In Nashik, the situation was quite complicated. Vikram sat on the edge of bed. His eyes lifting towards the wall clock that was hung up on the wall, every second. It was 8:40 pm.
Vikram was becoming restless. He would sit, then stand, walk around. And then sit again. Reason?
Because Thabal haven't called him even once to inform him about her whereabouts. Neither did she pick up his calls. He have called her numerous times already, and at a point, it went switched off.
He had tried her number exactly forty-seven times. Each time, the same robotic voice greeted him.
"The number you are calling is currently switched off"
He tried to convince himself that she might be busy. Or maybe things have been serious as her mother's condition wasn't well. Maybe she might be busy in all those stuff. She might be too engrossed in taking tension for her family.
Or maybe the poor network in the hilly areas. But as the time ticked further, he couldn't continue to convince himself. His inner self mocked him.
He just couldn't sit empty hand anymore. He quickly grabbed his phone and dialled a number. In few rings the other person picked up.
"Jai hind sir" the person on the line greeted.
"Karan. I am sending you a number. Track it down quickly. I want each details. Tower location, everything" Vikram spoke in a low, dangerous tone.voice was a low, vibrating growl.
"Sure sir. You can stay in line sir. Mein abhi dekhta hoon" Karan their personal technician said and soon the tapping on keyboard keys were heard.
Minutes felt like hours. The technician tapped away at the keyboard while Vikram paced around his room. His jaw clenched, patience thining with each growing second.
"Sir" Karan finally spoke, grabbing Vikram's attention. He was so desparate to hear the information.
"Fucking tell fast" he demanded.
"This phone is registered under the name of S. Thabal Chanu. From Imphal, Sanasam Leikai. Her last location has been found at a house, must be hers. The phone was switched off exactly sixty minutes after she landed at Imphal airport" he informed.
"And?? Didn't she go to any hospital?" Vikram asked desperately.
"I guess no sir. Uska location koi hospital ke aaspas tha nahi. The SIM has been removed or the device is destroyed. There's no signal" and that's it. Vikram sat on his bed, head clutching. Fuck this. What do he do now?
There was only one way. He had to go to her. There was no other option. Her phone isn't receivable, he didn't know whether she was safe or not. And he couldn't live with this long. He needed to see her. Hear her. So that he could breath peacefully again.
And something inside him said that there was something really deep and complicated going on. He just couldn't pin point it. But his internal instinct screamed for danger.
He quickly dialled a contact and placed his phone against his ear.
"Shinde. I am leaving for Imphal immediately. Look after the case and all the files i have been working on. I want no mistakes when i come back" he quickly informed, strict and commanding. Atharv was stunned hearing him.
"But sir. What's wrong? Is it something serious?"he asked with worry laced in his voice. Vikram paused for a second.
"Very" he muttered under his breath and kept the call.
He glanced at their picture hanging on the wall. A strange fear and restlessness spreaded through his chest. He kept gazing at her smile. A shaky breathe escaped his lips.
"I am coming Chand. I am coming to you. Till then please stay safe" he whispered looking at her picture.
🦋🦋🦋--------------
It was raining cats and dogs in Imphal West. The sky was dark. Rain poured down heavily on the hilly area. Inside Thabal's house. Despite the heavy rain, relatives gathered in the living room.
Chattering and laughing among each other. They shared sweets and laughed. Some of them completely unobvious and some of them ignoring Thabal's condition. Their laughter was a contrast of Thabal's current condition. Their laughs seemed to mock her.
Thabal sat on the 1st floor of her room. Still sat on the floor, without a grain of rice and a drop of water in her stomach. Nungshi brought food for her, but she refused to have it. Not even touching the plate.
It has been two days she was put captive in her own house, own room. Or maybe not her house anymore. Her parents' house.
The two days of captivity had turned Thabal into a ghost of herself. Her eyes were sunken from lack of sleep, they were red and swollen. From the continuous crying session.
