"Hello Preeta Arora. It has been a long time right?"

Preeta stared at the person in shock. She started shivering, not with fear but with anger. This is the same person which had ruined her life. The same person who threatened to kill Karan. 

Prithvi's accomplice.

Now also he was wearing its hoodie which was covering his face. Only his eyes could be seen; eyes which were reflecting pure evil and hatred for her. 

"Tch Tch, no words to say? Come and welcome your old friend." The person said in a taunted voice. 

"Let everybody go. Your enmity is with me. Don't drag anyone else in it." Preeta said sternly, noticing his men all around the room. 

"Always thinking about the others. Some habits don't die huh? Okay," he turned towards his man who was blocking the door, "Everybody can go except her family and the Luthras." He said looking straight at Preeta. 

The other guests started to go but were stopped by him, "and yes, don't you any of you dare to call the police else the consequences won't be good, understand? Go." All the guests started to go as quickly as possible. 

At last only the Arora, Luthra and Shivani's parents remained in the hall. Suddenly Arav started coughing and blood came out of his mouth. 

"Arav! Baby!" Shivani cried, coming forward but was stopped by him.

"Stop, stay where you are else this boy is going to die." The person said, making Arav standing up and pressed the gun on his head. 

"NOO Please. I beg you." Shivani cried, taking a step back. Rishi hold her in his arms and glared at the man. 

"Listen, I will do everything you want but let him go. I'm the one you want. Please." Preeta said coming forward.

"Wait let me think...well it's not as if you have any choice if you want your nephews to be alive." Everyone looked confused when Ananya spoke up.

"A-Arhaan? Where is Arhaan? Where is my son?" Ananya shouted. That's when everyone noticed the children absence. 

"KV? Pari? Where are my children?" Shivani also asked worriedly. 

"Don't worry Mom. Pari is sleeping in her room." Arav spoke up but got slapped by the man. Rishi and Sameer moved forward but was stopped by their partner.

"Shut up boy! I didn't give you the permission to talk." Arav just spit the blood on his shoes. The man jumped back and glared at him. 

Shivani signed her mother by the eyes to go up and check on Pari while they tried to distract the boss and his men. Shivani's dad pushed the boss and took Arav with him. The other men tried to hit him but Rishi and the Luthra brothers stopped them. 

A fight broke between them. Kicks and punches were heard. One by one all the men of Prithvi and his accomplice were down. The girls also kicked some. Arav were being treated by his Shivani, who was crying continuously seeing his condition. 

All stopped when the hooded man fired his gun, "STOP! ONE MORE MOVE ELSE THE CHILDREN ARE GONE!" He shouted, showing his phone. 

A video of an unconscious Arhaan and KV, tying on a chair is played. Rishi, Rishabh, Karan and Sameer froze in their steps. The men on the floor quickly stood up and went to stand behind their boss. The latter smirked seeing them helpless. 

"I'm sure Prithvi will be very happy to kill them. I must admit; they are intelligent and strong. They put up a fight when he was kidnapping them. But we managed to get a hold of them until their big brother came to save them." He said, glaring at Arav. Arav just smirked. 

"Your boss should be ashamed; getting beaten by a fifteen year old boy. I would have been successful if you didn't attack from the back like a coward." Arav spit out. Shivani signed him to stay quiet. Karan and Rishi started laughing. 

"Omg the great Prithvi Malhotra got his ass beaten by a fifteen year old boy. Tell him to go and hide his face in shame." Karan said. Hooded man looked at them angrily.

"SHUT UP! I swear you guys say one more word, one of the boys die." Everyone glared at him.

"What enmity do you have with us? What did we did to you that you are doing all this?" Karan asked. 

"Not 'we' but you Karan. You! and your stupid lover of Preeta." The hooded figure said angrily. 

"Ey mind your language else don't expect me to hold back." Karan warned. 

"I wished that you were the same with me as you are with her." The hooded man replied. Everyone looked at him confused.

"Why are talking as if Karan..." Sameer started but were cut off by the hooded man.

