From Sorrow To Serenity

CHAPTER - 8

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Neil read the message over Abhimanyu’s shoulder, his eyes widening. "They want you to go alone."

Abhimanyu’s jaw clenched. "Of course they do. But there’s no way I’m walking into this without a plan."

"You’re not seriously going to go, are you?" Neil asked, his voice filled with concern.

"I have to," Abhimanyu replied, his tone resolute. "They have Aarohi. I can’t risk her life."

Neil grabbed his arm, his eyes pleading. "But what if it’s a trap? You could end up getting killed."

Abhimanyu met his brother’s gaze, his expression grim. "I don’t have a choice, Neil. If I don’t go, she’s as good as dead."

Neil looked torn, but he knew there was no talking Abhimanyu out of it. "Fine. But I’m not letting you go alone. We’ll figure something out."

Abhimanyu nodded, already forming a plan in his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was personal—that whoever had taken Aarohi knew more about them than they were letting on. But what did they want? Revenge? Money? Or something far worse?

As midnight approached, Abhimanyu knew that whatever happened at the warehouse would change everything. He just hoped it wouldn’t be too late to save Aarohi.

The minutes ticked by as midnight approached. Abhimanyu stood by his car, the cold night air biting at his skin, but his mind was too preoccupied to notice. He had parked a few blocks away from the abandoned warehouse where the kidnappers had instructed him to go. The area was eerily quiet, the distant sound of the city barely reaching this part of town.

Neil had protested fiercely about staying behind, but they’d finally agreed on a plan. Neil would tail Abhimanyu discreetly, staying far enough away to avoid detection but close enough to act if things went wrong. A small earpiece connected them, giving Abhimanyu some sense of security, though he knew this situation could go sideways in a heartbeat.

As the clock struck midnight, Abhimanyu took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. His pulse pounded in his ears as he approached the warehouse, its rusted doors hanging slightly ajar. A dim light flickered from within, casting long shadows across the dirt-streaked floor.

The moment he stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind him with a metallic clang, making him flinch. The air inside was thick with dust, and the faint smell of gasoline lingered in the air. His eyes scanned the space, but there was no sign of Aarohi—or anyone else.

“Where is she?” Abhimanyu called out, his voice echoing through the cavernous building.

A distorted chuckle responded, bouncing off the walls. “Impatient, are we?” The voice was the same one he’d heard on the phone, cold and mocking. “She’s close, Dr. Birla. Very close.”

Abhimanyu’s fists clenched, his frustration boiling over. “If you’ve hurt her—”

“Ah, threats already? You disappoint me.” The voice moved, like the person was circling him, though he couldn’t pinpoint their exact location. “This is bigger than you and your precious Aarohi. But let’s get down to business, shall we?”

Abhimanyu’s gaze darted around, looking for movement. “What do you want?”

A pause followed, the silence heavy with anticipation. Then the voice continued, “You’ll find out soon enough. But first, a demonstration.”

Suddenly, a door on the far side of the warehouse creaked open, and Abhimanyu's heart nearly stopped. There she was—Aarohi. She was bound to a chair, her face pale, eyes wide with fear. She had a gag over her mouth, and her wrists were tied tightly behind her back. She was trembling, but alive.

“Aarohi!” Abhimanyu shouted, starting toward her.

“Not so fast,” the voice warned, and Abhimanyu froze mid-step.

From the shadows emerged a figure—tall, masked, and holding a remote control. “You take one more step, and this whole place goes up in flames.”

Abhimanyu’s blood ran cold. His eyes darted to the ground near Aarohi’s chair, where he now noticed the thin wires running across the floor. It was a trap. The whole area around her was rigged to explode.

“What do you want?” Abhimanyu asked again, this time his voice steadier, calmer, despite the fear gnawing at his insides.

The masked figure chuckled darkly. “I want you to make a choice.”

Abhimanyu’s heart pounded as the figure stepped closer, their face still hidden behind the mask. “You’ve had everything handed to you, haven’t you? The power, the wealth, the perfect life. But now… now I want to see how much you’re willing to sacrifice.”

“What choice?” Abhimanyu demanded, his eyes flicking between Aarohi and the masked figure. He knew time was running out.

The figure tossed something toward him—a small black device, like a detonator. “You press that button,” the figure said, “and Aarohi lives. But you? You’ll be gone. You’ll never walk out of here. Or…” The figure paused, letting the weight of their words sink in. “You leave now, and she dies. It’s as simple as that.”

Abhimanyu stared at the device in his hand, his mind racing. The cold plastic felt heavy in his palm, heavier than anything he had ever held. He could feel Neil on the other end of the earpiece, silently listening, waiting.

His pulse quickened as the reality of the situation hit him. If he pressed the button, he would die, but Aarohi would be safe. If he didn’t, he might survive—but at the cost of her life.

His gaze locked with Aarohi’s. Her eyes were pleading, filled with fear and desperation. Her muffled cries reached him through the gag, and he knew, deep down, that she didn’t want him to make the sacrifice.

“Time’s running out, Doctor,” the masked figure taunted. “What’s it going to be? Her life or yours?”

Abhimanyu’s chest tightened as he looked down at the detonator in his hand. He could hear Neil’s voice in his ear, faint but urgent. “Bhai, don’t do it. We’ll find another way.”

But Abhimanyu knew there wasn’t time. His mind raced as he weighed his options. He couldn’t let Aarohi die. Not like this.

Slowly, he raised his thumb over the button, his heart pounding in his chest. The masked figure watched, waiting for his decision, their mocking laughter echoing through the warehouse.

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To be continued....