You Are My Unique Gift

Descending into Madness

KOMAL'S POV:

The drive to Vihaan's private beach felt like a descent into a fever dream. Each mile stretched into an eternity, the anxiety gnawing at my insides mirroring the relentless rumble of the tires.

The beach's tranquility, usually a sight to behold, faded into insignificance as I neared the secluded haven, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

Stepping onto the powdery sand, I was met by the Bahamian sun, casting long, menacing shadows across the seemingly deserted beach. The mansion, once a symbol of luxury, now loomed like a silent sentinel, its grand facade offering no answers to the questions plaguing my mind.

"Vihaan!" I called out. My voice echoed across the stillness, bouncing off the empty walls of the mansion. The only response was the rustle of palm leaves whispering secrets in the salty breeze. Frustration lodged itself in my throat as if someone was asking me to swallow a bitter pill.

"Damn you, Malhotra!" I hissed, my voice laced with venom. "Show yourself, you coward!"

The silence mocked me, its weight pressing down on my chest, suffocating. Just as I was about to retrace my steps, a glint of light caught my eye.

An envelope was nestled amongst the vibrant flowers bordering a secluded pathway. My heart lurched.

Ripping it open, I devoured the message scrawled within:

"Trace the arrow of love back to my heart, or brace yourself for the pull of irresistible passion!"

An arrow, drawn with a flourish, pointed towards the path above the flower bed. My breath hitched. What is he up to? Did he think I was some lovesick fool, ready to follow his breadcrumbs?

"Forget it, Malhotra," I spat out, my voice laced with anger and fear. But my resolve wavered. What if Divirath was in danger? What if Vihaan had done something to him? The Malhotras had a past I didn't want to repeat.

My legs moved before my mind could catch up. I followed the arrows, each one a mocking reminder of my helplessness, leading me deeper into the maze Vihaan had crafted.

The pathway culminated at a gazebo, adorned with an unsettling beauty. Soft lights twinkled like malevolent eyes, casting an ethereal glow on the scene.

And there he stood, Vihaan, his silhouette a dark monolith against the vast canvas of the ocean. His eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were feasting the vastness of the ocean as his back faced me.

The gazebo which was meant to be a haven, felt like a trap. And I walked right into it like a damn fool!

"Where is Divirath?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of terror and defiance. "What have you done to him?"

The acrid tang of cigarette smoke hung heavy in the air, mingling with the salty spray of the ocean. Vihaan flicked the ash, watching it dance on the wind before dissolving into oblivion. He took another drag, savoring the burn while I watched his back muscles hunching with each move.

He was enormous!

"Vihaan! I'm talking to you!" My voice, ragged with fear and frustration, cut through the silence. "Where. Is. Divirath?"

His response was slow, deliberate. He turned, but not towards me. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, seemingly oblivious to my presence. My furrowed brows, etched with impatience, relaxed in confusion.

"Who are you?" I asked, scanning the surroundings for any sign of Vihaan. My heart skipped a beat as panic clawed at my throat.

"Sawai Rajeev Singh Chouhan, at your service, Ma'am. I'll be your chauffeur for the day," came a deep, gravelly voice. I narrowed my eyes at the man I didn't recognize. Broad-shouldered, dark-eyed, with a glint in his gaze that sent shivers down my spine.

He bowed, the gesture mockingly formal.

"Sawai Rajeev Singh Chouhan?" I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper. He didn't appear in Vihaan's usual entourage, but then again, things had changed since I'd pulled out of his world. He'd become a shadow, a phantom, his power growing like a malignant tumor.

"Where is your boss?" I demanded, the question catching in my throat.

Rajeev's smile, devoid of warmth, sent a fresh wave of fear washing over me. "He's where he's supposed to be," he drawled, his voice laced with a dangerous undercurrent. "waiting for you. Please, follow me."

"What more does he want?" I exclaimed, frustration bubbling over. "He wanted me here and I'm here! I ain't moving an inch!"

"Ah, you do have a choice. I am not allowed to lay a hand on you." His calm voice responded my outburst, heavy and suffocating.

