Obsessive Flames of Love

Listening to the officer’s words, Tanvi felt a bolt of lightning hit her. She instantly dropped onto the couch unknowingly, as if her whole energy drained. With shaky hands, she glanced at her mobile. The picture of Riaan on her screen turned her eyes moist, and breath became difficult for her as if she’s stifled. The barriers she built began breaking down.

Her round black eyes dripped with tears. Her walls, which holds her up, making her strong… started collapsing as the cracks in her voice overwhelmed her. Moment by moment, they fell. Salty drops seeped down through their own way involuntarily from her cheeks to her chin and drenched her top.

The muscles in her chest tightened, and she gasped heavily with a quivering body. All the strength in her body evaporated as her tissues weakened, and her body leaned onto the couch limply as her head began spinning. Unable to bring herself to move, she lay there helpless, eyes closing involuntarily.

Deep in her unconscious state, Tanvi saw a tall man who stood in front of her inside her house. The unyielding charm from him, his lovely smile with dimples on his cheeks, made her heart melt with happiness. They’re talking, laughing out loud as if they’re the only one in the world.

By the time, she stared at him in the eye, a wicked grin replaced his dainty smile. The derisive disdain from him made her shiver to the core, which became imprinted deep in her nerves. The soft voice with which he spoke earlier was gone.

A cruel look in his eyes, the raucous tone he used on her made her crumble into pieces. His words, “No man will be with you if you’re like this,” rang in her ears.

Her forehead was sweating, she became a mess with the tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down her face. Her inner voice was forcing her to wake, “this shouldn’t happen again.”

With that, she opened her eyes strenuously and panted for air as if she’s choking this entire time. With trembling body, her blurred eyes slowly rolled off across the room, “I’m in my… home. I’m… safe.” She muttered to herself and patted her racing heart.

Gulped down hard, she stood up and strode into the kitchen with faltering steps. Grabbed a water bottle and emptied it in a single go. Wiped away the tears from her swollen eyes, “I shouldn’t let myself fall apart like this. I need to be strong if I want to get Riaan back.” She thought.

After she composed herself, she stood near the window and leaned her back onto the wall. The custom’s officer words caught her. “There are limitations in bringing gold and jewelry to India. A man is allowed only to bring 20g of gold, but he brought 50g of gold.”

The overall price is forty lakhs in Indian rupee, and they seized all his cards, accounts, and mobile as well. “So, to get him out of there, I need to pay 10% of forty lakhs as tax, which means four lakhs.” She mused while staring at the serene blue sky.

Peeped at her watch, “11:30 AM.” Her eyes widened, “It’s been two hours since the call came.” Tanvi emphasized aloud.

“I’ll first get him out.” She decided and checked her bank balance. “I’ve enough money to pay for them and take him back.” She nodded decisively.

Glanced at the account details they provided, she verified it once before she did the payment. “It’s indeed like the Customs Deposit bank account.” A relaxation came to her with the confirmation, and she paid the amount out of her savings.

Dialed a number given by them, “I’ve done the payment, sir.” Tanvi said in a wobbly tone.

“Yes mam, we’ve noticed it just now.”

“Hm. When’ll Riaan become free?”

“We’ll complete all the procedures first, and then he can leave.”

“Sure?” Tanvi asked warily.

“Yes, mam.” They assured.

Calm washed over her, but it was short-lived. When she thought again about her conversation with the customs officer Tanvi couldn’t help but wonder at the whole situation. “I didn’t know the legalities since I’ve never been abroad or even boarded a plane. But Riaan knew them very well, right?”

“So, then why did he make such a mistake? Did he just forget about it? But, that’s not like Riaan.” Tanvi pondered.

“He remembers even very minute details. How could he forget something this big? Okay, maybe in the joy of gifting me gold, he overlooked it.” Tanvi convinced herself. “I’ll ask him once he’s here.” She decided.

05:30 PM

Tanvi was walking restlessly while her inflated eyes were checking the clock hundredth time. “Time was flying, but he’s not here yet? What’s going on?”

Nervously dialed his number for the fiftieth time, “Ugh. Even his phone was off for many hours. Didn’t they released him?” With scrunched brows, she contacted the Customs office number again, and they said he’s released long back.

“What? He’s released long back?” She stressed when panic struck her. “Then why he’s not back yet?”

“Once he’s arrested and now what’s going to come our way.” She worried.

Tanvi couldn’t stop herself from jumping into the worst-case scenario. “What if he met with an accident? What if something happened to him?”

“God. This is driving me crazy.” A squeal escaped from her lips. “This isn’t going to work. I need to relax.” She tried to calm herself.

07:00 PM

“What the hell? It’s already 07:00 PM. Yet there’s no trace of him?” She clasped her hands, “What shall I do? He has nobody here. There’s no way he’s at some other place in Mumbai.”

“I’ll file a missing complaint at the police station. That’d be the best way as of now.” She settled her thoughts.

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08:00 PM. At Police Station

Tanvi stepped down from a cab and stood in front of the Police station. In the dark night, when the sky was pitch black, the street lights appeared like a hope in the murk to her.

Seeing the crowded people, chilly breeze, honkings of vehicles, she took a deep breath when a knot began forming in her belly, “Come on, Tanvi. You can do this.” She mumbled to herself when others were giving disgusting glares at her messed appearance.

Glanced at them, “Ugh. I don’t have time for these things.” With that, she entered inside with enfolded hands.

She remained rooted for a while in front of the wooden table where piles of files lay on it. Few constables were proceeding in and out in front of her. Her gaze shifted through the room when screams from few prisoners alarmed her. “They’re being interrogated,” a female constable said by seeing the shock on Tanvi’s face and came out an officer.

The stout officer dressed in khaki uniform scared the hell out of her with the scary look on his face and approached her while cleaning his bloody hands.

Tanvi felt a creepy feeling seeing the blood on his shirt until the officer gave her attention. “What’s your issue?” The stout man asked hoarsely while gesturing her to take her seat.

“A person was missing,” Tanvi said in a soft tone while occupying the wooden chair, which gave a scraping sound.

“Provide the complete details of that person.”

“In the morning itself he landed in Mumbai but got arrested by Customs Department.”

“Customs department?” The officer stressed.

“Yes. They said he violated legalities.”

“Okay. What did he violate?”

“He brought more jewelry than it was allowed.”

“Stop.” The officer commanded, and immediately Tanvi was alarmed with the change of tone. Stared at him in confusion, when he checked the information.

“Do one thing,” said the officer.

“Hm?”

“Go to the Cyber Crime Department.”

“What? Wait… why to go there?” Tanvi was puzzled by the turn of events. “Coming here itself was a tough task to me. Now, he’s saying to go somewhere else?” She mused in annoyance.

“These sort of cases were handled over there.”

Tanvi gave a suspicious look, “Why should I go to the Cyber Crime Department when a person is missing?” She demanded angrily.

“Either you do what I say, or leave.”

Tanvi was in no position to think straight. Her emotions were succumbing her into the darkness. Her hand held her spinning head and closed her eyes with a painful expression on her face.

“Hello, Ms…?” He yelled, seeing her daze.

She was in the blink of crying, yet swallowed her pain, “What the… What’s happening?”

“Go to the Cyber Crime Department.” He shouted.

Coming out of her reverie with a start, fear struck her, she clenched her fists tightly digging her nails onto her fragile skin when her heartbeat was pounding hard. An uneasy feeling settled inside of her.

Tanvi looked at the irritable officer behind the desk and nodded. Her swollen eyes ached from their earlier torrent. She needed to pull herself together. No matter how hard this situation was, she needed to handle it calmly.

…