Lone chapter

 Who sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed  -:-  Genesis 9:6

It distinctly felt like a badly written action movie.

In all honesty, she was keeping it low. No sneaking out, no attracting attention, and she felt she was doing a pretty good job over it. She was cautious, she never took the same road to reach home, hell, she even took proper disguise, if one can call the use of a hooded jacket was a disguise.

Still unwanted attraction came looking for her.

She noticed two men were doing a very poor job of watching her in the supermarket and suddenly grocery shopping was over for her. She left the basket she was carrying and hurriedly walked for the door, putting on the hood. She crossed roads and went for more public place, something like market, keep looking over her shoulder, and then noticed another three were added to the figure.

She sped up and started to run, the alleys very much familiar for her, and the Men followed suit. She cursed when one of them took out gun and shot at her, which hit a dustbin near her. She took out her own gun while running, but running and shooting straight are things which don't go with each other. Despite that, she injured one of them, which only added to their determination to run faster toward her. She oddly felt like, maybe this time, she was really going down.

And then a SUV with ETF logo stopped right in the middle of a alley, literally in between her and those men. Two people came out, one looked at her in a rather sumg way and asked -

"Madad chahiye?"

She gave a look, more like 'You are here so you may as well make use of it', and then started somewhat fair gun fight, which resulted in all those 4 bas***ds death.

Which brought her back in the ETF building, back in the cabin of ETF Chief.

"I told you to keep low profile." The Old Man, Yashvardhan Srivastav, gave her a stern gaze.

"I had to eat something." She could not help the irritated tone. He then turned to look at the Man beside her, The second-in-command, his gaze appreciative.

"How you find her?"

She was exactly thinking about it.

"We were heading for here." He replied, taking a glance at her, "Chotu noticed her crossing the road and then some people following her, so we decided to take a look."

If she was not this much irritated right now, she might have spared a thankful look to both the Men, because, how much she gloat about her ability, she really needed the help today. They saved her life.

The Chief, Yashvardhan, nodded once, and then shifted his look to her once again, "It's getting out of hand."

Like she didn't know.

"I am going to arrange 24/7 security for you until you decide what's next." He turned his back on her, taking the decision, which she didn't take too nicely. She could feel the second-in-command's eyes on her, as if the earlier 'help' was not enough, now he will think she is some damsel in distress who can't handle small things. Oh, f**k that, he was responsible for the trouble in first place, he and his idiot team!

"You won't." She replied firmly. He gave her a look.

"And why is that?"

"Because I don't need it."

"You were going to die today if they didn't arrive." He pointed out, more like added salt to the wound.

"For which, I am thankful." She spared a glance at the Man beside her, "But No. I don't need any security."

"People are after you!" He exclaimed, and before she can open her mouth, he eyed the Man beside her, "Rathore, why don't you give us both a minute?"

The Man nodded mutely, and left the room, giving them both a last glance.

Yashvardhan took a deep breath before speaking, "I don't understand if it's your ego or pride that's stopping you from taking help, and I don't care. You are my responsibility, and I am adamant on my decision."

She looked away to hide the mocking smile before answering, "With due respect, Sir, I don't want to be your responsibility just because your team messed up with my work. They did the damage, and I want nothing to do with them anymore."

"Today two of them saved your life."

"For which, I am thankful, but that is it." She paused, "If it was my ego or pride, I would not have taken their help. I am not stupid."

"You are doing some stupidity right now by . . . "

"Also," She raised her voice slightly as she cut in, "I am not comfortable taking help from people because of whom I am in this position in the first place."

He stared at her mutely as she finished for a long time, then asked slowly, "What's next for you?"

She was slightly surprised at the sudden change of subject, and answered cautiously, "I have not decided yet."

He nodded once at her reply, pacing back and forth slowly as he said, "You know, there is a vacancy, for which, I think you would be perfect. You have the knowledge on Illegal Drug dealing and you were undercover."

She didn't know when this conversation became a job offer, which sounded like a teaching job in some police academy, still she asked, "Which department?"

He stopped pacing, "Emergency Task Force."

Her eyes widen slightly and she sighed in exasperation, "I just said I don't want to do anything with the people who put me in this situation in first place, and still you are offering me a job in here?"

"You have to do something, or do you have any other plan? Quitting, vacation?"

She looked away, "I am thinking how politely I should refuse." When she looked at him once again, he was going through his drawers and took out a something, before coming toward her and thrashing it in her palm, which was a ETF badge. She wanted to ask if he always keep an extra badge in his drawer, but she figured she had already surpassed her quota of being rude.

"I don't work with team." She said slowly, "I will mess that up."

He smirked, "You saw them last time, and you saw two of them again today. You noticed the second-in-command, right? He will make sure you play nice, or else he will make you play nice."

Well, he looked like a good person, strict but good. Maybe she was too quick to figure him out.

"Think about it, babysitter or Job." He walked back, still facing her as he spoke, "I will see you 4 days later."

Like she had thought, not much of a choice.

Her eyes fell on the badge in her palm and she arched an eyebrow at him.

"Aap ye humesha  apne paas rakhte hain?"

He didn't immediately answer, and just when she thought he won't, he did.

"Mere nazar mein ek tha, jo iska haqdaar tha."

 She left his cabin not soon after that, the badge tightly held in her palm.

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It was going away from him.

He had barely kept his foot on stairs, when he saw the train was moving. When he reached the platform, it had already picked up speed. He started to run, determined not to let it go, because there was no other train after this and he never, ever, missed a train.

And after 50 seconds of running, he was finally on the train. He held on to the metallic stand and took several breaths, when he heard someone's voice.

"Ye ladies compartment hain."

He frowned at looked at the compartment for the first time, which was empty except for a girl, dressed in light pink shirt, white jacket and deep blue jeans with hair neatly tied on a side. Her eyes were narrowed and lips pressed thinly, her whole body language disapproved of him.

"Ye ladies compartment hain."  She repeated once again.

"Ye pura khaali hain."  He pointed out, running eyes all over the compartment again.

"I don't care." She replied in irritation. He sighed and rolled his eyes simulteneously.

"Next station mein utar jaoonga."

She didn't reply to it, eyes already on a book she was holding all these time. He took a seat away from her, arms hanging loosely on the head rest as he took her in. She was totally absorbed in the book, and from the front cover it looked like cheesy romantic book. Her hair were falling on her forehead due quite a few time, which she brushed absent mindedly.

It's not like she was that much beautiful, or he was a creep who check out a girl. But there was something about this girl which didn't let his eyes to move away.

The train slowed down near a signal, and he would have noticed 3 drunk assholes getting in if he was paying attention. They talked to each other in Marathi, drooling all over themselves and laughing rather loudly. His eyes immediately went toward her, who already stood still, slowly putting the book inside her bag, not attracting too much attention.

But their eyes fell on her anyway.

At first they stood too close to her, eyeing her lustily, then winking at each other. They asked her something in Marathi, slurring, which she didn't answer. He was about to get up and do something about it, like throw them out of compartment, when one of them grabbed her wrist.

He stood up instantly, but the next moment froze in place as she started to take them down. She twisted the finger and wrist of the creep who touched her, literally kicked his ass and threw him on the ground. The second one came out of his drunken haze and went to attack her, the third one followed, but he held the third one, twisting his wrist so violently that both of them could hear the bones cracking.

"Sochna bhi mt." He hissed in his ear. He looked at the girl, who had hit the second one's knee with her heels and was now slapping him. He gave a punch on the third guy's face whom he was holding, and both of them waited for the next station to come as the trio lay on ground, grunting in pain and cursing.

When the next station came, she threw one of them while he kicked the rest. He took several steps back and heard her saying something to them.

"ASP Riya Mukherjee, ye naam yaad rakhna agli baar kisi bhi ladki ke taraf ankh utha kar bhi dekha to."

The Men ran for their life as the confused and stunned passengers in the station looked on. He had a smirk on his when she turned toward him.

"Compartment." She waved her hand, signaling him to change it. He gave her a heated gaze, but none the less exited the compartment and get inside the next compartment, which was empty as well. He could see her through the metal bars, leaning against the same bar which he had grabbed earlier and held onto, her gaze outside. She looked deep in thought, not even brushing aside her hair which were falling on her face with much more force than earlier. It presented a melancholic state, and he had a feeling it was not because those drunken bas***ds, though he had no idea why or how he came up with it.

Another station arrived and she straighten her back, lowered her head and descended into the platform. He looked on as she took out her phone from her pocket, talking to it as she slowly vanished out of his sight.

