Against All Odds

Chapter 18

Shikhar's POV (continued)

Ashu left for my place early in the morning just as we had planned. This was the easiest part as Niyati hardly comes out of her room whenever I am at their place. She is a sweetheart who believes in giving me and Ashu privacy.

Most tricky part was to convince her that Ashu had been kidnapped. I was tensed whether she would buy it or not. I was actually perspiring while the call was on. I thought that any moment Ashu will laugh and tell Niyati that all this is a joke. To my amazement, Ashu did more than good. For a second even I was convinced that she was actually kidnapped. I felt relieved that Niyati fell for it.

It's not that I liked to see Niyati being tensed, which she clearly was. She was shaking and I didn't like it a single bit. But I also didn't like her being sad all the time. Maybe this sadness for a day might bring happiness forever in her life. This thought gave me courage to keep going ahead with the plan.

What I hadn't anticipated was Niyati asking me for money. How could I be so dumb? I should have thought of this beforehand. What would she think if I refuse to give her money? She very well knows that I have a good practice. She may not know about my parents but definitely about me. It was my presence of mind that saved me then.

I told her that my assets would take some time in order to be encashed. Thank God she bought it. Our goal was to get her to meet my brother, so I started making calls to his secretary.

I was on the call when I heard the sound of the door being closed. By the time I reached there Niyati was running out. Where could she be running off to?

I ran after her. I didn't want her doing something stupid and getting hurt . I had promised Ashu that I would take care of her and call off this hoax if there is even a slight possibility of her being hurt.

Imagine my surprise when I saw Niyati entering the company office which is run by my family. My brother now to be precise. I was also supposed to join him but I had chosen a different path, which wasn't taken well by my parents. If not for my big bro I wouldn't have been where I am today.

But who does Niyati know here? The important question is who would have that kind of money to pay the kidnappers? Or did she know someone who had connections with the Police? Oh no! Then we will be in trouble and Ashu will kill me.

I need to know who Niyati knows here. I kept following her, keeping my distance. She had no idea I was behind her the whole time. When she entered the lift I had no idea which floor she would be going to. I couldn't even join her as then I would be busted.

I just stood near the lift noting what all floors the lift halted at. Thank God it halted only on three floors 5th, 9th and 18th.

18th floor was where our cabins were. Ya even I still have a cabin here in case I decide to come back to join the business. As if!

So I ruled out 18th floor. There is no way Niyati knew my brother, as now only he occupies the top floor. Our Dad is mostly out of India and I don't set my foot here, so our cabins must be locked.

I ascended to 5th floor and started looking for Niyati. This floor is for marketing so roaming around was easy. It was bursting with people anyways. No one noticed me poking my head here and there. But this took more than half an hour. There were just too many cabins and people to look into.

When I tried to enter the 9th floor office I was immediately stopped by the security guards. This floor was strictly for staff and needed access by ID card. Shit! There was only one way to get into the floor. I will have to play my owner card. Not card in literal sense. I will have to make some calls or the easiest way was to approach my bro's secretary as he knows who I am. One call from him will get me entry into the floor.