Yeah this one

On a bright Friday afternoon, a group of four people walked into a quiet, empty church on the outskirts of mainland Goa. They bent their knees, closed eyes, muttered wishes and lines from Bible alike. The solitary girl of the group poked open her eyes once to stare at the gruff looking man beside her, to whose response he rolled eyes then proceeded to fold his hands, making a great show of how excruciating it is for him to bend in front of an invisible God.

(Though the young man with curly hair and glasses will argue for hours about the existence of Jesus which is scientifically backed by ruins in various parts of life.)

When it was over, the atheist was the one to walk out fast. Remaining trio slowed their steps, and by the time they came out the former was sitting inside a custom made Black Mustang, his fingers drumming impatiently over the steering wheels. At his bark the others sped up, the nerdy guy going inside the car while the other two settling on Bikes. The Harley Davidson was apt for the muscly giant, while the Black and Golden BMW with a stylish 'R' on it's left seemed like a second skin to the petite girl.

The group stopped outside a small cozy beach side restaurant, uplifting the picaresque view of gorgeous aqua colored water and green coconut and palm trees. The nerdy man spoke something to which others let out a heart laugh, all shedding their jackets and settling on the table.

"You smartass." Sam, the grumpy cat (and somewhat leader of the group) muttered, trying to hide an embarassment. The nerdy guy, Shree, looked terrified for a second but only to be assured by the girl that all is fine, he started to grin again.

"Boss, it's okay. We all are on this world for food. Nothing to ashamded of if you were hungry." Chotu, the ironic name for the 6feet tower of a man piped in. Sam gave him a glare which did nothing to his mood.

 "Of course, you are always thinking about food." Shree shook his head.

"Hey, for the first time in forever I am not the one who is butt of jokes. Please, continue." He grinned.

"Okay that's enough." Spoke up the girl, to which Sam shot a greatful look, "You can't fault the man. Bible is tough. Totally drains your body."

The air cackled with booming laughter, Chotu's voice being the loudest one. Sam, a man of few words, finally had enough which he conveyed by shooting a glare at everyone, the intensed one directed at the girl. But it didn't dampen the mischievous grin of her face, as her teeth sunk on bottom lip and eyes maintained contact. 

The duo found themselves on the bonnet of the Mustang after the lunch was over. Shree, thanks to overeating, was spawled across the seat, while Chotu went to get a cartoon full of liquor since his stock back at the Garage was severely lacking. The owner of the restaurant was familiar with the eccentricities of this particular group for 2 years now and had no problem to keep up with their antics. At first it was just the sibiling duo, then the boy with the glass joined, quiet and timid at first. Boy, what a wisecracker he turned out to be! And then one day the six foot something trailed after them, fitting in as if he was always there. An odd group, that's what it was. Sam hardly talked, and when he did it was more due to a necessary, as if moving his damn jaw was too much to ask for. The nerdy one is such an smartass, his nose always stuck inside his phone, the world can burn but he won't give two hoots about it. The owner is yet to see a day when the giant guy is serious and unsmiling, it's like he walks on rainbows and sunshine!

(With a bike like that, maybe anyone will.)

The only normal one is the girl, Ri. She always tips outrageously, she's the one saying 'Thank you' and 'Please' and insisiting on carrying the plates till the counter instead of yelling at waiter to take them away. She talks softly and admonish them when they gets too loud. The owner likes the good girl, and her smile with dimples. Remind him of a childhood sweetheart from school.

"You know," Ri started, "it won't hurt to have an heart to heart with an imaginary deity."

Beside her Sam sighed, "I come. This is the only thing you are going to get from me." A dark looked crossed his face as he muttered, "Anyways, it's not he gave me a lot of reason to fall on his feet."

"It's not a bargain. Asking something in return of worship him is pointless."

"Then maybe it should."

"Bhai . . . "

"Ri, drop it." His tone broke no room for argument. She shook her head, giving up on the topic for this moment.

The time came for the four some to part ways. Usually Shree follows the sibiling duo to their Home/ Garage since he's practically living there, and Chotu runs for his Friday ritual to meet a girl who likes him, whom he likes, but both of them is content not to put a label on it. As he settled on his bike, ready to out on helmet, an unknown conversation passed between the sibiling which made Shree twitch nervously.

"I will see you later." She was zipping up her dark brown jacket, slipping down from the bonnet of Mustang. Sam didn't move, just crossed his arms in a way which expressed his knowledge and displeasure at her intentions. After several seconds of mexican stand off, he gave a stiff nod.

"Don't be late." 

She nodded, appreciating him for not starting an argument. Actually he doesn't. For all his silence, Sam is never the one brooding because of a topic. If there's something on his mind he says it, to the point and uncaring of how the other one react. Many might not appreciate the raw honesty, but this group does.

They might be bunch of oddballs, but they are a family.

The group parted in three directions, the roar of engine mixing effortlessly with the rhythm of the ocean.

 _+_

Standing inside the cabin of Director Kapoor, ACP Arjun S. Rawte was feeling determined and apprehensive at the same time. Everything was set and done, his mind was made up. He need to do this, and nothing going to stop him. A part of him said this last meeting between them was going to be a final order from her, maybe a warning, a plea? It won't change his mind, but he would like to skip it, Thank you very much.

(The image of Liza standing on the graveyard, her eyes blank as he vowed 'They will pay' was burnt into his memory)

Aisha Kapoor stared at him for an uncomfortably long time, then stood up from her seat and handed him over an envelope, "Your new identity. Your place is already set up, it's in middle of city so you won't have any problem of communication. The new phone has me and some other important numbers as speeddial, whenever you are stuck just use it and don't try to be a damn martyr." Her voice hardened a little, "It will be bad enough that Karan going to be second-in-command in your absence, I can't tolerate him for long. So hurry up."

Despite the grave situation her words made him crack a smile, "I am not sure which one you hate more, me going away or him stepping up."

"Both." She didn't bother to hide her displeasure, "But I know a determined officer when I see one. Just remember one thing, don't be blind in revenge. It will get you killed, and that's . . . "

"Not an option. I know." It was Director Kapoor's motto, which was now part of their rules and regulation. Arjun put the envelope inside his backpack and adjusted the strap on his shoulder, both of them sensing the time to leave has come.

"Good luck." She shook his hand firmly, the confidence in her eyes making him stand tall, "I expect to be updated regularly."

"You will be."

"Make them hell to pay."

With a final nod, ACP Arjun Rawte walked out of ETF office with revenge on his head.

 _+_

Naty was waiting for her cavalry to pick her up and simultaneously checking out the guy near her. Well, there was nothing better to do in the empty bus stop anyway, unless you want to read the advertisement for Catholic convention and cure for fauly erection. And, the guy was not bad to look at. He had that tall-dark-handsome thing going on, that stubble, oh my, she would very much like to run her fingers through that.

Her trail of delicious thoughts were interrupted when a group of bikers with their flashy toys flew by. She grinned, chewing hard her gum. Tonight is going to be fun, the Mumbai walas are in town and they always bring the big toys. Goans are more old school, going for muscle rather than looks. But Naty likes style, something nice to look at.

Which reminded her, where is her damn ride?

"Whoa." Came the awed mutter from the guy beside her. Searching for her phone inside the small pouch, she decided to start a conversation.

"Looking at a sportsbike for the first time?"

His eyes snapped toward her, "More like didn't expect them to see here in such large numbers."

She snorted, "Why? Precious sands will ruin the engines, you think?" She glanced at him once, "Oh, you look like an outsider. It's all drugs and boobs for you, the ideal Goa?"

If he was offended by the crude way of talking, he didn't show, "You tell me. You are a local, right? Educate me." He turned to her fully, going for a smirk and tilting head. Naty was gone, totally blew away. She was always a sucker for nice smiles.

Sighing dramatically she turned to him, finally finding her phone but making no use to look at it. The ever present breeze made her frilly skirt flew which she smoothen, not ready to give him show just yet, "Well, we don't have tourists the whole year. We are free, and free people needs distractions."

"Fast distractions." He nodded.

"Exactly." She winked, "Once the words spread it became as good of business as others. You won't believe the number of people attending, it's crazy."

He hummed non-commitally, "What about, uh, you know," He lowered voice, "Police?"

She snickered, "We are careful. And they turn away when you put a few thousands in their pockets."

The guy hummed again, turning away. Naty suddenly had an idea, "Tell you what, why don't you come and take a look at it?"

"Now?" He was surprised. She shrugged.

"Why, you have something better to do?"

"This bag?"

"My cavalry is coming. Just keep it there. We will give you ride after it's over, what say?" She actually prayed that he says yes.

He nodded after a while, "Sure, why not." He flashed her a grin, "You have me intrigued."

She let out a giggle which was so unlike her (she really wanted to smack herself on the head for that) when the said cavalry arrived, 3 jeeps with guys already half drunk, hooting and cackling, leaning onto their 'woman' for the night. The driver of the first one gave her an once over as he peeked through his sunglasses. Naty showed him the middle finger.

"Who's the boy?" One of them bellowed. Naty got up, making sure the guy was following her.

"My toy for the night." She answered as the two of them rode on the jeep. The group hooted once again and then proceeded to move forward.

 _+_

Arjun was never the one to believe in luck, and yet he can't help but rethink on that as he stood on the roadside with several hundred people from all over the country, which is obviously the biggest illegal Bike racing in the country. He handles homicide, but Karan is very much into automobiles so he knows in bits and pieces how Mumbai-Delhi-Bangalore is cracking down on Bikers and making them shut down their gambling shops. Seems like all those runaway cockroaches settled here in Goa, and frankly, it was genius. The place has reputation for drugs, not adrenaline filled Racing. From the chatter he is picking up around him it's evident that the market here is fairly new.

He has to send a word to High authority. Annonymously, of course.

The girl who brought him here . . . he can't believe he didn't ask her name yet, handed him over a bottle which is obviously cheap beer. He put on a smirk and clicked it with hers, the bottle hovering near his lips but never making it all the way. 

"Enjoying?" She yelled over the roar of crowd. He nodded with more enthusiasm than necessary.

If he sets aside his prejudices, the sight was hard to ignore. There were bikes which can only be seen in films, and from the looks of it most of them were custom made. A group of young man was showing off stunts, earning money in gamble and praises. Older ones were busy inappropriately touching their 'woman', as the girl who brought him mentioned, oblivious to the crowd. There was a group of 5-6 people with laptops and money bags, another large number of group surrounding them as they all shouted and talked over each other about the bets. It was a chaos, everything was, and yet he had to be immune or cold blooded to not to appreciate that the air was infectious. The anticipation of thrill, the smell of patrol, the roar of bikes fulled with NOS, it was all very new to him.

Which was exactly where he wanted to be.

An ear splitting boom from a loudspeaker came from a corner, effectively shutting up everyone and making them stand on their toes to look at the announcer. Arjun touched his ear sub-consciously to check for injuries and grudgingly admitted that Police here had to be severaly bribed if none is following the noise here, it's practically a stadium! A 7 KM stretch of less traffic area was partially closed down for the race, and when bikes started to line up one by one, he realized it was about to start.

"My turn now." Naty finished her beer and threw the bottle carelessly somewhere behind them, sassing ahead amidst cheers and comments. He turned slightly to see if the bottle hit anyone and laughed to himself in disbelieve that despite the crowd, it didn't. The girl twirled on her right feet, giving all of them a show, then proceeded to take off her t-shirt. It was only then he realized what was happening, after all, the t-shirt was of Green color.

Waiving the shirt in the air, she yelled, "3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . go!"

The engines of 8 bikes roared in full volume as they sprinted across the street.

It's when the race ended and the winner collected the money then he heard it - the crowd celebrating the return of their star Racer after a long time.

 R. 

 _+_

"Are you kidding me?" He was frustrated and taking it out on Karan, and rightly so. Was not he the one volunteered to collect these information? "After everything you went through, every piece of document, surveillance audio, real life transcripts, this is the only thing you got?"

"Which is what I am laying out in front of you." The latter shrugged, seemingly unaffected by the death glare sent at him, "We were at it for hours, weeks." Pointing toward himself and his partner, Simran, he carried on, "There is nothing Shera, nothing which helps us."

"That's bullshit." He ran fingers through hair then proceeded to bang his fist on the table, "Piles and piles of things and you got nothing?"

"If you doubt us then you are welcome to check yourself." Simran snapped, to which Karan signaled her to keep quiet.

"This is it, Boss. Trust us."

"Do you know how many people are in this world whose name starts with R? Or has R in them? Hell, even my name has 3 R!"

"3? Where?" Simran piped in, but shut up at the dual look shot at her direction.

"We know three things. First, the killer lives in Goa, second, judging by the surveillance footage of Bus stop he rides a sweet bike. He has to be in Racing, did you see the way he turned around, perfect in control? Since Goa has practically no reports of Bike thieves I am willing to bet my salary he had to be in Racing. Now, how many people are there whose name starts with R? We will narrow it down and then match with database. Someone has to pop up with past crimes."

"Actually," Simran started speaking again, "It's not even R. I have went through the audio which recorded his last words and it doesn't sound like R. Something like Ri, or maybe R comes at the end of the name. Like Karan."

Arjun ran a hand over his face, "This is not helpful at all."

"Well," Karan stood taller, confident in his research, "It's something."

 _+_

He didn't realize that he was staring, but the Biker, R, seemed to notice. His eyes were hidden behind thick black glass of helmet and yet Arjun felt as if he held his gaze. There were lewd comments thrown at the racers who lost and adultation showered at him, still nothing broke their long eye-contact.

 He also noticed the long tattoo scrawled across the side of his right palm.

Then someone annouced free drinks in a nearby Bar in an hour and everyone started moving, R being the first to do so.

 _+_

"So, are you her Boyfriend?"

Arjun was about to turn around to the obviously jealous guy who tried to show 'I'm the Man', coming at him all big scary, but was rescued by the girl who . . . dammit, he still do not know her name. Irritated at himself, he took a sip of beer as the girl made the other guy back off and stated how they just met.

"Wait, so you don't even know each other?"

She laughed, "I don't think we mentioned our names." To which he nodded and chucked.

"Arjun."

"Naty. Before you say it sounds like an escort, let me tell you the actual name on my school certificate is hella long and boring. Doesn't suit me."

"You went to school?" The other guy, Rick, teased. In response she threw half glass of her drink at his shirt.

"Dog."

He shook his head as they two laughed, starting to talk animatedly about the race which just occured. Inevitably the conversation turned toward R, the mystery biker and he tore away his gaze which was momentarily stuck on a girl sitting at the bar.

"What's his name? R?"

"You brought a newbie, Nat." Rick shook head. She leaned back on her seat, watching them both with amused eyes.

"I like them new and shiny."

He rolled eyes at the comment and answered Arjun's question, "Nobody knows. But he's Goa's old hero. Comes at random time, takes all by surprise. But whenever he does, let's just say he wipes the fucing floor. It's gorgeous."

"His Bike, boy." Naty fanned herself, "I can actually kill for that."

"Nobody tried to find out who's he?"

"Who gives a shit? He comes, business booms. He wins, people who bets on him wins, everyone is happy. Atleast he's not a mole, so we are good. You are pretty lucky, you know, watching him racing on your first arrival. Who knows when we will get him next time?"

He is, he supposes. Nodding slowly at his words, he turned away from the ongoing conversation, processing all these informations at the back of his head. Once again his eyes caught the girl near the bar, so detached from everything as if she tuned out all the madness of this place. He was curious as to why she's here if she doesn't like the atmosphere. Her posture was relaxed, her eyes were roaming everywhere, yet she was not here. 

The bottle near his lips stilled in the air when he noticed the familiar scrawl tattooed on her hand which was holding the liquor glass. Either the tattoo was similar or . . . 

Or R is a female.

She had to sense his stare, he mused. His eyes were glued at the back of her head, if Karan was here he would have joked that how her head doesn't have any hole yet. The girl turned to him in an agonizingly slow motion, and the first thing he noticed was the shade of her eye color. He knew it was Brown, but it was so deep that it could be passed off as Black. Her hair was of the same shade of her eyes, spawled all over her face. Her eyes never left his, and then started a silent competition.

He never knew what came onto him, but he took a sip and licked his lips. He could feel the way her breath hitched at the action and eyes darkened further, yet they didn't tear away their gazes.

He could hear Rick letting out a scandalous 'Oooooh' and 'Looks like our newbie got himself a girl' but didn't bother to look at his way. When the comments become bolder he purposely dropped the bottle on the table with a loud smack and walked toward the girl. By the time he reached her, she had turned her head and was staring intently at the glass in her hand. He dragged a stool and sat close to her, practically invading her privacy. If she was uncomfortable, she didn't let it show.

Well, a murderer has to be a little bit deceitful.

"Quite a show you put there for your friends." 

