FF: Before The Last Sun Sets: 3/33 Blog Link Pg 1 - Page 24

I just loved it...it was so fast paced! It's a completely different, so new and nothing i've ever read before, i quite like this ruthless thug that is Arnav, he seems more funnier, and he doesn't sort of have that chip on his shoulder lol

Thanks for the PM. Nice update. Poor Khushi. Had to witness the killing. Good she ran away before she got into more trouble.

Chapter Three: The Million Shades Of Evil

A maze. She was stuck in a maze of brick walls and dusty floors, her heaving breath whistling as a low whine in her eardrums, her desperate heart pounding as she ran, darting behind every corner as if the hands would grab at her any second, her feet pounding as her eyes kept darting back to see how far her pursuer was. She turned another corner, entering the heart of the maze, coming face to face with smoldering eyes and the barrel of a gun.

Khushi's scream died in her throat as she sat up in bed clutching at the air in front of her, trying to grab the phantom gun and deflect it away from her, her hands slapping air, her eyes widening as she took in the dark outlines of furniture in her room.

A dream… it's only a dream. Khushi wiped the sweat off her brow and swung her feet to the cool floor. She walked to the small table placed underneath the open window where a jug of cool water stood. She took deep swallows of cold water, her heated body cooling as the water dripped down from her chin, the cool night breeze offering some relief from the sweltering confines of her dream.

After two weeks of terrified whimpering's and excruciating nightmares Khushi had been told to get over herself by a frustrated Garima. Madhumati had placed an understanding hand on Khushi's head and suggested she help Shashi out with the new shop to take her mind off things.

"These things happen titliya, they are normal in the small streets of all of India," Buaji had cooed. "Just try your best not to gain their attention and you will be safe. Just do as they say and they won't bring you any harm."

Khushi set the glass down and stared out at the street outside her window, bathed in ice blue as the moon rose high above, eerily silent. Khushi closed the curtains that swayed slightly in the breeze before she made her way back to bed, hoping that sleep would claim her, knowing it wouldn't.

oOo

"Khushi, go make some fresh jalaibies, we're all out," Shashi said to his daughter looking at the small stack of jalaibies. "If I didn't know any better I'd swear you had eaten all the jalaibies."

"I guess people in Laxmi Nagar have really good taste," Khushi giggled before she made her way to the kitchen at the back of the shop. She prepared the mixture and grinned when she heard another order for jalaibies from the front of the shop. She started swirling the mixture in the hot oil, the rhythmic motion bringing a sort of peace, as if the swirling of her hands stopped the swirling in her head.

"Arre Mamo," Khushi heard a gruff teasing voice at the front of the shop and her hand stilled. "You've already started your business? Where's the mithai for Happy Bhai's boys eh? You didn't invite us to the opening."

"I'm sorry I don't quite understand," Shashi said confused. "Happy Bhai?"

"Yes, Happy Bhai," said another voice, more calm, less teasing and sinister for it. "He's the man who keeps all the business in Laxmi Nagar flourishing. Makes sure you don't have competition, or that Bhonslay's men don't come and destroy your property."

A cold shiver ran down Khushi's spine, and with a feeling of dread she realized the implications, that if they didn't toe the line nothing would protect their property that Happy's Boys would be the ones inflicting the damage.

"Oh I see," Shashi said hastily and Khushi heard her father sliding the glass cases holding the mithai open and producing sweets for the hooligans that had decided to raid their shop today.

"Arre Mamo," the teasing voice of the first said "Arnav Bhai doesn't like gulab jamun, don't you have any jalaibies?"

"Jalaibies," Shashi's nervous voice trembled. "Why yes of course, my daughters just making a fresh batch. Khushi!" Shashi's voice rang out crystal clear in the still air. "Are the jalaibies ready?"

"Yes Bauji," Khushi called back hastily dunking the fried meshes in to hot sugary syrup. Khushi swirled in a few more jalaibies for good measure, in case the hoodlums wanted more. Pests the lot of them, Khushi thought as she worked furiously remembering how Shankar and his boys would roost at his father's shop in Lucknow every day for an hour, eating everything in sight, while Shankar brazenly flirted with her.

Khushi took out the jalaibies she had let rest in the chashni for about five minutes and laid them carefully in a sweet box before coming to the front of the shop. Keeping her eyes on the floor, making an obvious effort not to look the sarak chap mawali's in the eye, Khushi came forward and handed the sweets to her father who proffered them to the goons.

"Khushi."

She heard it as if it was carried like a whisper on the wind, the voice strong and commanding authority, forcing her to look up at the owner. She met brown eyes, melting pools of rich fertile mud, eyes she saw in her dread filled dreams. Khushi gasped and clutched her father's shoulder instinctively darting behind his frame. Shashi looked back at his daughter's terrified face and understood who the man in front of his shop was.

