17.
Zayran is sitting inside one of his warehouse cabins. His fingers are moving fast over the laptop keyboard, urgency clear in every sharp tap.
Outside the cabin, the warehouse is alive with movement. Guards are working quickly, taking out packages from different rooms and loading them into waiting trucks.
Grover stands outside, watching everything closely, giving orders and managing the work without missing a single detail.
Suddenly, a car screeches loudly and stops abruptly right in front of the warehouse. The sharp sound cuts through the noise.
For a moment, the guards freeze and turn their heads, alert and cautious, trying to see who has arrived. The car door opens and Laksh steps out.
Anger and worry are written clearly on his face. His jaw is tight, his eyes burning with fury. He looks like he is barely controlling himself.
Laksh walks fast toward the warehouse. He doesn’t stop. He heads straight for the cabin, his anger growing with every step. He reaches the door and pushes it open abruptly.
The door bangs against the wall. Zayran doesn’t look up from his laptop. He shows no reaction not even a flicker of surprise, as if he was expecting this interruption.
“What the hell is going on in your fucking mind?” Laksh shouts loudly. His voice echoes inside the cabin.
Zayran sighs slowly and shakes his head. He continues to look at the laptop screen, completely ignoring Laksh. This only makes Laksh glare at him harder, his fists clenching at his sides.
“I’m asking something” Laksh shouts again, his patience snapping. This time, Zayran finally looks up from the screen. His face shows no interest.
“What?” He asks casually, as if he has no idea why Laksh is here or what he is talking about.
“Tujhe pata hai wo ladki kitni khatarnak hai, phir bhi tu kyun us se mil rahe hai?” Laksh says in a loud voice, stepping closer to Zayran, his eyes blazing with anger.
(You know how dangerous that girl is, then why are you still meeting her?)
“Tujhe is se kya?” Zayran asks calmly as he takes out his phone, clearly showing he doesn’t care about Laksh’s concern.
(What does it have to do with you?)
“Zayran, akhiri baar bol raha hoon, us se door reh, warna woh teri maut ki wajah ban jaayegi” Laksh says harshly. His voice is loud but beneath the anger, there is deep fear.
(Zayran, I’m saying this for the last time, stay away from her, otherwise she will become the reason for your death)
The only thing anyone can sense from his eyes and tone is how badly he is worried about Zayran. His hands tremble slightly, not with rage but with concern he is trying hard to hide.
“Woh tere ghar mein thi, tere khilaaf proof dhoondh kar tujhe jail tak pahuncha diya aur tu...” Laksh continues angrily. Suddenly, he stops in the middle of the sentence as something hits him hard.
(She was inside your house, she searched for evidence against you and sent you to jail and you....)
“Tu us se pyaar karta hai?” Laksh asks quietly. His voice slows down on its own, losing its anger and turning heavy.
Zayran’s fingers stop moving on his phone the moment he hears this. For a second, the air becomes tense. Then Zayran resumes what he is doing, deliberately ignoring both the question and Laksh, pretending as if he didn’t hear anything.
“Tu meri fikar mat kar” Zayran says, without looking at him. Laksh grits his teeth, frustration clearly visible on his face.
(Don’t worry about me)
“Woh tera fayda utha kar phir se chali jaayegi aur tu yeh bhool mat, uska baap police officer hai jo saalon se tere peeche pada hai. Woh apne baap ka saath dekar tujhe pakka marwaayegi” Laksh says angrily, his voice rising again.
(She will use you and leave again and don’t forget, her father is a police officer who has been after you for years. She will support her father and get you killed for sure)
This time, Zayran looks at Laksh. His eyes are burning with anger not because of the words but because Laksh cares too much. His jaw tightens as his emotions clash inside him.
“Toh tujhe kya hai in sab se? Mar jaane de mujhe!” Zayran shouts as he suddenly gets up from his chair. The chair slides back with a harsh sound. His voice echoes in the cabin.
(So what does all this have to do with you? Let me die!)
“Fikar hai mujhe teri!” Laksh shouts back with the same intensity. His chest rises and falls heavily, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions.
(I care about you!)
Zayran suddenly throws his phone on the ground with full force. The phone hits the floor.
“Tere baap ko jaan se mara hai maine, bhool mat, Laksh Rajput!” Zayran shouts at the top of his lungs. His voice is raw and violent as he glares straight at Laksh. His eyes are red with rage.
