Those of you who missed the previous chapter, here is the link :
https://www.tellyupdates.com/in-the-name-of-love-chapter-24/#comments
@Niyati12 Thanks a lot
@NA Thank you dear
@Mahira Ok here are your 5 crores đ°đ°đ°đ° (hehe)
@Prapti0809 Thank you dear
@Priyanshi_13 Thanks a lot
@1234Aayu Thanks a lot. Haha yes, I forgot that now âpositiveâ has an altogether different meaning .
@Aisha08 Aww thank you so much. It really means a lot to me. (^hearts^)
@Shivangi Thanks a lot
@Ravneet Thank you dear
@Jayashree Thanks a lot. Yes Vansh has suffered a lotâŚ
@Priyadharshini Thank you dear
@Maanvika Thanks a lot
@Akshitha Thank you so much. Makes me really happy to see you enjoying the story (^hearts^).
You stay safe too!
@RiansHLoveR Thanks a lot
@Parita Thank you so much. Yes, Riddhima is the medicine to his wounds â both external as well as internal. Glad to see you enjoying the story (^hearts^)
@Siddhi Thank you dear. But what is it that is making you confused?
@Annoyinguser Thank you dear
@Mary Thank you so much for the wholesome appreciation (^hearts^). Exactly! Cheating although is not a punishable crime legally, but morally itâs almost unforgivable.
Looking at outer beauty of girls is so prevalent in the society especially in South-East Asian countries. Like what great use does external beauty have anyways?
@Deepa Thank you so much. Iâm happy that you like Riddhima and Vanshâs characters so much.
I see that you are missing Kabir, so heâll be making his entry soon (^wink^)
@Pampita Here is the update. Sorry for being a little late though.
@Qt Thanks a lot
@Priyanka Thakur Thank you so much. Yes poor Vansh had to go through a lot. But thankfully, Riddhima is now there with him.
@Manya Aryan is an incorrigible flirt
@Anaya Aww thank you so much. Glad to see you addicted to it. (^hearts^)
@AarushiSoni Aww thank you so much! Iâm truly overwhelmed by your compliments (^hearts^). Tbh, Iâm just a beginner in this field trying to take inspiration from other amazing writers.
@Subu13 Thank you so much. It really requires a big heart to accept your ex girlfriendâs child who is not yours, and Vansh did exactly that.
@Riaa Thank you so much. I know that was unexpected, but I had that particular plot in my mind since I introduced Nandu into the story.
I know, I know, like I really wish the Indian society changed itâs mentality, but I guess itâs too much to ask for.
@Ayesha Iâll update the next part of it also soon
@Neetu Thank you dear
xxxxxxx
At the party, Vansh excused himself and went towards the bar. He ordered one glass of whiskey and one glass of lemonade. When no one was looking, he passed on some money to the waiter.
âLemonade for that lady,â said Vansh pointing in Riddhimaâs direction, who was sitting by herself at a corner.
The waiter nodded and swiftly pulled out a tiny packet and dropped its contents into the glass of lemonade. He placed the glass on a tray and carried it towards Riddhima.
âExcuse me Maâam?â said the waiter. âWould you like something?â
Riddhima deftly reached out for her favourite drink â lemonade.
âThank you, that will do,â she said taking a sip.
Vansh who was watching from afar, felt a little guilty for spiking her drink like that.
âIâm really sorry Riddhima, but I have no choice. It is very important for me to know if you are betraying me or not. Iâve been betrayed once, and I cannot go through the same turmoil again.â
Riddhima soon finished her entire drink. She was tapping her fingers on the table, enjoying the beat of the music, when a young man came in front of her.
âCan I have the pleasure of dancing with you, Miss?â
Riddhima hesitated. âUhmâŚactuallyâŚdonât mind butâŚ.â
âPlease, donât say no.â He pointed towards another girl standing faraway. âShe is my girlfriend, but she is really upset with me now. If she sees me dancing with a beautiful girl like you, then sheâll surely get jealous and come back to me. Please? Pretty please?â
Riddhima chuckled. âAlright fine. Letâs go then!â
Vansh was getting increasingly envious to see Riddhima dancing and having fun with another guy.
