As the darkness invaded the sky, commotion of the chaotic NEW YORK CITY came to an end for the day. Good nights were exchanged and people retired to their homes. Children sprang from their houses for their sundown games and women out there tightened the strap of their apron for the evening supper. The roads showed immense tumults and night clubs were all set for yet another blast. Amidst all this hush push, a girl with a petite frame tiptoed towards her house dreading the wrath of the only fatherly figure in her life. Her phone flashed fifteen missed calls and 10 voice mails. BOY! She was dead! Her heart pumped as massively as if it would explode anytime soon!! Her body perspired like never before! She could feel the tiny drops of her sweat making its way from the left brow to the chin..Anika could see her end! Her brother Sahil could be worst than the hitler when it comes to breaking the not-to-be-broken- laws'. Well barring the looks of course! He didn't have those little weird looking moustaches above his lips! Instead, He was one of the most eligible CID bachelors of the town with his perfectly toned body and officer attitude! He was indeed the best brother to Anika..but his impatient and short tempered nature, thanks to his profession, always pissed her. And today, when she was 2 hours late from her dead line, she knew she was gone! Not even the best of her puppy faces could save her! Chanting some prayers for her safety' for the umpteenth time, she at last pressed the bell. Her eyes completely shut,body entirely ready to take in the fury and mind working on the ways of apologizing. She finally heard the sound of rotating knobs. She opened one of her eyes to check the level of danger she was in. She saw Sahil standing at the door waiting for her to come in with a smile. Wait, WHAT?? A smile??
Man, did her anxiety make her insane? Was she hallucinating? Anika blinked once..twice..and..thrice..! the smile didn't go but! She wasn't dreaming! He WAS actually smiling at her! Her hearbeat finally relaxed a bit.. But her brain was still not completely OK with the sudden change' in his behaviour.. Was it the silence before the storm? She tried to read the smile and look at the face behind it. But no, the smile was genuine. Boy! Her stars were bright today! "Planning to come in?" She heard him finally speaking. She nodded and came in. Feeling guilty for being so late. May be he was too angry to even shout at her. "Bhaiya, wo act. I lost the track of time while playing badminton and..." Anika tried to reason why she was late! Her badminton championship was approaching and her coach was giving her hard time. And today he squeezed every drop of blood from her body. But before she could continue Sahil spoke "Your snacks is ready. Get fresh and have it.." He turned to move towards the kitchen avoiding any further conversation. Anika could feel some thing was wrong. Was he that angry? Would he not even shout at her? "Bhaiya I m sorry.." She bowed her head down in shame. She couldn't see her brother mad. But why was he being so bizarre today. It wasn't the first time she was late! It was actually the 8th time in this month! "Bhaiya please na! Shout at me or do whatever you want but Please don't ignore me.I promise i wont be late next time!" She said "Anika, you said the same thing last time..."Sahil sighed.. "i know i am being too strict on you but I get scared zoya.. I can bear anything but losing you..You know this right.. My work not only makes my life hazardous but also people who are linked with me get affected.. And i m afraid, if anything happened to you, What would i do.." Anika looked up. She understood what he tried to convey her. They have lost a lot in their life and they were the only support for each other. Sahil had been a pillar for her through out and she, well she had been an emotional support for him. She was just 3 and Sahil was 10 when their parents were killed brutally in a terrorist attack. She was too young to remember anything but her brother did. She had seen him working very hard to meet their daily ends. She had seen him breaking down at nights when she used to ask him about her mom and dad..Sahil snubbed his childhood and worked day and night so that they could uphold a life. He had to earn money for his and her studies. He made sure that Anika was not deprived of basic needs. He had promised their parents on their death bed that he would take care of her and he undoubtedly did. There were times when Anika's childlike instincts would demand something after being fascinated from the things her friends had and Sahil would sell his clothes to get her those. She was no less than a daughter to him. He adored her like anything and He loved her more than his own life.And for Anika , Sahil was more like a father than brother. She never felt the need of any parental presence as Sahil was always there. However he himself did feel the void. Anika respected him till no extent for being the sole reason of her existence. And today when for the first time her brother told her about his fears she realized that may be its time for her to grow up..Not because she felt indebted but because she had comprehended the fact that it was her turn to be play her part of being a good sister. "You don't need to worry about it bhaiya. When i have you, nothing can happen to me. And i promise it wont happen next time"Saying so, she hugged him..and when she felt him hug her back, she relaxed.
