Protected by Kidnapper

Chapter 2

Kiara's POV:

I open my eyes as the 9 AM alarm blares through the room.

Sitting up in bed, the realization hits me like a wave-today's the day of the painting competition.

I jump out of bed, my heart racing with excitement and nerves, and rush to get ready.

Downstairs, I find my uncle sitting at the dining table, reading the newspaper. His bald head shines under the light, a stubbled beard framing his face as he sips his tea.

Sonu and Shivani are already eating, their chatter filling the air as usual.

I sit down, aunty Dona places a warm breakfast in front of me.

Normally, Alexa, our maid, handles the cooking, but today Aunty took the time to make it herself. Because alexa is in long holiday.

After eating, I head toward Grandma and Grandpa's room.

Grandma is sewing something by the window, her glasses slipping a little down her nose. Grandpa, sitting beside her, is telling one of his usual old stories-his voice soft but full of life.

"Grandpa... Grandma," I say, stepping inside.

"Come here, child," Grandpa says, waving me in with a warm smile.

"Today's my painting competition," I tell them with a grin. "And I've decided I'm going to draw you both."

Grandpa chuckles, his eyes twinkling. "Then I can already say-you're winning first prize."

Grandma smiles silently, her expression soft and proud.

"Okay, bye, Grandma and Grandpa," I say, turning to leave, feeling more inspired than ever.

I sit in the car, and our driver, Noah, starts driving toward Puja's neighborhood.

The ride is quiet, but my mind is already racing with ideas and colors.

The car comes to a stop, and I step out. The place is buzzing-college students are scattered everywhere, setting up their easels, prepping their brushes, and discussing themes for the painting competition.

"Kiara..." I hear someone call my name.

I turn to see Tiya waving at me, Puja right beside her. They both walk over, excitement written all over their faces.

"What are you planning to draw?" Puja asks curiously.

"Is it one of your life's iconic moments or something else?" Tiya adds.

I smile. "It's an iconic moment... but not mine. It's of my grandma and grandpa."

"Oho, good! I hope you win first prize," Tiya says with a bright grin.

"When you do, you better give us a treat, okay?" Puja adds, nudging my arm playfully.

I laugh, shaking my head. "Guys, the competition hasn't even started yet and you two are already planning my victory?"

I glance at both of them and smile. "I don't draw for prizes. I draw because it's what I love. It's my favorite hobby."

We're laughing among ourselves when the announcement echoes through the loudspeaker.

"Everyone, please take your seats. The competition will begin in 5 minutes."

I take a deep breath and glance at Tiya and Puja."Good luck," they say in unison, smiling warmly before heading off to sit in the audience area.

I walk over to my assigned spot, set up my canvas, and ready my brushes. Five minutes pass quickly. The sharp sound of a whistle cuts through the chatter- And just like that, everyone begins to paint.

I start painting, my hand moving with purpose as the brush touches the canvas.

In my mind, the scene is vivid-Grandma sitting by the window, her fingers carefully sewing with steady grace. Grandpa beside her, lost in one of his stories, his voice calm and animated all at once.

The memory feels warm and alive, as if they're right in front of me.

Each stroke is personal. This isn't just a painting-it's a piece of my heart.

Time seems to slip through my fingers like sand. I paint faster. My fingers are a little stained, but I don't care.

My drawing is nearly finished when a woman, one of the competition staff, walks up to me. Her expression is serious.

"Your brother is here to pick you up. He says there's an emergency in your family, and you need to leave right away."

"What?" I gasp.

I'm confused.

But then I see Sonu already inside the audience zone-his expression says it all. There's a flicker of something deeper in his eyes... something really wrong. He's gesturing for me to hurry.

"If your drawing is complete, we can collect it for submission," she adds gently. "It sounds urgent. You should go."

"Yes, it's complete. Please collect it," I say quickly, starting to pack up my supplies.

I rush out of the drawing area, spotting Sonu waiting near the car.

Just then, Tiya and Puja catch up to me.

"Hey, where are you going?" Tiya asks, concerned.

"I think something serious happened at home. I need to go," I reply, tightening my grip on my bag. "I'll see you both soon, okay?"

"Okay. Be careful," Puja says, her voice soft with worry.

I slide into the passenger seat, heart already pounding. Sonu starts the car without a word.

His face is pale, lips pressed tight, and his eyes... they're red and puffy.

