PAAKHI's POV

My heart is throbbing in my ears, loud and irregular, but I barely hear it, for my mind is clouded with fear.

With Shuddering hands, I grabbed my mobile phone sitting on the center table and called the only person I know can now help us.

I dialed his number to hear the tedious caller tune which is only increasing my anxiety.

"Hello?" Came a reply from the other side.

"Arhaan? " I wept.

"Ya?" He consciously replied.

"Paakhi this side." I mentally scolded myself to stop cry and Speak properly rather than blabber.

"Hi Paakhi, How are you?" He asked pleasantly.

"Umm, I'm fine...Arhaan is Maanu with you?" I asked hopefully.
The feeling of fear within me is telling me she is not with him but still I'm hoping.

"Huh? But She told me you guys are spending time together, so we didn't meet today," he answered confused.

Confused, because Yesterday when Maanu and Arhaan returned home from one of their many dates, she told him that she's spending the next day with us.

"Paakhi? Where is she?" He asked nervously.

I didn't reply, apprehensive of whether I should or not.

"Paakhi?!" He exclaimed.

"Arhaan, She...She's not home yet. She went out this morning to meet a client but it's been 8 hours and she hadn't returned, " I replied anxiously "I even called our friends to see if  she's with them or not, But she didn't meet anyone today..." I informed him.

"I'm coming" was the only thing I hear, when I also listened to our main door being shut.

Adi is walking towards me with exhaustion and concern clear on her face.
"I asked everyone and checked every store near us, I don't know where she is."

"Adi, I'm scared. " I confessed.

"Me too..." She said walking towards me and hugging me.

"What if they found us..." I conceded.
Her hold on me tightened and her breathing quickened.

"Don't say that," Adi said scared.

"I called Arhaan, He's on his way," I informed her and got lost in my thoughts, thoughts clouded with fear for Maanu's safety and Our past catching upon us.

The knocking on the door made me jerk back into the present.

I was about to stand up when I see Adi walking in with Arhaan toe to toe.

My attention shifted to someone behind them.

Viren! walking in pursued by Shaurya.
Staring at them a sense of aid overcame and I thanked God for bringing people in our lives that are staying by our sides in our hard time.

"Where did she go?" Was the first thing Arhaan uttered.

"She went to meet a client in a deli nearby. We both had a meeting today, so we decided to split and attend the clients and then return home for a movie day. But when I returned in the afternoon, she was not here, we tried calling her but her phone is off. Then we went to the deli and talked to the client but they only replied that she left the restaurant around 2:30 pm. " I told everything that I knew.

"She is missing from the afternoon, And you decided to call me in the evening to inform about her absence." Arhaan hissed.

Seeing Arhaan this angry didn't hurt me because it showed how concern he is about Maanu.

"What about her friends? She might be with someone." Viren asked calming down Arhaan by diverting him.
"We don't have many friends but as many we have, we have asked everybody but she didn't meet anyone. And most importantly Maanu never goes somewhere without informing." Adi acknowledged.

"Did something happened today? That might have upset her ?" Viren again asked, seeing Arhaan is not in a state to converse.

"No, today we were more than excited to spend our day lounging around. And therefore decided to finish our work and take the rest of the day off." I answered back.

"I can't just wait here and hope for something to happen." Arhaan hissed while walking towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Viren asked him.

"Anywhere!" He replied and the sound of the lock clicking was heard.

"Bhai? Should we follow him? He's not in the right frame of mind." Shaurya confessed.

"No, it's better if we leave him alone." He answered back.

I was about to tell him how inconsiderate he is being right now when I heard him dialing someone.

"Follow Arhaan. But stay unnoticed." Viren muttered in his phone.

Shaurya nodded his head and Viren nodded back.

"Did you contact the police?" Shaurya asked Aditi.

Aditi for the first time replied normally to his question. Because other times she used to be so rude to him.

"They won't file a complaint before 24 hours," Aditi replied.

I walked out into our balcony and started chanting prayers.
Because now only God can help us.

"Here!" Came a voice beside me.
I looked beside me to see Viren leaning on the railing with one hand in his pocket and the other outstretched towards me with a handkerchief.

Then only I realized that I was crying. I slowly took it from his hand and wiped away the smears.

