Chapter Five.

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Hawao se tera, pata puchta hoon..
Ab toh aaja.. Tu kahi se..
Parindo ki tarah,
Yeh dil hai safar mein..
Tu mila de, zindagi se..

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Author's POV.

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Evara’s phone buzzed violently on the table, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen—Abhishek’s name flashed in bold letters. Answering quickly, she pressed the phone to her ear.

“Evara,” Abhishek’s voice came through, sharp and frantic, “we’ve been set up!” Her blood ran cold. “What do you mean?”

“Neil’s men ambushed me and Priya at the café,” he said, his voice laced with urgency. “It’s like they knew exactly where we were. And Priya—she’s missing. They took her.”

Evara’s grip tightened on the phone. Her mind raced as she pieced together the events. There was only one explanation, and it hit her like a punch to the gut.

Ahan.

She slammed the phone down and grabbed her car keys, heading straight for Ahan’s hideout. She couldn’t believe he would stoop this low—not after everything. But the pieces were fitting together too perfectly.

The moment she stepped into the crumbling warehouse, her suspicions were confirmed. Ahan stood in the middle of the room, his phone in hand, a smug look plastered on his face.

“I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out,” he said, his tone mocking. Evara’s eyes narrowed. “You told Neil everything, didn’t you?”

Ahan smirked, leaning casually against a metal pillar. “You always were the sharp one, Evara. But yes, I did. Did you really think I’d betray Neil for you? He promised me protection—freedom. Something you could never offer.”

“Freedom?” Evara repeated, her voice dangerously low. “You think Neil is going to let you walk away after all this? He’s using you, Ahan. You’re nothing but a pawn to him.”

His smirk faltered for a moment, but then he shrugged. “Maybe. But at least I’ll survive.”

Evara stepped closer, her fury barely contained. “You’ve condemned Priya to God knows what, and you’ve put all of us in Neil’s crosshairs. For what? A promise? You’re a coward, Ahan.”

His eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t lecture me, Evara. You don’t know what it’s like to be under Neil’s thumb. You’re just another self-righteous lawyer who thinks the world can be fixed with rules and evidence.”

Evara took a deep breath, steadying herself. “You’re right—I don’t know what it’s like to be you. But I know one thing: when Neil’s done with you, you’ll be alone. And when that happens, don’t come running to me for help.”

For the first time, Ahan looked shaken, but he quickly masked it with defiance. “You can’t win, Evara. Neil’s already won.”

She gave him a hard, cold stare before turning and walking away. Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone. “Abhishek,” she said when he picked up, “it’s confirmed. Ahan’s sold us out. Get everyone to the safe house. Now.”

As she got into her car, Evara’s determination solidified. Ahan had made his choice. Now, it was up to her to ensure that neither he nor Neil would escape justice.

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Evara climbed the stairs to Abhishek’s apartment two at a time, her mind racing. She had called ahead, warning him and the others to meet immediately. Ahan’s betrayal was a blow they couldn’t afford, not with Neil already one step ahead.

When she reached the door, she didn’t bother knocking. She pushed it open, her presence immediately commanding the room’s attention.

Abhishek was pacing near the window, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. Ishan sat on the couch, frowning at a map spread out on the coffee table. Aditi was typing furiously on her laptop, her brows furrowed in frustration. Shubman stood leaning against the wall, his expression unusually serious.

“Finally,” Abhishek said, stopping mid-pace. “What the hell happened, Evara?”

Evara closed the door behind her, her eyes scanning the room before landing on him. “It’s Ahan,” she said bluntly, setting her bag down. “He sold us out to Neil.”

A collective silence fell over the room.

“Are you serious?” Aditi asked, looking up from her screen, her face a mix of shock and disbelief.

“I knew something was off about him,” Shubman muttered, crossing his arms. “Never trust someone who doesn’t make eye contact for more than two seconds.”

Ishan shook his head, his voice quiet but tense. “This is bad. If Neil knows what we’re planning—”

“He does,” Evara interrupted, her voice firm. “Priya’s been taken. Abhishek barely got out in time. We don’t have much room to maneuver anymore.”

Abhishek ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched. “Damn it. Priya was our best lead.”

“We’ll get her back,” Evara said, her tone resolute. She turned to Aditi. “Did you find anything new?”

Aditi hesitated, glancing at her laptop. “I traced Neil’s offshore accounts, but it’s nothing concrete. If we had more time…”

Evara exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. Time was the one luxury they didn’t have.

“Alright,” she said, addressing the group. “Here’s what we do. Abhishek, I need you to keep trying Priya’s phone. If she left it behind or managed to turn it on, we might get her location. Aditi, keep digging into Neil’s financials. Shubman, I want you to check if there’s any CCTV footage near the café where Priya was taken.”

“And what about me?” Ishan asked, standing up. Evara looked at him, her gaze steady. “You and I are going to figure out Neil’s next move. We need to anticipate where he’ll strike next.”

As they all moved to their tasks, Evara finally let herself sink into the armchair near the window, exhaustion creeping into her bones. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through her notes, trying to find some overlooked thread.

Across the room, Abhishek watched her quietly. He couldn’t help but admire the way she carried herself, even under pressure. Her sharp mind and unwavering resolve had always been intimidating—but lately, he found himself noticing other things.

The way her hair fell loose from the tight bun she always wore, softening her sharp features. The way her voice, though commanding, had a warmth that drew people to her. He shook his head, trying to push the thought away. Focus, Abhishek, he scolded himself internally. This isn’t the time for—whatever this is.

But as she glanced up, meeting his gaze for a brief moment, he felt his heart skip—just a little. He quickly looked away, hoping no one had noticed the heat rising to his face.

“Abhishek,” Evara called out, pulling him back to reality. “Any luck on Priya’s phone?”

“N-not yet,” he stammered slightly, cursing himself for the uncharacteristic slip. He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. “But I’ll keep trying.”

Evara nodded, her focus returning to the mission. She didn’t have time to dwell on anything else—not when they were this close to falling apart.

Across the room, Shubman smirked, catching the subtle shift in Abhishek’s demeanor. He leaned closer to Ishan and whispered, “Is it just me, or does our fearless Abhay, have a little crush?”

Ishan rolled his eyes but said nothing, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, “maybe..”

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Heyy! I am back with an update! Hope you will like it!

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Words count - 1262