(I killed your father, don’t forget that, Laksh Rajput!)
“Fikar karna band kar de tu meri. Tere baap ka qaatil hoon main” Zayran says again, his voice rough and broken at the same time.
(Stop worrying about me. I am your father’s killer)
The veins on his neck and forehead stand out clearly. His breathing turns heavy, almost painful. His body stiffens as memories of his past and his sins crash into him all at once, making it hard for him to even stand straight.
“Door raha kar mujh se tu. Warna tujhe bhi jaan se maar doonga” Zayran says slowly, every word sharp like a blade.
(Stay away from me. Otherwise, I’ll kill you too)
He turns around, refusing to look at Laksh at all. His chest rises and falls unevenly, his breath struggling to stay steady.
Laksh just stares at Zayran’s back. His eyes burn as he glares at him but this glare carries many emotions. Slowly, Laksh walks toward him. Without saying a word, he pulls Zayran into a tight hug, holding him firmly as if he won’t let him fall apart.
The moment Laksh hugs him, Zayran starts to calm down. His tense body slowly loosens. As always, he doesn’t hug back but his eyes close on their own.
He feels the comfort he has been getting from this man for years, the only comfort he allows himself.
“I don’t love her” Zayran says quietly as he breaks the hug. His voice is low and tired.
He walks back to his chair and sits down heavily, rubbing his face with both hands as if trying to wipe away everything.
“Don’t lie” Laksh says firmly. Zayran looks at him and a slow smirk appears on his lips. Laksh gulps hard when he sees that smirk. His heart sinks and he takes a small step back.
“She is innocent” Laksh says, his voice softer now. Zayran looks at him with raised eyebrows, clearly amused.
“Few seconds ago, you were saying she is clever and she’ll kill me with her father and now?” Zayran says, turning back toward his laptop. His fingers move over the keyboard again.
On the ground, his broken phone lies, asking, mujhe kyun toda, Malik?
(Why did you break me, Master?)
“Bahut fikar hai teri mujhe, par jab tu aisi harkat karta hai, toh saamne waali ki zyada fikar hone lagti hai” Laksh says with frustration and worry. He sits down on the couch, his face now filled with concern for Sita.
(I worry about you a lot but when you do such things, I start worrying more about the person in front of you)
“I’ll not do anything. Trust me” Zayran says calmly, still typing on his laptop.
“Tujh par bharosa karne se achha hai zehar kha loon” Laksh says flatly. All the anger between them disappears suddenly, like Fart. Kab aa kar chali jaye bande ko pata hi nahi chalta.
(It’s better to eat poison than to trust you)
“You love her” Laksh says seriously. His eyes stay fixed on Zayran. Zayran looks up at him for a second. He is about to say something in reply but...
“I’m not asking, I’m telling you” Laksh cuts in firmly. His voice leaves no space for argument. Zayran stops speaking, closes his mouth and turns back to his work.
“Boss, Ethan is planning to....” Grover starts saying as he enters the cabin, his face tense and urgent. Before he can complete his sentence, Zayran cuts him off without even looking at him.
“Burn my warehouses” Zayran says calmly. His voice is steady, deadly calm. Laksh and Grover both freeze. Their eyes widen at the same time, shock clearly written on their faces.
“How did you know?” Laksh asks, confused and stunned, looking between Zayran and Grover.
“I’m at this position for a reason” Zayran replies coolly. He stands up and casually ties his hair back, his movements relaxed, as if destruction is just another part of his routine.
“Let’s go and see my destruction” Zayran says with a dark aura around him. He starts walking out of the cabin with long steps.
“I’m also coming with you” Laksh says immediately. He runs after Zayran and Grover.
“Suji ka halwa, mere boss ka jalwa” Grover says, looking at Zayran’s back with a small, proud smile on his face.
(My boss’s aura is on another level)
Laksh gives Grover a sharp side-eye, clearly unimpressed.
“That’s the reason I stopped working with you because mere boss ke jaisa koi boss nahi” Grover says, now giving side-eyes to Laksh instead, his tone full of loyalty and pride.
(Because there is no boss like my boss)
“Boss ka chamcha” Laksh mumbles under his breath.
(Bootlicker)
He gets into the car with them. The engine starts and the car moves fast toward their destination.