"Don't worry, we'll find her." He uttered while gradually putting his hand on top of mine which was resting on the railing.

I looked at him and saw the sincerity in his eyes.

__________________________________

ARHAAN'S POV

Once again thumping on the steering wheel I cursed.

I have been driving around for almost an hour now, but still no trace of Maanya.

Thinking about her I feel like crying.

Today seemed to be a good day for me. I talked to Maanya for an hour then dressed to go to the office and there I bagged a new deal.

And then everyone decided to celebrate this by dinner outside. We were having dinner when I got a call from an unknown number. I usually don't receive calls during the dinners but something told me to receive this one.

And thank God I received this one. When Paakhi told me Maanya is missing I lost my shit and immediately rushed out of there.
I heard my family yelling behind, but the only thing in my mind was Maanya.

When I reached my car, I heard my Passenger side door and backside door open.

"What do you think you guys are doing?" I remember asking both of my brothers who were sitting in my car.

"We won't pry, We just want to come with you," Viren answered.
I ignored both of them because my main priority was Maanya.

Maanya! My Maanya! Where are you?

I parked my car and leaned back in my seat, My mind was hazed with all our memories together.
It was as if a movie was playing in my mind.
From our first meeting at Pari's bday party To our accidental meeting at our office then our dates, everything was moving in slow motion.

I still remember our fight at that cliff, It seemed to be a very serene place. I remember Maanya telling me that it is our getaway.

Getaway! Our Getaway!
I roared out of the parking lot and drove towards the cliff.

"Why didn't I realized it earlier." I hissed at myself.

I thought about informing Paakhi and Aditi because I saw them earlier, they were scared to death.

I dialed Viren's number and waited for him to receive it.

I swooned past cars and even broke some traffic rules.

"Brother! Where are you?" Is the first thing I hear when he receives the call.

"Listen, I may know where Maanya is. So, please inform the girls ." I said and hung up because I reached the destination.

I hopped off of the car and ran aimlessly everywhere calling out her name.

After running for 5 minutes, I trekked down the cliff and saw a silhouette of somebody.

Only moonlight as my source I walked towards that person.

I was just a few steps behind them when I saw a face gleaming in a moonlight just like an angel.
My angel!
But what pains me were tears rolling from her eyes.

I slowly walked towards her and took a seat beside her.
Hearing the sounds of leaves shuffling, Maanya looked towards me.

I imagined her being surprised noticing me but never in my dreams I would have imagined her current expression.

She was looking at me? Yes. But her eyes were blank.
She was just staring as if she doesn't know me.

"Maanya!" I called out.

But she didn't even blink.

My breathing increased and I moved forwards to hold her hand when she yelled "Don't touch me."

I instantly jerked back Shocked.
She was now sitting with her hands curled to her chest As if protecting herself. Protecting herself from me?

Seeing her yelling "don't touch me" again and again, whenever I try nearing her, Is breaking my heart.

I'm frightened, worried, and afraid. I don't know what to do...

Then out of the blue, I heard footsteps approaching, when I looked up I saw people running towards us.

I instantly got up and stood before Maanya in a protective stance.

But fortunately, when the moonlight reflected on their faces I saw Paakhi, Viren, and Aditi running towards us.

Paakhi lightly pushed me aside and took Maanu in her arms.
I saw her cradling Maanya just like a child.

"Shhh...I'm here. I'm here." She started whispering in her ears.

I saw Aditi quietly sobbing, As much as I know these girls, Aditi always seemed to be a tough girl.
She's sarcastic and witty but her crying right now, Indicates something huge.

I was about to move forward and give her a comforting hug when I saw Shaurya embracing her.
I smiled at how my goofy brother can be so understanding.

"Arhaan..." Viren called out.
I looked towards him and he nodded towards Paakhi and Maanya's Direction.

"She's asleep, let's take her home," Paakhi whispered.

I nodded my head and consciously moved forward to carry her in my arms.
I was expecting another fit from her but fortunately this time she cuddled up to me.

We were trekking back the way we came and sat in the back with Maanya close to me.

Viren and Paakhi sat in the front and we were soon off towards the girls' apartment.

All the way to the apartment, I'm just thinking about one thing, to know everything about her past.

