Aryan stared at Aanya in shock.
Aanya spoke in a weak voice,
"While I was waiting for my cab, I saw Kunal."
Aryan's eyes widened when he heard his name.
Aanya continued,
"He saw me too and started walking toward me."
"So I quickly got into an auto."
She paused and took a few deep breaths.
Aryan tried hard to control his anger as he listened.
Aanya continued,
"Everything was fine at first... but later, he changed the route."
"He started taking me somewhere else."
"Mr. Aryan..."
Her voice trembled.
"He tried to take me somewhere..."
Aanya suddenly started crying.
Aryan gently placed his hand on her head.
"Aanya..."
She tried to continue.
"He... he..."
But before she could finish, her eyes slowly closed, and she became unconscious again.
Aryan looked at her in confusion.
"Aanya?"
He gently shook her shoulder.
"Aanya!"
Seeing that she wasn't responding, he immediately panicked.
"Nurse! Nurse!"
A nurse quickly came into the room.
Aryan looked at her anxiously.
"What happened?"
"She was talking to me just now, but suddenly she became unconscious."
The nurse immediately checked Aanya.
Aryan watched nervously.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Tell me! What happened to her?"
The nurse calmly replied,
"Sir, everything is normal."
"Her blood pressure has dropped a little. She needs to rest, that's all."
Aryan finally let out a breath of relief.
The nurse adjusted Aanya's medication and left the room.
Aryan looked at Aanya again.
But his mind kept replaying her words.
His eyes filled with anger.
The Next Day
Devika came to the hospital.
She found Aryan sitting beside Aanya.
"Aryan beta, you should go home and eat something."
Aryan shook his head.
"I can't leave Aanya alone, Mom."
Devika gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Aryan beta, I understand your concern."
"But don't worry. I'll stay with Aanya."
"You go home, freshen up, eat something, and then come back."
Aryan didn't say anything.
Devika continued,
"Aanya would also tell you the same thing."
Aryan looked at his mother.
Devika smiled reassuringly.
"Go, beta."
"Don't worry. I'll stay with her."
Aryan finally nodded and slowly stood up.
"I'll go."
After leaving from hospital, he called Tara.
Tara answered.
"Hello, Aryan ji?"
"Tara, tell me where you and Aanya met last."
Tara gave him the address.
"Okay."
Aryan ended the call.
Tara looked at her phone in confusion.
Why did Aryan ji ask for the address?
At the Police Station
Aryan sat in front of a police officer.
The officer pointed toward the CCTV footage playing on the monitor.
"Mr. Mehra, as you can see from this CCTV footage, your wife got into this auto."
Aryan watched the footage closely.
"The driver's face isn't clear."
The officer nodded.
"Yes, sir. But we can see the auto's number plate clearly."
Aryan looked at the monitor again.
The officer continued,
"So, we'll try to find him as soon as possible."
Aryan asked,
"What about Kunal?"
"We're searching for him too."
"Sir, don't worry. We'll find both of them."
The officer paused and added,
"We'll see how long they can escape from us."
Aryan nodded.
"Okay."
He stood up and left.
Later at the Hospital
Aryan spoke with the doctor.
The doctor said,
"Mr. Mehra, her condition is much better now. We've shifted her out of the ICU."
"If everything remains stable, she should be able to go home after three days."
"But there's one important thing you need to keep in mind."
"She needs plenty of rest, and she shouldn't take any stress."
Aryan nodded.
"Okay."
"Thank you, doctor."
A Little Later
Aanya slowly regained consciousness.
She opened her eyes and looked around.
Devika noticed immediately.
"Aanya beta... you're awake."
Aanya looked at her weakly.
Devika, Prerna, and Nandini moved closer to her.
Prerna smiled.
"Bhabhi, you'll recover very soon."
Aanya gave a small smile.
She looked around the room.
"Where is Mr. Aryan?"
Prerna replied,
"Bhai? I think he went to meet the doctor."
Just then, they heard the sound of the door opening.
Prerna smiled.
"Bhai is here."
Aanya turned toward the door.
Aryan slowly walked into the room.
He looked at Aanya.
Aanya looked back at him.
Devika asked,
"Aryan, what did the doctor say?"
Aryan replied,
"He said there's nothing to worry about."
Everyone felt relieved.
Aanya continued looking at Aryan.
Suddenly, Nandini said,
"Well, if everything is fine, then we should leave."
Aryan immediately looked at her seriously.
So did Devika and Prerna.
Nandini quickly tried to cover herself.
"I mean... if we leave, Aanya can get some rest, right?"
Aryan looked away angrily.
