"Devvvvv help me please....I am scared...."

Those were the last words he heard, before he saw her being pushed inside the car.

----------------------------

Sona's POV

Dead..... That's all I felt now.

Betrayal at its worst form..... There was nothing else I had to lose. I have already lost everything that was once mine. Now, there is nothing in me that's mine. My body, mind and heart....everything was taken away from me.

I had no more tears left in my eyes to cry. I bled emotionally, shaking at times....reminiscing the memories from the past few days.

Dev?

Really?

It was extremely painful when the thoughts ran in my mind. He had slashed me with his betrayal. The pain in my chest almost felt like a heart attack. Everything felt so real. The promises, love... affection, talks, care, and help...every bloody damn thing! But now, I realized that it was all fake! Everything was just a drama....for money.

He had fooled me and used me for his own happiness. There was no love.... I was right all this time. Love didn't exist. Everyone had a hidden motive behind them. No one would come forward and help a pathetic person like me. I should have suspected earlier.... Even after checking Dev's files, my idiotic brain didn't get it. I shouldn't have believed him at all.

The fault was entirely mine. I was stupid! I had been foolish enough to trust Dev and hand him my heart and soul. Even my innocence was gone.....Everything was taken away, leaving me with just a lifeless body.

"Lies! All lies...." I whimpered as tears dripped from the corner of my eyes and flowed down my nose.

He said he would protect me! I thought he was my shining armor.....but he left me when I needed him the most. How could he do this to me? He made me fall in love with him, even when I was reluctant to return his feelings. He convinced me and tricked me into this. Didn't I deserve any goodness in life? How could he snatch away my happiness like this? What wrong have I ever done to deserve such a treatment? After Dev's betrayal, everyone else's betrayal looked tiny to me.

Abhi made me feel like the most foolish person on earth. But Dev, cheated me by stripping me off my pride and feeding it to the monsters whom I feared the most. He watched me getting hurt. He watched me crying for help. He watched me being dragged away heartlessly. He watched......just watched.

Even the little amount of courage that I had built in the past few months had died. The pain he had given me had crushed everything inside, making me a victim of trauma. The betrayal he had shown, would always haunt me for the rest of my life.... How will I cope? How can I sleep again? How will I be able to trust anyone again?

Everything inside me was gone. There was no more goal or fire inside me. No ambitions, no desire to live or laugh.

Why did I even meet him in London? Why?

"Why Dev....why?" I silently sobbed as I saw the bunch of men snoring in front of me. They were now taking me in their private jet, with tight securities.

Ricky had made sure nothing looked suspicious when they brought me here. Initially he had injected me with a drug in the car which caused me to become drowsy and soon, unconscious. When I opened my eyes, I was already tied in the plane with a wheelchair attached to my side. They had tied my hands so tightly until I could see the blue-black handprints on my skin.

I chuckled sadly at my ill fate. Even if my hands weren't tied, I wouldn't have had the courage to escape. My eyes wandered around the place helplessly. No matter how many times I closed my eyes, my heart just refused to accept this incident.

It was horrible....the way Ricky touched me, threatened me and the pressed the knife close to my throat was traumatizing. I was disgusted when I felt his hands roaming freely on my body. Breathing normally became a challenge. I wasn't even in India yet, but my hopes had died. I just wished I was much stronger than this.

Strong enough to fight back and brave enough to face my fears. But no! I wasn't.... It was the same old me. The Sonakshi Agarwal who left India with a goal, was now returning back there in a crushed state. I believed that constant betrayals would carve a person into a strong one. But it doesn't. It only made me weaker, physically and mentally.

In a few minutes, I would land back into the same hell and nothing can save me from the tortures there.

You failed me Dev

Dev's POV

"You are a brainless idiot, a male chauvinist, sadist and a cruel husband! How many fucking times did I tell you! Why don't you ever listen to me?" Arjun screamed, breaking the remote controller on the bed. I ignored him and started packing my stuff quickly. I didn't have any time for his bullshits or tantrums right now.

Listening to his screams, my mother rushed upstairs and entered the room. Her face was pale as she looked at me with fear.

"Dev.... What's all this? Where is Sonakshi? What's Arjun saying?" my mother shouted as she moved inside the room behind us.

"Arjun, go and get ready, we don't have time for this!" I responded calmly but he gave me a horrified look and crossed his arms.

"I am not listening to your sick ideas anymore! I am done with you....SO DONE!" he blasted as I just stared at him with daggers in my eye.