"Go make some more jalaibies Khushi," Shashi said in a steady voice and Khushi nodded shakily before she turned to leave.

"No," the command was cool and unhurried, it brooked no argument. "Turn around," and Khushi had no choice but to obey.

He saw her tremble where she stood, her hands birdlike, twitching, nervous, clutching unclutching, wanting to take flight, her eyes downcast, not meeting his and that annoyed him. "Look at me when I'm talking to you," he said harshly and noticed the fleeting fire in her eyes in the instant they met his before she reigned it back in.

"Get me some milk Khushi," he drawled with a lazy smile, resting his elbows on the counter. "I want to dunk your jalaibies in before I eat them."

His cronies guffawed at the lewd joke and Arnav grinned at her wolfishly while Shashi looked on, helpless. Khushi went to the back of the shop and poured some cold milk in a small bowl before bringing it to the front handing it to her father.

"Give it to me Khushi," the man said, his voice low, threatening of ominous things if his demands weren't met. Khushi clenched her jaw and extended her hand to him, he unwound from his position where he was leaning on the counter, standing up to his full impressive height, casting her in shadow. He placed his hand above hers on the bowl, his calloused fingers firm in their grasp.

Khushi tried to wrest her hand free but his hold made it difficult. "Careful Khushi," he whispered "you'll drop the bowl." Khushi tried to ease her fingers out, inadvertently brushing his softly, mingling, intertwining, dancing with his, their skin whispering, caressing. Khushi looked accusingly at the man and all he did was smile down at her lazily, his eyes fathomless yet intense, his entire stance teasing.

"Bhai," one of them said and Khushi recognized him as the owner of the calm sinister voice. "About the tax."

"Ah yes Aman," the man who was obviously their leader said. "The tax. Gupta ji, we have a rule here in Laxmi Nagar. Any man who wants to open up shop must pay homage to Happy Bhai, for the safety and prosperity of his business, taking his ashirvad like you would Devi Maya's, presenting prasad. Now we understand you aren't from around here and didn't know the rules so we are willing to ignore this insult. However, you must now pay double the homage if you mean to keep Happy Bhai pleased. It would make him feel less insulted, show that you really do regret your actions and lack of respect."

"How… I mean I never meant to offend Happy Bhai, if I had known I would have asked permission before starting any business," Shashi Gupta said through his stutter. "How much would I have to pay to blot this slight?"

"Two lakh," Aman of the sinister voice said.

"What?!" Khushi couldn't contain herself. They were hard pressed for money as it was, moving from one city to the next; starting a new business in a place you knew next to nobody, it was all very costly. Not to mention the money that had gone down the drain when Payal's baraat hadn't shown up at all that day back home. "But that's too much!"

"Oi!" the one with the teasing voice said "you should have thought of that before you opened up shop in Happy Bhai's area."

"Rakesh," their boss said in a low voice and hot headed Rakesh was brought to heel. "What's wrong Khushi? If you're wondering how to get that much money… I can help you with that you know," he ended with that teasing smile again, his words deliberately meant to get a rise out of her, to insult her.

"You can keep your filthy money!" Khushi spat before she could catch herself. "Give me two days and I'll throw the money in your face!" Khushi watched satisfied as his smirk fell and his eyes grew cold.

"That's a whole lot of customers you'll go through in two days, Khushi," he said, stressing her name and Khushi realized he kept saying her name, tasting it, mocking her. "Why not let me be the first? I always like helping the downtrodden members of my community out. What do you say? Khushi?"

"Go to.."

"Khushi!" Shashi Gupta stopped his daughter mid-sentence. "Go home!"

"But Bauji!" Khushi stopped when Shashi placed his hand on her shoulder, not tightly but the weight was heavy and sobering. "You are not doing your best to stay invisible Khushi," he whispered and Khushi's cheeks blazed with shame and regret. Khushi lowered her eyes and nodded, walking to the front of the store to get out and go home. But the leader stood in front of her, not moving, forcing her to brush past him.

Khushi felt heat emanate from his body as she skirted around him expecting his groping fingers to try and touch her, feel her up but he didn't. To his credit he stood stock still and let her do all the moving looking down at her with mocking eyes. Khushi finally made it down the two small steps of their shop and started walking really fast, not looking back.

She was furious, her fear of the man with the gun temporarily forgotten, he was human, flesh and blood, but possessed with evil that made him less human in her eyes, but still mortal. She was still fuming over the unfairness of things when she went colliding in to a thick mass, a mass with arms that held her before she fell to the ground.

