The Sinister

23.

"I promise I’ll not do anything like that again" Sita says slowly, her voice trembling as she hugs her baba tightly.

He smiles faintly but the sadness in his eyes refuses to hide. His hand moves gently to her head and he caresses her hair with trembling fingers, trying to comfort his broken daughter while silently fighting his own pain.

"I’ll take you away from there soon" he says in a low, firm voice. Sita immediately breaks the hug and looks up at him.

Her heart should feel happy hearing those words. She should feel relieved. But instead, a strange sadness settles deep inside her chest, confusing her even more.

"He didn’t do anything with you, right?" her mother asks softly, her voice filled with fear and concern as she caresses Sita’s head lovingly.

"No maa, he is not that bad" Sita says quietly. Her words leave her lips before she can stop them.

The moment her father hears this, his eyes widen slowly in silent horror. His worst fear is coming true. This is not how Sita is supposed to feel. This is not what he wanted.

But here she is… defending him. Feeling something she herself does not fully understand. Maybe something more than she should.

Unable to bear it, he turns his face away and looks out of the window. His jaw tightens. His hands curl into fists.

Outside, Zayran stands beside his car, leaning against it casually, a cigarette resting between his fingers. Smoke escapes his lips as he looks calm.

Her father suddenly gets up from the couch without saying a word, he walks outside the house.

"I also think he is not that bad" her mother says softly, her eyes still on the door through which her husband just left. Sita’s breath gets stuck in her throat.

"You know, Sita… he came to the hospital one night" her mother continues, her voice gentle but serious. "I hear him telling the doctor that your baba should get the best treatment"

Sita freezes.

Her entire body goes still. Her heart begins to race faster inside her chest. She did not know this. She was never supposed to know this.

"I think log jiju ke baare mein ulta sidha bolte hai, woh itne bure nahi hai" Anu says casually.

(I think people talk nonsense about brothers-in-law but he is not that bad)

Sita immediately glares at her, her eyes sharp and warning, her heart refusing to accept the storm rising inside her.

"What I’m saying is the truth. He doesn’t harm you or us. Instead, he saves baba. And no one can change my perspective about him" Anu says firmly, her chin lifting with stubborn confidence as she leans back comfortably on the couch, crossing her arms as if daring anyone to argue with her.

"Yeah and look at his car. It’s a bomb. Di, tell jiju to give me a ride" Adi says excitedly, his eyes shining with admiration as they remain fixed on the expensive car outside.

Sita closes her eyes for a moment and rubs her temple slowly, feeling a headache forming because of their words.

"Agar baba ne tum teeno ki baatein sun li, to teeno ko goli maar denge" Sita says in a low but serious voice, looking at all three of them sharply.

(If baba hears you three talking like this, he will shoot all three of you)

Immediately, they look here and there innocently, pretending as if they never said anything.

"Handsome to hai damad mera" her mother says softly, her eyes unknowingly drifting toward Zayran outside, admiration clearly visible on her face.

(My son-in-law is handsome)

Sita’s head snaps toward her mother, her eyes widening in pure disbelief. She stares at her, unable to believe what she just hears.

"Sach mein. Meri aalu ki bori jaisi di ko hot and spicy fries jaise jiju mil gaye hai" Anu says dramatically, placing a hand on her chest as she admires Zayran with her mother, both of them shamelessly impressed.

(Truly. My sister, who is like a sack of potatoes, gets a brother-in-law who is like hot and spicy fries)

"And look at his car" Adi adds, his voice filled with awe as his eyes remain glued to Zayran’s car, completely fascinated by everything about him.

"Mai jaa rahi hu" Sita says, her patience finally breaking as she stands up abruptly from the couch.

(I am leaving)

Before she can walk away, her mother quickly grabs her wrist and pulls her back gently.

"We are just joking, Situuu" her mother says softly, smiling as she pulls Sita’s cheek lovingly.

Sita pulls her face back slightly and gives all of them a cold, suspicious look, her eyes clearly saying Bharosa nahi hai mujhe aap sab par.

"Waise aaj jab hum aa rahe the na yahan tab…" Sita starts speaking slowly, her eyes lowered to her lap as her fingers play with the edge of her dupatta.

(By the way, today when we were coming here…)

"Tab usne tujhe propose kiya" her mother suddenly says dramatically, raising her eyebrows teasingly.

(Then he proposed to you)

Sita immediately folds her arms tightly across her chest, her jaw clenching in irritation, completely done with their nonsense.

"Okay sorry" they all say quickly, their faces turning serious as they gesture for her to continue.

She takes a slow breath and begins speaking again.

