It had been a fortnight since they began searching for the professor, yet he was nowhere to be found. It was as if the ground had swallowed him whole. Simultaneously, they were also searching for Kabir, but as soon as they got the lead, his traces were erased. It was as if both the bastards existence was wiped out from the surface of the earth.
Zacharias realized one thing, either they were too smart to out lead his army, or they were protected by his enemies. And Zach had a strong intuition on the latter one. It was impossible that Sullivan didn't knew about his wife's stalker, considering his nosy habits. If it was true than that meant he had got to an extra length in hiding them and was enjoying throwing bones while watching his men run around in circles. Zacharias knew one thing though, Sullivan was planning something very big and was putting all his resources to accomplish his iniquitous plan. He had a gut feeling that whatever it was, it was going to be the worse one of all, and he would put all his strength in protecting his family at any cost whatsoever.
After meeting all the dead ends Zacharias decided to withdraw his search and instead planted his Special Task team to work on the search discreetly.
It had been the worst 15 days of his life. Every day, every second was a torture to go without seeing or hearing his wife's melodic voice. Zacharias was going berserk from missing her and yet failed to eradicate the threat looming around his wife's head. Khristina's wedding was just around the corner with hardly less than two weeks remain to oversee the preparations.
He was missing her so much that just to get a whiff of her scent, he walked into the art room. Her faint smell was still lingering in the air. Zacharias took a long breath and walked towards her paintings, some laid next to the wall and some still on the stand. But one of them was covered with a white cloth. He remembered this was the one that she did not wanted anyone to see. To feed his curiosity, he walked towards the covered painting and slowly pulled away the cover. Zach couldn't believe his eyes as he stared at his own reflection on the Canvas.The silhouette of a huge Falcon bird was drawn as the background with his complete image at the front. Each beautiful stroke, every single detailed lines were covered in the painting. He couldn't help but trace his fingers over his image. His chest warmed with love and proud that he felt for his wife. It were the last two words that held everything. "My King...My Beloved" was written in bright and beautiful color. He couldn't believe his eyes she drew him.
The ringing of his phone brought him out of his reverie. A frown formed on his face as he saw the caller id. Doctor Martha? Nonetheless, he picked up the call.
"Hello Mr. Ivanov. I hope I did not disturb you. Actually I was trying to reach your wife but her number has been showing unreachable. I just wanted to check up on her as to how she is holding up and also I did not get to say this, but anyways congratulations."
Zacharias was more perplexed by now. Taking a sharp intake of breath he inquired, "Congratulations? I don't think I get about what you are talking Dr. Martha. And what's wrong with the Adiva?"
"You don't know yet? I thought you knew. I was going to wish you the same day when I found out but I kind of got busy and it literally slipped out of my mind." She looked more puzzled and shocked from her voice.
"Dr Martha could you stop beating around the bush and tell me what's going on?" Zacharias was losing his temper.
He had the intake of her sharp breath, before she spoke. "Mrs Ivanov is pregnant with twins."
Zacarious felt as if his ears were ringing. "What?" he whispered wanting to confirm the truth.
"Mrs Ivanov is two and half months by far with twins."
"When? And I want all the details."
"Ah... I think it was more than a fortnight back.. She had been brought to the clinic unconscious and with a bleeding foot. She almost had a miscarriage that day, but thankfully we were able to save the babies on time." Zacharias clutched the phone tightly in his hand and took the support of a nearby table. "Khristina knows this. She was there with her. I had just called to inquire about her health condition and also for a checkup."
Zach abruptly hanged up on the call and called is pilot to keep the jet ready before walking towards Khristina's room.
"Bro?" She squeaked, pulling away from Alyosha. Their breaths heavy from their make out session.
"Fucking cock blocker..." he heard Alyosha mutter under his breath.
Had it been another time he would have definitely come with a quirky reply, but right now he had an important matter to handle. Ignoring him he turned his attention towards his little sister.
"Why didn't you tell me Tina?"
She frowned at him in confusion.
"Adiva is pregnant.." It turned out more like a sentence.
"What?" Alyosha exclaimed, his jaw dropping to his knees. "Adiva is pregnant?"
Tina looked around nervously fidgeting with fingers.