It's safe to say ASP Riya Mukherjee made quite an impression on him, but she was not anywhere on his mind for the next couple of days as he walked into the darkness when he finally reached his destination.

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He walked right into the room like he owned it, several of the men nodded at him or gave him a small salute which he returned with his own small nod. He stopped outside a door, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight.

A Man was sitting on the floor, his eyes wide with fear and lips trembling. His hands and legs tied with ropes and he was completely drenched in water and sweat. There was a big plastic tub filled with water, the floor was mixed with water and blood. In front of him another Man was kneeled down, a knife on his hand which he moved around as he spoke. Several other men stood near them, and when he stopped talking, they forced the tied man's head inside water, resulting in cries and whimper and spilling water everywhere. They pulled him out after several seconds and the Man took lungful of air as he panted.

The Man with knife stared at him as he spoke, waving knife.

"Sikandar bhai ke area mein fir kabhi dhanda karega?"

The other Man panted as he shook his head.

"Nahi Bhai. Aage se aisa nahi hoga."

"Sabak sikh liye na tune?"

"Jee."

"Acha hain."  He leaned slightly toward him, "Ab tu baki sab ko sikhayega."

Before anyone could even blink, he slashed the knife across another Man's throat, killing him swiftly. The Men around them jumped to clean the mess almost immediately, and he put his hand and knife in the water, cleaning himself. He gave a dazzling smile as he stood up, his eyes falling on the other man.

"Surya!"

He nodded once, giving the dead Man last glance as others dragged him away.

"Kya sabak sikhaya hain usse."  His voice dripped with sarcasm, and the other one laughed.

"Ye sirk ek warning thi, agli baar cheer denge."  He came out of the room and closed the door behind him, when another Man handed him over a packet. He took it and gave it to him.

"Tera paisa, last wale kaam ka. Ab hisaab barabar."

He wordlessly put it in his pocket, to which the Man gave a look.

"Gin le."

"Zaroorat nahi,"  He replied flippantly, "agar pure nahi huye to wasool kar lunga."

The Man started to laugh loudly which echoed everywhere, "Sala, dikhata hain jaise mere pe bada bharosa hain, par pyar sirf paiso ke liye."  He put an arm around him and started to walk outside, "Kya pata, kab tu mere naam ki supari le ke baith ja."

He stared at him, "Iss sheher mein koi maai ka laal hain kya, jo tere naam ki supaari de? Warna main to baitha hi hoon, double diya to tere ko thok dunga."

The other Man shook head, "Koi maai ka laal paida na ho to hi acha hain, warna tere ko maarne mein mere ko bada dukha hoga."

They both reached near the long lines of SUV and he dropped the arm from his shoulder. He eyed the area around them, it was the old Railway Engine manufacturing warehouse which was shut down two decades ago, the reason nobody comes here. They all could hear the train running and whistling not too away from them.

"Chalta hoon."  He took a step away, but the other Man stopped him.

"Ruk na, kahan bhage ja raha hain?"  He put a ciggerette in his mouth and Surya lit the lighter on, "Chal celebrate karte hain."

"Sohail ke ek kutte ko kaat dala, iss baat ki celebration?"

"Arre nahi re,"  He let out a mouthful of air, "Happy Birthday hain mera kal, aur kya pata, kal mauka mile ya na mile celebrate karne ka."

"Kyu, mar raha hain kya kal?"  He asked deadpan. He laughed.

"Pathan ko maar dale, aisi bullet banaya nahi kisine."  He answered and inhaled a deep smoke, "Kal shayad pura din Sohail ke aur kutto ko kaatne mein nikal jaye. Chal na, party karte hain, tu to ladkiyon mein interested hain nahi, to tu sirf peena, aur main party karta hoon, kya bolta hain?"

He threw eyes in heaven, "Puch toh aise raha hain jaise agar main nahi bola to maan jayega . . . chal, birthday boy, tera happy birthday karte hain."

"Ye hui na baat." He gave a friendly slap on his shoulder, and shouted to others to finish up here soon. They both got into a SUV and Surya drove away from the location.

"Kis jagah jane hain, wahin wala?"

Pathan nodded dopily at it.

"Mere ko samajh nahi ata, ek hi ke paas baar baar jane se kya hasil hota hain?"

"Jab tu jayega kisi ek ke paas baar baar, tab pata chalega." He replied back and started to whistle, looking otuside window. He shook head at him.

"Ye ishq ka jhol mere samajh ke bahar hain."

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Another breaking news is coming in right now that A Man's body was found in an abadoned Rail Engine Reparing warehouse near Dongri. For more information we are now connecting with our reporter on the spot Sakshi Anand.

Thank you, Malini. Like you said A Man's body was found some one hour ago in the abandoned Rail Engine Repair and Manufacturing warehouse near Dongri, West Mumbai. His throat was slashed with a knife and the forensics have informed us he died immediately. The murder weapon is missing. There are many bruises on his body so the Police is assuming he was tortured before he was killed, that too for hours. They also informed us this Man was a known member of the gang of Sohail, an infamous crime lord who mainly deals in Drugs. Naturally the question arise if Police were aware of this person, Sohail, and knew members of his gang why they are not taking any action? West Mumbai, especially, Dongri is dangerous at nights for the gang wars, innocent people are dying everyday because of these criminals, and yet they are not patrolling in the area, they are not ensuring the safety of the people. Why our Police department is so inept and unable to save our city, this is the question of this hour. When they will finally gather courage and put an end to it all for once, we, the citizens of Mumbai, will keep an eye on it.

Thank you, Sakshi. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, the breaking news of the hour is a Man's body was found in Dongri, West Mumbai. When will our city finally become safe? How many more people has to lose their lives? When Police will take some drastic steps to put an end on this? These are the question of the hour. Now we will go to our reporter Amol Parekh      .   .   .   .    .

While Malini, the Tv anchor of a popular news channel was vehemently ripping apart the Police department for it's inability to ensure safety of the citizen along with the other reporters of the TV channel and panel members present at the studio, DIG Yashvardhan Srivastav, the chief of ETF, was going through several files which consist of his core team member's bio. It's not something he does, but soon another member is going to join them and he was trying to gauge their reaction by going through some papers. Not a practical solution, and in reality, he was trying to see someone else in these papers, in these rankings and achievements. But he won't admit it, no.

Emergency Task Force was his, and someone else's brainchild, who was another loyal IPS officer, now deceased. The purpose of this team was to come to rescue the police department when they hit a wall, which was, he was ashamed to admit, frequently. The members of the core team was handpicked, so achieve the purpose of the team and finish crime and clean up the streets. The best cadets of Mumbai and Pune academy were offered to join ETF, and it has been a glorious 15 years. The current core team members were close to his heart, because of the surprise strength they present when they come together, and their individual characteristics.

The First file is of the Second-in-command, ACP Sameer Damsingh Rathore's. He is the blue blood of this department, the four generation of family served in this department and one ancestor had also been a part of Police pre-Independence. Serving for country, loyalty, team work, leadership is in his blood. Choosing him was obvious, he predominated and eclipsed every other option for this post. He proofs each day why he is the obvious choice for ETF, he leads the team, he works hard and he never gives up. He is the alpha of the team, fearless, calm yet deadly.

Chandrakant Patil is the exact opposite of the former. He is no royalty, he is not a leader and he is not an obvious choice. He comes from a background where youths waste their lives by slipping into addiction and do questionable things to earn livelihood. The gargantuan Man with an ironical nick name makes up in determination what he lacks in other criteria. It must be his sheer determination that he made a life for himself, despite living in the same dark dangerous locality till this date. He has a heart of gold, he is a good friend and good man, always there for help. Because of these reasons, many lowlives who were his friends pre-IPS days still remained friends, and that's how he made quite a circle of informers without even trying very hard for it. His intel were always authentic and useful, and till now, he had kept both his lives separate, never mixing it together. Yashvardhan admired his loyalty, to both work and friends, though he is a little worried sometimes for him. But he is not stupid, he might be slow to understand complex cases or inside jokes but he understand danger and when to distance himself and people around him from it, living in a place of danger throughout his life.

