Sonakshi tried to open her eyes but a cloth covered her eyes, preventing her eyes from opening.

Who has kidnapped me? Why?
Damn! What a stupid condition Songbird is in today!
Once I get out of this place, I swear I am going to punish whoever kidnapped me.
For now, I will have to act like a damsel in distress.
Let me at least get to know who has the guts to kidnap me!

"Help. Please someone get me out of here," Sonakshi shouted for help.

"Hmm. So, you have woken up?" A man's voice said.

Sonakshi tried to recognize the man's voice, but it was of no avail. She had never heard this man's voice.

"Who are you?" She asked, "What do you want from me?"

"I don't want anything from you miss," The man said, "Our boss does."

"Tell me the name of your boss," she said to him.

"I am not allowed to tell you his name ma'am," He replied.

"Please," Sonakshi pleaded.

"Your pleading him will not help, as my men are completely loyal to me," A deep baritone was heard.

Sonakshi at once recognized his voice.

DEV!

"Everyone leave the room," Dev commanded his men.

They all nodded and left the room without any noise. Now, it was only him and her left in the room.

"Dev?" She asked, her eyes still covered.

"Yes, darling," Dev said and touched her face with his hands.

Sonakshi felt his body warmth but there was something different in his touch. It was not as gentle as usual. It felt stronger.

"Why did you kidnap me?" Sonakshi asked him softly.

"Because you are mine. I don't let others take things that are mine, Mia Bella," Dev said.

Wasn't he supposed to be drunk?

"Umm... Were you not drunk?" Sonakshi voiced out her thoughts.

"No, Mia Bella. I was not drunk," Dev said, his hand not leaving her face.

"But, you fell down in front of me," Sonakshi reasoned.

"A distraction Mia Bella," Dev said.

Sonakshi noticed there was something wrong with his voice. It was not the usual calm soothing voice he used with her. His voice although smooth had a huge amount of anger and hate in it. Dev traced Sonakshi's lips with the fingers of his right hand. Sonakshi shivered slightly at his touch.

This was not him! 
This was not the real Dev! 
This was not HER DEV! 
He had turned into Devil mode.

"Dev, please remove the blindfold and untie me," Sonakshi said in a soft voice.

"Why?" He asked in a raised voice, "So that you can rush back to that Rubbish Roy?"

Sonakshi flinched at his tone.

They did have bad moments till date but never had Dev spoken so heartlessly like he was speaking today.

"Dev. I am not feeling comfortable," Sonakshi said in a small voice.

She hated her eyes closed.

It brought back dark memories.

Secrets that had been kept buried.

"I feel like someone is choking my throat Sonakshi. You were the first woman who I liked. The first woman whom I wanted for myself and you, what did you do? You easily said, 'Dev, we should break up.'" Dev said.

Sonakshi felt guilt hit her heavily in her chest. She felt guilty for breaking his heart.

He knew he had a broken heart, but he forgot to notice that the one in front of him had a broken heart too.

Dev was still not done.

"And then Sona, you say YOU ARE MARRYING JATIN! You belong to me," Dev shouted, now running his hand through her hair.

"Dev, try to understand. It is my life. I can do anything with my life," Sonakshi said.

"Well, that was the case before Devrath Dixit entered your life. Because if Dev Dixit comes into a person's life, their life changes." Dev said to her.

"Dev please open my blindfold," She pleaded.

"Not until I get my answers," Dev retorted.

"Dev, I can't tell you why I took the decision of marrying Jatin," She said to him.

He suddenly gripped her face harshly and roared, "Why?"

"Because it is none of your business," Sonakshi answered.

I am sorry Dev. I can't tell you. If I tell you, this rivalry between our families will deepen as I know you won't sit quietly until you destroy the proofs that were collected by me. I know Dad has hidden it someplace safe. It is my duty to get rid of the problem I created and not yours. I can't let your life get destroyed because of my family Dev. I am Sorry.

"None of my business?" Dev repeated his eyes wide that Sonakshi had just uttered this, "Everything related to you is my business, Mia Bella. EVERYTHING!"

"It should not be. My life is independent of you," Sonakshi said to him.

"I love you, Sona. I am not going to give up on you," Dev said to her.

Sonakshi could hear his genuineness when he said that. She took a deep breath and said with a quivering voice,

"I DO NOT LOVE YOU, DEV!"

"Lie," Dev shouted at her.

Sonakshi felt helpless. She was trying to get this man away from her to save him, but all he was doing was trying ways to stay close to her.

"I am telling you the truth," Sonakshi argued feebly. He laughed at her act to push him away.

"No, you are lying. You know what?" Dev spoke, "You do not deserve love."

Sonakshi felt her bitter memories flashing in front of her,

"I swear Sonakshi Sharma, your life will be dark as dark as the night's darkness, and no one can pull you out of it." The voice said.

"You do not deserve love. Even your father thinks you are unworthy of love. You are just a pawn for him"

"I will kill you, Sonakshi Sharma. You will not be able to escape alive from here. Only your corpse will leave this place."

