Two days passed by in a blur where I just ignored everyone and everything like a plague. I would attend all the classes and skip talking to Ranjith or to Nidhu. I would avoid talking or meeting bhayya too. I would just skip breakfast and make sure not to see or talk to him coz if he sees he will make me eat something. I know he keeps asking our maid about my whereabouts but I just ignored her as well. Even in the evening I would just keep myself locked saying I had dinner outside. I think bhayya is frustrated with me coz he was waiting for me yesterday in the hall and I sneaked to my room saying I need to pee to which he reluctantly agreed.

Patel uncle too kept calling me and I was in no mood to receive calls so I ignored him as well. He is dad's closest friend who I know from childhood and he is no less than a father figure to me. He is also related to us as his son is my brother-in-law. Alright let me say that Debina, my sister is married to his son. They live in USA and he rarely comes to visit his father. Debina and Sukhvinder were college friends and fell in love with each other. When dad said that it would be good to turn their friendship to relation Patel uncle happily accepted and married off both of them. Uncle sort of likes me more than Di coz she is not that close with him. He thinks I should have born early so he could have me for himself as a daughter but maybe god planned completely different.

I came out of my thoughts when my phone rang again and it was yet again uncle and I just sat in my car with my head on steering wheel. There was a knock on my window but I ignored it and sat not even looking up at the person who knocked. There was a knock again and I ignored again. All the emotional stress had been draining my energy which I am getting from juices and fruits. There was a knock again so I looked up to see the person I least expected. He gestured me towards the phone which was ringing so I picked up looking at him.

" Look now I have got you. So, don't even try to run away from me. I have my car so follow me. I need to talk to you. Now you will do as I say. Understood? " he said sternly and I just nodded in reply looking into his eyes which held so much power. He did get into his car and I followed him. I was getting anxious each passing second and I was not prepared to talk to him right now.

He parked his car in front of a diner and I did the same beside his. He got down and opened my car door and I was instantly got down and felt that I did a grave mistake my not picking up his calls. I stood there for some time and he looked at me with a broken expression. I can't stand him looking at me like that so I did something which surprised both him and me. I hugged him tightly and started crying. He rubbed my back saying soothing words to calm me down.

" Why are you crying now Naini? I am here and I am not at all mad for not picking my calls. Now stop crying beta please. It hurts to see you like this " uncle said and I could understand how much he loves me and how much he wanted me to be happy. And I love it when he calls me Naini whereas everyone calls me Naina. He says I am a daughter to him and always treated like one.

" I am sorry uncle. I didn't want to ignore you but I don't know.... " I couldn't finish what I was saying coz my sobs increased while he cupped my face and wiped my tears. I can see tears brimming in his eyes but he is a strong man.

" Shh.. no need to explain me anything now. Okay? You and I both know that how much I hate when you cry so stop crying and smile for me. Before it's too late we will go inside and have something while we can catch up everything " he said gesturing towards the diner and I nodded wiping my tears and we made our way inside.

Its really a cozy place and I fell in love with the interior as soon as I looked around. Uncle looked at me and smiled knowingly that I liked the place already. We sat at a two-person table and ordered some French fries and sandwiches.

" Now tell me how are you? And do you like the college you are going to? Made any friends? " he asked curiously and I replied him politely to everything. He is a person I don't feel any need to be self-conscious coz he knows me too well since I was a child. I started telling him everything about college, studies and everything possible animatedly while he heard keenly with a small smile.

" I don't know what it is but I can say that you are hiding something from me. If you think I am a trustable person you can say me whatever it is " he said after a while and my throat dried off and I felt a need of water which I drank gratefully. Working in IB is not easy but I can say that uncle is the one who works with pure dedication and love. He can tell what is going on in others head just by looking and this time I am the prey. He sure got a great experience by working in intelligence department but I didn't expect talking to him will make me dig a hole for myself to die.

" It's nothing old man. You are just becoming old and you are just imagining things " I said trying my best to sound normal but his next words made me freeze.

" I might be getting young lady but that doesn't mean I am losing my capability to understand others. And Debashish called and told me everything going on. Now don't you think I have come all the way here to solve the problem which is making your health worse? " he asked and I know the problem he was talking about. I am sure bhayya is pissed off but I didn't expect him to tell everything to uncle.

" There's nothing wrong about my health uncle. Bhayya is just trying to pull my ear " I replied and started munching my sandwich. I know uncle is not happy with my ignorance about my answer but I am seriously not intended to tell him anything.

