Chapter - 54
I woke up earlier than usual today.
Even though I slept late, I didn't feel sleepy anymore.
Maybe because... he's coming today.
Avi.
Just the thought of him made me smile.
Last night, I called him crying.
I don't even remember the nightmare properly...
But I remember feeling scared. Lost. Alone.
He calmed me down. He stayed with me on call until I fell asleep.
And now, knowing he's on his way...
I feel a little better.
Still... there's this weird feeling in my chest.
Something I can't explain.
But I shook it off.
"No, Siya. Don't overthink. Not today," I whispered to myself.
After revising my notes one last time, I went to the bathroom, took a long shower, and got ready.
I wore my vibrant red floral embroidered salwar suit today—
It's one of Aarav's favourites.
He once said, "Red looks powerful on you, Rani sa."
I smiled at the memory.
With the matching dupatta, silver sandals, and simple earrings, I finally felt ready.
I stepped into the living room with a smile.
"Good morning, everyone," I said softly.
"Good morning, Siya!"
"All set for your last exam?"
"Best of luck, beta!"
Everyone wished me back, and we all had breakfast together.
The usual chatter filled the room. It felt warm. Safe.
Just as I was about to pick up my bag, Arjun bhaiya looked at me and said,
"Bhabhi, I'll drop you today. I'm going that way anyway. And I'll pick you up after your exam too."
I nodded. "Thank you, bhaiya."
Then he smiled and added playfully,
"And since your exams will be over today, we have to celebrate! Ice cream date, what do you say?"
I laughed softly and nodded again, "Okay. Let's go."
Arjun bhaiya... he really is like an elder brother to me.
Kind, protective, and always cheerful.
His words made me think of someone else—
Dev bhai...
These past few days... he hasn't called.
Even when I called him, he didn't call back.
Maybe he's busy.
Maybe something's wrong.
No... stop thinking too much, Siya.
I'll try calling him again after my exam today.
And if he still doesn't answer, then I'll ask Aarav to talk to him.
He'll understand.
We reached my college after a while.
Bhaiya dropped me off near the gate.
"All the best, bhabhi! Do well." he said, smiling.
I smiled back, "Thanks, bhaiya."
And then he drove away.
As I walked inside the college, I whispered to myself,
"Just a few more hours... and then... I'll see you, Avi..."
And for the first time in days...
I felt like smiling for no reason.
Finally.
My exam is over.
I couldn't be happier. It went really well, better than I had expected.
As I walked out of the exam hall, the weight of the whole thing lifted off my shoulders. It felt like a huge relief.
But then, I remembered something.
Trisha.
She wasn't in the same hall today. We had only shared three exam halls together, and now that it was over, I really wanted to meet her.
I hadn't seen her all day, and now we had a break—who knew when we'd get a chance to meet again?
I pulled out my phone, about to call her.
But before I could dial her number, a girl approached me.
"Are you Siya?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Your friend is calling you, that way."
She pointed toward the back of the building.
I was confused.
What was Trisha doing over there?
In the winter, sometimes we'd sit at the back, away from the crowd. But it was summer now. Why would she call me there?
Curiosity and worry filled me as I started walking toward the back.
I tried dialing her number, but it was off.
Maybe she hadn't turned her phone on yet. I didn't think too much of it—until I got there.
I reached the spot where the girl had pointed...
And there was no one. Not Trisha. Not anyone.
I stood there, calling out softly, "Trisha? Karan? Are you here?"
Nothing.
No answer.
My stomach twisted into knots.
Where was she? What was going on?
I reached for my phone, planning to call Karan, but before I could even press the dial button,
I felt someone's hands cover my mouth from behind.
My breath caught in my throat.
Panic surged through me.
I tried to scream, to pull away, but their grip was strong.
I struggled, trying to push them off, but it felt like my body was frozen.
I couldn't breathe. My heart raced in my chest.
What is happening?
And then, I felt something sharp on the side of my neck.
A needle.
Something... cold.
No!
I tried to scream again, but my voice was muffled, swallowed by the hand on my mouth.
Everything around me blurred, my vision spinning.
