"Bhavya, it has been a day since I told you about Sahil. Couldn't you find anything yet?" Gauri asked in tension.

"I am trying Bhabhi, we are not able to pin-point the exact location and if we go for an official search, the kidnappers might panic and harm him," Bhavya explained.

"What do they want? None of them even called for ransom."

"That is what I don't understand. No threat calls, no call for ransom. I am sure that he is kidnapped but we don't know the motive. How is Anika bhabhi?"

"Hell worried. She had a fight with Bade bhaiyya regarding the same."

"I think we have to tell them before the fight turns big. We also must inform them of Karan. Since he has been given a separate assignment, he is no longer coming to the office."

"Why isn't he coming? Did he leave already?"

"We are given three- or four-days relaxation leave before we go for the next task. In that time, we are to study the file of that case and prepare for departure," she informed.

"But do have to tell them of Karan too? Bhavya, why don't you call him once and ask help?"

"No Bhabhi, I am not ready to trust him yet. In fact, I even doubt that he is behind all this."

"What?"

"They wanted to know something about Kalyani mills Bhabhi. They might want to have some leverage to get that information."

"You are forgetting that no one called yet."

"That is the very reason I am suspecting Karan. He knows, what the weak point is, he knows when to pull the trigger and so he will wait for the right moment to put down his deal."

"Bhavya I think..."

"He used the same technique with you Bhabhi. He planned to take you out and informed the commissioner of his absence from duty. You went with him and he stayed quiet until the time he was far away from the mansion, until at least he had a good head start from the place."

"Then he threatened me, saying he will kidnap you if I won't let him talk to you. He knew I was helpless as by the time I could send the force, you will be far from reach. Hell, he even informed Omkara bhaiyya just before he switched off your phone so that he won't panic and become cautious," Bhavya explained her theory.

Gauri watched in helplessness not having any counter argument. She knew Karan was capable of such a thing when he was working with Svetlana but her heart still trusted him that he wouldn't do something so immoral.

How could she convince people with her emotion when they had logic to combat with her?

"We have to tell Shivaay bhaiyya at least. I will come in the evening. Until then I will put in all my attempts to get to Sahil," Bhavya assured and Gauri could only manage to mumble an okay.

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

"But dad, Svetlana wouldn't have come just to talk to Omkara. She came with a motive and once it was done, she left the mansion on her own. We are missing something here," Shivaay argued with his parent.

Shakti and Tej exchanged looks. They knew the man was right but they too had no idea what to think about the whole thing.

"Are you sure you are not hiding anything Mr. Oberoi?" Omkara asked his father.

"Right, we didn't know anything about this until bhaiyya asked you directly. You even lied to him that you don't remember your employee's name," Rudra questioned.

The Oberoi men had been discussing the developments of the problem they were dealing with. Shivaay who had been on the case since he knew of the story wanted to ask the elders if they omitted any detail from their last conversation.

"Why do you sound like you suspect me of doing something? That is the very reason we did not tell this to you Om," Tej replied in anger.

"I told Shivaay the truth because he is the only one I could trust to protect our family name. I did not with hold any information," he further clarified.

"I know you were telling the truth bade papa. I cross checked the facts with the department. But think again if you are missing anything. Any minute detail might help," Shivaay tried to placate the angry elder one.

"Did any of the survivors of the accident tried to contact you again? Anyone who threatened you or anyone who asked for your help?"

"There weren't any warning calls but there were many who called to ask financial help. We ourselves were not good at that time so we could only help a few of them," Shakti informed.

"Please go through this list of names and let me know if anybody got in touch with you," said Shivaay.

Tej took the list and went through the names while Shakti asked his son, "Did you get anything on Sahil?"

Shivaay sighed and shook his head in a no.

"Anika is scared dad and I am not able to find a thing. I think I should have acted sooner when she told me he did not lift her calls. I was so engrossed in things that..."

"Don't blame yourself Shivaay, we will find something soon," Omkara tried to comfort his brother.

"What happened in the meeting with the commissioner bhaiyya?"

"He asked me to give the list of suspects and I gave him that. Now if anyone in that survivors list seem dubious, I will inform him to put them under radar as well," Shivaay answered Rudra.

Tej ticked a few names and passed on the list to Shakti who then began to study it.