âWhatâs so funny? Why is she laughing so much?â he thought angrily.
Not able to hold his feelings any longer, he went to the dance floor and pulled Riddhima towards him, causing her to stumble right into his arms.
Riddhima was annoyed. âWhat kind of misbehavior is this?â she said while trying to pull herself away from him.
But he pulled her further towards himself. âThis is not misbehaviour, but rather my right on you. Being my fiancee, you should be only dancing with me.â
âI was just dancing with him, not roaming around in his arms that you are reacting in this manner,â taunted Riddhima. âAnd stop being such a hypocrite. Did you forget how you used to dance with five different girls in a single day?â
Vansh gently spinned her around. âThat was before we had got engaged. Did you see me with any other girl besides you after our engagement?â
Riddhima let out a sigh. âGod, Iâm so fed up with you and your controlling behaviour. Donât do this, donât do thatâŚ. like seriously, itâs so difficult for someone to live with you even if he wants.â
âYou might find my rules and regulations really suffocating, but trust me, they are all meant to be in the best interest of everyone, including you. What theâŚ.?â
He stopped abruptly when he saw Riddhima about to fall backwards. He caught her by her waist in time.
Riddhima pressed her fingers into her temples. âMy headâŚ.it is spinning.â
Vansh realised that the drink was starting to have its effect on her. He felt guilty for making her go through so much pain.
With one arm supporting around her waist, he escorted her to a quiet corner.
âRiddhima, sit here and have some water. Itâll make you feel better,â said Vansh offering a glass of water to her.
She looked up at him with her eyes wide open, and out of the blue started laughing maniacally.
âOne, two, three, four!â She said counting on her fingers. âThere are four Vanshs standing in front of me right now. Itâs so difficult to handle one Vansh, how will I handle four of them?â
Vansh looked at her a little annoyed. âYou handle me? In fact, itâs me who handles you. And only God knows how I do that.â
He realised that Riddhima had lost her senses and had become inebriated. This was the perfect opportunity to question her about the papers. A drunk person couldnât possibly lie.
He looked at her. After getting tipsy, she had become even more unfazed and cute. He decided that he should keep his heart in control for the time being, and instead concentrate on the important stuff.
He knelt down before her, and gently tilted her face towards him.
âRiddhima, Iâll be asking some important questions. You need to answer all of them truthfully.â
She squinted her eyes at him. âAre you a quizmaster, or a lawyer?â She started laughing at her own joke.
Vansh gave her a where-am-I-even-stuck look.
âWere you the one to steal the confidential papers from my office?â
âYes, I stole them,â she said now getting serious.
âWhat?â
Riddhima leaned in and whispered into Vanshâs ears. âYes. It was me who stoleâŚ.the money from Papaâs wallet for a school trip. And I also stole the cookies which Mumma had kept hidden from me.â She placed a finger on her lips. âBut donât tell this to anyone, okay?â
Vansh slammed his palm against his head in irritation.
âI donât want to know about your childhood dramas and adventures.
Iâm asking about the more recent stuff. Remember you visited my office two days back?â
She nodded.
âSo did you steal any papers from my office two days back?â
Riddhima pondered for a while. She started shouting all of a sudden.
âYes, yes. Now I remember what I stole TWO DAYS back.â
She tugged a finger at Vanshâs chest.
âI stole your heart.â
Vansh looked at her in surprise. What was she even talking about? And how exactly did she get to know about his feelings for her?
âThe way you gaze at me with those endearing eyes, the way you get possessive when you see me with someone else, and the way you always come to help me whenever I am in need, that is how I know,â said Riddhima almost able to read his mind.
âYou really, really like me a lot, right?â she asked innocently.
Vansh fell silent. He didnât know how to react to this. It was true, whatever she had said, but he had no idea that the love he felt for her was so evident from his actions.
Riddhima caressed his face gently, making him even more uncomfortable.
âThere is something else I stole that day,â she said. âA KISS! Remember how I KISSED you on the islandâŚ.?â
Vansh covered her mouth with his hand to prevent her from talking anymore. He felt clearly embarrassed by her antics.
