As he said this, the sound of the main door being opened reverberated in the room.

Ishani, jumping up, jumped towards the door. It was slightly open. She motioned at Vikrant with a bewildered and frightened look. She knew that there was something menacing in what he said. but it was still more dangerous to remain there. And she ran to the door without wasting another second.

Vikrant smiled in a devilish manner.

Ishani stopped just as she came to the door.

"Ishani! Please, save me! They'll kill me!"

She was struck by the frightened voice like an electric shock. Her limbs fell to rest, and her feet were immobile. Slowly, she turned around--

And such an object made her blood run cold.

Kriti was a few feet away, standing trembling in fear. One of the guards was keeping a knife on her throat, and another one was standing beside her without saying a word.

Kriti screamed once more, and tears ran down her face when she saw Ishani.

"Ishani! Please save me! I do not even know who they are—they broke into my house, kidnapped me, and took me here! I even know not where this place is--

She paused in the middle of the sentence, and her face changed from something other than terror to shock, as though she had suddenly known something.

In the beginning, Kriti could not think clearly as she suddenly looked at Ishani standing in front of her because she was terrified. Subconsciously she screamed for help; she did not know what was going on. But as her senses slowly came back to her, she stared at Ishani in shock and disbelief.

And so Ishani, what is your business here? asked she, whose voice shook. "Did they kidnap you too—"

Vikrant, who had been idling on the sofa, lighting a cigarette, came to his feet before she could complete her sentence. He caused a puff of smoke to fly in the air and turned about with a devilish grin and his eyes fixed on Kriti.

The eyes of Kriti are opened in horror at the sight of him.

"Mr. Vikrant..." she whispered.

It all exploded on her that Vikrant knew all—that this was all his handiwork. Her terrified face turned to Ishani, who was standing close to the door crying with tears. Kriti gazed at her queryingly and was silently asking, "How did this happen?"

Ishani helplessly shook her head and cried her eyes out. Kriti now turned back to Vikrant, who was gazing at her directly and taking a cigarette calmly. She was even angrier at his cold treatment of her.

And how can you do this to us, Mr. Vikrant? She shouted furiously. Say unto these men, "Release me now, or thou shalt repent it!"

The guard with the knife on her throat shouted, Shut up! Open your mouth again and I will cut your head off!

Kriti stood still, and her voice was strangled in her throat with fear.

Panicking Ishani ran up to her. Her voice shook, as she begged of the guard,

"Please, let her go! Don't hurt her! Please—do, pray, leave Kriti alone!

"You are asking the wrong man to get you out, you wretch," said the guard, and grinned cruelly. Begging us won't help you."