"He shoots his zabardasti ki fiancée on her hand because she raises her hand on me" Sita says quietly, her voice still carrying the shock of that moment.

All three of their eyes widen instantly, almost popping out in disbelief. Their hands fly to their mouths as they cover them in pure shock, unable to process what they just hear.

"I think jiju is in love with his wife" Anu speaks softly, her eyes shining with realization.

Her mother and Adi slowly nod their heads in agreement.

"Kuch bhi" Sita says quickly, shaking her head in denial as she turns her face toward the window. Outside, her baba and Zayran stand facing each other, talking seriously.

(Nonsense)

"Sita, duniya dekhi hai maine aur mujhe pata hai Zayran bura nahi hai. Aur agar hai bhi, to uske bhi kuch reasons honge" her mother says sincerely, her voice calm and wise.

(Sita, I have seen the world and I know Zayran is not bad. And even if he is, he must have his reasons)

Sita blinks slowly. Her eyes remain fixed on him outside, watching him carefully, observing his calm posture, his unreadable face.

Is he really good? she asks herself silently, her heart feeling confused.

Outside, Zayran stands confidently in front of Anil.

"How are you, father-in-law?" Zayran asks, folding his arms across his chest as his eyes remain fixed on Anil’s face.

"I am more than fine. But I don’t think you will be… because I know Raze is after you" Anil says with a small smile on his lips but his eyes remain cold and challenging.

"I will not have to do anything. Once Raze ends your life, I will take my daughter back from that hell" Anil says firmly, his voice filled with hatred as he stares directly into Zayran’s emotionless face.

"I’m scared" Zayran acts like he is afraid but his eyes remain dark and completely fearless.

"You will be scared to death. And remember, there is always someone more powerful than you, Zayran Kaalver" Anil says coldly, his eyes filled with warning and hatred.

Zayran chuckles at his words.

"I know, sasur ji, I know. But nothing will happen to me… because your daughter will not let anything happen to me" he says with a proud, confident smile spreading across his face.

Anil’s jaw tightens instantly. His teeth grit in anger as his hands curl into fists beside him.

"She will kill you with her own hands" Anil says sharply, his voice filled with certainty.

Zayran slowly leans closer to him, his eyes dark and dangerous.

"She will not. Mark my words. And don’t drag my wife into all this" he speaks innocently.

"Or else I will do something… like I did six months ago with the entire police department.

Or maybe something even worse than that.

And about her leaving me, then know one thing…

she is never going to leave me" He finishes and leans back against his car again, his posture relaxed, as if he does not just issue a dangerous warning.

Anil glares at him hard, his eyes burning with anger and helplessness. He knows something is cooking in Zayran’s mind… or maybe he doesn’t. That uncertainty makes everything worse.

"Baba, I’m going" Sita says softly as she walks out of the house, her steps slow and hesitant.

Anil immediately turns toward his daughter. His expression softens instantly and a small, gentle smile appears on his face.

"Take care" he says quietly as he pulls her into a soft hug. His arms wrap around her protectively and he places a loving fatherly kiss on her head.

Sita closes her eyes for a brief moment, silently holding onto his warmth.

She pulls away slowly and waves goodbye to her family, her heart feeling heavy.

She walks toward the car and is about to sit inside when she suddenly stops. Her eyes fall on the commissioner and his son, who are walking toward the house.

"Sita, how are you?" the commissioner asks the moment he sees her.

Sita’s body stiffens slightly. She forces a small smile onto her face, even though it does not reach her eyes.

"I’m fine" she says quietly. She turns to sit inside the car again, wanting to leave as soon as possible but Neil’s voice stops her.

"I’m sorry for my behaviour. Please give me another chance" he says slowly, his voice filled with regret.

Sita does not reply. She simply lowers her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around the edge of the car door.

Inside the car, Zayran sits silently in the driver’s seat, watching both of them carefully. His fingers tap slowly on the steering wheel, one after another, the soft sound filling the quiet space.

"I’m going. Bye" Sita says softly to her family, completely ignoring Neil’s apology.

She sits inside the car and closes the door gently. She lifts her hand and waves at them one last time.

Zayran starts the car.

"I see someone is sorry for their behaviour" Zayran says casually, his voice calm but clearly teasing her.

It irritates her instantly. She turns her face toward the window, refusing to look at him, silently cursing him under her breath.

Outside, the sun is slowly setting. The golden light spreads across the sky, painting everything in warm colors. The tall trees of the forest cast long, beautiful shadows on the empty road.