"As if Karan dated me? Because he did." Everyone looked at Karan with wide eyes who was equally shocked and disgusted.

"What rubbish! When did I dated you? Preeta, Mom, I swear I'm not gay." Karan quickly said.

"Aye boy what are you saying on my son? Don't you have any shame?" Rakhi scolded him.

"Boy nahi girl. Ladki hu main." With that said, he took off the hoodie, revealing her face. Preeran and Shrishmeer looked at her in shock.

"Sofia!" They exclaimed. The others looked confused.

"Kon?" Rakhi asked.

"Mom, this is Sofia. Karan ex girlfriend. They were dating in college then Karan broke up with her." Sameer explained.

"For her! Karan broke up with for her!" Sofia said, removing the voice changer and pointed a finger towards Preeta. 

"Sofia, what's all this? Huh? Why are you trying to harm my family and Preeta? Wait you are Prithvi's accomplice?" Karan spoke up.

"I love you Karan and I know you love me also. But this Preeta came and snatched you away from me. I couldn't bear it. When Prithvi got to know, he convinced me you still love me. We made a plan to separate you. Everything was going well until you both freaking got close again on graduation day. That was it. Yes I am the one who threatened Preeta with your life. I was there when you broke your friendship with her. 

I thought that now Preeta was out of your life, you would want me back but no, instead, you push everyone away. I didn't wait for 5 years just for you to run in her arms again. No. If you want these children alive you let Preeta go silently to Prithvi. Else I will be forced to kill you." Sofia pointed the gun towards Karan.

"NOO! no, don't do that. I accept. I'm coming but please don't hurt him." Preeta pleaded, coming towards her. Sofia grabbed her hand and pulled her next to herself.  

"Preeta no!" Karan shouted, stepping forward but were stopped by Sofia's men.

"Excellent decision. I'm sure Prithvi will be very happy to see you again after 5 years. Yes he may be angry since you throw him in jail but he will forgive you. After all, you will be his would-be-wife." Sofia traced Preeta's face with the gun. Then she turned towards her men.

"Make sure no-one escapes and wait for my orders. And you Preeta dearest, let's go and meet your beloved Prithvi." Sofia pulled her followed by two of her men. 

Preeta looked at Rishi, who nodded slightly, then at Karan. Both of them shared a painful stare. Fear of losing each other was present in their eyes. Preeta smiled lightly at him, telling him that she will be alright, don't worry.

The door closed behind them, leaving the rest still imprisoned by the other men. Rishi tried to think of a plan to knock them down. He signaled the Luthra Brothers who nodded in understanding.

Then, it started again; the boys started attacking Sofia's men. One by one was getting down until all were unconscious on the floor. They tied them to make sure that they don't escape.

"Kritika, call Kunal and inform him of the situation. Tell him to get here as soon as possible." Rishabh ordered her.

"Don't worry Shivani, Kunal is a policeman, an ACP to be exact. He will help us in finding Preeta and the children." Rakhi comforted her.

"I have Preeta location. We just need protection and I'm not sure my bodyguards will be able to help. How they hell they didn't notice these men?" Rishi questioned.

"They managed to drug them. There was a waiter that gave them juice saying you sent them. Since you have the habit to serve them food and all, they believed you sent it." Arav said, wincing in pain when he tried to get up.

"I think we will need to bring you to the hospital." Shivani said, holding him.

"Mom no. I need to help to find Bua and KV. I fail to protect him and Arhaan. I'm such a bad brother."

"Don't argue with your mother Arav. You are coughing blood. We need to make sure that you are not hurt...look at me, I promise I will bring them back." Rishi replied, looking at him then at Rishabh and Karan.

The bell rang which caught their attention. Kritika went to open the door and came back with a man wearing the police uniform.

"This is my fiance Kunal. Kunal this is Rishi and Shivani. Their child along with Arhaan had been kidnapped. They took also have Preeta, Ananya's sister, with them."

Rishi shook hand with him while the Luthra brothers hugged him. After greeting everyone, Kunal became serious.

"I will need you all to explain to me what happened so that we can form a plan." Everyone looked at Rishi.