Sahil knew Anika's trust on him was unwavering and this was what he was afraid of. What if he failed her trust.. and something happened to her. Even the thought of her getting hurt shuddered him. And After today's meeting his fears were amplified. Till Anika was with him,her life was at stake..and he knew that
he' was right. If anyone who could keep her safe was only
him. For her safety, Sahil had to do this. But his heart couldn't trust the fiend with his baby sister. He was capable of doing anything.
Sahil, you have no other choice. You have to do this' he could again hear his brain which was ranting the same thing since the time he got to know that some one was after Anika's life. He had keep her away from him, for her own sake. "Ani,baby u remember, once u told me about doing a part time job?" He asked her, breaking the hug. "Yes bhai, I m looking for it since ages!" She said. "Well your search is now over" Sahil said as he cleaned the dishes. He could feel his heart thumping against his chest. For the first time in his 25 years of life he lied to her. "Really? OMG! I cant believe it! Bhaiya you are the best! Where is it? When m i supposed to join?" He saw her jumping in enthusiasm and her twinkling eyes made his spirit sink in guilt. Seeing the innocence her eyes simulated ,he thought of backing off. He couldn't do this to her. How could he kill her this innocence with his own bare hands. But again his mind triggered and her safety came into picture. The foremost thing right now was to protect her..and he would do it. Even if it meant destroying her impeccability. "Calm down baby girl. Its a secretary job...for Shivaay singh oberoi.."
...
To say Anika was excited would surely be an understatement! She was on 9th cloud!Her excessively exhausted body was now all energized and her extremely traumatised brain was ecstatic. She had been looking for a job since the day she stepped out from her school life. After clearing her junior school with a remarkable performance, all she wanted was to support her brother financially. Not that they were monetarily frail,rather, Sahil's hardwork had paid him back and they ,at this point of time could buy every possible thing, but because she now wanted him to loosen up a bit and give a break to his frantic life. She had seen how Sahil had taken for granted not only his childhood but also the youth age', as they say , for her. It was her turn now to do her part. But little did she know that life is never about what you want or decide. Its all pre planned. The eternal power up there plays his own game and we humans are nothing but mere his players. Anika was way too drifted from the reality. The job which she thought as her first step was the beginning of her doom. But at the moment, she was pretty keyed up for the job. "Bhaiyya who exactly is shivaay singh oberoi?" She twitched her nose as her mind registered how weighty the name was...She tugged Sahil's shoulder for some response when he stood rooted to his spot. Sahil had never hated himself this much, despite the fact that his intensions weren't bad his heart despised him to push his own sister into the den of the lion. But what else could he do? That was the only way to keep her safe. He couldn't hide, he couldn't tell. What was he supposed to say? That her brother, who she trusted the most, was deliberately shoving her into the darkness. But he had to. So keeping the catastrophic thoughts which were misted up in his mind, aside, he smiled. "he's one of the most successful businessman in the state baby.But you need to promise me one thing..you are NOT going to tell any one where you are going or with whom you are going to work. Specially Shivaay's name." However, Sahil didn't lie completely. Shivaay singh oberoi was indeed a businessman. The OBEROI INDUSTRIES were the most affluent industries in the entire world. THE MAN' had a diamond like perfection. Be it business or crime. "So i m going to assist him? Bhaiya Thank you so much!" Anika couldn't believe her luck! She had always wanted to go into business unlike her brother. "Ani, I'll drop you there within 2 hrs. U get ready. OK..?" Sahil said. "What? Two hours? Bhaiya its 6! This is the time when offices get closed." Anika found it..FUNNY..! "Yeah i know, But your boss wants to meet you, so get ready..and Anika, i want you to be in your best behaviour ok? No pranks and absolutely no mischief!" "Chillax bro! I'll just go and get ready!"
Ani ran to her room and shut the door! She took her cell and dialled the second on her speed dial. "RUDRA OBEROI! Guess what! I need to tell you something Amazing!! You wont believe.." "Hold on girl! First tell me was bhaiya angry? I have chewed almost all my nails thinking of him!" "That's what m telling you na. Bhaiya didn't even say a word! I mean Yes, He was angry but he had a better reason to not shout at me! I got a JOB !" "Omg! You got a job?where? Wow cady! Congrats!" "Which poor company has taken the risk to appoint THE ANIKA?" "RUDRA, Just remember i m going to kill you the next moment i see you! By the way I m going to join SSO industries,." "You ought to be kidding me!!" "NOPE! I swear!" " You are one little lucky chick man! So when is your joining?" "Well, i know it is hilarious but its after 2 hours!" "What..? Right now? Ok..all the best."' "Thanks man"
Meanwhile at the other corner of the city.
