A LOVE WRITTEN IN SHADOWS

Chapter Nine: A Father's Fear

The first rays of dawn crept through the curtains of the Rathore mansion, painting the room in soft hues of orange and pink. Arjun Rathore rubbed the sleep from his eyes, stretching out as he prepared to face the day. But as he got out of bed, an unsettling feeling settled in his stomach.

He moved toward Saanvi's room, a habitual check that had always brought him peace. However, today, as he pushed the door open, his heart plummeted. The room was empty, the bed neatly made, and no signs of his daughter's presence. Panic surged through him like a cold wave.

"Saanvi!" he called, his voice echoing in the stillness. "Saanvi, are you in here?"

Silence answered him, and his heart raced as he moved through the house, checking every room, calling her name over and over. Each unanswered call only heightened his fear. Where could she be?

With rising dread, he finally sprinted to her room again, searching for clues. He noticed her backpack was missing. Realization hit him like a punch to the gut—she had left. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration and worry battling within him.

He quickly dialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail. His heart sank further. He had to act fast. Something was wrong, and he feared she had done something reckless.

With trembling hands, he picked up his phone again, this time dialing Devansh Choudhary's number. His mind raced through the possibilities. Devansh had connections, resources—he had to help him.

As the line rang, Arjun paced the room, his thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. He couldn't let fear paralyze him; he had to remain focused for Saanvi's sake.

"Come on, Devansh, pick up," he muttered under his breath.

Just as he began to doubt, Devansh's voice came through the line, deep and steady. "Arjun? What's wrong?"

"Devansh, it's Saanvi. She's gone—she's missing!" Arjun blurted, urgency lacing his voice. "I can't find her anywhere. I think she ran away."

"What do you mean, 'ran away'?" Devansh asked, his tone shifting to one of concern. "Did you check her room?"

"Yes, and her backpack is gone. She must have left in the middle of the night. I'm afraid something has happened to her," Arjun replied, panic rising in his throat.

"Stay calm," Devansh said, his voice steadying Arjun's racing heart. "We'll find her. You need to think—who could know she was planning to leave?"

"Maybe it's connected to my enemies. They could use this as leverage against me," Arjun suggested, dread creeping into his thoughts. "But why would they go after her? She's innocent in all of this."

"Perhaps they think that by taking her, they can manipulate you," Devansh said, his mind working quickly. "We need to gather information. Who could have seen her leave? Did she mention anything about meeting someone?"

"No, she was upset about the marriage proposal. I didn't think she would actually go through with running away," Arjun admitted, his voice heavy with regret.

"Okay, listen. I'll come over right away," Devansh instructed. "In the meantime, try to contact any of her friends. She might have confided in someone."

"Right," Arjun agreed, his mind racing. "I'll do that now. But I need you here, Devansh. I need your help."

"Of course, I'll be there as soon as I can. We'll find her together," Devansh assured him before hanging up.

As he ended the call, Arjun felt a glimmer of hope. Devansh's calm demeanor was a grounding force in this storm of uncertainty. He could rely on him, and together, they could devise a plan to bring Saanvi back safely.

Meanwhile, Devansh stood in the living room of his home, cradling his daughter, Saira, in his arms. She was giggling, her tiny fingers pulling at his hair, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding outside their safe haven. His heart swelled with love as he watched her, but the weight of Arjun's call loomed heavily on his mind.

"Daddy, play?" Saira chirped, her bright eyes sparkling with innocence.

Devansh smiled down at her, his heart aching at the thought of Saanvi in danger. He couldn't let anything happen to her. Not when he felt an undeniable connection to her—a bond that had only grown since their first meeting.

"I'll play with you in a moment, sweetheart," he said softly, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I have to take care of something important first."

Setting Saira down on the floor with her toys, he turned to pace the room, his mind racing. Saanvi was out there, vulnerable, and he needed to find her.

He quickly pulled out his phone and started typing furiously, sending out messages to his contacts in the underworld. He had connections that could track movements, gather information—he just needed to know where Saanvi might have gone.

As he sent the last message, Devansh's mind turned to the possibilities. He thought about Saanvi's creativity and intelligence. She wouldn't just run without a plan. Maybe she had a destination in mind, a place she felt safe.

He remembered the conversations they had during the contest, her excitement about finding new solutions, her determination to succeed. She was resourceful, and that gave him hope. He had to leverage that against her potential kidnappers. If anyone could outsmart them, it was Saanvi.

"Come on, Saanvi," he muttered under his breath, his determination solidifying. "You're not alone. I'll find you."

He gathered his jacket and made sure Saira was content before he left the house. He had to meet Arjun and formulate a plan to locate Saanvi before it was too late. The clock was ticking, and he would do whatever it took to bring her back.