Memories

30

Shivani

The next time I woke up, a sliver of light streamed through a small, barred window above me. My wrists and ankles were tied, but something had changed—the air smelled different, colder, and the concrete floor beneath me was rough and uneven. The pole I was chained to seemed sturdy, but my mind refused to accept captivity any longer.

I'm done being the damsel in distress, I thought, clenching my teeth. If I want to survive, I need to fight.

I scanned the room, careful to memorize every corner, every shadow, every potential hiding spot. That's when I saw movement—a door creaking open. A silhouette approached me. I froze, heart thudding, but instinct took over. I swung my legs out and kicked with all my strength at the intruder's ankle. He went down with a grunt, sprawling across the floor.

He scrambled back up, clutching his knee, rage written in every line of his body. The fury in his eyes made my stomach twist. He moved closer, and before I could react, his hand smacked across my cheek. Pain shot through my face, but I refused to scream.

Once he left the room, muttering angrily, I exhaled shakily and looked around. That's when I noticed a glint near the floor—a small metallic object catching the light. My heart leapt. Using my legs, I stretched and managed to drag it closer. With trembling hands, I realized it was a lighter. Relief washed over me like a wave.

I grabbed the lighter and lit it, careful not to burn myself. The ropes around my wrists glowed orange under the tiny flame. Slowly, painstakingly, I burned through the fibres, feeling the heat sear my skin, but I endured it. Finally, the ropes loosened, and I pulled my arms free. My legs followed, and I stood up, shaking off the numbness and stretching out my limbs.

Now, I had to find a weapon. My eyes scanned the room, and a steel rod lying in the corner caught my attention. I gripped it firmly, feeling a small surge of power. My mind raced as I moved toward the door, silently praying I wouldn't run into him again.

The door opened, and my fears came true. The kidnapper was there, standing with that same sinister calm.

"Surprised?" I shouted, swinging the rod at his face with all my strength.

He blocked it, and before I could react, he struck me in the abdomen. I collapsed, gasping in pain, but fury and determination surged through me. I gritted my teeth, sprang to my feet, and landed a solid punch on his nose. He staggered back, blood trickling from his nostrils, and I ran.

I burst through another door, panting, and froze.

"Manoj Uncle?" I breathed, eyes wide. "What are you doing here? Where's Karthik?"

He looked at me, calm but alert. "Hi, dear. What are you doing here?"

"I don't know honestly... well, let's get going before he catches up to us," I said, tugging at Manoj Uncle's hand as he guided me. But then I saw him—my kidnapper—emerging from the doorway.

"Sorry, sir. I don't know how she escaped," he muttered, almost apologetically.

My mind raced. No... wait. It's him... it's always been him. Manu Uncle... Sona... none of them... Oh my God. How could I have been so blind?

"Sir... what's happening here? Wait—it's you! Always you!" I gasped. My hands shook as realization and anger mingled into a storm inside me.

"Dear Shivani," Manoj Uncle said softly, his grip firm but calm. "You guessed it right. Now let's get you inside, shall we?"

"No. Not this time," I snapped, trying to pull away, but his grip was iron.

He maneuverer me toward a chair and sat me down, his hands deftly zip-tying my wrists to the armrests. I struggled, but it was useless. My heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through my veins, but I refused to give up. This isn't the end, I reminded myself. I will get out. I will.

I looked around the room again, noting every possible escape route, every shadow where I could hide. My mind raced, thinking of the tracker Karthik had secretly placed on me, and I prayed it was still active. He has to find me. He will.

Karthik

The tracker blipped like a heartbeat in my pocket, each pulse a stark reminder of Shivani 's peril. My chest tightened, adrenaline surging. Every instinct in me screamed that she was in danger. She was close, and yet every second felt like an eternity.

"Bharat, we need to move. Now," I said, my voice taut with urgency. My fingers gripped the tracker as if it were a lifeline. Each faint ping brought a mix of relief and dread. Relief that she was alive, dread at the thought of what she was enduring.

Bharat nodded, his face grim. "I've mobilized the team. We'll sweep the area. Whoever took her won't expect us to be this fast."

We moved through the city, navigating streets and alleys, each one potentially hiding danger. The tracker pulsed again, faint but steady. She's moving. Someone's moving her. I have to keep up.

As we closed in on the area indicated by the tracker, the abandoned warehouse loomed ahead. Its exterior was innocuous, almost mundane, but my instincts screamed otherwise. Danger lurked in every shadow. Every window, every door could be a trap.

I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling my pulse hammering in tandem with the tracker's blips. Shivani is brave. She's strong. But she can't fight them alone for long. I need to be faster, smarter.

Bharat gestured to the team. "We'll approach cautiously. Make sure she's unharmed before we engage. The second we step in; the element of surprise is crucial."

My mind raced through every possible scenario. She could be injured, cornered, maybe even moved from the location. Every new ping from the tracker was a pulse of hope. I imagined her courage, her determination to escape, and it strengthened my resolve. I will find her. I will not fail.

The tracker led us through winding corridors, past locked doors and abandoned offices. Each ping brought us closer. My palms were sweaty on the steering wheel as we navigated inside the building complex, each room more decrepit than the last. I felt the weight of responsibility pressing on me—Shivani's life in my hands, every decision a potential turning point.

We stopped briefly to coordinate with Bharat. "She's nearby," I whispered, eyes fixed on the tracker. "We need to be ready for anything."

Bharat nodded. "Team, positions. Entry in three... two... one..."

The building was eerily silent except for the soft blip of the tracker and the distant hum of the city outside. My heart raced in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. I imagined her there, bound but fighting, determined but frightened, and I felt a surge of both anger and protectiveness.

I clenched my fists, staring at the tracker's signal. She's alive. That's all that matters right now. We'll get her. I'll make sure of it.

Every second we waited was a second closer to confrontation. I didn't know who had taken her, how many were involved, or what their plan was—but I knew one thing: I would not let them succeed. Not this time.

As we advanced through the building, the tracker's pulse intensified, signalling proximity. My stomach knotted with tension; every muscle coiled for action. Shivani is close. I can feel her. She has to be okay.

Bharat gave me a brief nod. "We're almost there. Stay alert. They won't make it easy."

I gritted my teeth, the adrenaline flooding my system. I will find her. I will bring her back. And whoever did this will pay.

For now, all I could do was follow the tracker, every step bringing me closer to her, every heartbeat counting down to the moment I could finally ensure her safety.