**Her wedding day was supposed to be the start of forever. Instead, it became the day her world collapsed.**
Samaira had it all-until Advait, the man she trusted, shattered her dreams on their wedding day. Left standing at the altar, humiliated and...
The tension in the room was palpable. Samaira, Naksh, Aahana, and Anay sat huddled together on the floor of the small, dimly lit room where they had been confined. The air was thick with fear and uncertainty, and the muffled sounds of the terrorists shouting outside only heightened the anxiety.
Anay, usually the one to crack jokes in tense moments, now sat silently, his fingers tapping nervously against his knee. Aahana, who had always been the calm and composed one in their group, had her arms crossed tightly, as if trying to hold herself together. Naksh’s jaw was clenched, his mind clearly racing with ideas and solutions that seemed out of reach.
Samaira, however, was a stark contrast to her friends. While her expression showed traces of worry, her mind was far from the immediate fear of their situation. Instead, she was replaying her words from earlier that morning—how she had joked about terrorists attacking and Advait making a grand entry. She couldn’t help but think how her offhanded remark had somehow turned into a cruel twist of fate.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Aahana said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We were just laughing and reminiscing a couple of hours ago... and now this.”
Naksh ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. “We need to think. There has to be a way to contact someone. Anyone.”
“Even if we had our phones, they’d probably track the signal,” Anay added, his voice low. “And I doubt these guys would hesitate to make an example out of someone trying to be a hero.”
Samaira was barely paying attention to the conversation. Her mind wandered to Advait—where he was, what he was doing, and how he would react when he found out she was in danger. Would he storm in, guns blazing, like in the stories? Or would he meticulously orchestrate their rescue, ensuring no trace of the terrorists was left behind?
“Samaira?” Aahana’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“Hm?” she said, snapping back to the present.
“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Naksh noted, his sharp gaze fixed on her. “What are you thinking?”
Samaira gave a small, almost mischievous smile. “Oh, nothing... just imagining how this is all going to end.”
“End? We’re stuck here with armed terrorists outside, and you’re imagining things?” Aahana asked incredulously.
“Well,” Samaira said, leaning back slightly, “it’s not like panicking is going to solve anything. Besides, I know someone who’s probably losing his mind right now and figuring out how to fix this.”
“Wait—Advait?” Naksh asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Who else?” Samaira replied with a faint chuckle.
“Your confidence is admirable, but how’s he even going to know?” Anay asked. “They took our phones. We have no way of contacting anyone.”
That’s when it hit her. The bracelet. The inconspicuous, beautiful bracelet that Aahana had gifted her recently. What Aahana didn’t know was that Advait had had it modified to include a hidden mic, ensuring he could always keep tabs on Samaira if needed.
Her heart raced with the realization. If the mic was active, Advait might already know. If not, she needed to activate it.
“Excuse me,” she said abruptly, standing up.
“Samaira, where are you going?” Aahana asked, alarmed.
“I just... need a moment to calm down,” she replied, turning her back to the group and pretending to steady herself against the wall.
Once she was sure no one was looking directly at her, she brought her hand up to her lips, whispering softly into the bracelet.
“Where are you, Advait? What are you waiting for?” Her voice was barely audible, but she hoped it was enough for the mic to pick up.
“Samaira?” Aahana’s voice made her freeze.
Turning slightly, she saw her friend watching her with a puzzled expression. “What are you saying into your bracelet?” Aahana asked suspiciously.
Samaira’s mind raced for a quick explanation. She smiled faintly and said, “Oh, I’m just... chanting prayers. You know, asking for strength and protection.”
Aahana narrowed her eyes slightly but then nodded. “Good idea. We could use all the help we can get.”
Samaira sighed in relief and returned to her place next to the group. She glanced at Naksh, who was tapping his foot impatiently, and Anay, who seemed lost in thought.
“Do you guys remember the dramas we used to perform in school?” Samaira said suddenly, trying to lighten the mood.
“What?” Naksh asked, looking at her like she’d lost her mind.
“Just think about it,” she said with a smirk. “If this were a play, this would be the part where the hero shows up in the nick of time and saves everyone. Don’t you think?”
Aahana gave her a weak smile. “I’d rather this not be a drama, Samaira.”
“But if it were,” Anay chimed in, trying to follow her lead, “we’d definitely get the award for best performance under pressure.”
Naksh shook his head but chuckled. “Leave it to Samaira to find humor in a hostage situation.”
Samaira smiled faintly, but her mind remained focused on the bracelet. She prayed silently that Advait had heard her and was already on his way.
Her heart tightened as she glanced at her friends. The thought of something happening to them was unbearable. As much as she despised the control Advait often exerted over her life, she had never been more desperate for him to intervene.
Somewhere in the distance, a faint sound—like the rhythmic thrum of helicopters—caught her attention. She glanced at the others, but they hadn’t noticed yet.
If it was Advait, she thought, he was cutting it close.
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