"Friends?" He scoffed, "Do you see anyone of them here?" At her silence Arjun leaned forward, as if confessing a secret, "It was to get your attention."

It made her turn toward him, her eyes silently assessing him, "Well, you have it now. What you intend to do?"

"Let's get out of here."

 _+_

"You don't look familiar." 

They were outside for more than 15 minutes and none of them have said a word prior this. His mind was buzzing with what all these means. He didn't anticipate a mystery biker whom he will come across on the first day itself. He obviously didn't plan it to be a female. Arjun need to move carefully now, he nearly screwed up earlier with the long creepy staring contest.

Trying to slip into a character which was a Douchebag to every human possible, he scoffed, "You know everyone in this place?"

"I know people who don't belong somewhere."

"Ouch, my feelings." Faking a heartache, he rolled eyes, "You are right. I am not from here."

"Where do you want to go?"

They stopped walking and he turned to her, "Who says I want to go?" He moved closer, despite the warning a part of himself, "Maybe I came here to settle down."

She chuckled, ducking her head. The hair obscured his view of her face momentarily before she straighten again, "This place is not exactly famous for retirement plans."

"Retirement? What do you think I am, fifty?" He exclaimed in mock outrage, then sobered down, "I guess for a person like me any place is good enough. Never planned a thing in my life, roamed around from place to place. Gypsy, I guess people like me are called."

"Banjaara." She nodded, "I am guessing you don't have anyone."

He shook head, "Will I be here if I had?" The irony of the statement was not lost on him. He was here for exactly the same reason.

"Family makes home. Without them we have nothing." He was taken aback by the honest feelings behind that sentimental statement. His eyes fell onto the tattoo on her palm and he took her hand, feeling brave. His thumb started to trace it lightly.

"Is that what you have in here? Home is where Family is?"

She laughed but there was an edge to it. He was affecting her, "Too cheesy for me." At his soft 'Oh' and small step toward her she explained, "Family is everything. It's in Latin."

He laughed, "It's a dead language."

"It has mystery value."

"Always going for the show, are not you?" He leaned in closer, eyes boring hole into hers, "R."

Her eyes widen slightly, then she smirked, "Tattoo gave it away, didn't it?"

"Totally." He whispered. Arjun was no fool, he knew what was about to come. He was not one of those people who takes advantage of other while undercover, but then, she's a killer. She is a sinner, him playing with her for a harmless few minutes won't certainly ruin anything. Maybe they both will forget the night, maybe he will have her confidence. 

And yet, despite his mind saying it's all a ploy, his heart was thumping in his chest and he wanted to kiss this girl. Maybe the masochist in him wanted to see if she would taste like duplicity or betrayal, or maybe he has totally lost it in terms of lust and now going for someone who is out of reach for many reasons. In the end though, he shut off everything inside him and went for it, brushing her soft lips once, twice, teasing her. His other unoccupied hand ran over her waist, her back, up, up, up, then her neck as he hold her close.

"Ri." She introduced herself against his lips. 

He proceeded to crash her lips and made up mind to taste every corner of her mouth.

 _+_

"Arjun." He said his name after they were both out of breath and panting embarrassingly. She stared at him for a long time, memorizing each detail of his face as if it's the last time they are going to meet.

"Maybe I will see you around." She unhooked her hand which was around him, silently signalling she is going to leave. The hand around her neck tightened once, then she was free from it as he backed off a few steps.

"I hope so." His voice was huskier than usual. She mimicked his actions, took a few steps back herself, then turned around and walked away from him.

It's only when she was near her bike she took it out, an ID card which she has stolen from him. Opening it, she read the details inside, ran her thumb over the picture and then tore it away. Keeping the picture and ID seperately, she closed the lid of her helmet and proceeded to head out.

What are you doing here ACP Arjun S. Rawte?

 _+_

1 year ago, Vasco Dagama cafe

He had seen them first, and despite trying to hide in the farthest corner of the cafe and hooding up, they saw him anyway. By the time they came at him, he was pushing away people and running towards the backdoor of the place.

"Hey Specky!" one of them yelled. Seeing them closing in on him, he ran faster. His lungs burnt and vision turned teary, yet he didn't stop.

If he did, they will kill him.

Which is why he never saw the road, or how he was middle of it. It was a busy day on the streets, a french carnival was in town and everyone was heading towards it. The car ran straight into him, slamming into his legs. Between hitting his head hard into the road and looking around for those goons, he could not help but admire the car which hit him.

Mustang is not exactly a regular in this place.

  _+_

Shree was furiously typing something in his laptop and checking a small monitor surrounded by jumbled of wires when someone walked in. He didn't look up, knowing it had to be either of the sibilings.

"Still onto it?" Ri crouched down in front of him, eyeing the mess in front of her with a passive expression. None in this group understands what he does, and while it's frustrating sometimes, he secretly enjoys the way they treat his skills as if it's magic. Makes him feel in control.

Shree pushed his glasses over nose, "I will sleep after I finish this." Then looked up at her, "He's asleep, I think. He has not checked on me yet."

She nodded once, rubbed her forefinger and thumb of left hand a couple of times, then reached into her jacket and handed him over something, "I want to know about him."

Frowning, he looked at it. An ID card of ETF, inside some information written about a certain ACP Rawte. His thumb brushed over the place where a picture was supposed to be, finding it torn.

"There is no picture." He stated unnecessary.

"Yeah." There were looks passed, and the message was received. He looked down at the ID once again, before looking upto her once again.

"Is any of us in trouble?"

She exhaled, "That's what I want to find out."

As she got up and turned to leave, Shree took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes roughly, "Shree?" She called out. Without her saying the words he understood it.

"I won't tell Sam."

There was a nod, then she left.

  _+_

Turned out, he didn't really go to bed (or couch, depends on the situation) that night. The softwere took ages to upgrade and by the time it was done Sun was on full glory. He absent mindedly mumbled something when Chotu walked in and commented obviously to his zombie over-caffienated state, suddenly jerking when another mug of it was thurst infront of him.

With a groan which escaped thanks to the knots in his neck, Shree took a sip, "Thanks Jesus for Coffee."

The former chuckled, folding his sleeves up as he readied to start his day, "Is it done?"

"What do you think? I wasted the whole night for nothing?"

"As if you have something better to do." Chotu replied, opening the bonnet of a BMW which came for servicing late in last evening, "You know, when people have free time, they go out, socialize. You get into your little hole and play video game. It is not doing anything good for your eyesight."

"Yeah, Mom, please continue with the lecture." The Computer nerd glared, which was not half as effective due to his sleepless state. 

"Someone is snappy this morning." Sam walked in, immediately pausing in front of Shree, "Why you brought him coffee? He's already full of it." Snatching it amidst the former's protest and Chotu's turning his back, he ordered, "Go, wash your face. You, check this first." He pointed at the car Shree was working on for softwere upgrade, "The owner called. I need to deliver it now."

Which is where Ri found the boys in the garage in the morning. Shree half yawned half greeted good morning, Chotu greeted with a silent fist bump while Sam just gave a small nod.

"I didn't see you coming last night." He murmured. She guiltily looked down at her feet.

"She was sitting with me. We talked." Shree supplied, suddenly fully conscious. Amused, Chotu cracked a small smirk and shook his head.

"What did you guys talk? Nerd?"

"You done?" Same turned to him, to which he nodded and closed the bonnet. The three moved away from the car as he put it on top gear, shattering the silence of an early morning, checked everything that is necessaary inside. After a final look, he slowed down and took off for the owner's address.

"Sweet ride." Chotu sighed wistfully as the light blue 1987 Ford left. Another yawn escaped Shree and he declared his leave, only to head towards the living room of the sibilings to crash for the next few hours. Chotu turned to Ri.

"Did you win?"

An arrogant smirk came out, "What do you think?"

  _+_

Arjun woke up with a hangover and very very erotic dream.

He understood the first part. He was never someone who could handle alcohol and suddenly putting himself into a Undercover job didn't improve his habits. He stayed back till late in the night, talking with bartenders and Naty and some others, made some contacts and had some informations. There were more beers involved than food, he remembered.

That explains his rumbling stomach.

As he washed his face, changed into a fresh dress and headed out to look for a restaurant for breakfast, he cursed himself with all sorts of awful language known to him for what happened last night. Was he really thinking with his head or other parts of his anatomy? He made out with a killer for God's sake! What was wrong with him?

He bearated himself over breakfast and continued as he walked back to his hotel when suddenly it started raining. Growling under his breath, he looked around and ran towards a small closed shop for shelter. Drying his hair, he looked up and notice it was a bunch of thick clouds. He was so in his head that he failed to see the clouds were gathering from early today, probably since last night. 

Almost half an hour had passed and the rain didn't look it will stop anytime sooner. He was contemplating to move despite the rain when a flashy old Ford car stopped.

"Heading somewhere?" The fair looking man with a cut over his eyebrow and moustache yelled. Arjun ran toward him.

"Thanks." He shut the door and the Car started to move. After the introductions, he informed him about the place he was living in.

"Just drop me there."

The Man cocked an eyebrow, "I don't think you were heading to the right direction." At his confused expression he clarified, "This goes toward Fish market. I don't think there is any hotel around here."

"Damn." He muttered, while the man chuckled.

"New here?"

"Yeah. I didn't realize . . . " so busy to think about kissing a female killer, he shook off his head, "Then just drop me somewhere with a shed."

"Tell you what, why don't you come to my place. This rain is not going to stop anytime sooner and you are already wet. When it does I will drop you at your place. Sounds good?" At his silence he added, "I am not a serial killer Man. Trust me on that."

"Was not worried about that." Arjun replied good humouredly, "I have got moves."

He laughed out loud and put the car on top gears.

  _+_

"Ugh." Ri looked up from the balance sheet at the sound of Chotu's grunt, "I forgot to cover my bike." Noticing his soot coated black hands, he gave her a sheepish smile, "Can you . . "

She closed the books, "Where is it?"

"Back there with my liquor storage." Pausing, he added with a real grin, "You are the best."

"Yeah yeah." She headed out in the rain.

Just as she was done covering up the already drenched Harley Davidson (and getting herself a shower in the rain) a car pulled up. She frowned seeing Sam returning with the same Ford car he was out for deliver, and took a few steps toward him when the door of the other side opened up. Another Man came out and it had to be comical with the way they both were frozen in their places but there was nothing funny in this situation.

What the hell is ACP Rawte doing with her brother?

  _+_

She was the first thing he noticed after passing by the big gates of a one storied small wooden house with a banner of garage hanging outside. Has it really been just last night? Is this why he is so effected right now? What is it, her long hair, the petite figure or those brownish-black eyes? Or maybe he was into the whole enemy-is-hot thing and recently recognized it?

Either way, he swore under his breath.

Damn him.

  _+_

If Sam noticed the awkward tension in the air, he didn't let anything slip. After quick introductions and change of clothes, the group sans Ri sat on the floor of garage with various shades of expression on their face. Arjun desperately needed a Cutting Chai, his mouth salivating at the thought of the Tea stall just near ETF building back in Mumbai. Sam stared blankly at the rain while Chotu hummed a song under breath and his partner, Shree, buried his nose into his phone.

Ri walked in with towel on her shoulder and fresh mugs of coffee. She nodded at the Thank yous and totally avoided the stare of the ACP who, for some reason, was lying about everything. She didn't like to not know about things, especially at the way this Man keeps popping up to places she has been, first racing track, then the bar and now her home.

With time the conversation started to flow. Arjun got time to set his fake ID and backstory right this time, adding substantial stuff into the story which he had already told Ri. Mirch masala, Karan would have said. As he continued with his tale of Banjaara and having no home, he could not help but feel it a story of C grade Bollywood film.

What was wrong with him? Why the situation keeps getting out of his hand? He is always two steps ahead in his work, why not this time?

Why she did it, He thought in his head as he stared at the foursome in front of him. Sam reminded him so much like Director Kapoor with his passive expressions and silence. There was something about him which made others feel safe, like he can be trusted, and it was not because he had a physique like he was into wrestling. Shree looked innocent, and so young. What is he, in his twenties? Chotu, the giant man laughed like a child, carefree and open. He don't think people who has dirt on their souls can laugh like that. And finally her. She obviously care for them, people don't just tattoo sentimental lines on their skin. Sam is obviously financially secured, the garage only deals in exotic cars and bikes, and he seemed sane enough. What propels a girl from a well settled family (or Brother) like this to drive in illegal races and kill people? Is it adrenaline? Does these people know?

Maybe they all are very good actors and he's having Coffee with bunch of criminals.

He was split second late realizing that during his internal monologue he ended up staring at Her, and everyone noticed it. Chotu cracked a grin, Shree looked nervously between him, Ri and Sam while true to his nature, Sam just looked at them and sipped his coffee slowly. Arjun cursed mentally and looked down, not before stealing a glance at his side.

How long she was staring at him? Is she aware of it or she's wondering the probablities of a guy she kissed last night ending up in her home the next day. 

Criminals intrigued him. It was no different.

(He kept telling himself that when Sam offered dinner and invited him to stay for the night.)

  _+_

She could not sleep.

Like her Brother, she's a light sleeper. A slightest sound or worry about something makes her sleep go away, and it starts a chain of half-insomniac state where she goes on without rest for days, always jittery and anxious. She could feel a phase like that coming, and who could she blame, with a suspicious ACP sleeping in her living room and a sense of dread in her pit?

What's his scene? Why is he in town? Hell, why he is in her house? Is it just co-incidence or careful planning?

After tossing and turning over her bed for hours, she decided to say 'Screw it' to sleep for the night, pulled over a light jacket and headed for the garage. The hand on her head acted as a shelter from the light rain as she ran the distance between the house and her destination, brushing herself off the waterdrops as she reached there. Switching on light as to not trip over tools lying carelessly on the floor (Chotu's section) or wires (Shree), she started pacing up and down. Once or twice she contemplated disturbing Shree to give her something on the ACP but decided against it. He's always so nervous about things, why bother him in case it turns out nothing, just her suspicious brain?

Standing on the edge of the garage facing the house, she stared ahead intensely, the light rain somewhat obscuring her view. This place has became some sort of sancturary for all of them over the course of time. An escape from problems, loneliness, or too many people in life, it had never failed to relieved them. There is something almost sacred in the smell of the place, always filled with dust and high powered fuel no matter how many times they clean up, the way the exotic cars and bikes stand proudly in the shadows, giving company. Sometime Ri feels they are symbols for life itself, a constant in middle of all the chaos.

Her Brother was always into Cars, and now she knows why. It's not about the speed or showing off. There is a deep philosophy into it whose surface she has barely scratched, yet she understands it's depth.

It was then she sensed the stare aimed at her. Visibly shaking off her trance, she squinted and noticed . . . not again.

That Damned ACP was there again, standing directly opposite her in the veranda of the house. Feeling irritated at the violation of her peaceful state she turned around, moving toward the yet-to-be ready cars, opening a bonet and poking things here and there.

Her Brother might own a garage, but she's useless with them. 

She had a hope that her turning back on him, literally, will give him the signal. Sadly it didn't, and she barely suppressed a sigh when she sensed him right behind her. She could not tell when he entered inside, as she turned to make a comment about his light feet she was suddenly taken aback at how close he was standing, the words dying in her throat. A flash of last night crossed her mind- the way his lips moved against him and his fingers tightened against her neck before freeing her- and she looked down, silently berating herself.

"Someone can't sleep." His voice, was it always this deep or this rain and dark atmosphere doing creating an effect in her ears? To avoid looking at him while answering, she leaned slightly toward the bonnet, making a show of how she's doing an award winning job of fixing a car in middle of the night as she poked wires, tightened some screws and polished parts with a dirty rug lying nearby. She didn't know if she could fool him, but she knew this- it was a lousy idea.

"Yeah, look who's talking." She arched an eyebrow at him, and looked away almost instantly. A chuckle came from him.

"I can't sleep when it's raining. Who knew Goa will be this wet at this time of the year?" 

"Surprise, courtesy of Global warming." Despite her curiosities, she can't overnight turn into a bitch towards him, "You should try to sleep. It's late." There, somewhat soft.

"What about you?" There was something in his tone which made her head turn, and true to his words, something strange passed his eyes (maybe low light playing with her eyes) as he continued, "You will be up all night thinking why I am here?"

Her body froze even as she tilted her neck slightly, frowning.

He shrugged, crossing arms over chest as he leaned against the car, "I mean, the probability of us meeting twice in less than 24 hours had to very less, is not it?"

"Astronomical." She deadpanned, trying and failing to understand his angle. Is he playing her? Trying to gauge her reaction? Or he is just stating a fact? 

(A sudden thought came into her mind- if he has planned everything till now, from where he's getting his informations? Who're his sources? She and her Brother keeps very low profile in this town, so who it can be? Is this source even from this town?)

"Exactly." His voice broke her thoughts, and by the look on his face Ri realized he's just teasing her, "Talk about awkward, me coming here with your Brother."