My anger morphed into a cold dread that coiled in my stomach. I whipped out my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed Vihaan's number. This time, I didn't wait for him to answer before unleashing my fury.

"What twisted game are you playing, you sicko? Where are you, and where is Divirath? Enough of this madness! Tell me now, or I'm calling the police," My voice, raw with desperation, echoed into the void. "And my brother!"

"Try if you wanna see Fiance dearest becoming tomorrow's headlines or you could board the boat and sail your way to me. Time is ticking by, each second counts. Hurry up, Little Dove."

"You wouldn't," I choked out, voice barely a whisper lost in the wind.

His laugh, devoid of humor, shattered the silence. "Oh, wouldn't I? Remember, I know everything, Komal. Every secret, every weakness. You've underestimated me at your peril. It's your choice if you wanna make the same mistake."

And he hung up again. I kicked the sand angrily before I turned to Rajeev.

"Your boss is dying today." I jabbed my finger in his chest. But shivered when nothing but hardness teased my senses.

He gestured towards the boat, no longer a potential escape but a harbinger of unknown horrors. "Wanna board it now?" His voice brooked no argument. Every fiber of my being screamed against it, yet my body, numb with fear, followed the command.

Stepping onto the boat, the familiar creak of the wood felt ominous. The scent of the sea, once inviting, now reeked of danger. As the engine roared to life, tearing me away from the shore, I clung to the railing, the ocean vast and unforgiving around us. My eyes sought any sign of Divirath, any indication of his whereabouts, but the horizon offered only mocking emptiness.

The journey seemed to stretch into an eternity, each wave a reminder of my helplessness. Fear morphed into a cold anger. I wouldn't succumb to his threats. I wouldn't be his pawn.

After hours of sailing, the boat suddenly sputtered to a halt, not at the bustling Nassau harbor I'd anticipated, but at a secluded pier shrouded in shadows. A massive, black helicopter loomed like a menacing leviathan, swallowing any remaining hope I'd clung to.

Panic clawed at my throat. "He's not here! Where is Divirath? Where are we going?" The words tumbled out, punctuated by ragged breaths.

The silence around me was deafening, broken only by the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the pier. Rajeev offered no answer. He simply inclined his head towards the helicopter, a silent command that sent a jolt of fear through my veins.

The unknown journey terrified me. Not for Divirath, a pang of guilt twisting my gut. My fear was for myself. I had bruised someone's ego. That someone was imposing, important, and wasn't used to taking no for an answer. I had challenged his authority.

What retribution would he unleash? Would he mock me, belittle me, use my womanhood as a weapon? The Vihaan I once knew wouldn't, but the man ruling on the throne was a stranger fueled by a warped sense of power.

"Wh...what does he want? Where are you taking me?"

"I can't tell you," Rajeev grunted. "Again, I am not allowed to touch you. I will drop you back in Nassau if you want. If you wanna proceed," He wobbled his jaw towards the black beast. "Please, get on board."

My legs screamed at me to stay rooted, to turn back and flee the chilling silence of the deserted pier. But the echo of Divirath's name in my head, the gnawing fear for his safety, was a relentless tug-of-war against my instincts.

"I am responsible for this. His life is under threat because of me. Vihaan is doing this because of me. I could have ended it rationally. I could have told him the truth..."

Inhaling a shuddering breath, I made my decision.

Stepping into the helicopter felt like signing a pact with the devil, a one-way ticket into an abyss with no guarantee of return. The metallic glint of the blade, catching the dying sunlight, sent shivers down my spine. Was this a twisted escape route, or a descent into a nightmare I couldn't escape?

With a shaky breath, I crossed the threshold, the metallic clang of the door sealing my fate. The rotors roared to life, a mechanical scream that swallowed the silence, lifting me away from the pier and into the darkening sky.

But as the ground shrank beneath me, a new fear bloomed in my chest, cold and suffocating. The helicopter wasn't turning towards the mainland, or any known island. Instead, it was heading straight for the vast, churning darkness of the open ocean.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing the question that screamed in my mind: Where the hell was Vihaan taking me?