Srishti had no idea where she was going because her mind was blank and all she wanted was, for the pain to go away. She aimlessly walked on the road in the middle of the night unknown to the dangers lurking in the dark.

Why was it that a woman always had to be in a role play and do everything? As soon as she is born, she must fulfil her duty as a daughter, then her duty as a wife, her duty as a daughter-in-law, her duty as a mother and it doesn't stop there.

Wasn't she a human first?

"Going somewhere?" A voice came from behind her and that was when she realised about her surroundings.

She had no idea where she was and there was no one around. With her heart thudding rapidly, she clutched the sides of her dress and considered running but whatever direction she would take, she wouldn't even know what danger awaited her.

So she slowly turned around and froze looking at the person.

"Hey." The person smirked and even though she remembered him, that didn't make her feel any good.

"W-What are you doing here?" She asked trying to be strong but her shaky voice said otherwise.

"What do you think? Man, I had some real job to do these few months. Stalking you and digging up your past wasn't easy, you know. It took some real effort. By the way, won't you thank me for I helped you with the truth of your husband." He chuckled but the look in his eyes made her take a step back.

He noticed it and shot a dark look at her making her freeze.

"Stop running away from me. I have had enough of watching you with that fucker." He sneered taking a step towards her while she continued stepping back making him more angry.

Finally annoyed, he held her arms and jerked her towards him making her cry out.

"Stop that. Stop crying for fuck's sake and come with me. Also, I didn't know it would be so easy to get you. I thought you would be here with that little bastard of yours but good that he isn't here or I would've thrown him away anyways." He spat venomously and this time Srishti stopped struggling as she heard him talking about Ayaansh like that.

She glared at him hard and without another thought, raised her knee and kicked him hard. He groaned in pain, and gritted his teeth before he raised his head and glared at her.

But she wasn't scared this time.

"How dare you talk about my son like that. I will kill you if you so much as even think of harming my son." There was this fire in her eyes as she snarled at the man infront of her.

"Your son, huh? That son who was born after your 'so-called husband' used your body. Then why don't I give you a son as well?" His words disgusted her as she clenched her jaw.

She was about to walk away when he again pulled her close to him. She tried to push him away but he was stronger. She tried to kick him again but he blocked it and smirked evilly.

"I don't repeat my mistakes, baby." She felt sick and helpless feeling his hot breath on her face. But was she going to give up? No.

"Let me go, you asshole." She spat on his face which caused him to tighten his grip on her. His eyes turned dark as he looked at her while she could only wince in pain.

"Let the lady go." Srishti felt hope bubbling in her chest, hearing an unknown voice. She tried to get out of his grip again but he didn't let her.

"Stay the fuck out of this."

"I'll only repeat it one more time. Let her go." The unknown man said again but it went unheard.

"What if I don't?" He challenged and Srishti gulped.

"Then you give me no option. I'll have to use this." Since Srishti was facing the other side, she couldn't see who was the man, helping her but when she felt his grip on her loosening, she immediately stepped away from him before turning to the other side.

Her eyes widened when she noticed a gun in the stranger's hand. He looked oddly familiar but she couldn't remember.

"Now, stay there until the cops arrive." Just as he completed his sentence, a police car arrived and Srishti watched as the man was hauled into the car, but he shot her a murderous look before he was taken away.

"Are you alright?" Srishti nodded suddenly feeling emotional.

She couldn't believe she had actually left her baby, her Ayaansh who was sleeping peacefully. A sob left her mouth and she screwed her eyes shut.

She was about to get kidnapped, or raped because of her own stupidity hadn't it been this man who helped her.

"Th-Thank you." She whispered and felt his hand on her head.

"It's okay. You're safe but don't go wandering around at times like these." His voice was soft yet stern and she felt herself nodding.

"Let me drop you home."

────────

Srishti and the man stood before the door as she fidgeted with her fingers nervously. She just didn't want to face Sahil right now.

As she took out the secret key and opened the door, she quickly checked around and found no one in the living room.

"Are we breaking into someone's else house?" A voice whispered into her ear and she yelped in fear.

She glared at the man who grinned sheepishly at her. He was in his sixties but still looked charming.

"Srishti, I'll leave then." He smiled and patted her head in a fatherly manner but she stopped him.

"Wait, just please wait for a few minutes." Saying so she quickly ran towards her room to check on Ayaansh but rather froze on finding the cradle empty.

Before she could panic, her eyes fell on the bed and she sighed in relief of finding her baby sleeping there with Zevah.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she moved towards the bed and picked Ayaansh in her arms who stirred in his sleep but went back to sleep in his mother's arms.

She glanced at Zevah who slept peacefully and then walked out.

"I─Can you drop me at an orphanage?" She pleaded him and the man looked at her as if thinking something.

────────

Sahil and Aditya were set out in finding Srishti.

Where? They had no idea.

But they couldn't just sit at home.

"I swear Sahil, if we don't find her soon, I'll kill you." Aditya warned Sahil who was driving at the moment.

Sahil ignored him and kept looking around because he couldn't tell his bestfriend the reason behind his wife's sudden disappearance.

It was his fault, he agreed but why couldn't she just talk it out with him?

"You really aren't going to tell me what you saw in her phone?" Aditya chipped in again because Sahil wouldn't tell him what made him so restless and impatient after he read something in Srishti's phone.

"Sahil, you need to tell me! What the fuck is going on? We can't even go to the police because she isn't missing even for twelve hours. For fuck's sake if something happens to her ─"

The car came to a screeching halt.

"She found out that I fucking fooled her." Sahil spat harshly, his grip on the steering made his knuckles turn white while Aditya froze.

"She knows?" He asked with a blank face and Sahil nodded curtly.

"Let's head back." Aditya said in a monotone to which Sahil glared at him.

"I'm not going back until I find her." He growled in anger.

"She doesn't want you to find her, Sahil. So fucking move your car and head back because if Ayaansh woke up in the middle of the night, he won't find his mother or even his father. Do you want that?" Aditya yelled furiously and as much as Sahil wanted to kick someone or something, he knew Aditya was right.

So without another word, he started the car and headed towards home.

The ride back was silent, the tension in the air wasn't going to be lessened anytime soon but Sahil only wished, he could stop his heart from beating that rapidly.

He needed to find her.

Aditya was the first one to get out of the car, slamming the door shut, as he marched inside with a furious face. He was fucking mad at Sahil for playing such a dirty game.

Not looking where he was going, he suddenly bumped into someone which enraged him further.

"Watch where─" He froze when he looked up, not because of the man, but seeing the person behind him.

"Srishti," He swallowed the lump in his throat as his eyes softened seeing her state.

"Aditya, listen─" Sahil followed behind and stopped in his tracks. His mind turned blank when his eyes landed on the person infront of him.

His eyes widened and he suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe. He took a step behind but staggered as his legs didn't support him.

"Da─Dad." A whisper and three shocking faces staring at him.

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