There are hardly any cars around. Everything feels quiet. Peaceful. And most importantly, she feels peace inside her heart… because she meets her father. Because he is not angry with her. Because he still loves her.

"Don’t panic" Zayran suddenly says. His words break her thoughts. She turns her head toward him, confusion clearly visible on her face.

"What do you mean?" she asks softly.

He does not reply. Instead, he presses the accelerator harder. The car speeds up.

"Slow down the car" she says, her voice shaking as her eyes widen in fear. Her fingers grip the window tightly, her knuckles turning pale as panic slowly takes over her body.

"Relax" he says calmly. Her eyes widen even more in disbelief. He is telling her to relax while speeding the car at its highest.

His face remains blank, his jaw relaxed, his eyes focused on the road. But she looks like she is on the verge of dying from fear. Her breathing becomes uneven, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Someone is chasing us" he says casually. Her heart jumps violently inside her chest.

"Who… and why?" she asks fearfully, her voice barely stable.

She quickly looks into the side mirror and her blood runs cold. Not one. Not two. But many cars are chasing them closely.

"I don’t know. Should I go and ask them for you?" he asks.

She immediately turns her head and looks at him in disbelief. How is he so calm in a situation like this? How is his voice not shaking? How is he not panicking? His calmness scares her more than the danger itself.

"Sita, kitna awesome banda hai tera. Dekh, aise situation mein bhi kitni calmly baat kar raha hai tere se, na ki apni awaaz uchi karke chilla raha hai" her subconscious says, admiring him.

(Sita, how awesome your man is. Look, even in this situation he is talking to you so calmly instead of raising his voice and shouting)

She closes her eyes tightly in frustration, trying to silence her own thoughts.

"Fuck" he curses under his breath.

Suddenly, the car loses balance because of continuous firing at its tires. The loud gunshots echo in the air.

"I’m scared!" she screams loudly, her voice breaking as she holds her breath in terror.

He grips the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenching as he tries to control the car. But it becomes harder with every second.

The car screeches loudly, the sound sharp and painful, before losing complete control. The car crashes down roughly into the forest. Their bodies jerk violently inside the car from the impact. His eyes immediately move toward her.

The car rolls down badly and gets stuck violently between two thick trees. Everything happens so fast that she cannot even understand what is happening.

Her body jerks forward dangerously and her head is about to hit the glass window but suddenly he places his hand firmly between her head and the glass, protecting her. His hand takes the impact instead of her.

Her breathing becomes heavy. Her chest rises and falls rapidly as fear takes control of her entire body. Her ears ring from the loud crash. Her hands tremble.

She slowly opens her eyes. Her vision feels blurry at first but then she sees him clearly. He quickly opens the car cabinet and takes out his gun and bullets. He places the gun and bullets inside his pocket without wasting a second.

Then he kicks his side of the door hard. The door opens forcefully, and he steps outside.

"Is he going to leave me here like this?" she mumbles to herself, her voice shaking as fresh tears fill her eyes. Her heart tightens painfully at the thought.

She tries to move her legs but they are stuck between the damaged parts of the car. She pushes harder, panic rising inside her but nothing works.

Suddenly, the door on her side is pulled open harshly. The broken metal makes a loud sound as he forcefully pulls it away.

She immediately steps outside, her legs shaking badly. She takes deep breaths again and again, trying to calm herself, trying to breathe properly.

She turns toward him. But he is not looking at her. His eyes remain fixed on something in front of him. Her heart drops. She slowly turns her head in the same direction.

Her eyes widen in pure shock. Not one. Not two. Not three. So many men dressed in black outfits run toward them, their guns held tightly in their hands, their movements fast and deadly.

"A… are they your men?" she asks fearfully, her voice trembling as she takes a small step back. He immediately steps in front of her, shielding her body with his own.

"No. They are not" he says. He takes out his gun calmly.

"Kanha… help" she whispers softly.

Suddenly, the firing starts. The loud gunshots echo through the forest, breaking the silence completely.

She immediately closes her eyes and moves closer to him, her body trembling badly as she tries to hide behind him, trying to escape from this nightmare.

He starts shooting back, his movements fast and precise. But the number of men is insane.

“Run” he says and I don’t wait for even a second and start running with him. The sound of gunshots echoes in the air. So many bullets pass dangerously close to us.

I keep waiting to feel one bullet hit me. My mind is a complete mess. I can’t think properly. I don’t even understand what is really happening to us. My head keeps spinning because of the sudden car crash and now all this chaos.

Suddenly, he grabs my sleeve tightly and pulls me behind a thick tree. My breath hitches sharply as my body crashes slightly against his chest. My hands press against him to steady myself.