"I already see ten names marked in the list Shivaay. How will they track everyone?" Omkara asked.

"Not everyone from the list is from Mumbai. Maybe we can shortlist them further based on location," said Shivaay.

"We still did not get any call right?"

"No, had we got a call, we would have known the motive. Without any clue, it feels like we are searching for a pin in a haystack."

The discussion was interrupted when they heard a knock on the door of the study.

Rudra offered to open the door and went to do the same.

"Chulbul Bhabhi aap?" he asked when he saw Gauri at the entrance of the study.

"Is bade bhaiyya and Omkaraji inside?" Gauri asked.

Her brother-in-law nodded his head and shifted his gaze to Bhavya who stood beside her.

"What happened?" he questioned, sensing trouble.

"We have something to tell," she replied and he frowned in confusion.

However, he moved back and let them, in all the time wondering what more could have gone wrong.

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

By the time Gauri was done with the revelation, the elders stood rooted to their places with shock and the younger ones seethed at the betrayal.

"You suspected him and still went out with him. You almost got kidnapped Gauri and you tell that to me now?" Omkara asked his wife.

Gauri noted the anger in his tone and tried to explain.

"Omkara ji, I only had a small doubt and nothing else. I just wanted to help Bhavya get the details before I inform any one of you."

"I thought you were smarter than this Bhavya. You listened to her?" he directed his question to Bhavya.

"I misjudged him Bhaiyya and I am sorry for that."

"Sorry won't solve things Bhavya," Shivaay scolded and the former grew silent accepting her mistake.

"We wasted two days. Do you understand that?"

"I put my entire team on it bhaiyya, that is unofficial and you already asked commissioner sir for help. That means two teams are working separately on tracking people whom you doubt. Be assured that we did not waste time," Bhavya said in her defence.

"But we didn't get anything useful. Did we?" Rudra taunted.

"Isn't it obvious?" Omkara said. "We are looking for the wrong people here. Karan's phone is not tapped and we did not monitor his activities. Thanks to you."

Gauri looked at her husband in eerie silence. He was talking to Bhavya but she knew he held her more responsible. If she talked anything in Karan's favour, she was sure he would not spare her.

"To put Karan's phone tracked, I asked for Commissioner's permission but he did not allow it, asking for proof. Karan had always been in his good books," Bhavya explained.

"Tell him I want to lodge an official complaint," Shivaay said.

Bhavya looked at Gauri for a fleeting second before she put forth her actual concern.

"There will be an official enquiry and he might get suspended bhaiyya," she explained and heard Gauri softly gasp.

"It will not good look on his work front. His career..." she continued but was cut off.

"Well, I don't care for the person who dares to kidnap my sister acting to be like my friend," Shivaay shouted, making the girls jump out of their skin.

No matter how much she tried to keep mum, Gauri couldn't hold it in her. Not when someone's entire career is at stake.

"Bade bhaiyya, he did not harm me. We do not know if he is involved. We could just ask him and then..."

"Seriously Gauri, how can you still trust him? Do not even think of talking to him again," Omkara growled.

"Karan ji did it for his father. He is not a criminal to be treated like this. He just wanted answers Omkara ji," she defended.

Omkara's jaw clenched. He was about to open his mouth intending to argue when his brother stopped him.

"Enough of this discussion," he said turning to the police officer.

"Bhavya I will talk to the commissioner. You get things done on your end. Svetlana is on the radar, right?"

"Yeah. We have put two of her numbers traced. There were no suspicious calls till now."

"Please tell me if you find anything with Karan," he said and she nodded.

"Bade bhaiyya,..."

"Omkara is right Gauri, you should not trust that man. I left Anika alone and she must be worried," said Shivaay, indirectly asking her to leave the place.

His tone was soft but Gauri knew he wouldn't budge even if she tried.

Without another word, she turned around and left the place with Bhavya following her. ************************************************************************

"You knew this would happen," Gauri stated once she was out of the study.

"I am sorry Bhabhi but it is important that we trace his phone," Bhavya said as she followed Gauri to the stairs.

The former stopped and turned to face the other.

"He had me with him, right in his hands. If he wanted leverage, wouldn't he kidnap me instead of Sahil?" she asked in anger.

"Why would he explain things to me, leave me with you and then go kidnap Sahil?"

