Dedicated to @Lov1ngShahrukh without whose persistent coaxing this book might have never come out of the lone pages of my diary.

An inhuman scream resonated against the cold loneliness of the night. The metal dropped to the ground with a crash and the bleeding body of my assailant, whoever he was, crumpled in a heap. I was too petrified, not out of horror, but out of shock to even glance behind. Those dark swirling mass of black held me captive, I was unable to look away. I had looked at them before, those lively eyes in the lifeless mist of black. Now I remember- at the Governor's ball.

"Ah!" My assailant was shouting in between a string of unmentionable expletives. His gut was cut across and a gore mass of flesh was visible under his hand which he had placed on his stomach to stop the bleeding. I just chanced a glance at him and hastily looked away, trying to fight away my nausea.

The reaper did not spare him a single look and simply tossed away his gun in a dumpster.Then, its eyes clinically inspected me from head to toe as if looking for an injury. When her/his sword's blade had just brused past my stomach I had thought that I was the intended target but her/his attack was precise, centimeters away from me and straight into the stomach or liver ( whatever was doing peek-a-boo) of the hard-jawed man. Giving a final nod as if everything was in order, it turned around and began to leave.

"You little B**ch!" The injured man cried as he got hold of the very sword that had pierced right through him.The reaper turned around and it's eyes widened, clearly it had not expected him to be fit enough to stand up. Well, any normal person would not have been able to do so but this cockney speaker was huge, his muscles were built like a bear and when he growled I was reminded of a Lion. I knew all this because I had observed the man closely in our wild-goose chase, maybe the reaper hadn't. He stood up with a sway and gave another growl, now I'm reminded of a wolf.

I knew what was going to happen next, the blade was going to slash my carotid artery, maybe at 45 degree angle and the reaper was too far to come to my rescue again. Oh dear Lord! Forgive me!

My sword was unsheathed, its momentum made a buzzing sound in the air. My opponents eyes widened, too late to come to his defence. Now what do they say-' Never underestimate your enemy!' An incision at the carotid and my opponent fell down- lifeless.

My breath accelerated. Oh Dear Lord! I killed a man, I'm a sinner. I seek your forgiveness, please , please.......

A figure sat next to me, cleaned my sword and handed it over.

"Are you alright ?" The voice was muffled, it belonged either to a female or to a pre-pubescent boy.

I nodded my head numbly, feeling guilty and mostly ashamed- ashamed of the thrill that pumped through my vein, the thrill of the kill.

I again glanced into those eyes and they appeared shocked, shocked that I have killed a man. "Who are you?"

Only silence met my question.

"Are you the Grim Reaper?"

This time a chuckle escaped her( yes! it has to be a 'her') lips. I wondered if she was so habitual to the sight of blood that now it has numbed her.

" By my profession yes, but I'm not the mythical one that carries a scythe."

" Why did you save me?"

Again quietness.

" Answer me!" My voice echoed in the dead alley, it sounded hoarse- lifeless.

The figure stared at me unmoving, uncaring .

"I was not expecting you to kill him." She finally said.

"Neither was I."

"You are surprisingly fast with your sword, quite skilled too."

"Perks of being born into a Nobel family."

There was a pregnant pause and then the shouts started. Mechanics from the shop squinted at us from the lone street lamp which was lit in front of their workshop, the sharp sound of running beasts was heard, a cart rounded the corner.

"I have to go!" the faux- reaper hastily murmured.

"What? No! You cannot..."

But she was already running away. I grabbed hold of her hand, trying to stop her. She was strong-I'll give her that- she easily slipped out of my firm grip. I saw her figure disappearing in the mist. Her black apparel mingling with the night. A distant tower struck mid-night, I stared at my hand. A silver hand-cuff was firmly clenched in my fist. It faintly felt like the starting of a Cinderella fairytale, except it was a more grotesque version of it.

The cart came to a stop and a Police Officer hastily emerged from it. I glanced at him through the bangs of hair which were thrown on my forehead.

He took in the sight in front of him and stooped to my level.

"Are you alright, Sir?" I nodded with my head bowed, suddenly feeling all the energy leaving my body.

More carts stopped, more shouts. Several cops were now running to the site of the crime. Some inspected my overcoat and took it in custody as a 'proof', others were examining the corpse- a man I have killed, I shuddered.

"Can you stand ,Sir? Very well! Now, what are you doing in this desolate street?" The cross-questioning of the cop started.

"Sir!" a young voice shouted excitedly.

" What is it?" The cop who had placed a blanket on me, shouted annoyed.

" We have identified the body, sir!"the young officer shouted, his face was split in a wide grin. Was he loony?

"And?" The officer drawled, irritated.

"He is Alexander Bishop. The assassin for hire."

"The Assassin?"

"Indeed, sir. The most wanted criminal and a week ago it was announced that a price of 10,000 rupees would be paid to anyone who caught him- dead or live"

The Officer turned to me, his mouth agape. "You killed this man?"

"Yes, Sir."

"In defence?"

"Yes, Sir."

"You are one lucky fellow! I don't know how you managed to kill such a brute but an amount of 10,000 rupees will reach you soon. Now, give your name, profession and address?"

