..You're my honeysuckle...?

              
    
       
We continued riding for almost an hour. I kept glancing back, but there was no sign of anyone chasing us anymore.

The silence between us during the journey was almost deafening. Neither of us spoke a word.

Finally, he pulled over under a tree in the middle of nowhere. It was just the two of us.

We both got off the bike, and while I had countless questions buzzing in my head, I waited for the right moment to ask.

He turned to me, hesitating, as if struggling to find the right words. After taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.

"Today is my sister's wedding. I was supposed to be there—it’s really important for me."

I replied, trying to ease his worry. "I understand. You don’t have to worry about me. I just need to make a phone call to my uncle to let him know I’m safe. If possible, could you help me get to the nearest police station? I don’t want to be a burden."

He patted his pockets and then exclaimed, "Oh no! My phone—it broke earlier... Mona.... I can't leave you alone as it was new place to you." He let out a frustrated sigh.

I felt a tinge of unease. “Wait, how do you know my name? And how did you know I’m new to this place?”

He sighed again, looking a bit guilty. "I think I owe you an explanation."

"My name is Vikram Aditya. My dad is a police officer, and he’s the one handling your missing case," he explained.

My eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Your dad is the one investigating my case? How do you even know it’s me?"

Vikram nodded. "Yes, my dad couldn’t attend the wedding because of this case. He said he had to prioritize saving you over everything else. Earlier today, his assistant sent me your picture for identification. I recognized you immediately when you approached me. The rest, well... you already know."

I took a moment to process everything. "What do we do now?" I asked hesitantly.

He paused, then suggested, "Since it’s not safe to leave you anywhere else and there’s no police station nearby, why don’t you come with me to my sister’s wedding? We can call my dad and inform him to take you safely from there."

I hesitated. "Are you sure? I don’t want to impose."

He smiled warmly. "It’s not an imposition at all. It’s my pleasure to help you. We can sort everything out at the wedding."

With no better option, I agreed.

The road was grandly decorated with colorful lights, banners, and flowers as we approached the venue. A long red carpet led to a massive building surrounded by luxury—beautiful gardens, water fountains, and even a swimming pool. People were bustling around in expensive sarees and jewelry.

Suddenly, I became self-conscious. My clothes were dirty, my hair was a mess, and I looked utterly exhausted. As Vikram parked the bike near a row of small houses, I hesitated.

"Vikram, I can’t go inside like this. Can you give me a phone? I’ll call my family and leave as soon as I can," I said nervously.

“Nope!” he replied loudly, startling me.

I turned to him in shock. "What?"

He quickly clarified, "I mean, I want you to rest for a bit first. In the meantime, I’ll inform my dad and your family."

"Are you hiding something from me?" I asked suspiciously.

"How could I? We just met!" he said with a reassuring smile.

I reluctantly agreed, but asked to stay in one of the smaller houses instead of the grand building. He nodded and asked someone nearby to lead the way.

As I tried calling my uncle using a borrowed phone, there was no response. Vikram, noticing my frustration, called his father and updated him on the situation. His dad promised to come in person to pick me up, ensuring my safety.

I realized then that Vikram had brought me here intentionally, hoping his dad would attend the wedding while also ensuring my safety. If he had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have objected. But I couldn’t help but feel a little used.

As Vikram walked away, swarmed by other guests, I felt a pang of disappointment. I thought to myself, Perhaps strangers can only expect so much from each other.

Varun, the person leading me to the room, broke the silence. “Vikram might seem a bit rude, but he’s genuinely a good guy.”

I smiled faintly. “It’s fine. I’m grateful he helped me. I didn’t expect anything more.”

Still, I couldn’t shake off a strange feeling about everything happening here.

What happens next?
Stay tuned for the next chapter!

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