Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Avni stared blankly at the computer screen, the other reporters at Mumbai Daily buzzing around her like bees, trying to grab a good story for the next day's edition. But she wasn't in the race, because though she was a reporter by job, her aim was something else, to find dirt on Mumbai, on Dayawanti Mehta, and how Mumbai helped Dayawanti Mehta.

But right now, the man who stood between her aim and her stared at her through her computer screen, his charming smile giving her the creeps. Unlike other people, MJ Roy didn't seem to have impressed her. She saw him as just another corrupt man who helped corrupt people. But his corruption wasn't the least of her problems, even his helping Dayawanti Mehta wasn't something that made her cringe at the photo, it was the photo itself. It was as if even through the camera, MJ Roy was trying to read her, find her weakness, and find ways to destroy her, even though he didn't even know her.

"Handsome, isn't he?" She almost jumped and turned to look at Navya, who was wiggling her eyebrows obnoxiously.

Avni gave her what Neela Maa called an "Ananya smile". It was coy, as if Avni knew something that the other person didn't know, and at the same time, seemed to egg the person to tell her more. It also helped that Navya was a big gossip.

"Are you working on any story regarding MJ Roy? I am sure Kevin asked you to write something positive. He won't publish anything negative about the man."

"Is it because the Roys are our biggest advertiser?"

"Yes...and no..." Navya answered mysteriously and placed her finger on her lips. Avni knew this trick of hers and hated it. Her curiosity was getting the better of her. She needed something against MJ that would help her find ways to break the alliance between the Roys and Mehtas. Dayawanti Mehta was holding onto it firmly. MJ was the only one supporting her publicly, and Neela Maa was sure he wouldn't betray his mother's best friend unless it was to protect his own skin. 

"You have to tell me," She said to Navya and placed her hand on the other woman's hand, trying to look desperate.

"MJ Roy had filed a defamation case against almost a publication house in Mumbai, some ten years ago. It was all out of court settlement, but after that, no media house has ever touched the Roys."

Avni gasped in shoc,k and Navya nodded in excitement. Avni didn't egg her on because her Gang123 would do the rest of the research for her.

_________

ACP Neil Khanna kicked the tire of his police Jeep in frustration. Case 123 had struck another politician and wiped his bank accounts clean, and he could do nothing. Just when he was about to yell in frustration, he saw an envelope on the windshield of his jeep.

It was a copy of a FIR of a 10-year-old hit and case. 

Curiosity got the better of him. All thoughts of Case 123 vanished from his mind as this old case started overtaking him. For the first time in two months, he has forgotten about the benevolent thief who would steal from the rich and use the money to make donations to various hospitals and orphanages across Maharashtra.

_________

Maya Jaising looked at Neil Khanna holding the envelope and smirked. 

"So, I guess you are happy," Rajeev asked her, and she dropped the smirk.

"You will keep an eye on him, won't you?" She asked the younger man, instead. Rajeev reminded her a lot of Manav, but Rajeev had lost his innocence a long time ago and was ruthless, something Maya respected about him.

"I have Ishaan in my pocket. He is on Neil's team. Any updates on the case, and we are the first ones to know."

"Why didn't you pay DD? He is Neil's sidekick, isn't he?"

"Ishaan told me it wouldn't work. DD was offered a promotion in exchange for helping a politician with a case, he went and told Neil about the bribe. He is too loyal to the ACP. Ishaan is our best bet."

Maya nodded. It made sense. 

"As long as we get to my brother and father's killer before Neil. I had to use him because I don't know who attacked them that night. I know MJ ordered the hit and I just need the names. Neil is too noble and will rely on the law to bring them to justice. But his nobility and efficiency will make him solve the case."

"I think it was a good idea to outsource. It's a very old case, and someone with the right resources and contacts can crack it. But Maya, remember that for Neil, it's just a case."

"They weren't just a case, Rajeev!" Maya snapped, gripping the steering wheel, but Rajeev used to her flares of anger, just shrugged.

Maya remembered how everyone had ignored the hit-and-run case ten years ago, and she was left to cremate her father and brother without bringing their murderers to justice. But not this time, she promised herself.

_________

Rudra Roy scribbled on a photo of MJ in a newspaper. He was in some cafe, bored out of his mind.

"Scribble a little more, and you'll end up damaging the table." A woman said to him.

"I don't care, but the owner of the cafe, Ali, will. And he isn't the kind you mess with." She said and pointed to Ali, who was flirting with a girl.

"He is more dangerous than that." Sheadded as an afterthought after realizing that the curly-haired man didn't seem so dangerous flirting with someone. 

"Seems like you hate him." She looked back at Rudra and then at the paper.

Rudra scoffed.

"Hate's a word. He ruined my life, and there is nothing I can do." He looked at the woman. She looked younger to him but still much older than her age. And when their eyes met, she said darkly.

"There is a lot more you can do, Rudra Roy. You don't let people ruin your life and get away with it, especially when they are your blood, and are supposed to look out for you. You give them what you deserve." She nodded and stood up.

"Ananya!" The cafe owner called out to her, but she was already exiting the cafe.