Rishi started narrating briefly the incident in Manchester, the threat they received, the chandelier falling and the party. Kunal listened attentively.

"This man clearly is a psycho. Don't worry, we will bring them back safely. We just need to know their location." Kunal said

"But how? Preeta's phone is here with me. We won't be able to track it." Ananya said, showing the phone.

"You said you have Preeta's location, how?" Karan asked Rishi.

"Preeta had placed a tracker in the watch she's wearing. I think deep down she knew something bad would happen that's why she wore it today." Rishi explained.

"Excellent then! We have her location. I call some more officers. They should be on their way and as for these men, my officers will put them in jail."

Rishi got Preeta's location after some minutes. Kunal and the rest started discussing the plan. After finalizing it, they were ready to go.

"Bring them back safely." Sarla said holding both Karan and Rishabh faces. The two boys nodded.

"Go to the hospital and keep me updated about his health and don't worry, we will find them." Rishi said to Shivani. Shivani nodded and Rishi kissed her forehead.

"Don't stress yourself. Trust me, I won't let any harm fall on our son. I promise you. Just take care of yourself and the baby." Rishabh said, placing a hand on Ananya's belly.

"Okay gentlemen, time to go." Kunal nodded at Kritika who gave him a small smile.

"Sameer, bring Shivani and Arav to the hospital. In the meantime, we will wait here." Mahesh said.

"Yes dad, Shivani-di let's go." Sameer wrapped Arav's arm around his neck. Shivani did the same.

Everyone got into their respective cars and drove away, to their destination.

'Hold on Babydoll, we are coming.' Karan thought determinedly.

************************
On the other side

The car stopped and Preeta was roughly pulled out by Sofia. Preeta glared at her and jerked her hand from her arm.

It was an abandoned building, no surprise there. It was on the outskirts of Mumbai, around 1 hour drive. Preeta stared at the building and walked inside, Sofia by her side.

"Here is your possession." Sofia said, entering a room.

"Well well well, isn't this my beloved Preeta?" The chair turned to reveal Prithvi. Preeta glared at him dangerously.

"What? No words? Ouff you are hurting me baby. Didn't you miss me? I mean we're meeting after 5 years." Preeta huffed but doesn't reply. Prithvi got angry.

"ANSWER ME GODDAMMIT!" Old Preeta would have flinched but she didn't. Instead she looked at him straight in the eye, without a fear.

"Where are the children?" Preeta asked at last.

"Hayee your voice is still melodic. I miss this so much." Preeta rolled her eyes.

"Stop your nonsense. You got me, now bring them to me!" Prithvi smirked seeing her angry. He signaled his guard who left the room.

"Five years pass but your anger is still the same. But you know what didn't change also, your fear. You are still scared of me." Prithvi came closer to her.

"Me scared of you? In your dreams. Even your message didn't manage to scare me." Preeta lied bluntly.

"Tch Tch. You are lying. Else why would you have strengthen the security around your family after that chandelier incident. I must say it was a close call. Else your sister and that gilli danda player would have been dead."

"Don't you dare utter Karan's name from your dirty mouth. I told you to stay away from him." Preeta roared.

"Still madly in love with him I see. Does he still love you after all what you did? Or does he hates you?"

"This is none of your business. My concern is that you freaking hurt my family! Shrishti, Arav and now you stoop that low to even kidnap children. Shame on you!"

"Well what could I do otherwise. I knew that your family is your weakness but I got to know that your nephews also are your weakness. Mainly, your bastard of best friend' children." Prithvi spit out. Preeta smirked.

"And that man's son beat you. How can you stand in front of me without feeling embarrassed. You got beaten by my Arav, a fifteen year old boy." Preeta taunted.

"SHUT UP!" Prithvi shouted again.

"DON'T YOU DARE RAISE YOUR VOICE AGAINST ME! I can shout as loud as you!" Preeta roared back, "Your ego got a blow right? I can see from there your black eye and the cut lips. The makeup couldn't cover it."

"Your tongue has become sharper. Let's us get married then I will show you the consequences. Do you remember?" Preeta froze.