Reaching her apartment I rushed inside their building with Viren and Paakhi on my tail.

When we entered the apartment, I sauntered directly to Maanya's room and gently laid her down on her bed.

I pulled up the blanket and sat beside her.

"Someone call the doctor."
I heard someone muttering in the background.
I really couldn't focus, all my attention is on the love of my life, lying unconscious in her bed.

"Arhaan, " came a whisper from beside me. I looked up to see Paakhi standing beside me with fresh linen in her hand.
"I need to change her clothes..." She said looking at Maanya.
I too looked towards her to see My beautiful Maanya coated in dirt.

I nodded and walked outside her room.

"Are you okay?" Shaurya asked sympathetically.
"No, I'm not, " I yelled at him.
"Seeing the love of my life, lying unconscious inside...The thought of someone hurting her is killing me." I confessed.

"Arhaan, " Viren called out. I looked him square in the eyes.
"We could clearly see that something bad happened in Maanya's life and therefore she was having an attack. But bro give her some time. Don't lose your patience." He advised.

"Viren, I have no patience left, you didn't see how she reacted earlier at the cliff. She was scared of me. She was moving away from me as if I am to harm her. If Paakhi wouldn't have arrived I don't know what I would have done?" I confessed with agitation and frustration clear in my voice." by the way how did you know where to find me?" I queried.

"We had guards follow you," Viren confessed. If it would have any other time, I would have punched him but right now Maanya is my main focus.

I sighed and walked towards the couch, I slumped back and felt like crying.

"She was not in the right frame of mind. Ask us, we know how much she loves you. Don't give up now, when she needs you the most." He said walking towards me. Hearing such things from Viren is surprising Because he never shares his feelings with anyone. But now if he's telling me to wait then I will. Because nothing is more important to me than Maanya.

We were still talking when the doorbell chimed.

I saw Aditi walking towards the doorway and coming in within seconds with someone behind her.

"Where is she?" I heard a voice very familiar to me.
I looked behind Adi to see Abhay, their chef Uncle, and glimpsed a man in a white coat entering Maanya's room.

"The doctor is here, now she'll be fine," Shaurya said emphatically.

We waited for 20 minutes, these 20 minutes are the longest minutes of my life.

Then the door to Maanya's room opened and I saw Paakhi stepping out.

"Thank you so much, Dr. For visiting on such short notice." She said to someone behind her.

"Dear it's no problem. But I need to talk to you guys." Came a very familiar voice of our uncle
Dr.Vikram Sinha.

I looked at my brothers to see the same expression of surprise that I was holding.

He turned to walk towards the sitting area when his gaze leveled on us.
"Oh look, My nephews are here." He said surprised.

"Nephews?" Adi asked surprised.

"Ya, he is our uncle." Shaurya replied.
Instantly both Adi and Paakhi looked at each other appalled.

"I might be their Uncle but I'm a Doctor first." Uncle said reassuring both of them.

Uncle walked off and sat on the sofa, while Abhay fetched a glass of water for him and took a seat beside him.

"I want to talk about Maanya's condition." Uncle said eyeing me, Viren, and Shaurya.

I was about to object when,
"Let them be here, it is because of them Maanu is home." She said flashing a small smile at us.
I nodded in acknowledgment.

"So what happened?"  He asked girls.
The girls looked at each other and responded the same thing they told us before.
"So everything was fine before today, So something might have happened that triggered her attack." He concluded looking at his notepad.

"Do you think we should take her to Dr.Seema..." Aditi asked dejectedly.
"No, You know she won't be able to cope this time," Paakhi answered back.
Their vague conversation is making me more agitated.

"But what about her condition, we can't let what happened earlier repeat." Aditi countered back.

"Dr. Sinha, I don't want her to go to Dr.Seema, you know it took her a lot of time to realize she is normal, From the last few months we finally saw Maanu happy, She became funny, sassy, and most importantly a confident person" Paakhi confessed.

"But Paakhi, What if her Attacks return? You know what happened last time!" Abhay interjected.

Hearing them talk about Maanya, I understood that her past is bad. She had attacks before too.

"Bring her to my clinic and then I will tell you if she needs sessions with Dr.Seema or not."
Uncle replied.

" I think it was him, only one person can make her reminisce about her past and have a panic attack," Aditi whispered.

