As I stepped out of the airport, the crisp Himachal air enveloped me, a refreshing change from the chaos of the city. My man was waiting for me, and we drove towards the hotel, the scenic beauty of the hills unfolding before my eyes.
After checking into my room, I took a moment to freshen up, feeling the fatigue of the journey melt away. I ordered dinner, and as I waited for it to arrive, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me.
Just as I was settling in, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Anant standing there, a file in his hand. "Sir, this is the file from yesterday's meeting," he said, his eyes sparkling with efficiency.
I took the file from him, my eyes scanning the contents. As I looked up, Anant spoke again, his tone laced with a hint of persuasion. "Sir, I was thinking, since we have a meeting tomorrow evening, why don't we take some time out to explore the city?"
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on my lips. "Don't you think you're thinking too much, Anant?" I teased, my voice laced with a hint of dry humor.
Anant's face fell, a hint of apology in his eyes. "Sorry, sir," he muttered, before turning to leave.
But I stopped him, a sudden impulse took over. "You have five minutes to get ready," I said, a hint of mischief in my voice.
Anant's face lit up like a kid who'd just been given his favorite chocolate. "Ok, sir!" he exclaimed, before scurrying off to get ready.
As I watched him go, I couldn't help but smile. Anant was more than just my assistant - he was my friend, my confidant, my partner in crime. And despite the fact that he insisted on treating me like his boss, I knew that deep down, he was the one who really ran the show.
As we set out on our long drive, the wind in our hair, the sun on our faces, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this little escape. People were right - sometimes, you just had to take a step back, breathe in the fresh air, and remind yourself of the beauty of the world around you.
As we cruised back to the hotel, the serene surroundings of the forest enveloped us, the only sound being the gentle hum of the engine. But suddenly, the car sputtered and came to a halt. The driver turned to me, a look of concern etched on his face.
"Sir, I think the car is damaged," he said, his voice tinged with an apology.
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on my lips. "Aree, I think you stopped the car in the middle of the forest for some romance," I teased, chuckling to myself.
The driver's face turned bright red, and he quickly looked away, trying to hide his smile. "Sorry, sir. I'll call someone for a second car," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
As we stood outside the car, waiting for the replacement vehicle to arrive, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The forest seemed to be growing darker by the minute, the shadows deepening into menacing silhouettes.
And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw them - a group of rough-looking men, their faces twisted into snarls, their eyes gleaming with malice.
Anant's voice was low and even, his eyes fixed intently on the approaching men. "It seems we'll have to fight," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
I grinned, feeling a surge of adrenaline course through my veins. "After how many days will I get to relive my college life?" I exclaimed, my eyes sparkling with excitement.
Anant chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And I have a black belt in karate," he added, his voice dripping with confidence.
The men closed in, their movements swift and menacing. We stood silently, waiting for their first attack. And then, in a flash of movement, the fight began.
Anant's karate skills were a blur of motion, his kicks and punches landing with precision and force. I fought alongside him, my own skills honed from years of college brawls.
Together, we took down the men, our movements a perfectly choreographed dance of fists and feet. The forest echoed with the sound of grunts and groans, the men crashing to the ground in a heap.
The last man fell, Anant and I stood panting, our chests heaving with exertion. We exchanged a look, our eyes sparkling with triumph.
(I have no knowledge of fighting so you guys can imagine
"Well, that was fun," I said, grinning at Anant.
He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Definitely one for the books," he agreed.
I stood victorious over the men I had just fought, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. But my triumph was short-lived, as I soon realized that I had underestimated the situation.
Before I could even react, a group of men emerged from the shadows, their guns drawn and their eyes fixed menacingly on me. One of them stood near Anant, who was still standing by the car, a look of concern etched on his face.
I tried to speak, but the man's words cut me off. "If you want him alive, then silently sit in the jeep," he growled, his voice dripping with malice.
I was about to ask who they were and what they wanted, but before I could even get the words out, the man fired his gun, hitting Anant in the leg. I felt a surge of adrenaline and fear as I watched my friend crumple to the ground.
"ANANT!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the forest.
The man turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger. "You didn't understand me at once? I said I don't have time. I said quietly sit in the car," he spat, his voice rising in fury.
I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine as I realized the gravity of the situation. I was at their mercy, and I had to do what they said if I wanted to keep Anant safe.
"Ok, ok, I'm sitting," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.
The men quickly moved to make Anant sit in the car with me, and then they covered our eyes with a bandage. I was plunged into darkness, unable to see what was happening around me.
My mind was racing with questions. Who were these men? What did they want from me? Why were they doing this?
But one thing was clear: I had to do what they said, no matter what. I had to keep Anant safe, and I had to find a way to get us out of this situation alive.
As the car started moving, I felt a sense of fear and uncertainty wash over me. I was trapped, and I had no idea what lay ahead. But I knew one thing: I would do whatever it took to protect Anant and get us out of this alive.