Shreekant Sen is a Computer guy with nerdy, college going kid's look. He is young, energetic, with the ideals to do make things better for society which is so common in nowadays young generation. He is a logical person, looks at the world in black and white, right and wrong. He has the rare ability to detach himself from things and look at cases, people's lives, objectively. It might be the Mathematics, the 1s and 0s, the tough to break codes. He was a intern in IB, and when ETF needed new IT guy, he was the first choice. He talks one mile per second when it's about technology, usually self assured but sometimes doubtful of himself and his glasses. Usually an IT expert should stay behind computers, but in ETF none stay behind closed doors and desks. Being a logical person, he realized that he needed another skill to fit in, so he started Shooting classes, and now can shoot someone without flinching. Must be the ability to look at things objectively, to fit in, the aim to do something good for soceity. Yashvardhan is quite fond of the IT kid, in fact, everyone is. He is the baby of the team, even though he is quite capable of taking care of himself.

If there is someone about whom these files doesn't tell the whole story, then it's ASP Riya Mukherjee. She was in IB as well, a research specialist, the post about which Yashvardhan had no idea till Mumbai received a threat of multiple bomb blasts in the same day and department had to work with IB to eliminate the threat. She is all statistics and percentages, which sounded ridiculous at first but as time passed, it helped them to identify the targets they need to focus and make an plan to take out the criminals responsible. It's safe to say she blew his mind, and even though she has come far from those IB days of stammering, not looking directly in eyes or nervousness, she remained the same with her not-quite-hidden romance books in bag, pink pens and clips. She was a surprise then, she is a surprise now, Yashvardhan has no idea how a middle class family girl ended up in crime fighting business. Like Shree, she tried to blend in, even though she is having difficulty with Guns, she makes in up with her karate skills. IB was not quite happy when ETF took two of their member, but they survived.

And now, Aisha Kapoor was going to join them. He smirked a little as he turned over the pages of her file. She is smart, she is resourceful, she is beautiful, and she blends in. Initially, she was selected for DIA, but Department needed an insider in a criminal gang and she was offered the job. She joined the gang effortlessly and gave many valuable information for years, until a case hit too close to her undercover disguise which was handled by ETF and her cover was accidentally blown. She was pissed at this sudden turn of events, and she wanted nothing to do with him and his team. Yashvardhan understands her frustration and lack of willingness to work with them, but he needs her. He was not just merely offering her a job, very soon every single police department was going to be involved in a major clean up against Underworld gang and her intel can be very useful for his department. Though he gave her no choice, he was still not 100% sure if she will join team or come up with another way. Like ASP Riya Mukherjee, he had no idea what drives this daughter of a single Pilot Mother to endanger her life for years. Is this the adrenaline rush? The daring to stare into Death's eyes? Or just to do something good for society?

He just doesn't understand youngstars of this era.

His phone blinked once and he saw one new message.

Monday what time?

He smirked and replied the next moment.

9. Welcome to ETF.

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He never understood the hype with nightclubs. Sure, it's dark and if one throws enough money the liquid quality is good, but other than that, what's the big deal? Half naked women, loud irritating music with cheap lyrics, sweaty bodies slamming with each other on dance floor, some fire tricks by brave bartenders, other than these, what is so special about them?

He also doesn't understand why he and Pathan keep coming back to this dirty and cheap bar, other than the reason he is getting something from that s**t.

He gulped another drink, eyes going everywhere but not noticing anything, eager to get out of this place. On the sofa opposite him Pathan was already gulping his 2nd bottle, not bothering with glasses. Around them some girls danced rather seductively, if the term 'Dancing' nowadays consist of showing chest and swaying hips in air.

He was sure the other Man was soon going to call him out on the sulking face, so he decided to talk something interesting. Anything better than this boredom.

"Ek baat bata,"  He started, and the other Man looked at him in response, the bottle still in his mouth, "tujh jaisa banda Sikandar ka right hand kaise ban gaya?"

"Mujh jaisa banda matlab?"  Pathan narrowed eyes, lowering the booze. The Other Man rubbed two fingers near his eyes.

"Mujhe laga uska right hand ussi ke tarah kamina hoga."

Pathan started to laugh, "Main tereko kamina nahi lagta?"

"Utna nahi."  He replied casually. The Other Man shook his head.

"Pura sheher mere se darta hain, aur tu mujhe mere muh be fattu bolta hain."

"Ye tarif thi ya warning?" He arched an eyebrow. Pathan leaned on his sofa and took a mouthful of drink. After several moments, he started talking.

"Main 12 saal ka tha, basti mein encounter chal raha tha. Har jagah laash hi laash . . . . sala, hawa mein bhi barood aur khoon ki mehek thi. Hum sab khidki darwaje banda karke rehte the ghar mein. Mera baap, woh harami daru pee ke pada hua tha ek kone mein." He finished the bottle and dropped it somewhere, "Ek din, mere ghar ke samne se kuch police wale chase kar rahe the 2 admiyon ko. Ek ko un logon ne tapka dala, aur ek chup gaya, wahin, dustbin ke paas. Police wale ne bohut dhoonda, par unko mila nahi. Woh chale gaye, aur main dekhta hi raha uss admi ko, aur tab uski ankhein mujh pe padi."  He met the other Man's eyes, "Woh dara huya nahi tha, pata hain? Maut uske samne khadi thi, fir bhi nahi dara."

"Aur woh Sikandar nikla." The other Man replied, to which he smirked a little.

"Maine apna darwaja khola, aur woh andar agaya. Woh 3 din tak chupa raha mere ghar mein, fir ek sibah, jab meri ankh khula, woh ja chuka tha. Mujhe tab pata nahi tha woh kaun hain, par mahino baad, woh fir dikha mujhe. Main ek chai ke dukan mein kaam karta tha, wahan agaya, mere se pucha unke liye kaam karoonga kya? Maine haan kahan, tab se unke saath raha. Apne haathon se mere ko kaam sikhaya unhone. Jab ye sali Police kuch zyada hi active ho gayi area mein, unko Country chodni padi. Par jane se pehle unhone sab kuch mere hawale kar diya." He finished his story.

"Aur tu uska fan ho gaya." The other man said dryly. He smirked.

"Unhone mere ko gatar se nikala. Warna main abhi bhi chai ki dukan mein bartan maajh raha hota, aur mera baap mere se daru ke liye paise maang raha hota. Haan, hoon main unka fan."

"Ab to woh country se bahar hain, baat hoti hain teri?"

 Pathan narrowed eyes, "Itna puch kyu raha hain be? Police ko batane ka irada hain kya?"

"Haan." He deadpanned, "Unse deal jo kiya hain."

The former started to laugh, "Tera rate bohut high hain re Surya, un logon ko apni kidney bechni padegi, aur woh Mintu ko woh kharidni padega." He paused, "Haan, baat hoti hain, par mere  se ye mat puchna woh rehte kahan hain. Mere ko bhi nahi pata."

"Nahi puchta, ab khush?"

Pathan's eyes caught someone behind the other Man, "Khush to ab honga main. . . "  He threw  his SUV keys to him, "Ghar ja, baad mein milte hain."

The former shook his head, "Chal enjoy kar birthday boy."  He got up from his seat, took a last mouthful of drink and left the bar, while behind him a half naked woman dragged Pathan toward a darker place.

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Shree's eyes narrowed and lips pressed in a thin line as he finished reading an article on his Tab, when he turned his friend cum colleague Chotu was looking at him with a knowing expression.

"Ek aur?"

He nodded, "5th in 12 days." He kept the Tab on table and took out his glasses, rubbing eyes as he spoke, "And these articles, ye to aise likhte hain jaise hum log kuch kar hi nahi rahe, bas gappe maa rahe hain yahan pe baith ke." His eyes turned mocking, "You know what? They should come here and work, tab pata chalega kitne paani mein kitna doodh."

The former started to laugh at this silly example, "Tera matlab kitne doodh mein kitna paani?"

"Majak mat uda yaar." The IT guy said in irritation, "Ye Sakshi Anand, lagta hain ye paida hi huyi thi Police department ko neecha dikhane ke liye. Shayad kabhi koi police wale se panga huya hoga, jiski frustration jhaadti rehti hain har din akhbar mein."

"Uska kaam hain ye," Chotu replied, keeping a hand on the former's shoulder, "waise bhi ye fikar ki baat to hain. Barah dino mein paanch baar gang fight, kitne logon ki jaan gayi."

"It's not like we are not doing anything, right? The Department is also working hard, aise likhna bohot asaan hain."

Aisha walked into the room as they carried on, her eyes pausing slightly on the news. The duo jumped slightly when she cut in, "Talking about the Gang wars between Sohail and Pathan?"

They both nodded as she took a seat, "I think we should not even intervene between them. Let them kill each other, they are practically doing our job."