Suddenly, she started getting the flashback of being beaten. She tried to control her breathing but she couldn't stop shaking. Despite having move on, these memories still chased her.

"See Sofia how she is shaking in fear and I didn't even do anything right now." Prithvi and Sofia started laughing. Preeta glared at them dangerously.

"Aw Prithvi, see now she is glaring at us right now. Think that she is a lion but in the end, she is just a scared kitten." Both started laughing again.

Before Preeta could give them a piece of mind, the door opened and two boys were pushed inside.

"Maasi/Bua!" Arhaan and KV shouted and ran towards her. Preeta bend down and hugged them back tightly.

"You guys are alright? You aren't hurt anywhere?" Preeta asked worriedly, checking for any wounds.

"Offo Pretty maasi, we are strong boys. Nothing can happen to us. Right KV?"

"Yess Bua. Now wipe these tears. You know I can't bear seeing you in tears. You don't look beautiful when crying." Preeta smiled while KV wiped her tears.

"Aww such an emotional family reunion, it got me in tears." Prithvi said, wiping a non-existent tear, "Now if your drama is finished, Preeta darling it's time for our marriage."

Prithvi clapped his hands and the room got illuminated. There was the mandap in the middle of the room. The door opened again and the pandit came in.

"Let's go..." Prithvi said with a smirk.

************************
"Can you drive a bit faster?" Karan asked again.

Kunal looked at him in the front mirror and turned his attention back to the road. Rishabh sighed in annoyance while Rishi looked amused.

"For god sake Karan, calm down. I know you are worried about Preeta but please try to keep silent. We are nearly there."

"But bhai, I don't feel good. I feel as if something bad is going to happen to her." Rishi put his hand on his shoulder as comfort.

"Relax Karan, Preeta is a strong girl; she will be able to protect the children and herself. In London, once, she knocked out three man who was teasing her. Don't you think she can manage Prithvi? Relax." Karan relaxed a bit, but he was still tiff.

"Don't worry Karan. I won't let anything happen to your girlfriend. By the way, for how long are you guys dating?" Kunal said from the driver seat.

Both Rishabh and Rishi stifled a laugh while Karan looked embarrassed. Kunal noticed their expression.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No Kunal. Actually these two, Karan and Preeta, are still not together. They are 'best friends'" Rishabh said, emphasizing on best friends.

"Com'on, don't tease me like that. I was planning to ask her out after all these problems are gone. Moreover it's in the past, now she is my life." Karan defended himself.

"Oh god what a time when both were denying to love each other. Why were you guys saying 'Love him/her? Never. We are not Rahul-Anjali of KKHH. We are just best friends for life' Chal hatt beta, everyone knew that you two love each other as crazy." Rishabh said.

Rishi and Kunal started laughing while Karan looked away. The car fell silent again, everyone lost in their own thoughts. They were all worried but were trying to remain strong.

'I know you are waiting for me Babydoll. Hold on for more time. Your bajarbattu is coming to save you. Oh god please protect my Babydoll.' Karan thought, looking out of the window.

************************
Abandoned building

Arhaan and KV looked at each other before bursting out laughing. Preeta and the other looked at them confused.

"Oye uncle, have you seen your face? You looked like a monkey and you want to marry my pretty. Sorry but she is already taken." Arhaan said. Preeta face-palmed herself.

'Just like Karan.' Preeta thought

"Oye Chucks ki chamche, shut up. This something serious." Preeta whispered in his ear.

"Don't you think I'm talking seriously. Pretty maasi don't be a Dumbo. I'm trying to buy us some time." Arhaan whispered back.

Preeta looked at him stunned. How come a 6 years old boy is that intelligent?! He really prove to be the son of Rishabh and Ananya Luthra.

"Yes where was I? Oh yes, my Maasi is a heera she deserves someone like her and you are just garbage. I mean who kidnapped children? Only a psycho." Preeta widened her eyes at his words.

"Oye bache you don't know who you are talking to. Prithvi Malhotra naam hai mera. I can kill you right now."