"NO! PLEASE, NO!" Sonakshi shouted.

Dev was shocked. Dev realized Sonakshi was panicking.

"Shit," He cursed and removed her blindfold.

Sonakshi did not open her eyes. She was breathing very heavily and there were drops of sweat formed on her forehead. She was continuously saying no.

"Sona! Sona!" He called out to her but she was not listening.

"Please don't kill me!" Sonakshi whimpered, her eyes still closed.

"Sona, open your eyes darling. It's me, Dev! Your Casanova. I won't kill you, Sona. Open your eyes," Dev said trying to soothe her.

Sonakshi could not hear him. She was still lost in her mind. Dev shook her holding her shoulders.

She then opened her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot. Tears spilled out of them. Her breathing was still ragged and she was heavily sweating.

"Sona! It is me, your Dev," He said to her. Sona was still gasping for breath.

"Arjun!" Dev called out.

Arjun rushed into the room.

"What the hell did you do Dev? I am not going to spare you if something goes wrong," Arjun said to Dev with anger.

"Go get Dr. Saraf soon. Take the Chopper," Dev said hurriedly.

Arjun nodded.

Dev pulled out his phone, "Dr. Saraf, I need you here in five minutes. I have sent a chopper to pick you up. Come fast there is an emergency."

"Yes sir," The reply came.

"Where is my daughter?" roared Shekhar in the engagement hall.

"She might have run away," A lady said from the audience.

"My daughter is not capable of running away," Shekhar yelled.

"Suraj, try tracking her phone," Madhuri suggested.

"Sona does not have her phone with her. It is with me," Aahana said.

"It means she has been kidnapped and not run away as if she would have run away, she would have taken at least her phone so as to receive OTP to withdraw money," Suraj concluded.

"Any suspects?" Aahana asked.

"Many," Shekhar said.

"Let's rule them out one by one," Aahana said.

"Shyam Manohar Jha," Shekhar said.

"Ruled out as he is in Spain. Posted an Instagram photo an hour before the engagement." Madhuri said showing everyone Shyam Manohar Jha's Insta post.

"So, Shyam Manohar Jha ruled out," Aahana said

"Akhilesh Fadnis," Shekhar said.

"Ok any alibis for Mr Fadnis?" Aahana asked the guests.

"Mr. Fadnis lost his father-in-law yesterday. He sent me a message," Mr. Gupta from the guests spoke up.

"Yes. True. Even I know this," Mr. Mehra supported Mr. Gupta.

"Mr. Fadnis ruled out," Aahana said.

"Next, the Dixits," Shekhar said, turning to face Raghunath and Ishwari.

"We have an alibi for coming late," Raghunath said, pointing to their driver.

"Sir and ma'am were in the house and left late sir," The driver said.

"What about Devrath Dixit?" Shekhar asked.

Ishwari frowned. She looked around to locate Dev. But she could not find him.

"He was drunk. I saw Arjun driving him away with my own eyes," Suraj defended Dev.

"Then Dixits ruled out?" Aahana questioned Shekhar.

Shekhar pondered over it for a minute and then nodded.

"Dev got drunk?" Ishwari asked Madhuri. Madhuri nodded.

Ishwari started panicking, "Where is my Dev?"

"Arjun has taken him with him," Mr Jagat Rawat said.

"Then it is OK. I know Arjun will take good care of him," Raghunath said, "The important thing right now is to find where Sonakshi is"

"Next, Uncle?" Aahana said asking Shekhar.

"The Basus," Shekhar said.

"No alibi," Madhuri said.

"Basus make the first on the list," Aahana said.

"The Rahejas," Shekhar said.

"No alibi," Suraj confirmed.

"The Mehtanis," Shekhar replied.

"Mrs Mehtani is hospitalized," Madhuri said.

"So, Basus and Rahejas as primary suspects. Anyone more?" Aahana asked.

"The Oberois," Madhuri said, "After Oberoinvasion, they would surely want to take revenge as Sona survived.

"Oberois included," Aahana said.

"When are you going to start searching for her?" Suraj asked Aahana, slightly bitter.

Aahana pulled out her phone and called up the commissioner.

"Hello, sir. Aahana Khurana speaking sir. Is there any update about Sonakshi Sharma, sir?" Aahana asked and then put her phone on speaker.

"Inspector Aahana. None as of now. Have you found out the prime suspects?" The reply came.

"Yes sir. The Basus, the Rahejas, and the Oberois are the main suspects," Aahana answered him.

"OK. I will dispatch three new teams to go after these suspects." The commissioner said.

"Thank you sir. Jai Hind," Aahana said

"Jai Hind," The commissioner said and disconnected the call.

"So, what do we do now?" Shekhar asked Aahana.

"We wait," Aahana said.

"No we don't," Suraj said, "We start searching too. In our way Dad."

Aahana looked confused. Shekhar understood what Suraj meant.

The underworld.

Suraj looked at Jatin who nodded and walked to him. Both of them walked out of the hall together leaving Aahana bewildered.

"Dev. Dr Saraf is here," Arjun ran into the room with Dr Saraf.

