Shivaay's POV -

I glanced at my watch, the ticking second hand echoing my growing impatience. The hotel was set, and the guests were arriving, but Mythili and Baba should have been here by now. With a sense of urgency, I decided to drive home and pick them up. Everything was supposed to be perfect for Anamika and Nupur's wedding, but the absence of Mythili was troubling because she had been almost anxious about every little detail, ensuring everything was perfect for them.

Pulling into the driveway, an uneasy feeling gripped me. The house was too quiet. I parked quickly and went inside, calling for Mythili and Baba. The silence that answered me was bone chilling.

I swept through the rooms, my growing anxiety transforming into a suffocating dread. My heart pounded as I dashed to the garden, desperate to find any sign of them. The sight of scattered boxes and an unfinished game of hopscotch struck me with a cold wave of panic.

Frantically, I dialed Mythili's number, but it went straight to voicemail. Anger and fear surged through me. Ignoring the knot in my stomach, I jumped back into my car and headed towards Kapoor mansion. The thought of them being involved in this made my blood boil.

The Kapoor mansion loomed ahead, a symbol of their disdain and arrogance. I didn't wait for the gate to fully open. My car screeched to a halt, and I stormed out, my fists clenched and my mind focused on the confrontation ahead.

The guard at the gate stammered a nervous greeting.

"Are Mythili and Baba here?" The question erupted from me as a barely restrained growl, my grip on the steering wheel tightening into a white-knuckled vice.

"N-no sir," the guard stuttered, his fear evident.

They wouldn't have come here willingly. The realization was a physical blow. The guard, trembling, started to speak, but I cut him off with a sharp gesture. "Open the gate," I commanded, my voice ice-cold, demanding compliance.

He hesitated for a moment before fumbling with the controls. The gate creaked open, a slow and agonizing movement that mirrored the rising tide of fury within me. I charged through without a second thought.

I was already inside, storming up the steps, my fists clenched as I prepared to face whatever smug nonsense awaited me inside. The front doors swung open as I shoved them with more force than necessary, and there he was—Kapoor, lounging in his overstuffed chair, as though he owned the world.

And seated beside him, to my utter disgust, was the man who calls himself my father.

"Well, well, well. Look who's here," Kapoor greeted me, his voice dripping with false warmth. "Shivaay, I didn't think you'd come this quickly."

I ignored the pleasantries, stepping forward with barely controlled rage. "So this is what you both had to resort to? Abduction?"

Kapoor chuckled, exchanging a look with my father, who had the audacity to sit there silently, as if he wasn't complicit in this madness.

"Abduction, Shivaay? Such a strong word for a simple family reunion. Mythili and Dad are, after all, still part of this family, aren't they?" He leaned back in his chair, exuding the same arrogance I had always despised.

"Don't play games with me," I said, stepping forward. "Where are they?"

Kapoor stood, taking his time, relishing the power he thought he held. "You're always so direct, Shivaay. But you don't know everything, do you?"

He was baiting me, but I didn't bite. "Where are they?" I repeated, my voice as cold as ice.

"Relax," Kapoor said, his voice silky. "They're safe. For now. But there's something you should know, something that'll change everything."

I didn't flinch. Whatever he had to say was irrelevant. All that mattered was finding Mythili and Baba.

Kapoor's eyes gleamed with malicious excitement. "You've always thought Mythili was my daughter. The world thinks so, and even she believes it. But the truth, Shivaay, is much darker."

I felt a shift in the room, but I held my ground, my gaze locked on him.

"She's not my daughter," Kapoor continued, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "She's my twin brother's daughter."

The revelation hung in the air for a moment, but I didn't react. I couldn't show weakness, couldn't let him know he had caught me off guard.

"My brother," Kapoor said, stepping closer, "was the rightful heir to everything. The mansion, the wealth. But he was soft. Too kind. So my wife and I handled things. We eliminated them."

I stared at him, my rage a silent storm brewing inside me. He killed Mythili's parents for this, for wealth.

"And after we killed them," Mrs. Kapoor continued, her voice arrogant and full of pride, "we raised Mythili as my own. No one ever questioned it. Not her, not the world. It was perfect."

He watched me carefully, gauging my reaction, but I gave him nothing.

"And now," he said, his smile widening, "I have them both—Mythili and Dad. You'll never find them unless I want you to. She's going to sign over the mansion to me, and then, well, I won't need her anymore."

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, my gaze burning into his. "You think you can take her life and throw it away just like that? You think I'll let you?"

Kapoor's confidence wavered for a split second before he regained his smug composure. "You have no proof, Shivaay. No one will believe you. What can you do?"

"I don't need proof," I said, my voice low but firm. "You've crossed a line. You're not going to win this."

He laughed, but there was a hint of unease behind his eyes. "Oh, Shivaay, you always think you're in control. But not this time. I've played this game for too long. You're too late."

My father suddenly spoke, his voice cold and commanding. "If you want to ensure Mythili and Baba's safety, you need to stop Anamika and Nupur's wedding."

