Aisha Seth's hands trembled as she clutched the tablet in the Fernandes family villa's drawing room, the monsoon drizzle pounding the windows like an unrelenting drumbeat. Two hours since Tara's disappearance, and the world felt like it was closing in. Captain Ganesh, the local police head, stood before her, his uniform crisp but his face grim, replaying surveillance footage from a nearby street camera. The grainy video showed Tara, her five-year-old frame small and determined, slipping out the back gate, clutching a stuffed bear. Then, a masked man in a hooded jacket lunged from an unlicensed van, scooping her up before she could scream. The van sped off into the rain-slicked Hyderabad night.
"Ma'am, we've traced the van to a chop shop in the Old City," Ganesh said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "It's linked to the Trigger—a notorious child trafficking group. They've been behind the recent abductions in Banjara Hills and Gachibowli. Some kids… don't make it back."
Aisha's breath hitched, the room spinning. Tara—her Tara—taken by monsters who dealt in children's nightmares? Guilt crashed over her like a wave; she'd been so focused on the divorce, the bet with Robin, that she'd missed her daughter's distress. "Find her," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Do whatever it takes."
Vikram Malhotra, perched on the edge of a velvet sofa, feigned concern, his hand on Aisha's shoulder. "The police will handle it, Aisha," he said, his tone soothing but his mind racing with dark glee. Tara's kidnapping was a gift—remove the child, and Aisha's distractions vanished. No more custody battles for Robin, no more family pulling her from him. Her wealth, her beauty—his for the taking. "Don't waste your money on a bounty. It'll just make them desperate. Trust the authorities."
Aisha nodded numbly, but her mind rebelled. "20 million reward," she said to Ganesh. "Post it everywhere—Social media, local news. Whoever brings Tara back gets it."
Ganesh hesitated. "Ma'am, that could backfire. The Trigger's are ruthless—they've murdered kids to silence witnesses. A bounty might force their hand."
Before Aisha could respond, the door burst open. Two figures entered—Ravi Mehta and Kiran Singh, elite operatives from the "Hunters", a shadowy organization of vigilantes and ex-special forces who handled cases the police couldn't touch. Ravi, tall and scarred, nodded at Ganesh. "We're on it, Captain. Trigger's our turf."
Kiran, with a tablet in hand, pulled up a map. "Tara was taken by the Rocky Bhai's Organization—Trigger's a front. They kidnap kids for training as beggers or… worse, perverse clients. We've got an undercover agent inside, but a bounty could spook them. They'll kill her to tie loose ends."
Aisha's knees buckled, Anna Fernandes catching her. "No," Aisha gasped. "Tara's just a child. What do they want with her?"
Ravi's eyes hardened. "Money, leverage, or worse. But our agent's close—give us time."
Aisha's frustration boiled. "Time? She's five! My influence should mean something!" Her empire, her wealth—useless against shadows. She glanced at Vikram, his "concern" feeling hollow. Anna, eyes fierce, whispered, "Call Robin, Aisha di. He'd tear Hyderabad apart for Tara. Don't let pride cost her life."
"No," Aisha snapped, her voice cracking. "Robin would use this against me—custody, the bet. He's not part of this family anymore."
Vikram's smile tightened, his secret thrill growing. "She's right, Anna. Robin's a liability. The Hunters have it covered."
Anna's face flushed. "Liability? He's Tara's father! You're all blind!"
The room fell silent, Margaret's moans from upstairs piercing the tension. Aisha's doubt gnawed—Robin's shadow, his instincts, his past as Don Robin—could he find Tara where the Hunters couldn't?
Across town, at Hyderabad First Hospital, Robin Seth sat by Sarita Seth's bed, the sterile beeps a counterpoint to her steady breathing. Her heart condition, stabilized by his Ayurvedic care, had improved, but the divorce filing on her birthday lingered like a scar. Priya Reddy, in a mustard-yellow saree that glowed with urban chic, stood nearby, her hand on his shoulder. "Ma looks better, Robin," she said, voice soft. "She's tough," he said, voice low. "Like Tara."
His phone buzzed—Anna. "Robin, Tara's gone," she said, voice breaking. "Surveillance shows her sneaking out. The police think it's the Trigger Gang. Aisha won't call you, but she's panicking. Help her."
Robin's blood ran cold, his Don Robin fire igniting. Tara—kidnapped? "I'm on it," he said, standing. "Tell Aisha I'm coming."
Priya's eyes widened. "Tara? I'll call Sanjay—his team can track vans, hack cameras. We'll get her back."
Robin nodded, his resolve steel. "This ends now.