"Maybe he should have checked if you are a serial killer." 

"Or maybe it's you two sibiling duo. Who helps strangers these days?"

"Should not you be, you know," She leaned forward slightly, uncaring of personal space, "Scared then?"

Only after the word was out did she realize it can be interpreted in many ways. And she definately didn't mistake the way his face harden slightly before returning to it's earlier, teasing one.

"I am not so easily scared." He threw back quietly, then to lighten up the mood added, "And I have got moves."

"Oh? Where did you get it? Police? Military?" She was having fun now with this underlying tension of their conversation. "Wait, you are a wanderer, right? Must have picked up somewhere I guess."

"Maybe." He replied vaguely, "Can't let all the secrets out at once."

She hummed non-commitally in response. Minutes passed where neither of them followed the conversation, the soft buzz of rain filling in the silence. She could feel the static in the air, the slow build as the gazes became darker and heart picked up speed. It was exactly what happened last night before . . . 

She shattered the moment by turning her head and slamming the bonnet shut, "Sleep is coming. I can feel it."

"I bored you to sleep?" He asked in mock outrage, to which she rolled eyes, "Alright then, Goodnight."

"Night." She threw the dirty rug somewhere without looking and left, her feet carrying her as fast as they could.

As she returned to her room and shed her jacket, she fumed. So that's the game he's going to play, huh? Lingering close and giving 'Come, hither' looks? That's the reason he's seeking her in first, cause he thinks she's a poor little dame? Fuk him, the eternally priviledged male of the society and his inherited male chauvinism passed down through generations. 

Two can play this game. 

  _+_

As soon as he was sure she was out of earshot, Arjun cursed under his breath and banged a fist sideways into the car he was leaning against, running fingers through hair to calm himself down. What is exactly wrong with him? Why he keeps going after her? He keeps telling his head that all these interactions are to gauge her personality and each time it sounds like a ton of bull even to his own ears. It's not that she is a overly beautiful angel from heaven soothing to eyes or have voluptuous curves like some supermodel appealing to his hormones. They barely had an hour worth of conversations and she didn't give away a thing to him, yet made sure she had all the half baked backstory about him. Sometimes, in her silence and the way she looks at him sharply makes him think she might actually be capable of killing his partner, and thinking about it makes his blood boil because he came here high on revenge tide, itching to find and kill the person responsible for the death of one of the bravest office he has ever known. And it's changed now, why, because the killer turned out to be a woman? Should not his code of not harming women be an exception for his partner?  

Why he's letting her effecting him? Why is she effecting him?

Raghu sir used to tell him he is too one dimensional in his dealings with guilty people. He sees the crime and clues, not the emotions or the drive to commit a crime. In his head a criminal, irrespective of it's gender, is a sinister person with a cruel smirk who takes pleasure while committing a crime. His stint in ETF had showed him there are many motives behind a crime except lust or greed, but that deep rooted belief is still inside his head.

Maybe he was not prepared for a killer to be a woman. A woman who has a family, a brother of who adored her, friends who looked at her like a normal person does. A woman who values her family as much as they does. A woman who was not extraordinary anything, and yet clues pointing at her.

His head was split in two parts that night- but the loudest was the one where it demanded for him to stick around and find out more about her personality. Clues can be deceptive, he knows it. Or maybe he hoped, he can't tell. But the decision was made, he's going to stick around Sam and Ri's lives for sometime. Maybe it makes him a fool, but he's past caring.

One thing he is sure of- it will blow up in his face.

  _+_

It was all Karan's fault.

Arjun was giving his sidekick (and the Director who was lingering close) a rundown of everything he has seen in this place- the racing, the bar which was surely a special hang out place for criminals, Ri and Sam and the people they keep close, the clues which joins Ri to the killer, everything. Well, almost. Thankfully they all agreed that the evidences were too circumstancial to prove anything, and they supported his decision to extend his stay in Goa. He sent some pictures through secured line so that Simran can analyze them, and hopefully some of them should hit the database. If the evidences are true, there has to be some sort of prior record in their name. Or with their faces.

The pictures were taken conspicuoulsy on his camera phone- Shree engrossed in his laptop, Chotu about to take a sip of coffee as he joked with Ri about something, his grease tainted fingers around the mug, Sam towering over a car and frowning at a stubborn car which was in the garage for weeks- he remembered how he had shed off his shirt and tied it around his waist by then, and half an hour later went underneath the car with a determination as if he was going to solve a problem for Nobel Prize. There were multiple pictures of Ri- while she was working on accounts, the four of them just standing together and talking, the sibilings duo standing proud when Sam finally fixed the car days later, one where she was tying up her hair and late evening ray was hitting her face. He sent every single one of them except the last one. 

He refused to duel on Why.

Naturally, all sorts of weird ideas come in Simran's head so it was her who suggested it. Arjun should have picked on it, she was too quiet during the entire conversation- no pissing him off, no mocking him, nothing. But Director agreed that she has a point, He was in Goa for ten days now and he's mostly roaming around the garage. He needs a job, or a fake job if he's going to stick around for sometime. It will be a nice way to take off at odd times in case he's in the garage and something pops up.

It was Madam Director who suggested that he tries the Bar. He didn't even know if the bar is hiring, and he doesn't know anything about making cocktails (which is sort of thing needed to work at a bar, he thinks), yet he headed toward Jackson's one fine morning. It was ridiculous, he had faced gangsters and psycho killers in his career and yet, a simple job interview (if they are hiring) or the thought to asking someone about a job was making him nervous. Maybe it was because he was not used to ask people for jobs, he mused.

When he reached there, he didn't find the owner or anyone who can tell him if they need any assistance, but he did find Naty. She spoted him first, let out a exaggerated delighted squeal and practically jumped on his lap as she hugged him tight.

"What's up Man?" He thought people talks like that only in their college days. Internally shaking head, he slipped into the brooding silent guy character and started to entertain her. She gave him an once over when he mentioned he was here for a job, the salacious way she was looking at him without bothering to hide it making it difficult for him to manage eye contact. Then she was centimeters away from him and he knew her routine of feeling him up was about to start when . . . 

"Hey Man!" He actually breathed a sigh of relief. The bell over the door kept ringing as Chotu walked in, grinning at him in a way like he knows something's up. Arjun was the one to initiate a half hug in order to move away from the disappointed girl.

"Need help?" The former whispered to him. He shot him a look but it didn't have any effect, and by the time he was standing at a safe distance Chotu was laying the charm so thick on Naty that she had forgotten him. Who knew this giant of a guy can be this much smooth with females? Didn't Shree mention he was seeing someone?

Naty wasted no time to ask how they know each other and soon they were exchanging stories. He looked at Arjun once when she mentioned how she was the one introducing him to the Race, and the subject of their conversation wondered what does this mean, but he would duel on that later. As soon as Chotu heard he was here for job he turned to him to give a look which conveyed what he (both) was feeling- He was being dumb.

So that's how he ended up returning to the same place he had wanted to take some time off from, The garage. Sam patiently heard his employer as he told the story of how he rescued him with grunts and glares, then turned to him and gave a nod.

"What I am supposed to do here?" It seemed too easy, like everything that's happening since he arrived. Not to mention he will be spending almost all the time with these people therefore leaving him with no excuse to take time off in case he requires. 

"What you were going to do in Jackson's?" Sam crossed arms over chest, then looked at Chotu, "What you were doing there so early in the morning?"

"I was supposed to meet a pal."

"In a Bar?"

"I don't know anything about Cars." Arjun chimed in.

"I will teach you." Chotu put his fist ahead for a fist-pump.

"You will wash them." Sam walked away. He gaped for several seconds thinking it was a joke, then a run came flying at him which he caught midway.

Congrats on your new job!

  _+_

That she was pissed would be an understatement.

Ri wakes up in the morning with a full night's of sleep and feeling sane after ages, as her Correspondence exam on Social Science was over and the annoying ACP was away, which means she can be at ease, not pretending as if she's constipated. She arrived late last night, the exam centre was 20 KM away and her Brother needed a part from an automobile shop which was on her way, so the boys were gone. She has rarely seen the house so quiet and with less lights on.

This morning she walked into the garage with a bed hair which she tried to smoothen with fingers and half mumbled Good mornings when she saw his annoying face smirking at her as he washed a car. Washing a Car! Who gave him that task? A gritted teeth question to Chotu informed him he now had a job here, officially. Now he has a legitimate reason to spend most of his time here. 

Good morning, fck that.

Her face, 'Scowly face' which Sam used to call back in their childhood must have tipped the accurate sixth sense of her Brother, as he walked into the room and looked at her. As usual he didn't let anything slip and seconds later she was squirming with questions.

"Why is here?" Manners Her Brother has installed in her was the only thing which kept her voice down. He glanced at the ACP, then her in a way which made alarm bells go off in her head.

"I can see, you know." Sam started quietly, "I won't ask anything, it's your matter. But if he's going to come to my house, it's better be when I am around."

With that he started to work on the part she brought last night.

She could have left it at that. Her morning was ruined and now she was stuck with a man who keeps popping up in her life and she doesn't know why- it should have been the end for the day. But she went ahead and asked Shree if he had gotten anything on the ID she gave him. It's been two weeks almost. 

"Maharastra Police firewalls are a joke, but so is their database. It's not been updated for years, so all I could get was this ACP's records when he was in academy." He looked apologetic, then something passed his face. Ri knew it was going to be one of those times when he speaks before his brain process the information, "Huh, don't you think it's funny both ACP's name and our  Arjun's name is Arjun." 

She ignored the 'our' and missed no time to reply, "It's a common name." Then, "Try his work place then."

"You mean . . . " His eyes widen behind glasses, "It's top class security."

"You can do it, Yes?"

He nodded slowly, wisely chosing not to comment on her desperateness, "It will take time."

Yeah, as if that didn't happen yet. She gave a quick nod and he walked back to his workstation. Ri was contemplating to head out in order to clear her head because obviously, this is not going to be a fruitful day. He shows up first, then her Brother gets a ridiculous idea that something is going on between . . . ugh, she refuses to even go there. 

"Ri." She felt someone calling her but she didn't reply, too busy to catagorize the disaster of the day alphabetically in her head. She was full on cursing thinking the just finished conversation with Shree when that voice called again.

"One second."

"Ri!" The voice barked sharply and she crashed into reality. A quick turn of her feet ensured her mouth was about to open and berate the person for ruining her mental catalogue when she heard it- sounds of multiple men's foot steps. Soon the faces of the men was revealed and she cursed under the breath.

This day just keeps getting better.

  _+_

Arjun felt as if he was in the middle of a movie set as his brain processed the scene that at least seven to eight men, unmistakebly goons, was entering through the door. Few of them lingered behind and the most muscly man of the lot came forward with cold eyes and blank expression, trying to show he was just checking out the place but fooling none. From the corner of eyes he saw Chotu was stealthily tightening his hold around a big screw driver, Shree did the same with a faulty monitor he was complaining about just minutes earlier, while Ri came down through the stairs. Sam was nowhere to be seen.

These people might be bad actors and this might feel like film, but there was nothing dramatic about the tension in the air. This thing could get really ugly, one side there were eight men with guns and other side, five with none. He didn't like the way Ri going forward as the one to stand against the opponent but decided it would be better for now if they all stand silently and just observe.

The leader of the gang made a show of noticing every inch of the garage and cars before speaking to her, thus letting the silence and tension linger more, "Where is your Brother, Bird?"

"Somewhere." She answered vaguely. His teeths lay bared as he grinned.

"Sylvester has sent a message."

"Didn't know you were going to drop by. He would have been happy to welcome you lot." The sarcasm was so blatant that nobody could miss it. The grin vanished.

"You think this is a joke, Bird?" He jerked a finger toward his men, "I roam around with these cavalry for showing off? I am here on Business, and I need Sam. Where is your dear Brother? Or has he run off, leaving you behind? Shame, eh?" He took a step closer and three men around her went rigid, "I hear you are the only one he has. Must be hard, left behind."

She chuckled, the way her teeth sank into bottom lip before answering relieved how much she was controlling, "Guess so. Like you and your consignment, right?"

It was clearly the wrong thing to say, "How about this time, I send a message to your Brother?" Then he pulled out a gun and pressed right in the middle of her forehead. The trio moved as if a live wire was passed through them, and on cue the back door of the house facing the garage was banged open.

"Get the hell away from her!" Sam roared, holding an old hunter's gun with both of his hands.

  _+_

It was crazy, there was no way they could have survived if those goons decided to go trigger happy on them, but for some reason they decided not to. As they all left Arjun could not help but picturize tamed animal leaving in a pack with tail between their legs. The air of Goa must be really effecting him.

He could not fault them. The way Sam made an entrance and gave them 'The Look' as Shree named it was really something. Arjun would try to avoid it anyway in the future, but his mind supplied the unfavor circumstances where one day it will all be over and he will know his true identity. Not to forget he's here to arrest his dear Sister, for whom he just jumped in front of a pack of wolf with nothing special on his hands. These foursome are really something- one goes in front of a bunch of goons and sass them, two of them thinks about retaliating with screw drivers and faulty machines, and the leader of them has a hunter's gun in his house.

He didn't know whether to laugh at the ridiculousness or fish for information.

Those men from Sylvester gave warning about something before leaving, and as soon as they were out of sights they all dropped whatever they were holding and exhaled collectively. Looking down in his hand Arjun realized he was fisting a dirty rug really tight between his fingers as he unclenched them, letting it fall on floor.

A few beats of silence passed, then "Where did you get that Gun?" Shree looked caught between awe and curiosity. Sam dropped it near his feet as his ten fingers pulled at hair, and then he started to pace.

"That thing doesn't have any bullet." Ri replied.

"And you decided to make an entrance with that?" Chotu was outraged, "What the hell, Sam?"

"It worked, didn't it?"

"For now. They will be returning soon." A subtle glance at Ri, then he continued, "We need something to retaliate."

"No." Sam stopped pacing and glared, "Get back to work."

"But . . . "

"Now." His tone suggested that an argument would not be appreciated right now. The former huffed, shook his head at him like he's a lost cause and headed for his work station, Shree following him.

"You okay?" He turned to his sister. She nodded and he pulled her for a hug, somehow ending up catching eyes of Arjun's.

  _+_

Sam decided to give silent treatment for next couple of days, keeping to himself and breaking the tradition of ocassional group dinner after works. On the 4th day he was nowhere to be found in the garage. A look from Shree told Arjun where he was.

The Sibiling duo has good taste in interiors, he has to admit. The one storied cottage holds personalities of both of them, however contrasting they are, without making it look mismatched. Things are not expensive, the focus is more on the substance then on shine. One thing that stands out- wood. The house has wooden flooring in both back and front veranda, The garage's decoration and flooring has wood and ply, the table for dinner is wooden, the shelfs in living room, the desings around the house, everything is in wood or ply. It stands against the backdrop of vibrant sea but doesn't hurt eyes, instead it mixes as if it's part of the environment.

He envies the beach behind the house most. The solitary area of the locality ensures that it remains a private area without paying anything for the luxury. As he stands on the sand, feeling the scorching heat all the way through his shoes, Arjun thought to himself this is the charm of Goa- not the churches, the open beach parties, not the chaos back in the city. This vibrant water, the greenery, the colors! This solitude is the real star of this place, it draws people.

He found the brooding man sitting on the sand as if the heat is not damaging his butt and sat down next to him, wincing. It didn't really need any coaxing- maybe Raghu sir's famous silent treatment theory works both ways, maybe Sam needed an ear to vent- soon the story was out.

"They left two cars for servicing 2 months back, needed complete make over. Had to be a drunk driver- anyways, we ripped off everything and then Chotu opened the back. It was filled with Blue ivy." At his blank expression Sam clarified, "It's a drug. Ruling this place for months now."

"Is not that a poison's name?"

A bitter smirk came up, "Tell me about it. Back to the story- I sent it to nearest Police station, parked it near them at the dead of night to avoid any questioning. Of course Sylverster came to know. Since then getting these delightful visits from his dogs." Clenching his jaw, he added, "Today they crossed a line. Nobody tries to harm my sister."

"What are you going to do about it?" Arjun asked, "It's been two months. Judging by the trailer few days back soon it will be bullets flying, not only words."

"I know."

"Why don't you go to the Police?"

He snorted, "You think Police works in this town? More than 2 Million tourists visit this place, we survive because of tourism, but guess what comes up when you think about Goa? Yep, that's right. Drugs and crimes." Finding a pettle nearby he threw it in the water, "People comes from all around the country riding their fancy Bikes to race at the dead of night, blocking roads, and nobody gives a damn. This Blue ivy might be another fancy name of a Drug which was already in the market, just needed a make over since last name went infamous." Calming down a bit, he continued quietly, "I didn't send those Drugs to be a Hero, or to do social work. I did it because it was the right thing to do. And I don't trust Police, bunch of bribe taking assholes. They will tip Sylverster off and the next day we will be all dead in our houses, a good little example for the rest of town that how no one, No one, crosses him."