"Because he knew we did not have any solid proof against him. He wanted to gain your trust again and when we were unprepared, he caught hold of Sahil."

"It still feels like a baseless hypothesis than a well proved theorem."

"You are too innocent and that is why is has tried to manipulate you Bhabhi. In my career, I have seen many like him. Cut throats are always sweet before they use their weapon."

"Bhavya, I might not be as educated or as experienced with criminals, but I can feel people's emotions. Karan ji is not a cut-throat. He was passionate about his job and you put his entire career on the line because of your baseless assumptions," she said, before leaving her and marching up the stairs.

Before guilt could hamper her thoughts, Bhavya warded off the feeling and walked away to get back to work.

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

"Siddharth Shukla, yes. I want all information of his past and present. Please make it available as soon as possible," Shivaay instructed his private investigator.

"Are you sure you don't know him Chote papa? You ticked his name in the list," Omkara asked.

"He was an employee who worked in the production department. I know nothing else Om."

"Mr. Oberoi, aap.."

"I did not send those goons if that is what you wanted to ask. He cooked up some story after he got caught. I did not do any wrong and I don't need to silence people," Tej clarified.

"At least his story clears why Svetlana came to us. She wanted a pen drive which she hid in the idol last year. Karan retrieved it and gave it back to her," Rudra deduced and they nodded in agreement.

"What information was she privy to when she worked for you?" he asked.

Tej hesitated for a moment before he answered his younger son.

"She was my secretary. So, she kept my schedules updated, took care of the security arrangements."

"Did you trust her with the inside information Bade papa? Did you give her the encrypted files passcode?"

Tej nodded his head and his sons groaned in irritation.

"Great, so she practically has unlimited data."

"It was a mistake and a one-time one. I was drunk and she took advantage. I enquired for any security breach but the IT department was sure that the files were not touched. I changed the passcode the very next day," Tej said and Shivaay breathed in relief.

"I am a businessman first Shivaay. I wouldn't let the company's secrets out even for a woman I..."

"Well, thank you so much for the information Mr. Oberoi," Omkara said not wanting his father to complete the sentence.

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

"It is late Gauri, go to your room. Damaad ji must be waiting," Sharada said, looking at her daughter sitting beside her and studying a book.

"I feel like sleeping here maa," she heard her say avoiding her eyes.

"Did you both fight?"

Gauri closed her eyes in irritation before she spoke again.

"Maa, is it an offence for a married woman to sleep with her mother?"

"I just asked Gauri. You could have just said a simple no."

"You are asking questions for no reason."

Sharada sighed before shaking her head and lying down on her side of bed.

"I am sorry maa," she heard a mumble and turned to her daughter's side still lying on the bed.

"If you fought with him, you don't need to prolong it by wantedly creating distance."

"I don't want to argue with him. If I go, that is what is going to happen."

"If you avoid him, do you think he won't get angrier? Men have egos the size of their heads," she said and her daughter stared at her.

"Go and sleep there. You need not talk when you haven't calmed down. Make him understand that part," she said and her daughter got up from her place.

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

Omkara removed his spectacles and gently rubbed his tired eyes when he heard the door of the bedroom open. He looked at his wife who silently walked in, locked the door, and went towards the bed, not sparing him a look.

He was still angry that she was stupid enough to go out with a potential culprit but what pinched him more was her trust in the guy after he pulled a stunt.

How could she support him and fight with him?

She was angry with him and he knew that was the reason why she avoided him and clung to her mother till night.

Couldn't she understand that he was concerned for her?

Talking on the subject when none of them understood the other person was disastrous and he did not want that to happen. Deciding to remain silent, he stood up to walk to the washroom as he saw her settle on the bed.

A while later, Gauri felt the other side of blanket being lifted and the bed dipping with weight. She did not object when her husband's hand sneaked around her nor did she stop herself from turning around and embracing him to breathe in his musky scent.

The couple made themselves comfortable and slept like that, cuddling to each other with no words exchanged.

The only difference was that unlike the previous nights, she did not kiss his cheek with love and he did not murmur a good night against her lips.

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

That's it for today.

Let me know what you think of Gauri... Is she correct in fighting for Karan?

Also, on Omkara... how many of you think his anger is unwarranted?

Vote and comment.

Until the next update,.. signing off.. yours Soujanya.