Obsessive Flames of Love

Seated in the Presidential chair in the conference hall, which was lit dimly, Rudra’s gaze focussed on the screen. When everybody was listening earnestly, the buzzing sound dominated the silence in the hall.

Since the tune was a different one, which he specifically chose for his people who’re tailing Tanvi, he instantly raised his hand as a gesture to dismiss the meeting.

The people inside were baffled, “he never left an important meeting in the middle. Then what happened today?” They murmured among themselves when Rudra left the hall.

“Was that call has more priority than this?” Their eyes popped out, “we worked for months to grab this deal and he left just like that?”

Inside his Office

Rudra unbuttoned his navy blue suit and placed it on his chair. Leaned onto the wall, he gave his full attention to the call.

“Boss!! Ms. Tanvi is going to the police station.” His man reported.

Stunned, Rudra wondered inwardly at the reason. “Did Something happen?”

“What’s going on?” He questioned.

“She came out of her house wiping the tears like she’d been crying and immediately hopped into an Ola car. Once she reached the police station, she went inside. We don’t know what happened there.”

“Find out and follow her. Also, inform me where she’s headed.” He ordered.

Moved onto the nearby couch, he rested his thumb on his chin and his index finger brushing his lips while wiggling. “Why’d she cry when tomorrow is her engagement?”

“What’s the reason behind her visit to the police station?” He racked his hair in frustration, “Ah! This is nerve-racking.” He clenched his hands and punched the couch when his screen lit up with a message, “she’s headed to the Cyber Crime Department.”

“What? Cyber Crime Department?” He shrugged his hands and sighed, “what’s going on with her?”

Stilled for a second, “Um. Erica is the Commissioner of the Cyber Crime Department.” His dark gaze softened a little, “now I’ll find out everything.” He gave a decisive nod and dialed Erica.

“Hi, Rudra!!”

“Erica!! I need your help.”

Hearing his troubled tone, she squinted, “sure, how may I help you?” She asked curiously.

“A woman with the name Ms. Tanvi Siara Agarwal will come to your department in a few minutes. I want you to handle her case personally. Also, keep me informed of the details.”

“Okay! But who’s she?” Erica asked a little startled.

“This isn’t the correct time to discuss them. I’ll tell you later.” He cut her off.

“This is the first time he brought up a woman. I’m sure she’s important to him. Or else, why’d he especially ask me to handle it?” She thought while a slight smile lingered on his lips.

“Huh! Be it an important one for me to involve in it. Or else you need to make up for it later.” She decided to ease his nerves.

“Ah! Okay.”

“I’ll take care of it then. There’s no need for you to worry about it.”

“I know.”

…

Inside the Commissioner office. Erica fiddled with her hands while thinking and called her sub-ordinate.

“mam!

“If a woman with the name Ms. Tanvi Siara Agarwal comes here, get her to me immediately.”

“Okay, mam.”

“Also, keep it a secret.” She directed.

“Yes, mam.”

Soon. Tanvi reached the Cyber Crime Department. Stood in front of the office, she felt complicated emotions defeating her sanity. The heavy breeze somehow managing her to feel alive by giving her the shivering chills.

With stumbling steps, she entered the office. When she stepped in, everybody stopped whatever they’re doing and stared at her, which made her feel more than uncomfortable. With the scrutinizing gazes piercing through her, “I needed to get through it.” She reminded herself and took a deep breath and moved forward.

A middle-aged man approached her, “what’s your name, Miss?”

“I’m Tanvi Siara Agarwal.” She managed to say.

“Tanvi Siara Agarwal?” He stressed loud enough for all the people in the office to hear.

Hearing the name, the people became alert, which she noticed clearly, an unknown feeling is settling in her nerves with the events that are taking place.

She bit her lips, “Um. Yes.”

“Please come this way, madam.” He guided her through a polished wooden door, but panic began building in her by seeing the board on the door. “Why do they take me to a higher official, that to a commissioner?”

Her muscles began tightening with the anxiety in her, “Today isn’t even 1% the same as I expected.” She mused remembering the awful events that took place from the morning.

“Anyhow, I need to see Riaan. I must pull through it.” With that, she summed up her courage and pushed the door.

Her eyes rolled off across the seated woman in all her glory. Tanvi notion to wish her but felt her throat went dry and she gave up.

With the bright light, her vision became a little blurred, and she rubbed her swollen eyes. The tidy room with everything flawlessly arranged showed the perfection of Erica to Tanvi. The temperature in the office was set accurately to keep the warmth in the chilly wind.

Glanced at her, “Take your seat, Ms. Tanvi.” Erica’s voice caught her and Tanvi nodded.