“Agar kisi ne jagah se uthne ki koshish bhi ki, toh pichwade mein bomb laga kar Velqar ke bahar bhej doongi main” I say seriously while stirring the Maggi in the pan. The smell fills the kitchen.
(If anyone even tries to get up from their place, I’ll strap a bomb to their backside and send them flying out of Velqar)
Anu and Adi are sitting right in front of me, staring at the pan like hungry bhikari (beggars). No...wait....they are Bhikari. Their eyes follow every single movement of my hand.
“Di, extra cheese daal do” Adi says sweetly, tapping his spoon on the patila like bowl.
(Sister, add extra cheese)
“Sabar chaat le thoda sa tu” I reply, rolling my eyes. I turn toward the fridge and take out another cheese slice. By the way, this is the fifth cheese slice going into a twenty-rupee Maggi. Absolute luxury.
(Have some patience)
Maa and Baba are out attending an event. I thought I would make Maggi just for myself, peacefully. But before I could even open the packet properly, these two showed up like free loaders.
Being an elder sister really needs sacrifice, kanha. So much sacrifice. Look at me, how great I am.
“Di, aapko kuch aata jaata nahi hai. Bas baatein karwa lo aapse. Dekhiye kitna paani daala hai” Anu complains, pointing at the pan. I look at her with tameez se baap hoon teri eyes.
(Sister, you don’t know how to cook. You only talk. Look how much water you added)
“Arre gadhi, soupy Maggi hogi toh thoda sa soup peene ko bhi milega na” I say, annoyed, as I mix it well. “Khud ke liye toh main achhi banati hoon. Ye toh tum dono aa pade”
(Idiot, if it’s soupy Maggi, we’ll get some soup to drink too. I cook tasty Maggie for myself)
“Dii, aap kaam karte time kitni beautiful lagti ho” Adi says suddenly, looking at me. I try very hard to hide my beautiful smile but it still sneaks out a little.
“Should I make fries for you, my baby Adi?” I ask softly. His eyes widen instantly with pure happiness and he nods his head quickly, like I just offered him the biggest gift in the world.
“Di, makhan laga raha hai ye aur waise bhi ghar mein aaloo nahi hai” Anu says casually. I stop for a second and look at her with a confused face.
(Sister, he is buttering you and anyway there are no potatoes at home)
“Kal hi toh mummy ek kilo aaloo laayi thi” I say slowly, still staring at her. Anu gives me the most innocent grin, the kind that already screams crime.
(Mom brought one kilo of potatoes just yesterday)
“Maine kal raat ko ek recipe try ki thi, toh usmein aaloo khatam ho gaye” she says quickly.
(I tried a recipe last night, so all the potatoes got used up)
Before I can even lift my hand to hit her, the doorbell rings loudly, saving her life.
“Itni jaldi aa gaye maa-baba?” I say in shock, immediately covering my Maggi like it’s some illegal thing. Anu and Adi hurriedly hide their patila and thala moving in panic like trained criminals.
The three of us run toward the door together. I reach first and open it without even checking who is outside.
“Maa, baba, aap....” I start speaking but my words commit suicide right there. My eyes go wide. My mouth hangs open. My brain completely stops working.
“Y… you guys here?” I say slowly, staring at Ishita, Yuv and Om standing right in front of me with the widest smiles on their faces. My heart skips a beat. This is bad. Very bad.
“Kaun hai?” Adi asks, coming from behind me with Anu.
(Who is there?)
I look at them with a dead expression. The moment they see the three people at the door, they give me the exact same dead reaction.
“What are they doing here?” Anu whispers to me nervously. I shake my head slowly, unable to speak. If Baba sees them here, he will kill me for sure. No doubt about it.
“Aditya” Yuv suddenly says, his face lighting up as he recognizes his long-distance friend.
“Y… you know me?” Adi asks in confusion. Yuv nods his head with a smile and pulls Adi into a tight hug.
“That night, you gave me a lift at the forest-side area” Yuv says. Adi thinks for a moment, then his face brightens, and a wide smile spreads across his face.
“Ohhh, so you are that mask man” Adi says excitedly, hugging Yuv back just as tightly.
“Lagta hai hum sab ek rishte mein bandhne ke liye bane hain, wow” Ishi says happily as she walks inside the house.