I turned to my father, "You both are cut from the same cloth. You're willing to use their lives as leverage to impose your bigoted views?"

"Yes," my father said flatly. "My beliefs have always been clear. If you want Mythili and Baba to be safe, you will stop that wedding. It's the only way to guarantee their safety."

Kapoor's smirk was almost triumphant. "Your father's quite practical, isn't he? You see, everything is interconnected. Your choices have consequences, and the sooner you understand that, the better."

I moved closer, towering over him, my voice barely above a whisper. "You've underestimated me."

His smile faltered.

"You were injecting Baba with drugs. " I stated, cold and sharp. His eyes flickered. "You tried erasing his memory over the years, little by little. And when he became useless to you, you tossed him in an old age home."

A bead of sweat formed on Kapoor's forehead, though his voice remained arrogant. "You think you're so clever. But you can't prove any of this."

"I don't need proof," I said, moving even closer. "I will tear you apart piece by piece. When I'm done, you'll see how the ground shifts beneath you. You do not mess with my family and get away with it."

The anger seething within me was almost too much to contain as I stormed out of Kapoor's mansion. The façade of control I maintained was a thin veneer over the rage boiling just beneath. I had to focus, and I had to act fast.

Without wasting another moment, I pulled out my phone and dialed my mother's number. The call rang through, each tone echoing my mounting urgency. They had to know what was going on.

"Shivaay?" Her voice was calm, but there was an undertone of concern.

"Maa," I said, my voice tight with controlled fury. "Baba and Mythili have been abducted. Kapoor and that man are behind Mythili and Baba's abduction. They've been holding them captive, and Kapoor intends to use Mythili to get control of the mansion and he wants to stop Anamika and Nupur's wedding.."

There was a brief silence on the other end, and then my mother's voice came, steady but tinged with worry. "Shivaay, you need to bring them both home safely. No matter what, they must be brought back unharmed. I trust you."

"I will, Maa," I promised, my voice steely with determination. "I'm going to make sure they're safe. I need you to stay calm and be prepared."

I hung up and drove on, the ride to the office of the commissioner of Police in a blur of urgency and tension where guards recognised me and opened the door quickly.

"Commissioner Singh," I said, striding into his office after being asked to. "I need your immediate assistance. Kapoor and my father have kidnapped Mythili and Baba. They're being held and they are in grave danger."

The commissioner's eyes widened, but he quickly composed himself. "Sit down, Mr. Rathore. We'll need to organise a search operation right away."

I sat, every nerve in my body on edge. "We need to mobilize teams and focus on areas where they might be kept—secure, isolated locations. They're dangerous, and time is critical."

The commissioner nodded and began issuing orders, his efficiency a stark contrast to my frantic state. "We'll focus on potential locations and coordinate with our teams."

As the officers prepared to deploy, I stayed close to the commissioner, my mind racing with concern for Mythili and Baba. Every second felt like an eternity, and I had to trust that the combined efforts would lead us to them before it was too late.

"Shivaay," the commissioner said, turning to me, "we'll do everything we can to find them. I assure you."

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Two days. I had thrown myself into the search, constantly on edge. The police had combed through leads and followed every potential lead, but so far, nothing concrete had surfaced. Each failed attempt felt like a personal blow, deepening my rage and helplessness.

Two days had passed since I had last seen my wife and baba and now, Kapoor and my father were going to find exactly who Shivaay Singh Rathore was.

Storming inside the Kapoor mansion, My fists hammered against Kapoor's face with unrestrained fury. His arrogant demeanor had shattered long ago, replaced by a crumpled, bleeding mess struggling weakly against me.

"Tell me where Mythili and Baba are." I roared, my voice raw with anger. Kapoor's head lolled to the side, his blood smeared across the wall behind him. He whimpered, barely able to respond, his attempts at defiance reduced to incoherent mutterings.

I turned to my father, who lay crumpled on the floor beside Kapoor. His face was swollen and bruised, but his eyes still held a spark of stubborn defiance. I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him upright, forcing him to look at me. "Where are they?" I demanded, my voice cold and lethal.

My father's eyes flickered with fear, but he tried to remain silent. I didn't give him a chance. I landed a brutal punch to his gut, the sound of his grunt echoing in the room. He doubled over, gasping for air, but I wasn't finished.

Kapoor, barely conscious, managed a pitiful groan. "They're—" he started, but the words were lost amidst the pain and the blood spilling from his mouth.

I turned back to Kapoor, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the wall. "Enough games" I shouted. "I want to know where Mythili and Baba are, or I'll break every bone in your body before I hand you over to the police."

Just as I was about to deliver another punishing blow, my phone rang, slicing through the tension. I barely glanced at the screen before answering, my anger still seething.

"Shivaay, we've spotted unusual movement of men outside one of Kapoor's farmhouses on the outskirts of the city," the commissioner's voice crackled through the line. "It's possible they're holding Mythili and Baba there."

My heart raced with a mix of hope and fear. "Don't make a move," I said sharply. "I'm on my way. Just hold your position."