Dev had not untied Sonakshi yet. He did not want to free her until she spat out the reason for betraying him.

"Dev! Dude, untie her," Arjun said.

"No," Dev said in a grave tone.

"Mr Dixit, please move," Dr Saraf said.

Sonakshi was still in the same condition. No improvement. Dev felt guilty looking at her condition but he wanted to know why she was running away from him.

Dr Saraf tried to touch Sonakshi, but then Sonakshi flinched away.

"No! Go Away! Don't touch me. I can't bear your touch," She said still struggling.

"Shit! I forgot about her fear of male touch," Dev said.

Dev went closer to her and untied her and took her into his arms. Initially, Sonakshi tried pushing him away, but then she calmed down in his warm embrace. Slowly, her ragged breathing turned regular.

"Dev," She mumbled in a small voice.

"Yes Sona, it is me. Your Dev. Calm down darling," Dev said in a soft tone.

Sonakshi tried opening her eyes. Dev had still kept her in his embrace.

"I panicked?" She asked him like a kid.

"Yes," Dev said in her ear.

"Leave me, Dev," Sonakshi said. Dev broke the hug. He looked into Sonakshi's eyes. Her eyes showed a variety of emotions in them.

Guilt
Pain
Anguish
Loneliness
Sorrow
And finally, A BROKEN HEART!

"How were you forced to marry Jatin?" Dev asked her.

"I can't tell you," Sonakshi said softly.

"Why?" Dev asks still trying to be patient.

"Because..." Sonakshi said

"Because?" Dev urged her

"Because you mean nothing to me," Sonakshi said in a small voice.

That was the limit. Dev smashed his hand on the chair that Sona had been tied to. His hand started bleeding.

"Dev. You idiot," Arjun yelled at Dev and asked Dr Saraf to bandage it. Dr Saraf did so.

All this while Sonakshi was standing frozen at her place. She did not move an inch. She saw Dev's blood dripping and falling on the floor. The blood was rushing out so fast. She was horrified. Her face was blank. It was scarier than that of Dev's condition.

Arjun was the first one to notice her frozen state.

"Sonakshi?" Arjun now moved towards Sonakshi.

Dev looked at Sonakshi when Arjun called her out. He too noticed her condition.

"Dev! She is not blinking her eyes," Arjun said.

"Fuck!" Dev cursed.

He moved towards Sona again. As he edged closer to her, she put her hand in front of herself signalling Dev to stop at his place and not move an inch.

"Don't come close to me. I destroy lives," Sonakshi was saying with tears flowing from her eyes.

Dev felt as though someone had just shot him and his heart was stinging due to that pain. His heart ached to see her tears.

He had scared her.
He had made her believe that she was the reason for his suffering.
He only wanted to know the truth.
He wanted her to be with him.
But he had just caused her to push him away from herself.

"Mia Bella. It is nothing like that Sona," Dev said, trying to pacify her.

"It is," Sonakshi said through her sobs, "I am worthless."

"No Sona. You are a diamond. A real diamond. You are not worthless. Please Sonakshi, do not demean yourself," Dev said.

"I do not deserve such a good person like you Dev," She said, looking at him through her teary eyes.

Good! My foot! Dev scoffed internally.

"Sona! You are right you do not deserve me," Dev said suddenly.

Sonakshi became quiet.

"You...Too... Ag...Agree?" She stammered.

"Yes," Dev said, "It is because you deserve someone better than me. Because you are worth the world, Mia Bella. YOU ARE MY WORLD!"

"No," Sonakshi said, shaking her head, "This is wrong. Dev, we should not be in love."

"Sonakshi. I feel like giving you a tight slap," Dev said.

Sonakshi's eyes widened upon hearing that. How dare anyone thought about laying a hand on her! Sonakshi Sharma would not be able to tolerate that.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because My  Dear Woman! YOU LOVE ME! I LOVE YOU! Where is the problem? Nowhere. You are insecure Sona," Dev said giving her a disappointed look.

Arjun narrowed his eyes at Dev.

What was Dev trying to do?

Sonakshi frowned at his statement.

I am not an insecure woman. I am just trying to save you. But now, you are accusing me of being insecure. Wait and watch.

Dev smirked. His plan of distracting Sonakshi from whatever was troubling her was working.

"I am not insecure," Sonakshi huffed like a five-year-old.

"You are," Dev teased.

"Am not," Sonakshi countered.

"Prove it," Dev said.

"How?" Sonakshi asked raising her eyebrow.

"Tell me the truth," Dev said smirking.

"No."

"Yes"

"No."

"Yes"

"No."

"Yes"

"No."

"Yes"

"No."

"Yes"

"No."

"Yes"

"Yes," Sonakshi said getting tricked, "I mean no."

"It's high time you tell your boyfriend the truth, Sona," A voice interrupted the room.

Sonakshi found that voice so familiar. It was that voice that had been her support all through her life. Sonakshi turned around to look at the source of the voice.

HER BROTHER!

WORD COUNT: 2766 WORDS

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