Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Unlikely Encounters
Vedika Sharma had always believed that no case was too difficult to crack. She had a relentless drive for justice, something that had been instilled in her since childhood, alongside her father’s teachings. But when it came to the case of Sana, the young girl who had been sexually assaulted by a group of strangers, she felt like she was battling against an unyielding wall.
Despite her efforts, the evidence was scant. There were no eyewitnesses, no CCTV footage, and no reliable leads. The police had conducted a brief investigation, but nothing substantial had come from it. It was as if the case was slowly slipping through her fingers.
Determined not to let this injustice slip away, Vedika sought out help from Pranav Singh, her old friend and the SP of the city. As they sat in his office, going over the details of the case, Pranav’s sharp mind worked through the pieces.
“We need to dig deeper into Sana’s life,” Pranav suggested, scanning the case files. “There must be something here we’re missing. We need to focus on the people around her.”
Vedika nodded. She had already been down that road but didn’t want to dismiss any possibility. She trusted Pranav, and if he believed they could find a breakthrough, she’d follow his lead.
The following days were spent gathering testimonies, chasing leads, and combing through every piece of information that could help their case. One lead, in particular, stood out — a man who had been seen in the vicinity of the assault. According to an anonymous tip-off, he might know something about the aggressors.
With a clear purpose in mind, Vedika set out alone one late evening to track down this man. She was so focused on finding him that she didn’t realize how late it had gotten. It wasn’t until she found herself walking down a poorly lit alley, following the lead, that she realized she was being reckless. But she had to know the truth. It was the only way to help Sana.
She turned a corner, her mind still racing with questions, when suddenly, her foot caught on something slick, and she lost her balance. She stumbled forward, crashing into the ground with a loud thud. Pain shot through her body, and she winced, clutching her ankle. It wasn’t broken, but the twist left her breathless.
A faint sound of a car pulling up echoed in the distance, and before she could gather herself, a figure approached her. Looking up, she saw him — Abhimaan Rathod. His imposing figure stood over her, his sharp eyes scanning her face with an unreadable expression.
“Vedika,” he said, his tone a mix of disbelief and curiosity. “What are you doing here?”
She tried to push herself up, ignoring the ache in her ankle. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it,” she snapped, trying to hide her discomfort. “I don’t need your help.”
Abhimaan raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. “It’s a little late for someone like you to be out alone, don’t you think?”
“Just get out of my way,” she retorted, still trying to stand on her own.
But Abhimaan wasn’t going anywhere. Instead, he bent down, lifting her carefully in his arms without asking for permission.
“Let go!” she snapped, but the pain in her leg made her powerless to do anything about it. “I can walk myself.”
“You clearly can’t,” he said, his tone colder than before. “You’re too stubborn for your own good.”
Despite her protests, he carried her to his car, placing her in the passenger seat as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
As he started the engine and drove off, Vedika’s heart pounded in her chest. She wasn’t used to relying on anyone, especially not someone like Abhimaan. He was a businessman with too much power, someone who thrived on manipulation and control. And she couldn’t understand why he was so persistent in showing up in her life, even when she made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.
When they arrived at her apartment, she made no attempt to thank him. Instead, as he opened the door for her, she glared at him.
“How did you know where I live?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
Abhimaan leaned against the doorframe, his expression unreadable. “I know more about you than you think, Vedika,” he said, his voice low, his eyes dark with something unspoken. “Now go inside. You’ve done enough for today.”
Vedika’s pulse quickened. There was something unsettling about his words, the way he seemed to know her every move before she did. It was as if he had been watching her — studying her.
“You have no right to do this,” she snapped, but there was a hint of vulnerability in her voice that she couldn’t conceal.
Abhimaan smirked, that all-knowing arrogance in his eyes. “I’ve told you before, Vedika. Stay out of trouble, and I won’t have to get involved again.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. He simply turned and left, his footsteps echoing in the silence of the night.
⸻
As Abhimaan drove away from Vedika’s apartment, his thoughts lingered on her. He couldn’t understand what it was about her that drew him in so completely. She was defiant, fierce, and unyielding, but there was something else — something that gnawed at him.
He wasn’t used to this feeling. Normally, he controlled everything in his life, but with her, he couldn’t. She refused to fall into line, to be part of his carefully structured world. And that fascinated him.
For the first time in years, he found himself thinking about someone who wasn’t a tool, a pawn in his empire. Vedika was different. She was more than just a woman to manipulate. She was a challenge.
And he hated how much he liked it.