I slowly lift my head and look up at him. His eyes are already on me, dark and intense. My lips part as I try to say something but because of how close we are, no words come out.

The air between us feels heavy. We just stand there, staring at each other, our breaths mixing in the cold night air.

“Wh…” I try to speak but he quickly places his hand near my face and silently stops me.

He leans a little and looks outside from behind the tree. I follow his movement and slowly turn my head to look too.

They run past us. They don’t see us. The night has already started to fall and the darkness helps us hide.

“Are they here for me?” I ask in a low, shaky voice after they finally pass us.

I turn back to look at him and my breath hitches again. He is still standing very close to me. This is the first time in my life that I am this close to a man.

I don’t understand what is happening to me. Something strange moves in my stomach. My hands feel cold but my cheeks feel warm.

“Yes” he replies shortly. My eyes widen instantly. I blink a few times and gulp hard. Sita, don’t show him that you are scared.

“I’m not scared of anyone” I say, trying to sound brave even when my heart is beating wildly inside my chest.

He smiles.

And… okay, I admit it. I am scared of his smile. There is something dangerous in it, something dark and silent that makes my stomach twist. His silence feels heavier than words. It makes me feel small and exposed.

“Is that so?” he asks softly, leaning his face closer to mine.

My fingers tighten around my dress, gripping the fabric tightly as if it can protect me. My eyes stay locked on his face even though every part of me wants to look away. I slowly nod my head, forcing myself to stay strong in front of him.

“Ohh, you both are here” a scary voice suddenly comes from the side.

My heart jumps violently and I quickly turn my head. My breath stops when I see a few men standing there, their figures half hidden in the darkness.

One of them smiles creepily and fear runs through my entire body like ice. I stop myself from screaming at the top of my lungs, even though the urge is strong because of how terrifying he looks.

Four of them slowly lift their guns and point them directly at him. T… they are here for him.

My eyes move to him instantly. He stands calmly beside me, his face showing no fear, no panic, nothing.

“Who sent you all?” he asks. His voice is… ho… I mean harsh. It sends shivers down my spine.

“Raze” they reply. My eyes widen in shock. I have heard about Raze.

“Come with us” one of them says. He slowly steps out from behind the tree. My feet move on their own and I walk behind him, staying close to him.

Is he going to surrender? But before my thoughts can go any further, everything happens in the blink of an eye.

He suddenly grabs one of the man at the speed of light. The man doesn’t even get time to react. He doesn’t shoot anyone but he makes the man whom he grabbed shoot others.

Gunshots echo loudly in the silent forest. I blink rapidly, unable to understand what is happening.

Before I can even breathe properly, he twists the man’s neck with his bare hands. A sickening crack sound fills the air.

And… done.

All of them fall to the ground, lifeless.

My body freezes. H…he is really Sinister of Velqar.

“Such bad people” he speaks innocently. “They kill their own members” His voice holds no emotion as he starts walking ahead, leaving their dead bodies behind.

I stare at him in complete disbelief, my feet rooted to the ground.

“Come or else they’ll wake up” he says without turning back. His words make fear rush through me again. I quickly run behind him, not wanting to be left alone there.

“Where are we going?” I ask slowly, my voice trembling slightly. I am afraid of him now.

The forest is pitch dark. Nothing is visible clearly. The tall trees surround us like silent witnesses. The sound of insects fills the air, making the silence even more terrifying.

“Do you know how to go out of here?” I ask again, walking close to him. My eyes keep moving everywhere, scanning the dark forest carefully because I know there are still a few people around. Not everyone is dead.

“What if they attack us from somewhere?” I ask again, gulping hard as fear tightens inside my chest.

He doesn’t reply.

He just keeps walking silently, as if none of this affects him.

“You face situations like this a lot, right? Because you are mafia” I ask again, trying to fill the silence.

He still doesn’t reply. But I don’t stop myself from talking. I keep speaking to ignore my fear. The fear of getting killed by those men…or maybe by this man walking beside me.

“How many people are there who want to kill you? And I heard about Raze… that he is here to kill you” I ask again.

This time, he suddenly stops walking. My steps stop too. He slowly turns towards me.

I gulp hard as his sharp eyes lock on mine. His gaze is intense and unreadable. He doesn’t say anything. He just stares at me silently and that silence feels heavier than any words.

Then, without replying, he turns away and starts walking ahead again. “Can’t he stay a little soft with me? I’m his wife” I mumble to myself angrily, my lips forming a small pout as I walk behind him.

“Ohh, someone wants him to become soft for his wife” my subconscious says teasingly.