He hid the grimace of his face at the blatant disrespect for Police but Sam had a point. Narcotics keeps celebrating every year how much consignment they busted but it didn't clean up the streets. Crime rate is unusually high for such a small place like this. And Sam was absolutely right about the Race too, he himself was astonished seeing a blocked road in the evening and no police car or office around.

"All I hear about the problem and not the solution." He replied. Sam cocked an eyebrow, got up brushing his pants and started to head toward the house.

"If I come up with that, will let you know."

  _+_

If anything besides racing calms her down, it's Cooking.

Generally her Brother handles kitchen. He's good with a knife and efficient, while she knows only a handful of soups and makes absolute mess of the kitchen. But she kept reminding herself as she stirred a vegetable soup on low heat that this was not only a theraputic cooking, it has another agenda- to snap her Brother off his brooding state.

And obviously the first purpose of this task was gone as soon as That Man sauntered across the living room and headed for her. He was spending an annoying amount of time around here, she had noticed, but not like Shree or Chotu. It was the biasedness inside her which kept highlighting things about him which she might not have noticed otherwise, she knows this, but what else choice does she have? It seems like these days she is literally living inside a pressure cooker with it's lid on- She is not tipping off the rest of them because she's waiting for Shree to do his magic, Shree on the other hand is stonewalled by ETF's top class security firewalls, this ACP keeps getting close to the boys and then Sylverster decided to send his regards. She feels guilty when she sees others falling for his fake personality quirks and words but then consoles herself thinking if the ACP is indeed undercover and onto someone else, they all will soon know and it will be over.

"You cook?" He sounded surprised and mocking, once again lingering too close to her. She forced herself not to move away.

"I try. Also, these are desperate times."

He sighed at that, clearly understanding her words, "Tensed couple of days, huh? Sam with his silent mode activated and Chotu angry on him for . . . " something, for what he was not sure.

"You rethinking your career choice?" She asked dryly, moving away to find and put some spices into the soup. A chuckle came from him.

"Might not be upto your standards." Being ACP working in ETF, she mused quietly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Was that curiosity or defense in his words? She stirred the soup and looked at him.

"You tell me." Nope, definately didn't imagine the way his posture tensed, "With your being a Banjaara and all, didn't you at least once in your life stumble upon a gangster team and joined them?" 

He started to laugh, (in relief, she told herself), "Your imagination is too much. Do I look like a gangster?"

"Looks can be deceptive." She shrugged.

 The ACP held onto her gaze before replying after a few beats passed, "Indeed." A meaningful silence lingered in the air as neither one talked, before he decided to speak up again. Ri had honestly thought he would be uncomfortable by this time and will simply leave.

"You have to be either brave or entirely stupid."

She knew it was not related to cooking at all, "The soup?" His look told her she didn't fool anyone.

"What were you thinking, standing upto a man who was holding a Gun?"

"Ooh, concerned, are we?" As his impatient sigh she dropped the pretense, deciding to be honest for the first time since they met, "They come to my house and threaten my Brother. The least I could do was to go and greet them inside while my Brother looks for the Gun."

"And the Guns?"

"He was not going to shoot me. Like he said, I am the only family my Brother has. A . . . leverage, that's what it's called, right?"

His eyebrows shot up, "You are telling me eight men with Guns inside your house didn't scare you?"

She chuckled, ducking her head. When she looked at him there was nothing funny about her expression.

"No, Arjun," She stressed his name slowly, letting it roll around her tongue, ignoring the way his breath hitched, "what I am telling you is this- eight men came into my house and threatened my Brother. I saw the guns and their muscles and decided to face them anyway, because they were coming onto my family. And for my family? There is nothing I won't do. No limits. Guns or no guns. What you saw was a miniscule of my capability."

"Anything for your family?" His voice was strained with tension. She went back to stirring the soup.

"Anything for those who threatens them. I don't take threats on them lightly." Pouring a small amount of soup on a plate, she pushed it toward him, "Try it."

It was meant for both Sylvester and him. A Challenge.

He picked it up and proceeded to have it, clearly accepting.

  _+_

Simran is cranky when she doesn't get sleep.

And why the hell she should not? In their crazy field of work, sometimes a 8 hour long, uninterrupted sleep is the only shred of normalcy left. Not to forget those are really rare. So whenever she gets a rare early leave from work, she just kicks her heels away and slump on whatever flat surface she could find. Mostly it's couch.

The neck hurts like hell the next day, but it's worth it.

So she was pissed. The Khadoos Rawte was gone and work pressure should lessen, but seemed like Director Kapoor in her paranoia was making them overwork. Along with regular cases they has to assist him in whatever shit he's pulling in that gorgeous beach town, resulting in days passing by without her knowledge. She was shocked when she noticed it was Wednesday and not Monday!

She needed proper sleep. And she was having one . . . until 45 minutes back. The staff in IT department pulling a night shift called her in panic as some asshole decided to hack ETF servers.

By the time she reached her team was running around like headless chicken in an attempt to block the hacker, looking as if this was a Space research centre where they launch satelites. Simran respects her work, but sometime she's so frustrated cause people around her seems such an idiot when it comes to technology, including her team. It only took 5 minutes for her to send a counter virus to that hacker's computer which will crash his system immediately, and after finishing she contemplated to yell at others who looked at her with a mixture of awe and fear. Deciding it was too much of an effort, she headed toward ETF conference room, kicked off shoes and put the scarf around her frame, proceeding to complete her beauty sleep.

More than her team, Khadoos was freaked out by that hacking. He yelled at her until he was just starting to piss her off to the point where she wanted to throw the phone against her. Karan sensed his latest Iphone 6S's life was in danger and sensibly jumped in to have a one way conversation with the angry deaf bull while Simran worked her magic.

"The giant one? He's hacker?"

"The glass one. He works with softwere."

She suppressed a sigh. Telling right now that it was way different than handling codes and understanding network connections was going to be a waste, so she started to go through the database to get a match for the guy. He was cute, she mused in head, but then noticed the somewhat stern look Karan was throwing at her way and realized lack of sleep was loosening up her lips. 

When the result came few hours later she wanted to laugh and cry simultaneously. Wanting to rub off the information on the Khadoos's face, she started to bombard him with calls, first from her cell, then with every mobile and landline she could get her hand on (cause he was not picking up. He don't get to yell at her and not pick up her calls afterwards). When Jil-e-Ilahi Rawte did decide to grace Kaneej Simran's phone with a call back, she jumped on him even before he could get two words out.

"What a brilliant Officer are you. I want to clap but you probably won't hear it over your giant ego." Insult came first, cause he won't be listening when she goes through the info and then goes there, "The guy is clean. The only crime he did was not paying 500 RS to a cyber cafe owner because he was downloading there. He was 17 then. How old is he by the way?" She paused to take a breath and get any information she can about that cute guy.

"In his Twenties, max. Not sure exact." Khadoos sounded lost, "Only that?"

"Unless he did something else and SI in charge didn't report it." She rolled eyes at his suspicion, "He works in a garage for God's sake! How do you even come up with the idea?"

"Who else can hack in ETF then? And that too when I am undercover?"

"Oh my God, you men and your ego." She shook her head and muttered, "My team fends of attacks like this every single day, ACP Rawte."

"Don't use my name." He hissed.

"It's a secure line and stop interrupting!" She snapped, "Last night was a bit intense and those newbies could not handle it. We don't know for sure if the hacker was after personnel file, he or she might have been after something else. Location of a Witness, information on informers or a criminal, literally anything! It might not have been related to you at all. But hey, feel free to nag like a broken record. If you are not satisfied find another IT girl." With that she snapped the phone shut, slamming it on the table.

"Shera ki aaj baja di tune, janeman." She jumped at Karan's voice and noticed him standing near the door, "I want to clap but there are juniors around, but do accept my sincere wishes."

She rolled eyes, "Look what's the sidekick saying."

"Excuse me! I am Acting Second-in-command of ETF, Thank you very much." 

She wanted to say how Director cringe every time she is reminded of this very fact, how the team is getting rule-break-happy under his so called 'Leadership'. She wanted to say he is not ready to lead them, probably will never be, but those will be hurtful and even when she's sleep deprived, she can't be so bitchy to him. Karan might be annoying, but he doesn't deserve her bad mood.

So she did a favor to everyone and started her weekend early. 

  _+_

She was being fishy tonight.

Ri is always mysterious, which is something Arjun blames on the whole potential-killer thing. Or maybe he's just intrigued after finding out she is not one dimensional as he would have hoped for his culprit to be and is always hungry to look beyond every mundane actions of her. Duelling on it will be a waste, and yet he can't help but go through all the things that happened today.

The day started normal. Usual garage work with jokes and customers flying in. Then he took a break like he always does- his excuse being cigerette (which Sam loathes, making it easier for him to get away for a quick update with his colleagues back home). Karan wasted no time to mention the hacking attempt and his mind automatically went on Hers, panic gripping. So did he figure him out? Suddenly those conversations and looks thrown at him seemed to have multiple interpretations. It's not like he doesn't suspect that she's onto him, but it being a possibility . . . it can't end too soon.

He spent the day tightly wounded, his movement stiff as if he had an one-on-one with a criminal in an alley. Then around afternoon came the call from Simran. He brushed aside her cranky mood cause that's a default setting of hers whenever it's him, but he was relieved nonetheless. She did have a point, ETF is a national organization which attract attention from everywhere. It didn't have to be about him. And also the fact that the hacker got nothing but fried computer as a parting gift made him oddly proud of his junior who's among the few people who can yell at him and still gets away. Karan thinks it's a Girl thing but it's just a Simran thing.

Just when he returned after that phone call, the world back in the rainbows and sunshine setting, Sam and Chotu ran like bat out of hell past him. Ri emerged from inside house with a thick envelope, handed it over to Shree along with the keys of her BMW. He left soon after, the ever present bagpack of his bounching over his back.

"What's going on?" He inquired.

"Seems like you are having an early day off." She replied, initially vogue just as usual then sobered up, "Our Neighbour, Desai Saab, is hospitalized due to a heart condition." The way she uttered his name in respect spoke a lot about the Man he never saw despite his being here for most of hours of the day, "He's mostly ill, but today it got worst."

"And you guys are paying the bills." He stated. She didn't look surprise at his observation, and he cursed his annoying habit of seeing too much and then not keeping his mouth shut regarding that. These little things have chances of tipping her off.

"This used to be his house actually." She went ahead and sat on the stairs, eyes looking up as she spoke, "He was going through bad debt, sold it for very less. He gave us home, it's the least Bhai can do." 

He nodded at her comment, sitting beside her, "Will that be enough? For his treatment?"

"Think so. We still have Bhai's portion." At his curious gaze she explained somewhat grudgingly, "They might need his funds for later, so I gave from my side for now."

His gaped at her, "It looked like near lakhs. How did you get it?"

"I am a thief." She rolled eyes, turning her neck sideways, "I was saving it." He motioned her to go on and she did, exasperated (more like uncomfortable since she was pouring her heart), "For a Bike."

"You have a BMW. That's more than what people generally have."

"Other people have better things to buy rather than a Bike. It matters to me." She became defensive and rightly so. This Sibilings duo tend to get touchy when it comes to automobile, and he kinda insulted that. Her money, her wish, who was he to pick on it? Trying to salvage the moment, he cleared throat.

"What model?" At her look which screamed she didn't buy his sudden thirst for knowledge, he softened his tone, "Come on, help me out?"

She relented, a small smile coming up, "Hayabusa."

"I don't know much about Bikes but I think that costs a lot."

"It does."

"And you are short of money."

"I am." A smirk escaped her lips, "Thank God for Racing, eh?"

He shook his head at her stubbornness, "I don't get how you do it, right under Sam's nose. He probably knows it, still doesn't say anything, despite him being so . . . "

"Righteous?" She supplied, "Maybe cause we all tend to look the other way when it comes to family? Or he's just . . . cool like that." The word sounded foreign and Arjun laughed, "He was never the one to coddle us or strict with us. Somehow he always knew what's going on, I have no idea." She sounded amazed, "But one thing- no matter what we do, he always has our backs."

"Does he?" At her sharp look he explained, "You have seen him, last couple of days he's worried. Those goons . . . "

"Will be handled soon. I will prefer they don't pollute my home in between." Ri's voice had that determined strain, much like her Brother when he ordered those goons to get away from her. He frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Before she could answer that her phone rang. As she went away to take the call Arjun contemplated at this surprise conversation between them, probably the only one where he didn't feel like it had some dual meaning underneath. It was very informative, he has to analyzie this later in the solitary of his hotel room, but few things stood out.

- Her stress on family. Is that the reason she killed his partner? Was her family threatened? Arjun doesn't see anyone being so deep into crime that they will need rescuing. Sam may tend to look other way when it comes to her, but can he do something wrong? A man who voluntarily evoked the wrath of infamous drug lord of the town doesn't seem like a person who's in deep shit. His moral compass is too high for that. Shree is a baby like the group treats him (further confirmed by Simran) while everyone knows the life story of Chotu. He was somewhat like a Mechanical prodigy who ran away from his house because his alcoholic dad used to beat him. He was raised in the various garages of this town and despite having seen so much in a short time, that man always has a smile on his face and is ready to die for the people he cares about. A man like that can't harm another person, despite his giant figure. That leaves Ri. Did his partner somehow come across her? Or maybe one of her family? Maybe to protect her cover she killed him. Does these people know? Did Sam help cover it up cause he's someone who always 'have their back'?

- She is not much materialistic but it's clear that Bike means a lot to her. Her dream of Hayabusa fits into this puzzle in a mismatched way, but fits nonetheless. Maybe she was into it for money. Maybe she had planned to get out after her wish was fulfilled but in between his partner arrived in the town and her plan was modified slightly. Maybe she still got out, the only casualty being his partner. This second part actually disgusted Arjun, and deep in his heart he knew it didn't make sense with what he has known about her till now. She just gave it up for her neighbour. 

This girl's duality intrigues and frustrated him simulaneously. He just can't put her into a specific box!

And the last thing-

His partner arrived in this town chasing drug money and stumbled upon this very same Sylvester gang. Ri killed him, so somehow she had to be part of Sylverster's gang. But that day back in the garage those goons showed no expression that they knew each other. She killed for them, she had to earn attention. Are those idiots really that good actors? Was that murder her leverage over them, a favor so that they can let her go? Are those people retaliating by leaving two cars filled with drugs in Sam's garage assuming he will send them to police, and when he did they just got their opening to drag her back in? That will explain her reaction standing in front of them, she had already witnessed their way of working and she was immuned to it. 

Maybe that was she meant when she said it all will be gone soon.

Maybe it was always their battle and his partner was caught in between.

His ears picked up her footsteps heading back and he pushed those thoughts aside for now. Few exchange of sentences and then they were heading towards the beach in an unspoken agreement. His mind was buzzing with the aftermath of his quick analysis while he pretended to actually notice the gorgeous view of clear sky when . . . 

  _+_

She felt like a cheap slt.

No, she didn't sleep with him. It would be a line even in her worst, she won't cross. But her actions was despicable none the less. 

"Stay back, why don't you?" She spoke softly after returning from beach. She sensed more than seeing him nodding, her feet too busy to drag her away from his frame, a shocking reminder of how far she has fallen tonight.

She took a shower at 8 PM at night, the water freezing every cell of her body and yet she felt dirty. She remembered the way she pulled him towards her, surprising him. It felt good, taking him by surprise, making the calculative looks in his eyes vanish as she pressed her lips against him. When he took charge she was proud of the power she has over him, and thinking about it made her skin crawl but she enoyed it. His touch possessed her soul, it seemed, and when reality came crashing down it was split second too late. She hid her shame filled expression by ducking her head, making him think she's just catching breath (which she was, actually), but the damage was already done. 

She can't play this game his way. She was never like those people who could seduce others by words or looks. All she had was the instinct to survive, that's how she lived all her life. To think that she could was a laughable feat anyway, which was proven now as she stared at her own reflection in the mirror, disgust and pity thrown at her own self.

She was so angry. Shree was yelling at her through phone because he tried hacking ETF as per her instruction, resulting in some kind of virus which destroyed his laptop. Like she is with her bike and Chotu with her liquore storage, Shree has always been very protective about his gadget. While it seemed childish at times, there was nothing funny at the way his voice cracked as he kept yelling at her, letting out his frustration. They four were an unhealthy lot, Ri chuckled to herself. Broken people inside with an obsessive relationship with inanimate objects- bikes, cars, alcohol, computers. Sometime even the four together can't drown the silence of their souls.

What was she thinking, to seduce answers out of the ACP? To punish him? Now she thinks about it and no answers come out, which might be worse. 