She sighed and looked at the window. It was raining heavily. She suddenly smiled slightly. Her first talk with Vikram was on a rainy day. Her first kiss was on a rainy day too. Seems like rain and them had a universal connection.
She chuckled at the thought and shook her head. If anyone would have seen her, they would consider her crazy. And maybe she was crazy. She have gone crazy for him. He had been invading all her senses, her soul, everything.
Thabal could hear the sound of faint laughs and chatters despite the rain. She knew why they were here. For her marriage. To God knows who. They were celebrating her doom, her misery.
She gazed at her ring and caressed it slowly. She slowly brought it to her lips and placed a kiss upon it.
"Kab aa rahe ho aap? I am so tired waiting here. Take me to your place. Our home" she sighed and pulled her knees to her chest.
Just then the door opened abruptly. Thabal expected her sister as usual, but what reveal to be was her mother. She entered in with a distaste look over her face, few clothes in her hands.
Before Thabal knew it, the clothes were thrown on her face rashly. She winched slowly and looked away.
"Lanchenba has came. Wear this and come out. Put some makeup on your ugly face. Nasak toh yeng yadre" her mother sneered.
(It's unbearable to look at)
"20 minutes ta makha da lakadabani. Nattradi you will face me" she warned and walked out, this time not locking the door. As Thabal had to go down.
(Be present downstairs in 20 mins. Or else you will face me)
Thabal sat on the place, not moving an inch. But after few seconds she slowly looked at the door. And then at the window. She gulped slowly. Her hands started sweating.
She can't stay here anymore. She have to go by any means. No way in hell she would dress up for a man who wasn't Vikram and meet him.
Today they are threatening her to meet him, few days later they will marry her off. To someother man. No fucking way. She quickly stood up at the thought. She ran towards the door and locked it quickly.
It was the perfect time today. It was raining heavily. Things will be easier this way. Sound would go unheard. The rain was a blessing for her.
She looked around for something frantically. Searching everywhere. Cupboard, under her pillows, table. Everywhere. Then suddenly she stopped. She noticed the thing she was searching for in the drawer.
Her heart started racing. A smile curved on her face. She quickly picked it up and went towards the window. She pushed the hairpin against the screw attached on the grill. Her hands shook slightly as she tried to remove all those screws quickly.
Her heartbeat thudded with each passing moment. She removed three of them. A small hope started rising inside her. Yes please. Just few more. God please. She started praying internally.
The rain was pouring heavily, creating a cold atmosphere. Yet she was sweating even in the cold. She felt hot, her whole body felt flush due to the nervousness.
Her eyes widened as the hairpin got stuck and the screw wasn't coming out. She slapped her forehead and started stressing. Fucking no. She can't ruin this. She had to get out from here. No matter how.
She started trying more whispering prayers underneath her breath. Thankfully it came out. Leaving only 5 more to be removed.
After almost 10 minutes of struggling and cursing out. The screw fall off. All of them. Thabal released a sigh of relief. She couldn't believe this was happening. It was all going as she thought. She gulped as she clutched the grill. Slowly she let it go, causing it to hit the ground.
The rain gulped down the sound. She looked at the height for a second. Gulping in fear. How do she jump down now? Will she die? Will she break some bones? Of course.
Thabal was frozen at her spot. She have mustered up the courage to take up the risk. Now the fear of jumping from the height was haunting her. The drop was nearly 13 or more feet. Her heart was hammering against her ribs like a bird in a cage, but then she heard the door banging.
"Loidriba?" Her mother yelled. the heavy sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway.
(Are you not done yet?)
Panic surged, sharper than the fear of the fall. She climbed onto the window ledge. She didn't have time to calculate the landing. She didn't have time to be a coward. With a final, silent plea to the universe, she let go.
The air rushed past her for a terrifying split second before she hit the ground. A sickening scream escaped her lips as her body hit the iron grill.