BANG...!!
shot down..!!
The ferocious sound of the gun cut through as sharp as a knife...The road was completely filled with deafening silence and the air intoxicated with vicious murder... His mind took a single second to realize that nothing mattered anymore...His deep breaths were the only tune that reached his ears.. his eyes fixated at his killer while the pain seemed to disappear as his heart gave up and brain stopped analyzing.. and then peacefully as ever, he fell.. It was all over... His murderous brown eyes scanned every inch of the now-dead-body..He knelt down and traced the wound of his target... Blood oozed out of his temple...his face pale and the body laid motionless...His vicious gaze reflected immense pleasure... and brain..well..it was now satisfied...,
"Rest in peace JAY KHANNA..!! "
his throat voiced, accompanied by a smirk on his lips which mirrored the darkness of his heart... He stood up, tucking in his gun under his belt with no remorse..no guilty in his agenda...He signalled peter to take the matter in his hands now...his job was done...
He walked out of the remote building with a divine power trapped in him...The immense clot that clouded his better judgment surfaced as his face glowed with satisfaction...Death..hurt..pain..these very words brought no fear in him...He walked on the empty roads with a pride for being the most dreadful creature on this earth...
A pat at the back brought him back from his twisted thoughts...He turned his head towards the direction...
"MISSION ACOMPLISHED.." Said roy. He could see the rage in the eyes of his master. He knew this was coming. Jay khanna had himself brought his death. He got to know about the murky deeds.
The deep voice uttered walking towards their respected motorbikes to which Shivaay replied "Not yet..we have a long way to go..but for now..yeah...step one...done.." "Don, How are we going to deal with Sahil. You know he's the best in the department!" Roy asked and Shivaay smirked. "Dont worry roy..Anika is on her way" saying so, he zoomed off, thinking about the morning meeting..
Flashback
"Well Sahil think you are in a bit of a mess!" Sahil looked at Shivaay as he grinned at him .Seeing him looking so smug sitting in his leather black chair..this young millionaire monster was ruthless "I don't know why you are doing this .please don't do this to Anika. You have a brawl with me..please spare her.."
"I have heard this all before..I seriously get bored hearing this stuff!!" Sahil looked at the biggest criminal of the state not caring about anyone but himself as he picked up the glass paperweight spinning it on the desk.. He had no family(well till now no one knew about it) and power meant everything to him.He knew asad was enjoying seeing him all helpless. "You know the deal Cop,you'll help me with my mission and I'll not hurt your dear little sister!" Shivaay singh oberoi was crystal clear with his words. "I cant do this! I cant betray my own country!" Sahil was loosing his patience. How he wished to just arrest him then and there but. He was vulnerable. "Psht..I thought u could do anything for your sister.But I guess I was wrong I guess..Ok then..Anika wont be reaching home after her college gets over.."And he got up from the chair to leave..But he heard sahil calling him back.Shivaay couldn't help but laugh at his own cunningness... "wait..m..m ready...please let anika go..don't hurt her.."sahil dropped the ball as he pleaded...He couldn't see anika hurt. His mind which was in quandary a moment before, refused to think anything when he heard him about killing anika..No..He would die before seeing anika hurt... "Hey, you are back in your senses! I thought your job has caused you a -loss- of- brain.." shivaay spoke and smiled deceitfully. "I'll do exactly what you want me to do, I wont tell the force about your whereabouts and plans..just don't..please..dont do anything to Anika.." Sahil pleaded. All he wanted right now was to keep anika away from this cruel creature. "Well well well officer.! M glad u agreed. But u see, I have one more condition..till our mission gets over, anika will be staying with me!" "What? NO! You said you would let anika go! I m helping you..aint i..then why you need anika..." To say sahil was scared would be an understatement. He was torn between his duty towards his profession and sister. "You know officer, I don't trust you guys...even you are ready to help me, I need assurance..so till my work is done, anika will be with me...And take my words, I'll return her back without a scar. So its up to you...you want her killed or you want her to be with me.!!!"
Flashback over