She looked in to coal black eyes, a strong mouth and arched eyebrows, a handsome face that could look fierce if it wanted to, but right now it looked puzzled. Khushi looked down at the hands holding her gently and noticed the khaki uniform, the black plastic name plate with Inspt. Shyam Jha written on it and Khushi couldn't help but smile up at him in relief.

"You're a policeman!" she crowed her smile wide and bright.

"Uh… yes," the officer said not sure of what to make of this girl he'd never seen before.

"Then you must come with me!" she said securing his hand under her arm. "Some gunda's are at my father's shop threatening to destroy our shop if he doesn't pay them two lakhs in extortion money! How are we supposed to come up with that kind of money? I mean if we had that kind of money we wouldn't be in Laxmi Nagar would we? We'd be in some rich area where these hooligans wouldn't get to us…"

The girl prattled on and on as she led him to a row of shops at the end of the street. Shyam Manohar Jha watched as the slight thing maneuvered him to stand in front of a sweet shop, then examined him up and down, shook her head as if dissatisfied, held his arms up and rested his hand on his hips, nudging his legs apart slightly.

"Hold your head up and scowl!" Khushi whispered in his ear and Shyam couldn't help but smile down at her in amusement.

"Who are we trying to scare again?"

"Uh…" Khushi looked at him wide eyes. She didn't even know the man's name. She knew the lackeys were Aman and Rakesh but what was his name? "Happy Bhai's boys," Khushi said finally hanging on to the only name that made sense.

"Oh," Shyam said as if he finally understood something. He stiffened his back and scowled at the backs of the three offenders. Khushi backed up a few steps to watch with barely concealed glee. "Arnav Singh Raizada!" Shyam called and Khushi watched with bated breath as the man named Arnav, who had been haunting her every waking minute turned around to face the authorities. Khushi expected him to bolt, she expected him to cower in fear, even whip out his gun in defiance. She did not expect him to grin and welcome the officer with open arms.

"Shyam Bhai," the man named Arnav Singh Raizada grinned down at Shyam Jha the police officer, upholder of the law, the protector of citizens. Shyam embraced Arnav in a half hug before turning to an open mouthed Khushi. "This girl here say's your terrorizing her father."

Arnav turned amused eyes at Khushi looking her up and down with a new found interest as if she surprised him no end. "They didn't pay the tax Shyam Bhai," Arnav said still looking at Khushi who was shooting daggers at him.

"Well they're new here, why not cut them some slack?" Shyam suggested. "Otherwise they'll think us Delhi walas are callous and inhospitable. How about the original with a warning, huh?" Shyam turned to Khushi who was looking disappointed. "What do you say? Is that fair?"

"No," Khushi replied petulantly, "none of this is fair!"

"Now now," Shyam said stepping forward with Arnav looking at her from over Shyam's shoulder. "Look if you want to live here in peace this much you'll have to do."

"But you're supposed to help us, not them!" Khushi pointed at Arnav who was smiling sardonically.

"Little girl," Shyam said stepping forward till he was inches from her forcing her to look up in to his black eyes. "It's time to grow up and understand how the world works, if you don't want to understand it then don't try and be a part of it because it will crush you. Learn to roll with it. Paying the original is far better than paying the double or none at all. Trust me," Shyam looked down at her, his eyes soft as he noticed the disbelief of youth, the unshakable sense that she could change it all, that the world was in her palms, that life and destiny was in her control. Shyam lifted a finger and stroked her forehead gently, tucking a free strand behind her ear. "I'm doing the best I can to protect you but you need to help me too."

Khushi understood what he was trying to say, the whole system was corrupt and unfair and he had helped lessen the amount owed to a don who brought them nothing but misery and a threat above their heads at all times. "Fine," Khushi said her eyes spitting venom at the man standing behind Shyam.

"Good, that's settled then. Right Arnav?"

"Sure Shyam Bhai, anything for you."

:😆 what a stalking
first i'm first
ok now going to read

that was awesome...K innocenec is disarming...
A is a complete rogue...and S...is a cop...yet the cops and the rogues are hand in gloves...

what a role reversal...
enjoying the story

woohhh arnav likes jalebisss

OMG that was brilliant! I love this FF to bits already! Everything about it is so good! The characterization, the situations, everything, I love it! Amazing job Muchy!

khusis nightmare was scary! very scary!
and arnav liking jalebi, its realLy weird since we have a mind set oN hIm being a diaBetic ! ;)
and OMG the encouNter, i was holding my breath tilL the end of it!
arnav is a gunda, as in bhai of laxmi nagar! thats pretty cool and scary!
and shyam he is a corrupt police man! *sigh*
that was brilliante munchy! i am loving the way ths story is moving!
i had been waiting for ur update, i couldnt get my mind off ths FF!
cant wait to c how the story unfolds!
welL written munchy! thanks for the pm :)