Devika frowned.
"What are you saying, sister-in-law?"
"If you want to leave, Aryan will tell the driver to drop you home."
Nandini nodded.
"Okay. I'll go."
Devika looked at Aryan.
Aryan took out his phone, called the driver, and walked out of the room.
Nandini looked at Aanya.
"Take care."
Aanya gave her a small smile.
Nandini then walked out.
Outside the room, Aryan finished the call with the driver.
Nandini approached him.
"Aryan, did you tell the driver?"
Aryan replied seriously,
"Yes. The driver is waiting for you."
"Oh, okay."
Nandini was about to leave when Aryan suddenly called her.
"One minute."
Nandini stopped and turned toward him.
"What happened, Aryan beta?"
Aryan looked at her seriously.
"Aunt, you are elder to me, so I'm telling you this respectfully."
"Please stay away from Aanya."
Nandini immediately frowned.
"But Aryan, what did I—"
Aryan cut her off.
"I haven't finished my sentence yet."
Nandini became silent.
Aryan continued,
"You don't need to show fake concern or interfere in her matters."
"It would be better for you to stay away from her and stop interfering in her life."
Nandini looked at him.
"But Aryan, I genuinely cared about her."
Aryan gave her a sarcastic look.
"Yeah... I have seen how much you cared about her."
Nandini became silent.
Aryan continued,
"Even before, you used to interfere in Aanya's matters."
"But from now on, you can't do that anymore."
"If you can't stay here without interfering in Aanya's matters, then you can leave this house."
Nandini looked at him in shock.
Aryan continued calmly,
"I'll book a flight ticket for you, and you can leave."
"And from now on, I won't even consider your age when it comes to protecting Aanya."
Nandini stared at him for a moment.
"I understood, Aryan."
She turned around and quietly walked away.
Aryan went back inside the room.
Devika looked at him.
"Did your aunt leave?"
"Yeah."
Aryan then looked at Aanya.
Aanya noticed his gaze but looked away.
Just then, Prerna's phone rang.
She answered the call.
"Yeah, Aahil? You came?"
"Which floor are you on?"
She listened for a moment and then looked at Devika.
"Mom, Aahil's family has come. I'll go and bring them."
Devika nodded.
"Okay."
Aanya suddenly looked at Devika.
"Aunty, did you also tell my parents about the accident?"
Aryan looked at Aanya.
Devika shook her head.
"No, beta. Aryan told me not to tell them."
Aanya looked at Aryan for a moment, then turned toward Devika.
"Please don't tell them, aunty."
Devika nodded.
"Okay, beta."
Prerna soon returned with Aahil and his family.
Aahil walked toward Aanya.
"Aanya, how are you feeling now?"
Aanya gave him a small smile.
"Much better."
Asma looked worried.
"But how did this happen?"
Aryan answered,
"It was a car accident."
Aanya glanced at him.
Salima smiled reassuringly.
"Aanya, you'll definitely recover soon."
Aanya smiled faintly.
Ahad asked,
"When will she be discharged?"
"Within three days," Aryan replied.
Aahil looked at Prerna.
"I think we should postpone our wedding, Prerna."
Prerna nodded slowly.
Aanya heard this and immediately spoke in a weak voice.
"No... don't do that."
Everyone looked at her.
Aanya tried to sit up.
Aryan immediately went toward her.
"Aanya, what are you doing?"
Aanya looked at him.
"Mr. Aryan, please tell them not to postpone the wedding because of me."
Aryan looked at her in disbelief.
"What are you saying, Aanya?"
"Look at your condition. How can we have the wedding now?"
Aanya tried to convince him.
"Mr. Aryan, please. I don't want the wedding to be postponed."
Aahil and Prerna looked at each other.
Aanya continued,
"I'm fine."
"There is still one week left before the wedding, right?"
Aryan nodded.
"Yes."
"And during this one week, you need to take complete rest."
Aanya shook her head.
"I'm fine, Aryan ji."
"Please don't let the wedding be postponed."
Aryan didn't know what to say.
Aanya became anxious.
"Mr. Aryan, please... tell them not to postpone it."
Aryan noticed that she was becoming stressed.
He immediately tried to calm her.
"Okay, Aanya."
He gently held her face in his hands.
"The wedding will happen as you said, okay?"
"No postponement."
"So, calm down now and get some rest."
Aanya slowly relaxed.
She nodded and lay back down.
Then after Aahil said,
"We'll leave now."
Everyone said goodbye and left.
After Aahil and his family left, Devika looked at Aryan and signaled for him to come outside.
Aryan noticed and followed her.
