Chapter 29

Shehnaaz felt her heart drop as Shikhar’s mocking words hit her like a storm. His cruel imitation of Sidharth’s desperate determination to find her tore at her soul, each word dripping with venom. “Keh raha tha…mujhe Shehnaaz chahiye abhi isi waqt… chahe iske liye mujhe puri duniya talash karni pade… Sidharth Shukla apni Shehnaaz ko dhund ke hi rahega… kyunki usse mujse koi door nahi rakh sakta…”

The sound of Sidharth’s name, even in Shikhar’s taunting voice, pierced her heart. Shehnaaz could almost see Sidharth, his face etched with worry and fear, scouring every corner of the earth to find her. The thought of him, frantic and lost without her, brought fresh tears to her eyes. *He will be in hell without me,* she thought, her chest tightening with sorrow. *Kitna taklif me honge mere bina…* Tears rolled down her cheeks, unbidden, the pain of imagining Sidharth’s suffering too much to bear.

Shikhar noticed the tears and laughed, a cruel, joyless sound that made Shehnaaz’s skin crawl. His laughter echoed in the cold, empty space, making her feel even more trapped and helpless. But as the laughter rang out, Shehnaaz’s sorrow slowly turned into anger. She opened her eyes and glared at him, a fiery resolve replacing the fear that had gripped her heart.

“Bewkoof hai… bilkul bewkoof,” Shikhar sneered, his words dripping with contempt. But Shehnaaz wasn’t about to let him have the last word. She began to struggle against the ropes binding her, each movement fueled by her desperation to break free. The rough rope bit into her skin, causing sharp pain, but she didn’t care. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

Seeing her fight back only angered Shikhar more. His face twisted with fury as he leaned in close, his breath hot against her skin. “Jaisa ke usne kaha… ab wo puri duniya me tumhe talash karega… par…”

Shehnaaz froze, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for him to continue. There was something terrifying in the way he said “par,” something that sent a chill down her spine.

Shikhar’s next words were like a punch to the gut, stealing the breath from her lungs. “Par… woh hotel ke andar firse nahi talash karega…”

The world seemed to stop for Shehnaaz in that moment. His words, their meaning sinking in, filled her with a dread so deep it was suffocating. He had trapped her in a place where even Sidharth, with all his determination, wouldn’t think to look.

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Sidharth was pacing around restlessly, his heart pounding with an urgency that he couldn’t shake. Every fiber of his being was tuned to one thought: *Shehnaaz.* He could feel her, almost as if she were right there, somewhere close, calling out to him for help. His instincts screamed that she was near, maybe even still within the hotel. But no matter how hard he tried to focus, the sense of helplessness gnawed at him, tearing at his resolve.

Aadi gently touched his elbow, trying to get his attention. “Are you alright, sir?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

Sidharth opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His heart felt like it was slowly being crushed under the weight of his worry. He could almost hear Shehnaaz’s voice, her desperate plea echoing in his mind. *She’s in pain,* he thought, his chest tightening with the unbearable burden of imagining her suffering. His throat constricted as tears welled up in his eyes, making him feel like a child again—small, lost, and in desperate need of comfort.

In his mind, he could hear his mother’s soothing voice, her arms wrapped around him in a warm, loving embrace. “Kuch nahi hoga usse, Sid… aise himmat nahi harate… strong Sid hai tu mera… dhund apni Shehnaz ko…” Her words were a lifeline, pulling him back from the edge of despair.

“Maa…” Sidharth’s voice cracked, his pain evident in every syllable. “What she must be going through…? Where is she, Maa? Usse kaho na mere paas vapas aa jaye… nahi reh sakte uske bina Maa… nahi reh sakta…” His voice broke as he poured out his heart, the desperation and fear overwhelming him.

Rita ji, seeing her son in such agony, gently cupped his face, trying to calm him down. Her touch was soft, reassuring, but even she struggled to see her usually strong and composed son so shattered. Anu, standing nearby, was taken aback by this emotional side of her brother. She had never seen him like this before, so raw and vulnerable. But beneath the shock, she felt a deep sense of happiness. It was Shehnaaz who had brought out this side of him, and she knew that her brother had found someone truly special. Shehnaaz was everything he needed, and Anu was genuinely happy for them.