âShut up! There are people around us⌠If you didnât steal those papers, who did? And what was that map of Mumbaiâs coastline doing in your wardrobe?â
Riddhima ignored his questions and instead said, âI want to go to the washroom.â
âRight now? Just wait for sometime until your inebriation wears offâŚâ suggested Vansh.
Riddhima impatiently said, âNooo! I cannot wait until then. I need to use the loo immediately. Iâm sure there was something in that drink that is making me sick from insideâŚ..â
Vansh looked at her irritatedly. âIn spite of being drunk, her mind is still razor-sharp. How was she able to guess about the drink though?â
âFine, let me take you,â he sighed, escorting her to the washroom.
He was waiting outside the ladies loo, when another lady came by and looked at him in disgust.
âWhy are you so shamelessly standing right outside the ladiesâ washroom?â
Vansh internally cursed Riddhima for getting him into this situation.
âIâm really sorry Maâam. Hmm, Iâm actually waiting for my fiancee who is inside. She is a little drunk, so can you please check up on her if sheâs doing fine or not?â
âAlright,â the lady agreed and disappeared into the washroom.
She came outside after a few minutes.
âBut thereâs literally no one insideâŚâ
Vansh became shocked. âBut how is that possible? If you allow me, can I come inside and take a look around?â
The lady escorted him inside, and he was stunned to find it empty.
âRiddhima!â he called out her name and checked each and every cubicle, but to no avail.
He was getting paranoid, when his eyes fell upon a widely open window in the corner.
âShit!â he banged his fist against the wall.
He knew Riddhima was not in a condition to escape by herself. He fearfully realised that someone had kidnapped her. But he didnât know who it could be.
He thought, âShe is drunk for crying out loud and not in a position to defend herself. What if she getsâŚ..?â
His blood started boiling at the thought of any man harming her or wrongly touching her.
âNo, I cannot let anything wrong to happen to my Riddhima. I must do something immediatel. And whoever is behind this, I wonât leave that bastard!â he said determinedly.
______________________________________
Riddhima groaned in pain. She tried to move her hands and legs, but they were tied. She opened her eyes with a lot of difficulty, and found herself in complete darkness. She tried to scream, but her mouth was gagged with a cloth. She was feeling suffocated.
She realised she is in the dickey of the car, as she kept bumping and sliding in there. Just then, the car came to an abrupt halt.
Before she could know it, two men opened the dickey and let her out. They harshly led her to a house in front. She neither struggled nor tried to create a scene of any kind.
She knew that being hungover from the drink, and now tied and gagged like that, it was impossible to escape these well built goons. She had to save her energy and use it towards some other plan of escape.
They took her to a well-lit room and shoved her in front of a man sitting on a chair. She fell down to the ground.
When she looked up, she saw the most cunning pair of eyes looking her up and down. She immediately regretted wearing a sleeveless gown with a plunging neck.
He flashed an evil smile in her direction, and she understood itâs meaning.
âNo! Come what may, but I wonât let him touch me,â she thought fiercely.
âHello Riddhima! My name is Pathak. And for today, you will be MY guestâŚ.â
Saying this, he started caressing her face with his long fingers.
Riddhima was disgusted and could feel her skin burn in rage at his touch.
Pathak noticed her expressions. He removed her gag and said, âWhy, I think I was quite gentle with you and youâre still making a face! If you canât even bear my slightest touch, then how will you bear the whole of me when I come to you at night?â
At this Riddhimaâs eyes widened in shock. She felt like smacking him right then and there, but she was still tied up. Even if she wasnât tied, she couldnât possibly make him angrier and more violent. She knew she had to stay calm and composed.
âWhat do you want? Why are you doing this to me?â she instead asked softly, trying to hide her fear and tears.
Pathak started laughing. âI had asked âsomeoneâ to agree to my specific conditions, but that âsomeoneâ did not agree. So I had to do this, in order to scare him.
Now looking at your condition, he is ready to give into all my demands, but unfortunatelyâŚ..â
He brought his face dangerously close to hers.
âI have lost my heart to your magnificent beauty. And I wonât let you go off so soon. Not until Iâm completely satisfied.â
Riddhima tried to keep her horrified expressions under cover.
