CHAPTER 29: " A LOVER'S RACE AGAINST TIME"

Hello everyone 🤗

Just a quick note to let you all know that this chapter will contain some links and references to Chapter 05 : Unveiling the culprit.

Happy Reading 💗________________________________________

Arriving at the hospital, Vishwanath barely paused before sprinting inside. His eyes scanned the room, desperate to catch sight of Kashi. Instead, he spotted Riya, pacing anxiously and speaking in rushed, panicked tones to a group of hospital staff.

"Riya!" he called, rushing over to her side. "What happened? Why are you so worried? And where is Kashi?"

Riya looked up, her face pale and filled with worry. "Aun.....Aunty.....is missing!" Her voice trembled as she spoke, her words tumbling over each other.

"What do you mean missing?" Vishwanath demanded, his voice hardening as his heart raced.

Riya took a shaky breath, trying to calm herself. "Kashi went to her home to get some clothes for aunty and herself, while I stayed here with Aunty. But then....a ward boy came, handed me a chit with a list of medicines and said it was urgent. He told me to get it from the nearby store, so I rushed out. But when I came back, neither Aunty nor the ward boy were there."

"What medicines are you talking about Riya?" Vishwanath's face tightened as the implications hit him. "I went to get the medicines, the nurse gave the prescription to me before. Which ward boy gave you this?"

Riya shook her head, fear filling her eyes. "I don't know....when I asked, the nurse said they hadn't given any such instructions to a ward boy"

Without waiting, Vishwanath took off down the hallway, sprinting towards Kashi's mother's room. His breath came in shallow gasps, his mind racing as he feared the worst. When he arrived, his fears were confirmed, the bed was empty.

A chill ran down his spine. Kashi's mother had been kidnapped. And Kashi herself was still alone at her house, unaware of the danger that was closing in. He felt a pang of worry for Kashi's mother but there was no time to waste. He knew he had to prioritize Kashi. If Ravi got to her before he did, the consequences could be catastrophic.

He couldn't afford to lose her too. First, he had to ensure Kashi was safe, he would then turn every stone to bring her mother back unharmed, safe and sound.

The only thought that grounded him was that he had to get to Kashi before it was too late. Racing back to his car, he bolted into the driver's seat and sped towards her house, hoping that he wasn't already too late.

Upon reaching her home, his heart sank as he noticed the front door was already open. A sense of dread settled over him as he slowly stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. Inside, everything was in disarray,furniture overturned, belongings scattered across the floor, as if a struggle had taken place.

A wave of terror gripped Vishwanath as he stood there, surrounded by the haunting silence of Kashi's home. His mind spun with questions, each one more heart-wrenching than the last. Where is Kashi? Where is aunty? What happened here? His eyes darted around the disarrayed room, trying to make sense of the chaos, but only finding more reasons to worry.

"Kashi!" he called out, his voice hoarse with fear. But there was no response.

Desperation clawed at his chest as he frantically searched every room. There was no trace of Kashi, and he began to fear the worst.As he turned back toward the living room, his gaze fell upon a small object lying near an overturned chair. Heart pounding, he knelt down and reached for it, his fingers brushing the cold screen of her phone. The same phone he had gifted her. The sight of it sent a wave of anguish crashing over him. His thoughts spiraled wildly, imagining the worst. Did Ravi get to Kashi before him? Where did he take her? The thought felt like a knife twisting in his chest. Kashi's face flashed through his mind her warm, innocent smile, her gentle, trusting eyes and the terror only grew. How could he have let this happen? He had promised to protect her, to stand by her, and now....she was gone.

His mind raced, imagining the fear she must have felt, the helplessness she might be enduring right now. Panic clawed at his chest, tightening its grip, as he realized how alone she was in that moment how he had failed to protect her. His legs gave way, and he sank to his knees, his fists clenching as he struggled to hold back tears. The emptiness of the house, her absence, left a hollow ache in his heart.

His shoulders felt heavy, weighed down with fear, guilt, and helplessness. His breathing grew ragged as he sank to his knees, his hands curling into fists as he struggled to hold back tears.

Just then, a voice broke through his haze of grief. "Vishwanath," Inspector Rituraj's voice sounded behind him, steady but laced with concern. As he took in the scene before him, his gaze softened upon seeing Vishwanath on his knees, clearly shaken and teary-eyed.

"Vishwanath what happened here and where is Kashi?" Rituraj asked in a worried voice.

Vishwanath took a deep, steadying breath, his resolve hardening as he quickly rose to his feet. Brushing the moisture from his eyes, he met Rituraj's gaze "Kashi has been kidnapped by Ravi, Rituraj," Vishwanath replied, his voice tight with emotions. "The whole house was in disarray when I arrived furniture overturned, things scattered everywhere. And there was no sign of her."