Shree opened his mouth to protest, but Riya, who had walked into the room with three mugs of coffee, beat him to it, "Masoom logon ko jaan ja rahi hain aise gang wars ki wajeh se, Police should intervene."

The older woman stared, "Casualities are common in war. Waise bhi, clearly the department doesn't think like me." She looked away. The trio shared a look, the Research specialist kept the third mug in front of the newly appointed officer, to which she looked surprised.

"This one is for you, right?"

"I will bring another one." She replied.

"Make that later." ACP Rathore entered, dropping a file on the table as he sat in his usual seat, "We have a new case guys. Famous Builder Ashok Rashtogi was shot some 20 minutes ago in a underconstruction building of his,we need to get there fast."

"Why us?" Aisha asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Because he was getting threats from Underworld from a few weeks. His family is not opening their mouths on it. It's upto us to make them talk." He eyed them all, "Let's go team."

"Tu ne dekha?" Chotu elbowed Shree in ribs, to which the other scowled, then nodded.

"Ate hi dekha." He turned his face, "She is everywhere, God."

Liza, the forensic expert of team, frowned as she heard them both, "Who are you talking about guys?"

"That reporter, Sakshi Anand." Shree replied, kneeling down beside her.

"Shree ki nayi dushman." Chotu smirked. Liza raised eyebrows at that.

"Arre wah Specky, kya baat hain, you making nemesis and all." Her lips curled upward as her expert hands swiftly checked the bullet wound. The IT head grumbled.

"Woh sirf meri nahi, pure department ki dushman hain."

"Kaun kiska dushman hain?" Riya joined the trio, scribbling on her notepad as she asked.

"Hey, who was that on call?" Liza asked.

"Nothing important." She shrugged, and met their eyes, "Who's department's enemy?"

"Miss Sakshi Anand." Chotu supplied.

"That crime reporter?" She frowned, then smirked, "Why, Shree, did you step on her cat and she abused you?"

The duo chuckled and the scowl on his face deepened, "I don't have any cats and you know that, Ri."

She sobered soon and kneeled on the other side of the forensic expert, "Anything you can tell?"

"He was shot from some 3 feet, he instantly died. Point 9 milimeter. TOD 12 PM."

Rathore and Aisha joined them and the former spoke up, "Similar to the M.O. of other extortion killings."

"The family are not telling anything." Shree said.

"They should, the criminals took his life." Riya exclaimed.

"We need to come up with something so that they open their mouths." Rathore said, "Shree, dig out anything special you can get, mails, messages, phone calls. Chotu, ask your people if they have heard anything."

"Sir," Riya spoke up, "Usually 76% extortion killing cases in this city belong to Pathan's gang. Maybe we should look into their gang members."

"Fine, you and Aisha go through files of gang members. We are looking for a killer who has earlier killed 5 people in this similar way. Take out all those files, we should get a match on something." He checked watch, "I need to meet the Chief, let's meet after 2 hours in officer."

They all mumbled byes as the second-in-command left, cameras and flashes encircling him the moment he stepped out of the building.    

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When he saw Pathan 15 days later in his den, his eyes were bloodshot and he was smoking.

"Lagta hain party kuch zyada hi dhinchak thi."

In response he threw a paper at him, which he caught mid-air. He went through the front page.

"Tera aadmi?" He inquired as he put the paper back on the table.

"Amzad." He spit out, putting the ciggerette on lips again, "Usse kahan tha sirf dhamkane ko, maarne ko nahi."

"To tere ko nahi pata tha iske bare mein?"

"Nahi." He didn't look too happy with it. The former sat down slowly opposite him.

"Ye Amzad kuch zyada hi manmaani nahi kar raha hain?"

"Bulaya hain usse.''  He replied gravely, "Iss baar warning, fir bhi nahi sudhra to agli baar thok dunga."

The Person of the topic, Amzad, arrived some 10 minutes later, the big grin on his face slowly fading as he took in the angry glare of his boss.

"Bhai, isse baki sab ko sabak milega. Sab line pe ajayenge, abki baar se koi shaanpatti nahi karega paise ke liye."

"Tujhe mere se puchna chahiye tha." Pathan threw away the ciggerette as he stood up aggressively, "Usse warning dene ko kahan tha, maarne ko nahi."

"Pata hain bhai," He nodded vigorously, "par. . . "

Pathan shook him by holding his collar, "Mere se badkar hain kya re tu?"

"Pathan."  Came the warning.

"Ae Surya, beech mein nahi bolne ka." Amzad replied, his face twisting. Pathan left his collar, his face red with anger.

"Tu iss ke liye mujhe rok raha hain?" He stabbed a finger at him, "Koi sharam dikh rahi hain iss ke chehre par?"  He ran his fingers through hair in frustration. The former get up from his seat slowly.

"Tujhe pata hain hum dono ki pat ti nahi, par ye hum dono ke bare mein nahi hain."  He paused, "Police ko pata hain ye kisi gang ne kiya hain. Woh log ab Sohail ko chod ke tere peeche padenge."

"Sala, ek to Sohail ne jaan khoti ki huyi hain, maine 24 log gawaye, aur ab ye!" He nearly lunged at Amzad, "Iss sale ne khud invite kiya police ko mere upar."

"Thok denge police ko bhi." Amzad replied.

"Iss ka dimag thik kar, Pathan."  His eyes flashed, "Police ko sirf mauka chahiye encounter suru karne ka. Agar unke kisi bhi aadmi ko chuwa bhi, fir tum logo ki laash bhi nahi milegi dafnane ko."

The both men stood silent after this, at last Pathan spoke, "To kya karein ab?"

"Unko saboot chahiye na underworld connection ka." He said slowly, his mind racing, "Hum dete hain saboot."

"Teri satak gayi hain kya?" Amzad exclaimed, shocked.

"Kya saboot dega?" Pathan asked slowly.

"Sohail bhi to extortion ka dhanda karta hain, aur woh humesha tere area pe ajata hain taang adhane ko."  He replied, meeting their eyes, "Police ko unke peeche laga dete hain. Tera rasta to saaf hoga. Woh log marte rahenge, hum dekhte rahenge."

"Daru aur mutton ke saath." Pathan smirked, clapping on his shoulder proudly, "Kya shaitani dimag hain re tera."

Amzad grumbled, "Main dekh leta hoon Bhai, fikar mat kar."

"Tu ne bohot kar liya."  Pathan gave him a heated gaze, "Surya sambhal lega."  He turned to him, "Woh officer jo kaam kar raha hain iss case pe, nazar rakhna unpe. Sahi waqt ane pe, woh kya kehte hain woh log . . . " He scratched his neck, "Haan, khufiya hawale se khabar, woh de dena."

He gave a mock salute at him and walked outside, his fingers on phone as he went through contact list. He was inside a SUV and about to drive away, when the door of other side was open and Amzad sat inside. His eyebrows rose slightly at this.

"Tere saath ja raha hoon."

He looked away, smirking, before resting his eyes on him, "Permission le liya?"  He made a sound by clicking his tounge on the roof of his mouth, "Ja munna, bhai se permission le kar aa."

He glared, "Aukat mein reh Surya."

"Tu to baat hi mat kar."  His eyes turned cold, "Meri aukat tujhse bohot uchi hain."

"Main bhai ka khaas admi hoon." He reminded.

"Aur main bhade ke tattoo. Kamse kam tere jaisa to nahi hoon, humesha garbar karne wala."  He put one hand over his seat, "Mere ko to tujhse thank you bolna chahiye, tere wajeh se bohut paise mile mujhe. Itna garbar jo kiya tu ne."

"Agar zuban band nahi kiya to tere ko yahin thok dunga." He threatened. The former continued to smirk, and before the other can blink, he took out his gun and pointed at him.

"Tere jaise khaali dhamki nahi deta main, samjha, ya samjhaoon?"  He waved his gun, "Nikal, ya fir main nikaloo? Nikal!"  He raised his voice, and Amzad obliged, shooting daggers all the while. The former put his gun and drove away, leaving him sulking and cursing behind. Not too long after some of his inferiors gather around him.

"Nazar rakh ispe."

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Shree tore his eyes away to meet his best friend Riya, who was taking another call some feet away from him, and shook his head. When she came back he was still staring at her, rather displeased.

"That was Him, right?"

"Is this my imagination or your face twist everytime you mention him?" She teased a little. He huffed in annoyance, typing furiously in his desktop.

"If it was anyone else, I would have used the term 'Love sick puppy' with some weird exclamation like 'Aww so sweet', but that person creeps me out. I don't even get why you are with that jerk."

