankit nodded, his hands trembling. "Please... just save her. She doesn’t deserve this."

Arav stood tall, his resolve unshakable. "We’ll save her, Ankit. I promise you that."

With that, Arav stormed out of the room, his mind focused on one goal—saving Riya before it was too late.

Arav stormed out of the room, his mind racing. His mission was clear now—protect Riya, no matter the cost. He knew only a few details about her, primarily that she was Shivaay’s sister and a student at the most prestigious university in Jaipur. He hadn't seen her in person yet, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that her life was in danger, and he had to stop it.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and as he checked the notification, he saw a photo of Riya, radiating beauty and grace. The message accompanying it read: “She’s leaving soon. Don’t let anything happen to her. I trust you.” The words from Shivaay were clear—he had to protect Riya, and nothing else mattered.

Arav quickly made the necessary arrangements, contacting Shivaay’s mafia team. He informed them of the plan—each team member would arrive in a separate car, dressed in outfits that didn't match the usual uniform, to avoid suspicion. No one could know they were working together.

“Listen carefully,” Arav spoke into the phone, ensuring the message was clear. “No one should know we’re coming. Keep the plan simple—dress differently, and don't draw attention. We’ll confuse them.”

Once everything was in place, Arav ran towards the college gates, scanning the area for any signs of danger. He had no idea exactly where Riya was, but he was determined to find her. As he approached the gates, his eyes locked onto her. She stood there, laughing with her best friend, her smile bright and genuine. The sight of her made him pause for a brief second, his heart thumping in his chest. She was beautiful—stunning, even—but it was her innocence and carefree nature that struck him the most.

Her friend waved goodbye as Riya climbed into her car, and Arav quickly turned, running to his own vehicle. He needed to follow her, stay close, and make sure nothing happened to her.

Arav revved the engine, pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road. He kept a safe distance behind Riya’s car, following her every move. As they drove, he saw a truck parked ahead, blocking the path. Arav’s instincts kicked in. Something wasn’t right. He could feel the tension building in his chest as the truck began to slowly move.

The plan was set into motion. Arav immediately realized what was happening. The truck was positioned to block Riya’s path, but he wasn’t the only one who had noticed the danger. He glanced in the rearview mirror, only to see identical cars—cars from Shivaay’s mafia team—appearing out of nowhere. They were all dressed in different attire, blending into the traffic like they belonged there. The trucks and cars were purposely scattered, throwing off the truck driver’s ability to focus on one specific vehicle.

As the truck moved into position, Arav saw the confusion in the driver’s eyes. He couldn’t tell which car held Riya, and that hesitation was all Arav needed. He adjusted his speed and position, ensuring that he was still close behind Riya’s car while keeping a safe distance from the truck.

For a few moments, the entire traffic situation was chaotic. The truck driver tried to make a decision, but with so many cars around, he couldn’t figure out which one was Riya’s. The confusion was Arav’s ally, and it worked perfectly. He maneuvered his car through the mess, keeping his focus on Riya’s car and making sure the truck wouldn’t get a chance to strike.

As Riya’s car sped up, Arav followed, his gaze never leaving her vehicle. He could feel the weight of the mission on his shoulders, but for now, he had succeeded in keeping her safe. His eyes remained locked on the road ahead, scanning for any new threats, but as of now, the plan was working.

Riya remained blissfully unaware of the danger surrounding her, chatting casually with her friend on the phone. Arav couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility towards her now. Protecting her wasn’t just about following orders from Shivaay; it had become personal. He had to ensure she was safe, no matter the cost.

As they continued down the road, more backup cars appeared, ensuring Riya’s safety from all sides. The truck driver, confused by the many vehicles around him, gave up on the plan to strike. Arav let out a sigh of relief. For now, Riya was safe.

But this was just the beginning. There would be more threats, more danger. And Arav would be ready to face it all, just to make sure Riya and Shivaay stayed protected. As the cars continued their journey, Arav stayed vigilant, knowing that the battle was far from over.

As Riya’s car pulled into the gates of the palace, Arav couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. He slowed his car to a stop at a distance, parking it a little further away from the entrance. His eyes remained glued to Riya as she stepped out of her vehicle, smiling as she walked towards the palace. She seemed completely unaware of the danger she had just narrowly escaped, chatting and laughing with her friend as if nothing was wrong.

Arav leaned back against the seat of his car, taking a deep breath. His heart was still racing, the adrenaline from the chase slowly subsiding. He had done his job—Riya was safe, for now.

As he watched her disappear inside the palace gates, he couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Relief, satisfaction, and even a sense of protectiveness. He knew that she was connected to Shivaay, but in this moment, it felt personal. The desire to keep her safe, to protect her from whatever threat loomed in the shadows, burned inside him.

He sat there for a while longer, his eyes focused on the palace gates, knowing that the danger was far from over. There were still many questions left unanswered, but for now, he had done what he could. He had made sure Riya arrived safely.

Arav started the engine, ready to leave. He couldn’t afford to stay here any longer. The mission was over for now, but the task wasn’t. There would be more to do. But as he drove away, a small part of him felt a flicker of relief knowing that, for today, Riya was safe.

As Arav drove away, his phone buzzed. He quickly glanced at the screen to see Shivaay’s name flashing. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he answered the call.

"Is everything okay?" Shivaay's voice came through, calm yet filled with the usual intensity that Arav had grown accustomed to.

Arav let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. "Yes, sir. The plan went smoothly. Riya made it to the palace without any issues. No one noticed anything unusual."

Shivaay remained silent for a moment, processing the information. "Good. But stay vigilant. We can’t afford any mistakes. Keep an eye on things and make sure she stays safe. I don’t trust those who might be behind this."

"I will, sir. You don’t have to worry. She’s safe for now. I’ll keep monitoring the situation." Arav's voice was steady, assuring Shivaay that he had everything under control.

"Good. Keep me updated, Arav. And remember, if anything changes, if you notice anything suspicious, let me know immediately."

"I understand, sir. I’ll handle it."

The call ended, and Arav sank back into his seat, his mind racing. He knew this was just the beginning. The sense of relief he had felt moments ago quickly evaporated. There was still a long road ahead, and the danger was far from over. But for now, Riya was safe, and that was all that mattered.

Shivaay stood at the edge of the construction site, his gaze fixed on the bustling workers and the progress of the ongoing project. The noise of machinery and the hum of activity surrounded him, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t help but think of Niharika, Riya, and the safety of his family.

His thoughts shifted to the upcoming time, as he had made the decision to be away for a while. The project he was overseeing was critical, but so was the need to ensure everything was stable at home. The weight of his responsibilities pressed down on him, but he had to leave for a while, trusting that things would be taken care of.

"I’ll come back in one and a half months," he murmured to himself under his breath, his voice barely audible over the construction noise. He felt a strange mixture of anxiety and determination as he made this decision.

His eyes momentarily closed as he took a deep breath, thinking of Niharika and how she had always held everything together, even when he was distracted by his business or his mafia dealings. "Be safe, everyone," he whispered, as though sending a message to his loved ones, knowing he would be absent but hoping they’d be alright in his absence.

His fingers tightened around the blueprint in his hand as he made one last glance at the site before turning, heading back to his car. The next few weeks would be crucial, but he knew he had to trust the people he had put in place.

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