Page 56 of Shattered

“I can’t wear your clothes,” I whisper with a hint of hesitation in my voice.

He leans forward, bringing his face to mine, “Yes, you can.”

I bite my lips, still uncertain. “Maybe I should just go home.”

“You’re not going home in this state,” Reyansh asserts, his tone firm and resolute.

“Reyansh…”I begin, but before I can argue, he places a finger over my lips, silencing me.

“Kavya,stop overthinking. I just want you to relax and get some sleep. Today has been overwhelming for you, and I can’t leave you alone. I want you here with me.”

“Okay,” I say, and his face softens.Deep down, I know I should insist on going home, but the way he’s making me feel safe and cared for is something I need right now. For once, I want to be selfish and prioritise what I want in my life ratherthan always do what’s right or makes sense.And if that means staying with him here, then so be it.

“If it makes you more comfortable, I’ll take the couch,” he says softly, gesturing towards the couch in the corner, but I shake my head.

“You don’t have to; I trust you enough to share the same bed.”

“Your trust means the world to me.” He touches his lips to my forehead in a soft kiss that feels like a whisper, then he pulls back. “I will be back soon, sweetheart,” he rises to his feet and steps out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

I pull my feet up to my chest and wrap my arms around my knees, resting my chin on them as I continue to sit on his bed, staring at the closed door. My mind races as I try to wrap my head around everything that has happened. All of it is incredibly complicated, and I have a feeling that I’m just scratching the surface of what could be even worse. The image of the struggling woman keeps flashing in my mind,and my chest feels heavier with each passing second. I rock back and forth, praying fervently that it’s not my sister.

Minutes seem to stretch on forever, and Reyansh still hasn’t returned. I close my eyes to rest, but my mind refuses to quiet down. Instead, I find myself constantly replaying scenarios in my head, trying to piece together clues that might lead to the truth.

With a sigh of frustration, I open my eyes, realising that sitting here and letting my thoughts spin out of control isn’t helping. I know I won’t find any answers in this moment, and I’m only adding to my stress and anxiety. I’d rather heed Reyansh’s suggestion of freshening up.

Summoning all my willpower, I rise to my feet and make my way to the bathroom, hopingthat the cool splash of water will bring some relief and clear my mind.

Chapter 28

Reyansh

“This guy is sick. You need to step up—Kavya’s life is on the line, and I can’t take any chances,” I say, locking eyes with Officer Viraj as we stand by his jeep.

The fire raging inside me refuses to quiet down as Kavya’s terrified face flashes before my eyes. Her fear tears at my heart, and I’m desperate to be by her side to reassure her—and myself—that she’s safe. But I have to push through this conversation. I won’t rest until she’s out of danger.

He nods. “Mr. Kundra, I’m doing everything in my power to locate him quickly.”

“This time, I need you to take serious action on this case. You let it slip through the cracks once, but I won’t tolerate it happening again,” I say and watch him gulp.

“I did apologise to Kavya, and I apologise to you as well for the oversight last time, Mr. Kundra. Rest assured, it won’t happen again.While I may not have the full support of the police, I have connections that allow me to work on the case discreetly.”

I exhale deeply, rubbing the back of my neck, tension evident in my voice. “Just keep me in the loop.”

“Of course, I’ll keep you updated. Additionally, if your friend Sidharth uncovers any clues in the video, kindly inform me immediately.”

“I will,” I nod.I have given Nisha’s mobile to Karan, who is now on his way to Sidharth for further examination. Officer Viraj also agreed that Sidharth is the best person for this task since he has the necessary resources at his disposal.

“We’ll get him, Mr. Reyansh.”

“I know we will. There’s no other option,” I state firmly,my voice taking on a steely edge, not bothering about sounding arrogant or rude. My point is crystal clear—my focus is solely on ensuring Kavya’s safety. Nothing else matters.Done with the conversation, I add, “As much as I wish I could stay and talk more, Officer, I need to be with Kavya now.”

He nods and clears his throat. “Of course, Mr. Reyansh. I’ll make a move, but I’ll stay in touch,”he says before slipping into his jeep and driving away.

I watch the jeep disappear into the distance and run a frustrated hand over my face. It’s daunting not having the answers to ease Kavya’s mind. It’s a damn struggle to figure out how to calm her when uncertainty looms large.

Taking a few deep breaths to steady myself, I make my way to my room,hoping that I can comfort her.

I slowly push open the door to my room and stand there for a moment, feeling my heart squeeze in my chest at the sight before me. The soft light of the night lamp casts a warm glow, illuminating Kavya sitting on the edge of the bed. She’s wearing one of my t-shirts and track pants, a sight that should make me smile, but her red and puffy eyes from crying tug at my heartstrings, causing an ache deep within. Her hands tremble as she holds her knees to her chest, her gaze distant.

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