The chilly harsh wind slapped Gauri's face in an aggressive manner. The clouds still rumbled, often flashing with thunderbolt. The auto dashed past the road. Less people were on the streets. Many were wrapping up their business for the night, perhaps they didn't want to get caught in the thunderstorm.

Gauri's eyes sweeped over her, now, dead phone's screen. A frown marred her forehead on its own accord. She knew Rudra must have had wanted to speak something really urgent to her. Had there been no such exigency, he wouldn't have contacted her and that too, so frequently.

She started feeling restless. A strange and unreasonable type of anxiety lied heavily upon her chest.

Her hand, involuntarily reached upto her wrist. Deliberately, her fingers flitted over the bangles creating soft clinking sound. That particularly, somehow managed to draw Radhika's attention. Her gaze settled on the bangles and then on her friend's face.

"So, can you tell me, what's with your newly found obsession over turquoise bangles?"

The question jerked Gauri out of her uneasy state. That was quite abrupt for her.

"What do you mean by that? Don't you find these absolutely beautiful?" Gauri asked in an accusing tone.

"Hey, what's wrong with you? The moment I say anything about your bangles you turn into a feral cat protecting its possessions," Radhika said.

"Now I'm 100 percent sure, these bangles have got an interesting story," Radhika asked, wriggling her eyebrows.
"Tell me, did anyone gift these to you?"

Gauri hesitated to meet Radhika's eyes. She nervously scratched her wrist.

"Rudra gifted you?" Radhika said suddenly.

Gauri choked on her breath. Her cheeks flamed up. Was it so obvious?

Radhika's face lit up with a sweet smile which soon turned into teasing ones.

"My, my, where was I that time? How did I miss this? You sly woman, you hid it from me huh?" Radhika almost jumped with exitement.
"Since when was all this blooming and that too, right under my nose?"

The crimson over Gauri's face turned a violent shade.
"I, I don't...don't k...know what you are talking about?" She stammered.

Radhika faced Gauri and smiled brightly.
"That's absolutely bullsh*t, Gauri."

"It's all written over your face. Oh god, oh god! I can't breath. Someone give me freakin' CPR," Radhika exclaimed.

The driver peeped at her through the rear view mirror, contemplating whether or not his passenger has gone insane.

"Shut up Rads. What nonsense are you sprouting," Gauri stumbled with her words in a flushed state.

Radhika stared at her face with widened eyes.
"Bloody hell, Gauri you got to be fu***ng kidding me?"

Gauri slightly cringed at her colourful choice of words. She knew, for the fact, that Radhika had a very good vocabulary of curses and she didn't hesitate to speak it out when triggered.

"OMG, my Jaan, is in love. Jaipur, hear out loud, my Jaan is in love with Ru...," Gauri instantly clamped her palm on Radhika's mouth and pulled her inside who was sticking out her head.

Though, by now, Gauri was severely mortified, still she couldn't help the giggles from escaping her mouth. Radhika too joined her.

Both were completely oblivious to the silent flashing of Radhika's phone with Rudra's caller ID which was safely tucked in her handbag.

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Gauri and Radhika lurched forward due to abrupt brakes applied. The handbag slipped out of Radhika hold and fell, spilling over its contents. She picked and dusted her phone and turned to give an earful to the driver for his reckless driving only to stop seeing the sight infront of her.

Three silver Sumos blocked their way. The driver took out the keys from the ignition and got down the auto. Gauri and Radhika exchanged worried glances.

"Hey, hey. Wh...where are you going? You, hey listen to me..." Radhika yelled in her shuttering voice. That did nothing in stopping the driver. He walked away without a second glance.

Men from one the Sumos disembarked the car. They were burly and tall. More or less, they resembled goons. They started moving towards them.

Gauri's throat parched in fear. She looked around in search of something, anything. She didn't even know what was she looking for.

One of the men who was still standing near the Sumo, probably he was the leader ordered his men,

"Bring both of them here. Although we are supposed to abduct the one who is in black, her friend would perhaps be our entertainment for tonight."

