Aarohi And Dev

CHAPTER 19

Dev POV

After the chaos settled, I received a call from an unknown number. Before I could speak, the voice on the other end said, "If you want to save your family, come to this address," and then disconnected.

I quickly checked on my mom and felt relief wash over me when I learned she was safe. I tried calling Devika to check on her, but unfortunately, she didn't pick up, confirming my lingering worries.

Paying my bill swiftly, I hurried out of the cafe, immediately calling Aman to locate her for me.

I headed directly to the location they specified. I couldn't risk Devika's safety, she had to be my priority.

I entered the abandoned warehouse in the remote area and searched meticulously for any clues about Devika, but to my disappointment, I found nothing.

I heard the door creak and approached it, trying to unlock it, but to my dismay, it was deliberately locked from the outside.

As I ventured further, I encountered a bold message inscribed on the wall: 'Beete huve kal ko chhuna aane waale kal ko bigaad sakta hai'
[ Touching your past means ruining your tomorrow. ]

I didn't have to ponder too much to grasp who could have left that message. It's probably someone linked to my dad's death—maybe the one behind his murder. This message solidified my belief that it wasn't an accident but a deliberate act of violence.

My jaw clenched in anger, my eyes growing watery with the weight of vivid flashbacks. I was transported back to the scene of my father's death, the raw emotions surging through me like a turbulent storm, fueled by the unsettling truth that his demise was no accident—it was murder.

FLASHBACK:
2004

The memory of our family's joyous return by car from the hospital after my mother gave birth to Devika flooded my mind. We were all so happy—I had gained a sweet little sister, and while I pretended to complain to Dad that he would love her more than me, he reassured me with a chuckle, "For parents, all children are equal." Mom, breaking the silence, added, "You'll see, the one who will love Devika the most will be Dev himself," and we all shared a hearty laugh at her words.

Continuing, a car was parked in the middle of the road, blocking the way for other vehicles. I watched as Dad parked the car by the side and stepped out to investigate. Mom held Devika in one hand, while she stopped Dad with the other, asking, "Where are you going?" Dad reassured her, "Nowhere, just going to ask that man to move his car aside," and he left the car. Meanwhile, I played with my newly acquired little sister.

The sudden noise shattered the tranquillity, causing my heart to race. I watched in shock as my mom flinched, holding Devika close, both of them overwhelmed by fear and confusion. With trembling hands, I opened the car door and stepped out, my breathing erratic.

The scene that greeted me was devastating—my dad was pinned against the car window, shards of glass embedded in his chest. I felt a wave of numbness wash over me, my mom's cries for help piercing through the chaos. In that haunting moment, my dad's words cut through the noise: "Take care of your mom and sister," he said, squeezing my hand tightly.

I tried desperately to free him from the wreckage, but my efforts were futile against the weight of the car. As I struggled, I noticed a vehicle speeding away from the scene, adding to the sense of helplessness. Summoning every ounce of strength, I managed to pull my dad free, guiding him to the ground and applying pressure to his wounds in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.

As the minutes passed, a crowd gathered around, their voices rising in urgency as they called for police and an ambulance. With their arrival, hope flickered briefly, only to be extinguished as they declared my father dead, shattering my dreams of a happy family.