“It was so much fun,” Nilanjana went on. “You got dizzy after you drank the hot chocolate, and I told you I’d take you to Samrat’s room so he could check on you. You followed me like a lamb. And passed out before you realised you were in the wrong room. Sanjay and I left you there all night, and in the morning, I told Samrat that Sanjay needed to speak to him about some new treatment he’d heard about for Adhiraj. He came running, as I knew he would, because he loved his brother. That’s how easy it was to ruin your life, you stupid bitch.”
“Well, the joke’s on you,” I said with a smile. “I can never be destroyed by the likes of you. I built a new life for myself.”
That’s when the big man interrupted me.
“Yes, well, that ends now. You’ve been playing Disney Princess in this forest for a very long time, and I’ve had enough of it,” he said coldly.
I smiled at Nilanjana.
“I’m impressed. Your bhaadey ka tattu sounds very fancy,” I sneered.
She went pale with fear and shot him a nervous glance.
“That’s no bhaadey ka tattu, you stupid bitch. That is a very important man. That’s…”
“Enough,” he growled, and she shut up promptly.
“But I’d really like to know why you’re so allergic to me playing Disney Princess. Are you a poacher? Am I interfering with your business by rescuing injured animals and abandoned cubs?” I asked, trying to keep them talking to buy some time. Where the hell was Samrat when you needed him?
“That doesn’t concern you,” he replied. “I’m done talking. Nilanjana, take your child and get out of here.”
“Stop,” I yelled. “Don’t ruin Navya’s life. Everyone knows I followed you here. If something happens to me, you will be on the hook for it. How the hell are you going to raise a child while you’re on the run?”
“Don’t tell me how to raise my child,” she shrieked. “I know how to take care of her.”
She grabbed Navya’s arm and began to walk away with her.
In desperation, I yelled for Samrat, hoping he’d answer. But there was no reply.
The big man came closer to me, circling me with his gun cocked. I began to back away slowly because I had to try and get to my jeep. That was the only chance of escape that I had. Just as he took aim at me again, Samrat leapt out of the bushes and kicked the gun out of his hands.
With a roar of steroidal rage, the man pounced on Samrat, but he was too quick for him.
“Long time, no see, Nadeem Qureshi,” he said furiously, as he drop-kicked him to the ground, and began to punch him in the head.
CHAPTER 20
SAMRAT
Dheer, Ranveer, and Ranvijay had insisted on coming with me when I ran down the stairs to go after Nilanjana. From what the nanny said, she had seemed very disturbed, and in that state, I didn’t know what she’d do to my niece.
My blood ran cold at the thought of something happening to Navya or to Meher, who had gone after them without a second thought. Why the hell hadn’t she waited for me?
I had barely driven for ten minutes when we came upon both Meher’s jeep and Nilanjana’s car. Unfortunately, both were empty.
I held a finger to my lips, and the guys stayed quiet.
“I’m going to try and track them,” I whispered, and began to examine the damp, muddy ground for footprints.
There were two sets of smallish adult footprints going in the same direction, which I hoped were Nilanjana and Meher’s. Iwalked soft-footed, careful not to step on any twigs, and the guys followed me just as silently.
Just then, I heard Meher’s voice. And Nilanjana’s. But there was also a third voice that I didn’t recognise. We crept closer to the voices, and I pointed to spots where the guys could position themselves to wait for my signal.
Once they were in place, I moved ahead until I came upon a little clearing. I could see Meher clearly, and she was calling out to Nilanjana, who was walking away with Navya.
Suddenly, Meher screamed my name, and it took every bit of control I had to not run to her. But I had to go after Nilanjana before she disappeared with my niece. Just as I had taken one step in that direction, the man whose voice I’d heard came into view, and my blood turned to ice.
Nadeem-fucking-Qureshi.