"Why do all the villain says that? Dekh uncle, we are not interested in knowing your name. It's just as ugly as you." KV and Preeta started laughing.

"Tell your nephew to stay quiet else I'm going to shoot him and I'm serious darling." Prithvi said with a raged voice.

"Don't you even dare! If you want to shoot him, you should shoot me first!" Preeta said, standing in front of Arhaan and KV.

"Enough of this drama. Preeta, come and sit down quietly else I'm going to shoot these two children."

"Don't threaten my Bua. You don't know what she can do. She can beat you up." KV spoke up.

Preeta looked at her two nephews emotionally. Despite being small, they are trying to protect her even though they are not understanding the gravity of the situation.

"You two, stay quiet, don't talk." Preeta asked then at last. Both were about to deny but stopped seeing her glare.

"Prithvi, see we can talk it civilly. But I beg you, let the children go. They didn't do anything." Preeta pleaded.

What Preeta didn't notice were that two men were behind her. Prithvi nodded and both men grabbed one boy.

"MAASI/BUA!" They shouted in fear. Both man had pressed a gun to their head.

"VEER! ARHAAN !" Preeta shouted and tried to get closer to them but was pulled back by Prithvi.

"Enough of this drama! If you don't listen, one of these two die, and I will start by your sister's son. This will be my revenge against her husband and her. Because of them, my sister died, now their son is going to die,"

"Stop blaming them for your sister's death. She was the one who killed herself. She just couldn't bear that jiju doesn't love her. She was a psycho like you!" Preeta spit out but got slapped by Prithvi. She glared at him angrily, holding her cheek.

"Hey you can't slap her!" KV said angrily, his eyes showing fury for Prithvi.

"Oye chup ! You two, tie these two shits again!" Prithvi ordered his men. The latters pulled the boys out, ignoring their pleads.

"You are making a grave mistake Prithvi. Just wait until Karan get there. He won't spare you. He will beat you so much that at the end, you will beg him to spare your life." Prithvi started laughing.

"He won't be able to do anything because he is still imprisoned at the house." Preeta smirked.

"Are you sure that he is still there?" Prithvi narrowed his eyes at her.

"Sofia! Call the men and ask them what is happening there!" Sofia nodded and called them but no response. She tried again and again but in vain.

"Prithvi, they are not picking up the phone." Sofia said, throwing her phone.

"Damn it!" Prithvi said in frustration.

"I told you. He is The Karan Luthra. Do you think he will let me in danger? I thought you knew him better than that Prithvi." Preeta mocked him.

"Just shut up! And you," he turned towards Sofia, "Tell the men to keep an eye and if they catch Karan, bring him to me!" Sofia nodded and left the room.

"Tch Tch Prithvi. What happen now? Think that you are the lion but in reality, you are just a scared cat. Remember that time when you got thrashed by him. You were only talking shits then, now imagine your condition since you freaking kidnapped his nephew and took me against my will." Preeta said, using his own words against him.

"Don't test me Preeta else I will tell him what you are currently hiding from him." Prithvi warned. Preeta froze.

"W-What do you mean?" Preeta stuttered. Prithvi smirked seeing her nervous. 

"Did you think I don't know that you didn't tell Karan the entire truth? To be honest, I expect more from you." Prithvi taunted.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Preeta tried to be confident.

"Are you really sure you don't know what I'm saying?"

"No I don't know what truth you are talking about. I told Karan everything."

"Oh really? That means he know that you gave birth to his child, ops I mean his dead daughter."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Word count : 3875 words

SURPRISE I MANAGED TO UPDATE EARLIER! 😂🥳

SO THIS IS THE TWIST! 😜 I'm sure none of you all expected this.

So what do you think of this chapter? Comment down your views.

I'm trying to write my chapters more short else it will be too boring to read. So from now on my chapters will be in the range of 2000-4000 words.

A big thank you to you all ❤️ Guys I love you so much ❤️😭 I never expected this book to hit 10K READS and 600+ votes in 6 months 🥺 Thank you all very much ❤️

15/09/2021