"Ahhh" she quickly shut her mouth. Screaming would caused her trouble. Thabal let out a muffled scream, her face pressing into the wet mud to stifle the sound. Pain shot up her whole body, but the adrenaline was a more powerful drug.
The rain soaked her up. She slowly sat up winching in pain. Fuck it, why didn't she think about it earlier? She shouldn't have thrown the grill out. Uggh! This pains like hell.
She tried to stand up but a small cry of pain escaped her lips. Her eyes watered from the pain. Seems like she just sprained her ankle. Glad, she didn't die. She sighed helplessly. Her head was spinning, she felt like she would just fall upon in unconsciousness.
Slowly she encouraged her inner self and stood on her feet. Her vision blurred slightly, breath coming in ragged gasps. She didn't look back at the house that had tried to snatch her soul. Limping and dragging her injured self , she walked towards the brick wall guarding as a boundary for the house.
She climbed up, her toes clinging at the curve of the brick for support. With shaky legs she managed to climb up and dropped onto the other side.
"Fuck" she muttered with a hiss as soon as her butt hit the road. Her hands were scratched and red due to the friction she used against the bricks.
She clutched her throbbing head. Uggh! It felt like someone was hammering on her head. She sat on the road for a moment. Letting the rain wash away her pain. Her breath came rashly. She closed her eyes and looked up, the rain drops hitted her face.
She sighed softly and opened her eyes. Looking around she stood up slowly and ran blindly wherever her feet took her. Her wet clothes were clinging to her shivering frame, her bare feet running on the road. She didn't know where she was going, she only knew she had to disappear before her family caught her.
On the other side, inside the Sanasam house. Thabal's mother was banging on the door for the past 7 minutes. A fear engulfed her. Did that girl kill herself or something?
She started banging more loudly.
"Thabal!"
"Thabal"
"Thabal" she yelled and started hitting furiously on the door. Nungshi came running at the sound.
"Mama? What's wrong?" She asked with concern. Her mother turned to her with a look of horror in her eyes. She gulped down her fear.
"S-she isn't opening the door" she uttered making Nungshi frozen.
She started banging the door frantically, fear gripping her soul. Oh God, have she done something to herself? Please let her be safe.
"Thoi? Thoi? It's me. Open the door thoi. Please" she requested banging on the door. But no response came.
"Thabal! Open this door right now!" her mother shrieked, her voice cracking with a mixture of rage and panic. She turned to Nungshi, her eyes wide.
"Papa kawraku macha. Thong se thugaidradi yararoi. Mase nupi se keinom fhattaba step lawradi mina yam ngangnarani. Akhoi ijjat loi mangani" she muttered, scared of her reputation burying underneath the ground.
(Call your father baby. We have to break the door. If this girl takes any bad step, people will talk a lot about us. Our reputation will be ruined)
Nungshi didn't move for a heartbeat. She wasn't thinking about reputation, she was thinking about the lifeless, hollow look in Thabal's look. She was just about to run down the stairs but then stopped as her father opened the main door.
There stood Vikram. Nungshi couldn't forget this face. This face was the reason her whole family has turned upside down.
Vikram stood at the doorstep. Eyes sharp, face professional. He wore a civil dress, not his usual uniform. A light grey t shirt and a black pants. He held an umbrella in his hand.
Thabal's father Purna Chandra looked at him, waiting for him to speak up. His eyes held a visible hate for Vikram.
Vikram not knowing the exact situation acted his part.
"I am SP Vikram Sharma. I am here regarding an urgent case involving S. Thabal Chanu. She's a key witness, and her phone has been untraceable. I was told she was here" he informed formally, showing him his card for proof.
Purna Chandra didn't even gaze at the card. His focus was slowly on Vikram. A hateful glare. Vikram could feel it. Yet remained silent. Her father looked him up and down, a sneer twisting his lips.