She pressed her forehead against the shower stall - No. Never again.

Then a thought came and her eyes flew open.

Maybe it's time to contact him.

  _+_

Sam nearly had an heart attack when he felt it was gone.

His locker is the safest thing in this house, built with state of the art security system which Shree modified further and Chotu helped to make it look unconspicuous, hidden behind a wooden almirah. The password is known only to him and Ri and if there comes a situation that they are forced to open the locker under pressure, there is an alarm connected to the nearest police station and four messages instantly sent to rest of their phones. That's reason people always have trusted him to keep valuable things in his possession for a short time, like a bank. Or maybe safer than that.

Which is why it was impossible that the Burner phone was gone.

How a thing which was kept in the farthest corner of the locker and away from his eyes can be gone? If thieves did come why they would take a phone which was old and not switched on in 2 years? Was it gone just now or ages ago, just he didn't realize?

Though he had vowed not to use that thing ever in his life, he could never brought himself to throw it away. Now it was gone and suddenly it was pricking him like a damn thorne, a bad omni- as if something bad is going to happen and when he will actually need it he won't find it. The idea of it drove him nuts, after all it was his wild card in case anything ever goes wrong, so he decided to turn his room upside down in search of it. He was out of breath and ready to throw things against wall (which he has not done in a long long time), Arjun came in. And somehow stumbled upon the very same phone he was going maniac about.

"What is this, fossil of a phone?" He flipped the small phone between his fingers like he often does with pens or small screw drivers. Sam stared at him with disbelieve, then at the phone, and snatched it out of his hand in a second. He ignored the "Whoa!" from behind as he moved toward his locker, somehow ensuring to lock the phone only and let the room be messy.

For the rest of the day he felt Arjun's eyes on him, but no questions or statements about his behavior. Sam sometime appreciates how he compliments his silence, and yet feels this is a tactic smart people must have taught their children to pull out answers from others mouth. He never got to learn that, so he is often more wary of people who remains silent with him than those who talks too much. Like his own sister, whom he himself struggles to understand sometimes.

Once Chotu questioned him why he let Arjun return here, though he was the one to lobby for the job (not asking why he brought him home on a rainy day, cause apparently it's his nature to bring home strays). It was a moonlit night and despite being a chill in the air, half empty Bottle of Beer was warming up his body and made him light headed even though Chotu kept laughing, already on his fourth and clearly drunk. He could not answer him since he himself do not know the clear answer. Sure, he gave him lift and brought him because it was raining that day and there was none else in the road except him, and when he kept coming back he had a hand in indulging him further. Maybe cause he had seen the way his sister and Arjun looks at each other and decided to play cupid, or maybe he just wanted to keep an eye on them.

Or maybe an old Sameer Rathore sees part of him in that cocksure playful boy that he had lost years ago. 

Thinking about who he was and what could happen to them is pointless, so he shook his head and dodged the question from Chotu's. Another drunken chuckle, and it was discovered (he was not surprised, really) that even he could see that something was going on between Ri and Arjun. He was going through their body language and looks periodically and Sam was started to think there is a limit to what a Brother should know about his sister, when quick footstep broke their mini-party.

"Where the hell is your phone?" Arjun hissed as he stopped near them, from his panting it's evident he had come running from who knows where, "I have been trying to reach you from ages!"

"What's wrong?" He got up, on a reflex catching Chotu's forearm as he attempted to do the same and stumbled slightly, his earlier joking mood vanished. Their messenger breathed hard before launching into the story- Sylvester's dogs are after Ri. She had tried to reach her brother first but was unsuccessful so she contacted Arjun. Leaving Chotu behind to nurse his semi-drunk state and worry, the duo made way for the concerned Brother's Mustang, which roared sensing the tension of it's owner, shattering the silence as it ripped through the streets.  

When the duo slowed down into a dark dingey alley which was empty except dustbins and chilled air, Sam had a bad feeling. He didn't know why, but surreptuously glanced at the messenger sitting beside him. Was that real concern on his face? Is he selling him off?

Is this a trap?

Waiting for a several second, he snapped keeping his voice down, "Where is she?"

"She told me it's the place." Arjun tried to call her in phone. The ring went unanswered and Sam was about to drag the former out and beat into a pulp, when a quick movement outside caught his eyes. He was out the next second, startling Arjun who followed immediately.

Ri ran to them holding her cell phone in hand which continued ringing, "Thank God." She muttered. A quick once over ensured she was unharmed, then Sam proceeded to look around in case someone was keeping an eye on them, slowly moving ahead. When he turned, his sister was getting hugged by an inch of her life, courtesy of Arjun. While the open display made her uncomfortable, Sam noticed in amusement that she didn't push him away.

He returned only when they seperated, his sister ducking head to hide whatever it was on her face, while the other one stared at her fiercely, "You okay?" He rubbed her shoulder. She looked up, giving a quick nod.

"Why don't you head home with him? I am guessing the bike is here?" At her nod he continued, "I will take it for a ride and join you afterwards."

"That's a bad idea." Arjun replied, "They are after you two. But not me." The sibilings looked surprised at his implication, "Give me the keys."

"They saw you with us." Sam pointed out.

"Better be me than you." He turned to Ri, "Keys?"

A quick conversation passed between duo and she handed over the keys. As the potential-something pair moved in opposite directions, one inside the car while the other further into darkness, Sam was ashamed about the earlier impulsive thoughts. He never particularly reacts well when it's his Baby sister, the only blood family he has left in this world is in danger, but shooting the literal messenger in head was one step further. He was always so cautious around people, helping them but only allowing a few to steer closer to them, especially to her, and he knows she does the same for him. Why he immediately thought worst of Arjun anyway? Because he's a newbie? Was not Chotu and Shree also used to be one?

He shook off the thoughts brewing in his mind and decided to shed off any lingering doubts in his head soon enough.

  _+_

"This is getting worse." Shree mumbled the next day as the five circled in the middle of the garage during their usual lunch break, the only reprieve they had in the whole day. Their faces were grave as Ri filled them in what went down last night and with each words Chotu's temper was rising.

"You think?" He turned to Sam, "We need to do something."

He glared, "What? Go barging in Sylverster's house and ambush them?"

"You know very well what I mean."

"Okay." Arjun drawled, jumping between the two, "Anyone want to fill me in? Being new here and all."

"He's talking about our security." Ri replied, glancing at Chotu before adding, "Guns."

"Where would we even get them?" Shree wondered looking at them. Sam's wrath was on him now.

"Really Shree? You don't want to say how it's such a wrong idea?"

"What else choice do we have?" He pushed his glasses up his nose and shrugged, "You know it's true. That day in garage was just the trailer. Last night they tried to grab Ri, tomorrow they might come here and do something else."

"That's not going to happen." The protective brother growled.

"Why? Because you have a hunter's gun to retaliate?" Arjun shot back as Sam gave him a sharp look, "He's right, you know that. A Drug cartel mafia's code has to be very small when it comes to his enemies, and something tells me Sylvester has none." At Sam's silence he continued, "So, what are you going to do?"

"The only other choice we have is to break into Goa Narco and steal them." All looked at Ri, surprised. His Brother's glare increased tenfold.

"I didn't send them to police only to steal it back." 

"Then say Yes to the alternative." He visibly deflated, "Maybe it won't more damage than good, but at least it will protect us."

"And in the long howl?" Arjun asked. Nobody answered his question.

After a long time Sam sighed, turning to Chotu, "Where would you find it?"

The latter grinned, relaxed that the conflict was over, "I have friends."

And he did. Arjun made a note to himself about this 'Friend' as they discussed about the money they have to give for the guns a week later. In the evening they all gathered once more to collect the total money from all of them, including Arjun. Others looked at him stunned.

"I save." He threw the bundle at Shree who caught it swiftly. Sam crossed his arms.

"You don't have to contribute. This mess doesn't concern you."

"I think it does, with me working here and me becoming part of group." Pausing, he pushed a bit, "I am, are not I? A part?"

Sam said nothing in reply and Shree put that money hurriedly in a small bag he has carrying. He and Chotu jointly went for the deal in a place close to a popular beach site as the trio kept an eye from far away. After returning safely back to the garage their hands nearly tore open the bags containing guns. 

"Whoa." Shree exclaimed in surprise.

"Atta boy." Chotu picked the biggest one immediately and started mock shooting things, adding his own sound for dramatic effect. Sam threw one small revolver at Arjun, another at Ri and then picked one for him. It didn't miss the ACP's eyes that how he seemed to be really familiar with it, opening the catch, counting the bullets and putting it all back together. He narrowly missed how Ri was boring holes into the one on her palm, and he was about to question her when the expression vanished, as if it never appeared. 

"So, who is a gold medalist shooter here?" He mocked, hooking the trigger around his finger and rotating it.

"I don't think it's that hard. I have seen documentaries." Shree sounded confident and pointed at the table. Next moment their ears were ringing due to the gun shot, Shree was lying on his butt due to the impact and the table lost one of it's leg, landing on the floor as the things on it slipped down at once, then slowly.

"Where were you pointing it?" Chotu asked as they all rushed to him for help. Ri cautiously took away the gun from his hand.

"I hope nobody heard that." Sam looked around, zipping the bag back together.

  _+_

Like every other city in the world, Goa is also ruled by a Underworld lord. And like every other city, here also rats tries to survive, always staying in shadow and careful not to draw attention from anyone, Police or the Lord. 

And when you are up against the very same Lord, you need to find a few rats for your own survival. Ri and Sam already took care a part of it through Chotu, but the girl had another headache to get rid of- ACP Rawte. Every day she tries really hard to push back a slow ache whenever she thinks about him, but it's not only about her. As days passed by he is getting really close to her family, especially her Brother. Other has come to dote on him and he has proved himself efficient, mingling with the rest, contributing for the Gun, being protective around her. She has yet no idea why, and that phone call to HIM proved as ineffectual as she had thought it would be.

"2 years and you are already brewing trouble?" The dry biting voice greeted her without the usual Hello or Who's this, "Can't you two lay low?"

"I need some info."

"Of course you do." He was not really helping with her temper or nervous energy, "Who's it? Some low life?"

"ETF Officer. ACP Rawte." 

From the sudden silence she assumed the information has taken him by surprise, "What did you do?"

"Would I call you if I known?" She replied in anger, "He's hanging around us and I have no idea."

"Since you are the one calling I take it he doesn't know." At her silence he sighed, "I don't really know about Mr. Rawte's scene."

She snorted, "You kidding me? You know everyone and everything. If you need time . . . "

"ETF is down an officer, it's not a secret. His partner died a few months prior, they are spinning it as taking time off to clear head. Maybe that's what he's doing. Goa is not a bad place to clear head." 

"And him hanging around my house? Telling lies about his background?"

"Don't read too much into it."

"You are impossible." She released a frustrated sigh, "This was a waste of time."

She threw the phone on her bed.

If none can help her, she would help herself. Honestly, as she stood in front of the hotel ACP Rawte was living in, she wondered why she had not thought of it earlier.

A lanky guy no more than her age bounced on his feet, "You ready?" At her glance they both headed inside. She didn't know if it was her luck or universe deciding to screw her at a later time in life, but soon her hired keyman unlocked his room and let themselves in. If she had hoped it would be a messy room thanks to a single male staying here, she was thoroughly disappointed. It was organized and neat. Which also meant nothing important was out for her to see.

Their eyes fell on a locked cupboard and the thief walked at it to do his magic, while she walked in the room making herself comfortable, at the same time going toward the balcony to check if the man of the room decided to return or not. Last she has seen him, he and her Brother was working on a Red Ferrari, the latter teaching how to do simple fixing. 

It was her Brother's open display of affection that made her determined.

The Man who used to be Sameer Rathore to the world 2 years back used to laugh like that, used to let others see his expression so openly on display like that. The Man who along with her stepped in Goa was just Sam, a brilliant mechanic with a heart of gold, yet a very private person. Hell, she had to think of how many people here knows their full name, let alone surname. Sameer and Riya, they used to be. Now it's just Sam and Ri. It suit them, she likes to think, after all they left a lot of baggage behind.

A low whistle from the thief made her head turn. Handing him over a bundle of money, she waited until he was out of the door to look into ACP Rawte's stuff. When she crouched down on the floor and went through his stuff, nothing really stood out. A laptop which was password protected (no shocker there), two phones which had to be untraceable burners, some copies of his ETF ID card (that explains how he didn't look perturbed when he was missing one), a few documents. Her fingers ran through her hair, disappointed once again that her risk didn't pay off like she had hoped, a picture stood out- of ACP Rawte, another man of his age and a dusky girl with a nose ring, long black hair and big grin on her face, no more than in her early twenties. She searched if he had other pictures, maybe of colleagues, families, and when she found none she deduced that it had to important for him. She is no Police or Spy, but common sense tells that when you are lying about your entire backstory and risking your life, you don't do a rookie mistake like keeping friends and family pictures in your drawer.

Taking a picture of the old photo, Ri concentrated on the laptop. She had anticipated a hindrance like that, so the password cracker softwere from Shree came in handy. Looks like the person who protected ETF servers could have used a few hours in his computer since it took her only a few second to get access. Like his hotel room the files and folders were catagorically organized, the logs were in chronological order, and only a few important emails in his Outlook. The logs mainly mentioned his wherabouts throughout the day, which was of course her Garage and house, thus further establishing her strong belief that this Man was after her family for some reason. Nothing suspicious stood out so she let it go and focussed on the emails since they were less in numbers. Seems like ETF was backing his Undercover job, whatever mail he sent was forwarded to three people- She did her homework so it was not hard to guess that KapoorA85 was Director Kapoor herself, Simmy@ETFIT had to be the one who stonewalled Shree and fried his laptop (he would be grumpy about that), and RockstarKaran had to be someone important as well, probably a high level officer (though the ridiculous mail ID conveys otherwise). The mails were mostly his weekly reports to them, and it looked cryptic, sentences making no sense and a few symbols in every few line. So ACP Rawte was careful in case someone gets into his Laptop.

Her breath was caught in throat when she saw her family's pictures- random moments of the day. She wondered if one of them even realized, she knew she didn't.

She noticed her pictures were more in number but didn't think much of it. In the earlier mails which he had sent probably when he had met them for the first time, he demanded the sibilings record if they had any. She smirked a little at that- whatever they had it's sealed. Forget ETF, none can get them.

Quickly checking her watch, she decided it was enough for now. She tried to put everything back exactly like it was, then shut everything and took off. Just to be on the safe side she pulled the hoodie over her head, kept her chin down and walked down the streets.

She has to spend the rest of her funds now. Shree needs a laptop and she needs some information.

  _+_

Arjun was frustrated.

He had every right to be. He hangs around people who were possibly a part of the town's biggest, baddest Drug dealer group, they buy illegal guns from some low life, they also participate in illegal bike racing which is rampant in the town. He was not here to shut down Sylvester and probably, if thing had gone down in his way he would not have given two hoots about him, but he had literally nothing on his hands. He's the only eye witness of this major incidence but other than his eyes, he had nothing. Naty was right when she said the Racing king doesn't make comebacks often, he has been here for three months by now and he knows Ri had not set foot in track, so there goes one option. He tried to coax Chotu about the person who sold them guns but he was so bloody tight lipped about it that he had to give up, otherwise even the less intelligent man would have picked up something fishy. Now left his hypothesis about Ri being Sylvester's gang member, which was reinforced when those goons had cornered her that night. Well, that's the story she gave them, who knows the reality? Maybe they wanted her to rejoin and she fled. 

He tried not to think about how worried he had been when she had called him, and how he lost control over himself when he threw himself at her after he and Sam found her. Not his best moment for sure.

It's like a constant struggle for him since the damned day he has set foot in this town. His job makes sure he comes across as a smartass man who has no filter in his mouth, and that's the reason he goes along so well with the boys. Ri? Now it's a completely different struggle. He jokes around her, they exchange light burbs and heated looks, and he can deny that those looks doesn't matter from his side (that will make him a lying asshole). When he's out of the house and far away from her he has to try very hard to keep his mind in control so that it doesn't slip and starts to think about her in such a way that's completely different from his task. That frustration mostly fuelled the reason tonight when he took chance of the Boy's after work dinner/drinking session and slipped into her room. If he was hoping for any clue which pointed that a) she's killer of his partner or b) she used to run with Sylvester back in the day, he was sorely disappointed.

He has probably moved past frustration and reached anger. An idea came into his head and he cursed internally- why he had not thought of it before? Yeah, because he was too busy getting seduced by the potential enemy's eyes and words.

He's a fuking idiot.