My eyes widen slightly and I quickly close them in embarrassment because of what I just thought.

We keep walking for a minute, the sound of dry leaves crunching under our feet echoing softly in the silent forest.

But suddenly, something catches my eyes.

My body reacts before my mind can think.

Without wasting a second, I grab his hand tightly and pull him towards me.

His body hits the tree behind him as I push him against it.

My heart pounds loudly as I quickly place my hand over his mouth, pressing it firmly to stop him from speaking.

“Look there” I say very slowly, my voice barely above a whisper as I press him harder against the tree. I don’t even realize the position we are in.

Then my eyes slowly turn towards him. And I freeze. We are so close… so close that I can hear his heartbeat.

His heartbeat is slow. Almost like it has stopped.

My head only reaches his shoulder, making me feel small in front of him. Our eyes lock with each other, neither of us looking away.

His dark eyes stare deeply into mine and for a moment, everything around us disappears. The fear, the danger, the forest… everything fades.

He suddenly signals towards my hand with his eyes. Only then do I realize that my hand is still covering his mouth.

I instantly remove my hand from his mouth. I step back slightly, creating some distance between us and quickly turn my eyes towards those men again.

“Hide here” he speaks slowly, his voice low and serious. I look at him, unsure.

“Aur aap?” I ask slowly, looking straight into his eyes. He closes his eyes for a second, gulping slowly.

(And you?)

“I have to face them or else we will not be able to escape from here” he says calmly. My heart starts racing faster. Fear fills my chest. How is he going to fight so many of them alone?

“Hide fast” he says again, his voice more firm this time, pointing towards a pile of dry leaves inside the bushes.

My legs move slowly, still shaking.

I walk towards the bushes and carefully sit down, hiding myself inside. The dry leaves crunch softly under me. He follows me and carefully covers me with branches and leaves, making sure I am completely hidden.

“Be careful” I say softly, my voice trembling slightly. He looks into my eyes. For a moment, he just stares at me.

Then he nods his head slowly.

And in the next instant, he runs away from there without making any sound, disappearing into the darkness.

I don’t know what is happening to me. I am afraid because of the situation we are in. Afraid of those men. Afraid of death. But my heart…

It is not feeling fear. Instead, it is feeling something else. Something strange.

I hear gunshots and my eyes immediately move towards the direction where he runs. I try to find him in the darkness but I can’t see him anywhere.

All I can see are many men running here and there, firing their guns. Panic rises inside me and I quickly hold my breath, afraid that even the sound of my breathing might expose me.

“Kanha, please protect him” I pray silently not even knowing what exactly I am saying.

“Kill both of them!” one of the men shouts loudly.

My heart beats painfully fast. I realize I am more worried for him than for myself. My eyes slowly move forward. And my breath hitches. He is there. He is fighting alone.

More than ten men surround him but he stands there like he is not afraid of anyone. My eyes widen as I watch him.

I’m sorry… I change my statement. I am not worried for him. I am worried for those men now.

Because the way he is attacking them… it is terrifying. His hair is open, falling messily over his forehead. There are cuts on his hands, his biceps and his face. Blood stains his skin but he doesn’t even react to it. He looks scary. Dangerous.

He doesn’t shoot them. Instead, he grabs them and twists their necks with his bare hands. He attacks them in such precise ways that they fall to the ground instantly, unable to stand again.

I have seen many people fighting and killing in my life. B… but there is no one like him. No one.

Why am I liking everything about him? The thought scares me more than the situation. I grit my jaw tightly and close my eyes, trying to calm my emotions. I press my hands against my ears, trying to block the sounds.

After what feels like eternity, everything finally becomes silent. Slowly, I open my eyes. There is no one standing now. Everyone is lying on the ground.

Dead.

My heart starts racing again. W… where is he? My eyes move everywhere, searching for him desperately.

But he is not here. Did he leave me here alone? The thought sends fear through my entire body.

“I’m here” I hear his voice from the side. Relief washes over me instantly.

I quickly stand up from the ground, dusting my clothes with my trembling hands. I turn towards him. He stands there, looking at me.

“I thought you left me” I say softly and I don’t even know why I say that. Since when do I start depending on a man?

“Isn’t it what you want?” he asks. His words make me stop. I don’t look at him. I turn around and start walking ahead silently. I can hear his footsteps behind me.

“Grover is coming” he informs. Relief immediately washes over me.

My eyes wander around and suddenly they catch the sight of a river nearby. The moonlight reflects beautifully on the calm water, making it shine softly in the darkness.

“Let’s…” I start speaking. But before I can complete my words, he suddenly pulls me hard towards him.

