•Chandani•

Rishabh was driving somewhere away from my house. “Don't cry chandani. Take a deep breath” He consoled me while driving his bike.

“Shit!”

“Wha-what happened?” I asked “There is no fuel in the bike” He stopped his bike. I hop down “Now?” I wiped off the sweat.

“We have to run now-” my phone rang and it was Siddharth again “Chandani, Kabir and your dad is near you.-”

“Rishabh chale jao” I started crying again “I can't leave you alone” He grabbed my hand.

“Tu-tumhe meri kasam chale jao. If they find you, they'll kill us both.” I started pushing him away. “Chandani” Tears began forming in his eyes. He took a step back.

“Thankyou for everything” I smiled and ran away.

I throw my phone away. What if they trace my location?

By that time, sunrise and I were still roaming here and there on the road. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Kabir and his men. I hide myself and wait for them to go. Surprisingly, they went away pointing toward a direction.

I ran away from there. I reached near mandir. I covered my head and started climbing stairs. Suddenly, I lost my balance. In fear, I closed my eyes. But someone caught me before I collapsed on white marble stairs.In order to look at the person, I slowly opened my eyes.

Chestnut brown eyes met with forest green eyes.

“Aap theek hai?” That guy asked and made me stand properly. I covered my face again and looked here and there. I saw Kabir with his man looking for me.

“Mujhe bacha lijiye unse” I point at Kabir and his men. He looked at them and then at me “Jab tak aap sath hai aapko koi kuch nahi kahega” He said softly.

I nodded and lowered my head “Darshan karne chalegi aap?” He asked. I looked at him and nodded. He smiled and gestured for me to walk forward.

I climbed the rest of the stairs while he followed me. I joined my hands in front of God and prayed while crying.

“Kaha gayi yeh ladki?” I heard Kabir's voice. I felt a hand over my shoulder. I flinched “Shh.. It's me” That unknown guy whispered near my ear.

I slowly opened my teary eyes and looked at his forest green eyes. “H-he is h-here” I sobbed as I covered my face with dupatta “He can't do anything to you. I'm here with you” He said softly. I nodded.

He grabbed my hand and started leaving but suddenly, someone stopped us “Ruko…” I'm gone now.

We both turned to face Kabir. He looked at me suspiciously as my face was covered. Then, his gaze fell on unknown man and fear consumed him.

This date should be registered Because for first time Kabir is scared of something.

He inhaled sharply and smirked. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Malhotra,” Kabir said. The guy beside me nodded.

Kabir looked at me and said “Who is she? Can I see her?” . I clutched his hand tightly. “She's my wife and I don't like it when someone like you looks at her,” the man replied.

I looked at him in surprise. Kabir’s hand balled into a fist, his knuckles turned white with anger “As you wish” He growled. “But my wife ran away and I've been searching for her”

“If you treat a woman with respect, she wouldn't leave you, Mr. Kabir” I gazed at him softly. “Now I've to leave. My wife must be tired” He looked at me before taking me away from him. Leaving furious Kabir behind.

“Thankyou” I muttered as we stopped near a car. He smiled and said “Do you want me to drop you at your home?” His sentence made me shiver. That place was never home for me. “No” I shook my head. He looked at me curiously and then said“Get in” I looked at him confusily “Bharosa karti hai aap mujh par?” He asked.

“Ji” It's the first time I'm trusting someone after Rishabh. If he wanted to do something else with me he would have done that long ago. But he didn't even touch me inappropriately.

He opened the door and made me sit inside the car. Then, he sat down after closing the door on my side. “Aapka naam?” He asked while looking at the road.

“Chandani” I murmured looking down at my lap.

“Chandani” He said my name again while smiling. I nervously looked outside from window. I don't know where we're going.

After half an hour, car stopped infront of a villa. I looked back at man who's name I don't even know “y-”

“This is my home. You'll be safe here” He opened the door of my side and helped me to get out.

I looked around as I walked behind him “Maa-baba, where are you?” He shouted looking around. Then, a women around her 50’s walked toward him with a sweet smile on her face while a man around 60’s followed her.

“Kya hua?” She patted his cheek as man who saved me hugged her. He pointed towards me. She must be his mom. She smiled at me, I instantly looked down nervously.

Are they going to behave same with me as my parents did?

She stood infront of me. She grabbed my chin softly and made me look at her. She examined my features and smiled “Beautiful just like moon”

My cheeks flushed as it was first time when someone compliment me “T-thank-you” I fumbled. She chuckled and looked at his son.

“Your girlfriend?” She asked, teasingly. He laughed softly “Not yet, maa” He smiled. His family smile alot but I don't.

“Naam kya hai beta tumhara?” His father asked me “Chandani” I said and lowered my head. “Maa-baba, yaha aaiye” He took his parents in a corner and told them something.

After a few minutes they came back and aunty asked me “Beta, khana kahogi?” I shook my head “N-nahi”, “Acha, what did you had for your breakfast?”

“Nothing” I answered. She sighed “You don't need to hesitate. This is your home too” I looked at her.

Home.

A place where your own people make you suffer.

“Thankyou” She smiled and looked at his son “Go take her to guest room. I'll send her clothes” He nodded and I followed him.

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