The men grinned maliciously. Gauri's eyes widened in horror. They were here for her and unfortunately, Radhika was trapped in this situation when she wasn't supposed to. No, she couldn't; she wouldn't let Radhika get caught up here. God forbid, if anything happened to her, she wouldn't be able forgive herself.

"Radhika, you need to run. Escape," Gauri whispered.

Radhika's eyes snapped towards Gauri.
"Not without you. I am not going without you."

Gauri's moisture filled eyes gazed at Radhika.

"We both can't escape together. We could easily get caught. Someone has to create distraction. Not to be mentioned, they are here for me. Please Rads, run," she paused.

"Contact someone, anyone. Call for help, Radhika. But first get out of here." Gauri lips quivered a bit.

She slowly got down the auto. She bent down and took out the iron rod that was tucked under the carpet of the the auto. Holding the rod with shivering hands, she stood in front of the goons who appeared amused.

"RUN, Radhika. Call for help, run," Gauri yelled pulling Radhika out of her stupor. Radhika clutched her phone and sprinted from there. Tears streamed down her face.

Tears found their way down Gauri's cheeks too but her eyes were blazing. She swung the rod towards the goon who tried following Radhika. He let an agonizing cry when the rod struck his gut.

The survival instincts kicked in with full force. Gauri blindly, vehemently, recklessly swung the rod around, striking anyone who came forward.

Sweat dripped down her brows. She was panting hard. That didn't stop her from fighting.

One of the men held the rod and tugged it. Gauri tried every possible way to maintain her grip on the rod, however she was no match to his strength.
Her face turned white in horror.

She half stumbled and half ran towards the road. The men chased her like mad wolves.

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Radhika breathed heavily, supporting her hands on her knees. Her orange saree was wet with sweat. She dropped on her knees on the dirty ground. Stifling her sniffles and hiccups, she unlocked her phone. What a friend she was. There Gauri was struggling alone and here she was running like a coward.

But this wasn't the time to repent. She must call for help.

Her phone flashed Rudra's caller ID the instant she unlocked the phone. She picked it.

"What the hell, Radhika? Why is Gauri's phone switched off. Listen, you both need to get out..."

"Ru... Rudra," Radhika wailed stopping Rudra in the middle. He let out a ragged breath.

"I am coming. Don't worry, be where you are."

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Rudra raked his fingers along the length of his hair. Immense animosity painted his face. He paced and roared like a wounded lion. His squad of royal guards especially Bhairav looked at him with slight fear.

The tide of ferocious rage went away as soon as it came. He calmed his features immediately.

"I told you not to mess with me. I warned you. Brace yourself for what's coming your way," Rudra grinned viciously.

"Let's do it your way, dear friend."

The raw savage was evident on his face.

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Gauri thrashed and wiggled in their hold. She stomped on their feet and kicked on their shins. She tried moving away. A hand clasped her wrist, breaking the bangles in process. The glass embedded her skin; tearing it open. She stifled a cry of agony.

She bit the man's hand, tasting the iron flavour of blood who held her and forced him to leave her.

She moved backwards. Before she could break into a run once again, someone roughly yanked her hair causing her to blink back the onslaught of tears.

She frantically wiggled and scratched his arms, face, anything she could get her hands upon, drawing some blood.

The leader touched his cheek where Gauri scratched him. He freed her hair from his hold and with a fierce violence, slapped Gauri.

Her lips burst open and she lost the balance due to the momentum. Her head banged on the hard surface of Sumo. Everything blurred infront of her, soon she faded into oblivion.

"B*tch," the leader spat out.

The goons lifted her and put her in the car. They soon left for their unknown destination.

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"Stop here. This is where they blocked us," Radhika yelled. Her cheeks were wet with trails of tears and her whole body was shivering.

Rudra found her lying on the side of road, almost unconscious. He then, exited the car.

His gaze fell on the broken turquoise bangles blotted with blood, scattered on the ground. He picked it up, the blood stained his palms.

Unfathomable anger surged through him making it almost impossible for him contain.

"Bastards," he growled out.