My body crashes into his chest. A soft gasp escapes my lips as my hands instinctively grab his shirt from the sides. My face lands against his chest. His body jerks slightly. I quickly lift my head and look up at him.

“W… why y…” I try to speak, confused by his sudden action.

But before I can say anything more, he suddenly raises his gun and shoots towards the dark bushes. My body stiffens. A man falls out from the bushes onto the ground.

My eyes widen in pure shock. He knew. He knew someone was hiding there.

“Let’s go” he says casually, as if nothing happened and starts walking ahead.

What the heck is happening?

I quickly walk behind him, trying to match his steps. My body feels weak now. I am hungry. I am thirsty. Every step feels heavier than before.

After walking for some time, I slowly sit down, leaning my back against a tree. My legs refuse to move anymore.

He stops walking. He looks at me for a moment. Then he silently sits down beside me, keeping a little distance between us.

I feel dizzy. I will lose consciousness if I don’t eat anything soon. I slowly turn my face towards him. He is looking ahead, at the reflection of the moon in the river.

The silver light falls softly on his face. There is dried blood on his skin and his shirt is torn from a few places. His hair is tied loosely now, a few strands falling over his forehead.

My eyes don’t move away from him. He looks so different when we are alone. Less scary. More… human.

“Why you don't speak much?” I ask softly. He slowly turns his head towards me.

“When I was little, no one used to listen to me. And slowly… slowly, I stop speaking” he replies. His voice holds no emotion. But his words…His words break my heart without any reason.

“You were weak in studies?” I ask softly, my eyes not moving away from his face. His eyes are also fixed on mine.

“Yes, I was” he says slowly. I can see the truth in his eyes. There is no hesitation, no shame. Just honesty. His face remains expressionless but his eyes say more than his words.

“Why are you so distant from your family and friends?” I ask again.

A cold breeze hits our faces, making the leaves around us rustle softly. The sound of the river flowing nearby fills the silence between us.

“I’ll tell you in the future” he says quietly and leans his head back against the tree. But his eyes still don’t leave mine. Neither do mine.

There are so many unspoken words between us. So many emotions that neither of us says aloud. But I can feel them. I can feel the strange connection forming between us.

Did I really hate him?

“Why do you talk to your Kanha about everything?? Does he listen to you?” he asks this time. A slow smile forms on my lips.

“When I was little, no one used to make me their friend because of my background” I say slowly, my voice calm but heavy with old pain.

“I was really talkative. I wanted to make friends. But no one allowed me to come close to them. Slowly… slowly, these things started affecting me in the worst way.” I pause for a moment, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“I was just eight or nine at that time. I was alone. Completely alone. I had a dream at that time. Kanha came into my dream and told me that he wanted to be my friend. And that’s it… I started talking to him” My lips curve into a small, emotional smile.

“He is my only friend. I share everything with him. Every pain. Every thought. Everything” My voice becomes softer.

“I talk a lot because I want to ignore all the problems in my life. If I stay silent… it will kill me from inside” I say honestly. This is the first time in my life I share this truth with someone.

“If I start speaking, will you listen to me?” he asks suddenly.

My body goes still. My fingers stop moving and my breath gets stuck in my throat. I… I don’t have an answer to this question. Or maybe I do. But I don’t want to answer him.

Silence falls between us again. Heavy. Suffocating. I can feel his gaze on me...waiting. But I don’t have the courage to look at him. I feel like I am doing a sin.

Suddenly, I feel something wet under my hand. My brows frown in confusion and I slowly lift my hand. My eyes widen in shock when I see blood on my palm.

I quickly turn my head towards where it is coming from. And my eyes widen even more.

“Your hand” I say in a shaky voice and quickly move closer to him. His hand has a bullet wound. Fresh blood keeps flowing out of it.

“How did this happen?” I ask in panic, my voice trembling as I see the amount of blood.

Without wasting a second, I hold his bicep and quickly pull my dupatta. My fingers shake as I wrap it around his wound tightly, trying to stop the bleeding.

He sits there calmly. Like nothing is wrong. Like he is not bleeding. Like he is not hurt. Wait…D… did he get shot when he pulled me towards him?

The realization hits me hard. My eyes slowly lift to his face. He is looking at me. And he is smiling. A genuine smile. Not the dangerous one. A real one. My heart tightens painfully.

“Don’t you feel any pain?” I ask softly, my voice breaking. I keep covering his wound with my dupatta, pressing it tightly.

I don’t even realize when tears fall from my eyes. He takes the bullet that was meant for me.