"We won't let him come anywhere near her." Paakhi declared.

Him? Who is it? Who are they so afraid of?

"Recently did she had any attacks like this one?" Uncle asked them.

I waited for them to tell him about that day when I first visited their home. Maybe today I will know the real reason.
I leaned forth, anticipating for their reply.

"Yes, on the same day, on the 21st of June," Paakhi replied.
"So this time also she was distant ?" He asked.

"No after our Visitation to the orphanage she was cold like always but then Someone visited her and made her eat and talk," Paakhi said looking towards me.

"What? Who was it?" Abhay asked stunned.
"Her boyfriend," Aditi yelled.

Paakhi hit her on her head and looked at Abhay.

"A few days back they were friends and now he's her boyfriend," Abhay exclaimed.

"Abhay, this is not the right time to go all daddy on them." Uncle said smiling at him.

"Vikram, I don't need the right time to care for my girls. and this guy is going to have a broken nose soon. He didn't even ask for my permission."
Abhay screeched.

I discretely gulped and saw my brothers snicker.
Uncle glanced at me and Passed a sly smirk.

"I think we should meet her boyfriend and ask him to spend more time with her." Uncle suggested.

"Oh, Sure we should meet him but not to ask him to spend time with my girl rather warn him to stay away from her." Abhay huffed.

"Like hell, I will stay away from her", I yelled out loud.

Instantly everyone's head turned towards me and I saw the amused expression on My brothers and Uncle's face.

Girls were looking at me sympathetically whereas Abhay is glaring at me.
I took a deep breath and said " Sir with due respect, I know these girls mean a lot to you but now one of them is my lifeline. Now if you'll ask me to stay away from her then You'll be asking me to give up my life." I confessed sincerely.

"Aww..." I heard Both the girls cooing.
I blushed a little but stood straight trying to act all man up in front of their Uncle Abhay.

"When these girls came into my life, I promised myself that I will not let anyone ever hurt them again. But many times I saw my girls hurt, Now as a father figure in their lives I try my best to keep them secure, And when I heard my girl is dating someone I was instantly afraid about you hurting her. But now Seeing you saying these things I would just say take care of her."
He said emotionally.

I shook his hand and walked into Maanya's room.
I expected to see her sleeping but she is standing near her window.

I gradually closed the door behind me and walked towards her.

"I'm sorry, " she whispered. "I'm sorry you had to see that, I won't blame you if you want o leave me..." She uttered.

"That's it!" I shouted inducing her to swivel.
"Why do you always think this kinda stuff? Do you think I'm just fooling around with you? Do you even believe it when I say I love you?" I exclaimed.

"Why Maanya? Why don't you realize that I love you, I'm with you and I'm not going anywhere. " I confessed.

"Because.Because I'm broken..." She muttered ashamed.

" No Maanya you are not, you just don't realize that yet," I confessed walking towards her.

She stepped back and My heart instantly crushed.
"No Arhaan, you don't realize I'm a liability. I have panic attacks seeing anything familiar to my past. I sometimes self-harm because the pain is too much to bear." She whimpered.

I was shocked hearing her say this, earlier only I realized she has panic attacks but they are to this extend that she had to harm herself is too much.

"I'm crazy, this is what you are thinking right?" She exclaimed.

Before I could counter her statement she said something that made my blood freeze.

"This isn't the only thing, you want to know about my past right! Then I will tell you...

I will tell you everything from the start...

So all the problems started when I was 19, In my town girls are married off at the age of 19, Just like everyone else My father fixed my engagement to a well off family in our town. At that time I was studying at the provincial university.

Everything was fixed, I met my fiance at our engagement and he was a decent guy or So I thought.

But one day a few months before our Marriage he asked me out for a dinner, I knew my parents wouldn't allow me to meet him before our marriage. But he was a charmer, he persuaded me to lie to my parents and spend time with him. Me being a 19 year old, I agreed to his idea and made some excuse to my parents.

I was clothed in a dress gifted by him. I wasn't used to wearing western clothes because my father didn't approve of them. But that Day I especially wore it for him.

He planned a dinner in a very secluded area but I thought it to be romantic as no one could disturb us. After dinner, I asked him to take me home before my parents realize I'm not home.

