Nisha's Trap

Episode 20: Nisha's Trap

Armaan’s heart thudded in his chest as he stood frozen in front of Nisha, her silhouette sharp in the moonlight. Her smirk was laced with a cold, calculating amusement as she stepped closer, each of her movements deliberate and confident.

“Well, aren’t you in a tricky spot,” Nisha purred, her eyes glinting with malice. “Running around in the dark like a scared little rabbit.”

Armaan swallowed hard, backing up slightly, only to realize he was dangerously close to the edge of the riverbank. The rushing water behind him roared like a wild beast, and the steep drop offered no safe escape. He was trapped.

“What do you want?” Armaan asked, his voice shaking, though he tried to muster some semblance of strength.

Nisha laughed softly, a sound devoid of warmth. “Isn’t it obvious? Rudra. And you’re the perfect bait to lure him in.”

Armaan’s stomach twisted at the mention of Rudra. Everything had happened so fast—first the mysterious visits, then the sudden chase through the forest. And now, he was nothing more than a pawn in whatever dangerous game Nisha was playing.

“Rudra doesn’t belong to you,” Armaan blurted out, surprising even himself with the boldness of his words.

Nisha’s smile faltered, and her eyes narrowed, the playful glint vanishing as her expression hardened. “He will. Once you’re out of the picture.”

Before Armaan could react, she lunged toward him, her hands reaching for his arm. Desperation surged through him as he twisted away, barely avoiding her grasp. But in his panic, his foot slipped on the loose dirt at the riverbank’s edge, and he stumbled, losing his balance.

Armaan’s arms flailed as he tried to steady himself, but it was too late. With a terrified gasp, he fell backward, tumbling down the slope toward the rushing water below.

“Armaan!” a voice shouted from somewhere behind him.

In the blur of his fall, Armaan recognized the voice—it was Rudra. But before he could even process it, the cold water engulfed him, pulling him into its swift current. The world spun as he was tossed beneath the surface, his body helpless against the powerful force of the river.

The icy water shocked his system, making it hard to think, let alone swim. He gasped for air as he surfaced briefly, only to be dragged under again. Panic set in as his limbs thrashed against the water, but the river was relentless, pulling him deeper into its dark embrace.

Just when Armaan thought he couldn’t fight anymore, strong hands grabbed hold of him, pulling him above the surface. Coughing and gasping for air, Armaan clung to the figure that had saved him. As his vision cleared, he found himself staring into Rudra’s intense, concerned eyes.

“I’ve got you,” Rudra said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Together, they fought against the current, Rudra guiding them toward the shore. With every ounce of strength he had left, Armaan kicked and paddled, following Rudra’s lead until, finally, they reached the riverbank. Exhausted and drenched, they collapsed onto the wet ground, both of them breathing heavily.

For a moment, the only sound was the rush of the river behind them and the distant wind rustling through the trees. Armaan’s mind spun with everything that had just happened—Nisha, the fall, the near drowning. But as he lay there, staring up at the starry sky, a sense of relief washed over him.

Rudra had saved him.

“You...you came for me,” Armaan breathed, turning his head to look at Rudra.

Rudra sat up, his sharp features softened in the dim light. “I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

Armaan’s heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in Rudra’s voice. He had never seen this side of Rudra before—the protective, almost gentle side that seemed so at odds with the cold, intimidating exterior he usually wore.

Before Armaan could say anything more, the sound of footsteps approaching made them both tense. Rudra stood quickly, pulling Armaan up with him as they turned toward the sound.

It was Aarav, emerging from the trees, his clothes torn and dirty from the chase. He looked relieved to see them, but his expression darkened when his eyes landed on Rudra.

“Nisha got away,” Aarav said, his tone grim. “But she won’t stay gone for long. We need to get moving.”

Rudra nodded, his gaze flickering back to Armaan. “You’re safe now, but we can’t stay here. Nisha won’t stop until she gets what she wants.”

Armaan shivered, both from the cold and the weight of Rudra’s words. He wasn’t sure what exactly Nisha wanted with Rudra, but it was clear that whatever game they were playing, it was far from over.

As they gathered themselves and prepared to move on, Armaan’s thoughts swirled with unanswered questions. Why was Nisha so obsessed with Rudra? What secrets was Rudra hiding that had put him in so much danger? And why had Aarav been so willing to risk his life for Rudra as well?

One thing was certain—this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous and complicated than Armaan had ever imagined. And though he didn’t know how it would all end, he knew one thing for sure.

He was no longer just an innocent bystander in Rudra’s world.

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