âListen, I think you have some really bad enmity with Vansh, but why are you bringing ME into all this?
You are free to do whatever you want to do with himâŚ.â Even though she said this, the thought of someone even wanting to harm Vansh pained her immensely.
Pathak chuckled. âI wonât be letting you go anywhere unless I have my share of fun with you!â
He roughly held her chin between his hands and said, âAnd mind you, if you act obediently, Iâll be as gentle as a flower with you. But if you try to misbehave or go against me, then trust me when I say that it will hurt a lot.â
He clapped his hands, and soon few more of his men came in.
âTake her inside. And ask Neha to get her ready.â
âWho is this Neha? Maybe she can help me out of this,â thought Riddhima.
She was soon taken upstairs to a room, thrown on the bed, and locked inside. She found a large window overlooking the bed. Since she was still tied up, she had to wriggle her way to peep out of the window.
She realised it was too high for her to make a jump from there. Being a medical student, she knew the amount of fractures and head injuries she could suffer if she did that.
The door was suddenly thrown open, and Riddhima was shocked to see who it was.
âYou?â
The other girl who entered the room was also equally shocked to see Riddhima there.
âOh my God! It is you whom they have held captive?â
Tears started flowing down Riddhimaâs cheeks. This was the same girl whom she had saved from getting molested one year back. And now she herself was stuck in a similar situation.
âPlease help me. Please,â begged Riddhima.
Neha hugged her with tears in her eyes.
âIâll be indebted to you for my whole life for saving my life that day. But unfortunately, I cannot do anything for you now.
You know nothing about Pathak. He is a very dangerous man. Plus, his men are guarding the whole place around, there is no way that I can help you escape from here.
In fact, Iâve been given instructions to dress you up. Pathak will be here within five to ten minutes. I really wish I could do something for you, butâŚâ
âPlease, donât say this. Only a woman can understand another womanâs pain. I cannot allow that pervert to touch me, or Iâll be scarred for my entire life,â cried Riddhima.
âAlright, I am ready to help you. But the big question is how? Do you have any ideas?â said Neha.
Riddhima realised with frustration that not everyone was gifted with a sharp mind. She had to work up a plan by herself.
Her face lit up as an idea struck her. And it was strange that she had got this idea from one of the crime books that Vansh had gifted her.
Riddhima smiled to herself. âEven when you are not near me, you are still helping me through your giftsâŚâ
______________________________________
Riddhima started palpitating when Pathak entered the room.
He looked at her awe-struck. âYou look far more beautiful in this dress than I had imagined.â
He sat on the bed beside her. âWhy do you look so scared? It canât be your first time, right, considering you are Vanshâs fiancee and you both might have alreadyâŚ..â
Riddhima shot a furious look in his direction.
âOh that means you guys neverâŚ..? Poor Vansh! How will he feel when he comes to know that his enemy slept with his very fiancee before he himself could do that?â Pathak smirked.
Riddhima was raging from inside listening to his perverted talks.
But she maintained her calm and requested him to untie the ropes.
âNaah! I like it that way,â said Pathak moving closer to her. âLet me kiss you.â
As he moved his face closer to hers, she started coughing violently.
âWhat the hell!â Pathak backed off. âWhy are you coughing right on my face?â
Riddhima continued to cough. âPlease untie me. I feel like puking and really need to use the washroom.â
âWhat nonsense!â
âIn the party, I drank excessively on an empty stomach. If you donât let me use the washroom, then I might have to throw up right on you and this bed too,â she said.
He looked at her repulsively and untied the ropes from her hands and feet.
âBe quick and donât keep me waiting for long,â he said.
Seizing the opportunity, Riddhima spent the next fifteen minutes in the bathroom, trying to calm herself down, when Pathak knocked on the door.
âAre you coming outside or should I break in?â
Riddhima hurried out of the bathroom, holding her stomach.
âIâm having a really bad stomach ache. Can you get me a glass of juice, please?â
Pathak, whose patience was wearing out, had had enough of her dramas.
âWow another of your lame excuses! Just remember, the more you keep me waiting, the more youâd have to suffer.â
Riddhima took a deep breath. Convincing this lecherous man was a difficult task, but she wasnât going to get bogged down easily.