He sighed, and inquired in a soft voice, "Tina why did you hide it squirrel?"
She looked at him, "Bro I swear I had no intention of hiding it. In fact I was so ecstatic when I heard the news, that I wanted to shout it to everyone. But Adiva promised me to keep it a secret until your birthday. She had planned on surprising you."
"Jesus squirrel do you realize the weightness of the situation? She fucking almost had a miscarriage!" He couldn't help at his rise in tone.
"What?" Alyosha exclaimed again, giving her an accusing look.
"Yeah and I fucking got to know it now that my wife is over two months pregnant." Zach raked his fingers frustratingly through his hair.
"B-Bro, Alyosha, I-I can explain."
"I'm fucking listening squirrel.." He gave her an impatient look.
And she was quick to lay out everything in front of him. From how she was brought to the clinic unconscious to doctor Martha giving her the news of her pregnancy and her almost miscarriage. The relief on Adiva's features when she told her that the Zach was not informed yet and her strange request to hide it from him and the family.
"She even forbid me to speak about it even when we were alone. Now coming to think of it I realized it later when you disclosed in front of us the danger she was in. She hid it and begged me to keep it a secret, to keep her baby safe."
"Babies?" Alyosha was getting one shock after another.
"Yeah twins..." she answered, before continuing. "Adiva knew the depth of the dangerous situation she was in and as soon as the word was out, her babies lives will be in danger. Hence to protect them, she did not let a soul know about the existence."
"You could have told me afterwards. I am the father God damn it."
"Yeah, but I had promised her..." She bent her head biting her lower lip.
Zach felt an ache cutting deep in his heart, knowing all the pain his wife had gone through. Taking a step ahead, he pulled his little sister in a hug and kissed the crown of her head, as he murmured, "Thank you for being there for her."
"Always." She winked, as he pulled back. "After all I am going to be an aunt."
A tiny smile crafted on his lips at her words.
"I'm leaving right now to bring her back. Handle everything, yeah?" He spoke, turning towards Alyosha.
"Do not worry" he patted his back, assuring him with a smile.
"Finally!!" Tina squealed and jumped happily. "I missed my bestie-cum-sister so much. God home doesn't feel like home without her..."
"She is right." Alyosha affirmed with a smile.
Pulling him in a brotherly hug, Zach sauntered towards his room, as Tina squealed behind him probably gone to inform the rest of the family.
Throwing some clothes into his bag, Zach took his chopper to the airport. As soon as he landed, his pilot John was waiting for him at the step. With the curt nod at his greeting, Zach climbed the jet and took his seat, before calling Reyhan to inform about his arrival. Instead it was Ziya who received the call. He couldn't help but smile at bubbliness, as she informed him that how she would keep his arrival a surprise, just to get a reaction out of everyone and special Adiva. He was informed that the family was enjoying the vacation in N.India, but he couldn't waste a moment to have his wife back in his arms.
But another shocking news awaited him as soon as she landed at the airport. It was one of his men who were in charge of protecting his wife. He thought that he might have called to inquire about his arrival, but all color drained from his features as soon as he heard that Adiva was kidnapped and within seconds he heard the panic button installed in a her pendant beeping on his phone.
The guards were tailing the kidnapper's van and without wasting a a second, he got behind the wheel and whirred the car on the road, while switching on the tracker on his phone and placing it in front of him. Collaborating with his informant he took a shortcut road and soon he spotted the van and brought it to a stop by by blocking it with his car.
The men were quick to get down the van with their guns waving in front of him, but before they could even react, he fired two shots. One between his eyes and the other to the other man's shoulder, earning a deafening screams as he crouched on the ground and the guns falling from the hands. He watched in horror to see his accomplice dead in front of his eyes. Without missing a second, Zacharias lunged forward and kicked the gun with his feet and punched him hard in his gut. Leaving him bawling pathetically on the ground, he jumped towards the van and yanked the door open. There she was, his angel, lying unconscious on the dirty seat of the van. Wasting no time he quickly picked her up in his arms.
The screeching of tires caught his attention, prompting him to raise his gun, but relaxed when he saw his men coming out of the car. "Get him" Zach pointed towards the man. While cradling his wife in his arms he turned back into his car and drove back to where his in laws were staying.