"You have no rights to talk to me like that. Remember your bloody position when you talk to me the next time. You get that? You either listen to me or fucking quit from this mission" I screamed as everyone stood frozen in their places.

Ignoring the tugging pain in my chest, I finished packing the last piece of cloth inside the bag and zipped it up. I heard Arjun storming away from the room angrily. I knew he was breaking apart too, but everything had a time and place.

Emotions can wait.

"W....what did you do to Sona? Dev....please tell me. Tell me that she's still alive?" my mother cried as I paused and stood still on my place. Alive? Did I become such a bad person infront of everyone's eyes? Well.... what else can I expect after doing something so cruel? My mother's tears were always my undoing. They broke me so much internally. She knew that they were my weakness and yet, she still used it against me.

I turned towards her and sighed, "She is alive and we are going to bring her back now! Stop crying maa"

"Why did you send her there in the first place? She trusted you so much Dev..." she chided and I shook my head tiredly. I was so done with everyone blaming me.

"I know!........but I don't have any answers for you right now" I heaved a heavy breath and started dragging my luggages away.

Her eyes widened and she stopped me, "Where are you going?"

"India!"

-----------------

Yes, this is me. A failed husband and a freaking back-stabber. I betrayed the girl who trusted me after a long time. I killed her faith, and used her for my benefits. I used her as a weapon to face Sanjay Agarwal. Maybe if she had extended her hatred for me until today morning....maybe....just maybe, if she had still fought with me the previous night, everything would have been easier. But now, I have finally crushed the beautiful soul who gave me unlimited love.

After a beautiful night, I just left her into the hands of the monsters. People whom she feared. People who tortured her gruesomely.... She must have been so broken. I wondered what her state was now. She must be thinking that I have used her and thrown her away like the others.

How could I tell her that she was wrong?

Everyone blamed me. My mother, Arjun and even my own shadow. I was so ashamed to look at myself. I wonder what Ricky had told Sona on the way.... But I just hope that she doesn't give up too soon.

Her painful screams still echoed inside my ears, reminding me of how cruelly I had torn her heart apart. It took everything in me to stand there and watch Ricky dragging her away, but if I had made a moved, Sona's life would have been in danger. I didn't do it intentionally.... I did it, because I had no other choice.

Her pleading cries had hit me with such a force that I didn't know how I would ever face her again. Terrified by my thoughts, I fisted my palms and took in a deep breath. It isn't a permanent stay for Sona, but for now the loss was more than my heart could take. Fear tortured my guts and churned my stomach in tense cramps. I was genuinely worried, but no one would believe me if I voiced it out. Voicing out would become my weakness.

Today, I had given her the pain which is greater than death. Seriously I don't blame anyone else for such a fucked up plan except me, but I believe that Sonakshi would understand why I had done it one day.

I pushed her into the hell with my own hands. Not because I wanted her to die. I wanted to free her from all the obstacles forever. She was innocent and she didn't deserve any of this cruelty....but I had no choice. Just a few more days, all her sufferings were about to end. But I couldn't be so sure about that as well. It was a risk taken after considering lots of decisions.

I had to succeed this!

For so many years, we couldn't even touch Sanjay Agarwal's shadow. But today, because of Sona, we were about to make it there. I believed my plans more than everything else. I won't fail her. Sanjay is going to see his end soon. Once and forever!

I am coming for you Sona.... Just hold on for some time sunshine... you will be alright...

------------------------

"What time are we going to land?" Arjun spoke with frustration as he kept typing on his phone.

"Another three more hours....by asking the same question again and again, the time won't decrease to three minutes."

"Urghh..... Dev I can't track this shit!" Arjun grunted angrily as he closed his eyes in frustration.

"What's wrong?" panic built inside my chest.

"Where the hell did you place the tracking device at?"

"I placed a waterproof GPS tracker in her mangalsutra since last month. That's how I monitored her activity inside the university for so long. Then today morning.... I placed another micro tracker in her earrings which has a high frequency of sound detecting sensor."

"Well, we have a bad news then! The GPS from the mangalsutra is not working at all. It's showing some random location around London!" Arjun narrowed his eyes at Dev.

"Just as I expected..." I gritted. It wasn't something which shocked me, but a strange uneasiness spread through my body.

"What are you saying?" Arjun's annoyed voice hit my ears again.

"They have thrown her mangalsutra away!" I spat as Arjun's eyes widened.

"Shit... what do we do then?" he dug his fingers in his hair

"Try tracking the earrings...."

