"Did you see his face??" asked the pot bellied police commissioner. Maahi, sitting closely beside her father, shook her head meekly. The police commissioner nodded grimly.
"Do you remember anything of him at all??" he asked casually. Maahi's father cued her to go on.
"Um he was very tall and he had a very strong perfume on. That's it!!" maahi replied nervously. The police commissioner took a note of that. He gestured the inspector beside him to note it all down and start an investigation real quick. After that he turned to Mr. Khandelwal.
"In my opinion this may be a case of a one-sided-lover or, if things are worse, then he's probably a psychopath which we thankfully don't have many out here in the valley. But I'll still suggest to please be wary, keep your doors and windows fast locked and don't leave Ms. Maahi alone. I'm smelling something very serious here." told the police commissioner grimly. Maahi gasped loudly. She shifted closer to her father, scared and apprehensive.
"But officer there are bad people in the town, can it be.....?"
"As much as I'd like to agree with you but we have here a guy who is after your sister, not many mafias here are that secretive and they just you know are too blatant in the matters of love. But, let's not assume anything at the moment and we will probe into the matter and we hope to visit you soon with any information about the possible suspect. Until then please take care of Ms. Maahi. Drawing on my experience, I can say that he is not gonna stop and he might be planning more visits to your daughter." the police commissioner stunned them all. Maahi began to cry.
"Maahi relax, we are here for you. Sir please find this bastard quickly." kush pleaded earnestly. Maahi's father tried to console her. Police commissioner sighed.
"Hm. We'll try our best. I'll take your leave now. Thank you." said the commissioner and stood up. He was a fairly short man but pensive and experienced. After he left with the inspector, maahi sobbed in her father's chest. Mr. Khandewal gently wrapped his arms around her little daughter.
"Oh God!!! I'm so scared. He has seen the house......no....no.... I won't leave maahi alone even for a minute." her mother was going hysterical.  The twins gasped.
"Mom please stop!!! Maahi is safe. Let's be thankful that that stalker didn't harm her in any way. People here are too bad to even do that much good. And officer told that he will catch him soon. Don't fret please." luv said softly. But you can't stop parents from worrying over their kids.
"Maahi will sleep in our room now until this bastard is caught." Mr. Khandewal declared. Maahi sniffled silently, too afraid to speak.
"That's a fairly good decision. Nonetheless, maahi get ready, we've to leave for the college. We're already late and the buses must've left already, dad will drop us to the college." kush said politely. Maahi was too scared to leave the safety of her father. What if that stalker strikes again?? And there's this creepy Karanvir too. Believe it or not but she somehow was now more suspicious of Karanvir than before. He too wears the same strong cologne like the stalker. What if he......? No, why would he do that!!!
"You better take care of my daughter morons!!! Maahi dear, I already have your teachers numbers, and I will ask them to keep you with them for most of the day. Don't switch off your phone ok!!!" her father told her seriously. She nodded compliantly, sniffling inaudibly.

Maahi's father dropped her inside the college, too afraid to leave her outside the university gates. What if that unstable stalker tries to abduct her from outside the gate?? No!! No!!! Her daughter is far too precious to him. He pulled over near the parking lot and jammed on the brakes. The car screeched to halt just outside the parking lot. The twins hopped out of the car first and maahi softly came out after them.
"Maahi dear don't be frightened. Dad's here ok. I'll pick you up in the evening and these bane-of-my-life can manage to come by themselves. Be calm........what is this fool doing here??" maahi's father frowned suddenly. Maahi looked back and saw karanvir's big frame propped against a huge tree lining the paved pathway. He still had that creepy smirk on. Maahi's blood froze upon seeing him. She didn't know why she was fearing him so much today. He reminded her so much of that intruder last night but then she never saw his face.
"Huh!!! Don't look at that jerk maahi, he's useless like your brothers. Go, your classes must be starting real soon. Bye and take care." said her father with a smile. Maahi waved him bye heavy heartedly. Her brothers were seething at their father and cursed loudly after he drove away.
"I am so sure that we're adopted. Huh!!! Come maahi, let's go!!" her brothers frowned and moved towards their classrooms. Maahi nervously followed them. They passed through the uncrammed group of students and suddenly, out of her knowledge, her brothers halted near some place. Maahi's head literally bumped against her brother's back for she was walking with her eyes down.
"Are you ok maahi??" she heard a manly voice, full of concern, from near her somewhere. She lifted her eyes up while rubbing his head and gasped loudly. Mr. Creepy was right in front of her now, his eyes full of genuine concern.
"Maahi were you napping while walking??? Are you ok??" kush asked dumbly and Karanvir rolled his eyes at him. Maahi nodded timidly before beginning his walk to her classroom.
"Maahi wait!!" she was stopped by Karanvir. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned fearfully to look at him. His chest was heaving up and down erratically. His eyes unyielding and dark.
"Why did you came so late?? Are you not feeling well??" he asked softly, small almond eyes gleaming with concern. Maahi shuddered. Can he please stop taking her name that creepily??
"Oh that!! I'll tell you everything sir. Maahi you go, you have your classes. Bye.... now sir look what happened, yesterday night....." kush rambled before Karanvir as a smile formed on her lips. Quickly she slipped away, thankful for her brother's help. Karanvir was sulking and watching her figure vanishing away into a winding road, his anger just was competing with Mount Everest.

