CHAPTER 2: Part 1 (UNEXPECTED MEETING)
~ ISHIKA (POV) ~
10:05 PM:
This is bad, really bad. I needed to hide fast.
Peeking again, I saw Bhai Sa approaching. Panicking, I looked in the opposite direction, only to find Lucky returning empty-handed. There was no purse for him to pick up. God, he must be furious.
'Aage kua peeche khai, kya karu? (There's a well in front and a ditch behind. What do I do?) I don't have time for this.'
A surge of adrenaline coursed through me. I hurried up the stairs, my mind racing.
I raced down the second-floor hallway, my heart pounding in my ears. Desperate to escape, I tried opening several doors along the way. On my seventh attempt, luck was on my side. The door yielded, and I slipped inside, closing it softly behind me.
'Wait a minute. Bhai Sa is here! Why am I hiding from him? I should be asking him what he is doing here!'
I decided to find Bhai Sa, but as I cautiously peeked out the door, I spotted Lucky searching the corridor, methodically trying every door.
'Kaha phasa diya Bhagwan ji (Where have you trapped me, God?)'
What do I do? Aagar isse main mil gai toh pata nhi kya karega aur rahi baat Bhai Sa ki toh unse toh main baat kar hi lungi.(If he caught me, I don't know what he would do to me. And as far as my brother is concerned, I'll definitely talk to him later.)
Panic surged through me. My first instinct was self-preservation. I quietly turned the deadbolt, locking myself in.
The room was shrouded in darkness and I couldn't see anything, the only lighting in the room was the moonlight filtering through the windows, the whole wall is covered with windows in this room, the room is too large. I don't even have my stuff with me, it's in the Saanvi's car.
"Should I jump out.... NO, No, it's too high.... Bhagwan ji aap hamesha mujhe hi kyu aise fasaate ho (God, why do you always trap me like this?)"
I frantically scanned the room, my eyes darting from one window to the next. There had to be a way out of this hellhole. Desperation gnawed at me as I realized I was trapped.
All the windows are locked! Panic rising. There was no other option. I had to break one to escape.
" Aajib musibat hai... (Such a strange problem)" I muttered under my breath, a surge of anger coursing through me. " Ek din is Lucky ki dono tange tod dungi main... (One day I'll break this Lucky's both legs) Humph."
I hadn't even realized I'd said it out loud. A flicker of hope ignited as I spotted a tablecloth draped over a table and a vase sitting on it.
I picked up the vase, hefting its weight in my hands. It was heavier than it looked. Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself. Here goes nothing.
"Sorry Bhagwan ji (God), I will pay them as soon as possible but right now I have to do this," I muttered under my breath, a surge of adrenaline coursing through me. I raised the heavy vase, my arm trembling slightly. "I can... do this... phew."
I exhaled, steeling my resolve to swing.
GRAB.
Someone caught my hand.
Had there been someone in the room this entire time? How had I not noticed?
'Ab toh tu gai Ishika beta. (Ishika honey, now you are done for).'
The voice echoed in my mind, striking fear into my heart. My eyes widened in terror as I struggled to break free from his grasp, my lungs burning for air.
To Be Continued...