Chapter 37: chapter 37

SRUTHI“Today, there is a parents’ meeting for the kids and the school get over later than usual,” I say to Madhav as he parks the car in the parking lot.“Text me half an hour before the meeting gets over,” he says as I get out of the car.“Okay,” I say.“Take care and give me a call as soon as you see someone suspicious,” he says his usual line when he drops me off. I nod my head absent-mindedly as he starts his car. There has been no news or clues of the prep as of now. It is been a week since I joined the school again. Madhav drops and picks me up daily without any complaints. I haven’t gone out anywhere else except for that one visit to my brother’s mansion. I know that there is a threat to my life and I don’t want to put a target on myself by walking out in the open with no protection. I still haven’t learned to defend myself. Madhav has been asking me daily about it and I keep postponing it for the next day. He is being very patient with me. We are still awkward with each other and our conversations are short and crisp. But, I am feeling more comfortable with him. The preschool is a part of a larger educational organization and is located in a big building. The school comes equipped with a lot of facilities and among them one of it is the underground parking lot where nearly two hundred cars can be parked. Madhav usually drops me here and I walk into the building using the elevator in the parking lot. I walk at a fast pace as I am twenty minutes late to the class and I am sure the kids would have wreaked havoc in the whole building now. I need to get my class before the principal can come running to the class. The elevator door opens and I am about to step in when someone grabs me from behind. I let out a surprised yelp but it is muffled by a cloth that is shoved into my mouth. Rough hands clutch my arms tightly allowing me no escape. My flight or fight instincts kick in. Adrenaline rushes through me. I try to wriggle out of the person’s grasp but whoever is holding me is strong. Something sharp is pressed against my neck and I go still as I recognize the steel of a sharp knife. Panic and stark fear sets in me. This is the  end of me. I am going to die now. No, you are not going down without a fight.Freak! I have no idea how to fight! I should have at least bothered to learn the basics.Don’t forget you are from the Ariyan family, fool! Don’t give up easily. Think of a way.I should have listened to Madhav when he tol—Madhav!‘...Press it whenever you are in danger and I will be alerted of your location. It will be useful when you are in a dire situation and can’t get your phone or anyways to communicate with me.’“Pease taak he nif aa,” I say through the cloth. “Shh, don’t make a sound,” a male voice whispers in my ear. “I will allow you to speak if you promise not to shout. The parking lot is empty and we are not in the focus of CCTVs. If you shout for help, then I will silt your throat in seconds and escape easily. Do you understand?”I nod my head in consent. The man keeps his promise and removes the cloth from my mouth. “Please take the knife away,” I plead bringing my hand near my throat. The person holding me captive laughs and increases the pressure of it on my neck. I can feel the cool metal pressing against my skin. My whole body is stiff and still. With trembling fingers, I press down on the pendant, hoping against hope that Madhav will receive the alert and come to my rescue. But as the seconds tick by, dread settles in the pit of my stomach. Will he make it in time? Or will this be the end of me?“Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?” I ask in a loud voice in hopes that someone in the parking area would hear me.“Shout and I will silt your throat here,” the man holding me captive says. From his voice, I would say that he is a middle-aged man. He is wearing gloves, so, I can’t say find his skin colour. DO Something Sruthi! Engage him in a conversation. Buy time for Madhav.“Aren’t you going to kill me anyway?” I ask in an unbothered tone. Never show your enemies your fear. One of the lessons my father taught me. “Kill you?” he laughs. “You aren’t worth it.”“Ouch!” I say trying to keep him talking. “That hurts my ego!”“Of course, you Ariyans have a big ego,” the man spats in a venomous tone. “That is going to be your downfall one day.”“Thanks for your concern but who the hell are you?”“I can see what you are doing,” the man says in an impatient growl. “You are trying to engage me in a conversation in hopes of buying time. Don’t waste your energy on it. No one is going to come to save you. I have been watching you and this building for a week and I know no one would come here at this time. I made sure your husband’s car left this building before executing my plan.”“Oh, but you didn’t think that her husband would come back for her?” I have never been gladder to hear the sound of Madhav in my life than now.The man lets out a colourful swear word and turns me to the other side so that I am facing Madhav and not the wall, “What can you do? You are a posh businessman who have no idea how to fight with me. I will beat you up in minutes and take your wife away.”“I would like to see you try to take her away from me,” Madhav challenges with a murderous glint in his eyes. His eye meets mine for a moment and they soften. “Sorry sweetie. I am going to beat that man up now and I want you to close your eyes. Don’t open until I say them.”“All big egos,” the man says releasing me. His is covered in full black. His face is hidden behind a face mask and he is wearing a beanie cap. He lunges for Madhav and I close my eyes not wanting to witness the fight scene that is taking place between them. Even without looking, I knew Madhav would take down the man. I haven’t seen him fight but I have blind confidence in him. “Bloody bastard,” the kidnapper cuss in pain. “Who are you really?”“Deathwhisper,” Madhav’s voice is low and threatening. A chill goes down my spine. I open my eyes just as Madhav stabs a knife straight into the man’s heart. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