If any God exists for human, it must have heard him tonight. He was about to move out of the house and bid goodnight to boys when he spotted the object of his anger. She was out, but where nobody knows (Shree said none asks her, she doesn't ask anyone. Worked for her well till now.) She was about to finish the glass of water in her head and probably head toward her room, which gave him a small window to distract her and put his plan in action. Sure, he could have done it tomorrow morning when she won't be near her phone, but he was tired of waiting for the right moments and solid clues. Maybe it's time he plays dirty.

he barely heard her gasp of surprise when he spun her around and sealed her lips with his, swallowing any other sound (and protest if any). Feeling her slowly relaxing in his tight embrace, he grinned into the kiss, drawing her closer by her neck. His hand possessively moved over her waist, then lower and lower until it reached her backpocket. It was not easy to pickpocket a phone just like that, so he decided to distract her further. Slipping his hand further until it was just under her ass, he lifted her up until her legs were wrapped around his waist firmly. Startled she broke the kiss once, but he was not done yet. Tongues fought with each other for dominance and traced and tasted each corner of their mouths, while his hand was finally successful to take out the phone and stealthily keeping in his own pocket.

He was done and he could have stopped it right there- taking advantage like that (forget what she is) goes against what his moral codes stand for, but he didn't. He didn't release her lips until they were thoroughly ravished and they both needed air to breath. Even then he didn't let her go, instead he pressed himself further, his fingers going past the barrier of her t-shirt and caressing the soft skin of her spine, stroking there. His lips ghosted over hers, then moved near her earlobe, throat and neck, leaving trails of feather light kisses and bite marks. He could feel her complete surrender and while it made his male ego surge in pride, it was also the reason his mind was screaming Betrayal and he pressed himself further into her delicate frame, as if to hide from his voices.

"Any special reason for this ambush?" Her breathless voice broke through his internal struggle. He slipped into the character smoothly, an arrogant smirk on his lips.

"You mind?" When she didn't reply he purposely sucked hard at her throat, making her gasp, "Didn't think so." 

"Quite a surprise." Muttering, she agreed. Their eyes met and he knew one thing in that moment- he didn't want to look at them for too long. They had this aura which pulled at him and made him feel guilty and something else. He will give himself this excuse later when he went ahead for another kiss, this time shutting off the voices in his head and allowing himself to be all in. And like everything else, it also felt like going too far. His own hands were uncontrollable as he pulled her closer, arms, neck, legs, anything he could find, and her responses were not limited to breathy sighs and moans this time, pulling at his clothes and touching his skin. At some point a voice in his head cautioned that if they continued in this rate they might tear each others clothes. And what if someone walks in.

Sam. Yep, that made him sober.

When their breathings were returned to normal and their foreheads were touching (and he had successfully pulled apart her phone and put a transmitter into it behind her back) he said to her, "One of these days, I am going to ask you out. And we will have nice time outside."

Why? Let's not go into that right now.

Her one eyebrow rose suggestively as she moved away a little bit. He gave his own look, challenging her, to which she shook head. "What makes you think I will say Yes?"

"I will find a way." He let her get down on her feet, "Not to be nosy, but should not you cut down on this nightly activities? Sylvester's men are out there."

"And I have a Gun."

"Can you shoot properly?"

"I will hit at something, hopefully." He huffed.

"You don't look too worried."

"Because I am not. Let's face it, if he wanted us dead we would have been by now."

"So those visits?"

"Keeping us on toes. Scaring others. We are a way to teach others lesson. He won't create much scene, Sylvester hates confrontation."

"Sounds like you are talking from experience." He let it float out there, trying to gauge her reaction. There was none, and he was left cursing these sibilings duo's perfect poker faces.

"If he had killed people left and right, he would not have been running this empire of his." She reached for the half empty glass of water and took a sip, "He only cares about money."

"If you pay him, he will stop then?"

"My Brother won't pay him." She pointed it out with a quiet chuckle.

"Even if it erases all your worry?" At her shrug he decided to poke a bit further, "Little selfish, don't you think? He's endangering all of us."

A deep laughter told him he's busted, "You are trying to bait me?" He gave an unceremonious nod and the light mood vanished off her face, "He would not compromise with a Criminal. And I won't do it either. It puts us in risk? So be it."

"And Shree-Chotu?"

"Their choices. They want to stay, they want to walk away, we don't hold responsible for their decisions."

He stared at her for a few moments too far, contemplating what to say. Finally he gave up, "I don't understand you."

"For that," She pushed him a bit and started to head toward her room, "You need to become one of us. You are not there yet."

Before she left he made a show of finding her phone on the kitchen counter all of a sudden then handed it over to her, all the while watching her carefully if anything tipped her off. After lingering in the kitchen for a while even after she was gone, satisfied that his risk paid off, he headed out and bid goodbye to the Boys. 

After coming back to the room the first thing he did was to remotely access her phone. A few exchanges of messages between her and Chotu gave him an address of the Gun supplier. His eyebrows rose slightly when he realized that it was Ri who suggested the supplied to Chotu and wanted to keep quiet about himself, but then he was disgusted. Just when his mind shuts down something like this pops up and shakes it upside down. Now those looks exchanged between them makes so much sense. And to think an easy going good man like Chotu knowing a lowlife who buys and sells Guns!

4 days later he heard the duo having a hushed conversation about Police picking out someone just outside Jackson's, and he smirked to himself.

One down, two to go.

  _+_

 "This is not good Ri." Releasing a smoke in the air, Chotu commented in somewhat nervous voice.

She nodded, exhaling a frustrated breath herself. A suspicious voice was nagging in her head for quite sometime now, but she switched it off once again. It can wait.

They both were heading for Shree's small one-bedroom rented house in a good neighbourhood. When he first came to work with them one day Sam gave him lift. They don't know much, but the very next day he personally deposited money for this place and put the young computer nerd here. Shree is also mostly tightlipped about his past before his time with them so they never really pried. Whenever they pay him a visit, Ri always tease Chotu to take a page from Shree's book and move somewhere else. Seriously, anything is better than his chawl. Tonight's sombre conversation made sure that line of teasing was out of question.

Chotu was shocked to know about the Gun supplier, Jay's arrest by CID when he went to Jackson's this morning. He was very good at never coming on police or Sylvester's radar, and that's the reason they picked him. This arrest made sure that ship of planning and plotting has sailed now, and now he has no idea how to proceed further. He was literally their only chance at finding Sylvester's weakness and gaining leverage over him.

"I don't understand." Ri was saying, "All of a sudden?"

"Exactly!" He grumbled, "It's like we are cursed. I heard we were the last to make a deal with him." A thought crossed him, "You don't think anyone will be suspicious, do you?"

"Who?" She started walking, adjusting a bag over her shoulder as he followed, "His followers?"

"People who are in the same circle. One of us and we protect them, things like that."

"That would be just our luck." She muttered, making him huff in annoyance.

He didn't understand much after that. They knocked on Shree's door and like the last couple of weeks, he was frosty toward Ri. When she handed him over the bag worlessly, and like a magician's hat a shiny brand new laptop came out, the ice cold reception was over and he was the old Shree once again. They don't know much about laptops, but the shine told Chotu it had to be state of the art, one of the best. These two sibilings don't deal in mediocores when it comes to people close to them. 

This is the primary reason he sticks around.

When he was busy roaming around Shree's messy apartment and trying to find a packet of potato chips which is ever present in this house, the two of them were having a talk. He returned and the ice cold reception was back again, but he looked harder and something was wrong. Shree was holding Ri's phone and looking something into it, his face ashen. She just looked completely confused.

Then like a maniac, Shree started shaking his head and jumped on his feet, "Nope. I am not going to do it."

"Why?" She asked, and he settled for, "What's going on?" The boy whom he loves and respects like a Brother took out his glasses and started rubbing his eyes.

"You don't understand."

"Make me." She crossed arms over chest, and Chotu was hit once again at how much she sounds and looks like Sam in that moment. They may not look similar but their behaviors and personality quirks were exactly the same.

"I know him." Shree spoke after a long time, slumping on the bin bag just as the other two sat down, "He used to run with Sylvester."

"He was gang member?" She asked. Chotu looked back and forth between the two and decided to jump in.

"Who are you talking about?"

People might call him slow behind his backs and he let themseleves think that, even laugh in here and there to further prove their points, but he's a mechanic. And a bloody good one. If he didn't have a good eye he would not have turn out the person he is today, so it didn't miss his eyes how a silent look passed between the duo before Ri answered him. She showed him the picture which was obviously cropped and gave some half assed replies he didn't really try to listen, because it was probably a lie. He was not angry, he understood that it's not her area to tell him the truth and from the uncomfortable expression on Shree's face, it was evident he don't want to talk much. It came to him as a surprise that a man from Sylvester's gang was in contact with him, but he will think about it later.

They both turned to Shree and he launched into his story, rushed and quiet as if he's ashamed. Apparently the guy in the picture took a real interest in his computer skills, finding out about him from God knows who. It reached to a point where he was pretty freaked out, more so when he realized the other guy was not even Sylvester's man. Fearing he might be caught in between two mafia group, or worse, a dog for Police, Shree found out someone who could 'handle' it. He never saw him again.

 "Where did he find you?"

"Right outside this place. Which tells he had to be following me around for quite a while."

"When did this happen?" Ri inquired calmly.

"A little over a year ago? I am not sure about exact time. I was with you people, I remember as much."

"Who is this person who 'handled' it?" Chotu leaned back in his seat, shocked out of his wits at the story, "What happened to this man after it? And Ri, where did you find him after all this time?"

Another look passed between the duo and something crossed her face. He was about to open his mouth and call her out on it she spoke over him, "I think I saw him around, Chotu. Took his picture, thought if Shree or you can recognize him." She was lying and was not really trying hard at that. So he concluded one thing.

This Man might not be alive.

So why or how he is popping up now? Unless something related to him has happened amidst all the chaos with Sylvester, and they had missed it.

Despite all these talks Ri pressed Shree to find out about this Man, shaking head at him when he said he didn't find anything last time. She seemed to be pretty sure that this time he will get something, so both of them gave up trying to argue with her. On the way to the Car Chotu was itching to ask her, but he didn't have to. She explained everything.

"Shree used to be pretty deep into hacking, owed money to a couple of people who worked for Sylvester. He wad running from them one day when he was hit by Bhai's car. He cleaned up afterwards, payed off his debts, never returned to that life."

He released a breath, "Sam was good for him." Then a thought came to him, "Why all this mess always connects toward Sylvester?"

"He's the king of this place, what else do you expect? Everyone and everything goes back to him." He nodded at her answer, "This Man might have heard about him from the old circles. After all, he was the best hacker this place has ever got."

"But who is this Man? How do you come across him?"

"I just know one thing, Chotu." She looked right into his eyes, "He is probably dead. And someone has come into the town because of him."

"You want me to warn Sam?" He squared his shoulder. She shook her head, making him frown.

"Let Shree do his magic. I don't want to worry him in case it's nothing."

"How it's nothing?" He was appalled, but he also knew she's adamant. These two are annoyingly alike especially in the stubborn area. After a few exchange of sentences and her quiet plea 'Please' he deflated, trying to be content in his duty of babysitting Sam.

He guessed it's the least he can do for these three people in his life.

  _+_

His nightmares is the reason that keeps him awake.

Sam has many varities of them. Some of them are from Sameer Rathore era, when he used to be innocent and the world seemed like a good place. His dreams starts with dreamy colors and a feel good vibe, and immediatley he knows which scene he's going to dream tonight. It always ends up with gunshot ringing in his ears, blood on his hands and lost innocence. Then there are the other one, Sam ones. They are vibrant and dark, every scene sharp and grilled into his skull. There is no blood this time, but a permanent scar in his heart. Bile rise in his throat as he dreams and remains there even hours after he's awake. Guess that's what happens when you cause someone's death.

Ri knows about the Sameer Rathore ones, and he never told about the Sam ones. That girl has enough to deal with her own, a old man like him can surely handle a nightmare or two. He was trying to calm himself down after another night of both versions' nightmare, sitting on the stairs of the garage when she walked in. From the dress it appeared she was out once again. Youngsters in her age parties hard and do who-knows-what once they are out, and he would be worried about those things too if he didn't know her any better.

He guesses her staying out late night is because of the same reason that he can't sleep properly.

Like every other night she found him sitting like that, this night also she scooted closer to him, hiding her face into his chest like she used to did since her childhood. He also holds her tight, his frame nearly engulfing her small one. A shaky breath escaped both of them and he rubbed her shoulder, silently comforting her.

"Is it the same one?" She asked. And in that moment he was so tired- at his nightmares, the exhaustion, this burden they both carry, at the fact that behind him each corner of the garage had a hidden weapon courtesy of Sylvester- that he didn't see a point of hiding anything.

"There are some new ones." At her questioning look he started to explain, "I did a thing, a while back. I was trying to help but . . . well you know how it's with me. Try to do good, but screw up everytime." Their Mother, their moving here, Sylvester.

"Your intention was good." She was always trying to see good in him. He smiled self deprecatingly, pressing a kiss to her crown as he rocked them back and forth.

"Intention doesn't always matter, Kiddo. You will understand one day." When she didn't answer, he confessed darkly, "What is with me and Death? It follows me everywhere. He died because of me." She pressed herself further as he continued, his voice choking, "I was there. I tried to save him. Maybe if I had risked myself a bit he would have been alive."

"But you didn't."

"Because it was the condition. We keep our head down. Stay out of trouble." He released a breath, "Doesn't matter now. I knew sooner or later this will happen."

"I gave him a call." Her voice was muffled but he heard her all the same, stiffening at the words and giving up almost immediately. "He knows."

"Of course he does. He's DIA, Ri."

"He can help."

"That will be the last option." He answered firmly, "And I promise you this- I won't be a martyr this time. If I don't have any way out I will call him."

The moonlight glistened as the sibilings sat quietly, engrossed in their own heads, rocking back and forth slowly.

  _+_

"Someone getting older." A sing song teasing voice greeted Ri early in the morning a few days later. Though she was exhausted (that's what happens when there is no sleep and too much theories in head), she cracked a smile at Chotu and received the hugs from Shree and her Brother.

"Happy B'day." Sam was never the one for surprises. If he buys something for her, or anyone, he doesn't make a show of it. Each year he starts her Birthday with a gift and kiss to her head, and Ri was glad this year didn't change anything despite the demons they both are dealing with. She wasted no time in opening the present, her breath catching at the beautiful Golden bracelet inside. There was a time when she was a different person and she would have shed tears. Now she just gulp down the lump in her throat and gave him a nod, silently appreciating the gift.

Shree gave her a pendrive hidden inside a real lipstick which can contain data upto 1 TB, while Chotu gave a fancy looking key ring which had various charms- dolphin, a cross, a long bar which had 'Speed' written in stylish caligraphy. He whispered conspiratorally in her ear that it had a hidden small knife as well, making her grin widely, matching his.

When the crowd went off for their daily job Arjun stepped up. She was actually dreading any one-on-one session with him since the night in Shree's, but knew it was unavoidable. Squaring her shoulder she met his eyes, giving a small smile.

"Hey."

"Happy Birthday." He looked sheepish, "I didn't know . . . My gift will arrive shortly."

She was about to say there is no need, but Chotu decided to jump in between, a funny glint in his eyes, "That's not fair, Jun. We gave her gift."

"I will too."

"Later. She should receive one right now."

She chuckled at that, "Maybe you are the one eager for gift, Chotu."

"Na." Shree cut in to back up his partner, "He's right. Jun should not get away."

She glanced at the man in question from the corner of the eyes and noticed how out of depth he looked at the teasing. Not wanting to drag this further, she was about to put him out of misery when he gave a long suffering dramatic sigh, turning to her.

"So, what does the Birthday girl wants?" He shot a mock glare to the duo.

She was taken aback at his words, "What you are offering?"

"Anything." He didn't miss a beat, and she was surprised to see he actually meant it. At a loss for words, she stared back in silence, painfully aware that the duo was standing right there and witnessing this scene.

"Take advantage." Startled, they both turned to Sam who was obviously listening to them. A rare smirk was on his face as he said to her, "Chances like this do not come often."

She thought and thought, but her mind came up empty. What is she supposed to ask him? Stay away from my fmaily? Leave? Tell me why you are here? Tell me why you are lying?

Tell me how I am supposed to get out of this mess which you and I jointly created?

Faking a smirk, she turned to Arjun, "I will think about it." Then threw a wink at Shree-Chotu for good measure, "Can't let a chance like this get away."

The trio shared a fist pump.

Her Brithdays were never celebrated in a big scale. Riya Rathore used to get a dress and greeting in the morning, and the rest of the day will be similar to the 364 days in a year. Ri had silghtly better ones. When it were only two of them Sam used to take her for dinner in that beachside restaurant she likes, later the duo joined and it was more laughter and voices than she could ever remember. Riya used to have shit life with flashes of brilliance in between, Ri was fortunate to have a close knit of people whom she adored and who loved her for the way she is. Their life in Goa was good, and she honestly thought that was it. Her Brother didn't believe in God but she truly believed their life here was a blessing from the almighty after all the hell they had been through.