“I don’t feel pain immediately” he start speaking. “I feel it after a few hours. And sometimes… I don’t feel it at all. I also don’t feel emotions.”

I gulp slowly. His words confuse me. He is so confusing. H… he definitely has a past. A past that makes him like this.

“Aap ro kyun rahi hai?” he asks suddenly. His eyes are watching me carefully.

(Why are you crying?)

I immediately wipe my face, quickly removing the tears before he can see more.

“Bhook lagi hai hame, is liye” I say, looking away from him.

(I am hungry, that’s why)

He chuckles softly. The sound surprises me. What is happening to me? Why does everything feel so messy? I am not able to understand anything. Everything is a mess.

And the most important… my feelings for him.

“W… why you take this for me?” I ask slowly, my voice breaking. My teary eyes stare into his dry, emotionless ones.

“I didn’t take this for you. I just didn’t see it coming” he replies and closes his eyes, leaning his head back against the tree.

I glare at him in anger. He is lying. I know he is lying. But I don’t say anything. I slowly lean my head back against the tree too.

Our heads remain close to each other, almost touching. I lift my eyes and look at the sky. The moon shines silently above us. Things are changing. I can feel it.

“When will Grover come?” I ask softly, worried about his wound. His hand needs treatment as soon as possible.

“Just few minutes more” he says, his eyes moving towards my hands. My fingers are still holding my dupatta around his wound, securing it carefully.

“Pyar ho raha hai hamse?” he asks slowly, looking at her hand holding his.

(Are you falling in love with me?)

She freezes. Her breath stops. Her eyes widen slightly at his sudden question. And immediately, she pulls her hand back from him.

“Aapse pyar karne se accha hai ham pani pi kar jaan de de” she says and turns her face to the other side.

(It is better for me to die drinking water than to fall in love with you)

He starts laughing. This laugh is pure. It comes straight from his heart.

His siblings and cousins have made funnier jokes than this, yet he never laughs like this with them. But here… with her…khair.

His laughter slowly fades and he turns his head, staring at her side profile. His face becomes calm again but his eyes remain soft as they rest on her.

“gun chalani aati hai?” he asks suddenly.

(Do you know how to use a gun?)

She opens her eyes and looks at him immediately. Excitement shines brightly in her eyes.

“Nahi. Aap sikhaye ge?” she asks, turning her whole body towards him.

(No. Will you teach me?)

Her knees touch his thigh slightly. His breath stops for a second. He gulps slowly and nods his head.

“Here, teach me” she says and takes out a gun from her side. He narrows his eyes, looking at the gun in her hand. She grins.

“Ye un me se kisi ki hai. Maine utha li. Taki aap kuch ulta sidha kare to chala du” she says and the last part comes out slowly.

(This belongs to one of them. I picked it up. So that if you do anything wrong, I can shoot you)

He bites his lip slightly, holding back his reaction.

“Hmm… intelligent” he says and takes the gun from her hand, checking the bullets inside it. Her eyes widen dramatically.

“Oh my God… did you just said I am intelligent? You know, no one ever said I am intelligent because everyone is jealous of my sharp mind. But today, you said their words. I am touched” she says dramatically, speaking continuously and wipes her fake tears.

He just stares at her. His face unreadable. But his eyes… his eyes reveal everything he refuses to say.

“Hold the gun properly. Not with shaking hands. Hold it tight” he says.

She adjusts her grip exactly the way he instructs her to. She focuses completely, her brows slightly furrowed, her lips pressed together in concentration. Her fingers still tremble a little but she tries to control them.

“Don’t lock your elbows too hard. Let your arms absorb the recoil” he instructs, noticing how stiff her arms are.

“Recoil?” she asks, turning her face towards him with confusion in her eyes.

“When you shoot, the gun pushes back. It’s normal” he explains, looking directly into her eyes. She nods slowly and turns her face forward again, gulping softly.

“When you’re ready” he says in a low voice “remove the safety. Take a deep breath. Slowly press the trigger. Don’t jerk it. Just press… slowly” Her finger moves carefully towards the trigger. “Exhale gently while pressing” he adds.

“Okay, I get it. Should I fire there?” she asks excitedly, pointing towards an open area ahead.

He takes the gun gently from her hands for a moment, attaches a silencer to it carefully and then hands it back to her.

“Fire” he order. She lifts her hands again, aiming somewhere in front of her. Her heartbeat becomes loud in her ears.

“One… two… three” he counts slowly from behind her.

Just as she is about to pull the trigger, he suddenly grabs her hands and turns them immediately towards the dark bushes on the side.

Her eyes widen in shock. The gun fires. The bullet shoots in a completely different direction than she planned.