Vicky, too, was moved by the scene unfolding before him. A single tear escaped his eye as he watched Sidharth, the brother he had always seen as invincible, now laid bare by love and fear. Who would have believed that this was the same Sidharth Shukla—the man who was always so strong, so unyielding? His gaze drifted to Tara, who was standing nearby, visibly uncomfortable with the raw display of emotion in front of the guests. Vicky shook his head slightly, knowing that she didn’t understand what was happening, nor the depth of the bond between Sidharth and Shehnaaz.

Sidharth, taking a deep, steadying breath, tried to gather himself. The weight of his emotions pressed down on him, but he forced himself to push it aside. He had to find her; there was no other option. As he opened his eyes again, the softness and vulnerability were gone, replaced by the fiery determination that was so characteristic of him. The guests and family members who had been watching him took a step back, recognizing the change in him. The furious, unstoppable Sidharth Shukla was back, and nothing was going to stand in his way.

Without wasting another moment, Sidharth quickly inserted the battery into Shehnaaz’s phone, his hands trembling slightly with urgency. As he pressed the power button, the phone’s screen lit up, but the process of it switching on felt agonizingly slow. Each second that ticked by stretched into an eternity, his heart pounding louder with every moment of waiting. His thoughts were a whirl of worry, fear, and determination, the silence in the room only amplifying his anxiety.

Just as the phone was about to come to life, the hotel owner, Mr. Batra, arrived, his face pale with fear. He stood in front of Sidharth, visibly shaken. “I am extremely sorry, sir,” he stammered, his voice quivering with dread. “We have no idea what happened… both the security in charges are missing since evening…”

Sidharth’s gaze hardened as he glared at the man, his frustration and anger barely contained. “All the CCTV cameras in your hotel were affected at once, and you didn’t bother to inform the Gill family?” His voice was icy, each word cutting through the air like a blade. “You guys practically played with the security of your guests. Why was this not taken seriously? Why wasn’t the police involved? Trust me, Batra, this hotel is gone…”

Mr. Batra’s face drained of color, his attempts to explain himself dissolving into incoherent murmurs. But Sidharth had no time for his excuses. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he turned his attention back to the phone, which had finally switched on. The tension in his body remained, but his focus was laser-sharp as he stared at the screen, hoping for any clue that would lead him to Shehnaaz.

The first thing he noticed was that the phone was locked. Frustration bubbled up again, but before he could voice his concern, Mahi came running to him, her face streaked with tears. “Aap di ko kuch nahi hone doge na…” she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear and sadness.

Sidharth’s heart softened at the sight of her tearful eyes, the vulnerability in her voice tugging at him. He gently patted her head, trying to offer some comfort amidst the chaos. “Yes… I promise,” he assured her, his tone firm but filled with a quiet determination that he hoped would ease her fears.

With Mahi’s help, he quickly unlocked the phone, his fingers moving with urgency as he navigated through the device. He immediately went to the call history, scanning the list of contacts and recent calls, searching for anything out of the ordinary. But to his growing frustration, there was nothing unusual—no suspicious calls, no unknown numbers. A low groan of frustration escaped him, but he didn’t allow himself to dwell on it.

He moved on to the messages, hoping against hope that there might be something there, some clue that would lead him to her.

Sidharth’s heart shook violently as he saw the familiar thread of messages between him and Shehnaaz. They had been chatting casually before she left for that damn guest room. Each word now felt like a cruel reminder of his failure. He hated himself in that moment, the weight of regret pressing down on him like a physical force. *Why didn’t I protect her better?* The thought tormented him, gnawing at his conscience.

He shouldn’t have let her go alone. The guilt twisted inside him like a knife. If he had been there, right by her side, none of this would have happened. She would have been safe, wrapped in his arms, shielded from any harm. The image of her in danger because of his carelessness was too much to bear.

