SHIVAAN'S POV

" Fuck... Help... Shivaan, Nina, Shivaaaannnn...." And it was all gone. Dead silence. 

I went in for a cold, very cold shower. I deserved it. Even if it kills me cold. As I closed my eyes and let the chilly water run down my face I saw her. I saw her face and her auburn hair dancing in the rain and then I heard her scream. A part of me knew that she might not smile like that at me ever again. 

Then the events of the previous night replayed in my head as a reel followed by Rian's voicing enveloping my thoughts. 

" Fuck!" I cursed. Maybe it was a terrible thing to do. 

" Boss!" Rian came to my room after I returned post a rather fun rendezvous with Naira.

" It's in place." 

" Are we sure we wanna do this?" It ight've been my plan in the first place but now I was skeptical. 

" I think we can..." He started.

" Naah... We're doing this. Yes, we are. I don't want any loopholes. Go, I'll meet you there tomorrow." I shoved him. 

" Ohkay, fine. I'm going. Ela says Hi." He added and I smiled. Ela was his wife and they were madly in love with each other. They had been married for a year now and were the couple of only friends I truly had. Not that it mattered but it did. 

I opened my eyes and could feel the chill. Perhaps, it was a horrible idea. Her scream lingered long after she was not in the house anymore and it was the first time that I had felt so guilty in my life. 

I wish I could do something but it was all a part of the plan. I could've stopped them but it was already done. I had asked Rian to send his men to pick up Naira put from the house. Actually, I wanted him to personally do it but he was adamant that one time's enough and I think I should spare him. She was his sister after all no matter what. 

I got in my suit and I could feel my nose running. It was a chilly morning. I tried to persuade myself but it wasn't helping either. 

" Shivaan, tea, and breakfast?"

" Nina... I don't want to have anything. Please go." I pleaded not looking at her.

" Shivaan, is this the right way to do it?" She asked.

I stared at her with exhausted eyes.

" I-I don't know but it was Dad. I made a promise."

" By punishing the innocent? "

My cell was ringing now. I didn't answer Nina not because I was ignoring her but because I didn't have any answer this time. This was happening to me for the first time and I was clueless.

" Yes, Rian... "

" They've reached Boss. "

" Hmm... How is Naira?" I needed to know. 

" She is unconscious now. But we have sent her pictures and the video already. It was nasty." I groaned at that," You'll get a call soon. Are you coming?" He added. 

" Of course I am. " Saying so I hung up. There was no way that I wasn't going there and leaving Naira alone. I grabbed my car keys and rushed.

Rian had created a setup at our old factory as it was rusty and shady, a perfect background for the task at hand. It was on the outskirts of the city, somewhere about 30 minutes drive.

But I reached there within 15 minutes.

" Rian... What are you doing here? Where is Naira?" I enquired looking at him standing outside the factory.

I didn't wait for him to answer and dashed in. There I saw Naira tied up with ropes in the chair. She was constantly struggling and wriggling. There was a mucky cloth stuffed in her mouth. Well, now she was kidnapped, wasn't she?

" Hey! Stay still. " The guy shouted pressing her more firmly on the chair and grabbing her arms.

At once I plunged towards him and punched him in his face.

" Boss...."

" How dare you touch her," I shouted.

I saw faint red marks on her soft and fair skin. Her lips were dry and there were red marks around them. I could see bruises and scratches due to the ropes. I kneeled down beside her and gently removed the cloth from her mouth. She opened her tears filled red shot eyes slowly.

" Cough... Cough... Aye Mafia..." She whispered.

I untied her bondages such that it doesn't hurt her more. I started with her legs. Her top was in a mess and she was still in her shorts. God!! This is so wrong. What did I do?

" This is bad, isn't it? People want me dead. " She murmured when I reached her arms. I wiped her tears with my thumb. It came as a relief that she wasn't aware of what had truly happened. Maybe, I ought to be glad. 

As she tried to stand up she tripped. I gripped her by her shoulders and then she hugged me tightly. I could feel her sniffing. Her tears fell on my shirt.

" Boss... Boss... There is a call for you." Rian came running toward me. But he stopped when he saw us.

" Sshhh... It's fine. Nothing is going to happen to you now." I assured her. After I was responsible for her condition it was so petty of me to say that.  I picked her up in bridal style. She wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on the crook of my neck.

" Rian... What the hell was happening here? Are you driving us home or not?" I yelled.