It seems like she was living in a bubble.

It's painfully evident from that night that somehow her Brother was responsible for the death of a man close to ACP Rawte, which is possibly the reason he is still here. But it just doesn't concern her Brother, Shree was involved as well. The ACP seems to know their involvement in the death but how much does he know? What solid evidence does he have? What is he planning to do with them? Whom does he suspect out of the two?

What is he waiting for?

Even before the day had fully started Ri knew that her 24th Birthday was going to be awful, way worse than her Riya days. If the duo noticed her brooding they didn't mention, but her Brother noticed and she knew that he noticed and yet they both kept up their pretense. It's like they can't afford to fall apart except when it's pitch black dark and both are on the verge of exhaustion. They are really an unhealthy lot, she thought to her once again.

She went to the Church like she did for the past two years, but for the first time she didn't know what to say when she closed her eyes and kneeled down. It's like the weight of everything was pressing her down. The Church has always felt very big for her, the chandeliers, giant pillars and beautifully haunting paintings always made her realize that human were an insignificant lot in front of almighty. But today she felt as if the walls were closing down on her.

When she walked out of the door way before she had planned, she was further exhausted and confusingly relieved to see the ACP waiting outside for her. Questions like how he knew she's here and what is he doing here seemed pointless, so she just shook her head and walked toward him. The more she came close to him, the higher her mind screamed at her. She understood why she seemed so weighed down, and it's not because one of the people in her family was about to go jail. Or worse, turn up dead. It's because this Man manipulates her mind, and dare she say, Heart at times. How can someone act this well? And how pathetic is that, despite knowing it, she feels powerless at his looks, his words, his touch?

She thought she was past this. 

"You know," He started as soon as she was near enough to hear him, "People are generally happy on their Birthdays. They don't brood."

So he did notice, "An average female lives till 60 years in this part of the world. By that logic I am getting closer to death. Don't see any point in celebrating."

"That's a depressing thought." He remarked lightly, "Maybe I can do something to brighten your mood?"

By leaving? Stopping with your lies and betrayals? "Oh?"

"Why don't we go out and celebrate your not-dying for the next few decades?" His words made her truly laugh, "Nothing fancy, a few hours in Jackson's and dinner afterwards?"

She wanted to say No. She wanted to ask him questions because they were so far away from her house and maybe it was her only chance to see his real face, real intention. But he made her laugh for the first time in many many days, and it was her Birthday, what the hell? If it's going to hurt bad later, maybe she should celebrate before it. Chotu always says getting drunk before shit hitting the fan softens the blow.

Maybe she will get high on happiness and lies tonight. When the Sun will rise tomorrow she will again brood.

So she nodded at suggestion, went back home and wore the prettiest red dress she own. She took time in make up and enjoyed him getting gobsmacked when she came out later in the evening, feeling weirdly like someone going out for Prom night with a Good luck message from Shree, a suggestive emoticon from Chotu and her Brother quietly watching from a far. They made use of the same shiny old Ford which brought him to her house for the first time (somehow it never left the garage after that day, what's the deal with that?) and rode towards Jackson's, enjoying the quietness for the moment which oddly felt like calm before the storm.

The pessimistic bitch inside her snided Hopefully he will have the decency to not ruin her Birthday with his whatever mission. In case it happened, she was prepared with the Gun hidden inside her purse.

They reached Jackson's, had a few drinks and met some of his 'Friends' who knew him since the day he set foot in the town (also the day they two met, twice, co-incidence or pre-planned?). The girl, Naty, seemed annoyingly suggestive at the way she stepped right into his private space and rubbed herself against him, looking at her as she did as if to get a reaction. The idea that Ri was his 'Girl' seemed to be drilled into her skull, and the former wasted no time to either correct her or proof her point. In the end she was disappointed at her lack of reaction (who is she? Girlfriend?) but she was the loudest to squeal when ACP Rawte offered his hand silently for a 'Dance with the Birthday Girl', obviously to get away from her.

As they swayed to the slow beat, Ri closed her eyes and tried to savour the moment. Maybe when she will look at this moment sometime in the future she will be able to enjoy it despite the betrayals and lies tainting it. If the future had a happy ending.

If the four of them survives, it's enough happy for her.

After getting out of Jackson's, they silently decided against to go for a fancy restaurant. Instead they grabbed some snacks and headed toward beachside, which is everywhere in this town (that's what happen when you live in Goa), sat on the cool sand and munched into their food, talking and eating at once. They seemed to talk about everything and nothing, tidbits of past, present, dreams of future. She was surprised at herself when she realized everything she said was true, and pushed hard against her mind to not think about how much he lied about his parts. That's a depressing thought for tomorrow.

"This is the first dress I bought in this town."

"I never ate Bhutta. This is my first."

"I never sat like this near the ocean and watched the stars."

"I have never liked ocean. Now it's growing on me."

"I had a dream once, to become a journalist. Now . . . "

"I always wanted to help people."

"I avoid conversation about family at any cost. Which is difficult when people immediately notices this tattoo."

"My Father hated me nearly all his life. I was never good enough. If it was a case of sibiling rivalry . . . I realized later in my life that he wanted me to compete with Him and win. Didn't seem fair."

"One day, when I will have enough money, I will buy the Hayabusa. I have heard they deliver it to your address. I have this dream that one day I wake up and it's outside, standing there. In this dream I sit on the bike and ride off. I just go on and on, and never stop."

"Where do you go?" His voice break her trance, and possibly the stupid dreamy smile on her face as well. She ducked head to salvage her scattered reputation.

"I don't know. Maybe psychology has answer to my dream." She got up, ready to leave, "You owe me a ride, Mr. Up."

He gave a smile and put forward his hand, expecting her hold to help him get up. A dramatic sigh later she did that and they were ready to leave again. Their hands remained interlinked as they started walking and she shut off the voices in her head once again, staring hard in the ground.

When he parked the car back into garage and was about to bid goodnight she asked for her gift.

"I wined and dined you. Is not that enough?" He mocked, his both hands in pocket. The pale moonlight giving him an other worldly glow as she struggled with herself to speak up, putting sarcasm into it.

"It was cheap drink and snacks. So . . . " At his nod she became serious, "I want a promise. You ready?"

He nodded to humor her, but something in her face must have set him off because the earlier teasing expression was slowly making way for deep, soul searching stare. Glancing at the ground for a few seconds, she spoke up.

"I want a promise that someday, I am going to ask you something. And you will do it, no question asked." 

"What kind of promise?" He was cautious, and she had to suppress an eyeroll. Surely he's thinking if she asks him to spare them. And as if he will do.

"I won't ask you to commit murder on my behalf, or beat someone up. Or give false testimony to someone. Nothing illegal." Mocking, she added, "Fair enough for you?" He nodded once again, his expression weary, "So, promise?"

After staring at her for a long time, he stretched out his hand, "You've got a deal, Missy."

When she entered the house her Brother was still up, to nobody's surprise. She poured a glass of water for her and bid him goodnight when he called her out.

"He's practically a stranger." The Be careful was unsaid yet implied.

"Yes, he is." Her tone asked him why he's not worried about himself but her. They are good at this, talking about onething and spitting out words about something else.

"I am not the one he's making heart eyes at." He huffed and she immediately closed her eyes in frustration. She didn't need to hear that. "I won't ask you to take care of yourself, or give him 'If you hurt my sister' speech, because I know you can handle yourself. Just don't let him break your heart."

Yeah, too late.

  _+_

Aisha Kapoor don't bow down to people.

It was an universal knowledge, like Sun is a special kind of bastrd to Mumbai in summer, and the galaxy is called Milky way. Cold hard facts, that's what she is. And that's the reason half the time in her career she was busy packing and unpacking her things as the charade of transfers continued. Every where she went she 'created trouble', a senior who has thankfully retired once told her. That day Officer Kapoor truly realized that other than her gender, her uncompromising view of the world is also a problem in this job.

Ragu sir turned out to be a savior.

She was honestly surprised when she was offered a job in ETF. She was more surprised that some people actually kept tab on her not because she's a trouble, but because she is honest. She had thought that thing doesn't matter, well, maybe not to 99.9% people in this department, but to the rest of .1%. And after she joined here, she decided she can live with that .1%. Their admirations and their mutual thought process is enough for her. Some days those are the only thing which kept her sane.

Then she became the Director and suddenly things turned around. Respect, media attention, rave reviews from those very seniors who kept giving her shitty places for transfer. It made her wanted to gloat and scream at the same time, but she knew better than that. She kept her head down and did her job, pushed her department to do their best every single day, on every single case. 

So . . . Director Kapoor doesn't cave to people. Red tapes and VVIP priviledges are her nemesis, and often she breaks rule and allows her people to do the same. For pursuing justice there is nothing she won't do. Some day she and Ragu sir debate on it for hours over lunch and while she understand the senior veteran, she doesn't agree.

That uncompromising stand is making her question this situation in hand.

Her Best Officer and Second-in-command has gone Undercover for a few months and from the chatter it's evident he's going to zero on the target soon. It's the sister, he had mentioned from the very first day, and she honeslty didn't know what he's doing sticking around that family but she is not the kind of Boss to poke her nose like that. When his partner died he took the biggest hit, and she can't understand what does it feel like to lose someone that important. She let him handle this the way he wanted, but right now she has no idea how to approach him in this matter, or rather, if she should?

When Simran found nothing on the sibiling duo she was suspicious, so she gave her unspoken free pass to roam around anywhere she wanted. Aisha do not know where she got a hit, but today morning she had the very first appointment with a Man whom she has never heard of or met. Her PA confessed later that a Minister had added the last minute schedule in her calender, and while she was irritated in that moment, she can't fathom the idea that this Man had anything to do with a minister.

Because he looked like a devil.

He had a handsome face, she will give him that, with sharp crisp suits, clean shaven face and chivalry which she thought doesn't exist anymore. But as they started talking she realized it's all a charade. Underneath that image that man is a savage, who unceremoniously dumped information about Rawte's UC job in Goa which were supposed to be classified, mentioned the locations he had been hanging around, and then proceeded to tell her that they should stop looking into people. By people they both knew he meant the sibilings, and once he was out Aisha was staring wide eyed at the opposite wall, thinking How on earth the sibilings know this man? Who is he?

Of course, he did say he's from DIA, but what Aisha doesn't understand is how two supposed criminals come in contact with someone from DIA. What they did to earn protection from them?

And how far this protection goes? Will this very same man come in case they take custody of either of the duo? Will he save them? Does they have any iron clad contract which saves them from any legal worries?

With these thoughts in mind she initiated a contact with her Second-in-command right that second.

The mostly one-sided conversation ended and the nagging voice in her head said it had been a giant mistake.

  _+_

To the outside world the scene seemed innocent enough. Two people, obviously close to each other walking inside an empty children's park in the darkness of the evening, right after the pinkness of dusk has completely vanished from the sky. Their hands were brushing as they walked and there were tinges of laughter as inside jokes were shared. They came across a old rusted unused merry go round which didn't have any seat or bars like nowadays, just a circular barricade around the edge to prevent falling. The girl went inside first, then the boy gave it a couple of spin and stepped into it, their laughter echoing in the emptiness.

The girl was looking up in the sky as the harsh breeze messed up her hair. When the round slowed down considerably she looked down, immediately coming across a Gun pointed at her head. The air hissed like bite of betrayal but the girl seemed impassive- as if unsure how to react.

Or maybe very sure That this would happen one day.

"You don't look surprised." Arjun's voice sounded cold, totally opposite to what she has heard and used to. This might be his real personality, she thought quietly.

"Why would be?" She replied softly, dragging her eyes until it reached his face, "I was waiting for this moment since the day we met, ACP Rawte."

Shocked black eyes flashed in the darkness, the words taking in him by surprise, "You knew who I was?" He asked incredulously, cause this made no sense, "From the first day?" Then he shook his head, "You are lying."

She had the decency to smile blandly, "Is there any point of that?" His eyes caught her hand vanishing behind and he braced himself for any counter action from her. He was taken aback once again when it was his ETF ID in her palms. Taking it wordlessly, he stared at it for a long time before looking back at her.

"I am glad this is finally happening." Exhaling a harsh breath she leaned back into the metal barricade, bracing herself against a hand gripping it tightly, "Tell me, what is it?"

"Really?" He barked, removing the gun from her face and tucking it inside his jacket, "You are really going to pretend you know nothing? Or you are going to enjoy me laying out all the cards, won't you? To plan the next step? That's what you have been doing since the very beginning." When she said nothing he cursed in head, "Fine. I also do not want to hold anything back. You murdered my Partner. You cause his accident and left him bleeding on the road. You obviously chose the place well, nobody was there. Some kind hearted person found him and called for ambulence. He didn't survive, but he did mention his killer in his last breath. You!"

He took a few steps back, disgusted at her presence and her blank expression, "It took me months to find you. R, he only said this. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to find something from that single letter? But I didn't give up, I could not! I figured this R had to be in Goa, had to be where he was doing his own investigation. It lead me here. And from the footage it was evident that it was a racer. It was impressive, the way you did a 360 and fled. I will give you that." He sneered in barley held contempt. A thought occured to him and he blindly reached for his phone, thrushing it into her face.

"Remember him?" From the surprised look he deduced she did, "Yeah, that was him. I promised his sister I will avenge him and I will, Ri. nobody can stop me."

She slowly teared away her eyes from the photo and looked at him, "What evidence do you have?"

"Nothing." He said simply, making her frown, "You clean up nice, first that identity you created to participate in race, finding that Gun supplier to go after Sylvester and making sure Chotu is the one to raise his matter, then make someone else scapegoat to hack into ETF about me. It was you, were not you? It makes sense since you knew about me from the very first day." He crossed arms over chest, "Tell me, were you part of Sylvester's gang? Is that the reason they are after you? Did you kill my partner because of him? To gain a leverage over him? A favor?" She chose to remain silent and he gritted teeth.

"You asked if I have any evidence. I don't have, and I didn't plan on having any. Everything points toward you Ri, and if I still take you into custody your DIA contact will make sure you get out. He already paid a visit to ETF." The slight surprise in her eyes caught his attention and he fumed, "So I don't plan on arresting you. I will do what I came to do here. What I should have done the moment I realized who you are. I will kill you before the Sun rises today."

"You have till midnight to say Goodbye." He walked away.

  _+_

Arjun was doing two things at once.

Raghu sir used to say this is a sureshot recipe of disaster, but he was determined to prove his old mentor wrong. As he packed his things and fumed at once at the latest confrontation he had, an odd sense of foreboding crept inside of him. The cat was out of bag and while her lack of reaction about him or the knowledge she had took him by surprise, he quickly chalked it out to her being a killer. If she didn't know how to mask her emotion or be deceptive she would not have succeeded in the early demise of his partner. 

And yet, something didn't seem right. His mind nagged as it went back to the moment when she calmly asked him what evidences he had, too calmly. Giving up on the pretense of packing (more like throwing everything in his suitcase) he slumped on the bed, a shiver running down his spine thinking maybe she's a sociopath. While it was hard to think of Ri, the person he got to know through those light moments in garage, who had a tattoo pledging unconditional alliance to her family, whom he took out for Birthday and hung around for hours in late night, was the same person who had illegal activities etched in every part of her life, he forced himself to do the exact same thing. 

He ignored the voice inside which said something doesn't add up.

 A light knock took him out of his trance and he frowned, seeing the time on the wall clock. It was five minutes to go for 12. Masking the agitated expression on his face, Arjun went ahead and opened the door.

Immediately the anger was back. "You?"

Ri stood there, watching him with the same impassive expression back from the park. A silent staring contest emerged as a few seconds passed and he gave up, shifting slightly so that she can let herself in. He shut the door forcefully as soon as she was inside, making her turn to face him.

"What are you doing here Ri?" He was drawing strength to not shout at her by clenching and unclencing his fist. She noticed the action immediately before looking back to him.

"I said my Goodbyes." 

A jolt of current passed through him, "What?" He whispered, for the first time feeling out of depth in the night. 

"I said Goodbyes. You gave me till midnight, didn't you?" She shifted her weight from one foot to another, stubbornly lifting her chin, "So here I am. You want to kill me here or some place else?"

He could have swore she was joking, but the blank deep brown eyes told him she was not. They didn't look like someone making a crude joke on their life, rather it conveyed how she made up her mind. 

She was really here to die.

"What are you playing at?" He had to ask even though he knew he was not getting any answer. A frown marked her otherwise empty face.

"You gave me an ultimatum. I am fulfilling that."

"What is your game?"

A disbelieving huff of laughter escaped her, "I played enough, don't you think? Concealing the fact that I know your identity from day 1, letting you get close to my family, letting you play this charade and indulging you." The cruel smirk vanished, "I did enough. It's time to stop."