His strong, capable fingers almost trembled as he scrolled down through the messages, each swipe of the screen filled with a mix of dread and determination. He scanned the list until his eyes caught a name that made his heart skip a beat: *Uttara.* Without a second thought, he opened the text, his breath catching as he read through the conversation.

His eyes widened in shock at what he saw. *Uttara?* She was Leher’s sister and one of Shehnaaz’s closest friends. If Uttara had called Shehnaaz to the guest room, why hadn’t she mentioned anything during the interrogation? Why had she stayed silent? The realization hit him like a cold wave, and confusion mixed with a boiling anger surged through him.

*Something isn’t right,* he thought, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle. The situation reeked of something more sinister, and his instincts screamed that there was more to the story. He had no time to lose. His eyes, now sharp with a renewed sense of purpose, narrowed as he knew what he had to do next.

“Aadi… come here,” Sidharth called out, his voice firm, almost commanding.

Aadi, sensing the urgency and the tension radiating from Sidharth, immediately dashed towards him. As he approached, he caught the determined look in his boss’s eyes, a look that made him swallow hard in fear. He knew whatever was coming next was going to be intense, and he braced himself for what Sidharth would say.

Shehnaaz stared at Shikhar in horror, her mind reeling as she tried to comprehend his twisted plan. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks—he had kidnapped her. He had taken her from the safety of her world and hidden her away in this cold, dark hotel storeroom while everyone else would be frantically searching for her outside. But the biggest question that plagued her mind was, *Why?* Why would Shikhar, her friend, do something so terrible to her? What had she ever done to deserve this?

Fear gripped her heart, and tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably, as if they would never stop. She shrank back in terror when he moved closer, his presence suffocating. He knelt down in front of her, and she felt a wave of disgust wash over her as he rested his head in her lap, a gesture that felt wrong on every level.

*No, this isn’t right,* her mind screamed. She didn’t like it—not one bit. Only Sidharth had the right to rest his head on her lap, to be this close to her. The thought of anyone else doing so made her feel sick. Her tears flowed even more freely, a mix of fear, disgust, and overwhelming sadness.

Shikhar looked up at her with a pained expression, his voice laced with confusion and hurt. “Tum kyu ro rahi ho… haan, Shehnaaz? Maine kuchh galat kiya? Tum pehle toh aisi nahi thi… fir ab kyun? Haan bolo na… tum aise bahut buri ho… you can’t change like this… I don’t like it…” He complained like a child, his words tinged with a desperation that made her flinch away when he tried to touch her face.

Shehnaaz couldn’t make sense of what he was saying. He was speaking as if he had known her for years, as if their relationship had been something deeper than it ever was. *What is wrong with him?* she thought, her mind racing. And then, an image of Sidharth flashed before her eyes, his protective and loving gaze. She knew Sidharth would never tolerate someone else touching her like this. She knew what he would do to Shikhar if he found out. The thought both comforted and terrified her—Sidharth would unleash his fury, and Shikhar had unknowingly awakened the beast within him.

Suddenly, the shrill ring of Shikhar’s phone cut through the tension, snapping both of them out of their respective thoughts. Shikhar’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Shehnaaz, his voice turning dangerous as he issued a chilling command, “You, my dear, are going to keep quiet if you don’t want me to get into my bad mood.”

Her heart pounded as he walked a few steps away to take the call, his presence still looming over her like a dark shadow. She tried to control her breathing, to steady her nerves, but the fear still gripped her tightly. She could hear him answer the phone, his voice taking on a tone that made her blood run cold.

“Haan, Uttara bolo…” he said, his voice low and controlled, but with an edge that made Shehnaaz’s stomach churn.

Shikhar tried to sound worried, “No, Uttara… I checked everywhere, but there’s no Shehnaaz.”

Shehnaaz’s heart leaped at the sound of Uttara’s voice. Desperation surged through her as she attempted to make noise, her muffled cries straining against the gag in her mouth. She needed Uttara to hear her, to know that she was trapped here.

Uttara’s voice carried confusion. “Ye awaz kaisi hai, Shikhar?” she asked, clearly sensing something was wrong.