And through it all, the only thing I could think of was him.
Aarav.
I managed to whisper his name.
"Avi..."
And then everything went black.
The moment my private jet landed at Jaipur airport, I didn't waste a single second.
I turned on my phone and the first thing I did was dial her number.
Siya.
But it said—
"The number you are trying to reach is currently not reachable."
I frowned.
I checked the time.
Her exam should have ended twenty minutes ago.
Why wasn't she picking up?
I got in the car and slammed the door shut.
"Drive fast, to Siya's college. Now!" I barked at the driver.
While the car sped out of the airport, I called Arjun.
He picked up after one ring.
"Hello bhai!"
"Where are you?" I asked without wasting time. "Is Siya with you?"
"No bhai, I'm just about to reach her college in 15 minutes. She told me to come a little late so she can meet her friends after the exam."
"Hmm. Okay." I cut the call without another word.
Something felt off.
I knew it in my gut.
I dialed her number again.
Still unreachable.
Damn it.
I called the security guard who was assigned to stay near her college gate.
"Rana sa, Rani sa hasn't come out of the college yet."
I ended the call. My jaw clenched.
What the hell is going on?
"Faster. I want to reach the college in 10 minutes max," I snapped at the driver.
My blood was boiling.
Because of the exams, I had agreed to Dhruv's stupid rule of not letting security inside the campus.
But if even a scratch is on my Angel, I swear—
I'll kill that bastard first.
I immediately dialed Karan.
Yes, he works for me.
He's the one who told me about her dance performance that day.
The only reason I kept him close is because he kept an eye on Siya.
He picked up instantly.
"Yes, Ranasa?"
"Where is Siya?" I asked coldly.
There was silence for a second, then—
"Me and Trisha are trying to find her, Ranasa. She's not anywhere in the building. Trisha saw her heading to the back side of the college, but... she's not there."
My grip on the phone tightened.
"I'm coming."
I hung up.
I didn't say anything for the rest of the ride.
Two minutes later, we reached the college gates.
My team was already there.
I had called ahead and arranged the CCTV footage.
I didn't even wait for Arjun.
I walked straight toward the direction Karan mentioned.
Backside of the college.
My heart was thundering inside me, but my face remained cold.
If something happened to Siya... this whole damn college will burn.
My head hurts.
It feels heavy... like someone stuffed it with cotton.
I blinked twice... then again.
Where... where am I?
I looked around, trying to focus.
The air smelled of dust and something rotten.
There were boxes stacked around. The place was dark... like a storeroom.
My heart skipped a beat.
I tried to move, but my hands—
Tied.
My legs too.
I was lying on the cold, hard floor.
Panic rose in my chest.
What is happening?
I struggled to sit up, but the moment I tried, I fell back down with a thud.
Tears welled up in my eyes from the pain.
And then—
Footsteps.
No... no...
I held my breath, praying it was someone here to help me.
But the door creaked open slowly... and a tall figure walked in.
A mask covered his face.
I stared, confused and scared.
"W-who are you?" my voice was barely a whisper.
He didn't answer.
He walked closer... and then pulled off the mask.
My eyes widened.
"Veer?!"
I couldn't believe it.
He was the same guy who proposed to me at Trisha's birthday party... the one I politely rejected.
"Why... why did you bring me here? What did I do?" I asked, my voice shaking.
His eyes turned red with anger.
He knelt beside me and suddenly grabbed my face—tightly.
His fingers dug into my cheeks.
It burned like fire.
I whimpered, too scared to even breathe.
"You dare ask me what you did?" he growled. "You rejected me! At first, I thought you were just innocent. So I let it go. But then I saw you with him—that arrogant Rana Sa!"
I tried to pull back, but his grip was too strong.
"You're just like the rest—gold digger, pretending to be pure. Throwing yourself at him, thinking you're special? Please. I've seen girls like you. Easy to fool. Easier to break."
Tears spilled from my eyes.
Not just from the pain—but the disgust in his words.
How could he say that?
SLAP.
The world spun for a moment.
"Now," he snarled, "you'll see what happens when someone says no to Veer Choudhary."
His voice thundered through the room.