"I am trying, but it's not showing any bloody location!" Arjun pushed his laptop and faced me, "What makes you think they wouldn't have thrown the earrings too?"

"They wouldn't have Arjun. They are too small and not noticeable. It almost looks invisible, like a stud. Plus it can't even be detected from the metal scanning detector." I answered, as he listened to me with his full attention.

"Wow! I can't believe that you are sitting here so calmly and talking about detectors while in real, you don't even know whether she is safe or not! I kept telling you that this mission is bullshit! Yet, you stayed by your instincts. If you had listened to me and hadn't made such a dumb decision, Sonakshi wouldn't have been in danger today! She would have been safe-"

"Just shut the fuck up! I KNOW! I know why I did this and you know WHY I DID THIS TOO! You knew the plan from day one! If you were so reluctant, then why didn't you quit it?" I yelled, losing my temper which I was holding for so long.

Arjun face became rigid as he looked at me with a mixture of shock and anger. I was done hearing the same words from him again and again! My anger was like a ticking bomb and he had finally triggered the buttons.

I knew he was pissed off with the fifteen hours of continuous work and travelling. Moreover, Sonakshi's abduction had drained him emotionally. But he wasn't the only one suffering. If anyone was worried for Sonakshi more than herself, it was me. I don't care if anyone denied it, but the truth will remain the same. I was literally dying inside in pain! But that doesn't mean that work should be ignored.

Arjun wasn't thinking properly from his point. If he had spent some time, using his brains then he would have understood the situation better. But the logical part of his brain had died the minute Sonakshi was handed over to Ricky.

This was the reason why I don't attach myself with people whom are a weapon for my mission. But Sona, wasn't a weapon and that was the reason why this mission was so agonizing.

"Ok fine I am sorry........come on Dev! Do something" Arjun sighed and sat beside me tiredly, rubbing his face with his palms.

"What do you mean by do? Can't you see that I am trying too?"

"Yea I know.....but it's been 12 hours already!"

I ignored him and started working on the detectors placed on Sona. When I clicked on the location panel, my pupils dilated. Arjun was right. It wasn't showing any location. Don't panic....don't panic.... I tried calming myself down, but my heartbeat was on a race. Maybe they were still bringing her on the plane..... Yeap, I am pretty sure they haven't landed yet.

"Dev, I am talking to you."

"Huh what?" I asked as I stared at Arjun with a strained face.

"Come on! Enough of acting strong Dev......tell me what's really going on in that cooked up brain of yours. You look pale!" he uttered in dismay.

"I am fine..." I huffed, and for the first time, the tiredness in my voice was evident. Arjun moved closer and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"No you are not. I know you Dev!...... I know you are worried sick about Sona. Let's just be frank. Both of us are afraid and we have stepped out to pursue this risky mission. You can tell me what's up.... I am not going to judge you." He said and I leaned against my seat, with my head facing up.

"Tell you what? Telling you will not change anything Arjun!" I closed my eyes, inhaling the cold air.

Two hours and fifty minutes.....

"Tell me what's bothering you. Tell me what you need to do and tell me the plan that you have cracked to rescue Sona!" Arjun whined and I rolled my eyes.

"I wished I had given you away instead of Sona. At least I could have been a bit peaceful." I mumbled and he chuckled sarcastically.

"As if they were dying to take me there..."

"Thank god! At least you realize the reason why I had to do this!" I groaned.

"Nope. I still don't get your reason.... You could have avoided that exchange of money bullshit. We have more money and people than them. Why didn't you declare a war or-"

"I want to reach Sanjay Agarwal.....that's all! For that, I will do anything and everything it takes, to bring me there" I replied and he immediately paused. He looked at me and opened his mouth to say something. But nothing came off. I exhaled and returned back to my position. It was easy to advice....but being in my position needed more than just power and money.

"But Dev, will she be safe till we reach there? What if, touch-wood......... there's a threat to her life?"

"There won't be any threat to her life..... Sanjay needs her alive. At most they will physically torture her..... Fingers crossed, I don't think there will be any sexual assault...." I spoke while my throat clogged up with pain and heaviness. I kept my eyes on the while surface on top, refusing to see anything that could form tears in my eye.

"God.... Shut up Dev.... Stop thinking too much! She will be safe.... But after going there, I don't know whether we will be ever safe or not" he chuckled to his own jokes, hiding up his worries as well.

"Call forty of our guys here by tonight!"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Book their flight tickets and make it fast!"

"What? But Dev-"

"I said call!"

".................Yes boss!" he sighed.