" Y-Yes... Boss... "

I placed Naira carefully on the back seat and sat next to her, I placed her head on my shoulder and I could feel her shallow breaths. Instead, she wriggled and wrapped her arms around me in a hug. I returned the gesture and secured her. I could see that she was frightened. And who wouldn't be? I shouldn't have done it in the first place. Her body also felt warm now. Her eyes were closed and her face was blushed red from the exertion. I'm a terrible person, period. 

" Aye... Mafia... Why was I kidnapped again?" I heard her whisper. 

I didn't answer her and pulled her closer to me.

When we reached home I carried Naira to my room. The doctor was already waiting for us. I placed her on the bed.

" She's in shock but she's fine. Let her rest and give her these medicines. The fever will die down by tomorrow. I will nurse the bruises." He offered. 

" No need. I'll do that. Rian, please drop him. Thanks, doctor."

I sat next to Naira and held her palm. I could see the rope marks on it. I was guilt-ridden and didn't know what to do so I just kissed her palms gently as if that would lessen the pain I'd caused. 

" Boss... Boss... " I stood at once when Rian entered the room.

" What did you do? How could you do that? Your barging in nearly destroyed our act. It's good that we already took the recordings or else..."

" Or else what Rian. Don't you see what you guys have done to her? The plan was to scare her not to hurt her. Hurting was never on the agenda. Look at her... I swear I'll kill each one of those men of yours... Where the hell did you get them? "

Suddenly he felt silent as if he'd seen a ghost. I was furious and seething with anger but I wasn't angry with him. It was all my fault. 

" What now? All you do is stand like this. " I shouted.

" Shi-Shivaan... It was your plan? " I realized what just happened.

I turned around and saw Naira trying to get down from the bed. I didn't realize that I was so enraged that I had woken her up. Now she knows. Excellent. 

" How could you do this to me? " She questioned coming closer to me.

" You said I was safe here. You said...I never thought that it would be you..." She spoke while hitting me on my chest. I stood still. She was hurt and I was responsible. It was the worst. 

" I knew I was in danger here and nowhere else. I should've never believed a word from your treacherous mouth. For a moment, I can't believe I was stupid enough to think that you were a good person. Why did you do that? What if they had killed me? Would that be sufficient for your revenge? Huh?" She pushed harder as tears from those blue eyes which were darker now fell down her cheeks. 

" Please don't say that. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. It wasn't meant to be like that. I just wanted to scare your Dad...." I said stopping her from completing her sentence.

She was crying more. Her eyes were red. She stopped hitting me and retreated backward.

" Naira... " I went toward her.

" Of course, how did I forget that I was a pawn? Shit! I thought it was pure business for you. God, how can I be so stupid? Fuck...I shouldn't have..." She stopped mid-way and started sprinting towards the door.

I grabbed her tight. 

" Leave me... Let me go. I hate you. I hate you... I said leave me. I want to go home....." She was shrieking and had lost all her energy in doing so. I picked her up and she hugged me.

Rian looked at me apologetically and then left. I was upset with him too and he was aware of it. I pulled Naira closer to me. I stood still till she stopped crying. I rubbed her back to calm her.

" I am sorry. And I mean it. Trust me I won't let anything happen to you. No one has any right to do anything to you... Believe me." I whispered it in her ears. I placed her on the bed and covered her in a blanket. She was still clutching me by my shirt. She was half asleep. I took the glass of water.

" Here... Drink some, please. "

Her eyes were still closed. She sipped the water and I wiped the spilling drops with my sleeves. I could see the red marks and the more I saw that the more I was mad at myself. I placed her head on the pillow and started applying the ointment on her bruises. She whined for some time but then she settled down. I cleansed her face and forehead with a wet cloth. She had a light fever too. I was about to leave when she grabbed my hand.

" Please don't leave me alone this time." She whispered, her eyes shut tightly. I lay next to her. She moved closer to me and wrapped her arms around me. I was sitting on the bed and she was sleeping against my chest. I rested my head on the backrest and closed my eyes. Pulling her close in my embrace I didn't realize when I fell asleep.

NAIRA'S POV

" No... Please Leave Me Alone... I didn't do anything. I want to go home. Leave me alone. Mom... Mom... Help..."

" Naira... Naira... Look at me. Hey, open your eyes. It's just a nightmare. Naira..." I heard a husky voice amidst it. I opened my eyes and saw that I saw wrapped up in a set of strong arms.

