16. Another world.

 Aditi POV:

Aditi abruptly awakens from a deep slumber, exclaiming, "Rudranath!" 

Concerned, Shikha inquires, "Aditi, are you alright?" 

Sitting up on the couch, Aditi responds, "Actually, Di, I experienced a peculiar dream. I dreamt of Rudranath, a character from a book I wrote when I was 17 or 18. It felt so vivid, almost as if it were real. It feels so heavy. This time it felt like I know him personally. Why can't I ever remember the faces of people in my dreams! " 

"Again, with those weird dreams? You must have been so engrossed in your writing that these side effects are manifesting. You need to rest and avoid overexerting your mind with thoughts of your work." 

"But Di, what about everyone else? Where is Arjun?" 

"I terminated his employment!" 

"What? Why would you do that?" 

"Just a month after his hiring, and you are facing so much turmoil! He had one responsibility: to protect you, and he failed to do even that..." 

"But Di..." 

"Enough. I contacted Atharva and informed him of everything." 

"What! Why did you do that?" 

"What do you expect? Should I have waited until you were successfully captured by those kidnappers?" 

"But Di, you know he is extremely busy." 

"Busy? Nonsense. You need him now more than ever. He is your family, and he should be by your side during this critical time." 

"Di, could you please grant me one request?" 

"Are you asking me to rehire Arjun Rathod?" 

"Yes. It is solely because of him that I am alive today. I owe him my life." 

"Very well. As you wish. But do you understand why all of this is happening now? Why the kidnappings?" 

"I have no idea, Di. Why is this happening to me?" 

"Could it be that Atharva is in some sort of trouble, and that is why you are facing these repercussions?" 

"No, Di. He hasn't mentioned anything suspicious." 

"Did you confide in him about your issues?" Yash returned, holding a coconut water.

"Not yet. Arjun has asked me not to share anything with him. He even told me to stop communicating with both of you." 

"What? Even me? I was the one who brought him on board, and he has the nerve to tell you to cut me off!" Shikha exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. 

"Shikha Di, he's actually making sense. Until the kidnapper is caught, we're all under suspicion," Yash said, his brow furrowed with concern.

Aditi Pov:

The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air, and I could see the tension in his shoulders.

"Where is he now?" Shikha asked, her tone shifting from anger to worry.

"I have no idea. He just instructed us to take you to safety yesterday and then vanished," he replied, my heart racing at the thought of Arjun alone out there, possibly facing danger.

"Maybe he went to track down the kidnappers," I suggested, anxiety creeping into my voice. The thought of him confronting the unknown made my stomach churn.

"I think so too," Yash agreed, his expression serious. "But we need to stay focused on our safety right now."

"I hope he stays safe... Yash, you should go check on Aishwarya. She might be feeling really alone right now," I urged, hoping to redirect his energy towards something productive.

"NO. I can't stand that girl. I'm not going to see her," Yash shot back, his frustration evident. 

"Yash, please? Will you at least consider it? She's in danger too because of me!" I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. I knew Aishwarya was struggling, and the last thing I wanted was for her to feel abandoned.

"Aditi, don't take it to heart. Things will improve with time. Once this is all over, let's hang out at our old spot on Carter Road and enjoy life like we used to," he said, trying to reassure me, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes.

"Absolutely, Yash. I really hope we can get through this soon," I replied, forcing a smile despite the turmoil inside me. The thought of returning to our carefree days felt like a distant dream, but I clung to it, hoping it would become a reality again. 

As we stood there, the weight of our situation pressed down on us, but I knew we had to stay strong.

I often find myself longing for the good old days, reminiscing about simpler times filled with laughter, carefree moments, and the warmth of familiar faces. Those days seem to shimmer in my memory, painted in hues of nostalgia that make me yearn for the past. Yet, a part of me still feels drawn to the present, tethered to the here and now by the vibrant experiences and connections I am forging. 

Perhaps it's because he wasn't around back then, and now he is—Arjun. His presence adds a new layer to my life, a spark that ignites my days with excitement and possibility. While I cherish the memories of yesteryears, I can't help but appreciate the way he brings a fresh perspective to my world. With him, I find joy in the little things, and the mundane transforms into something extraordinary. 

Arjun embodies a sense of adventure and spontaneity that I didn't realize I was missing. He challenges me to step outside my comfort zone, to embrace the present moment fully, and to create new memories that will one day become cherished reflections of our time together. In his laughter, I hear echoes of the past, but in his eyes, I see a future filled with promise. 

So, while I may occasionally drift back to those golden days, I am anchored in the present by the warmth of his smile and the depth of our connection. It's a delicate balance—honoring the past while embracing the now. And in this dance between nostalgia and the thrill of new beginnings, I find a sense of peace, knowing that both the past and present shape who I am becoming.

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In Arjun's cabin, the tension was palpable as he glared at Rohan and his crew, his frustration radiating off him like heat from a furnace. "What the hell went wrong this time? Didn't I make it clear to you idiots to keep a close watch on her? This is the second time this has happened! Do you even realize how utterly careless you all are?" Arjun's voice was a thunderous roar, echoing off the walls and making the air feel thick with anxiety.

Rohan, visibly shaken, opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. "Sir…"

"What do you mean, 'Sir'? Do you have any explanations? Do you?!" Arjun's eyes blazed with anger, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"Actually, it wasn't their fault this time," Rohan managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

Arjun's brow furrowed, skepticism etched across his face. "What do you mean by that? Speak clearly!"

"When I got to Mrs. Mehra's room, they were all out cold," Rohan explained, his tone urgent as he tried to convey the gravity of the situation.

"Out cold? Not one of you noticed anything suspicious?" Arjun's voice rose again, a mixture of disbelief and fury.

"Sir, the weird part is that it wasn't any kind of chemical; we were all protected. It was something else entirely!" Rohan's eyes darted nervously, as if he were afraid of what he might say next.

Arjun paused, his mind racing as he processed the implications of Rohan's words. "Did you notice anything odd at the scene?" he asked, his voice now low and intense.

"Yes, I found this flower." Rohan reached into his pocket and pulled out a wilted bloom, its petals drooping and color faded. "It looks dead now. I tried to look it up, but I couldn't find anything."

Arjun's eyes widened as he recognized the plant.

"That's the Suryakamal from Suryagarh! It's used to knock someone out. This means one thing: someone from the Literary Domain is now in the real world with us. And it likely ties into Aditi's kidnapping..." 

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