Published on:- 16/3/24 [Saturday]
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"It's just that Miss Divita is missing now", Vyom finished speaking and his words echoed through the phone.

As each syllable carried a weight of urgency that sent shivers down Nilay's spine.

The gravity of the situation sank in Nilay's mind which raced with a flurry of questions. Unpleasant emotions flooded in his system and his thoughts were consumed by the safety and the mystery surrounding Sunaina's sudden disappearance.

"Divita", Nilay murmured.

Something hit his chest and caused unbearable pain there.

"Love! Baby! Aashmaan, Stop crying. I am coming. Just hang on there", Neil said to Aashmaan who hiccupped and returned the phone to Vyom.

"Take care of her", Neil commanded Vyom who responded, "Noted Sir" and the call disconnected.

Both father and son hurriedly left their home together as their destination was the same.

The streets outside were eerily quiet and amplifying the sense of urgency.

Both father and son shared a silent determination as they were consumed by their thoughts and worries.

Neil Khanna was worried about his wife.

On the other hand, Nilay's mind was racing with possibilities and hoping for Sunaina's safety.

At this fleeting moment, all Nilay desperately wanted was to see Sunaina.

Meanwhile, in the mall, Vyom cannot leave Aashmaan alone and goes to search for clues to unravel the mystery of Sunaina's disappearance.

As they reached the mall, Nilay's heart pounded with apprehension.

It was not the first time Sunaina had disappeared from his life. He took a deep breath and steeled his heart again.

Both Nilay and Neil dashed into the mall their hearts racing with worry.

Nilay quickly dialed Vyom's number and asked, "Vyom, where are you?".

Unknowingly, Nilay's voice trembled with urgency.

After getting the location, Nilay and Neil made their way through the bustling mall as their hearts pounded with a mix of fear and determination. They dodged through the crowds and their senses were on high alert.

Finally, they spotted Aashmaan who was still shedding tears. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy from the constant crying.

The onlookers were staring at Aashmaan.

"Love", Neil's voice cut through the noise of the mall which was filled with both relief and concern.

His voice caught Aashmaan's attention. She turned towards her husband. Her tear-stained face crumpled with relief as she rushed into his arms.

Neil rushed to Aashmaan's side enveloped her in a comforting embrace and whispered soothing words to calm her trembling form.

Nilay followed closely behind his father as his heart ached at the sight of Aashmaan's tears.

"Mom! Are you fine?", Nilay asked his mother.

Aashmaan nodded her head and whimpered, "Mom is sorry. I don't know how I lost Divita. I searched for her everywhere but Could not find her. It's all Vyom's fault".

Vyom's eyes widened slightly and the next second, he composed himself and said, "It was not safe for you to search for Miss Divita".

Neil and Nilay shared an understanding look with each other.

"Mom! Tell me. What exactly happened and how did you lose her?", Nilay asked his mother.

"We were shopping for her clothes. She went inside the changing room. I was waiting outside but she did not come out. When I looked inside. No one was there", Aashmaan explained the situation and both Neil and Nilay frowned deeply.

As Aashmaan's words hung heavy in the air Neil and Nilay exchanged concerned glances.

Numerous questions raced through Nilay's minds and each more troubling than the last.

'Where could she have gone? Was there foul play involved?', Nilay pondered over the unsettling possibilities and a sense of urgency gripped his heart and mind.

Neil's gaze bore into Vyom as he posed the crucial question, "Vyom! Did you search for her?".

Vyom nodded as he responded, "I checked the changing room and there is no conceivable escape route that existed from the changing room".

Vyom's response only deepened the mystery of Sunaina's disappearance and added another layer of perplexity to the riddle they faced.

Nilay's head throbbed with a whirlwind of thoughts that mirrored the turbulent emotions erupting within his chest.

"Just be safe, Divita. There will be no next chance".

Unknowingly, A fleeting sense of unease washed over Nilay as an obsessive thought briefly flickered through his mind, only to vanish as quickly as it appeared.

"Nilay! I am taking your mother back home", Neil; Nilay's father said.

"Yes Please, Dad. I have to search for her", Nilay replied but Neil shook his head negatively, "Let's return home. Ask the team from the K&K security management to search for her".

As Neil's decision echoed, Nilay's throat constricted with unspoken words and his chest heavy with the weight of his suppressed objections.

Nilay was unable to voice his disagreement with his father's direct words.

The weight of the situation bore down on Nilay and left him silenced by a tangled web of emotions.

Aashmaan's maternal instincts heightened as she locked eyes with her son as she could sense the turmoil brewing beneath the surface of calm demeanor.

Aashmaan recognized the fierce determination burning within Nilay and understood that her son was not in the mood to leave the mall without searching for Divita.

A weak sigh escaped from her mouth.

"I am the first mother-in-law in the world who always supports the son-in-law and now the soon-to-be daughter-in-law".

"Neil! My head is thumping. Let him do whatever he wants to do. Take me home", Aashmaan said while pulling the sleeves of her husband's shirt.

"Yes, Love! Let's return home now", Neil said as his hold tightened around his wife.

Neil returned his gaze to look at his son, "Nilay! Let's go. I will make a call .. .. to--?".

Suddenly, Neil's words hung up in the air as he scowled, "Where is Nilay?".

Aashmaan chuckled softly, "He left".

Neil muttered harshly under his breath and Aashmaan could only hear a few words like 'troublesome girl' or 'Protect my son'.

With a heavy heart, Aashmaan slightly bowed her head and prayed mentally for Sunaina's safety and security.

On the other hand, Nilay's feet pounded against the tiled floor of the crowded mall as his heart raced with a singular purpose: to find Sunaina.

Ignoring his father's directive and without sharing his thoughts with his father, Nilay dashed towards the shop where his mother last saw her.

As Nilay dashed into the shop his heart pounding in his chest.

"There was a girl who came with my mother. Do you have any idea about her? She is missing from the changing room", Nilay asked the shopkeeper and also the salesperson.

They explained the situation to him and their words were the same as his mother's.

"How can someone disappear like this?", Nilay thought as he left the shop and continued to search for Sunaina.

Nilay scanned every corner, every rack, every aisle and was desperate for a glimpse of Sunaina.

With each passing moment, the sense of urgency mounted and drove him to search with unwavering determination.

On the other hand, There was a girl who was young, delicate, and light-skinned. Her beautiful eyes looked limpid.

A flash of surprise crossed her eyes but went away quickly.

"He is searching for you? Are you sure you don't want to erase the CCTV footage of yours?".

A female voice echoed in the dark room and the other girl who was sipping and enjoying the taste of wine chuckled softly.

"Love is like wine that makes a person an alcoholic", the girl responded.

"But Princess! What should we do with the girl named Divita?", Nora; the bodyguard of Sunaina asked Sunaina whose eyes were on the computer screen eyeing the man of her life.

"I am Sunaina; The Devil. The only woman who can and who will stay in my Angel's heart. There is no room for another woman who is not his mother or sister to claim his heart, mind, body, and soul".

Sunaina's words were indirectly directed at her next steps.

The deep meaning was hidden behind her complicated words.

Nora understood the meaning as she gave another piece of news to Sunaina.

"Divita is a childhood love of 'Sir Nilay' and this girl named Divita is returning to the country after a long time", Nora said and Sunaina's eyes were still on Nilay who was running towards the security room.

"Anything else?", Sunaina asked as her mouth curved slightly upward like a half-moon.

Nora shook her head negatively.

Sunaina gulped down the wine and emptied the glass while staring at Nilay.

She wiped her mouth and stated in a calm tone, "Let the hunt begin".

...

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