Shikhar cleared his throat, moving further away from Shehnaaz to muffle any sounds she was making. “Kuchh bhi toh nahi… there’s just some work going on here, that’s all. I’ll call you later and let you know what I find. Okay, bye.” He quickly ended the call before Uttara could ask any more questions.

As soon as the call ended, Shikhar’s expression changed. Anger flashed across his face as he turned back towards Shehnaaz. He approached her with an intimidating fury, causing her to shrink back in fear. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt utterly helpless.

Shikhar let out a loud, frustrated groan. His anger took over, and he acted out, delivering a forceful blow to Shehnaaz’s cheek. The impact sent a jolt of pain through her, and she let out a muffled cry.

Pain radiated from her cheek, a sharp sting that left her disoriented. The taste of blood mingled with her tears as she struggled to regain her composure. She felt a deep sense of fear and humiliation, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. Her breath became erratic, each inhale a struggle as panic took hold of her. She felt like she was drowning in her fear, overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation.

Sidharth… Her heart cried out for him, aching with the thought of his anguish. She knew deep down that her Sidharth would never be able to bear seeing her in such pain. He would sooner die than let her suffer at the hands of anyone else.

Shikhar’s frustration was palpable as he glared at Shehnaaz. Her cheek was swollen and red from his harsh slap, and the cloth covering her was stained with her blood. The brutality of his actions was evident, and Shehnaaz’s pain was raw and visible.

Bending down, Shikhar reached for her cheek, but she recoiled in fear, her body trembling. His grasp on her hair was merciless, and Shehnaaz cried out, her pain echoing through the room. “Kyu humesha mujhe majboor karti ho… Me tumhe dard me nahi dekh sakta… Par tum humesha kuchh na kuchh aisa karti ho ke mujhe gussa aa jata hai… Tum mujhse pyar karti bhi ho ya nahi…?” His voice was a mix of anger and desperation.

yes she loved him.. he was sure.. she loved him when she had seen him for the first time on that beach.. she had felt his pain when he was in tears.. she had promised him he will get his love.. but then now why she was acting so weired…

Shehnaaz’s tears flowed uncontrollably as she felt the revulsion of his touch. His words cut through her, and she struggled to comprehend them.

The hatred in her eyes was unmistakable, and it was directed entirely at Shikhar. How dare he claim that she loved him? The thought was abhorrent to her. She loved Sidharth—her heart, her soul, her very being belonged to Sidharth.

Shikhar’s eyes widened as he saw the pain and disgust in her gaze. The realization of his actions hit him hard. He knew he shouldn’t have slapped her so violently, and the sight of her bruised, tear-streaked face filled him with a deep sense of regret. He felt miserable and guilty as he saw the consequences of his rage. Lowering his head, he held his ears in a gesture of contrition. “I didn’t mean to hurt you… Gusse me ho gaya… Maaf kar do…”

Shehnaaz’s confusion grew with each passing moment. One minute, Shikhar was filled with anger, and the next, he was offering an apology that she couldn’t quite grasp. The rapid shift in his demeanor left her more bewildered than comforted.

Suddenly, Shikhar’s expression changed. A smile spread across his face, an unsettling contrast to the gravity of the situation. “Hum na yaha rahenge hi nahi… Shadi ke baad London me shift ho jayenge…”

The mention of “shadi” left Shehnaaz flabbergasted. Her mind struggled to process the audacity of Shikhar’s words. Shadi? she thought in disbelief. What world is he living in?

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“Whattt…??” The word slipped out of Uttara’s mouth, her face a mask of shock and confusion as she stared at Sidharth. The surprise was etched clearly in her eyes, making it obvious that she was struggling to understand the gravity of the situation.

The tension in the room was palpable. Sidharth had just discovered that it was Uttara who had instructed Shehnaaz to go to the guest room, and the urgency of the situation had spurred him into action. Immediately, he had instructed Aadi to assemble a team of experts and gather all necessary equipment. The hotel was now a whirlwind of activity, with staff rushing to and fro, trying to comply with the sudden demands.