Shivaan!

At once I jerked him away and tried to pull myself out of his embrace. But I failed terribly since he was very strong and pulled me back to him.

" Hold on, you can't go anywhere. Was it a bad one?" 

" Well, my life's turned into a nightmare since the day I met you. Nothing could be worse than that." I replied rudely. He made a face but I could make out that he wasn't sore. He pulled me closer until our foreheads were touching each other. I could feel heat building up my cheeks.

" Aye! Mafia... Leave me. Let me go. " I retreated. I don't think I can trust myself around this strange man anymore. 

" Oh! Wait. I need to check your fever." He voiced touching his forehead to mine. How does someone check the fever in such a weird manner?

I fell quiet for a moment.

" Well, your fever seems fine now. Let's eat something." He said releasing his hold and I nearly fell on the bed.

" I ain't hungry and I'm not a kid. And I've absolutely no clue whatsoever why in the world would you do what you did yesterday after you explicitly assured me I was 'not in danger here' which clearly isn't the case. Honestly, I don't trust you. You could even kill me." I replied nonchalantly as if I was okay with being killed. 

I looked around the spacious room with magnificent decor. It had expensive furniture and navy blue colored wallpaper which made the entire ambiance gloomy. I spotted some pictures hanging on the far right end but I was not able to take a closer look. As I turned around to admire its beauty I was pinned strongly to the wall. I saw a pair of grey eyes staring straight through me. We were only inches apart and Shivaan's lips were dangerously close to mine. I closed my eyes for a second.

" I truly meant when I apologized yesterday. It had to be done. However, I'm not letting anything happen to you ever starting this instance. Remember that. Have a shower and meet me in the living. You look crap." He whispered close to the corner of my lip, saying the last sentence a bit more loudly bringing me back to my senses. I opened and eyes and saw Shivaan leaving the room winking at me.

" Fine. You're not forgiven though. Also,  I don't look crap ever... Okay... " I shouted. Who was he to tell me how did I look or not? He wasn't even my friend. Why in the world should I give a damn anyway? 

I sprinted to my room. OK! It isn't my 'room' but since Shivaan says that I'm staying here indefinitely until I figure out what's going on I'll take the liberty to call it my room. It could've been worst but it was so much better than the one Simi and I shared. It was airy and spacious and the bed was so damn soft and I was scared that I was starting to warm up to it. Crazy, right? 

I was really quite surprised at what that guy was able to do. It was frightening too. The wardrobe was stuffed with the kind of clothes I usually wear and they all fit me perfectly. It didn't take a genius to figure out that all my family I've been spied upon. Either I was extremely important to them or just a liability that they wish to offload. I sighed at the thought. Life was taking a U-turn. When I went in for a shower I looked in the mirror and I did look like crap except for those dark circles which haunted me were starting to disappear and my blue eyes were looking quite pretty, call me smug but I loved them, thanks to my mother who's Italian roots and genes blessed me thus. Yes, my mother was from Italy, specifically Sicily. But, more on that later. I need a shower, a warm one. 

The last 24 hours had been enervating. I was mad at Shivaan but I felt he had a reason and I needed to know that. I was scared shit until I realized he was there with me. Is it weird that he kinda makes me feel safe? It has to be. Sometimes I even believe his words and I know I need to be extra cautious. I was homesick too. I missed Simi. I had a job too. What will they even think of me? Then there was Fred, my 'boyfriend'. Though I don't care much about him. 

After about 45 minutes of washing my hair and cleaning the dirt from yesterday, I started to feel like myself again. I selected a light yellow short dress from the vast plethora of dresses and went downstairs. The shower has surely lifted my mood. I don't think I'll forgive Shivaan, I'm not obligated to, but I was starving. I said I wasn't gonna eat but I was hoping Nina might fix me a plate. I smelled something delicious when I went down. 

What I wasn't prepared to see was the devil himself. Shivaan was sprawling in the living while munching on something that looked delectable and why, why does this person like to be shirtless and wish to flaunt his abs?

" I see that you've taken my crap comment pretty much seriously..."

" Huh!! Whatever... I don't heed to such nonsense..."

" Really?? Also, I'm so sorry..." He winked and jumped on the other side and grabbed a t-shirt and covered himself. I wasn't able to get a look at his back but I think I glimpsed some pretty bad scars or maybe they were tattoos. Not that I wished to see his chiseled back too, I was just observing. 

