A husky voice spoke from the other end. "You made things quite difficult for us. What do you think will happen to you?"

"Who are you?"

"Is that your girlfriend with you just now?"

Ramit looked at Geetha before he stood up to walk far from her. But she caught his arm, pulled his hand and switched the speaker on. Under her gaze he turned to the phone and said into it, "Who are you?"

"Your little company provoked a decades old company. This is a simple warning. Take back the leaks and issue an apology by tonight."

"Which company's information do you want me to apologise for?"

"For everything. You aren't the only genius. Well, that is all for now."

"What's in the syringe?" Geetha asked just before the call was cut.

"Don't worry, just a sedative. It didn't hit him, did it?" With that the person hung up the call.

For a few minutes silence engulfed them.

"What's all this?"

Her tone carried an accusation but he was just as confused as she was. He really could not make much out of the situation either. Was it a simple prank or did it involve a real threat? But given the reason the person claimed for the threat, there was little possibility it was a simple prank.

"How did they get to you? And here?" she asked, pursing her lips.

"The company is registered under my name. That must be it. The journalists will be safe. We... I should have known."

"What do you want to do? Call the police? Go to the embassy? Or the apology?"

"Once we apologise, we're doomed forever."

"Do this. Call the embassy and ask them to take you back safely. I'll stay at my friend's place for a while."

"No, you come with me too. Let's go back."

She saw him search the embassy number. She was also concerned about her safety but why should her life be disrupted because of him?

He dialled up the number and told the other side what had transpired. They seemed cynical about his story at first but when he linked it with the recent news and his suspicion, they offered to provide security. Then he booked them flight tickets to Delhi.

"Pack what all you need. It might take a while." He started gathering all his files. When he saw her still standing idle, he noticed the sullenness on her face.

"I know you don't want to leave but you have to. Don't worry about your work, okay? You can ask to work remotely or ask for a transfer."

She looked at him with condescending eyes for the first time in a while. He had almost forgotten that feeling. He tore his eyes away from hers.

"This is my fault. I'm really sorry." The feeling of helplessness was back in his heart.

She turned away and started sorting out her stuff. He was sorry, she laughed inside. So what if he was sorry? That did not give her another choice.

He watched her disappear into her room. He overlooked the indifference like he always did. When they go back home, they'd fix everything. He went back to packing and once he was done he walked to her to help. But she was already done and was drafting a mail to her boss.

His attention went to the plant on the window sill. "What do we do with it?"

"Let it be," she said, not taking her eyes off the screen.

He soon got busy setting up a dropper for the plant. After that he wanted to check if anything was left to be taken care of. He stood in the middle of the hall looking at the portion where they were attacked. Both subconsciously avoided that part of the house and did not step there until now.

"What do you want? Water?"

"Nothing, just checking."

"No need. There's nothing there." She walked over pulling him away by the hand. A smile bloomed on his face as he followed her.

He looked forward to how they were going to fix everything. And how it would be after that, hopefully a very happy life.

Something cold touched his hand bringing him out of his daydream. "If you're thirsty," she said and gave him her water bottle, "don't go there."

"You took everything you need?" He asked as she dragged her soft coloured luggage bag to one corner.

"Yeah. Why aren't they still coming? We are in the capital."

"I'll call them again."

His phone rang instead. It was from an officer from the embassy calling for what turn to take to get to the apartment. A few minutes later they opened their door to the officer and two policemen. They promptly showed their ID cards. The officer was a Second Secretary from the embassy and the policemen were from the Diplomatic Security Services.

Ramit Thanked them and explained the whole situation once again. Since the Indian officer knew English, he understood. But the policemen could not grasp each and everything.

Geetha helped them whenever they looked like dimwits.

Ramit carefully handed the syringe with the tissue to the policemen.

"Since you are citizens of another country and don't feel safe for reasonable and rational reasons, we will let you go back. But you will have to help in the investigation and give your statements when we forward this case to Criminal Investigation," one of the policemen told them in English with a heavy accent. They took a few photos of the house, mostly at the hall window and also of the building outside.

