THE HIDDEN HALF

Chapter 18 : Please come back to me, Swara!

*** CHAPTER 18 ***

SWARA!! SWARA!! SWARA!!!

Her name keeps ringing in Vidhaan's ears as he runs out of the room. 'She's missing, Bhai', these have been the only words he hears from Laksh before storming out of the mansion. The message he has received a while ago has gotten on his nerves and he feels himself hyperventilating as a pang of hurt shoots up his heart. He is here to protect her and he won't be able to forgive himself if something happens to her. He cares for her... a lot and not because he is obliged to do so but because he wants to care for her... to protect her. He doesn't know himself when his feelings grew this strong but their intensity has now started hurting no one but him only.

Things have never been planned to go that way but they are going and he finds himself too helpless in front of his own feelings. The urge to hold her and have her in his arms has never been this strong that he sees nothing else but his way out to her... to protect her from whatever danger has been extending its claws out to afflict her. Just the image of her in any sort of pain stabs his heart mercilessly again and again, that he finds it hard to breath and he realizes there's no point in denying it now... He was deeply and terribly in love with Swara, the one he is supposed to protect!

And how far these budding feelings inside his heart are going to take him... Well, it's something no one knows! Not even Vidhaan himself.

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"Did you find her?", Vidhaan asks Ragini breathing hysterically as he enters the mall with Laksh right after him. Ragini who is all flustered and scared, bursts into muffled sobs the moment her eyes land on her husband and Laksh immediately pulls her into an assuring embrace.

Laksh: Shh! Stop Ragini. We'll find her. Don't worry!

Ragini: I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left her. I tried finding her everywhere in the mall but couldn't find her. I didn't know what to do!

Laksh: It's okay. It's okay. We are here. We'll find her together.

Vidhaan who has been listening to entire conversations up till now while scanning the whole mall finally turns towards Ragini. No matter what he has to be strong. He's the eldest of them all and he knows that Ragini thinks it's all her fault.

Vidhaan: Where did you see her for the last time, Ragini?

Ragini: I... I... We were in the bookstore, then I remembered that I needed a few things for Chaitanya, so, I asked her not to go anywhere until I come back but when I came she wasn't there. I'm so sorry.

Vidhaan: Stop saying sorry, Ragini. It isn't your fault.

Ragini: It is my fault, Vidhaan. I shouldn't have left her.

Vidhaan: It's okay... Relax... We'll find her. I say we should split up to find her.

Laksh: Yes, that would be better! Ragini, will you be able to do this?

Ragini: (wipes off her tears and nods her head) Yes, I can.

Vidhaan: Good! Then, Ragini... you can check on the first floor and second floor. Laksh... on third and the top floor, and I'll look on the ground floor and outside the mall. Okay?

Laksh: Very well. And whoever finds her first will call others.

Ragini: Okay!

Vidhaan: Let's go then!

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Vidhaan has been losing it with every passing moment. He searches for Swara in each and every corner of the ground floor but his heart sinks deeper and deeper on finding no sign of her. Every moment without her has been rampaging his heart and soul callously. He runs out of the mall looking everywhere for her calling her name out loud occasionally not getting bothered even the least bit of the weird glances everyone has been giving him for all he knows is... He has to find her!