As I narrated my name and profession, his eyes grew wide and his tone changed marginally. There were more 'sir's in his statement, he even asked a police cart to drop me to my temporary dwelling. After another hour of paper work and formality, I was let off.

The lamps in the cottage were still lit when I reached its porch. Mr. Rahim was standing near the front door, anxiously rubbing his hands. On seeing me, his face lit up but after noticing my haggard clothing and shaggy hair, his smile dropped.

"OH! Come in my boy. There,There! Make yourself comfortable near the fireplace. Perhaps, you'd like some tea?"

"I'd love to, thank you very much,Mr. Rahim."

He gave a tight smile and started to work.

"What took you so long? We were all so worried. All the boys have gone out to look for you."

"The boys?"

"Yes, all the house helps, your butler and some boys from the village. So?" He asked me with eager eyes as he sat next to me and offered me a china cup.

Oh boy! He was devilishly fast in the art of making tea.

"There was a hold up..."

"And?" He coaxed.

I sighed and set the tea on the ivory table.

"And I was attacked..." I recounted the whole event, leaving out the faux-reaper of course.

"The Police did not arrest you?" The old man seemed shocked.

"No. On the other hand, they are going to give me a prize."

"Sometimes things work out in the strangest of ways." His eyes then fell on the silver cuff which was peeking from my front pocket.

"How very curious! May I?" He said pointing to it.

"Of course." I gave it to him.

"Its beautiful." He said in awe and his stout fingers traced the pattern drawn on the bracelet. "A peacock feather is encarved on it", he informed me,"where did you find it?"

Oh! I just robbed it from a faux-reaper, no big deal really! This conversation might not go very well so I said, "I bought it, from a shop in front of the threater."

" I like this very much, perhaps I'll go tomorrow and buy one for my niece."

"But you won't find one there." I said quickly.

"And why is that, Thomas?" He raised an eyebrow and even with a round and chubby face, he looked formidable.

" It was the very last piece. Now they are out of stock."

"Well, that's sad." He returned the hand-cuff and stood up,"It's about time to call the boys back."

"Yes, sir. I'm quite tired, so I'll be going to bed now."

"Good night, Lord Fall."

"Same to you,Sir and I'm so sorry to have caused you so much trouble."

He waved my apology away, "No need to apologize."

When I was climbing up I heard some shouts from the kitchen.

"Get your lazy ass up, now!"Mr. Rahim was saying, " Go and call the boys back. Are you listening to me? Oh Lord! What will I do with such a lazy Gardner?"

I hid my smile and hastily climbed the stairs.

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*__*_*_*_*__*_*_*_*__*_*_*_*_*

It was dark and damp, the alley way smelled of gutter and.... blood. Red, hot liquid pooled near my feet, I looked at that unusually hard jaw line and those cold lips which were chanting," You killed me! You are a murderer Thomas Fall!" The chants grew louder.

I covered my ears, gasping, shouting- "No!No! I had no other choice."

"Thomas..."

"I did not mean to do it."

"Thomas, get up!"

"Please forgive me."

"Thomas..."

"I am so...!Ahh!" I woke up with a gasp as cold water splashed across my face. The droplets trickled down my pointed chin( I was never really fond of it) and onto the pale skin visible through the partings of my night shirt.

I found her sitting next to my bed, holding an empty glass jar.

"I am sorry", Durga said timidly as she tried to hide her smile, " You were talking in your sleep, thought you were having a nightmare."

"Have you ever tried taking a bath on a particularly chilly night, Madam?"

"No..."

"Then you surely don't know what I'm feeling right now."

"Oh, Tom!" but I cut her off.

"Which reminds me of a particularly important matter, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY BEDROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?!"

" I", she paused, " actually I was passing by your room when I heard these sounds and wondered to whom you were talking. So, I peeked, nothing harmful in doing that and it's not night, It is around 4 in the morning."

"So, you are practically accepting that you spied on me."

"What, no!"

"However to spy on a sleeping man is a different matter altogether, I feel extremely violated right now."

"But? What? No!" Her face was flushed, " It's not what you think, Thomas."

"You mean its worse?" Hey! Don't judge me for fooling around with this girl because:-

1. I had to get my mind off other things.

2. She threw water on me, on a chilly night, while I was still in my warm bed. This was pay back time!

"No! At least hear me out. I was worried about you. You see, Uncle Rahim told me about what happened with you."

Okay! There goes my idea of distraction, we are back to square one.

"Yes, what about that?" I sighed, feeling exhausted all of a sudden.

" You had no other option, Thomas. What you did is not wrong. Even the authorities have accepted that fact."

" There is always an alternative, Durga. I could have ran away from him."

"In case you are forgetting the red shroud incident, this assailant killed an army officer. He could not have been paralleled by physical strength but thankfully you were fast, totally caught him off guard."

I stared at her, eye brow raised. This was not a piece of detail I had given Mr. Rahim.

"How did you know that? I never described his built to anyone."

"Just a lucky guess! Is it right?"

"Spot on."