Rituraj stepped closer, placing a firm, reassuring hand on Vishwanath's shoulder. "Compose yourself, my friend. This is not the time to be sad and hopeless,". Kashi needs you now more than ever. We have to save Kashi and her mother". At the hospital, inspector Rituraj had learned of Anjali's disappearance and, sensed if Anjali had been taken, Kashi was likely in grave danger as well. With a heavy sense of urgency, he left the hospital and drove straight to Kashi's house with his team. But inside, he found Vishwanath on his knees, devastated amid the chaos. The sight before him confirmed his fears.

Vishwanath took a deep breath, "Yes, Rituraj," he replied, voice unwavering, strength returning as he processed the reality before him. "I will do whatever it takes to bring Kashi and Aunty back safely." he said, his voice firm, every trace of weakness erased as he prepared himself to bring his Kashi back.

"I went to the hospital first," Rituraj began, his expression grim. "We reviewed the CCTV footage. A masked man was seen wheeling an unconscious Anjali ji out of the hospital."

The confirmation struck Vishwanath like a punch to the gut his eyes barely concealing his pain.

And Kashi is missing too, I suspect it is Ravi's doing. He had enough time to organize a plan like this. I also suspect that he is working with someone influential, someone who is helping him from behind the scenes."

Vishwanath steadied himself, swallowing back the ache in his throat. "We have to find them. I won't let anything happen to my Kashi or her mother."

Rituraj nodded. "I've already had my team working on finding out who helped Ravi get bail. I have a firm belief that this person is connected to Kashi and her mother's abduction. We should know in half an hour."

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As Vishwanath and Rituraj stepped out of the house, they were met by a throng of curious onlookers, their murmurs filling the air with an uneasy tension. Police cars lined the street, their flashing lights casting an eerie glow on the scene, illuminating the worried faces of neighbors and passersby. The crowd shifted restlessly, eyes darting toward the house, speculation buzzing in hushed tones.

Vishwanath felt a wave of frustration rise within him as he navigated through the cluster of people. He wanted to shout for them to leave, to let him focus on finding his Kashi instead of dealing with prying eyes. Just then, a neighbor approached, her face etched with concern and curiosity.

"Excuse me, are you looking for Kashi?" she asked, her voice low but urgent. The compassion in her eyes made Vishwanath pause, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the chaos.

"Yes," Vishwanath said urgently. "Have you seen her?"

The woman nodded. "I saw her with her father, Ravi. He took her with him in a large black car not too long ago." Her voice trembled slightly as she continued, "Kashi was crying a lot.

Vishwanath's fists clenched at his sides, and he could feel the heat rising in his chest. The thought of her tear-streaked face haunted him, igniting a protective fury within him. Fear and anger surged through Vishwanath. If Ravi had Kashi, then her life was in immediate danger and he had to act fast.

Rituraj looked thoughtful, his gaze sharpening. "Ravi cannot afford an expensive car like that. Someone else must be helping him. We need to track that vehicle immediately."

Just then, one of Rituraj's constables approached them. "Sir, there's a clothing store nearby with a security camera facing the street. It might have captured some footage."

Without a second thought, Vishwanath and Rituraj headed to the store, their determination fueling their steps. They spoke to the shop owner, who agreed to let them review the footage.

As they watched the video, Vishwanath's worst fears were confirmed. There, on the screen, was Ravi, roughly shoving a terrified Kashi into a sleek black car.

Seeing her frightened face, her teary eyes, her struggle, and her father's merciless grip on her arm made Vishwanath's blood boil. A surge of helplessness and guilt consumed him, realizing that he hadn't been there to protect her when she needed him most. His heart twisted painfully as he imagined the fear Kashi must have felt, and he swore to himself that he would bring her back safe.

Rituraj's voice cut through his thoughts. "The car's license plate is visible. My team will trace it immediately."

Vishwanath nodded, clenching his jaw as he tried to suppress the anger burning within him. "Whoever is behind this....they have made a grave mistake. I won't stop until I bring my Kashi and aunty back, no matter what I have to go through to do it."

Rituraj placed a reassuring hand on Vishwanath's shoulder. "We will find them, Vishwanath. Ravi and his accomplices won't get far."

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Vishwanath's mind was a storm of emotions as he waited for updates, each passing second feeling like an eternity. Inspector Rituraj stood beside him, phone pressed to his ear, his face taut with the weight of the situation. Anxiety coiled tightly in Vishwanath's chest, fueling his impatience. He wanted to rush out, to search for Kashi himself, but he felt helpless, trapped by the uncertainty of where Ravi had taken her.

