"Maa, is anyone out of station?" I inquired urgently as she picked up the call.

Her response shattered the fragile bubble I had been living in, finally connecting all the scattered pieces of the puzzle. Realization washed over me like a crashing wave, leaving me trembling in its wake.

"Yusuf!" I called out, almost shouting.

"Yes, Abhimanyu!"

"I'm sharing a phone number with you. Track it immediately." I tried to keep my voice steady despite the urgency in my tone.

Yusuf nodded and turned to his team. "Get on it. Now."

I sent the number to Yusuf, watching his team spring into action. The air was thick with tension, each second feeling like an eternity. 

After thirty minutes of tense waiting, one of the team members sprang out of his seat. "The number's location was last active at Istanbul Airport."

Yusuf and Samrat glanced at me instantly, their eyes demanding answers.

"Who is it?" Samrat asked, his voice edged with desperation.

I shook my head, disbelief gripping me. My mind swirled with confusion and betrayal. How could he do this? Just how?

"Abhi, say who the fuck is behind this!" Samrat screamed, jerking me vigorously, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"It's... it's Suraj," I finally stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Suraj?" Samrat's eyes widened in shock. "Your own cousin?"

I nodded, the reality of the situation hitting me like a ton of bricks. 

"He was always jealous, always trying to undermine me. I never thought he would go this far."

Yusuf's eyes narrowed, and he barked out orders to his team.

"Share every detail of this asshole cousin of yours with me right now!"

He then turned to his team, his voice sharp and authoritative. "Everyone, try to track him down using any clue related to him. Anyhow."

I quickly relayed everything I knew about Suraj to Yusuf. "He's always been jealous. Grew up with a chip on his shoulder. He's cunning, smart, and he knows how to cover his tracks. But he's reckless. That might be our advantage."

Yusuf nodded, absorbing the information. 

"Got it. We'll use that recklessness against him."

"We need to make him contact us, Yusuf. Then only we'll be able to trace him," Samrat ideated.

Yusuf nodded, considering the options. "Agreed. We need to flush him out."

"How about we alert the media about the kidnapping?" I suggested, my voice tense but determined.

"But won't it harm my sister? It could trigger him," Samrat countered, his worry evident.

"No, Samrat. What I can perceive is he has been planning this since their wedding, as per the details I got from Abhimanyu. He won't be triggered easily. He's been taking every step cleanly. But as Abhimanyu said, he is reckless. This public attention will definitely cause a little disturbance to him, and he'll soon contact us. I'm sure he won't harm Samyukta, as his intentions are much more than that," Yusuf explained.

"I hope you're right, Yusuf," Samrat said, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.

Yusuf turned to his team. 

"Get the media involved discreetly. We need to ensure the news spreads without making it too obvious that we're expecting a reaction. Make it look like a leak."

His team nodded and got to work, contacting media outlets and crafting a narrative that would put just enough pressure on Suraj to make him slip up. The plan was risky, but it was our best shot at finding Samyukta.

As we waited for the news to break, the anxiety was perceptible. Every second felt like an hour, and the anticipation gnawed at my insides. I could only hope that this gamble would pay off and that we would finally get a lead on Suraj's whereabouts.

Hours passed, and just as the sun began to set, my phone buzzed with a message.

Him: So, you think you can outsmart me? Nice try.

I showed the message to Yusuf and Samrat, my heart pounding. Yusuf's eyes gleamed with determination.

"Now we've got him," Yusuf said. "Keep him talking. Stall him while we trace the signal."

I nodded, my fingers trembling as I typed out a response.

Me: What do you want? Why are you doing this?

Him: So, how're you feeling?

Me: What do you want? Just say it!

Him: Oh! Pretty soon down to business, haan? Well, your wife is the most beautiful piece I've ever seen. What should I do with her?

Me: Don't you dare touch her!

Him: Calm down, little boy. I won't touch her now. I've got plans, dear. I'll do it in front of your eyes, and you won't be able to do anything but watch.

"Keep texting him," Yusuf commanded in a whisper, his eyes locked on the screen as his team worked feverishly to trace the location. 

"Don't let him know that you're aware of his identity."

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I typed.

Me: What do you mean? What do you want from me?

Him: Entertainment. Desperation. But mostly, I want to see you suffer.

Me: You're sick. Let her go, and I'll give you whatever you want.

Him: You think this is about money? You really don't get it, do you?

"He's using VoIP. We need to track his system." A member of the team declared.

I glanced at Yusuf, who gave me a curt nod, signaling to keep the conversation going. The room was tense, filled with the low hum of computers and the barely audible clicks of the keyboard.

Me: If this isn't about money, then what is it about?

Him: It's about revenge, young man. Everything you took away from me.

Yusuf's team was getting closer, the signals narrowing down. I had to keep him talking, keep him engaged.

Me: You won't win. 

Me: I'll find you.

Me: And when I do... (typing)

Him: Big words, little man. But let's see how big you talk when you see what I do to your precious Samyukta.

My blood ran cold, but I forced myself to stay calm. Yusuf's hand on my shoulder grounded me, reminding me of the plan.

Me: Leave her out of this. Your issue is with me.

Him: Oh, but she's the perfect pawn. So beautiful, so vulnerable. It's almost poetic.

Yusuf's tech expert gave a thumbs-up, indicating they had a solid lead. 

We were getting close.

Me: You're a coward, hiding behind a screen. Show yourself if you're so brave.

Him: Patience, Abhimanyu. All in good time.

I saw Yusuf and his team tense up, focusing on the final stages of the trace. The room was silent except for the soft beeping and clicking of their equipment.

I just needed to keep this psychopath engaged a little longer.

Me: You won't break me. I'll find you, and I will make you pay for every second you've made her suffer.

Suddenly, Yusuf's tech expert gave a thumbs-up. 

"We have the location."

Yusuf turned to me, his eyes sharp and determined. 

"Anadolu Kavaği."

˜”*°•°*”˜