âI know you are very upset with me, but please believe me, Iâm not doing all this on purpose. Once I have some juice, Iâll start feeling better and Iâll do whatever you ask me to do,â said Riddhima. âIn fact, why donât you order a glass of juice for yourself too? That will help you to relax and calm your mind.â
Pathak started laughing. âJuice to calm my mind? Iâd rather order some rum for myself to further increase my madness!â
Soon, one of his men knocked at the room, bringing in a glass of orange juice and a glass of rum.
He sat beside her and started placing small kisses on her hands.
âLet me finish the juice first,â Riddhima said with contempt, but he was in no mood to listen.
Just then, there was another knock. Riddhima heaved a sigh of relief while Pathak got angry. It was Neha at the door.
âWhat the hell are you doing here at this time?â he shouted at her.
Using this golden opportunity, Riddhima took out a box of sleeping pills from under her dress, and quickly dissolved them into the glass of rum.
She smirked to herself as she remembered asking Neha to bring her some sleeping pills if she really wanted to help her. Neha had already given them to her before Pathakâs arrival into the room.
And now also, Neha had just come to distract Pathak and help Riddhima to spike his drink.
âIâm really sorry Sir. But I just wanted to ask you if I should put a âDO NOT DISTURBâ board outside the room?â said Neha.
âYes do that. I donât anyone disturbing me for the next few hours,â warned Pathak.
He shut the door, and started drinking the spiked rum. As soon as the glass had got emptied, Pathak started feeling dizzy and fell down on the bed, unconscious.
Riddhima double checked to make sure he wasnât awake. She tied his hands and legs up and placed a cloth over his mouth too.
Now she had to only escape. There was no way she could get past the door, because his guards were standing right there. She had no other way out, other than the window.
She pulled off the bedsheets and curtains, and made a long sling out of them. She secured the one end of the sling to the bedpost, and left the other end freely hanging from the window till the ground.
She had descended down the sling by half the distance when one of the goons standing below saw her.
She became terrified and lost her balance, and fell down.
She hurt her left leg really bad, and it almost felt like she had fractured it. Thankfully, she had fallen from a lesser height and had not injured herself more.
Just as she was about to get up, the goon who had seen her came upto her, and started pulling her by her hair.
She tried to fight him off, but she had grown really weak due to the spiked drink, and therefore was unable to do so.
The goon kicked and beat her mercilessly, while she screamed in pain. Gathering enough strength, she picked up a handful of sand in her hands, and hurled it right into his eyes.
She tried to run, but she was so hurt that she could barely even walk. Determined not to lose courage, she kept on walking with a lot of difficulty, in spite of her entire body covered in bruises. The goons were right behind her, and she knew that in no time she would be caught.
As if miraculously, she saw Vansh appear at some distance before her. At first, she thought she was hallucinating, but when she heard him scream out her name, she realised that it was nothing but reality.
Seeing him in front of her gave her so much relief, that she gave up all her remaining strength and courage, and stumbled down to the ground.
âRiddhima!â Vansh started running towards her, while Angre and the rest of men followed close behind.
Vansh knelt on the ground and pulled Riddhima into a hug. He frantically started caressing her face.
âRiddhima, are you okay?â
Riddhima hugged him back.
âVanshâŚ.you came,â she said weakly.
Vansh suddenly noticed her bruises. His face had a mixture of anger and fright on it.
âDid heâŚâŚ..?â he asked fearfully, not even able to complete the sentence.
âHe tried toâŚ.., but I managed to escape,â she mumbled.
Vanshâs eyes welled up in relief.
âThank God, you are safe Riddhima. Had anything happened to you, Iâd never have been able to forgive myself. Never!â
Vanshâs emotions got the better of him, and he touched his lips against hers.
She kissed him back, with tears of joy flowing down her cheeks.
Precap:
Vansh takes great care of Riddhima.
Kabir enters VR Mansion and hugs Riddhima in front of everyone. Vansh gets angry while Riddhima feels awkward.
Hello everyone! That is it for today guys. Donât forget to comment below.
Peace out!