Shilpa tried to quell Shanti Singh Shekhawat's uneasiness, Diya's anxious mother, saying "Aunty, why are you so afraid? We just want to visit my cousin's house and with me being here it should be no problem at all!".

Shanti sighed and shook her head. "Why India of all places? You can go anywhere else," she asked her daughter, not at all unfamiliar with her rebellious streak. She wondered if the real reason for her wanting to visit India was to meet Atharv Singh Chauhan - a thought that sent chills down her spine.

She was certain that allowing her daughter to reconnect with that person would prove to have disastrous consequences. So, she had determined it was in both of their best interests to keep her away from the one who used to be her childhood companion.

Diya Singh Shekhawat's words were determined as she spoke, her arms crossed against her chest. "I just want to see the place I was born and raised; we didn't even get to say goodbye properly," she said, not understanding why her mother seemed so anxious. "I don't think there is anything wrong with that."

Diya's words served as the final confirmation of what Shanti already feared. It had become painfully clear that her daughter's sorrow was centered around not being able to say goodbye to someone in particular. She had spent weeks mired in grief and despair, all while pleading with no avail. "And you'll never admit you're wrong either, right?"

As Sujith Singh Shekhawat returned home from work, he found his house in a state of unrest. "Shanti," he said exhortedly, "the kids can hardly wait to travel to India; why not let them go?"

Diya ran to him with an air of relieved excitement and hugged him tightly, as if her dreams had come true. "See! Papa understands me better than you! Love you Papa!", she exclaimed warmly.

Sujith smiled tenderly as he planted a kiss on her forehead and said, "Love you too, Beta!". He was wishing with all his being that her joy would never diminish, and that he would not have reason to regret his decision in the days to come.

Shanti's face was a mask of anger as she spoke. "Now I know why Diya is so spoiled! Thanks to you, Sujith. She never listens to me. What's the point of even asking me when you're ready to give her everything?," she said, her eyes narrowing. Everyone around her laughed in response to her puffed up cheeks before they enveloped her in a hug. All Shanti could do was hope that Sujith hadn't allowed their daughter to wander into the depths of Hell.

****

6:30 PM, Delhi Airport,


"Kajal!"


"Diya! Shilpa!"


The loud shouts of excitement coming from Gate 15 at the airport had certainly caught the attention of others in the vicinity. Kajal's parents sheepishly smiled to those around them, who seemed amused but charmed by the kids' enthusiasm. Mr. Shivam and Mrs. Neeti Malhotra could only smile in return as their daughter and her friend bonded more and more despite the miles between them. The night would be long ahead of them, even with exhaustion already setting in, yet their children were ready for it.

Diya grinned, her thoughts turning to her mission: "I'm going to find you, Atharv! No matter what it takes! I'll be back here at this airport before long, but not until I track you down!" Her friends weren't aware of the plan that was brewing in Diya's mind

****

Atharv's skin crawled as he heard the news his childhood enemy had returned to India. His fists clenched in rage and his heart raced with the thought of revenge. He couldn't tear himself away from the couch, opposite his parents' portrait, knowing he was one step closer to fulfilling a promise made to his ailing sister. The air seemed to still around him as he sat, simmering with hatred and anticipation.

He stared fiercely at the photos of his deceased parents - Arun and Deepti Singh Chauhan - hoping their image would fuel his heart with enough rage to prevent him from falling into the trap of conscience and the fiery flames of remorse.

The thought of her accusing gaze, glistening with tears, made his heart seize with dread. But then he saw the photo of his parents, and a blaze of fury ignited inside him. He was trapped in an endless loop of anxiety and apathy, with no hope of escape. His mind reeled with unbearable anguish yet he could not break free from this cruel cycle.

Atharv's heart was a tangle of tangled despair as he watched his beloved sister battle death. Alone, with no one to turn to, he felt the walls around him closing in. But even as everything within him begged him to give up, a tiny flame of hope stubbornly refused to be extinguished. His tired eyes sank into an uneasy sleep- though dark nightmares soon flooded his mind, robbing him of peace and the little solace he had found in the brief embrace of sleep.

****

Sherlock Night Club,

The trio marched with energy through the streets of Delhi, drawing stares from onlookers as they made their way to the city's most buzzing night club. Kajal had informed them of her friends already there, and the trio was determined to make an entrance. In the bustling hallways of the airport bathroom, Diya quickly changed into a snug little black dress that ended just above her knees while Shilpa opted for a shorter, more vibrant look - both determined to captivate with their appearance. With shoulders back and heads high, they entered the club ready to take on the night.

As bottles of tequila and vodka clinked with each swallow, Diya felt an unwelcome splash engulf her body as a stranger carelessly bumped into her. Hot alcohol seeped through the fabric of her dress like molten lava, clinging to her figure and burning her skin. Diya's eyes widened in rage as she glared up at the oblivious stranger, intoxicated with both booze and fury.

The woman who had collided with Diya, who was much taller than her own 5'9 height, apologized profusely for the collision. Diya was barely able to keep herself on her feet as Kajal hung out with her pals and Shilpa got an audition from an assistant casting director in hopes of snagging a movie role. She nodded in response to the other woman's words.

Without her knowledge, the stranger led her not into the restroom, but rather to a place where darkness was waiting to consume and ruin her.

****

Early Morning,

The light burned away the veil of her heavy lashes like a searing blaze, slicing through her muddled mind. With a strength she didn't know she possessed, she heaved herself into a sitting position and opened her eyes with shock. Her forehead creased in deep worry as her vision filled with an unfamiliar place, and then further panicked when she felt the mattress beneath her. The full realization of her situation clung to her like a blanket of fear.

Fragmented images of the previous night terrorized her mind, and she remembered the woman's malicious intent to ensnare her. The regret for recklessly drinking in an unfamiliar place was palpable, and she quickly surveyed her body for signs of abuse. While her attire remained pristine, a dull throbbing in her head made her worry if he had violated her. With trembling hands, she felt all over herself looking for any anomalies, until finally relieved when she concluded that she had escaped unscathed.

She immediately got to her feet, though she still felt a bit unsteady due to the alcohol and any other substances that might have been in her drink. She scanned the room for a way out, but each exit was tightly locked. Windows, doors, balconies - all of them were firmly secured.

Diya forced herself to take a few calming breaths in order to think of a plan. She began making a list of the people who could have taken her, and she knew that the woman she saw was most likely a bodyguard; how many rich businessmen had female bodyguards?

Diya was trying to figure out the motive behind her kidnapping, as she knew no one had any personal vendetta against them that could've caused this. She assured herself that her father would be coming soon to get her out of there. "It must have something to do with business rivalry," she surmised after calming the raging thoughts in her head.

The door slammed open, jolting her from her trance. She saw a tall figure looming in the doorway, illuminated by the thin beam of light that cut across his sharp features. He was muscular and imposing, radiating cold calculation despite the warmth that lingered in his eyes as he gazed at her with awe and recognition. His right hand held the handle of a suitcase. Her disappointment at realizing that it was not food, for all the starvation she was feeling, was devastating. As soon as their gazes met, however, the moment of warmth disappeared and his icy facade returned.

Diya's heart skipped a beat when she stared into the eyes of the stranger before her. His cold, piercing gaze sent shivers down her spine and made it hard for her to voice her apprehension. Clenching her fists in an attempt to steady herself, she managed to let out a broken sentence, "Who... who are you and why am I here?"

"I needn't answer any of your questions, sweetheart," he snarled. He thrust the handle of the suitcase into her grasp and commanded, "Here are the things you'll need. Because this is your home now."