(Looks like we all made to be tied in one relationship, wow)
“Bane hue hain. Hum already rishtedaar hain” Om says calmly, walking in behind her. Yuv follows them, his hand resting casually on Adi’s shoulder, as if they all belong here already.
(We already are. We’re relatives already)
Anu and I stand at the doorstep, completely dumbfounded. Our bodies are frozen and our minds are blank. We just keep staring inside the house, trying to understand what is happening.
“Why are they here?” I whisper to Anu, still not moving. She twists her lips and makes weird faces, clearly irritated.
“Mujhe kya pata. Mujhe toh bas ye tension hai ki ab meri Maggi mein hissa na lag jaaye” Anu says seriously. I glare at her sharply, my eyes screaming seriously?
(How would I know? I’m only worried that they might take a share of my Maggi now)
“Kaise log hain, dekho, Di. Aisa lagta hai sagge rishtedaar hain jo phail kar baith gaye. Matlab basic manners hi nahi hai in logon mein” Anu continues, shaking her head in disappointment.
(What kind of people are these? I mean, they don’t even have basic manners)
Before I can nod my head in agreement, we suddenly hear a cough from behind us. I slowly turn my head. My breath stops when I see Shaurya standing at the doorstep.
His hands are full of bags, too many bags. He looks calm.
“Can I come in?” he asks in his usual calm tone. I smile awkwardly, embarrassed and nod my head quickly.
Anu immediately looks down, avoiding his eyes because of everything she just said. I walk inside and Shaurya walks behind me. I hear him greeting Anu.
“Hello, ma’am”
“We bought so many things. We will spend the night together” Om says casually. At the same time, Shaurya places all the bags on the table. There are so many bags. I stare at them in shock. Pure mahine rukne aaye hain kya yeh log?
(Have they come to stay for the whole month or what?)
“Kanha, matlab main sukoon se Maggi bhi nahi kha sakti ab” I think helplessly. “Aur agar maa-baba aa gaye, toh bas… aaj main khatam ho jaungi”
(Kanha, so I can’t even eat Maggi peacefully now. And if Mom and Dad come back, I’m completely finished today)
“Main popcorn le loon apna” my subconscious says, like this is some movie. I stand there, unable to do anythinggggg.
“Sita, should we call Bhai also?” Ishi asks suddenly. My eyes widen instantly. I gulp hard and force a normal face, trying to ignore the suspicious looks coming from Anu and Adi.
“Why?” Anu asks slowly, her eyes narrowing as she looks from me to ishi.
“Because there is something going on between Sita and Bhai” Shaurya replies calmly. The moment his words reach my ears, I close my eyes tightly, as if that can make the situation disappear.
“There is nothing like that” I try to say, my voice low but honest. No one listens to me. They all completely ignore my words and start talking among themselves like I am not even standing there.
Ishi grabs Anu’s hand and starts telling her about my mahaaan karname. I just stand there like a bewakoof, which I clearly am.
“Should I help you take them out?” Shaurya asks politely. Before I can even reply, he gets up from his place. He picks up the bags one by one and places them on the kitchen counter carefully.
“I can smell Maggi” Yuv says, sniffing the air dramatically. One by one, the others also start sniffing, trying to find the source.
“Yes, Di was making Maggi. You should also try it, Bhai” Adi says innocently. I throw daggers at him with my eyes.
I walk inside the kitchen and look at all the bags placed on the counter. There is so much food inside them. Itna saara khana laaye hain bechare log, I think.
(They brought so much food, poor people)
I start opening the packages slowly and Shaurya stands beside me, helping quietly without saying much.
“You all are not angry with me?” I ask softly, almost scared. Shaurya looks at me and smiles gently, the kind of smile that immediately makes you feel lighter.
“No, we are not” he says calmly. “Aur Bhai ka kaam hi aisa hai ki unke saath yeh sab hota rehta hai. Waise bhi Bhai aur tumhara masla ek taraf aur hum sab ki dosti ek taraf”
(And Bhai’s work is like that, that these things keep happening with him. Anyway, Bhai and your issue is one thing and our friendship is a separate thing)
I just stare at him for a second. He is so mature. So understanding. A genuine smile spreads across my face without me even realizing it.
“Where are your parents?” he asks casually. I gulp slowly, suddenly remembering about Maa and Baba.