As the car came to a halt, I was dragged out of the vehicle, along with Anant, who was still writhing in pain from the gunshot wound in his leg. We were taken to a dimly lit room, where we were forced to sit on chairs. The men who had abducted us seemed to be enjoying our misery, their faces twisted into cruel grins.
Just as I was trying to make sense of our situation, a man entered the room, dressed in a lavish outfit, complete with a gold watch and a diamond-encrusted ring. He looked like he had just stepped out of a wedding reception.
"Ah, so who among you has not married anyone?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.
Anant, still seething with pain and anger, shouted back at him. "What the hell, we're here to ask you that! Who are you, anyway?"
The man's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with malice. "Talk to me in a low voice, or else he'll get a bullet in his head," he snarled, nodding towards Anant.
I placed a restraining hand on Anant's arm, signaling him to keep quiet. "What do you want?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
The man smiled again, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That's the point. Tell me, which of you has not married?"
I hesitated for a moment before answering. "Me."
The man's eyes lit up with excitement. "Means you're unmarried, right?"
Anant nodded, still looking confused.
The man's next question sent a surge of anger through me. "Are you having a child, or is your wife pregnant?"
I felt my anger boiling over, but I knew I had to keep my cool. "What business is it of yours?" Anant asked, his voice laced with confusion.
The man's expression turned ugly, his eyes glinting with malice. "I'll ask the questions, and you'll just answer them," he snarled, applying pressure to Anant's wound.
Anant screamed in pain, and I knew I had to think fast. "Yes, his wife is pregnant," I lied, trying to protect Anant.
The man's face lit up with excitement. "So, my soon-to-be son-in-law, you'll be walking down the aisle soon, won't you?"
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. What was going on? Why was this man talking about me getting married?
Anant's voice was laced with confusion and anger. "WHAT? Why should he go to the mandap, and how is he your son-in-law?"
I knew I had to think fast, to come up with a plan to get us out of this situation. But for now, I was trapped, forced to play along with this man's twisted game.
I stood frozen, my mind reeling with the implications of the man's words. "See, if he doesn't get married, then your wife will be a widow, and your unborn child will be an orphan. Don't you like this? Then ask your friend to get married," he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice.
Anant's voice was laced with defiance. "Never, I never said to him to get married."
The man's expression turned ugly, and he pointed his gun at Anant's head. "Open the trigger and shut," he snarled, his finger tightening on the trigger.
My heart racing, I knew I had to act fast. "I AM READY," I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.
The man's face lit up with a twisted smile. "That's called a true friend," he said, pulling the gun away from Anant's head.
Anant's eyes were wide with panic. "No, Dhruv, no, you don't have to do this. These people can't do anything," he pleaded with me.
But I knew I had no choice. I remembered the promise I had made to my father, to keep Anant safe without security. "Anant, if you forget, I remember. I promised Dad that we would be safe without security. So I have to do this, and no more arguments," I said firmly, trying to keep my emotions in check.
Anant fell silent, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. The man handed me a package. "Come on, now the decision has been made, so get ready," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
He walked away, Anant spoke up, his voice laced with anger. "Why are you doing this? Your daughter will never get happiness."
I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that I was about to ruin the life of an innocent girl. The man turned back, a cruel smile on his face. "The first thing is that she is not my daughter. The second thing is that I'm not concerned with her happiness. What I care about is that she is going to get married."
He walked away, I was left standing there, feeling helpless and trapped. I knew I had to go through with this, but a part of me was screaming in protest. I thought about the girl, about how my actions would affect her life. I knew I was about to make her life hell, just like mine was about to become.
I sat on the mandap, my mind racing with thoughts of rebellion and escape, I couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over me. The two men who had brought me here stood guard, their eyes fixed on me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
The air was thick with the scent of incense and the sound of chanting, but I felt no sense of spirituality or connection to the ritual. This was no sacred union, but a cold, calculated transaction.
The mastermind behind my predicament appeared, a sly smile spreading across his face as he led a young girl to the mandap. Her face was hidden beneath a veil, but her slender frame and delicate features told me that she was younger than me. Why was she being forced into this marriage?
she took her place beside me, the priest began to chant, his voice rising and falling in a hypnotic rhythm. But I felt no sense of calm or tranquility. This was a farce, a sham, a deal struck between two parties with no regard for the well-being of the two people involved.
I glanced at the girl beside me, wondering what her story was, what had brought her to this place. Was she a pawn in her family's game of power and prestige, or was she a willing participant in this charade?
As the ceremony progressed, I felt a sense of detachment wash over me. This was not my marriage, not my choice. I was a mere spectator, a player in a game I had not chosen to play.
The priest's words were a distant hum, a meaningless drone that seemed to go on forever. I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, a never-ending cycle of despair and desperation.
And yet, I knew I had to go through with this. I had to play the part, to pretend that I was a willing participant in this farce. For Anant's sake, for his safety and well-being, I had to see this through to the bitter end.
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