Chapter 4

"Bhaiya, let's go out for dinner tonight." Tara chimed into his room.

"Who all?" Arjun asked, adjusting his collar.

"Just me and you, our ritual." She smiled.

"Sure." He wondered if they really needed to revive the ritual teenage Arjun had started when she complained of him not sparing enough time for her. Now, that they worked together and lived under the same roof, he didn't see the need.

Roshni picked her bag, ready to leave for her office. Arjun smiled at her. "Rosh, Piyu and I will be going out for dinner tonight. Might get late. Hope that's okay with you?"

"Oh, sure! Have fun!" she smiled kissing his cheek, "Have a good day!" Roshni waved at Tara, leaving early for her meeting.

Arjun glanced at Tara, who was unusually silent as he drove through the busy streets of Mumbai.

"Piyu, is everything okay?"

"You tell me."

Arjun frowned at the curt reply. What did I do? He quickly made a mental tally of dates, he wasn't forgetting anything important. "Will you please elaborate, my dearest sweet sister?"

"Since when do you need permission to go out with your sister?"

Arjun shook his head. "Permission? Sweety, I didn't ask for permission. I simply communicated with my wife. Why is that bothering you?"

"Hope that's okay with you." Tara mocked in a high pitched voice, "That's seeking permission, bhaiya."

He sighed. "It was for the getting home late, part. I don't want to keep her waiting, so I mentioned it."

Tara pouted. "But why? You can do what you want, right?"

Arjun shook his head at her silly question. "Well, once you have someone waiting for you at home, you should always let them know, about your plans."

Pratap didn't answer her phone and it was middle of the night, she had been waiting for their dinner date.

"I was stuck in an emergency." He reasoned.

Tara shook off the memory. "What if there's an emergency and you're stuck in really important work?"

"Drop a text - emergency, late 3 hours. It takes seconds to message."

"I feel like an idiot, now." She pursed her lips. She was an idiot.

"You are an idiot, there's no denying that." Arjun playfully smacked her head. His phone buzzed with a message. "I have a meeting at the commissioner office, will see you in the evening for dinner and take care."

"You too!" She got off at the ETF headquarters.

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Evening

Arjun and Tara were dining at an exquisite restaurant. As the food was served, Tara graciously fed herself. Arjun watched, amused at her childishness.

The dinner was mostly silent, other than her occasionally praising the delicacies. Arjun wondered what was the point of this dinner if she was only eating it silently.

"Bhaiya!" Finally. Arjun thought. "What dessert will you have?"

"I'll have a bite from whatever you're ordering."

"Two slices of cheesecake." She told the waiter.

Arjun contemplated whether he should probe, she definitely had things to say, her eyes were speaking but five years is a long time and she's a grown up. Patience Arjun.

After eating the cheesecake, she generously tipped the waiter. "Let's go to the chowpatty."

"Let's go!" He smiled.

As they strolled on the beach sands, Tara stopped by a rock. "Bhaiya, I have to tell you something." She confided.

"I'm listening." He said, earnestly.

"The last few weeks have been terrible, to be honest." She settled on the rock.

Arjun tilted his head. He had noticed her faded smiles and stifled tears but terrible? That wasn't on his mind.

"And I've made some shitty decisions." She toyed with her rings, "I was in Delhi for a week before coming to Mumbai." She looked at Arjun who held unreadable expressions.

"I wanted to forget everything Pratap did. So I spent my time with my friend Rose mindlessly for three days. But it didn't help, so I got a hotel room and stayed there for the next three days." Tara continued.

She took a deep breath. "When I called you at midnight, I was contemplating jumping off the building. 15th floor isn't that high but still..."

Arjun's eyes widened in horror, heart pounding wildly.

"But I didn't. I called the helpIine and the counselor talked me out of my thoughts." Arjun's heart relaxed hearing about her sensible decision.

"Two days ago, I was a bit tipsy and I kissed Samrat. He had tattoos and I thought it would be fun, it wasn't." She shrugged. "It reminded me of Pratap all over again, and I don't know what to do about it."

The two sat in a comforting silence while Arjun held her into an embrace.

"Now, I either get into another relationship, like a rebound or be with myself, healing, until I find someone who is half decent, to at least not cheat on me." she said bitterly.