She gave a rueful smile, but then shook her head, "You are mad."

"And you are blind." He shot back.

The team was working on the Builder murder case since 6 days. They got some clues which points out he was indeed getting threats from underworld, though it's not clear which gang. The ETF was pressurizing the family of victim to speak up but they were adamant not to, not willing to endanger their lives by giving statement against some powerful trigger happy criminal. Today also they gave a visit to the family, and as there was nothing else to do after 5, they called it a day.

Riya adjusted the scarf around her neck as she walked ahead, feeling the cool breeze on her face. The sky was cloudy, she looked up, it may rain afterwards. Taxis shoot past her but she made no move to stop one of them and head for home, in no hurry. Her feet lead her toward the market, vendors sitting on the ground, calling out for customers. They had old books, dresses, mini sculptures, even cosmatics. Her fingers lightly touched a hardcover book which  consist quotes by famous people and books, and then she took out money from her purse, buying it. She refused the plastic cover with a wave of hand, walking away once again with the book tightly in her hand as she looked around.

She was near the bus stand when her eyes fell on the same Men whom she took down in the ladies compartment of the last night local some nights ago. This time, they were more in number and nearly impossible for her to take down all the 6 of them. Her eyes went back and forth toward bus stop and market, and she made up her mind. Crowd is better.

She ocassionally stopped near shops, looking over her shoulder. They followed her for over an hour, not looking like they were about to give up. It was soon getting dark and more people were starting to notice, she had do something.

She didn't mean to drop an old lamp and attract their attention by the term 'do something'.

She started to run, pushing people behind her and colliding with everyone as she moved ahead. Soon she had no idea where she was and where she should go, she just went with flow and entered any alley she could get in front of her. She felt tired and out of breath, and could feel they were catching up with her. She saw an empty dustbin in front of her and threw it over their heads, but they ducked it swiftly. It's not like she didn't have the gun, but she wanted to do it when every door was closed for her, as a last mean. 

One of them nearly caught her, she hissed in pain and saw there was a knife in his hand which he slashed over her lower arm, causing it to bleed. She kicked in his ribs and punched his nose, sending him flying on the ground. She sped up, making more distance from the remaining five. The path near her took a turn, but before she could make it one hand caught her injured arm and pulled it. The next moment another hand was over her mouth, stopping her from screaming, and she was being pinned on wall. Her eyes widened and breath nearly stopped, her heart pounding in ears as she tried to make out the face of the person in front who caught her in the darkness.

She snapped her neck toward the alley when she heard footsteps, and saw the remaining five of them running past them, the sixth one limping and grumbling.

The hand over her mouth lowered slightly and her eyes snapped toward the Man in front of her again, still trying to figure out his face even if it's impossible in the darkness. The Man put his hand inside his jeans pocket and took out something, with a scratch there was suddenly a little bit fire and she noticed it was a lighter.

"Tum thik ho?"  The Man asked and her eyes snapped to his face again. She was surprised when she noticed it was the same man from that night. Same goons, same witness.

She was about nod, but then flinched remembering about the cut on arm. He frowned and followed her gaze, eyes hardening as he noticed the cut. Wordlessly, he pulled at her scarf and tied it around her cut, then hold her hand and walked out into the alley, looking to the direction where the goons went.

"Shayad woh bohut dur hain."  He said, turning to her cut as he spoke, "Tumhe hospital ki zaroorat hain."

"Tumhe pata hain hum hain kahan?" She asked as he pulled at her hand, both of them walking.

"Main iss sheher ki har gali ko jaanta hoon."  He replied, then paused as he looked at her, "Tumhe nahi pata tum kahan ho?"

She shook head and his jaw clenched, "Ek Police officer ho ke tum itni gair zimmedar kaise ho sakti ho? Koi aisi jagah pe ata hain kya jiske bare mein usse kuch pata na ho?"

She was offended at the remark, "Agar main jane-pehchani wali raaston ke liye idhar udhar dekh rahi hoti, to shayad tumhe meri laash milti."

He have a heated glare at her reply, but before he could come up with any response, they hear one voice behind them and saw the six goons running after them again. They both started to run, ocassionally hitting the men with whatever they could find in their way, stones, sticks, even empty drums. They stopped after several minutes, and Riya looked on shocked when the Man with her hit one of the goons with metal rod rather violently, she could hear the sharp crack of his scull. The goons were quite taken aback after that, and when they reached the main road and took an auto richshaw, they were nowhere to be found.

The auto ride was short, and soon they were inside the hospital. There was a long line for the form submitting, typical of Goverment hospital. Near the reception one Mother was crying on a Doctor's feet so that he start treatment of her daughter, but he only gave advice to submit form for that and inform police as it was a police case. Riya could feel beside her the Man was about to go ahead and give the Doctor a piece of mind, but she showed her ID card to the Doctor, and soon both her treatment and that accident patient's treatment started.

She saw the Man after 30 minutes inside her ward when the nurse had finished bandeging her hand and left. He took the chair near the bed, his eyes never leaving her.

"Kya tumhe gundey humesha aise peecha karte hain?"  He asked out of nowhere, arms crossing and voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Kya tum humesha logon ki madad ke liye andheri jagahon pe rehte ho?"  She shot back, and he looked away to hide his smirk. She felt herself smiling at it.

"Thank you, uss raat aur aaj ke liye." She said sincerely. He shrugged, his eyes falling on her cut.

"It's nothing, really."

"Tumhare paas Gun nahi thi?"  The Man changed the topic once again, leaving her surprised.

"Thi mere paas Gun."

His  eyes flashed with anger, "Tab istemaal kyu nahi ki? Kis baat ka intezaar tha?"

She stared at him, not instantly replying, "Logon ko marna itna asaan nahi hain."

"Woh log tumhe zinda nahi chodne wale the." He lowered his voice.

"I know." She nodded once, "Agar mere paas aur koi choice nahi bachti, tab main Gun use karti. Pehle nahi."

"To Gun tumhari akhri choice hain."  He concluded, and she nodded.

"Tum Police wali hi ho na?"  He narrowed eyes, mocking her once again, "Pehli baar aisi Police wali ko dekha hain jo Gun istemaal nahi karna chahta."

"Maine ye kabhi nahi kahan main istemaal nahi karna chahti."  She lowered her feet on floor, standing up once again, "Kisi Insaan ko maarna humara akhri rasta hona chahiye, pehla nahi. Har kisi ek mauka milna chahiye."

"Un gundo ko aur kitna mauka dene ka irada hain?"  He asked, getting up from his seat and taking a step toward her.

"Ek bhi nahi." She took her bag from nearby table, "I will file a FIR tomorrow." She gave a small smile to him, offering her hand for handshake, "I am Riya Mukherjee."

He threw his eyes in air, clearly irritated cum amused at the naivete at the girl in front of him, but nevertheless shook her hand, "ASP Riya Mukherjee."

She flashed another smile and pulled her hand from his grip, making his hand feel suddenly empty again, his fingers curling inward to stop feeling that way, "I should head out."

She was near the door when he asked dryly, with a hint of curiosity, "Mera naam nahi puchogi?"

She turned to meet his eyes, "Tumhe agar batana hota, to bata dete."

His lips curled upward in a rare smile, "Arjun."

She gave a small nod and started heading out, adjusting the strap of her bag on shoulder. He looked on until her frame vanished out of his sight, and then looked into the room, when he noticed she had left something behind. He walked hurriedly toward the small table near the bed, a book was lying on the floor. He picked it up and ran outside, eyes searching for her everywhere, but he could not find her.

She was already gone.

Later in the night, he opened the book and went through several pages, the book was filled with quotes, some made sense to him, some didn't. One quote caught his attention.

" This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty

 one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force

of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the

world will not devote itself to making you happy." -George Bernard Shaw

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Another Breaking news coming in right now that Home Minister Mr. Naren Thakkar has called in a meeting with all departments of Law Enforcement and Police, the purpose of this meeting is said to be an official start of his much hyped 'Clean streets' slogan which was a major point in his Election campaign. During his pre-Election campaign he had declared to clear the streets of Mumbai from corrupt officials and Criminals and this meeting is likely to be the official confirmation of that promise. It is said that there won't be any bureaucracy of any kind to sabotage this campaign, and every officer will get full support from department and Home Ministry itself to finish crime from this city. We are waiting for more information, stay tuned.

"Iss kutte ko bhi abhi ye karna tha?"  Pathan pulled at his hair, irritated, "Pehle Sohail, ab ye. Shani ki dasha chal rahi hain."