He didn't agree, he said I should spend my time with my fiance and get to know him.
We talked for another hour but at the back of my mind, I was panicking, I again asked him to take me home but this time he shut me up with a kiss. It was my first kiss so I didn't knew anything about it but when he started forcing his hands on me, I pushed him back, but it was as if I was seeing someone else because at that time he seemed to be vicious.
He...He didn't hear my pleas and..." She wiped the tear from her eye.

I gently hold her hand and squeezed it, Hearing this I was sitting calmly but my insides were burning with rage. I want to find that bastard and kill him.

"You don't have to..." I lied, I want to know more so that I can make that bastard suffer for every pain he inflicted on her.

She nodded her head but continued" So he raped me and left me there, I was so ashamed, broken and scared that I rushed home and fortunately no one was awake. So I entered my room and washed thoroughly. I wanted to remove all his touches from my body but deep down I knew it was impossible because he didn't just scar me physically but mentally too.
I decided to tell my family about this but the next day he was there in our house with everyone else sitting around and talking as if nothing happened. I saw everyone's face and the glint in their eyes talking to him, And then and there I knew, I'm alone in this.

Many times I tried to tell my family about it but I couldn't, the day of the wedding was nearing, and his abuse intensified. I thought about running away but my brothers were keeping an eye on me because of my behavior.

I was under house arrest till my wedding because my parents believed I was having wedding jitters.

I didn't had friends who could help me, but one day I was forced to go to dinner with my fiance and his friends. I was dreading every second of it. He was twisting my hand under the table whenever I talk to someone. But I didn't realize that someone was watching every second of that and that someone was Paakhi, she was a waitress in that cafe and she was eyeing his assault on my hand so she deliberately knocked his Wine glass resulting in him releasing his wise grip on my hand.

Due to that, we had to leave from there, and thankfully that night he couldn't force himself on me.

I was thanking God for bringing Paakhi into my life. Because like a small town of ours nobody interferes with these wealthy traders, But she stood up for me.

Each day passing was like a ticking bomb.
On my wedding day, I never imagined that something like that would happen but it was the happiest and saddest day of my life..." She breathed in.
I squeezed her hand and she continued "That day I collapsed in front of everyone when I gained consciousness I was in a hospital, where I got to know that I was 3 weeks pregnant. Hearing that I was the happiest woman but then I got to know that My fiance left me, apparently according to him, He can't be with someone who is used. My family from that day started taunting me, they would sometimes lock me in my room saying I'm an abomination to the family.
I was left without food for many days resulting in my health deterioration. I was admitted to the hospital and that day I lost my everything, my baby couldn't stand my stress, and my fasting also didn't help.

My family left me in the hospital to die, Fate wasn't that cruel to me because that day I met Paakhi again, she was visiting someone in the hospital.
When she saw me, she didn't ask anything but just hugged me. That hug was so comfortable and peaceful that I cried my eyes out.
I cried for the loss of my baby, I cried for the loss of my family and most importantly I cried because I lost myself.

For 2 years Paakhi and Aditi took care of me, they handled my moody self, my panic attacks, and my self-pity phase." She released a heavy sigh.

I'm shocked, I don't know what to do or say. I never realized she has endured so much. My admiration for her intensified.

"So Mr.Singh, this is my past, Past that I'm trying so hard to leave behind. But it sticks to me like glue." She confessed.

"So don't forget it, " I advised.
She looked at me confused.
"Don't forget that, because Your scars are your medals. I have never met somebody so strong, you, my love is the bravest woman I have ever met. I feel honored to call you my girlfriend. " I said kissing her forehead.

"Really? You are not ashamed of me? " she asked crying.

"No, My love," I said hugging her close to me.

I heard her sob in my arms, I just held her all the while thinking about that bastard. I want to know what happened to him? Who is this bastard? But I can't ask Maanya, she has told me a lot, and I know how difficult it was for her.

I pulled both of us towards the bed and curled her to me.

This day was the most Valiant day of my life, But Thankfully I got to know about Maanya's past, the thing that was keeping us apart.

__________________________________

A very long chapter, Sorry if it was boring but this was what Maanya was hiding from him.

But what triggered her attack? Is her fiance back?

Your thoughts on this one.

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