A look of relief passe their features as soon he got her back. After assuring her parents that she is safe, he took her to her suit and closed the door behind. Wanting to remove the filthy touch of those bastards he ran a bath for her, before lying her unconscious body on the bed and joining right beside her. He called Dr Martha and explained the situation. It was only after she gave the green signal that he took a breath of relief.
Zacharias felt as if he had now come alive when he had held his angel in his arms. His dead soul coming back to life as soon as he inhaled her captivating scent. e caressed the small bump of her stomach while pressing kisses all over it. It felt as if his heart would burst with happiness knowing that their love was growing inside her belly in the form of their babies.
His phone rang. It was his informant. Quickly throwing a t-shirt and pants on himself, he kissed her forehead before walking out of the room. After attending the call, as he started to walk back his eyes landed on his in laws sitting in the living room with a forlorn expression on their faces. He felt guilty for making them wait for so long. Changing the route, he walked towards them.
"My apologies for keeping you wait." He spoke reaching them.
"No worries son, We came out just now right now. Our first priority right now is Adiva. Come sit..." Asad gestured towards the empty seat.
"My informer called..." Zacharias spoke, taking his seat and looking into the awaiting eyes. "I am afraid it's Aman or kabir, or whatever that bastard's name is..." he heard them gasp in shock.
"We thought he was in a custody" Reyhan spoke.
Zach sighed, knowing that they had every right to know the truth. "One of my arch nemesis helped him out, and he is now currently under his protection."
"That means she is still under danger.."
"Yeah. That was one of the reason I sent her here. I've been tracking him since long but unfortunately he is been hidden well..."
"Now what?"
"I am taking her back."
"No!!" Her scream snapped his attention and prompted him to run towards the room. He jumped on the bed when he saw her writhing on the bed, her eyes still shut. Crawling towards her, he moved to cup her face, but she slapped his hand away as if his touch was burning her.
"No! No! Don't you dare touch me....My Zach will kill you..." She screamed and flailed her hands and legs.
"God she is having a panic attack. We need her medicines" Zach hardly registered Reyhan's voice.
She was not here....
"Shh....Love, look at me... It's me my love, your husband " he murmured softly, cautiously encapsulating her in his arms.
"I said don't touch me!! " She still was out of control fighting and scratching him to pull away.
Cupping her neck in a tight grip, so that she won't be able to pull away, he placed his lips on hers. Softly sucking and nibbling on them savoring her taste as he murmured against her lips. "I am here love you are safe now...No one is going to take you away from me" Soft gasps could be heard behind him but he didn't pay attention to any of them.
He kept on kissing her until she slowly started to relax in his arms as he kept on pulling her away from the depths of darkness that were shackled by her monsters.
"Zacharias" She whispered against his lips after sometime.
"Yes my angel.." Her beautiful eyes glistened in tears as she looked at him.
"He is going to get me, isn't he?" She was scared.
Caressing her face he answered with fierce determination "No love, he won't be able to come near you. Ever. I am here to protect you.. I always have and always will.."
"But you left me..." She whimpered.
Wiping away the tears with the pad of his thumb, he kissed her forehead and pulled her against him. " I won't ever my love" He placed kisses on her head tightening his hold on her.
"Mom, dad?" She shrieked, suddenly pulling away from him.
A dark red hue spreading from her neck to her cheeks. He turned to see her whole family staring at them in awe.
"We were never able to control her through her nightmares or panic attacks without the medicine and you just did that with the kiss?" Reyhan couldn't help, but question in astonishment.
"Yeah my kisses are her medicine."
"Zacharias..." she chided. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
"What? Am I not speaking the truth?" He smirked watching her all flustered and squirm under his hold, while hiding her face in his chest.
"May god always keep you together and happy. And may your love grow stronger with each day."
"Amen to that." He murmured smiling at his mother in law's words.
This is the wonderful cover page made by one of my avid readers. I would specially love to thank her again for this wonderful cover page.
@saillingcruise.......Thank you so much dear, I love and appreciate your efforts.
Actually I myself wanted to change my cover page, but due to lack of time, I couldn't go with it. But as soon as I find some time, I would work over it soon.
Enjoy reading.....