Once they were outside, Devika looked at him seriously.
"What are you saying, Aryan?"
"How can we go ahead with the wedding in Aanya's condition?"
"Why did you say yes to her?"
Aryan sighed.
"Mom, I didn't have any other option."
"Didn't you see how stressed Aanya was becoming?"
"The doctor clearly said she shouldn't take any stress."
"So how could I say no to her?"
Devika thought about what he had said.
"You're right, Aryan."
"We can't let Aanya get stressed."
Aryan nodded.
Later That Night
Aanya suddenly woke up.
She felt thirsty.
She looked around and noticed Aryan sleeping beside her.
I don't want to wake him.
She slowly tried to get out of bed.
She carefully moved her feet toward the floor, but suddenly, she lost her balance.
"Aah!"
Aryan immediately woke up.
"Aanya!"
He quickly reached out and held her before she could fall.
Aanya looked at him.
Aryan asked worriedly,
"Why did you get down from the bed?"
"I was feeling thirsty," Aanya replied softly.
"You could have just asked me."
Aanya looked down.
"I thought you were sleeping."
Aryan didn't say anything.
He carefully helped her back onto the bed.
Aanya sat down.
Aryan took the glass of water and handed it to her.
"Here."
Aanya drank the water.
Aryan looked at her and with concern,
"If you need anything, please ask me, okay?"
Aanya didn't say anything.
Aryan asked again,
"Okay?"
Aanya slowly nodded.
Aryan then reached over to adjust her blanket.
But the moment he touched it, Aanya suddenly remembered the incident with the auto driver.
Her breathing became heavy.
She started looking frightened.
Aryan immediately noticed.
"Aanya?"
"What happened?"
Aanya looked at him nervously.
"Nothing, Mr. Aryan."
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
Aryan was shocked.
"Aanya... why are you crying?"
Aanya wiped her tears, but more rolled down her cheeks.
"I remembered that auto driver, Mr. Aryan."
Aryan's expression became serious.
Aanya continued through her tears,
"He... he tried to..."
She couldn't finish that sentence.
A sudden wave of panic washed over her.
"What if he comes looking for me, Mr. Aryan?" She asked, her voice filled fear.
Aryan gently held her hands.
"Aanya, relax."
"Look at me."
"I'm here."
"Don't be afraid."
"I won't let anything happen to you again."
Aanya slowly calmed down.
Her breathing became normal again.
Aryan stayed beside her until she finally fell asleep.
He looked at her for a long moment.
His expression hardened.
I won't spare them, Aanya.
I promise you.
Aryan quietly left the room.
Once he was outside, he took out his phone and called someone.
"Hello?"
"I want you to do one thing."
"You have to do it as soon as possible."
The person on the other end asked,
"What should I do, Mr. Mehra?"
Aryan explains him everything.
After explaining everything, Aryan's voice turned firm.
"I need you to find them as soon as possible."
The person immediately said,
"Yes, sir. I'll do it."
"I'll find them as soon as possible."
Aryan continued,
"I've already informed the police, but I still want you to find them."
"Yes, sir."
Aryan ended the call.
He stood there for a moment and looked through the glass door.
Aanya was sleeping peacefully inside the room.
Aryan's expression softened as he looked at her.
---
The Next Day
The police officers went to the auto driver's house.
His wife and children were inside.
The officers knocked on the door.
After a moment, the auto driver's wife opened it.
The moment she saw the police standing outside, her heart sank. She immediately realized that something must have happened—and that her husband was somehow involved.
One of the officers stepped forward and asked,
"Is this Ravi's house?"
"Yes, sir," his wife replied cautiously.
"Who are you?"
"I'm his wife, sir."
The officer nodded and asked,
"Does your husband drive an auto?"
"Yes, sir," she answered.
The officer's expression turned serious.
"Where is Ravi?"
His wife immediately became nervous but tried to remain calm.
"Sir... Ravi isn't here."
"Where is he?"
"He went to a camp."
"When will he come back?"
"He'll come back after a week, sir."
The officers exchanged a look.
His wife then asked nervously,
"What happened, sir? Why are you looking for my husband?"
The officer glanced inside the house and noticed the children standing nearby, watching them curiously.
Not wanting them to frighten them, he kept his expression calm and spoke casually.
"Nothing. We're just looking for him for some routine questioning."
She remained silent.
The officers eventually left.
As they walked away, one officer said,
"Sir, what should we do now?"
The senior officer looked back at the house.
"I think his wife is lying."
"You stay here and keep an eye on the house."
The officer nodded.
"Okay, sir."
—-
End Of Chapter 98.