Rescue

Shikhawat laughed and pulled Sia forward by her hand as she flinched, and pushed her into the chair placed in the room. After tying her to it, he left the room to grab something. As he approached the main gate, Shambhav waited for a few seconds to make sure he was actually gone, and found the right time to enter the room. He was still not sure about how his father could even do such things, or how long he had been doing this, but he needed to stop his father from committing one more sin.

He jumped in through the window he was hiding under all this time, and approached her with careful steps. She looked at a figure approaching her without daring to lift her eyes from the ground, and was about to shout. But before she could do that, he put his hand on her mouth. 

He whispered, "Don't shout, don't shout! I am here to help you only."

Hearing that rather unexpected sentence, Sia looked up, and was shocked to see the face of the boy.

Shambhav understood why she was confused, so he smiled and spoke, “Yes, you guessed it right. I am your half brother, now let's hurry before Papa arrives.”

Sia didn't know how to react to this piece of information. 

*So this was the guy her father had been talking about...it had only been a few minutes since she had come to know of his existence, and the last thing she was expecting at that point, was to see him in person. He did look a great deal like her, so it was likely that he was telling the truth about being her half-brother. She wanted to trust him, but the recent events had compelled her to think about what the boy was offering; when her own father wanted to kill her, then why would her half-brother be helping her?*

She finally gathered all her thoughts and stammered out, “But why are you helping me? I mean…” She looked around the room and then at his face as if referring to the way this entire scenario had panned out, then repeated, “Why?” 

“Because I wanted to stop my father from committing one more sin. And before you ask, no I am also unaware of the whole thing; and if the fact that you have a half brother is shocking for you, it is equally shocking for me as well. But for now, just trust me, I will take you to a safe place. Come, let's go,” he completed his sentence, freeing her from all the ties.

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Manya stood up without any warning, as all the memories of the events that had taken place that day, came rushing back to her. 

*She remembered everything that happened that day, and on the day before as well. She finally had the answer to why and how she had reached her father's car, and who the people whose dead bodies drowned in blood were flashing in her memories, were.*

She ran towards the road, ignoring the fact that it was still raining. She was still afraid of rain, but she couldn't lose her sister due to this fear, like she had lost her Massi. She got into her car and drove at mad speed.

She parked her car at the entrance of the road where she had met those five people who were the residents of the settlement close to the jungle. She called Harish and within a few rings, the call was answered.

“Yes, ma'am! How are you? We heard about Sia ma'am, don't you worry, I am sure she will be alright.”

“Harish, listen, you were born here, right?”

“Yes ma'am! But why-”

“Then you must be familiar with everything about this jungle, and the place after which people stop going further?” She asked, ignoring his statements once again.

“Yes, ma'am, I know the area very well. And you know what, beyond that area, there stands a big bungalow, very big- and everybody says that the bungalow is haunted. Apparently, nobody lives inside it, but it is still in a very good condition. But why are you asking this?”

“Can you tell me the direction for the bungalow, and remember to bring everybody, along with the police, to that place within an hour. Okay?”

“But ma'am-”

“Just do as I said.” She commanded.

“Okay ma'am, as you say.”

After she got the directions, she started the car again and headed towards the jungle with a devilish speed.

*Nothing would be able to stop her today, there were many unanswered questions, whose answers were with that person. There were many unsolved mysteries which she would definitely solve today, but most importantly, there was her precious sister, who had been kept hostage by that person, who she wanted to burn alive for even touching her little sister. Only a few minutes, just a few minutes more and she would be avenging everything on behalf of her family.*

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Shikhawat entered the room. He was back after having made a call, and with a packet of bread and milk, only to find that the ropes were lying down on the floor and Sia was nowhere to be found.

His anger boiled over his capacity for tolerance, as he threw the packet forcefully to the ground. He growled, “How dare she...how dare she fly away like this?! Doesn't she know that she herself has opted for the most painful death of the century now?!”

He started roaming around in the house, in search of her as she couldn't have escaped outside  the house. He had been standing by the main gate, and the other exit had been closed for years. He was assured that nobody would be able to break through it without the help of something.

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

Sia shivered involuntarily, as it was the first time ever in her life that she was facing this type of a scary situation. So far, she had always been covered with a blanket of roses and was guided with the warmth of her massi and Danny's love.

*Shambhav noticed the fear in his sister’s eyes. He was ashamed of his father’s act, and even greater than his shame, was his anger with him. But at this time, he was feeling pity for the innocent girl who was paying the price of the sins she had had no part in. What was her fault in all this, that she had been deprived of her family?* 

He pulled her close and put his finger on her lips to indicate to her to keep quiet. He then whispered, “Don't worry, your brother is here. I won't let anybody harm you, just trust me. I know it is hard, but please, when I am saying that I will protect you from everything, then I will.”

He decided to keep talking to her, to divert her attention and put her somewhat at ease. “Now tell me, do you know Manya Rahal?  Earlier, when you had been saying something, was it about her?” He asked again, whispering after taking a pause.

“Ye-yes!” She whispered and nodded, when they heard a loud noise of something breaking.

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

Manya entered the mansion and shouted out, “Siddhant, where are you? I know you are definitely here!” 

She grabbed the nearest object and threw it on the ground, knowing that her sister would be scared due to the crashing sounds, and she might react after hearing it, which would help her locate her in the enormous building.

She stepped further inside, when she heard the sound of someone laughing like a demon. She turned to find that the man standing in front of her was not anyone else, but the person she had been looking for since she entered the mansion. She was amazed at how well she still remembered his face, when just some time ago, she had been unable to recognise Arjun's and Ishaan's faces as well. Gathering her thoughts, she asked again, roaring “Tell me, where is Sia? Tell me while I am asking gently!”

The person laughed again, “Oh really, how intimidating you are, I am scared! What will I do now?” He asked in mock fear, shaking head and laughing at the very next moment.

“To know this, you will have to wait and watch; or else, if you want your well being to be intact, tell me where my sister is!"

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A/N- Hello, my dear readers! Tomorrow's chapter will bring this episode of the story to an end. Finally, all the secrets about Shikhawat Sharma and his deeds will be revealed, and the mystery will be solved after twelve long years. 

I am so grateful for the support you have shown me, and feeling a bittersweet emotion at reaching this point in the journey. The book will come to an end by the end of this month, so I am inviting you all to come along with Arjun and Manya, and see where their journey leads them! Love you all! ?‍♀️❤️