Author's POV
The wind outside grew colder, hitting the trees with a sharp sound. Ansh walked away from the tent to take a phone call.
His voice was low, tense.
"Is he back?" he asked the person on the other side.
"I want every detail. Where is he and where are his men?"
There was worry in his tone, but also anger, quiet anger, the dangerous kind.
After the call ended, he rushed back toward the tents. But the moment he stepped inside, his whole body froze.
Preeti wasn't there.
Only a small paper lay on the ground.
He picked it up, and his jaw tightened.
"Your beautiful wife is with me :)"
For a second, the whole world felt silent.
His heartbeat?
Gone.
His breath?
Stopped.
His eyes?
Cold.
He pulled out his phone and called the same person again his assistant, his brother-like friend.
"Karan," his voice broke for a second before returning to steel, "he took Preeti. Come to the office. Right now."
Karan didn't waste time.
Ansh rushed toward the guide. He didn't let panic show, but his hands were shaking.
"I need to leave right now. Emergency." His voice was strict, controlled.
The guide blinked. "But sir.."
"And my wife is coming with me. We're married. If anyone asks, she left with me."
He didn't wait for a reply.
He didn't have time.
His world, his wife, was missing.
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The moment Ansh entered the office, Karan was already there, opening his laptop without saying a word.
His face looked worried, almost pale.
"Ansh..." Karan finally said, "he came back from London yesterday. And today he kidnapped Bhabhi."
Ansh's hands clenched. "We will find her. She's 20 km away, in an old garage."
Karan's head snapped up. "What? How do you know?"
"It's not time for questions," Ansh said, already heading toward the door. "I have the location. Let's go."
They ran to the car. Ansh slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. The car roared to life.
He drove.
Fast.
Too fast.
The wheels screeched as they hit the road. Karan grabbed the handle above the door.
"Buddy, tum Bhabhi ke paas ja rahe ho,"
Karan shouted, half scared, half dramatic.
"Upar wale ke paas nahi! Brake bhi hota hai gaadi mein!"
["Buddy, you're supposed to go to Bhabhi, not to God!" Karan shouted, half scared and half dramatic. "The car has brakes too, you know!"]
Ansh didn't slow down. His voice was stiff.
"If anything happens to her..."
Karan swallowed. He had never seen his friend like this.
"If anything happens to her, I'll burn this whole city down."
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Preeti's POV
A strange smell hit my nose first.
Then I felt pain in my wrists.
My eyes opened slowly.
Everything was dark.
My hands were tied behind my back. My feet too. There was tape on my mouth. My head felt heavy and my vision blurry.
Where am I?
A man nearby noticed me moving.
"Boss! She's awake!"
Footsteps echoed. Heavy footsteps.
A tall man appeared. Fat body. Chains hanging on his neck and wrists. His face was rough, cruel. His eyes looked at me like I was nothing but a message for someone.
He pulled the tape off my mouth.
I winced. "Why... why did you bring me here? Please let me go! You're a bad man."
He slapped the tape back on my mouth.
"Shut up," he said. "I don't want to hear your crying."
He sat down on a chair in front of me, lighting a cigarette.
Smoke filled the air.
"Do you know why you're here?" he asked. His voice was deep and frightening.
"You're here because your husband and his old man ruined me."
He smirked.
"And now I'm back."
He leaned closer, letting the smoke fall on my face.
"To tell Ansh that Yugant is back. And this time, he should be scared."
He stood up slowly and walked around me like a predator circling its prey.
"For now," he said, "I will go. He will save you... because I want him to."
His voice grew darker.
Colder.
Crueler.
"But next time..." He kneeled beside me and whispered near my ear, "next time, I will make your husband watch when I destroy everything he loves... starting with you."
My whole body froze.
Fear shot through my chest like ice.
My breathing turned fast and small. My eyes filled with tears I couldn't wipe.
He covered my face with a cloth again. A sharp smell hit my nose. My vision spun. My body grew weak.
And darkness swallowed me.
——————
Author's POV
The tires screeched as Ansh's car stopped outside the garage.
Before the car fully halted, Ansh jumped out and ran inside with full speed.
"Preeti!" he shouted, his voice breaking.
Karan followed, checking every corner with a small flashlight.
Inside, on the cold floor, Preeti sat unconscious... her head hanging to the side, her wrists tied, tape covering her mouth.
Ansh's whole world stopped.
He ran to her and dropped to his knees.
"Princess... princess, I'm here."
He removed the tape gently, as if afraid of hurting her skin. Then he untied her hands carefully, slowly, his breath shaking.
Her wrists were red and swollen.
His heart clenched painfully when he saw them.
Without thinking, he took her hands and kissed each wrist softly.
"I'm sorry, Preeti..." he whispered, his voice cracking.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't here."
Karan came back. "No one is here. It was their plan. They wanted you to find her like this."
Ansh didn't reply.
He lifted Preeti in his arms, holding her as if she might break if he wasn't careful.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
-------------
Preeti slowly opened her eyes. Her head hurt. Her throat felt dry.
Where... am I?
Soft light touched the room. She blinked.
Her room.
Home.
And Ansh... asleep on the chair beside her bed. His head rested on her legs, as if he didn't want to move even in sleep.
Tears filled her eyes.
She touched his hair gently.
But the moment she remembered the villain's threat, her fingers stopped.
He said he will destroy everything Ansh loves... starting with me.
Fear tightened her chest again.
Ansh slowly opened his eyes. The moment he saw her awake, he sat up quickly.
"Princess," he breathed out, relief flooding his face, "are you okay? Any pain? Any discomfort? Tell me..."
She shook her head weakly. "I'm... fine. I'm here because you saved me."
Her voice trembled.
Her eyes stayed on his.
But inside, she was scared.
What if that man comes again?
Ansh cupped her face gently.
His voice changed deeper, angrier, protective.
"I will never let anyone touch you again."
He pressed his forehead to hers.
"Whoever hurt you today... he will pay. I promise you."
A tear fell from her eye. Ansh wiped it with his thumb.
"You don't have to be afraid," he murmured softly. "Not when I'm here."
He kissed her forehead. A long, warm, soft kiss.
A kiss that said: you're safe now.
"Go freshen up," he whispered. "Dinner will be ready soon, okay princess?"
She nodded and went to the washroom slowly.
Ansh stepped out of the room.
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The house was quiet.
Preeti came to the dining table, her steps small, her eyes still shaky. She was wearing a fresh suit, her hair tied loosely.
Ansh was already sitting there. He didn't talk.
He just watched her carefully, making sure she wasn't in pain.
The dinner was simple daal, roti, and rice. But today, the silence between them felt soft... comforting... like their hearts were still talking even if their mouths weren't.
Preeti took a small bite. Her hands were still trembling.
Ansh noticed.
He placed a glass of water near her hand.
"Slowly," he said quietly.
She looked at him.
He looked back.
No words.
Just warmth.
After a minute, she whispered, "Ansh...?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
He gave her a small smile gentle, but full of love.
"You're my wife," he said simply. "I'll always find you."
Her eyes softened.
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