"Hey... what happened?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

He swallows hard. "Grandpa..." he manages to say, and then his voice breaks. Tears start rolling down his cheeks.

My breath catches. I grab his arm, panic rising. "W-WHAT HAPPENED TO GRANDPA?!"

But Sonu doesn't answer. He just keeps driving, crying silently. The silence between us feels heavier than anything I've ever known.

"SONU! WHAT HAPPENED TO GRANDPA?" I shout again, louder this time, my hands shaking.

He grips the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles white.

"He died!" he chokes out, voice cracking under the weight of the words.

I freeze. My heart stops.

"W-What?" I whisper, barely able to breathe. It's like the world tilts under me-everything blurs. My voice breaks, the weight of those two words crashing down like thunder in my chest.

Sonu speeds through the gates. The tires screech slightly as the car halts in front of our mansion.

I fling the door open and step out in a panic-my eyes instantly land on the scene ahead.

Two ambulance staff members are lifting a stretcher. And on it... Grandpa's lifeless body, covered halfway with a white sheet. My chest tightens. My knees nearly give out.

"GRANDPAAAAA!!!"

I run toward him, but a female police officer steps in front of me, catching me just in time.

"No-LET ME GO!" I cry, thrashing in her grip.

My screams echo through the yard, every inch of me shaking. The tears don't stop. They won't.

I love my grandpa and grandma more than anything in this world. I can do anything for them-anything.

When I was just ten, I lost my mom and dad in an accident that shattered my world.

Since then, it was my uncle and aunty who raised me... but it was my grandparents who loved me.

They gave me more than shelter or support-they gave me their whole heart, every warm inch of it.

Grandpa's laughter, Grandma's soft hands, their stories, their hugs-they were home.

My vision is clouded with tears, the world around me fading into a haze of grief.

The lady officer wraps her arms around me gently, her voice calm yet firm.

"Sweetheart, I know it hurts... but you have to be strong now."

I try to stand upright, to pull myself together-but my knees feel weak and my chest tightens.

"How... how did it happen?" I ask, my voice cracking between sobs.

The lady officer looks at me with gentle eyes."He fell from the stairs. Hit his head pretty hard. brain damage..."

Her words echo in my ears, but I can barely process them.

Then suddenly-Grandma. My heart jolts.

Where is she? Is she okay?

I blink back the tears, forcing myself to breathe. I have to stay strong.

For her.

I stand upright, even though my heart feels like it's been shattered into pieces.

"Take care... and be strong," the lady officer says gently before walking away, leaving me standing in the middle of this silent storm of grief.

I look around. Sonu is crying, shoulders trembling. Shivani is standing beside him, tears streaming down her face as Aunty gently holds her arm, trying to comfort her.

Uncle stands a few steps away. His face is tense-like he's holding in too many emotions at once. Grief, shock... but something else too. Something I can't quite place.

I enter the mansion and spot Grandma sitting silently on the sofa.

She's still-too still.

I rush to her, fall to my knees beside her, and gently shake her arm. "Grandma?" My voice cracks as fresh tears slip down my cheeks. "Grandma, are you okay? Please say something..."

Her eyes are open, but vacant. Her hands rest motionless on her lap.

"Grandma?" I whisper again, fear clawing at my chest. She's breathing-but she doesn't move. Doesn't blink. Doesn't speak.

Tears pour faster. Something inside me sinks.

This time, I shake her harder, more desperately. "GRANDMA!" I scream, my voice echoing through the hall. "Say something! Are you hearing me?! Please!"

Her body sways slightly with my panicked motions, but still-nothing. No response. No blink. No word. Just that same empty stare.

I grab her hands. They're warm, but limp. "Please, Grandma... don't do this to me..." My voice cracks again, a broken mix of fear and pleading.

The silence is deafening.

Then I hear footsteps approaching behind me-Uncle, Aunty, Sonu, and Shivani step into the mansion.

Uncle walks forward, his face grim. "She's paralyzed," he says quietly. "From the shock."

"What?!" I gasp, turning to him, still holding Grandma's hand. "Paralyzed?!"

I look at Grandma, my heart breaking even more as I see her sitting there. I can only imagine the heartbreak she's feeling. The love she had for him, it was everything to her.

I take a deep breath, trying to stay strong, but all I want is for her to be okay. To come back to herself. To somehow find the strength to cope with this unbearable loss.