"Sure sir. Should we wait a little more or go now? That guy could still be watching us," Ramit said, "Our flight's at 2 A.M. Waiting at the embassy will be safe but is it safe to move out?"

"The police are here. Even if he is watching you, he would not be that reckless." The officer paused and looked at Ramit, "Or, are you really high profile? Isn't it Omniscience that leaked it though?"

"Our company is a partner in this leak. We're called Hidden and I am the Head Executive."

Geetha soon held his arm and whispered, "Is there a need to say all that?" Had not he invited enough trouble with that identity already?

"Ah, I remember. But their name was dominant," the officer said, showing somewhat of a remorse that his countrymen did not get enough recognition.

"They are a strong brand and can make the news phenomenal," Ramit still explained, not understanding Geetha's frown.

"Alright, since you are ready to leave, don't delay," the officer said looking at their luggage, "The embassy will be safe."

"Is he a journalist?" A policeman asked the officer in French, looking at the couple up and down. After all, every country had doubts on foreign journalists.

"No, just a computer guy," Geetha answered him.

A shocked Ramit looked at her unable to refute. He was an amazing programmer and an even more amazing mathematician, how did he become 'just a computer guy'? He showed his business visa to him, debunking the policeman's doubts, since a journalists had to carry journalism visas. Geetha followed and showed her work visa.

"A few senior shareholders of Hidden are from Europe and my wife works here," he explained. 

"Then let's get going, I'll walk behind you," the policeman said.

They locked their house. Geetha had paid the rent just two days ago. Ever since Ramit had started living there, she started paying extra. The owner was an old man who lived far away, in a village enjoying his retirement. She could tell him later or when the need arises.

∼•∽

In the parking lot, when they were going to get into the car, someone rushed from the front and took the gun the policeman in the front had.

Soon the other policeman called for reinforcement and the officer stood by Ramit and Geetha.

"It's him!" Ramit said. The silhouette in his head matched the guy. He embraced Geetha, trying to protect her from any harm.

The two policemen and the guy were engaged in a fight but the guy easily defeated them and took the other policeman's gun too. He was a skilled fighter and a strong one.

Then he flung the officer away and pulled the remaining two people apart. He pushed Ramit a little to the side and caught Geetha instead.

He turned to Ramit and said, "Well genius, get into that vehicle or she's dead. My job is to get you to apologise. I have no work with her. I will kill her in any instant."

Ramit slowly walked to the vehicle looking behind him every few steps. He managed to be calm up to this point. But now his heart raced.

Once at the vehicle, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down. They had to get out of this predicament. If not they, at least she.

He opened the car door and turned around. "I'm getting in. Let her go."

The guy walked closer, pushing Geetha. "Get in," he told both of them.

Geetha was silent. Ramit said, "Why should she get in? I said I'll go with you! Leave her!"

"Where do you want to sit? With your lady or in the front?" he asked, shoving Geetha inside. Afraid of injury, she quickly got in. Ramit also got in to sit beside her.

"Don't try to pull any stunts, I have quite a temper. My boss has something to do with you but anger me and I'll kill you before his work is done." He did not tie them, but had the doors on child lock.

Once in the car, he started driving out of the building. "Give me your phones."

Geetha was the first to place hers in the guy's hand. Ramit tried sending a message to his father. "Quick!" The guy said to Ramit.

His finger was tapping on the unlit screen as his eyes looked from side to side, as if searching for his phone. After a few more long taps, an 'SOS' blinked in low light on his phone and the screen was black again. 

"Check your handbag. I think I put it in the middle zip," he said to Geetha.

Geetha opened and closed the zips of her bag one by one. She did not know what he was trying to do, but she knew she had to buy him some time.

Ramit started drawing patterns on the blank screen to form words. He hoped he was doing it right. If he typed properly, the message should read: 'Got kidnapped. Geetha too. This is the last message I'm sending from my phone.'

"Found it?"

Geetha looked at Ramit's eyes. He blinked slowly.

 In the rearview, it looked like he was still searching for his phone. "Make it quick!"

"I found it," Geetha said to Ramit.