Rajender ji, though completely in the dark about Sidharth’s plans, trusted him implicitly with his daughter’s safety. His faith in Sidharth was unwavering, and he was more concerned with Shehnaaz’s well-being than with public opinion. The distress of the situation overshadowed any thoughts about appearances.

Meanwhile, Sidharth had also requested Mr. Dixit to retrieve the call history for Uttara’s number for the current month. Armed with this evidence, Sidharth confronted Uttara in front of everyone, determined to get to the bottom of her actions. His voice carried a note of accusation as he addressed her. “Uttara, why did you call Shehnaaz to the guest room? And why didn’t you inform anyone about it?”

Uttara’s response was one of genuine confusion and defensiveness. She had no idea what Sidharth was referring to, and the public questioning only heightened her sense of indignation. “Mr. Shukla, ye aap kya keh rahe hain? Mene Shehnaaz ko kab bulaya upstairs? Main toh khud wahan stage par thi guests ko welcome karne ke liye…”

Her father, Leher, was visibly upset at the way his daughter was being questioned. He stepped forward, his tone firm and protective. “Mr. Shukla, aap humari beti par aise kaise ilzaam laga sakte hain?”

Jasbeera ji let out a weary sigh, her voice carrying a mix of concern and resignation. “Sidharth bete, wo sahi keh rahi hai. Wo humare sath stage par thi. Jarur aapko koi galat fehmi ho gayi hai…”

Sidharth was about to voice his frustration to Leher’s father when Jasbeera ji’s calm presence softened his demeanor. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. “Maa, main Uttara par koi ilzaam nahi laga raha hoon. Dekhiye yeh…”

He held up Shehnaaz’s phone, displaying the text message from Uttara. The room fell into stunned silence. Shocked gasps echoed through the crowd as everyone, including Uttara, stared at the screen. Uttara’s confusion was evident—her mind raced to piece together how her message had ended up in Shehnaaz’s inbox. She was certain she hadn’t sent any such message.

Uttara’s voice was desperate as she spoke, her words spilling out in a rush. “Believe me, everyone, please… Mene Shehnaaz ko koi message nahi bheja tha. Main khud stage par thi, toh main Shehnaaz ko us kamre mein kyun bulaungi?”

Her plea seemed to only add to the growing confusion. The room buzzed with unanswered questions, and Sidharth’s anxiety grew with each passing second. He felt an unsettling intuition that something was off, that Uttara’s protestations of innocence might be masking something deeper.

Sidharth’s mind raced through possibilities. Could someone else have sent the message using Uttara’s phone? If so, they must have had access to her phone and its password. He turned his attention back to Uttara, his voice taut with urgency. “does your phone have a lock?”

Sidharth’s abrupt question caused Uttara to falter in her frantic explanations. “Haan…? Yes, it’s password-protected.” She opened her clutch to retrieve her phone, but before she could, one of the experts stepped forward, wearing gloves, and gently took the phone from her hands.

Uttara watched in puzzled silence, unsure why her phone was being handled this way. Sidharth’s voice cut through her confusion, sharp and insistent. “Who else knows the password to your phone?”

Uttara took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. “Mum, Di, Shikhar…”

Sidharth’s eyes narrowed as he interrupted her. “Shikhar? Is he the same Shikhar who is Shehnaaz’s friend? How do you know him?”

Before Uttara could reply, Anu’s voice rang out, filled with frustration. “Wohi hoga kamina! Hamesha pareshan karta tha Shehnaaz ko…”

Sidharth’s expression darkened as he absorbed Anu’s words. His heart clenched with anger and concern, realizing that Shehnaaz had been facing issues with this Shikhar. He couldn’t believe that his shehnaaz had kept this from him when he had specifically asked her about her troubles.

Uttara shot a fierce glare at Anu. “Anu, this is nonsense! Why would Shikhar do something like this? He was with us when we were searching for Shehnaaz. I spoke to him just five minutes ago, and he was worried about her too.”