He pulled out his phone and went through his contact details, but before he can press any button the sudden change in news stopped him.

We are showing you the live interview of the infamous gangstar Sohail with our crime reporter Sakshi Anand from the Juhu port.

"Main hoon Sakshi Anand aur aaj humare saath hain Sohail Bhai, jo country ke wanted logon mein se ek hain. Aap ka swagat hain."

The Man, Sohail, dressed in deep blue shirt and loose pants, his hair brushed backward, pressed his palms together like politicians.

"Humare darshako ko ye jaan ke tajjoob hoga Sohail bhai ne khud ye interview arrange kiya hain. Aisa kyu Sohail jee?"

He opened his mouth, "Mumbai ke waasiyon, kuch dino pehle aap sab ne akhbaar mein woh Builder, Rashtogi ke murder ke bare mein pada hoga."

"Jee zaroor, kya aap humein kuch bata sakte hain?"

"Mine uska khoon kiya hain."  The Man said proudly.

Pathan pressed the call button on his phone, when the other Man picked up the call he hissed, "News laga."

"Aapne?" The Crime journo asked, surprised, "Kyu?"

"Maine usse paisa manga, usne nahi diya, to maine usse thok dala."  He stared into the camera, "Agar Sohail bhai ki baat nahi manoge, to anjaam waisa hi hoga. Maut. Ab soch lo, jeena hain, ya kuch paiso ki keech keech mein marna hain."

"To woh murder ek warning thi?"

"Jee."  He smiled, "Khoon kharapi ka mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi, Madam, par ye log koi option hi nahi chodte. Humein bhi majboori mein ye sab karna padta hain."

The crime journo was asking more questions after this latest scoop but Pathan was far away from all that, "Dekha tune?"

"Haan."  came the reply, "Ye kar kya raha hain?"

"Tevar dikha raha hain Sala." He exclaimed, "Khud ko sabse bada Don bana raha hain akkhe Mumbai ke samne. Maara mere aadmi ne, naam uska."

"Ek hisaab se thik hi hain na, Police iss ke peeche hogi ab. Hum bhi to yahin chahte the."

"Police ab sabke peeche hogi Surya." Pathan exhaled loudly, "Tu ne dekha nahi kya? Woh Home minister ne koi meeting bulwayi hain, fir se khule aam Encounter suru hoga." He paused, "Sambhal ke rehna."

"Tu apne uss Amzad ko bol, khali fokat mein koi bawaal na suru karein."

"Bol dunga." He paused, "Underground hone se pehle ek meeting karna padega Sohail ke saath. Bohut udd raha hain, saale ko yaad dilana padega Sikandar bhai kaun hain."  He glared at the TV screen, "Main meeting fix karke SMS karta hoon"  He cut the call, clutching the phone in hand tightly. He heard some footsteps near him and looked up, only to see Amzad running toward him.

"Woh Sohail . . . " He paused when his eyes fell on TV screen, "Aap ne bhi dekha."

"Meeting fix kar uss harami ke saath."  He stood up, switching off the TV and throwing away the remote as he paced in room, "Sale mere aadmi ne murder kiya, naam uska? Maine uske aadmi ko iss liye mara kyuki usne mere area mein ake dhanda kiya, itni si baat dimag mein nahi ghusti hain kya uski? Apne aap ko bohot bada Don samajhta hain, iss ko main aukat dikha ta hoon."  He gave a hard look to the other Man who gulped at his angry demeanor, "Meeting fix kar uss ke saath. Bol Pathan milna chahta hain. Iss ke bheje mein baat ghusani padegi. Jaa!"

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Narcotics are brass.

Everyone knows that.

They are foul mouthed, bad tempered, often corrupted and eager to use violence to have their ways. The bad boys of any Police Academy always get into Narc, because it suit their temper, and they can get extra money under the desk. Corruption is the second major problem, besides suspicious encounters that often happen, resulting in death of drug lords but almost no casualities of the department itself. They are always surrounded by controversies, sometime they catch a big raid and suddenly media hail them as heroes, but then there is a bad day and they are suddenly the ultimate villain.

"Hum log toh India ke cricket team ki tarah hain."  

This phrase was a running joke among insiders, coined by a junior cop years ago, who is now a Senior Officer, in the race of becoming the Deputy Narc Chief and a possibility to have his own team. If brass is the one term which generalize every Narc cop, he is a different game altogether. He is full of himself, selfish and immoral. He is literally the kind of Man who will kill anyone just to have his own way.

He is dangerous, not on the side of Angels or Demons. He is just on his own side. His name is Yugant Shergil, or Yug, as he is known to everyone.

Yug is the two headed monster, appears as if he is reliable, sensible, but he is just another cold- blooded bas***d who keeps an eye on anything and manipulate things for his own benefit. His demonic side comes only when he is on work, or angry, and often these two things happen at once. His colleagues and seniors thinks he is just aggressive on work, which is common for any Law enforcement officer, Nobody knows his, not even by a fraction.

But people outside work, more like lowlives and high profile rich asses know him. They give him money and he keeps quiet, happy to drown himself in betting and women. Sometime he exploit busted drug consignment, sometimes he lets them go. Just for himself.

He was just as selfish, aggressive bas***d in bed. He ravish the woman, takes her by force, almost marking her skin as his and wear them out. There are very few women who can keep up with his impossibly energetic sexual appetite, so often he remains unsatisfied. But not for past few months. He had gotten someone who share the same hunger as him, who was with him in a hotel room right now.

He put on his shirt, leaving the buttons loose as he got up from the king size bed, and poured himself drink near the bar counter. The woman on bed lazily sat up, adjusting the sheet to cover herself. He raised his bottle, silently offering her drink but she shook head, declining.

"Ek baat bolu saab, bura to nahi manoge?"  The woman, Gina, asked him.

"Kya bolna hain?"  He arched an eyebrow, gulping down his drink at once and pouring himself yet again.

"Humein mile huye mahino ho gaye, aur main ye baat pehle din se soch rahi thi . . . "  She paused, suddenly unsure of herself.

"Arre bolna."  He encouraged. She stared at him for several moments, then made up her mind.

"Aap ko mere chehre mein koi aur dikhta hain, hain na?"

He stilled at the question, eyes narrowing suspiciously. She sub-consciously tucked a loose strand of hair behind ear.

"Jab bhi main apke bulaye huye jageh pe ati hoon, aap mujhpe chad jate ho, kabhi kabhi to main darwaje se andar bhi nahi hoti hoon aur . . . "  She paused, "pehle laga aap ko aisa hi pasand hain, par fir laga, shayad aap mujh mein kisi aur ko dekh rahe ho. Ussko imagine kar rahe ho mere chehre mein."

He slowly put the glass on the counter as he spoke, "Tu humesha itni hoshiar hoti hain ya fir iske liye tu extra charge karne wali hain?"

"Kya saab." She shook head, suddenly feeling shy, but still could not contain her curiosity, "Bolo na saab, hain na koi?"

He didn't answer immediately, but spoke nevertheless, "Haan, hain ek."

"To aap mere paas?"

"Kyu ki . . . "  He stood up, the glass in his grip, "usse mujhe tarpane mein bada maza ata hain. Kehne ko to humari shaadi hone wali hain, par woh mujhe usse choone bhi nahi deti. Agar main usko haath ko bhi aise touch kar loo na,"  He mimicked the action as Gina cocked her in a side, listening intently, "to woh aise freeze ho jati hain jaise koi ajnabee choo raha ho usse. Par main bhi haar nahi maan ne wala. Ab aisa kar rahi hain, thik hain, par shaadi ke baad meri marzi chalegi."  He gave a smirk to her, "Tab tak mujhe kuch to chahiye na? Woh na sahi, tu hi sahi."

 She gave a wide grin, "Mere ko kya, aap uska thobra dekho ya mera? Mere ko paisa milna chahiye."

"Ye hui na baat!"  He exclaimed enthusiastically, gulping the last drink and slamming the glass nearby as he climbed on bed, ready for another drink.

Yug met his soon-to-be-wife in the evening, both walking down the street as they returned from a nearby cafe after a quick snack. He took her hand, and she immediately stiffened.

Which he didn't like. There is another thing important for him besides money and women, that is his things. If he like one thing, that would be his, no matter how. He will make the things he like, his.

"What?" He gave a teasing smile, even though his eyes were showing how this thing irked him, "I can't hold my Girlfriend's hand?"

