UNLIKELY PARTNERS( Smriti & Perry)

A Dangerous Game

Perry's heart pounded in her chest as they approached the abandoned godown, the weight of dread heavy in the air. The black van they had rushed to find sat empty, its dark metal gleaming ominously under the fading light. Nearby, a tall man dressed in black stood sentinel, flanked by two others. Instinct kicked in; Perry felt a surge of panic.

“Look!” she pointed, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s him! That’s the guy who kidnapped Smriti!”

Aryan’s gaze sharpened as he assessed the situation. “Wait, Perry,” he said, raising a hand. “This is Smriti’s life at stake. We can’t take any risks. I have a plan.”

Perry swallowed hard, her mind racing. “What do you need me to do?” she asked, anxiety coursing through her.

“Just stay behind me and follow my lead,” Aryan instructed, his voice steady. After a few tense moments, his watch buzzed, and he received a notification. “Good to go.”

With a nod of determination, Aryan guided Perry and Harman toward the back of the building. The air was thick with tension, and every footstep felt like a countdown. Aryan motioned for them to stay low as they slipped through a side entrance, careful to keep quiet.

Once inside, Aryan's instincts kicked in. He spotted the first guard, who was standing with his back turned, oblivious to their approach. Aryan moved with practiced precision, delivering a swift blow that sent the man crumpling to the ground without a sound.

Perry’s heart raced as she watched, adrenaline surging through her veins. They were in, but there was still so much uncertainty.

“Two more,” Aryan whispered, motioning to the next pair of men further inside the dimly lit space. Perry felt a pang of fear—what if they were too late?

Aryan crouched low and charged at one of the guards, delivering a sharp kick that sent him sprawling. The second guard, momentarily distracted, reached for his gun, but Aryan was quicker, drawing his own gun and aiming it at the two men who now stood with their hands raised in surrender.

“Stay where you are!” Aryan commanded, his voice firm.

But before they could react, a chilling laughter echoed through the room. Perry’s breath caught in her throat as she turned to see Shruti Rana, a predatory smile spreading across her face.

“Did you really think it would be that easy?” she taunted, stepping into the light. There, bound to a chair, was Smriti, her eyes closed, her body limp. Perry's heart dropped.

“Smriti!” she cried, desperation surging within her.

Harman stepped forward, eyes narrowed with fury. “What have you done to her?”

Shruti feigned innocence. “Oh, nothing much. Just ensuring she wouldn’t get in my way anymore.”

As if on cue, the lights flicked on, illuminating the grim scene. Shruti stood with a weapon in her hand, pointed dangerously at Smriti’s unconscious form. “You see, Harman,” she continued, her voice dripping with malice, “I love her. I really do.”

Harman’s eyes darkened with anger. “You don’t love her; you’ve always used her!”

“Oh, but I did love her once, but she was coming in the path of my career” Shruti replied, her tone shifting as her facade crumbled. “also she came along. This girl”—she pointed at Perry. She looked with an angry glare towards smriti “she was eating up my career. Ever since Smriti got into the Indian squad, I was pushed out. I was out of the playing eleven, and then I was out of the squad entirely.”

Perry's hands clenched into fists, her heart racing with a mix of anger and fear.
“So you kidnapped her because you were jealous?”

Shruti’s laughter echoed through the room, cruel and taunting. “I tried manipulating her. Harman ruined my plans before and then you stepped in her life. I couldn’t do anything while she was happy with you, Perry. I had no other choice, all doors were closed. I intended to finish her story That’s why I had to orchestrate your father’s accident. I knew she would come to Australia to save you. It was the perfect plan.”

Harman’s face twisted in disbelief and fury. “You’re insane.”

Just then, Aryan’s eyes flicked to Harman, signaling that the confession was enough. Without warning, he pressed a button on his watch, and the wall behind them exploded, revealing a squad of police officers rushing in with guns drawn.

“Police! Hands in the air!” one officer shouted, taking control of the situation.

The chaos that followed was swift. Aryan lunged at the two men who had been holding their guns, disarming them quickly and efficiently. Perry stood frozen for a moment, processing the whirlwind of events as Aryan pinned one of the guards to the ground, gun trained on him.

Shruti’s expression shifted from confidence to panic as the realization sank in. “You can’t do this!” she shouted, stepping back, but the officers quickly surrounded her.

“Get your hands behind your back!” one of the officers ordered, slapping handcuffs on her wrists.

Harman rushed toward Smriti, his expression a mixture of fear and determination. “Smriti! Can you hear me?” she shouted, her voice breaking.

Perry felt a wave of relief wash over her as the officers took control, but her heart still ached for Smriti. “What do we do?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Aryan stepped forward, securing the last guard. “We get her out of here. The ambulance is on the way.”

As the officers led Shruti away, she shot one last glance at Perry, her eyes full of venom. “This isn’t over! You’ll regret this!”

But Perry was too focused on Smriti to care. She rushed to her side, kneeling beside the chair. “Smriti, please wake up,” she whispered, shaking her gently. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she saw Smriti’s pale face, the worry lines etched deep in her brow.

Finally, the sound of sirens grew louder, and the ambulance arrived, paramedics rushing in. They quickly assessed Smriti’s condition and began to untie her, moving with a sense of urgency.

As they lifted Smriti onto a stretcher, Perry couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness. “I’m right here, Smriti,” she whispered, squeezing her hand tightly.

In the ambulance, the atmosphere shifted. As they began to check Smriti’s vitals, her eyes fluttered open. “Pez?” she murmured, confusion clouding her gaze.

“I’m here,” Perry replied, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

Smriti’s brow furrowed as she struggled to remember. “What happened?”

Perry held her hand tightly, trying to convey all the love and reassurance she felt. “You’re safe now. We got you back.”

But as Smriti’s eyes widened in fear, she suddenly shouted, “Pez! Pez!”

Perry leaned closer, her heart breaking at the sight of Smriti’s fear. “I’m here, Smriti,” she said softly, pressing a gentle kiss to Smriti’s forehead. “You’re safe. I promise.”

Smriti’s breathing began to steady as she felt Perry’s warmth, the connection grounding her. “Don’t leave me,” she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I won’t,” Perry vowed, her heart swelling with emotion. “I’ll always be here for you.”

The ambulance rushed through the streets, the sirens wailing as the world blurred past. But in that moment, all that mattered was the bond they shared—their love stronger than any darkness that threatened to tear them apart.