"Here," Ramit said and gave him the phone.

His phone and especially its security system was his personal playground. He had programmed the SOS to his phone as a hobby. The first he developed it was during his final year at university. He bought 2 new phones over the years and subsequently programmed the same to them.

His message would be sent to all of his dad's messaging apps from his corresponding accounts, then those traces would be deleted on his own phone. The message he wrote, coordinates and the speed of his movement from an hour ago and the current location were the payload. It would then breach the security that all those apps promise two times. Once, to enter the sender's account. Second time, to operate the commands from the receiver's accounts. It would hack into the recipient's phone to notify the SOS in maximum volume. Unless the notification was opened in any one app and the associated button with the text, 'I'll send help' was clicked the alarm wouldn't stop. If his dad's phone was dead though, he had to wait until his dad charged it.

The last time he checked if the SOS still worked properly was a few months ago. It failed to breach the security of one app and he had to update it. He sent a prayer to the heavens that this time, no software updates to the apps his dad used would stand in the way.

Right now in India it would be the dead of the night when everyone was in deep sleep. But full volume and constant alarm would wake one up. He caught Geetha's palm hoping they'd be safe at the end of it all.

"Don't be scared. Everything will be alright."

She did not respond immediately. She kept looking out of the window and finally said, "All of this is because of you."

"Sorry..."

"Indeed it's all because of him. Tell him to issue an apology." The guy said from the front. He was ignored.

After ten minutes, Ramit's phone rang. He squeezed his eyes. It must be his father.

"Papa? Who is it?" The guy read out the contact name and asked them, tilting his head.

Geetha placed her hand over Ramit's, stopping from putting them in further trouble. "Ton Papa. Your dad!" she answered instead. She was thankful that her father-in-law called. It meant they had a hope. She hoped the phone would ring for a little while more and connect to more towers on the way, which could help the police chase them down. It was better that the guy did not know it was from their family, lest he cut the call.

Ramit was amused. Did she think he would spit out that it was his father calling? He placed his other hand over hers and softly tapped it twice. Of course, he would not. If he said that, it wouldn't take the guy much to figure out that he had contacted someone despite being warned. After all, it was dead of the night in India.

Geetha then withdrew her hand and turned to the window.

"What a pain your lady is! Who is it?" This time, the guy made sure to have eye contact with Ramit through the rearview mirror.

Ramit silently agreed to the first part, glancing at his empty hands and Geetha's side profile. She was despondently gazing out without blinking, unchanging against the occasional lights of the vehicles that passed them. In that moment, it somehow registered in his heart, that this was how she had always been in their relationship, sad and still. Life was not meant to be lived like that and he would never be able to make her happy and enjoy herself, he thought. His guilt for their current predicament was also at play.

He looked back at the rearview and said, "A friend."

With most of his thoughts still bitter and the rest working subconsciously to cook up a name for this cooked up friend, he added, "Papa Swamy."

The guy seemed pleased. "Where is he?"

"USA. He said he was going to host a virtual lunch party." Ramit said after quickly calculating the time difference between the regions. He had to make his lie sound genuine. Since it was afternoon in America at this time, it should not call his attention if a call came from there.

Soon they were taken to another city and then to a remote village. The kidnapper took them into a house. It was in a field in the middle of nowhere. While they were getting down the car, he noticed Geetha's stomach was a little outward given her well proportioned figure.

He asked her, "Are you pregnant?" His doubt was also rooted in the fact that she didn't show any resistance when he asked her to get into the vehicle.

The question stunned them both but Geetha was quick to reply. "Do you have to go that far to call me fat? I ate a little more for dinner." Putting on an A-line gown was not a good choice, she thought. She hoped he did not pay her any more attention regarding the matter.

The guy seemed to buy her story. She was a little chubby after all.

The couple was relieved that they managed not to give him more opportunity to play them by their weakness. All they had to do now was to wait. The police, the embassy and their family knew of their kidnap. Sooner or later they'd be rescued.

The guy left them alone in a room. It had only one ventilator. He locked the room from outside.

∼•∽