" Naini even if your bhayya hadn't told me I can say that something is definitely wrong with you. Look how much weight you have lost and how pale and lifeless your eyes seem to be. I am not forcing you to tell me everything but I wanted you to take care of your health beta. Please if you don't take care of you how am I going to answer your dad about not looking after his daughter huh? " he questioned and tears slipped out of my eyes. He is right. I have to take care of myself and make dad proud. Even though the amount of stress on me is taking a toll on me, I should eat and keep myself healthy.

" I will take care of myself uncle. I was just busy and didn't think through anything. I am sorry " I said and looked at him who had a proud smile on his face. He patted my head affectionately and we finished eating whatever we ordered. I couldn't eat much but managed to eat major portion. I was happy that after long time I got time to talk to someone who is as close as dad. Uncle is very jovial person; he makes me laugh no matter what. He had come here just to make sure I am fine and that gave me so much happiness. He will always be busy with different works but he took time from his busy schedule to make me happy. I promised myself that I am going to take care of my health no matter what. We left diner and he hugged me one last time tightly and kissed my forehead. Tears escaped his eyes when he said he missed me and will miss me. I cried like a baby when he disappeared in his car.

That night too I didn't talk to bhayya fearing that he will be mad or upset with me. The next morning, I went to college and attended the classes as usual. Nidhu bought her own vehicle so she went on her own and I was left alone without a company. I decided I could buy something for bhayya coz tomorrow is his birthday and I could apologize and surprise him with a gift. With that thought I went to parking only to find Ranjith leaning on my car with his attention solely on his phone. I rolled my eyes and called him.

" Ranjith. Would you mind moving away so that I could actually get into my car " I said in a very bored tone.

" I was waiting for you. My bike is in repair and I thought of asking you to drop me? " he said. I stared at him for some time trying to decipher if he was joking or something but couldn't find any. I thought of playing for some time coz I don't think I wanted to agree with him immediately.

" And why should I? I think you have many friends over here then why me? " I asked raising my eyebrow and he shrugged.

" You are right I have many friends but I prefer going with you rather than all those people out there. Now can you give me a ride home? " he asked with puppy face and I couldn't say no to him. He may be an irritating person but he is quite genuine with his opinions and thoughts which I seemed to like these days.

" Alright I will drop you but I have to stop by a shop and it will take some time. Will that be fine with you? " I asked. He thought for some time and kept reminding himself something and said that he is fine with going with me. I nodded and he sat in passenger seat and I on the driver's seat.

" You do have a great car I must say. It's perfectly maintained as well " he said after inspecting everything and I just nodded. I was driving but he kept talking about the football match he watched last night and I just nodded occasionally not really interested in talking about football. He then started talking about bikes and his love for bikes and I was little tired with his continuous blabber.

I stopped the car in front of the shop where I thought I could buy a present and got down while he followed me. I asked the person to show me the latest designs of suits and he obliged. I know the perfect size for bhayya so I started looking different models and settled onto a dark blue one. I always wanted bhayya to wear a tux but he always denied saying he doesn't look good in them but now I will make him wear this and show how handsome he looks in it. I took it and paid the bill. I was really happy that I took a perfect gift for bhayya and I forgot that Ranjith was also with me who was following me everywhere.

I made my way to the coffee shop in the opposite lane and he followed me there. I ordered two coffees for which he smiled weakly and said I was really a caring person.

" By the way the tux is amazing. I hope the person who is going to wear it will look like a prince " he said and I couldn't stop smiling at the thought.

" I know my bhayya is a prince " I said while showing my tongue in a playful manner and he smiled. We both had our coffees and again sat in the car. I dropped him off at the address he told me to and he said me to get down. After getting down he showed me the floor where he lives and said I am always welcome. He made his way inside and I too got into the car. After sometime some other car abruptly stopped in front of mine and I put a brake suddenly to avoid myself from crashing the other car. I was breathing heavily with the amount of panic I faced in a mere second and took deep breaths. I got down the car to check if someone was in the car but I was pushed backwards by my elbow and a cloth was placed on my nose due to which I lost consciousness. I tried to fight back but I couldn't and darkness is what which welcomed me. As far as I know this place is deserted and only a few vehicles go through this lane. Out of all days I chose this day to go by this route so that I can plan surprise for bhayya but my plan failed.

I don't know how long I was knocked out of consciousness but when I moved, I could feel my wrists being tied up tightly with a chain, my legs too were not able to move and my mouth was stuffed with a cloth. I felt like my whole body is under a huge weight but I couldn't feel something being placed on me.

Where am I? Why do I feel so much pain? Then I remembered that I was being kidnapped.

" Oh I see the girl is finally coming back to her senses " someone said and it was a manly dangerous voice.