CLASH OF DESTINY

CHAPTER 11

AUTHOR'S POV

Aadvik clenched his jaw, glancing at the empty chair in front of him for the tenth time that morning. It had been three days. Three days since Ishinita had vanished without a word.

She hadn't applied for leave. She hadn't informed anyone. And for some reason, that unsettled him more than he was willing to admit. The chair creaked as Aadvik leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. He had contacted HR earlier, only to be met with blank stares and careless shrugs. "No leave requests, sir. She just stopped coming."

Stopped coming.

That was what bothered him.

Ishinita wasn't the kind of person to disappear like that.

"Sir, should I call Ms. Malhotra?" his secretary asked hesitantly.

He shook his head, his fingers tightening around his pen. He had already called her-multiple times. Her phone was switched off.

Something wasn't right.

His gut twisted with an uneasy feeling. Ishinita wasn't the type to just disappear. And after the way she had reacted to that text message a few days ago...

He exhaled sharply. He needed answers.

AADVIK'S POV

It's been three days since I last saw her. I feel empty and I don't even know why. I have not heard her voice, not seen her expressions when I tell her to work overtime, or her smile when she talks to everyone in the office. I still remember her horrified expression when she saw the text. Even her colleagues don't know where she is. She has not applied for leave and how do I know, well I asked for her info from the HR department. Nobody knows where she is. The HR department has sent me a temporary PA, but he is not that efficient or maybe it's just me who doesn't like him much. That expression is still haunting me, why didn't I ask her more about it? Maybe just maybe if I had done something about it, I would have known where she is.

Mujhe nahi pata kya ho raha hai par mujhe kuch acha nahi lag raha. Mujhe lag raha kuch bura hone wala hai.

AUTHOR'S POV

Aadvik calls his best investigator

Mohit - Yes sir

Aadvik- (frustratedly)mujhe agle 12 ghante mein ishinita ki saari khabar chahiye woh pichle 1-week mein kaha gyi kaha nahi, kisse baat kari, kya khaya, sab kuch each and every detail agar kuch bhi miss hua toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. Do you get it?

Mohit- yes sir.

Aadvik cuts the call

Malhotra House - That Evening

Ishinita stood in the center of the living room, her hands ice-cold at her sides. She felt like a prisoner in her own home.

Raghav and his family sat before her, their gaze expectant, indifferent, as if they were discussing a mere business deal rather than her life. Her own family surrounded her, their expressions firm, unyielding.

There was no escape.

"This marriage will happen," her father's voice sliced through the air, final and absolute. Like a judge passing a life sentence.

Ishinita didn't flinch. Didn't argue. She simply stood there, staring past them, past the walls, past everything. There was no point in speaking when no one wanted to listen.

"Ishi, say something," Amrita whispered beside her, her fingers curling tightly around Ishinita's wrist. A silent plea. A sister's last attempt to save her.