I AM KIDNAPPED - Part 3

 

Chapter 7: The Secret Life of Ankush

Zawar leaned against the fireplace; arms crossed. “You think Ankush was just another IT guy, don’t you?”

I frowned. “He was an IT guy?”

Bhushan let out a small chuckle. “Not exactly.”

A sinking feeling settled in my gut. “What do you mean?”

Zawar’s blue eyes flickered in the firelight. “He’s…special. We all are.”

I glanced at Samruddhi, who looked just as confused as I felt.

“Ankush isn’t just missing, Stella,” Zawar continued. “He was taken. By people who know what he can do.”

My heart pounded. “And what can he do?”

Zawar took a deep breath. “His eyes.”

I blinked. “What?”

Zawar took a deep breath “We don’t have much time, so we’re going to tell you everything. It might sound insane. But it's all true. 

Bhushan took over. “Ankush’s power lies in his vision. He can see and control his surroundings in moments of danger. Within a few kilometers, he can manipulate situations—make things move, break, shift—just enough to stop a crime before it happens. He doesn’t just see danger, Stella. He prevents it.”

I stared at them, waiting for them to laugh. Waiting for them to admit this was all some elaborate joke. But their faces were dead serious.

I exhaled sharply. “That’s…insane.”

Zawar nodded. “That’s why he never stayed up late. Why he was always tired. He spent his nights protecting people, stopping crimes before they could happen.”

Samruddhi sucked in a breath. “Oh my God.”

My head started spinning. Memories crashed into me—when Ankush zoned out mid-conversation or stared at nothing, lost in thought. I assumed he had ADD. How he always made excuses to sleep early, yet somehow still looked exhausted every morning. I thought he was battling insomnia.

It all made sense now.

“But…why would someone take him?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Zawar’s expression darkened. “Because someone found out. A Russian gang. They have their own ways of gathering information, and somehow, they learned about his abilities. They’ve been planning his abduction for months.”

Bhushan continued. “Ankush discovered their plans just in time. That’s why he staged the breakup. To protect you. To protect his family. He knew they were coming for him.”

Tears burned my eyes. “And now?”

Zawar’s jaw clenched. “Now, we get him back.”

Samruddhi grabbed my hand, squeezing tight.

I wiped my tears. Ankush wasn’t just a good person. He was a superhero. And now, he was out there, trapped, alone, and fighting for his life.

Samruddhi was still in shock. “So…should we understand that even you both are abnormal?”

I nudged her with my elbow and widened my eyes.

“Sorry,” she corrected. “Let me reframe. Are you both too like characters from X-Men?”

I covered my forehead with my hand. This girl is too frank.

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Chapter 8: More Revelation

A tense silence filled the dimly lit room as Zawar and Bhushan exchanged glances. 

"Bhushan and I… we’re not exactly normal as well. We have certain… abilities, due to mutated genes, I guess.”

I leaned in, curiosity mixing with apprehension. Samruddhi was not pleased.

“What kind of abilities?” I asked.

Samruddhi interrupted. “Stella, have you lost your mind? This Is absurd! These guys could be crooks you never know ”

Zawar looked at Bhushan. “We don’t have time. Please do the honours.”

Bhushan gestured to the chair opposite. “Excuse me.”

Confused, I got up and changed my seat. Bhushan sat beside Samruddhi and whispered something to her. She tried to keep a serious face, but to my amaze I caught the hint of a blush.

“Got it. Please continue,” said Samrudhhi, totally confusing me. But we had no time to question it.

Bhushan went first. “I can communicate through the minds of people I know—if they allow me in. It’s not just hearing thoughts; I can plant ideas, send messages, and even create a mental link between multiple people. But I can’t force my way in—someone has to let me in voluntarily.”

Samruddhi’s eyes widened. “That explains so much about you!”

Explain what? We had just met these guys. I noticed the sparkle in Samruddhi’s eyes as she spoke to Bhushan.

“What about you, Zawar?” Samruddhi pressed.

Zawar grinned. “I can change into anyone. Appearance, voice, mannerisms—everything. It’s not just disguising myself; I become that person entirely. It’s how I move unnoticed.”

Samrudhhi gave out a half laugh in amazement. Then immediately covered her mouth and said sorry.

I gasped. “So, you can turn into one of the officers?”

“I can,” Zawar nodded. “But we need a solid plan.”

I stood up with a jerk, pacing. “We need to act fast. I am scared to even think what state he must be”

“I’ve been trying to contact him, but Ankush is in distress,” Bhushan said. “I’ll try again.”

Bhushan closed his eyes. Within seconds, he connected to Ankush’s mind. Ankush was restrained, but awake. He sensed guards nearby.

“Ankush, can you hear me?” Bhushan projected.

“Stay strong. We’re coming for you,” Bhushan assured him before cutting the link.

"They have him underground, likely a secure holding area beneath the main detention center. He’s conscious, but they’re moving him soon. We don’t have much time."

Zawar turned to me. "That blue file —can you show it to me”. Snapping me out of the shock from what I just witnessed.

I pulled it out and handed them to Zawar.

He went through them carefully. We decoded every number writing next to it with pen. There was a line of code at the end of the page which we did not decode. "What are these?" he asked

I shrugged. "Nothing, just some random stuff. Maybe he typed them to play safe."

Bhushan’s eyes darkened. "No. Nothing is random in our world."

Samrudhhi suddenly opened her diary, her fingers moving swiftly through the pages. "Wait... I decoded and wrote it in my dairy. Since it did not make sense, we ignored."

She pointed to a scribbled note and placed it beside the file’s text.

Bhushan leaned in, his breath quickening. "This is a weblink! I’ll quickly get my laptop."

Zawar and I watched as Samrudhhi and Bhushan locked eyes for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them before Bhushan rushed out. Zawar smirked knowingly but said nothing.

The room was charged. Time was slipping away, and Ankush’s life depended on what they would find next.

 

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**** to be continued ****