He fought hard to rub his face with both of hands and pace back and forth in suspicion, "I am missing something, are not I?" The blank look was back on her face, "Is this a trap? You going to repeat the same thing which you did to my partner?" That had to be it. The moment he turns around she will pull out the Gun on him. Or maybe another weapon of her choice. It made him feel sick to the stomach thinking of the imagery but he knew this was it.

The ending was coming.

"Kill me, ACP Rawte." Anger bubbled in the surface as she spoke, "End this tonight, leave tomorrow and never set foot near my family again. This is all my fault, as you know. Spare my family. Do it now and leave them."

"You giving orders now?" He raised voice.

"Order, last wish, a favor, think whatver you want it to be." Visibly deflating, she added in a calm voice, "Everything might be a lie, but what I feel for them is not. Please, do it. End this tonight."

It was the flashes of his partner's bloodied and broken body lying in a coffin, his sisters tear stained yet empty look near his grave, the endless hours passed in frustration with Karan and Simran, the video footage of the fatal accident that killed his partner- that sent him searching for the Gun and pointing on her head. He was ready to pull the trigger, it would be so easy, just a quick press of his forefinger and it would be over, nearly two years of endless suffering, this dual identity nonsense, living on edge constantly thinking who may get suspicious of him. He can leave this place- he hated ocean- he can go home, resume his duties from tomorrow. He won't have to be Arjun the garage worker, he would be ACP Rawte, the Second-in-command of ETF, the best in his office. The pros won over cons in landslide (there were cons? Why and How?) and yet he could not bring himself to do it. How many criminals he has killed in his career? And yet thinking about cleaning his hands coated with her blood made him sick.

Is this because she looked ready to die? The complete lack of fear on her face? Or because not once she confessed of killing his partner? He had dreamt of this moment for two years, and those dreams always ended in satisfaction. This? No word is adequate enough to convey this bizarreness.

His fingers tighten their grip on the revolver, "Say it." Almost daring her to confess, he ordered in a dark voice, "You killed him. Admit it."

She blinked a couple of times before answering, "It's my fault."

He shook head, cause it's not the same, "Say you kill him. Say it!"

She remained quiet, disappointing him once again. With a strangled cry he threw the gun somewhere in the room, stepping away from her as if burnt. A few minutes later he drew enough strength to not fall apart in front of her any more and turn his back away from her.

"Leave. Now." He ordered. Sensing her surprise and hesitance at his words he repeated himself, "Before I regret it, leave Ri."

"I . . . "

"This doesn't make any sense to me, you coming here and sacrificing yourself." He squared his shoulder as he forced himself to speak, "Or maybe there are more to you than meet your eyes. I don't know, just go. Let this night pass. Maybe tomorrow I will make up my mind about this mess."

"I may vanish."

"I will take the risk." Though exhausted and clearly confused about her, he knew her to do better than abandoning her family, "Leave now. Go."

The door of his room clicked opened and shut a few minutes later and he kicked a nearby table in fruatration, cursing himself in head for being so weak at a crucial moment.

  _+_

Naty was about to head out for the night when she saw her.

Arjun's Girl looked miserable at the bar, sitting all by herself and taking sip every once in a while. It was nearly 2 and a quick glance around told the poor girl was all alone. Men are really douchebags, she thought to herself. Will run after you and woo you and once you give up, they will try everything to push you away. When you leave it will be your fault- you didn't try harder.

That's why she stays miles away from men and their dramas. She went through those kinds of things in High school and found No strings attached were better. Sure, she had her own shares of egoistic men, stalkers and real bastrds, but she will take them anyday over a normal, healthy 'relationship'. If that makes a slu

t, so be it.

She was about to walk toward the girl and offer a shoulder to cry on (her mind scoffed at it. The girl looked tough, she remembered how unaffected she was the other night when she was constantly hitting on Arjun to rile her up. She didn't think she is kind of person looking for a ear to rant) when a movement in the corner of the bar caught her attention. Sensing it would be better for her to step back and let the scene unfold, she slowed down, making herself unconspicuous. Her short dresses and fake smiles often make sure she's invisible to people who meant business, and it worked this time as well.

The group of four tough looking men said something to the Girl, and obviously she heard, judging by the way her posture stiffened and she turned her seat to meet them. One of the men, who could only slur as he spoke thanks to alcohol attempted to move toward him, but the liquid made sure he tripped on his feet. The bottle in his hand shattered into pieces thus unknowingly making it into a weapon, as Naty looked around nervously for help. There were none to intervene on behalf of the girl in case this goes to shit.

She watched in horror and utter disbelieve (also screaming inwardly at the stupidity) when the girl, oh, to hell with this. Ri, is not it? stood up with a determined expression. Her voice was low so she could not hear the exact words, but it sent a shockwave through the foursome. They stood up almost immediately, their body language threatening and Naty almost closed her eyes, she can't see this.

A loud slamming of cartoon full of empty liquor bottles on the wooden bar counter made all of them jump. Senior Jackson, the old owner of this place glared at the man until they all cowered under his gaze, then proceeded to do the same. Drunk no. 4 let the broken bottle slip past his shaky fingers, the sound of glass hitting the floor over and over again reveberating through the bar.

"In case you want to continue this," He thundered, his gruff voice sounding omnious in the shocking silence, "I will advice you to take this outside." His eyes bore holes into the group, "None comes here and damage my property."

With some dirty looks at Ri's side, the four of them left the Bar like herd of pigs with tail between their legs. Senior stared hard at her for a long moment, and Naty nearly jumped out of her skin when his eyes found her before he vanished inside once again. So he did notice her.

Before the shock of that could wore off Arjun's girl had already taken off. Cursing this idiotic girl and Male species in general, Naty also started heading out, taking a decision to give the man a piece of mind the next time she sees him.

  _+_

Something was wrong.

Chotu is not the kind of person who thought much of superstitions or ritual. He doesn't accept them, but he doesn't question them either. He has a policy of 'Live and let live' and most of the day he remains content in that bubble. He was amused when Shree specifically demanded Ri to have curd before her exam cause that's a sureshot way to pass (Sam pointed out rightly that nothing can save her if she didn't study, which he ignore like a fly), and when Sam doesn't get a work done and blame it on Friday (cause that's an unlucky day) he remains quiet, knowing that riling up a man who pays him every month is not the way to go. But now? There is nothing amusing in the way a knot was tightening in his stomach and he felt sick.

He didn't feel this way for years. Specifically since the day he ran away from his home.

He can't think about his animal of a Father without a strong drink so he brushed off that line of thoughts quickly, focusing back on Why he was feeling this way. Oh, he knew the answer. It started last night when he was having a peaceful sleep and Ri decided to call him around midnight to have a random conversation about a car delivery. It was odd, usually she's not the one for worrying about a car or even remind him of his duty, she's mostly taking care of finances. And to add more to it, she dropped a cryptic line like 'Keep an eye on Bhai' before cutting off the call.

It nearly sent him running to garage right that moment, but he calmed himself down. It was just a random phone call. If any of them are in trouble they has a special code to use in case of emergency. She sounded calm, probably outside. Also, she had not returned last night (Sam was brooding about that, while Shree threw him a suggestive wink), so maybe that was her way of giving him a heads up.

Talk about round about ways, he shook his head. 

He busied himself with checking out the car they were going to deliver first thing today, a 2010 Mitsubishi with a special requirement for giant size speakers. Turning on the speaker, he put it on a popular radio channel, increasing the volume until the sound of Sam's welding was drowned out. Hearing Shree's loud and drawn out whistle, he looked up and noticed Arjun was entering. The boy looked like he didn't sleep for the whole night, and judging by his askewed clothes he put them on hastily. Chotu shared a look with his partner and smirked conspiratorally.

"Jeez, increase the volume more, why don't you?" He grumbled, snatching his mug filled with coffee and finishing it at once. He noticed the silent looks way late, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"You two need a moment?" It was not unusual for him to mock their shennigans, but Chotu sensed a bite underneath his haggard look. Brushing off that thought quickly, he put an arm around his neck and dragged it away. The sound of welding was now increasing tenfold.

"You are late. Any special reason?" He teased.

"I woke up late." He didn't get their silent sarcasm, he mourned. Shree shook his head, thinking the same.

"How long you have been working here? How many times you ran late?"

"Guess last night was special." He muttered sarcastically, and Shree followed it with a triumphant, 'Aha!' He gave up the pretense of doing something in his brand new laptop, sauntering to them with a mischievous smirk.

"That we can see." He gave him an once over, then sobered, "But at least you could have dropped her off late in the night. Or maybe dawn." His nose wrinkled, "Eh, it sounds weird in my head."

"Wait, who are you talking about?"

Chotu looked alarmed, "We don't need to spell it out. Sam is going to do his welding on us next, so just confirm already."

It took him a few seconds to understand the implication, then his eyes widen, "Oh No! No no, I was not with Her last night."

Shree patted his back, "You don't need to lie. He's not going to kill you . . . I hope?" The duo shared a look and shrugged.

"I am telling the truth." Arjun's firm voice made their smiles lose it's shine and that uneasy feeling in Chotu returned, "I just ran late, that's all. But what do you mean by me dropping her off late in the night? She didn't come home?!" He sounded genuinely shocked. By the time the duo realized something was wrong Sam was already looming over them, obviously hearing all of the teasing and the words that followed. His usually impassive face showed a hint of panic as the four stared at each other.

Then they all lunged to their respective phones and started to call her. It went unanswered a few times then a recording male voice was saying it's out of service, and they all knew it was not right. She will always, always, pick up their phone. Even if she needed to be alone she would tell them. She is responsible enough to not pull stunts like that which will worry them, especially Sam.

Chotu knew Shree could do amazing things with his laptop, especially after what he heard from Ri, but seeing him trying to hack into her phone made his jaw going slack in shock. Arjun also looked equally taken aback, but a muscle ticked in his chin which made the former frown. The last location showed Jackson's and then nothing, Sam ready to storm out to look for her when two cars stopped outside the garage, making them stand on their toes.

Those jerks of Sylvester's were back, and the smug look on their faces confirmed their worst fear- they are the one who took her. Now they gave them a window of 48 hours betwen which Sam needed to bring back the drugs he handed over to Police. As if breaking into Narco is that easy, and how do they know it's not already shifted to somewhere else? They three needed to physically restrain Sam as he jumped on the goons, ready to tear them apart. As soon as they left he proceeded to bang his fist on his working table and flipped the table with one hand.

"We are going to steal now?" Shree was hysterical, and all of them shot him a look, "What are we going to do?! Sam?"

The Man is question walked away, pulling at his hair and Arjun took over, "No Shree, we are not going to steal. There has to be another way."

Here we go, Chotu nearly rolled his eyes unable to help it. This boy was really naive. "Dude, don't mention the P word." At his quizzical look he emphasised with a sigh, "Police."

"No Police." Sam's quiet yet firm voice made them all jump, "I will fix this. I am not letting anything happen to her this time." He was about to walk away when their collective protest stopped him. Everyone was yelling and all of this was a waste of time, and Chotu almost gave his vote for the actual stealing, however outrageous that might be. To hell with illegal, a line has been crossed this time. They were living on borrowed time anyway.

"What is your damn problem with judiciary system?" Arjun asked in frustration.

"Because I don't fuking trust them!" Sam roared in response, "They are bunch of shitty people taking shitty decisions. Good people do not exist, and when I can't have good people on my side I would rather do not even have the devil on my side too." He gave all of them a look, "I started this."

"No you didn't." Chotu shook his head. When the drugs came out the four of them stood exactly like this and voted for a decision. Shree also nodded, remembering that day.

"She is my sister." 

"And she's One of us." Shree breathed out loud, "What do you need?"

Sam gave all of them a look, and made up his mind.

Not that He imagined this would be an easy thing, but he didn't expect that the entire town (or underworld,) will boycott them like that. Nobody messed with Sylvester, and since they are the sinking ship they would rather not side with them and invite his wrath. The urge to crush these good for nothing losers head was very strong in Chotu, and from the look on Sam's face his anger was bubbling too. He had to give it to his restraint, apart from the errily chilled voice and the temper tantrum in the morning he was holding himself pretty well.

They returned in the night and the four of them stood in silent in the garage. Time was running out and they still didn't know what to do- the four of them were not enough to take on Sylvester. They needed . . . 

"We need more people." Arjun spoke up. No shit Sherlock.

"We don't have people, you saw today."

"Then we need outsiders." The three of them frowned. He seemed to steel himself for something, took out his phone and dialied a number.

"This is Arjun Rawte, batch number AW903452. I need to speak to the director."

Chotu nearly punched the bastad in face, but shockingly enough it was Sam who stopped him, his own eyes red in anger and betrayal. This was not just a betrayal, this was something else. That SOB was lying about everything! He was here for months, he ate with them, worked with them, spent time, laughed with them, went headfast into the mess just like all of them. He lied, he was no orphan who goes from places to places. It was all a damn plan . . . and he can only wonder since when he was planning. What's his angle?

He never heard about ETF and he doesn't plan to know more than these- the Director is a female and they have choppers. And muscly men with big guns. They desceneded like it was some bloody movie with SWAG and stern face, but what caught all of theirs attention was Arjun of course. Oops, his mistake- ACP Rawte. His posture, his mannerisms, the way he speaks, walks, looks, it was all different. He really acts well, should be in the movies. Creates an entire character and shifts in and out of that so easily. The female Director, Aisha offered her hand to Sam, who gave nothing but a blank face. She took it back and another Man came down the chopper. Something passed through his face but it disappeared quickly.

"You lot can't stay away from trouble, can you?" The Man's rough voice grated on his nerve, "And what a mess you have made this time." His eyes went from the Director, to Rawte, then all of them as if it was supposed to mean something.

And whatever it was supposed to mean, only Sam understood.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This silence was getting on his nerves. When he envisioned this day, he always thought Sam would be the one lunging for his throat but it seemed ACP Rawte underestimated the stone of a Man. He may as well be curved from an actual stone. His jaw was locked in it's place from the moment he made that call, and apart from stopping Chotu he did nothing. Sometime their eyes would make contact but he would not let out anything, as if he don't know him. In psychology classes they were taught that sometime brain would shut down when pressure is too much and Arjun wondered if Sam would crash at the heat of the moment. He dreaded the breakdown.

Or maybe he was disappointed. No explosions, no raised voices. There was hustle bustle everywhere but the actual noise was gone. Suddenly he was out of the popular gang and it stung- he didn't dwell on why. This whole mess started because of him anyway. What he should have done is arrested her on day 1. Or even yesterday. He should not have let her leave, that too alone. He should have remembered Sylvester's men were after her. . . . dammit.

As time passed between strategies and planning sessions he sensed that the silence was not only about the betryal. There was too much history in this room. That Man, who he learnt was a special person from DIA, has to be the one who went to Director Kapoor to tell her stop looking into sibilings. Sam's eyes seemed to darken whenever he would lay eyes on him. He didn't try to eavesdrop, but did strain his voice when both the men came close in the hope of hearing something. Might well as be his only chance to know something about the mysterious duo.

"The less you can do is not to glare at me, Rathore." The DIA agent sounded unfazed by the mess around them. 

"She called you." Sam spoke quietly. Arjun tried to inconspicuously lean near them.

"Yes, she did." His eyes caught the former and gave a smirk, "About him actually. ACP Rawte!" He called out, startling the two men, "We need to sit down for a chat after this is over, what say? She has really piked my interest in you."

"About him?" Sam sounded shocked, "Why would . . . "

"Put two and two together, Rathore." Why the heck he calls him Rathore. "She knew it since the start, of course. Tried to find out why he was here." He turned to Rawte, "So, tell me, did she find out?" His smirk widen, "Ah, she did. Cue melodrama."

"What is going on in here?" Director Kapoor called out, possibly hoping for this to stop but that served the draw everyone's attention. So this was going to happen now. From the corner of his eyes he saw Chotu-Shree inching closer, which Karan saw and mimicked. Both for opposite party, Rawte thought to himself.

"Why?" It was a layered question with many interpretation. Why he was here, why she hid it? Sam also seemed to sense it so he elaborated in a whisper, "Why you are here?"

"Because he lost his partner, Mr. Rathore." Director spoke up, "He wanted justice."

"D'cruz?" DIA agent piped up, to which she nodded. Sam frowned, but it was Shree who asked, "Who's that?"

"A great officer of our organization." Simran spoke up, now coming to stand with the side. A clear distinction now, and Arjun was the only one standing in middle, "Who was killed by your precious Ri. If it was in my hand I would have let her suffer." Collective hiss at her venomous response was ignored, "What? We are actually saving a killer and doing this. The only silver lining of this mess is that she will be behind bars."

Time was a bitch. Not 36 hours ago he was ready to kill. Now even the image of her behind bars is grating on ACP Rawte's nerves.