If he could really sense it, he would have noticed the girl beside her paled more at the term than the hand-holding itself. Still, she just gave a small smile, and he relaxed, pleased that he got his way.

Riya was staying in Yug's house since she was a 13 year old who has recently lost her parents in Plane crash. His father was her uncle from Mother's side, a distant relative but not by blood, and he immediately took her in his house. The Uncle and Aunt were good people, they took care of her and made her feel like home. Only God can answer how a child of these two good person can be so demonic like Yugant. The moment his eyes fell on him, he felt like he owned her. In childhood, everyone thought it a feeling of protectiveness by a brother, but as time passed everyone could saw his feelings ran deeper than brother feeling. Over the years, she noticed how the boy who had talked to her in lunchtime on the 3rd day of new school got a black eye next day and never spoke to her again, how her date for prom never showed up, how the suspicious looking professor broke his arms and knees during one rainy night and took transfer after he recovered. How she knew it was him, she didn't know, and never asked, and maybe initially she thought him like a guardian angel, but as years passed, he started to suffocate her. There was a unspoken claim on her, and when he became her 'Boyfriend', or randomly started touching her like he possessed her, she could not tell. He had this in his mind that she was his, and maybe she should have sat with him to clear it, but she never did. She never said anything, but the thought of being his make her inside curl in fear.

She could feel he is a monster in disguise, even if she will never admit it. She would tell the world how he is a wonderful person, but she will never fully believe it.

Maybe deep down, she felt she owed it to the people who took her in years ago and made her who she was today.

"By the way," He started to speak and she looked into his eyes, "I read about that builder case. What now?"

She felt herself relaxing, work conversation she can handle, "We are looking for Sohail now. Also, the department had started 'Clean streets', we should have more intel on him. Whenever we get him, we will take him down."

"You mean your team will take him down."

"No." She said slowly, "I meant we. Including me."

He fixed his jaw, "I don't understand why you have to go out in field. Sure, cases I get, but why shoot outs? You should be behind desk."

"In ETF, none stays behind desk, and besides, this is the work I signed up for." She replied. The grip on her hand tighten.

"I never liked that decision. You should have been in IB." He looked straight in her eyes, "I should have made you stay there."

She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but he cut in, "Besides," he exhaled, calming down yet again, there was a small smile on his lips, "it's all temporary. When we get married, you won't have to go out to work. My salary will be enough for both of us after I become  Deputy Chief."

"You didn't get the promotion yet." She reminded, "Also, I am not doing it for money, I love my job."

"Sure." He replied casually, "But I won't let my wife to go out in danger." His eyes were challenging her to contradict him. She felt suffocated yet again, the grip on her hand only intensified the feeling.

"Yug." She stressed his name sowly, eyes closed and head hanging, suddenly feeling tired.

"Let's not argue." He gave a smile, cupping her face with the other hand as he spoke, "I don't want us to fight." His thumb continued to rub on her cheek, and she gave a small smile, her heart not into it.

He let go of her face and then of hand when he got a call from officer, calling him back for something important. She took a deep breath and actually started to smile when he vanished from her eyes. Her heart questioned if this should be her reaction when the Man, who is soon to be her Husband, is going out of her sight, but she brushed it aside. She is just nervous around him. That's it. Nothing else.

 Monsoon had arrived in Mumbai and it started to pour, first in small drops, then big fat ones. She gave a hearty laugh and felt the rain on her finger tips as people around her ran to find shelter. She shook her head at her own childishness, then took out her sandals and walked on the street bare footed, holding them in one hand.

She reached the bus stop and found it was empty. The rain was on it's full glory, sky rumbling over her head, bikes and taxis shooting past her. The cool air made goosebumps appear on her skin and she rubbed her upper arm to get some warmth. She heard someone's footsteps near her and turned, only to see a guy in hooded jacket slowly lowering the hood, running fingers through hair and shaking head, causing the water drop to spread out everywhere. The Man turned to her and both their eyes widen slightly.

"Tum?!"  He said in disbelieve, but a slow smile came up on his lips, eyes running up and down her wet clothes as he spoke, "Barish mein bheeg ke fever lane ka irada hain kya?"

Her eyes twinkled as she spoke, "Pata hain, jo paani hum peete hain, uss mein 67% bacteria hota hain, jis mein se 23% itna khatarnak ki insaan ki jaan ja sakti hain. Road accidents mein Mumbai desh mein tees re number par hain, 73%. Hawa mein 12% zehreela gas hota hain. Dhoop ke wajeh se skin cancer hone ka chance 34% hota hain."

The Man gave a incredulous look as he raised eyebrows, "Toh?"

"Insaan ke liye sabse zaroori hain dhoop, hawa aur pani. In mein itni khatre hain, uske muqable mein barish mein bheeg na to kuch bhi nahi."  She gave a dazzling smile, "Zyada se zyada fever hoga, aur woh kuch ghante mein chala jayega. I will be as good as new."

He shook his head, "Tum ajeeb ho."

"I know, many had said that." She answered unabashed, causing him to chuckle.

"By the way, tum yahan?"

"Dost ke ghar gaya tha."  He answered. She nodded once and then started the dreaded era of awkward silence, where both had nothing to say. She turned her head to watch the rain but he continued to stare at her, a soft look in his eyes. He didn't know how long he was staring at her, but he snapped out of it when a taxi stopped near her.

"Chalti hoon,"  She waved her hand, "mulaqat hoti rahegi."

"Tumhe lagta hain?" He cocked head in a side, frowning a little. She mimicked his action.

"Humare case mein? Kuch bhi possible hain."  She got inside taxi, "Bye, Arjun."

He was still smiling with that soft look in eyes when she vanished out of his sight.

Smile was the last thing on his mind when he was sitting across a drug lord 2 nights later, surrounded by armed goons. The Man was staring at him through scrutinizing eyes.

"Mere aadmi kehte hain tu kaam acha karta hain."  He started the conversation. He stared right back.

"Woh ye bhi kehte hain ki Pathan ke khaas aadmi ko kaam pe lagana thik nahi hain."

"Main sirf paison ke liye kaam karta hoon."  He leaned back on the back rest, two fingers rubbing near the skin of eyes as he spoke, "Main uski gang ka hissa nahi hoon."

"To tu kya usko security deta firta hain all the time?"

"Ye kya interview chal raha hain mera?"  He straighten his back, "Agar kaam nahi hain to main chalta hoon."  He stook up, but before he about to take some steps the goons around him encircled him, immediately the Man ordered them to back off.

"Arre baith na, kaam to hain tujhse. Main to bas aise hi puch raha hoon, bura mat maan."  

He sat down, eyes narrowed. The Man threw a picture on the table which he picked it up.

"Ye Nadiya hain, ya fir ye bolu, issne apna naam Nadiya bataya jab ye mere paas kaam kar rahi thi. Sali kamini double agent nikli, Police ko info diya mera. Maar daal isse, Surya, mere 12 aadmi mare uss raid mein. Issko kuch dino tak follow kiya mere admiyon ne, par ab kahin pe chupke baithi hain pata nahi. Dhoond isse, jahan se bhi ho sake, aur maar daal. 8 lakh doonga, abhi adha, baki kaam hone ke baad."

Looking for this, Nadiya, was not difficult. Even if she changed everything, name, address, workplace (obviously), she still had one place common where she always visits, Hazi Ali, every friday. He tailed her one day, and saw her vanishing inside ETF. He figured ETF might have sent her to spy on that drug lord. He made plan, and one night, broke into her house.

She put up good fight, thought him as a thief and came onto him with Gun. He took the gun and threw it away almost effortlessly, his own Gun ready in his hand. He subdued her after several minutes of struggle, a number of times she surprised him with some moves. He hit her with the back of his gun and she went unconscious.

But something felt wrong in his mind. Granted, she was a double agent so she must know how to protect herself, but some of the moves went deeper than usual self defence classes. Also, the Gun, he had encountered with enough Law enforcement people and petty criminals to understand the difference. Something was wrong.

Making up his mind, he started to went through her things, drawers, dresses, lockers, even yet to send for laundry clothes and purses. He came across several ID cards, driving license, but the ID card as a Officer in ETF caught his attention.

He fumed in anger silently as he kept the card back in place. That Drug lord forgot to mention one crucial thing, that the double agent was not only a spy for Police, but a Police woman herself. The thing which matter to him most.

His eyes fell on the unconscious body of officer and he cursed in mind. Quickly, he got out of the house and drove as far from the house as he could, seeing red everywhere in anger.