[Village near Narela, Delhi]

It was a painful 10 hour flight for Sona, where she was starved and manhandled repeatedly. The moment the plane was close to landing, she was drugged again and made to sit on the wheelchair, making her look like a patient suffering from stroke. After successfully clearing the customs, she was blindfolded all the way to a dark dungeon.

Sona grieved as her muscles were frozen and trapped. The drugs had taken away all her energy, leaving her lifeless and numb. Before even she entered the place, she knew where she was being brought to. Her heart felt like it was tied in a cage, making her chest squeeze painfully.

When her blindfolds were removed, she slowly opened her eyes and took in the surroundings. Her eyelids were heavy, and eyes burnt due to the strong smoky atmosphere. The smell of the smoke coming from the cigarettes were so bad, and it felt as if someone had forced a piece of coal into her lungs. Sonakshi coughed out loud as she felt her throat burning and joints throbbing in pain.

"Ahhh" she winced as she felt her arms being freed from the tight ropes.

"W...where is this place?" her voice stammered as she asked one of the rugged looking man next to her.

But instead of answering, the man just walked away, leaving Sona flabbergasted. Her hands and legs were freed but she couldn't move due to the effect the drug had on her. She sank back against the walls and rubbed her sore fingers. They were badly bruised and swollen due to the ropes. Looking at her finger, her eyes slightly widened. The small ring shone brightly even under the dim lights of the tunnel.

"Dev please.....Don't throw the engagement ring away....... If Karthik comes to know, I will be dead"

"Shhhh.....There's no more Karthik in your life anymore...... So forget the engagement and move on! From now onwards, you are Mrs Sonakshi Sharma. I won't let any idiot come near you! Okay...." he kissed her forehead and placed the ring away.

"Gosh..... you don't get it, do you? This ring is like a bond, according to the mafia community...... it's like sealing a deal, more than a relationship. When the ring goes missing or lost, it's like disrespecting the alliance, hence breaking the bond. So it can basically cause a gang war to happen between two groups.....which is-"

"Urrrrhhh....my ears are bleeding. Will you just shut up and come here!" he held her by her waist and jerked her towards him.

"Dev, this isn't funny! Give back the ring at least.... I will put it somewhere safely"

"Nope.... This ring is dangerous and it has to be destroyed. Let me tell you this Sona...... your safety means a lot to me and I will never let this kind of dangerous things to be near you! Trust me" he cupped her face and said in the most genuine tone.

"Trust you? After that forceful marriage? Never! What do you mean by danger? I mean.... Whatever you say, it's all not making any sense Dev. What can a small ring do to you?"

"Fine.... If it's so harmless then just throw it away. By the way, my ring suits your fingers better!"

"Yaya....it's the ugliest I have ever seen"

He hugged her from behind and gazed at her fingers, "Liar.... If you don't like it, you would have thrown it away"

"Can you tell me.....what does this broken diamond-shapes symbolizes?" Sonakshi dragged her forefinger along the lines of the crooked lines in the thin ring.

"It symbolizes the distance between our bodies..........not the heart"

DANG

Sonakshi's body jerked in alarm when she heard a creaking sound of the large metal door. A ghastly whiteness spread over her face as she first saw the shoe of the intruder. Immediately she knew who it was.

"So.... Finally, the bitch is here" the voice drilled her ears.

She didn't need to look up to know who it was. It was the voice which she feared the most. The voice which caused endless nightmares to her. The voice which froze her bones and killed her soul.

"So...... not scared anymore huh?" he stood tall infront of her and questioned her. Sonakshi couldn't even look up into his eyes. His voice intimated the crap out of her. She desperately wanted to pass out and faint, but nothing happened. Only the strong beats of her heartbeat were heard as she stared down at her lap helplessly.

Sanjay Agarwal.... Once again, he proved her that no one had the strength to go against him.

"I am sorry..." she muttered some weak apologies but only the ragged breathing of Sanjay was heard. Her face paled the moment he stood infront of her, making her uncertain of his next move.

Without any signal, his hand crashed on her face and she fell on the floor with the force of it. In seconds, he had wounded his fingers into Sona's hair and shoved her face into the concrete tiles, over and over until blood splattered against the thin ropes, walls and chairs around.

Sonakshi didn't expect any lesser. The minute she met her father, she knew that it was going to be hard. He had already warned her in the phone call about the consequences if she didn't reach home on time. But what she hadn't expected was the strength that he possessed. The last time she was beaten up was almost a year ago.... Still the energy he possessed, felt new. He seemed like the strongest guy on earth.