"Don't be so harsh on yourself Piyu. I want you to heal. Heartbreaks are hurtful. But that doesn't mean you will hurt yourself and all of us, who really love you."

He patted her back. "I'm sorry I didn't realise you were in so much pain. I should've been there for you, I'm sorry-" Why didn't I see her pain?

"It's not your fault bhaiya. Trust me, I will never hurt you, I'm sorry." Guilt was evident in her voice.

"I also want you to focus on your career, Piyu. You have great potential, please don't waste it."

"I'll work hard and make you proud, bhaiya."

"I am proud of you. I will always be." He pecked her hair.

"Let's have icecream before going home," Her eyes twinkled hearing the jingle of icecream truck.

"Anything for your smile, Piyu!" Arjun smiled. "Just be happy!"

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Three months later.

Delhi

Sanjeevani Hospital

"Dhruv!" Aditi, his co-worker, called him.

"Yes?" He looked up from his computer.

"Coffee?" She asked, smiling.

He sighed. Last three months he had visited the same cafe every single day, hoping to find the woman who had left a mark on his heart.

"Maybe today is your lucky day, and the mystery girl is there?" Aditi teased him.

"Let's go." Dhruv turned off the computer before leaving his desk.

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Dhruv waited patiently as Dr. Malhotra finished his phone call. "Dhruv, it is decided. You will be working at our Mumbai branch, starting next week."

"Alright, sir." Dhruv nodded in acknowledgement, shaking hands with the senior.

"Well, maybe you'll find her in Mumbai!" Aditi said, giving him his books.

"Enough yaar, Aditi. It's not like finding her means end of the world? Anyways, I'm not looking for commitments. My work is my passion and she will be a distraction." Dhruv shrugged.

"Let's see about that." Aditi smiled. If only you thought about me like that.

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The team ETF finally received a tip-off regarding Johnny's new whereabouts. He had been underground as soon as he realised the ETF was after him.

As the team spread in different directions of the alley where his presence was confirmed, they were met with gunners. The narrow bylanes erupted into chaos as the team took cover. Bullets whizzed past the team as they dodged and weaved, their guns singing the tune of death.

One by one, they took down the minions.

"Where is Johnny?" Sameer asked scanning through the dead and injured men.

Chotu and Aisha returned to him. "No clue, sir."

"Rathore!" Arjun said through the bluetooth device, "Right end of the lane. Seems like his hideout."

The trio rushed there while Arjun and Shree moved past the dead men. Arjun pushed open the door, his heart pounded at the sight. Seven bloodied bodies.

"Piyu!" His voice was barely a whisper as he cupped her bruised face. "Wake up, please."

"Sir, Johnny is dead." Shree checked his pulse and picked the vial next to him. He turned around, seeing Arjun holding an unconscious Tara. "I'll call the ambulance!"

"There's no time for it. Let's go." Arjun sprang to his feet, cradling Tara and walking out of the room.

Sameer, Aisha and Chotu reached there. "I'm taking her to the hospital." Arjun briefed, Sameer nodded reassuringly.

"Tara did this?" Aisha looked at the dead bodies.

"Seems so." Chotu nodded.

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A few minutes ago.

As Tara moved closer to the end of the lane, she saw a glimpse of Johnny's right hand man through the window. She sneaked behind the pillar. She felt someone behind her, her grip on the knife tightened.

Her blade sliced through the air, meeting resistance as it clashed with the minion's knife. Their eyes locked, and Tara saw fear flicker in his gaze. She twisted her wrist, disarming him, and delivered a swift kick to his chest. He stumbled backward, crashing into a stack of wooden crates.

The gunshots erupted behind her.

Tara's heart raced as she stepped into the dimly lit room. The air smelled of damp concrete and desperation. Her knuckles tightened around the cold metal of her knives, and she scanned the room. Six men, including Johnny, sat around the table, their eyes filled with malice.

"Hey, how did you get in here?" the man with a thick moustache roared.

"Emergency Task Force!" Tara said, "put your hands up."

A laughter erupted amongst the men. Johnny signalled a man, who walked up to her with a gun. "Leave or we'll kill you."

Tara scoffed, putting her knife to his throat. "Too late." Slashing it swiftly, blood splattered on her face as he fell on the floor.

Two other men came to fight her, some punches were thrown on either side. Tara gripped her knives, slashing through their torso simultaneously. Her heart beat rapidly, she was out of breath.