“Why did you do this?” she asks, turning her face towards him.

But his eyes are not on her. His eyes are fixed somewhere ahead.nShe glares at him in anger and confusion and then turns her head towards where he is looking.

Her breath stops. A man is lying on the ground. His body is still. A bullet is right in the center of his head. Blood spreads slowly under him.

Her fingers loosen. The gun drops from her hand and falls to the ground. Her whole body starts trembling.

“I… I killed him?” she asks in a shaking voice, turning her head towards him.

Her eyes are wide with shock and fear. He looks at her. And he is smiling. Innocently.

“No, you didn’t. You just tried to save yourself from him” he says. She glares at him, her eyes filling with anger and confusion.

“B… but why you make me shoot him?” she asks, her voice full of frustration.

“Because I don’t kill people” he says simply. She stares at him in disbelief. Her lips part slightly.

He called me intelligent… and made me a fool in a second, she thinks, crying silently inside.

“I hate you” she says angrily and gets up from the ground.

She starts walking here and there restlessly, her chest rising and falling heavily.

“What if there are more people?” she asks, looking nervously towards the dark bushes around them.

“There is no one” he replies, resting his back against the tree, his eyes closed like nothing matters.

“How do you know?” she asks immediately. He opens his eyes slowly and looks at her.

She stands in front of him with her hand resting on her waist, staring at him with an expression that clearly says, you are dumb.

“There were thirty men. I already killed twenty-nine. He was the last one” he replies. She nods her head slowly in understanding, trying to process everything.

“Then why didn’t he attack us? We are sitting here for so long” she asks again.

He looks at her with an expression that clearly says, you are not as intelligent as I thought.

“He informs the one who sends them to kill me, so he himself can come and kill me” he replies.

“Ohhh…” she mutters softly.

“But why are we waiting here instead of leaving from here?” she asks again, still confused.

He slowly gets up from the ground, dusting his clothes. Her dupatta is still tied tightly around his strong bicep, the fabric standing out proudly against his muscular arm.

Before he can answer, a few cars stop in front of them. The headlights cut through the darkness of the forest.

She turns her head towards the sound.

Grover quickly runs out of one of the cars with his men following behind him.

She completely forgets her question. And he successfully ignores it.

He is ready to bear the pain of a freaking bullet inside his arm…But he cannot afford to lose the chance to stay with her for a few more minutes. Still, he will never accept that.

“Boss, are you fine?” Grover asks immediately, checking Zayran from head to toe with worry.

Sita rolls her eyes in irritation. Without saying anything, she walks towards the car, opens the door and sits inside. She closes the door harshly. Without any reason.

“What happened to madam?” Grover asks, noticing her behavior. Zayran looks at Grover with disbelief.

“You never called anyone madam, then why h…” he starts speaking, confused.

But Grover ignores his words for the first time. He simply walks towards the car and sits inside. Zayran stands there for a moment, watching him.

Then he walks towards the car and sits down beside her. She is already drinking water. Her throat moves slowly as she swallows, trying to calm herself.

She extends the bottle towards him silently. But instead of taking it, he grabs the bottle from which she was drinking earlier.

She gulps hard. Her heart starts racing at cheetah speed. He drinks the entire bottle in one go, like it is Amrit.

She turns her face towards the window, looking outside into the darkness. Her heart keeps racing uncontrollably.

He looks at her silently. He can see her care. And she can feel the change inside herself. A change in her emotions. A change in her feelings for him. For the man she is married to.

If she starts liking him, will it be the best decision of her life…Or the worst?

And what about him? Will he fall for her…Or not?

How was the chapter???

And I'm sorry for making you all wait but situation hi aysi aa rahi h ki likh nahi paa Rahi hu mai. Pichli sari stories me maine kabhi itna wait nahi karwaya hai aap sab ko but is wali me karwa rahi hu ?? I'm sorry.

Aur mujhe kuch nahi hua hai bas Ramadan ki wajah se bahut busy hu?? bartan dho dho kar ghisele kathe ki tarha ho gai hu mai????

Exams kaise Jaa rahe hai aap sab ke??? Kaise ho aap sab???

Mujhe miss mat kia Karo hichkiyan aati hai nawwww mujhe????

Sita to pyar me girne lagi ???? aur next chapter me bahot maza aaye ga trust me??

Abhi ke liye bas itna hi so jao aur jo so kar uthe hai phir so jao ??

Waise hot dikhti ho aap???????????????????????????( meri gandi Nazar hai aap sab par. Koi meri gandi wali Nazar se nahi bache ga hahaha ??)