Gaurav was waiting in his SUV, outside a seedy bar and restaurant. He had just received information on the special delivery having reached Suraj Bhupati. Gaurav hoped the bastard was going crazy with worry and fear for his wife.

But that wasn’t enough. Gaurav wanted Suraj Bhupati to be ruined completely. Gaurav already knew from the security cameras that Suraj Bhupati was barely sleeping. He was also turning the police force upside down for not finding any clue about his wife’s whereabouts. He had even hired the best private investigators his money could offer.

The ring of a phone interrupted Gaurav’s thoughts. Seeing the number on the screen, he answered it immediately.

“Where are you?” Vikram’s voice asked.

“I’m waiting outside the bar. So far, no show.”

Vikram and he had spent most of the week hunting down the identities of the rest of the bastards involved in Shruti’s murder. So far, they identified two of the three men. Unlike Rohan, the three men were not known to Shruti, they were hired goons.

Shruti’s murder was planned in such a way that even if it was somehow proven that she did not commit suicide, the real murderers wanted the alternative to seem like it was a random home invasion.

Gaurav was frustrated that the whereabouts of those goons was hard to track. Usually, such goons had no loyalty, and they worked for whoever was offering them more money.

“I think they all got information about Rohan’s death. There are going to be in hiding for a while. The guy I am tailing has not returned to his usual place either.”

The suicide of an award-winning investigative journalist wasn’t front page news. And so far, there was no article written to indicate that it was anything but a suicide. But still it was covered widely enough for the concerned people to remain alert.

“Any new article or investigation going on to raise suspicion?” Gaurav asked.

“No. They’ve all ruled Rohan’s death as a suicide. There was no forced entry or struggle or any fingerprints.”

“Then why would these goons suspect?” Gaurav asked in frustration.

“They have been criminals for so long, they usually go by their instincts. Let’s just give them few more days before we strike again.”

Gaurav was impatient. He hated the wait. But he had already waited for several months, so he supposed waiting a few more days shouldn’t matter.

He reversed the SUV and began heading back.

 

AS HE NEARED the forest cabin, Gaurav allowed himself to think of the captive.

Khan had been providing updates to him on a daily basis. So far, the captive hadn’t tried anything, which was good, because he had given orders to Khan to shoot her if she did. Not a fatal shot, but enough to warn her about the consequences of trying to escape.

He stopped the SUV and parked it about half a kilometer away from the cabin and walked from there.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Khan in the kitchen, preparing a meal.

Khan saw and greeted him. “I’m almost done making breakfast. Please be seated, sir.”

After driving all night, Gaurav wanted to freshen up first, but he was hungry enough to put off a quick dip in the lake until later. He pulled out a plate from the rack above the kitchen sink and sat on a dining chair.

“Sir…” he heard Khan say in a tentative tone.

“Yes?”

“Sir… madam has stayed downstairs all week. She hasn’t caused any trouble. Since you are back, can I… ask her to join us for breakfast?”

Gaurav frowned at the request. Madam wasn’t a bloody guest they had invited over. She was their captive, but he knew Khan had a soft heart.

“Fine.” He supposed she wouldn’t dare try to escape once again.

A few minutes later, she was escorted to the dining room by Khan.

As soon as his captive saw him, instead of looking fearful or cautious because of their last encounter, she stretched her lips into a small smile. “Hi,” she greeted softly.

Gaurav had already begun eating and froze mid-bite. A frown marred his forehead.

He didn’t bother greeting her back. It wasn’t her bloody drawing room, for her to still follow etiquette. She was abducted and being held forcibly.

She sat in the chair opposite to him and smiled at Khan while he served food on her plate. When Khan was done, she thanked him softly and started to eat her breakfast.

Gaurav noticed that despite the ill-fitting borrowed clothes, the hair he’d cut in a shirt, jagged manner, and lack of eating utensils, she still appeared elegant while she ate in smooth, graceful movements.

He continued to eat while he watched her. In between bites, she kept throwing small glances his way while her eyes slowly took in his features and body. Whenever their eyes met, she quickly lowered her eyes as though she was feeling shy.

It wouldn’t have been very obvious to a regular person, but Gaurav was experienced and also had very good natural instincts.

Nina Bhupati’s shy, sweet, helpless damsel-in-distress act was just that. An act.

Every little move of hers was planned and deliberate.

By the time they finished dinner, he knew what her next plan was.

His captive wanted to seduce him.