The Unwanted Departure.

A few days passed. Sidharth had learned Shehnaaz's routine perfectly. He knew when she finished her shift at "Spice & Brews." One evening, as Shehnaaz locked up the restaurant with Priya, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. Rohan stepped out, his imposing figure blocking their path.

Shehnaaz and Priya exchanged a worried look. They recognized Rohan as one of the men who had been with the intense man, Mr. Shukla, at the restaurant.

Before either of them could speak, Sidharth emerged from the car. His eyes were fixed on Shehnaaz, his expression unreadable.

"Shehnaaz Gill," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You're coming with me."

Shehnaaz was stunned. "What? I don't even know you!" she stammered, fear creeping into her voice.

Priya stepped forward, trying to be brave. "Leave her alone! She hasn't done anything to you!"

Sidharth's gaze flickered to Priya, a cold warning in his eyes. "This isn't your concern."

He then turned back to Shehnaaz, his presence radiating an undeniable power. "I'm not asking. You are coming with me." He reached out and firmly took her arm.

Shehnaaz tried to pull away, panic rising in her chest. "Let go of me! Where are you taking me?"

"To my home," Sidharth stated simply, his grip tightening when she resisted.

Priya tried to intervene, but Rohan stepped closer, his sheer size intimidating her into silence. Tears welled up in Shehnaaz's eyes as she looked at her friend, a silent plea for help.

"Please," Shehnaaz begged Sidharth, her voice trembling. "I have to work. I have my life here."

Sidharth ignored her pleas. He steered her towards the waiting car, his grip like iron. Shehnaaz stumbled, her mind racing with fear and confusion. She glanced back at Priya, who stood frozen on the sidewalk, tears streaming down her face.

Rohan opened the back door of the car, and Sidharth practically pushed Shehnaaz inside. He slid in beside her, the expensive leather seats a stark contrast to the worn-out bus seats she was used to. The door slammed shut, cutting off Priya's tearful calls.

The car sped away, leaving behind Shehnaaz's familiar world. Trapped beside this powerful stranger, she had no idea where she was being taken or what he wanted from her. All she knew was that her life had just been violently ripped apart, and she was now at the mercy of a man she barely knew, a man whose intense gaze promised nothing but fear. The journey to his mansion felt like a descent into the unknown, a terrifying departure from everything she held dear.

Inside the luxurious car, Shehnaaz huddled in the corner, as far away from Sidharth as the plush leather seats would allow. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. Tears streamed down her face, silent and hot. She couldn't understand what was happening. Why her? What did this powerful, scary man want?

She glanced at Sidharth, who sat beside her, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his expression like stone. He seemed completely unaffected by her distress, as if abducting people was an everyday occurrence for him. His silence was just as terrifying as his forceful actions. It created a wall between them, making her feel utterly alone and helpless.

"Please," she finally choked out, her voice hoarse with tears. "Just tell me why you're doing this. What do you want?"

Sidharth didn't turn to look at her. His voice, when he finally spoke, was low and devoid of emotion. "You're coming home with me, Shehnaaz."

"Home?" she repeated, the word sounding foreign and wrong. "That's not my home. My home is... was... my little room." The realization that she might never see that small, familiar space again sent another wave of despair crashing over her.

"Your life is changing," Sidharth stated, his tone brooking no argument. "You will get used to your new home."

His words sent a shiver down her spine. "New home"? It sounded like a prison sentence. She looked out the window, the familiar streets of Hyderabad blurring past, each passing landmark pulling her further away from her old life. Priya's tear-streaked face flashed in her mind, and a fresh wave of guilt washed over her for leaving her friend alone.

She tried to speak again, to plead, to reason, but the words caught in her throat. She was just an orphan, a simple waitress. What power did she have against a man like him, a man who seemed to command the very air around him?

Sidharth finally turned his head, his dark eyes meeting hers. There was a flicker of something unreadable in their depths, a hint of... what? Pity? Regret? She couldn't tell. His gaze was intense, making her feel like a trapped insect under a microscope.

"Don't cry," he said, his voice surprisingly soft, yet still carrying an undercurrent of command. "You'll be safe with me."

Safe? The word felt like a cruel joke. He had just dragged her against her will into a world she knew nothing about. How could she possibly feel safe?

The car continued its swift journey, the imposing gates of a large estate soon looming in the distance. As they drove through the long, winding driveway, Shehnaaz caught her first glimpse of Shukla Mansion - a vast, formidable building that seemed to swallow the very light around it. Fear, cold and sharp, pierced through her despair.

This wasn't just a home; it was a fortress, and she was now trapped within its walls, at the mercy of the man beside her, the powerful and enigmatic Sidharth Shukla. Her innocent life had just been plunged into his dark world, and the future stretched before her, terrifying and unknown.

The limousine glided to a smooth stop in front of the grand entrance of Shukla Mansion. The sheer size and imposing architecture of the building overwhelmed Shehnaaz. It was nothing like the small, bustling neighborhood she knew. This place felt cold, distant, and utterly alien.

Rohan opened her car door, and Sidharth gestured for her to step out. Shehnaaz hesitated, her legs trembling. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to escape, but she was surrounded by his men, their silent presence a clear warning. With a deep, shuddering breath, she forced herself out of the car.

The cool night air hit her face, doing little to calm the heat of her fear. She looked around at the meticulously manicured gardens, the towering pillars of the mansion, the heavy, dark wood of the massive front doors. It felt less like a home and more like a fortress, designed to keep people in, not out.

Sidharth took her arm again, this time his grip less forceful, more like a possessive guidance. He led her up the wide stone steps and into the mansion. The interior was even more overwhelming than the exterior. Vast halls stretched before her, adorned with expensive artwork and gleaming marble floors that echoed their footsteps. The silence within the mansion was heavy, broken only by the soft sounds of their movements. It felt like a place where voices were rarely raised, where every command was obeyed without question.

Shehnaaz felt small and insignificant in these grand surroundings, her simple clothes and frightened demeanor a stark contrast to the opulence that surrounded her. She looked at Sidharth, her eyes pleading for some explanation, some sign of humanity.

He finally met her gaze, his expression still difficult to read. "Welcome to your new home, Shehnaaz."

The words sent a chill down her spine. This wasn't a home; it was a gilded cage. She was trapped, a delicate bird caught in the clutches of a powerful predator. As he led her deeper into the labyrinthine mansion, Shehnaaz felt a profound sense of despair wash over her. Her innocent life had been stolen, and she was now in the heart of his dark world, with no idea what the future held, only the chilling certainty that her life would never be the same. The grand doors closed behind them, sealing her fate within the imposing walls of Shukla Mansion.

___________________________

VOTE/COMMENT/FOLLOW

TAKE CARE .