ENIGMA

UNYIELDING 3

As the tension hung thick in the air, the door to the warehouse room burst open, and several police officers entered, their presence sudden and commanding. The lead officer, a man with a stern face and sharp eyes, immediately made his way to Advik, extending his hand.

“Dr. Malhotra,” the officer greeted, his tone respectful as he shook Advik’s hand firmly. There was a tight, almost forced smile on his face, a sign of the grim circumstances they were all too aware of. “Thank you for your assistance in helping us locate this wanted criminal.”

“Wanted? Criminal?” she blurted out, her voice trembling with disbelief. “What do you mean? How is Ronit a criminal? What did he do? Why haven’t I heard about this before?” Her questions tumbled out in rapid succession, her panic and confusion growing with each word. She could barely wrap her head around the idea that Ronit—a person she had been so close to, someone she had trusted—could be involved in something sinister.

Before the officer could respond, Advik’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “Silence.”

His tone was cold, intimidating, and utterly ruthless. Ruhani froze, her words dying on her lips as she met his steely gaze. The look in his eyes was enough to send a shiver down her spine. There was no warmth, only a cold, calculated resolve that left no room for argument.

“Not another word,” he continued, his voice low but filled with a menace that silenced any further protest. “You’ll keep quiet now, or I’ll ensure you regret it.”

The officer, sensing the tension, took a step back, unsure of how to proceed. Advik didn’t break eye contact with Ruhani, making it clear that any defiance would be met with severe consequences. She felt her heart sink, fear gripping her as she realized just how powerless she was in this moment.

The officer, despite Advik's imposing
presence, couldn't hold back any longer.
He cleared his throat and spoke directly
to Ruhani, his voice steady but laced
with urgency. "Miss, you need to
understand that this guy isn't who
you think he is. He has a history-a very
dark one. He's part of a large gang
involved in illegal activities, and they've
been targeting young women like you.

Ruhani's eyes widened in shock, her
mind struggling to comprehend what she
was hearing. "What do you mean? What
kind of activities?"

The officer hesitated, glancing at Advik,
who remained silent but vigilant. "They
lure women into their circle, gain their
trust, and then abduct them. These
women are taken to undisclosed
locations and forced into situations no
one should ever endure. We've rescued
28 girls and women so far, and you... you
were going to be their next victim."

Ruhani felt her legs weaken beneath her,
her heart pounding in her chest. She
could hardly believe it--Ronit, the man
she had once loved and trusted, was part
of something so sinister. She turned to
Advik, searching his eyes for any sign of
softness, any indication that this wasn't
real, that it was all a terrible
misunderstanding.

But Advik's gaze remained cold and
unyielding. He stepped closer to Ruhani,
his presence overwhelming. "This is the
truth. Ronit played you, just like
he played those other women. And if it
weren't for tonight, if it weren't for my
intervention, who knows what could
have happened."

Ruhani swallowed hard, tears stinging
her eyes. The reality of the situation
crashed over her like a wave, and she
felt herself beginning to break under the
weight of it.

“All of you,” Advik commanded, his voice cold and authoritative, addressing his men with a wave of his hand, “take Ronit outside. Now.”

His men sprang into action, roughly grabbing Ronit, who was still writhing in pain from the gunshot wounds. They dragged him towards the door, his groans of agony filling the room as he was pulled out of sight. The scene was surreal, like something out of a nightmare, and Ruhani could only watch in stunned silence as they took Ronit away.

Once Ronit was gone, Advik turned back to the police officer, his demeanor shifting subtly. He spoke quietly, almost politely, but there was a steel edge to his words. “I appreciate your cooperation, officer. However, I would prefer to handle Ronit personally. This is a matter I need to take care of on my own.”

The officer hesitated, clearly conflicted. It was evident that he was torn between following protocol and respecting Advik’s wishes. After a tense pause, he finally nodded, albeit reluctantly. “As you wish, Dr. Malhotra. We’ll leave it in your hands.”

Ruhani’s confusion deepened. She watched the silent exchange between Advik and the officer, her mind racing with questions. Why was the police so willing to back down? What did Advik mean by handling Ronit on his own? And how could she reconcile the man she thought she knew with the cold, ruthless person she had just witnessed?

Advik walked over to Ruhani. His grip on her arm was firm but not harsh. He didn’t offer her any explanation, nor did he say a word as he escorted her to a chair and gently but firmly made her sit down.

“Stay here,” he instructed, his voice leaving no room for argument. “I’ll handle everything.”

Ruhani, still in shock, could only nod, her mind too overwhelmed to do anything else. She sat there, her thoughts a chaotic swirl, as Advik turned back to the police officer for one last word.

“Make sure there’s no interference from your side,” Advik said quietly, his tone polite but carrying an unmistakable warning. “I’ll take full responsibility for Ronit.”

The officer nodded once more, clearly uncomfortable but unwilling to challenge Advik’s authority. With that, he gave a final salute and exited the room, leaving Ruhani alone with Advik.

As the door closed behind the last officer, Ruhani felt a chill run down her spine. She had never felt so uncertain, so afraid of what might come next. The man standing before her now was far away from the composed, caring person she had thought she knew. As the reality of the situation sank in, she realized that she was now completely at his mercy, caught in a web of circumstances she could never have imagined.

Without a word, Advik turned and walked out of the room. Ruhani felt a strange mix of relief and dread as he left, her legs trembling beneath her. She could hear his footsteps, and for a moment, she dared to hope that this might all be over.

But that hope quickly faded as she heard him speaking outside. Advik was calm and commanding as he addressed his best man. “Give Ronit first aid,” he ordered, his voice devoid of any emotion. “But take him to our place afterward. We’re not done with him yet.”

The man nodded, showing no surprise at the cold efficiency in Advik’s words. “Understood, sir,” he replied, giving Advik a respectful salute before moving to carry out the orders.

Advik watched them for a moment, ensuring that his instructions were being followed to the letter. Once satisfied, he turned back toward the room where Ruhani waited, his expression unreadable. The men outside wished him well as he passed, their respect for him evident in their demeanor. But to Ruhani, that respect only underscored the power he held over everyone around him.