He chose & she stayed

Unwrapping emotions

Dear readers, at this point I'm seriously questioning myself🤔🤭 Whether this book is a psychological thriller/crime story or love story.

NOTE:
Baby monitor is an electronic device that enables a person to see and hear a child who is in another room.

Now lets go back to the story....

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1.00 a.m. - At the Birla house

The forensic department found five different finger prints on Abhimanyu's clothes and one of them was the most present in the bed Abhimanyu was laid as per the picture, in the long chain restrain near the bed, the food left behind in the room, in the kitchen utensils and of course in Abhimanyu's clothes. The officers collected Abhimanyu's finger print samples from his room at the Birla house and they found that out of five finger prints one belonged to Abhimanyu, himself. It was not the majority one. Then that led to the officers conclude that one specific kidnapper has spent the most time with Abhimanyu, from the moment he was kidnapped.

A defeated Harshavardhan was sitting with his head lowered. Anand held his brother's shoulder. Even, ever the power lady Mahima was starting to loose hope, a sad Shefali held her mother in law. Parth who was at the verge of tears himself was busy consoling an openly crying Neil, who loved his brother with all his heart, Abhimanyu was more than a brother to him. Neil could not take this stress any longer and was succumbing to it.

Officer 1: *looks at the Birlas* That house was registered under a fake profile. There were two plates of discarded meals which might have been cooked after the photo in the pendrive was sent by the kidnapper. And one meal was fresh, when found in the room your son was kept. Majority of the finger prints in the room, kitchen, utensils, your son's clothes, the bed and the restrain in the room belonged to one particular person other than your son. We've sent the samples to find matches with previous criminal record.

Harshvardhan's blood pressure was rising minute by minute. His struggle to breathe was also now clearly felt by himself.

Officer 2: *understandingly* Please try to thing of someone or something we might have missed. Someone or something associated with your son.

The Birlas could think of absolutely nothing.
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*At Abhinav's new secret place*

Abhimanyu could not tell the passage of time, he was walked to his brand new cage by his supposed kidnapper/ex-batchmate or well-wisher as the man liked to address himself as, accompanied by few more goons. He did search for any modes of escape/call for help after he was left alone. But he found none and now he was blankly staring at the room's ceiling. Abhinav left Abhimanyu alone to his thoughts a long time ago, with a parting words of "Call my name if you need anything". After spending so much time sleeping under the influence of drugs now made Abhimanyu as awake as someone high on caffeine. He could neither bear the silence any longer nor could he indulge in the stuff left by his supposed kidnapper/ex-batchmate for his entertainment. Abhimanyu sighed and another beat of silence passed. He did not know what took over him, as he decided that he needed to do something.

Abhimanyu (in his mind): He did say that this room is sound proofed then how did he confidently say that he'll come here if I call his name.

Anyways Abhimanyu decided to test the waters.

Abhimanyu: *loudly* Dr. Abhinav Sharma!

Abhinav (through a speaker): Yes, Abhimanyu? By the way, you can also call me by my first name.

Abhimanyu walked towards the source of sound and saw a baby monitor of all things in the top shelf, he did not explore till now. And Abhimanyu was offended is an understatement.

Abhimanyu: *pissed* Damn you! Like seriously a baby monitor of all things. I knew it! You don't know how to be a kidnapper! Who the heck installs baby monitor instead of CCTV cameras and speakers.

Abhinav: *surprised* You're angry that I'm monitoring you through baby monitor and not by actual cameras and speaker.

Abhimanyu huffs at the other end.

Abhinav: *calmly* If it can soothe your anger just hear me out, actually the switching of locations was a last minute decision so I couldn't find time to install proper monitoring techniques. And baby monitor is an all-rounder, so I thought why not? By the way your dinner is almost done, I'll visit your room in a couple of minutes. Wait, why did you call me?

Abhimanyu: *sarcastically* Figure it out yourself Mr. "Kidnapper who wants to be on first name basis" as you've collected all the information about me already.

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*Elsewhere - in a dark warehouse*

The goons threw both Rohan and Aarohi inside a dark room, completely bound and left them all alone. Aarohi was now guilty as she got Dr. Rohan involved.

Rohan: *looks at Aarohi* Don't blame yourself for our situation now, Dr. Aarohi.

Aarohi: *taken aback* How did you know what I'm thinking? *indifferently* You got any mind reading powers or something?

Rohan: *shrugs* I just know.

Rohan then started wriggling his body to move towards the door.

Aarohi: *puzzled* What're you doing Dr. Rohan?

Rohan: *struggling* I'm making sure that when the door opens, it'll be me who the goons will see first.

Aarohi: *tries to move* Stop what you're doing right now, whatever you may say but the truth is you're in this actually because of me and I don't want...

Rohan: *interrupts her* Not only for you, yes I did initial jump into the chase for you but I continued it for Abhimanyu sir. God knows what he's going through in the past 24 hours, struck in a very bad situation or just like us got thrown and left in a dark room.

Aarohi's face visibly paled on mentioning the word "dark" and started panicking, Rohan gave her a puzzled look and enquired about her sudden distress.

Aarohi: *worried* Dr. Abhimanyu has Nyctophobia.

Rohan: *alarmed* What!

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