Sonakshi was shattered. More than the physical pain, her heart ached heavily. Though his hands were empty, it felt like being hit by a hunk of stainless steel rods. She couldn't take it. She screamed for help, but no one came. Her wailings echoed through the walls of the dark dungeon. Fear, disgust and pain shredded her soul mercilessly.

"How dare you go against me you bloody leach! Just because of you...........because of you, I had to go through hell! How dare you throw away the engagement ring? You know how much money was invested in that? YOU KNOW?" Sanjay panted as he threw he took a forceful kick on her back. With every hit he felt a cold zing of delight, pass through his body.

Every muscle of his panted with excitement as he found the lost joy in abusing her.

"Do you know how many men were murdered in the process of getting you from there?" he screamed and Sona's eyes widened. Her body screamed of pain but she heard every word Sanjay was spitting.

"Do you have any fucking idea how much it cost me to find out the location you were at? After you had destroyed the ring, it took us bloody-damn long to locate you! Ungrateful dog..... Let me tell you one thing! After this, there's no such thing freedom in your life.... " he slapped her harder till Sonakshi's eyes blurred.

"Please....I won't do it again.......I am sorry" Sonakshi sobbed as she laid lifelessly on the rusty floor. She couldn't believe how she was still breathing, after all these assaults.

"Sorry? How does that help? When you went to that stupid country, I tried to kill that bastard whom you were enjoying with! I tried shooting down his men, poisoning his family and kidnapping his employees..... unfortunately, every time! Every fucking time, he survived from my attacks" Sanjay mumbled frustratedly as his eyes turned red in anger.

Thinking about those days where he planned to abduct Sonakshi from Dev..... Sanjay's anger multiplied.

"What did you think? That I wouldn't find you?" Sanjay asked with a sinister smirk.

"No.....noooo....." Sonakshi's tears soaked down and ran with the pool of her own blood.

"Listen....... Tomorrow, you are getting married to Karthik. That's the only reason why you are alive right now! If you ever speak something to anyone.....then....." he dragged his words and looked around. Soon, his men came there and Sanjay signaled him to bring something.

Sonakshi's heart thudded against her chest as she anticipated his next move. If there was something she feared a lot, then it was her father's silence. His silence always meant for something bad.... He always had a cruel plan if he was quiet.

Just as she had expected, her breath got stuck, when she saw the shiny metal piece brought inside the room. It was a long iron rod with a hand grip, designed specially for domestic abuse. Sona felt the blood move from her neck down her arms.

Salty tears run down her face, as she knew what his next step was.

That day, under the dark dungeon, there was only loud, helpless screams heard.

Scream of pain..... scream of agony and scream of betrayal....

A noise that no one would know, a bruise that no one could find, and tears that no one could wipe

--------------------------

Dev's POV

"Ladies and gentleman, the flight has successfully landed..........you may now, prepare to alight down soon" the air-hostess voice distracted Arjun's attention again.

Arjun immediately loosened his seatbelt and took his luggages down. All the while, he looked at Dev with a worried look. Dev hadn't even moved from his place. Ever since they had landed, his eyes were only etched on his laptop.

"Dev, we have landed already..... close your laptop! Let's get out first" Arjun nudged, but Dev's attention wasn't on Arjun at all. His eyebags were more prominent as he stared at the laptop without a blink.

"Dev... you haven't had an ounce of sleep last night. If you keep working like this, you will faint somewhere before even you can reach her!" Arjun's voice was more irritated, but Dev didn't even budge.

"DEVVVV" this time, Arjun banged the table infront him.

Finally, Dev's eyes lifted, meeting Arjun's furious face.

"I have been calling you for so long.... It's been fifteen minutes since the plane has landed. Get up!"

"Arjun..." Dev's voice croaked as Arjun blinked at him in confusion.

"What....Is everything-"

"The location is showing up..." he breathed making Arjun gasp.

*****************

Sorry for the late updates. But again, I have no choice. This update was meant to be a more content-full one, but I couldn't write an extraordinary piece in a short time. This was all I could come up in two days.... I haven't check it yet, so there might be some grammar-errors here and there.

Thank you guys for the birthday wishes! Once again, I really really appreciate your patience. I know how hard it is to wait for your favorite stories to be updated..... it's getting too tough for me to find a time to sit down and pen something. My job is hectic and I have too many things to handle nowadays. Hopefully next update would be faster. Sorry and thank you all!

Have a great day ahead.

Precap : What's Dev's next plan? Karthik's decision to marry sona........ Sona meets Arjun!