The minutes stretched on, each tick of the clock heightening his sense of dread. Just as despair threatened to overtake him, Rituraj's phone finally buzzed. He immediately answered, listening intently to the voice on the other end. Vishwanath's heart raced as he fought to maintain his composure, desperate for any information that might lead him to Kashi. Every moment felt critical, and he couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping away, taking Kashi further from him.

After a brief exchange, Rituraj turned to Vishwanath. "The car number plate has been traced," he said gravely. "It belongs to the Oberoi Estates. And... we have confirmation that Neel Oberoi is the one who bailed Ravi out."

Vishwanath's entire body went rigid, his jaw tightening, and a cold rage settling in his chest. Neel Oberoi, the very mention of that name made his blood boil. He knew Neel's reputation, he was manipulative, ruthless, and would go to any extent to get what he wanted. An unscrupulous businessman known for his ruthless tactics, using people as pawns in his games of power.But why would he target Kashi and her mother? What grudge did he hold against them? And what is his connection with Ravi? Why was Neel helping him?

At the same moment, Vishwanath's phone rang, piercing the tense silence. He glanced at the screen, it was Raghavendra. Desperate to focus on rescuing Kashi and her mother, Vishwanath answered with urgency, his voice tense. "Hello, Raghav. Is it something urgent? Can I call you later?"

Raghavendra hesitated, sensing the unusual tone of his brother's voice. "Bhaiya, I called because I found something important. It's about the person who transferred money to Ravi to steal information from the textile factory, as you had asked me to investigate it. If now isn't a good time i will call you later......"

The mention of Ravi and the transfer struck a deep chord, heightening Vishwanath's suspicions. He forced himself to focus. "No, Raghav, tell me. I need to know everything," he replied, his tone steady but laced with urgency.

Raghav took a deep breath, steadying himself before he continued. "Bhaiya, the money came directly from Neel Oberoi's company account. Neel is the mastermind behind everything, Ravi was nothing more than his puppet."

The revelation struck Vishwanath like a lightning bolt, momentarily freezing him in place. Suddenly, all the scattered pieces began to fall into place, each one painting a darker, more intricate picture. Ravi's betrayal, the stolen information from the textile factory, the calculated attempt to make the Singhania Group lose the crucial tender, it was all Neel's doing. And now, Kashi and her mother's abduction. Neel Oberoi had woven an intricate web of deceit, using Ravi as his pawn to cripple Vishwanath both professionally and personally.

A quiet fury settled over Vishwanath, his jaw clenching as he struggled to contain the whirlwind of emotions surging within him. Rage, worry, disgust, they all melded together in a torrent, but above all was a fierce, protective instinct for Kashi. Neel had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. He hadn't just attacked Vishwanath's business, he had dared to target Kashi, the woman who had unknowingly become his entire world, the woman he would lay down his life to protect. This time, there would be no mercy.

"Raghav, I need your help," Vishwanath said, his voice a low, simmering intensity that barely concealed his fury. "This isn't just about business anymore. Kashi and her mother....they are in danger. Neel has abducted them, they are in danger. I need you to bring Rudra and a team of our most trusted men. We're going to end this, Raghav. I won't wait a moment longer. I want everyone here as quickly as possible."

Raghav was momentarily stunned by the magnitude of Vishwanath's words but quickly regained his composure. "We are on our way, bhaiya. Don't worry, we will be there soon."

As the call ended, Vishwanath's resolve solidified into something fierce and primal. A cold, determined fury took root in his heart, and it was a fury that could only be likened to the wrath of Lord Shiva himself. Vishwanath named after the god of destruction had always restrained his power, keeping his actions measured and controlled, but now that restraint had shattered. Neel had crossed a line, dared to harm those he held dear, and Vishwanath's fury now simmered with the intensity of a god's wrath, ready to rain down upon anyone who stood in his way.

This was no longer about business rivalry or personal vendettas, this was about Kashi, his Kashi. The thought of her alone and vulnerable, at the mercy of a man like Neel, was intolerable. Fear and anger coiled within him, igniting his determination. Neel had unknowingly summoned the wrath of one who shared his name with the Destroyer himself, and Vishwanath was ready to unleash that fury with the full force of Shiva's vengeance.

Words : 2.6K

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Target 🎯: 75 votes and 15 comments

I will upload the next chapter as soon as the target is completed!!⭐

So, what are your thoughts on this chapter? Did you expect that Neel would be the real mastermind here? There's still so much more hidden in this plot, but I can't reveal too much just yet🤭🤫

Author's Note 📖

So, Vishwanath has finally uncovered that Neel is the mastermind behind everything! But there's still one crucial piece he hasn't figured out yet, Neel's obsession with Kashi. As Vishwanath gets closer to the truth, the stakes couldn't be higher. Will he be able to reach Kashi and protect her before it's too late, or will Neel's twisted intentions bring even more danger into her life? Hold on tight, things are about to get intense!💌

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