Frozen Hearts

chapter 18

The man tried to elbow me on my abdomen. But I block him and kneed him making him fall on the ground clutching his stomach. By that time Prasadh and Raghav reached us. They prevent the man from running away while I moved towards the gate to get the parcel which he kept there earlier.

"Get him in...!" I walked into my office after commanding them.

I saw Raghav clutching the hands of the man to the backside while Prasadh unbuttoning his shirt to tie his hands before I walked in.

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"Where is she? Tell me dammit..! If you want to live... Tell me..." I shouted at him clutching his hair and yanking his head backward.

"I... I don't know... Leave...me" he mumbled with all his strength. The wound on his forehead made his face covered with blood like a thick layer of paint.

"Even after all this, he has the nerve to lie... Give me five minutes Dev, I will make him vomit the truth." Raghav moved forward with an iron rod in his hand.

"Raghav no... Stop" I took the rode from his hand before he could hit the man on his head.

"I don't think he can take this anymore, don't kill him I want him alive..."

"Sir, I think what he said can be the truth... He may not be the real villain... I think he is just a bait..." Prasadh said before moving forward to untie him.

"Prasadh what are you doing..? He may run away." Raghav moved towards them to stop him from untying the rope.

"He is in no state to run away." Prasadh made him sit on a chair after untying him.

"Water... Water.." He whispered unable to sit steadily.

"Prasadh, give him water and... please dress his wounds, " I instructed him and moved out of the room.

I felt frustrated with everything that was happening around me. Sometimes I feet all these were my dream and when I wake up I could be able to see the smiling face of Swapna.

" sir..." I saw Prasadh coming towards me with a box in his hand. That was the one I saw the man keeping outside the office main entrance.

"What?"

"Sir, we should check this before handover this to the police."

"I'm not going to inform them... Not anymore..."

"Pardon..."

"Can't you understand when I said I'm not calling the police..," I shouted holding his collar. I was feeling like I have to kill everyone who is coming near me. I raised my fist and punched the wall near him.

"Dev... leave him what nonsense are you doing..." Raghav separated Prasadh from my hold. Then only I realized I was holding Prasadh.

I'm sat on the floor on my knees when I felt my knees are becoming weak and I cannot stand anymore. All I wanted was to scream at the moment.

"Help me Raghav... Please help me... Please...." I started to cry like a child not able to control myself "please... please kill me....and end everything...ple.."

"Stop it Dev, its not the time for an emotional breakdown... You have to save her.., Swapna needs you..." I can't hear what they are saying I can only hear Swapna's voice she is pleading for help. I have to save her, I have to be strong for her.

"Sir, we don't have much time let's check what's inside the box," Prasadh asked showing me the box. I stood from there to took the box from him and directly went to my office room where the man we caught before was kept.

I saw him sitting on a chair with head hanging one wound on his hand was tied with a bandage, there were many other wounds which was partially cleaned with an antiseptic lotion.

"What is inside the box?" I asked grabbing a tuft of hair to make him look at my face. I wanted to know what was inside the box to prepare myself before opening.

"I... I don't.. know..." Again the same answer that was driving me crazy. Seeing my frustration Prasadh came to my side.

"I will handle him sir please relax" I nodded at him allowing him to ask further.

"What is your name?"

"Vimal.."

"Vimal, who gave this to you?"

"A customer... That's what he told me when I asked his name.. Please... leave me... I don't know anything further"

"I need some answers if you give me what I want, I will leave you." This time Raghav said this to him.

"I don't know anything sir... I don't know anything... my wife is at the hospital getting treatment for cerebral aneurysm... I... I need a huge amount to do the surgery... this man... he said he will help me if I do this..." He said in his feeble voice..................