“Actually, they are out to attend an event but you know the… umm...” I try to explain awkwardly. Before I can finish, he chuckles softly.
“Okay, I get it. Don’t worry, we will leave before they come” he says reassuringly. I look at him, completely unable to stop myself from admiring this man.
We place the plates and all the food properly on the table. I look at Anu from the corner of my eye. She is talking to Ishi like two long-lost sisters who have finally met after years.
They are laughing loudly, sharing stories, completely lost in their own world and meanwhile, my jaan is stuck in my halak (throat). My heart keeps racing.
“Kanha, aise kyun karte ho aap mere saath” I think silently, crying.
(Kanha, why do You do this to me?)
“Sakhi, ab main kya hi bolun ismein” Kanha says casually while licking butter from his finger.
(Dear, what can I even say in this?)
“Aur pata hai, Sita toh Bhai se itna darti thi ki kuch poochho hi mat” Om says, laughing loudly. Adi and Anu laugh even harder at this, almost choking on their food.
(And you know, Sita used to be so scared of Bhai)
In all this chaos and noise, I don’t even realize when Yuv quietly takes a selfie and sends it to his brother, his lips curving into a mischievous smile.
“Aur ghar par hum sab ko bol rahi thi ki Zayran mere saamne nazar neeche karke hi rehta hai” Adi says, laughing so hard that he almost falls on the floor, pizza still in his hand. I stare at him in disbelief. Tujhe toh alag se bataungi, bete, I think angrily.
(And here she was telling all of us that Zayran always keeps his eyes down in front of her)
“But baat toh sahi hai. Kahin ka kahin, Bhai darte toh the” Shaurya says calmly. I puff my chest slightly, a proud smile appearing on my face. Yes, finally, someone sensible.
But that smile doesn’t last long.
The doorbell rings.
All of our eyes widen at the same time.
“Shit” we say together, panic clear in our voices. Adi runs toward the door and peeks through the hole. His face turns pale as he looks back at us.
“Maa Baba” he whispers urgently.
“Let’s greet them” Yuv says confidently, taking a step forward. Before he can move any further, Shaurya quickly pulls him back.
“Hide in our room, guys. Fast. Take all this” I say in a rushed whisper.
Everyone immediately gets up. They grab the plates, food, bags, everything and rush toward our room. Their movements are hurried and messy but silent.
I quickly fix the couch, straighten the cushions and place everything back in its proper place. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it will jump out. I look at our room door once to make sure it is closed properly.
Then I stand outside with Anu and Adi, trying to look normal. I take a long, deep breath and open the door.
“Aap log aa gaye?” Adi asks innocently.
(You people have come?)
“Nahi beta, abhi raaste mein hain” Maa replies, hitting him playfully on the arm.
(No dear, we are still on the way)
They enter the house and sit on the couch. Anu gives them water. My eyes keep moving toward our room again and again, full of fear and tension.
“What is this smell?” Maa asks suddenly, looking toward the kitchen. My throat dries instantly and I gulp hard.
“Nothing, Maa. I was just making Maggi” I say, laughing without any reason at all, hoping my nervousness doesn’t give me away.
“Go and sleep, all of you. Don’t wake up till late” Baba says quietly as he starts walking toward his room.
His tone is calm but something about him feels different today. The change in his behavior does not go unnoticed by me. There is uneasiness on his face.
“Good night” the three of us say together. Maa and Baba go inside their room and the door closes softly behind them.
We immediately walk toward our room and open the door. Inside, they are all standing there, fear clearly written on their faces, waiting for a signal.
“Should we go now?” Yuv asks in a low voice. I nod my head quickly. Adi opens the door slowly. Step by step, tiptoeing carefully, all of us move toward the main door, holding our breaths.
“We will come again” Ishi says softly as she hugs me tightly. I smile slowly at her.
(We will come again)
“Bye, guys” they all whisper together. Finally, they leave quietly. The door closes and I let out a long sigh of relief.
“Let’s go. We will eat all those snacks” Anu and Adi say together, their fear gone now. They run toward the room excitedly.
I close the main door properly and turn my head toward Baba’s room. My smile fades. Something feels off.
What happened to him? He looked sad and somewhere deep down, uneasy. Should I ask him?
No. Tomorrow. Let him rest today. I’ll ask him tomorrow, I decide and move toward my room, completely unaware of the storm that is coming.