𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | 18+

Chapter-39: Devil's Den

Author

Unpredictable, that's how life is, isn't it? Guess that's why it's called life, after all. One moment, it's all serene and the other, it becomes turbulent. Yash and Meera's lives were no exception. As they had their share of serenity for the moment, turbulence already awaited them.

As they say, empty mind's a Devil's Den. Something of that sort was with Arjun. He was wrong and he knew that, but, he was someone who found solace in it.

He chose to go by the right path, but, that robbed him of his family. Then, with time, came into play the most dangerous player of all, vengeance. He had watched his father struggle to make ends meet. But then, ever so suddenly, money started pouring in like rain. Their happy days were back, but short-lived.

His father was arrested when he was only, fifteen. Things changed for them. His mother broke bonds with his paternal family, they were found involved in the scandals.

He was made to drop out of his education, his mother couldn't afford it. She used to work as a daily wage worker while he used to work at a mine. His mom couldn't take it, the transition from a life in the lap of luxuries to the busy streets, She couldn't take it.

Her mental health deteriorated but, who suffered was the poor boy. His mother found solace in alcohol as time passed and soon, breathed her last leaving the poor boy alone to fight life's challenges. Adding fuel to the fire, his paternal family too didn't accept him back.

For him, the only cause of the apocalypse of his life was, one man, 'Uday Thakur.' The amount of emotional resentment and disdain that he'd harbored for the King Of Gujrat was simply unfathomable. He worked his way up the underworld with certain contacts and, his only motivation to work up the dreaded path was to make the killer of his happy days meet the same fate. But, the biggest hindrance to his path was, 'Randheer Awasthi.'

The man stood like a rock by Uday's side even after not being near him. The loyalty that Randheer had towards Uday infuriated him further. The man because of whom he was left stranded in the world had people who would choose death over betraying him. But, he was a devil and hence chose devilish ways. He did what exactly was done to him, robbed him of his family.

But, in the midst of that, he found Meera. He'd expected her to be the papa's princess that he assumed every woman out there to be. And yes, she was the same, though not entirely. She succumbed to his fury or, that's what he'd assumed it to be. Little did he know, the namesake of a princess was, a phoenix who'd learnt to rise up the ashes, she was the queen who had the ability to crush his ego beneath her feet.

She guarded her family like a sheild and much to his dismay and surprise, took over the mafia in no time. All this while, he was getting married. One of his workers couldn't return the debt and offered to get his daughter married. He reluctantly agreed, it was easy for him to abandom her later as he was underground at that moment, with a different name.

He'd forced himself upon her, countless times, and when his work called him back, he threw her into a brothel. Why? Because, he'd killed her father, he was greedy for money after all.

But now, years later when he came to know that he has a daughter and both his wife and daughter are under Meera's care, how could he let the opportunity slide.

Meera

The constant buzzing of my phone broke my deep slumber. Numerous messages from Shefali caught my sight. Khushi had been calling me, too. What's wrong?

I dialled Khushi and within the third ring, she picked it up.

"What's wrong, Khushi?" She inquired.

"Ma'am actually, I-Inayat and Anairah are missing, we've been trying to find them since the last hour but to no avail. And them, we found a note, it says, Anairah has reached her father safely."

The moment those words left her lips, guilt crashed into my veins. How could such a thing take place considering the number of security professionals the NGO has. But it did, and once again, I was unable to protect my people.

Something else that caught my eye was, a text from an unknown number. It was a location to a secluded place near Mumbai outskirts. I got in touch with my cyber team asking them to trace the number as fast as possible and changed into an appropriate outfit.

As I moved my gaze around the room, the sight of my sleeping husband caught my sight. I can't let him know of this, or else he won't ever let me go. Worse, he would be adamant to accompany me and I can't put his life at stake.

I grabbed a sticky note and penned down what I needed to, the clue for him to find me. I knew once I step into the Devil's Den, he won't let me out easily but, that's the least of my concern at the moment. After planting a quick kiss on his forehead, I left the room.

Quickly rushing to the basement parking, I pulled my car out of the driveway. The location was an hour and a half's drive from my place. All this while, the negative thoughts that lurked around my mind couldn't even be counted. What if he hurts them?

I did the first sane thing that came to me, callind Dheer Chachu, I asked him to be there to escort Inayat and Anairah to my place. He was reluctant upon the idea of leaving me alone but I managed to convince him to to do.

Parking my car down the lane across the dungeon, I made my way towards it. The place was eerie quite and secluded, seemed like some industrial unit since the sun isn't even up yet.

Using the barrel of my revolver, I pushed the door slightly and it swung open. My heart clenched painfully at the sight beside me and fury coursed throughy veins. Inayat was beaten and tied up to a pillar while Anairah was toed up to a chair with a gag in her mouth.

I advanced towards Inayat but before I could free her, Arjun's voice halted me.

" Here comes the Robin Hood Princess."

Taking a deep breathe to control my raging nerves and not loose my composure, I turned to face him. The smirk on his face infuriated me to great lengths but, I maintained a stoic front.

" Your enmity is with me, right? Let them leave and we'll settle the scores." I offered.

"As you command, Princess." He laughed mockingly. Dheer Chachu camein at the right time and I freed both Inayat and Anairah. Turns out, both of them were still under the effects of chloroform.

As Dheer Chachu was escorting both of them out, he turned towards me. His eyes pleading me to not be here and escape but I knew if I did anything of that sort, he would kill all four of us, I don't want that. The moment he made it out with Anairah in his arms, the door slammed shut.

"Here we go again, dear Princess. Don't worry, I won't kill you or even touch you for that matter. You will just have to watch everyone you love, die before your eyes." He snarled darkly pushing me into the chair.

A woman walked in and removed ally weapons. I was tied to a pillar with chains and a gag aroundy mouth. I could only pray to escape from here, I know Yash will come but I don't want him to be impulsive and come prepared.

The woman began beating me, the blows were definitely strong but I knew my strength better.
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