" As I promised to be more respectable I need to respect you. I assumed you won't be joining me so took the liberty. " I stood startled at the turn of events. 

" Why would you assume that?" I asked after I was back in control. 

" Well, you said so, didn't you? You weren't hungry only angry perhaps. Now, hangry, is it?" He chuckled and I made a fist of both my palms. He vexed me. 

" Arrghhh, I'm gonna kill you someday."

" That I don't doubt." He replied quickly. 

" Fine. But, now that you do have a lady in the house, I hope you can behave. "  don't know why I said that but it was a mistake. 

" Pardon me? A lady? Are you referring to Nina? She's like my mother. She doesn't mind. Apart from her, the boys don't mind too. But, if it's you who you're referring to, you're anything but a lady." I was steaming now. I won't deny it there was smoke brewing from my ears too and it killed me that Shivaan was having fun. 

" What?" He grinned abashedly  

" You're clearly no lady. You can be a naive, childish little kid who throws very strong punches and is relentless. You dance with little children and run like an athlete, you're far too strong for being called a lady. Don't mind me, it's a fact." He said and casually went on to eat and work on his laptop. 

" Also, even though you deny it you do enjoy my shirtless self, you're not that innocent or that fine actor to pretend otherwise," he mentioned still looking at the laptop. That's it. I was reeling the previous comment in and he goes on to make another audacious one. Though he was correct I was not gonna conceded. 

" Arrghh... " I charged. 

" Huh!! Aye... Mafia... I may not be lady-like but I'm no teenager to drool over a person like you. And frankly, you aren't my type. Aren't you too old for me? I think yes you're. " I replied as calmly as I could while going to the kitchen. Women might not like when someone mentions their age but men are also the same. 

I could make out from the corner of my eyes that the comment had pricked him. Good, now he knows he can't mess with me and walk away. Well, he wasn't old of course. For one, he was quite handsome but he had it coming. 

" Hey! Girl! What did you say? Do I look like an uncle? Hey! Wait..." He shouted running behind me into the kitchen. I was laughing uncontrollably. He looked at me in awe and smiled when i couldn't stop laughing. 

" You are assuming things, Mr. Mafia... I never said..." But to my surprise, he grabbed me from my waist and pulled me towards him.

" Aye! What are you doing? Leave me... Mr. Uncle... " But, I was still laughing and I don't remember when was the last time I laughed this much. 

" Is it kiddo?" He was now whirling me about and I was still chuckling. He shouldn't be more than 4 or 5 years elder than me is what I assume but he can be younger. I can't make guesses. He looked mature so there's only little left to assume. I was still laughing and our laughs filled in the entire house.

" Boss... " Just then a voice interrupted us. At once I pushed Shivaan away from me since he too got distracted and his hold wasn't as firm as before.

" Oh!! I'm sorry to disturb you two." It was Rian.

I saw Shivaan looking at me and I was flushed. He looked as if he was having a great time and then in a moment he was back to being the boss. His demeanor changed. 

" Yes, Rian?" Shivaan spoke getting back to his husky manly baritone.

" Well, boss... After a long time, I heard you laugh like this. The matter has to be interesting." Rian said looking at me and a small chuckle left my lips.

" Hey, Naira. You're looking good." 

" Hi, Rian. I don't think you're forgiven too for yesterday and also for the first time?" I replied.

" Well, I didn't mean to but that guy next to you is impossible. "

" That, I'm aware of. "

" Hmm... Ahaha!! I'm standing here itself." He spoke coughing.

" What is that bothers you to come here, Rian? " He asked taking his plate of food. I helped myself. I'm used to doing my own work and I don't expect anything else. 

" Boss, it's Kabir Bakshi. He's been calling continuously since he received those files we sent over. He wants to speak to you or her immediately or else, he says it wouldn't do you any good." As soon as I heard my dad's name my muscles clenched. Why does he want to talk to me? It's been 6 years since we last saw each other. What's more left now? And why am I dragged into all this?

Suddenly I heard a cell ringing bringing me to my senses. I was startled and the plate in my hand was about to fall when I felt a hand support me.

" It's okay. You're gonna be alright." And I don't know why I believe him. 

They say history repeats itself but if it does for me, I don't think I'm strong enough to face this. And history had already begun repeating. 

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