The Sun & the Stars Aligned

45: Mask Off

ADITYA

Tara had been gone for fifteen minutes, and it was starting to gnaw at me. I pulled out my phone and called her. The ring went through three times before abruptly disconnecting.

Frowning, I tried to shake off the unease, but it only grew stronger. I searched the entire place, every corner where she could have been. But she was nowhere to be found. I tried calling her again, but this time, the call didn't even go through, her phone was switched off.

Panic began to creep in, tightening around my chest. My mind raced with possibilities. I shouldn't have let her go alone. Last time I let her alone, I nearly lost her. 

Fear crept over me as I searched for her aimlessly. 

"Tara," I whispered her name like a prayer as if she might magically appear if I wished hard enough. 

But she didn't. I couldn't see her, couldn't feel her presence, and the fear that something terrible had happened to her was becoming unbearable. I can't let anything happen to her.

I looked around everywhere, my heart pounding in my ears. 

I was already on edge, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios, when I heard Ishani's voice behind me. "Aditya, have you seen Tara?"

I turned to see her standing there with Kritika. I clenched my fists to keep myself from showing just how panicked I was. "I'm looking for her too," I replied, my voice tight.

"But she was with you, right?" Ishani asked, worried.

"She got a call from an unknown number and stepped out to answer it," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But now I can't find her anywhere." Admitting that out loud made my chest tighten even more.

Kritika spoke up, "She's probably just around here somewhere. Let's find her."

"Where is Tara?" Arjun's voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. His expression hardened as he realized that Tara is missing.

"Let's split up and search for her." Ishani said.

Without wasting another second, I turned and walked away, heading toward the exit. The cool air hit my face, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside me. 

I scanned the area outside, the parking lot, the shadows between the cars.

"Tara!" I called out loudly but there was no response. 

I stormed toward the security room, my heart pounding in my chest. As I approached the door, the guard stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

"Sir, I can't let you in here without proper authorization," he said, his tone firm.

I narrowed my eyes at him, my patience wearing thin. "Move aside," I ordered, my voice cold as ice.

"Sir, it's against protocol," he insisted, standing his ground. "Only authorized personnel can view the footage."

My eyes darkened with a deadly calm. This man had no idea who he was dealing with. "Do you know who the fuck I am?" I asked, my voice dangerously low.

The guard hesitated, "I'm sorry, sir, but—"

Before he could finish his sentence, I pulled out my phone and made a quick call. "Transfer the ownership of this entire mall to me. Now."

I hung up the phone and turned back to the guard, my expression cold and unyielding. Within seconds, his phone rang. He answered it, and I could see the color drain from his face as he was informed about the change in ownership.