UNLIKELY PARTNERS( Smriti & Perry)

The Call

Perry's heart pounded as she stood on the sidewalk, the black van disappearing from view. The thrill of the chase had turned to dread, and panic surged through her. Just as she was about to reach for her phone to call the police, her own phone buzzed in her pocket. The number was unknown.

She hesitated, but the urgency of the moment compelled her to answer. “Hello?” she said, her voice trembling.

“Listen carefully,” a cold voice came through the line, sending chills down her spine. “If you go to the police or any investigator, you’ll pay the price for Smriti’s life.”

Perry’s breath hitched. “What do you mean? Where is she?”

“Patience, girl. She’ll be back,” the voice continued, devoid of empathy. “But for now, don’t do anything stupid. Or else…” The line went dead.

Perry stood frozen, a mixture of fear and anger flooding her veins. How could someone be so cruel? She wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but all she felt was the weight of helplessness pressing down on her.
---

In a dimly lit room, Smriti slowly regained consciousness. The air was thick and musty, and her head throbbed painfully. She tried to move but found her wrists and ankles tightly bound to a chair. Panic surged as she struggled against her restraints, her heart racing.

Her mouth was stuffed with a cloth, making it impossible to call for help. She blinked, trying to adjust to the darkness, but the light was too harsh. As her vision cleared, she caught sight of two imposing figures standing nearby, both men towering over her, guns in hand. They appeared stoic, their expressions unreadable.

Desperation clawed at Smriti as she attempted to speak, but the muffling cloth stifled her words. Suddenly, the sound of heels clicking against the floor echoed in the room. She turned her head slightly, wincing at the pain, but she couldn’t focus on the figure approaching. Fatigue weighed her down, and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

A woman, approximately 5'6", stepped into view. Smriti’s heart sank as she recognized her—a figure from her past, a person she had once trusted. It was that girl again to destroy her life, it was Shruti Rana. The woman’s lips curled into a smirk as she tilted her head, examining Smriti with an air of amusement.

“Look who’s awake,” she said mockingly, her voice smooth yet chilling. “I’ve missed you, dear.”

Smriti’s mind raced as she tried to recall the details of their last encounter, but the pain clouded her thoughts. The woman leaned closer, whispering something to one of the men. Smriti’s heart raced; she needed to find a way out, but all she could do was sit there, tied and helpless.

---

Back outside, Perry was pacing, her mind racing with questions and fear. Harman’s name popped into her phone. She answered on the first ring.

“Hey, where is Smriti? Her phone isn’t reachable. Is she safe?” she asked, urgency in her voice.

“What? How do you know that?” Perry replied, panic creeping into her words. “What’s happening?”

“Oh shit, something’s happened, hasn’t it? What’s going on? Tell me everything!” Harman’s voice was sharp, cutting through the fog of Perry’s fear.

“Why do you think something happened? Just tell me!” she shouted, her heart racing. She could feel her panic rising.

“Where can we meet?” Harman asked,
“Perry, I need you to focus. Just tell me where you are. I’ll come to you,” Harman insisted, her tone now serious.

“Are you here? Weren’t you in India until yesterday?” she questioned, confusion swirling in her mind.

“I’ll explain everything once I get there. But right now, we need to think about Smriti. She’s in real trouble,” he urged.

Perry’s heart sank. “What do you mean? What do you know?”

“Just give me your address, Perry. I’ll be there as fast as I can,” he pressed.

With a deep breath, Perry replied, “Come to my flat. I’ll text you the address.” Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—how did Harman know? What had happened to Smriti? Was she safe?

As she sent the address, a mix of dread and curiosity gripped her. Harman had always been protective of Smriti, but why was she so certain something was wrong? The anxiety gnawed at her as she recalled the last moments with Smriti, their laughter and playful banter now overshadowed by fear.

She messaged her brother that something is not right and she can't come to the hospital today to see their dad please take care of him and tell me if you need anything. His brother understanding the situation said it's okay you take care of whatever emergency it is it's all fine here we are taking him to our home today as doctor said he's recovery speed is now fine and we can take him home.

A rush of emotions flooded through Perry—fear for Smriti, anger at the kidnappers, and a growing determination to find her. She glanced at her phone, wishing for a sign, a clue—anything that could guide her in this dark moment.

“Please, Smriti,” she whispered to herself, “hold on.”

With each passing second, she felt the weight of the world pressing down on her. She couldn’t let fear control her. She had to fight, to find Smriti, no matter the cost. As she waited for Harman, she steeled herself for whatever was to come. The battle was just beginning, and she wouldn’t rest until she brought Smriti back home safe.