My ears rang.
I hated loud voices. They paralyzed me.
I could barely breathe. My heart pounded so fast I thought it might stop.
He paced the room, muttering like a man unhinged.
"You made me a fool! You said no to me, but followed him around like a pet! Do you think I'm stupid? Do you?!"
I stayed silent.
The fear was louder than his voice.
I twisted my wrists behind me, hoping—praying—the ropes might loosen.
But he noticed.
He stormed back and yanked me by my hair.
I cried out.
"Stop wasting your energy, darling. No one's coming to save you. Save your strength... you'll need it for other useful things."
He leaned in close, his hand brushing against my cheek... then my neck.
It felt like acid on my skin.
I wanted to scream.
"Now I see what Rana Sa likes about you... that body. Of course, he wants a taste. But guess what?"
His voice dropped.
"He won't be the only one."
My breath hitched.
I cried.
Silent, shaking, screaming inside.
I screamed in my mind, begging the universe for someone—anyone—to hear me.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
He stepped back and took the call.
I heard muffled voices.
Then he walked out.
For a second, I breathed.
But he returned—
With a syringe in his hand.
My whole body turned cold.
"No... no, please..." I whimpered, shaking my head.
He walked toward me slowly, like a predator.
And all I could do was cry, and try to scream...
"Avi... Aarav... someone... please..."
Then everything started going dark again.
The moment I saw the CCTV footage, I felt rage burn through my chest.
Someone had taken my Siya to the backside storeroom...
Wearing a damn mask.
Biggest mistake of his life.
He'll beg me for death... but I won't give him that mercy.
Without wasting a second, I rushed to the backside. Karan and Trisha arrived just behind me.
I didn't even look at them.
Didn't speak.
My focus was only on her.
The storeroom door was locked.
"Siya!" I called out, banging the door.
No response.
That was it.
I kicked the door with full force—
It flew open with a loud crack.
And what I saw inside made my blood boil.
My fists clenched, my jaw tightened.
That bastard—
He was trying to remove my Siya's dupatta.
MY Siya.
I saw red.
No thinking. Just rage.
I just went straight and kicked him so hard he hit the wall and fell like trash.
I didn't even look at him again.
My eyes searched only for her.
My angel.
Lying there on the floor, unconscious.
Her wrists were tied, her face pale.
There were marks on her cheek, blood on her lips, and she looked so... broken.
I dropped to my knees.
"Siya... baby..." I cupped her face carefully.
My voice cracked.
"Open your eyes... I'm here now. Your Avi is here, baby. Look at me... please."
She didn't respond.
My heart...
For the first time in my life, I felt fear.
Real fear.
I picked her up in my arms like she was made of glass.
Held her close.
"I've got you. Nothing will happen to you now. I promise."
I turned to Karan. My voice was ice.
"Handle that bastard. Don't let him die. I want him alive. I'll deal with him myself."
And I walked out, holding Siya tightly.
Arjun was waiting near the car. His eyes widened in shock.
"Bhai! What happened to Bhabhi?!"
I didn't answer properly. Just barked,
"Sit in the car. Drive fast. We're going to the hospital."
He understood the seriousness immediately and rushed to the driver's seat.
I sat with Siya in my lap.
Looking at her face.
Her cheek had a red slap mark. Her lips were bleeding. Her hands had rope burns.
I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt.
"I won't let him go. I swear to God, Siya... he'll pay for every mark on your body. Every single one."
We reached the hospital in 10 minutes.
I didn't wait for anyone. I kicked the car door open and carried her in.
"DOCTOR!! DOCTOR!!!" I shouted. My voice echoed in the hospital.
A team rushed to me.
"Treat my wife immediately!" I snapped.
"I don't care what it takes—she needs to be fine. I want her breathing, talking, smiling again. DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
One of the doctors nodded quickly,
"Sir, please calm down. We'll take care of her."
They took her from my arms and rushed her inside.
I stood there, fists clenched, eyes on the emergency room door.
You touched my Siya...
You tried to hurt my world.
Now pray... whoever you are.
Because Aarav Singh Rathore is coming for your soul.