𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞 || @𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙨||

.Chapter-41. Uncovered Mystery

2600+ words

Tumhare bina zindagi mein kuch bhi nahi,
 tumhari har ek baat mein khushiyan chhupi hain,
tum ho toh zindagi rangin hai,
tumhare bina sabhi rangon se pyaari hai.

Ashwin's POV

I ran out of the hospital, the suffocating air inside feeling unbearable. My heart was pounding in my chest, a storm of emotions raging within me—fear, guilt, anger. How did everything fall apart so quickly? Anshika, my parents, Vikram... it was as if life had become a battlefield, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't protect the people I loved.

The cold night air hit my face as I stepped outside, trying to catch my breath. I could feel the weight of the world pressing down on me. Everything was unraveling, and I didn't know how to stop it.

I stopped running and leaned against a tree, my hands on my knees, trying to steady my breathing. Flashes of the past filled my mind—Vikram's face, once my best friend, now the man hell-bent on destroying my life. Why? Why had he chosen this path of hatred and revenge?

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me back to the present. It was Viyaan.

"Where are you?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"I'm outside," I replied, trying to sound calm, though my voice wavered. "I needed air."

"Come back in," he said softly. "We'll figure this out together."

"I can't... I can't just sit there while everything's falling apart," I said, feeling overwhelmed. "Vikram's playing with us. He's always one step ahead."

"We'll get her back, Ashwin," Viyaan reassured me. "We have to keep fighting."

Fighting. That word echoed in my mind. How could I fight when I didn't even know where to begin? Every move I made felt wrong, every decision a step further into chaos.

As I stood there, staring at the dark sky, I felt a tear slip down my cheek. The helplessness was eating me alive. I had always been the one to protect, to lead, to keep everyone safe. But now? Now I felt powerless.

I wiped my face, straightened up, and took a deep breath. No. I couldn't afford to break down. Not now. Not when Anshika was out there, possibly in danger. Not when Vikram was tightening the noose around my family.

Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Noha, my sister, walking toward me, her face etched with worry.

"Ashwin," she said softly, placing a hand on my arm. "You need to come back inside."

I looked at her, seeing the fear in her eyes. I hated that she had to go through this too. I had to be strong for her, for Viyaan, for everyone.

"I will," I said, my voice steadying. "But first, I need to think. Just for a minute."

Noha nodded, understanding. "We'll figure this out together," she said, echoing Viyaan's words. "We'll bring her back."

I nodded, though inside, I felt far from certain. As Noha walked back toward the hospital, I stayed there for a moment longer, letting the cold night air numb the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind.

Vikram had always been smart, always one step ahead. But why Anshika? Out of everyone in my family, why was he targeting her? The thought of her in his clutches made my stomach turn. He was playing a sick game, and I was the unwilling pawn.

My mind drifted back to when Vikram and I were friends, back to a time when the world hadn't yet turned bitter and dark. We had been inseparable, brothers in all but blood. How had we ended up here, on opposite sides of a war that was tearing us apart?