Mayank, trying to mediate, spoke in a calm but firm tone. “Uttara, there’s no need to get defensive. Anu is just saying that Shikhar’s behavior with Shehnaaz in college was odd, and we’ve all noticed it.”

The room was filled with tense silence as Sidharth’s anger reached a boiling point. His voice erupted with a force that made everyone flinch. “Where is he?!”

The tension in the room escalated as Sidharth’s anger reached a fever pitch. Uttara, trembling with fear, immediately dialed Shikhar’s number, hoping to get some answers. Her anxiety grew when Shikhar disconnected her call without a word. Desperate, she tried again, only to find the call rejected once more. The third attempt ended with the phone being switched off.

Uttara’s face was a mix of shock and panic as she stared at Sidharth’s seething form. Her voice barely a whisper, she mumbled, “Switch off kar diya usne phone…”

Sidharth’s rage was almost palpable. The thought of Shikhar, the man who had caused so much trouble for Shehnaaz, trying to evade him was infuriating. His anger surged uncontrollably, fueled by the realization that someone had dared to hurt his Shehnaaz. How could anyone have the audacity to lay a finger on her?

Uttara, along with everyone else in the room, was visibly shaken by the intensity of Sidharth’s fury. Her fear for Shikhar was evident, and it was clear that his parents, who had come to the function, were also deeply concerned. The room was filled with an uneasy silence, punctuated only by the heavy breathing of those present.

Sidharth’s anger seemed to transcend human limits, and for a moment, Uttara felt as though his rage could transform him into a wild beast. The sheer force of his emotions made her shiver, and she could scarcely believe the level of his fury.

Uttara tried to regain her composure, her voice trembling as she spoke. “Sidharth ji, jarur kuch galat fehmi hui hai…” Her words trailed off, faltering under the weight of Sidharth’s anger. The sight of his body trembling with rage made her feel as though he might turn into something monstrous.

Desperate to intervene, Shikhar’s father approached Sidharth, his voice quivering with fear. “Sir, meri baat suniye please…” His attempt to calm Sidharth was tinged with dread. He was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. No one dared to cross Sidharth Shukla and live to tell the tale. The realization that his son might be in serious trouble only deepened his anxiety.

Sidharth gripped the nearby pillar, his knuckles white from the intensity of his hold. The sheer force of his anger made him tremble. The realization that Shikhar had kidnapped his Shehnaaz was unbearable. The rage boiled inside him, and he could hardly contain it. “How dare he try to kidnap Shehnaaz? How dare he lay a finger on my girl? How dare he?!” Sidharth roared, his voice a terrifying mix of fury and pain that sent shivers down everyone’s spine.

Jasbeera ji and Rajender ji stared at Sidharth in stunned silence, their faces reflecting a deep shock and worry. Mahi, overwhelmed by fear, instinctively reached out and gripped Baaz’s hand tightly, her anxiety clear in every trembling movement.

Rita ji, her face etched with concern, stepped forward cautiously. “Sid beta, shant ho jao… Shehnaaz bilkul sahi salamat hogi. Agar Shikhar guilty hai, toh usse hum jarur saza dilayenge…” Her voice was soothing, trying to offer some semblance of comfort amid the chaos. She hoped her words would help calm the storm inside Sidharth.

Sidharth’s gaze shifted to Uttara, his eyes blazing with an intensity that made everyone around him flinch. The room fell eerily silent, each person holding their breath, fearing what might come next. “Where was Shikhar when you spoke to him last time?” Sidharth’s voice was low and dangerous, his mind filled with images of Shehnaaz’s smiling face, her joyful giggles, and her innocent charm.

Uttara, her voice shaking, quickly responded, “Basement mein… shayad store rooms hai kuch…”

That was all Sidharth needed to hear.

Without another word, Sidharth dashed out of the room with the police team close behind him. His family, driven by a mix of fear and desperation, followed in a frantic rush, their steps echoing the urgency of the situation. Every second felt like an eternity as they raced toward the basement, each person’s heart pounding with the hope that they would find Shehnaaz safe and bring her back before it was too late.

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