An awkward silence ensured. I looked at her high-cheek bones, her long lashes shadowing over those ever-so-captivating orbs which shone teasingly in the moon light, her slight inhales and exhales and her frail hands clad in blood-red bangles. The bangles parted and a straight view of a dark bruise on her wrist was visible. I gently held her hand.

"How did you got hurt?" I tried examining her injury but she hastily retrieved her hand.

"It is nothing, really. I might have injured myself while working in the kitchen."

It could be that or it might be because someone forcefully removed an article from your wrist, perhaps, a silver cuff?

"You should let a Doctor take a look at it."

She snorted," Welcome to India, my Lord. We don't run to a Doctor's chamber for every other thing. I'll drink turmeric powder with milk and everything will be new and shiny by morning."

I shook my head," Do you Indians use spices for almost everything?"

"Well, if we are generalizing then I have a few questions of my own- Do you Englishmen always have to do everything by the clock? And who has enough time to change clothes five times a day? Oh wait, you do!"

"At least my countrymen don't always dance and sing like they are high on sugar."

"We don't dance twenty-four hours a day as you are trying to insinuate."

" Well, I don't change my clothes 5 times a day either."

We looked at each other. Her breath coming out faster now, my lips pressed in a straight line, we stared at each other and then burst out laughing. Yes, this was funny, stereotyping people while knowing at the same time that it was plain hogwash.

"You don't cease to surprise me, Tom."

"And why is that?"

"You are just so", she paused as though searching for a right word," Different, unpredictable. When I think you will go east, you end up going to the west."

"I am sorry if I trouble you with this temperament, madam but I assure you it is done unknowingly. I am what I appear to be, there is no thoughtful construction of a mirage behind my actions."

" That is exactly my predicament. You are just so nice unlike the other Lords." Her forehead was scrunched as she tried to put across her thoughts albeit awkwardly.

"You mean the other Lords are not nice?" I suppressed a smirk, I found a joy in teasing her.

" Well, they are so... Lordly."

"Yes, indeed. You make perfect sense, Madam." I told her sarcastically.

" What I mean is that", she continued again, " If there would have been some other Aristocrat in your place then he would have never offered me a stay at his mansion or come with us to Darjeeling."

"I'm afraid I did not have much choice in that matter", I interjected.

"Yes but someone else would have been down-right furious and regarding this whole matter about death threats- any normal person would have been half-way to London by now."

"Are you trying to hint that I might have some abnormality?"

She laughed softly, like the gentle chiming of bells.

"No. I mean to say that you are so innocent and pure, Thomas Fall, that I cannot even fathom how on Earth I ever came across a man like you. You are an enigma, a riddle I'd dearly like to solve." She placed a hand on her mouth as she realized what she has just said.

" I again assure you madam that there is no riddle to solve, no layer to unearth. I behave in the exact same way a gentleman should in the presence of a lady."

"Would it make no difference if the lady-in-context was an Indian?"

"Why should it?" I asked, curious. I was getting really weary of the look most people give me- this typical look of disbelief, exactly like the one Durga was giving me.

At last she shook her head and mumbled, "Exactly like I said- innocent."

"What do you mean by that?"

However, I never got the answer to my question because at the very same moment my bedroom door burst open and my butler entered- as elegant and perfect as ever with not even dark circles under his eyes to show the apparent lack of normal sleeping hours but when his gaze landed on Durga his composure nearly broke-his eyes crinkled just a bit and his lips pursed about a point one centimeter.

"My Lord", he bowed," I was under the impression that you'd be asleep and that I can re-fill your glass jar", his eyes landed on the jar in Durga's hand, "but clearly I am interrupting something." His expressions reminded me of a scientist who was inspecting the evidences and trying to come up with the best derivation and there also seemed to be an underlying resentment or maybe I was just imagining too much.

"N-No,I.. I" Durga stuttered, " I was just leaving. I came to just check on Lord Fall to see if he is alright or not."

" Indeed, madam. How nice of you to worry." He gave her a smile, which did not look convincing even to me and that is saying something.

Durga hastily stood up and placed the jar on my side-table.

"Let us call it a day then, Ravij. What are my different rendezvous?" I stood up and tried to pat dry the wet cotton night shirt which was sticking to my torso like a second skin.

"You have a meeting with a Mr. Dan Nagavanshi first thing in the morning."

" Who?!" Durga nearly screamed as she spun around. I feel sad for my poor ear drum.

"Mr. Dan Nagavanshi", Ravij repeated, eying her curiously.

"Are you acquainted with this man, Durga?" I asked.

"Of course I am, he is my fiancee."

I definitely did not see this coming.....

a/n:- So..... my sister accused me of becoming like Edgar Allen Poe in the first half of this chapter and second half of this chapter is published without proof-reading but Guys! it is past mid-night and I'm missing out on my precious beauty sleep :P. So in the next chapter I'll present you with:-

1. Mr. Dan Nagavanshi

2. More of faux-reaper (hopefully!! because when I decide to write something, I end up publishing something totally different)

so, good night, guys( and good morning to the other half of the world ;)). Would love your precious reviews and votes and personal messages (yes I love to chatter :p). ciao !

- your crazy author.