"Don't bother pretending, Officer. I know exactly who you are. The man who ruined my daughter's life. You lurred a literal kid in your trap" he spat bitterly. Vikram paused for a moment. So this was the issue.
They knew. Of course. He clenched on the umbrella tightly. Did they scold her too much? Or beat her? The thought itself made his heart clenched.
Vikram's gaze shifted as he heard footsteps behind Purna Chandra. A middle aged woman walked towards him. Vikram quickly assumed it was her mother. Though Thabal never showed any of her family member's picture except her grand parent's and sister. Just a look on her face and he knew she was her mother.
But then suddenly a thought hit him. Wasn't she seriously sick? So this was a plan. Vikram's blood began to simmer. How fucking dare they? His jaw clenched in quiet fury.
"Where is she?" Vikram asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low rumble.
"She is where she belongs" her mother hissed.
"Preparing for her marriage to a man that truly she belongs to. Not to some random old man. Now get out before I call the local police" she hatefully glared at him.
Vikram looked at her, holding the eye contact so intensely that it made her flinch back in fear. A cold, dark look flickered in his eyes, the kind of look he gave criminals right before he broke them.
He took a single step forward, crossing the threshold. Purna Chandra tried to block him, but Vikram didn't even use his hands, the sheer momentum of his presence forced the older man to stumble back.
"What did you just say?" He coldly commanded. His voice sounded so deep and dangerous that the people present in the hall shivered.
Vikram's gaze swept the room, landing on the sweets and gifts on the table and the fearful and confused relatives. Then his eyes snapped to the stairs, where Nungshi stood trembling.
"I will fucking kill the person that dares to touch her. Let alone any random fucking man marrying her. Mere jinda rehte toh woh kisiki nahi hogi" he snarled with a dangerous look in his face.
"Get out!" Thabal's mother shrieked, reaching out to shove his shoulder. Vikram caught her wrist mid air. He didn't squeeze, but the iron like grip was enough to paralyze her.
"I won't ask again. Tell me where she is. Or else even your lawyer husband and daughter won't be able to save your family from me. Meine khel khelna shuru kiya toh maut ke liye rowoge tum log" he tightened his hand around her wrist making the older woman cry out in pain.
"She is- she is not opening the door!" Nungshi finally screamed from the stairs, her voice breaking the standoff.
Vikram's head snapped toward her. The dangerous, cold mask shattered, revealing a raw, fear.
"She... she was locked in. Mama was banging on the door. She isn't answering!" Nungshi sobbed, pointing toward the first floor.
Vikram didn't wait for another word. He shoved past Purna Chandra, his shoulder hitting the man with enough force to send him stagger into the wall. He took the stairs three at a time, his heart thundering against his ribs.
"Which door?" he asked in panic. A fear settling in his chest. He was fucking going crazy. God, if she wasn't safe he didn't know what havoc would he even create.
Nungshi pointed shakily to the end of the hall. Vikram reached the door and gripped the handle. Pushing it harshly but it won't buldge. It was locked from inside.
"Chand" he called softly and lovingly. Despite fear gripping him from inside. His voice completely contrast to the tone he used on her parents.
"Baby it's me. Come on open the door. Mein aagaya hoon na" he so gently tried to convince her that Nungshi gulped in surprise. Wasn't he the same man who was giving death threats with a killing look in his eyes?
"Chand?" He called once again but upon not hearing any response he didn't wait further. He took few steps back and looked at the door. Without any warning he delivered a brutal, kick to the area near the lock.
Nungshi screamed in surprise at the unexpected move.
Vikram kicked again. And the wood splintered with a sickening crack. He brutally kicked it open and burst into the room, his eyes scanning every corner.
"Chand!"
The room was empty. Vikram's eyes fall upon the window. It's grill lost. Rain drenching the floor as it flew in from the broken window. He felt his blood turn cold. He quickly ran towards the window and looked out.