Johnny smirked. "She's feisty, I like her." he reached to the closest drawer pulling out a syringe and vial.

The two burly men circled her. One grabbed her hair, slapping her across the cheek, while the other grabbed her hands, her knives dropping on the floor with a loud clank.

Tara's eyes watered. "Please don't hurt me." She pleaded. The men laughed at her plight, pushing her to the floor. She quickly pulled out her gun and shot the two before they realized her game.

The scent of sweat mixed with gunpowder filled her nostrils. The adrenaline surged, drowning out the panic.

Johnny pushed a needle through her arm. She turned around, shooting his head off. She collapsed on the floor as the drug consumed her senses.

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Arjun's heart raced as he carried Tara into the hospital, her body limp and unresponsive. The emergency room buzzed with activity, but his focus was solely on her. "Help! She's been drugged!" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.

As they wheeled her into a treatment room, Dhruv, who had just finished with another patient, rushed over. His eyes widened in recognition-his mystery woman. Not her!

He quickly assessed her condition, some bruises, weakened pulse, no consciousness. "Sister, oxygen please," his voice steady despite the turmoil within. Two nurses plugged in the pulse tracker, heart rate monitor and oxygen mask.

"What happened to her?" Dhruv asked Arjun and Shree.

Shree held up the vial and syringe. "This, drug or poison, we're not sure."

"When?"

"Half an hour, approx." Arjun answered.

Dhruv nodded. "We will send this to the lab to know its contents, then begin with the treatment."

"We don't have that long. Do you not see?" Arjun's voice strained. Nothing was happening to his dear sister. He would fight the gods if needed.

"Sir, without knowing what is given to her, I can't begin with the treatment. As of now, we are stabilizing her." Dhruv explained calmly. He opened the vial, carefully sniffing the contents. "Doesn't smell like poison, should be a narcotic drug. But we need the specific composition."

Arjun turned to Shree, "send it to Liza and get the reports ASAP."

"Yes sir." Shree was on his toes.

The nurse administered saline. Arjun's eyes teared up as Tara's body convulsed, her face contorted in pain. Dhruv walked out of the room to seek opinion of a senior doctor regarding her treatment.

He returned to her ward a few minutes later as the panicked nurse called. The monitors beeped loudly as Tara's pulse weakened, her breaths shallow. He couldn't afford impatience, but it clawed at him.

Arjun held her hand. "I'm here, Piyu. Please breathe." he whispered.

Dhruv looked at Arjun. "What's her name?"

"Tara." Arjun answered.

"Hey, Tara, I'm Dr. Dhruv." He pressed his fingers on her wrist, checking for the feeble pulse. "We shall be treating you and you're going to be alright, okay? Now please take slow and steady, deep breaths." He talked to her as if she was consciously listening.

"Stay with us, Tara," Dhruv whispered, his hands steady as he worked.

Minutes felt like hours, but finally, Tara's breathing stabilized. Dhruv sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from his brow. "She will be fine," he told Arjun, who stood by, his eyes filled with worry and hope.

"Any medicine allergies that we should know of?" Dhruv asked.

"My mother is on the way with her case files and allergy reports."

"Alright . Let me know when she's here." Dhruv turned to the nurse, "Monitor her pulse and heart rate every 15 minutes. Keep Naloxone ready. Call me if there's any slightest variation." Dhruv scribbled a prescription.

Dhruv returned to his cabin and sipped water. Seeing his mystery girl from the café fighting for her life had unsettled him. The room seemed to close in on him-the sterile walls, the harsh fluorescent light.

Yesterday, when he saw Tara at the signal, he had hoped to see her again and talk to her. But they were on opposite sides of the road. His heart secretly prayed to meet her. But he forgot that his God had twisted ways of fulfilling his wishes.

He bitterly looked at the Bhagvad Gita on the corner table. He sank on the chair, glaring at the skies.

"You have taken away everyone I've ever loved." He accused the entity above clouds. "Why? Why is her life in danger when I don't even know her? Just me thinking about her caused this? Fine then. I won't think about her, I barely know her and it won't make any difference to her anyway."

Dhruv gulped a glass of water before resuming his round. He was about to open his cabin when a nurse came running to him. "Tara is sinking, again."

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