As I ended the call, Kapoor, still bleeding and battered, seized the moment of my distraction. "You won't find them," he sneered through his pain. "If my men hear any police, they'll kill Mythili and Baba without hesitation."

The threat fueled my rage even further. I glanced over at my father, who was barely conscious but still breathing. The sight of him only added to my anger.

Ignoring Kapoor's threats, I grabbed a length of rope from the nearby closet, quickly tying Kapoor's and my father's hands behind their backs. The sound of their muffled protests barely registered as I finished the knots.

"Consider this a preview of what's to come," I said coldly, throwing them into the back of my car. They hit the floor with a thud, their struggles constrained by the ropes.

I jumped into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut. The ride to the farmhouse was a blur of speed and urgency, my mind focused solely on reaching the location before anything could happen to Mythili and Baba. The city lights blurred past as I sped through the streets, my grip on the steering wheel tightening with every mile.

Mythili's POV ~

My head throbbed as I slowly came to. The dull ache from where I'd been hit was nothing compared to the sharp pain shooting through my wrists, tightly bound behind me. While Baba and I were trying to escape, one of the men walked in and tied us again into ropes to the chairs.

My thoughts were still hazy, the moments of our kidnapping blurring together. One second, Baba and I were eating panipuri, and the next, I was being yanked out into a van, a ragged cloth tied over my mouth. The men who had taken us didn't speak much, but the way they treated us made it clear—they weren't just common criminals.

I glanced at Baba, lying still beside me, his breath shallow. His frail body couldn't handle this kind of abuse. My heart sank, and a wave of helplessness washed over me. I couldn't even check if he was okay.

Who could have done this? And why?

The question gnawed at me, but the only answer that kept coming back, the only one that made any sense, chilled me to my core: my own father. He had always been ruthless, but this—kidnapping us—was a step I hadn't seen coming. What was he after? What could he possibly gain by holding us like this?

Hours passed, or maybe just minutes; time had lost meaning. The silence in the room was thick, oppressive. Every small noise, every creak of the wooden floor outside the door, set my nerves on edge. And then, as if summoned by my thoughts, the door creaked open. I tensed immediately, struggling to sit upright as two figures walked in.

The dim light flickered over their faces. My breath caught in my throat. Dad. And Shivaay's father.

I should have known.

His smirk sent a shiver down my spine. He walked in slowly, taking his time, like he was savoring the moment. "Good evening, Mythili," he greeted, his tone mocking. "How are we feeling today?"

I didn't answer, my eyes narrowing into a glare. But I couldn't hide the fear that gripped me, and I knew Kapoor could see it.

His gaze shifted briefly to Baba, lying motionless beside me. He clicked his tongue in mock sympathy. "Poor old man. Doesn't look like he's doing too well."

My blood boiled, but before I could say anything, Kapoor snapped his fingers. One of the men, who had been standing by the door, stepped forward. Without warning, he struck me hard across the face. Pain exploded through my jaw, and I gasped, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be, Mythili," Kapoor warned, his smile widening as he stepped closer. "We don't want to hurt you... much. But you need to understand something. You're here for a reason."

Shivaay's father, standing silently in the background, finally spoke, his voice cold and detached. "Sign over the mansion. It's simple, really and hope that Shivaay stops Anamika's wedding. Do that, and you and Baba can walk away unharmed."

I spat blood onto the floor, glaring up at them. "You think I'm just going to give in? You must be even more delusional than I thought."

Dad chuckled, shaking his head. "Daughter dearest, do you not care about your life and that of your grandfather?" He asked, sadism dipping from his tone.

"He's your father dad, how could you abduct your own daughter and father? How low can you further stoop?" I screamed at him, trying to fight my tears away.

Another strike, this time from the other man, sent me reeling. My head snapped to the side, the sharp sting radiating through my skull. Tears blurred my vision, but I forced myself not to cry out. I couldn't show weakness.

"You've got until tomorrow, Mythili," He said, stepping forward. "Sign the papers, and this can all end. Otherwise, you might not like what happens next."

Their threats hung heavily in the air, suffocating me with the reality of the situation. I was powerless, tied and beaten, with no way of escaping or fighting back. But what made my stomach churn with dread was the thought of what they might do to Baba. He was old, frail—he wouldn't survive much more of this.

"And," Shivaay's father added with a sick grin, "if Shivaay doesn't stop that wedding between Anamika and Nupur, well... let's just say we won't need you around for much longer."

With a final cold glance, they both turned and walked out of the room, leaving me tied up, aching, and terrified for what was to come.

The door clicked shut, and the room plunged back into darkness. I strained against the ropes, biting down on my lip to hold back the tears. My wrists burned, my body ached, and the taste of blood lingered in my mouth. Every breath felt like a battle.

I turned my head toward Baba, praying he would wake up, that he'd somehow be okay. My heart ached seeing him in this state. I couldn't let them get away with this, but I didn't know how much longer I could hold out.

I had to believe that Shivaay would find us. That he was out there somewhere, searching, and that he'd make Kapoor pay for this. I had to hold on to that hope—because it was all I had left.

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PS - I'll try to publish the next chapter by the day after.