He paid a visit to the drug lord later that night.

"Kaam ho gaya?"  The Man asked with a wide grin, to which he felt angrier.

"Kaam?"  He exclaimed, "Tu ne bataya nahi woh ek police wali hain. Batana bhul gaya ya zaroori nahi samjha?"

"Kya farak padta hain isse?"  He frowned at his question and angry state.

"Mere ko farak padta hain. Police se main dur rehta hoon, unke kisi aadmi ko maar ke mujhe apni jaan khatre mein nahi dalni."

"Paisa liya hain tu ne iss kaam ka."  He reminded. The former put the money covered in news paper on the table in front of him.

"Tera paisa. Agli baar aisi shaanpatti ki na, anjaam acha nahi hoga."  He turned to leave.

"Ae Surya, dhamki mat de!"  The man stood up, causing him to stop in his track.

"Dhamki nahi deta main."

"Kya karega tu? Marega mujhe?"  The Man asked and gave a villanous laugh, "Tujhe akela nahi ana chahiye tha. Ek to mera kaam kiya nahi, aur yahan agaya gyan dene. Kya pata, bahar jake tu police ko bata de aur woh Nadiya fir khisak jaye. Ab tu mujhe batayega Nadiya kahan rehti hain, aur main apna aadmi bhejunga usko khatam karne ke liye. Bol, kahan hain woh?"  He took out his Gun, pointing right in his heart. In response, the former chuckled a little, causing him to frown, the next second his smile vanished and he took out his gun, first shooting the drug lord twice in chest before he could blink, then shooting at the lone tubelight in the ceiling of the room. Soon the armed goons entered the dark room and started to shoot everywhere, causing them to kill each other. He also fired several times, then he quietly slipped out in the middle on confusion and commotion.

Pathan found him 3 days later near a fast food stall, eating bread pakoda, behind him Amzad stood with a sour expression on face.

"Teri satak gayi hain kya Surya? Kyu mara uss Shankar ko?"  He spit out, pissed and confused out of his mind, slightly shocked too at the action.

He continued to chew his food, "Kaun Shankar?"

"Natak mat kar."  Pathan lightly admonished, "Suna hain tujhe bulaya tha usne kuch kaam se. Kya hua?"

"Kahan se suna? Khufia hawale se?"  He mocked, to which he glared.

"Ab bolega ya fir uske liye bhi paisa lega."

 He licked his fingers as he finished with his food, turned to look at him as he spoke in a low voice, "Gaya tha. Kaam diya tha mujhe, maine nahi kiya."

"Toh tu ne usse ura dala?"  Amzad asked in disbelieve. Pathan gave him a hard glare and he backed down, head lowering. He shook his head at their antics.

"Mere ko maar dalta agar maine nahi mara hota."

"Tu ne kaam kyu nahi kiya uska?" Pathan asked, frowning. He gave a small mocking smile.

"Tera wafadaar jo thehra."

He scoffed, "Kaash aisa hota . . . "  He sobered up, face serious, "Sun, woh log gusse mein hain. Shankar ki halat thik nahi hain, shayad na bache. Tu khayal rakhna apna."  He looked around them, "Chal."

"Kahan?''  

"Sohail ke saath meeting fix ki hain."

"Abhi meeting karna zaroori tha kya? Police kahin bhi ajati hain taang adhane."

"Usko yaad dilana padega kaun iss sheher ka Don hain."  Pathan looked determined, "Chal."

"Main jake kya achaar daloonga? Tumhare gang ka masla hain."

"Bhao mat kha saale, chal."  He nearly dragged him with him.

They reached the meeting spot, the same place near Juhu port where Sohail had given the interview.

"Ye lo, jagah mein apna rang dikha raha hain ye to."  He commented as they came out of SUV, eyes going everywhere. Pathan came to stood beside him, behind him Amzad and several other gang members.

"Kuch zyada hi udd raha hain ye."  Amzad said in response.

"Aaj ke baad nahi udega." Pathan replied quietly.

"Kyu, tu usse pyar se samjhane wala hain kya?"  He asked sarcastically, to which he gave a look. They all started to walk toward a old ripped house, outside of which several armed men were waiting for them. Inside, Sohail was sitting on a chair, his legs on the big table in front of him. Pathan sat in the only other chair in the room, Amzad stood close to him, while He leaned against a wall, eyeing the people, the room and various exits just out of habit.

"Puri paltan leke aya hain re tu Pathan,"  Sohail asked in a light joking voice, "aur isse bhi."  his eyes fell on Him, "Suna hain tu ne uss Shankar ko thok dala. Acha kiya, bohut bada leechar tha woh."

"Afwah."  He replied, separating each syllable, "Afwah pe dhyan mat do."

"Tera aadmi mazak acha karta hain." He turned his eyes on Pathan and instantly sobered up, "Ye meeting kaiko re?"

"Tera interview dekha uss din, socha tu to bada celebrity ban gaya hain, ek baar milna to banta hain."  came the reply. Sohail laughed, but instantly stopped as his eyes turned cold.

"Acha joke tha, ab nikal."

"Joke to tu ne mara uss din TV pe."  Pathan cocked head in a side, "Tu ne mara uss Builder Rashtogi ko? Mere area pe tu ne ake threat diya usko? Kab?"  He clenched his jaw, "Jhootha interview deke apne aap ko bada Don saabit kar raha tha uss din?"

"Aur jab tu ne mere aadmi ko kaat dala, tab tu kya saabit karna chahta tha?" Sohail asked hotly.

"Mere area mein tha woh."  Pathan emphasised each point by poking finger on the table aggressively, "Mere saath koi ungli karega, uska anjaam waisa hi hoga. Woh warning tha, tere ko samajhna chahiye tha."

"Acha?"  This time it was not Sohail who spoke, but a man behind him who was fuming the minuted Pathan kept his foot inside, with curly hair and bloodshot eyes, "Warning tha? Chal nahi mana humne teri warning, to kya? Kya karega?"

"Leaders ko baat karne de."  Amzad also intervened.

"Bhai tha woh iska."  Sohail kept one hand on the Man's wrist.

"Maine bohut warning di usko."  Pathan took over again, "Mana nahi. Sala mere area mein dhanda karta hain, aur puchta hain Sinkandar bhai kaun!"

"To kya, maar dalega?"  The Man again started speaking, now taking steps toward them dangerously, "Chal, main bhi bolta hoon, kaun hain Sikandar bhai? Kya ukhaar lega?"

"Apne aadmi ko bol zabaan sambhalne ko."  Pathan warned Sohail.

"Ye to wohin bolega na, jo iska boss bolta hain."  Sohail said lightly, then became dead serious, "Main bhi nahi janta, kaun hain Sikandar bhai."

The words from the leader itself started a series of verbal abuse and threats. Amzad and that Man's voices were loudest in room, Sohail silently supported him with proud eyes while Pathan felt Him standing on the other side of him.

"Ho gaya pyar bhari meeting?"  His voice was too low, but firm and easy to hear in the middle of chaos, "Tu meeting karne aya tha, aur in logon ne teri baja di."

"Tere dimag mein kya chal raha hain?"  Pathan asked cautiously.

"Ye log puri taiyyari ke sath aye hain tujhe gaadne ki. Ek chance le sakte hain."  He met his eyes, "Sirf haan bol."

Amzad scooted closer and gasp in shock as he heard the conversation, "Pagal ho gaya hain kya? Bakwaas mat kar."

 He ignored him, "Waqt kam hain, jaldi soch."

"Bhai iski baat mat suno, marwayega ye."

Sohail, who noticed the hushed conversation between the three, signaled the Man beside him, who took long steps toward them, taking out his gun.

"Kya fusur fusur chal raha hain Ae!"  He pointed the Gun right into His head, "Bol!"

"Apne aadmi ko bol sambhale khud ko."  Pathan warned, but Sohail only smiled, shaking head to show it's out of his hand now.

"Haan bol."  He said through clenched teeth. The Man growled and pulled him by collar.

"Kya Haan bol? Ye kya bolega, main bolta hoon haan. Kya kar lega tu ab? Haan? Abbe bol na!"

In response he twisted the man's wrist by which he was holding his collar behind his back, other hand taking control of his Gun quickly. The next moment a shot was fired through his body and blood was oozing from his stomach. Everyone looked at each other, Pathan looked shocked, and His eyes went outside the room. Because none of the room fired the shot, certainly not him.

Outside, atleast 8 police vans and 3 ETF SUV were parked, the bullet proof jacket claded officers encircling the house