“What’s wrong? Why did you come here?” The Commissioner, Ms. Erica questioned.

“Riaan’s missing,” said Tanvi while her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Tell every minute thing in detail,” Erica asked while sipping her coffee, which rested on her table.

“I received a call from the Customs officer, Mr. James, saying that they took Riaan into custody for carrying more gold than it is allowed per the limitations.” Tanvi blurted in one go.

Erica’s brows scrunched hearing the name. “Mr. James, right?” Tanvi nodded with a wink.

“It sounds familiar.” With that, Erica dabbled with her fingers for a minute and moved her swiveling chair near the laptop. Her slender fingers motioned their way on the keyboard for a while. “Um. He’s a Customs Officer.” Erica acknowledged.

“Yes.”

“How did you met Riaan?” Erica asked while staring in the eye.

Adjusted herself, “We met through the matrimony site.”

“Matrimony site?” Erica stressed and her expression turned serious.

“Um. Yes.” Tanvi said and averted her gaze.

“Hold on,” Erica commanded in a rigid tone.

Noticed the drift, Tanvi was beyond puzzled. “What the hell happened? Why did her tone change?”

“Is there anything wrong with meeting in the matrimony site? No, no, many people were doing it, right. Then what’s wrong?” Her eyes lingered across Erica’s sharp glare and a shiver ran across her spine.

Erica observed the fluctuations on Tanvi’s face, “Tanvi!”

Snapped back to reality, “Yes?” Tanvi responded in a forced tone.

“Did Riaan contact you the day after you registered into the Matrimony site?” Erica asked nonchalantly.

Tanvi was stunned for a minute, her quivered lips didn’t utter a single word and she blinked in response.

“Did he tell you that he was living abroad?”

“Yes,” Tanvi answered in a muffled tone while her thoughts were going wild. “How did she know what exactly happened to me?” Her heartbeat was thrusting so hard that she could hear it without placing a hand on her chest.

“Did a woman saying his mother spoke to you?” Erica asked while leaning herself onto the chair as if she knew it already.

Shock filled in Tanvi’s nerves. “How can one ask in the same order as if they’ve seen it?” Clasped her hands together, sweat dripping through her crumpled forehead. Tanvi swallowed her questions which were eating her alive and nodded warily.

“Then one fine day he proposed to you, right?” Erica glanced with pity in her eyes and that hit Tanvi when the color in her cheeks drained completely.

Her questions were like daggers on to Tanvi’s heart, which was digging deeper and destroying her. “He did.” Tanvi bit her lips as if she’s trying to control herself from losing her cool. Breath became difficult as she’s suffocated and her puffy eyes were turning red.

“Did he show you some diamond ornaments or some sort of costly jewelry, Saying that he’s buying them for you?” Erica’s body stiffened and winked slowly as if she’s understanding the torment inside Tanvi.

Listening to it, Tanvi can no longer hide the burning fear in her when her emotions got the best out of her. She seemed to explode at any moment as a ticking time bomb and nodded forcefully in an attempt to calm her nerves while her nails were digging through her delicate skin.

Finally, Erica stood up and came near to Tanvi and placed a hand on her shoulder. The terror in Tanvi increased drastically as her intuitions warned her. Squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to hide from the disastrous event coming her way.

Erica patted her lovingly and Tanvi opened her eyes slowly. Looked at her in the eye when Erica stated, “He tricked you, Ms. Tanvi!”

Bang! It hit her more heavily than she ever imagined and the walls she built over the years to safeguard herself crumbled into pieces.

She’s no longer in a position to control herself nor her composure. Listening to the words, ‘he tricked’ made her world collapse.

Tears slipped down on their own accord uncontrollably and she choked hard. Covered her hands across her mouth to stop the squeaking sounds, but failed miserably. She panted heavily for air.

Flashes of the terrifying man appeared in front of her. His curt voice, disgusting words, everything was haunting her. Closed her ears and she shouted when Erica felt the pain that’s tormenting Tanvi.

Then Riaan appeared in her daze, grinning and walking away from her, saying, “I never loved you. I only used you.” Tanvi shook her head vigorously to deny everything but there’s nothing that can prove it as wrong to her.

“No. This isn’t true.” Tanvi slammed her hands like a crazy woman, but Erica didn’t stop her. “I’m not betrayed again. No… this… isn’t… true.” Her voice became so low that even she couldn’t hear it.

A painful expression settled on Tanvi’s face when all the sanity washed away from her. The emptiness occupied her and she succumbed to the darkness of the broken heart. She gave in to the emotional breakdown which she couldn’t hide any longer and all the barriers went broke when she freaked out.

…