Down on the floor layed the grill. A muddy footsteps messily stained the ground till the boundary wall. A surge of fear yet pride filled his chest.
Where must she have gone in this heavy rainfall? All this is a hilly area. What if any accident happened? Any landslide or-? No no. He quickly shook his head.
Nungshi gasped behind as she looked down the window. Tears welled up her eyes.
"S-she ran" she muttered with a shaky cry. Vikram stood frozen. He ran his fingers in his hair. Fuck! He have to find her real fast before she pull herself in danger.
As he walked out of the room, he saw her parents standing near the door step, shell shocked. He gritted his teeth in anger seeing them. He felt this strong urge to just beat the shit out of them. But it wasn't the time for this.
He will deal with them later. Personally. Oh, he will make sure they know what real pain was.
With a final glare, he rushed out of the house in the rain. The umbrella long forgotten in hurry. He quickly started the SUV he came by and looked around for her figure in the unfamiliar road of Imphal.
This was hard. Really hard. He was confused as hell. The roads were too many. How do he know which road she took? Fuckkk.
For the next hour, Vikram was a madman. The rain continued mercilessly pouring down. And his worry grew more. A strange pain spreaded in his chest. Pain of losing her. No he couldn't. She was the only good thing that happen to him.
No no no no.
Nothing will happen to her. Nothing. He clenched his fist hardly against the steering wheel. Eyes welling up from the thought of just losing her. He can't. He just can't afford losing her. He will die without her.
"Ahhhhhh" a scream of pain and frustration fumbled against his chest. He banged his fist harshly on the door.
It happened because of him. All because of him. If he would have gone with her, this wouldn't have happened. The guilt ate him up brutally. Angry and hurtful tears ran down his cheeks.
"Please baby. Please. Just come to me. Pagal hojaunga mein tumhare bina. Please. Aajao. Show me a way" he muttered desperately.
He continued driving, looking around for her despite the tears clouding his vision. And then he reached an intersecting point. One led toward the main town of Imphal, the other deeper into the hilly outskirts.
"Think think think. Fucking think properly" he groaned in frustration. Where would she likely go? Which route would she choose?
After a moment of self argument he took the main town way. Bas Bhagwan! Usko aache se rakhna. Bas.
As he drove further he was met with empty stalls and shops. Which were all closed except few pharmacies and shops.
But then suddenly his eyes landed on something. Someone. He immediately slowed down the vehicle. A hammering fear gripped him. He leaned forward and looked closer.
A small fragile figure was sitting on the ground, hugging her knees and nuzzling her head in her arms. She was near a shop, seeking shelter in that small corner. His heart gripped painfully. Please. Let it be her. He prayed internally.
Vikram slammed on the brakes and opened the door. He didn't even turn off the engine. He vaulted out of the door, his boots splashing on the watery road.
"Thabal!" No answer. Only the roar of the rain.
He sprinted toward the shop, his heart jumping into his throat. As he got closer, he saw her. She was curled into a ball so tight she looked like a discarded rag. Her shirt was dirty and slightly torn, her hair was a mess of mud and water. She was shivering so violently that it pained him.
"Chand?" his voice broke, falling into a whisper of pure agony.
He dropped to his knees on the floor, reaching out with hands that had never trembled until this moment. As his fingers touched her shoulder, she flinched with a primal, terrified shriek, trying to scramble further into the darkness of the stall.
"No! Please! Don't. Don't take me back! I will die. I will just die!" she wailed, her voice a hoarse, broken rasp.
"Baby, it's me! Look at me!" Vikram grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him.
The girl froze. Slowly, painfully, she lifted her head. Her face was terribly painful to look at. Her lip was split, one cheek was bruising a deep purple, and her eyes were glazed with a terrifying look. For a long, silent second, she just stared at him, her chest heaving.
Then, the recognition hit. The terror in her eyes dissolved into a flood of silent, racking sobs.
"V-Vikram?" she wheezed.
"I-i am here baby. Come" he choked out. He pulled her into his lap, wrapping his massive arms around her, trying to shield her from the entire world. He tucked her head under his chin, his hot tears finally spilling over and mixing with the rain on her cold forehead.
Thabal sobbed against his chest bitterly. Letting her pain out in the arms of her love, her savior. She cried out in pain. Pain of betrayal from her family. Pain inside her. The external pain. Everything.
Her small hands clutched his t shirt tightly as if it were her lifeline.
"Vikram! V-vikram!" She let out broken sobs, her cold body shaking against his large frame. Vikram let out a shaky sigh. Her painful cries piercing his ears. He placed a kiss on her hair and rubbed her back.
"Shh! I am here. I am here. Nothing will happen. I am here baby" he consoled her. His own tears not stopping. The fear of losing her was so terrifying that it almost took his soul.
"It's paining. Sab jagah dard ho raha hai" she complained with a wail.
"They-they. They hit me. Mama isn't sick. She lied. They-" she couldn't continue more as she crumbled down. Crying more.
"I know, baby. I know everything," he hissed, his eyes flashing with a murderous light as he noted internally, the things he will do with them.
"No one is ever touching you again. I will burn that house to the ground before I let them near you" he patted her back gently. Sleep well Mr Purna. Because soon you won't be able to sleep properly anymore. Your so called ego and prideful reputation will be crumbled so damn bad that it will traumatized you for life. Vikram made a promise to himself.
He looked down at her shaking figure. Without wasting any second, he scooped her up, her head nuzzling in his chest. He carried her to the SUV. He laid her across the backseat and grabbed a towel kept on the backseat by his once co-worker, from whom he borrowed the car from.
He turned the heater to its maximum, and wiped her wet face and arms. He gently cleaned her hairs too. Trying to dry it, even slightly. Or else the freezing cold could cause her hypothermia.
Thabal shivered and clutched his hand, nuzzling her face against his palm. Vikram felt his heart drop at her innocent gesture. His heart felt too heavy. His hand clenched, in frustration, anger and helplessness.
They would suffer. The Sanasam family. They would suffer so badly for causing her this.
Vikram's jaw remained locked in a tight, jagged line of restraint. Watching her, his vibrant, cheerful Thabal reduced to a shivering, broken figure. Every broken sob that escaped her cracked lips felt like a physical blow to his chest, bruising his heart in a way no bullet ever could.
He sat on the edge of the seat, hunched over her small form, his large hands looking almost clumsy as they moved with agonizing gentleness. He wiped the mud from her temple, his thumb lingering on the darkening bruise on her cheek.
"Vikram. D-dard ho raha hai" she whimpered, her voice cracking painfully.
"I know, baby. I am here. Mein hoon na" he whispered back, his voice thick with a raw, broken edge. He leaned closer to her and kissed on her forehead, and then slowly on her cheek. He placed few more repeated pecks on her cheek and then placed a deep kiss on her lips.
He didn't move for several minutes. He let his lips rest on hers. Swallowing all her sobs and pains. Thabal stopped crying by now. The warmth of his scent engulfed her, bringing a sense of comfort to her. His kisses calmed her down immediately.
As if it was the only medicine that distracted her away from all the pains she felt. She slowly and gently moved her lips. Vikram mirrored her movements, slowly and carefully. He didn't did much, he let her lead this time.
He wanted her to temporarily forget all the pain and sufferings. Thabal breathed slowly and steadily now. She slowly circled her arms around his neck and kissed him like he was the only reason for her breath.
After few seconds, Vikram pulled away and stared at her now calm self. He raked his hand on her face and gently caressed it.
"Rest baby. We will go home soon. Our home. Hm? Rest" he gave a gentle kiss on her forehead, lulling her to sleep. Thabal voluntarily closed her eyes and the exhaustion dragged her to sleep.
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Hope you enjoyed it
Stay safe sweeties💗🌻✨
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