Maahi stood inside the gates of the university, waiting for her father to come and fetch her up. During the day she did see a little of Karanvir but those were pretty random encounters, at least for her. If maahi was scared of him until now than she was now spooked of his very presence. She didn't know why but the mere sight of him gave her chills. Everytime their eyes locked she recalled the fingers of that stalker as they creeped over her body last night. Although she wasn't positive that Karanvir 'could be' the stalker yet she was dubious of him for sure. It isn't just a mere coincidence that that stalker and this creep have so much in common. Now standing inside the gates she felt nervous and bored at the same time.
"Dad isn't here yet??" a voice said from behind. She swung round and immediately her head bumped against a rock hard chest. She hissed in pain.
"Oh I'm sorry......Did it hurt???" the person spoke anxiously, rubbing his warm hand on her forehead. She peeked at the person furtively and her body stiffened. It was, no surprises, the creepy Karanvir, rubbing his hand on her forehead to soothe the pain. Quickly she staggered back and looked away.
"I'm ok thank you." she said in a single breath. Karanvir sighed in relief.
"Thank God!!! Um I was just here to check if your dad's here or not." he said courtly. Maahi looked down uneasily.
"Thanks for your concern but I will manage. Dad will be here soon." she told him flatly. The grey clouds were hanging low upon the town. The leaden sky insinuated towards a heavy downpour before long.
"I think it'll rain soon. I can drop you home....I mean uncle must be busy in office, you can inform him that you're coming home with me. Your brothers are going with me as well." Karanvir proposed tentatively. Maahi crossed her arms over her chest.
"No thank you. I will wait for him." she declared firmly. He didn't look happy at all but spoke no further. He stood there all the while she was waiting for her father, never leaving his place behind her. Fifteen minutes later her father's car arrived outside the university's gates. Quickly she ran towards the car, opened the door and sat inside. Her father frowned at the sight of Karanvir who was still standing and watching them from behind the heavy iron gates.
"He got no work to do I guess!! Huh!!! Spoiled rich kids.....You stay clear of him ok my sweetheart, he is a cretin.....I can just see it in his eyes." her father grumbled, eyeing his handsome figure in disdain. Maahi nodded while avoiding his piercing gaze. Her father revved up the engine and they drove to their home in peace.

In the night, around 7:00-7:30, maahi and her father came out of their house for a quick short walk to the grocery store. It was a windy night. Far away southwards, a thick blanket of mist was slowly drifting down the imposing hills. Before long the valley would be cloaked by the this thick mist making it extremely difficult for the drivers to drive through. Thankfully they were on foot. First they went into a grocery store and grabbed some household items, cleared the bills and checked out. After that they both walked a little way up the road and stopped near to a small ice cream truck. Her father gave the orders for one choco chip ice cream which was her favourite. Quietly she stood behind and watched the beautiful valley in peace UNTIL her eyes landed on the creepy Karanvir sitting on his jeep across him. Next to him sat a very cute and chubby 5 year old kid who sat amazed on his seat. Maahi quickly looked away and moved closer to her father. For a few minutes nothing happened until she hears a very masculine voice from beside her. She stopped short and looked at his big figure standing next to him, the kid in his arms.
"Mr. Roy please please..... what can I do for you today!!!" the ice cream seller looked elated with his presence and was keen to help him in any way he could. Karanvir looked lovingly at his little cute brother.
"Which ice cream do you want??" he asked the kid. The kid showed a baby grin.
"Choco chip!!!" he said cutely. Maahi's father hated Karanvir, no doubt, but this kid was very cute regardless of being a spitting image of Karanvir. The seller immediately handed one to the kid and the other to maahi. The kid's eyes twinkled after watching that they both had the same ice cream.
"Bhaiya i told you choco chip is very good.....see this beautiful didi likes it too!!!" he said innocently. Karanvir gaped at him in astonishment. Maahi chuckled and pinched his fluffy cheeks before leaving with her dad. After they had left, Karanvir turned to his brother, eyes narrowed down into tiny slits.
"She's not didi ok...." Karanvir told him sharply. The kid giggled and licked his ice cream.
"I know......"
"Then why call her that??"
"Just to annoy you." the kid said truthfully and Karanvir huffed tiredly.

Maahi had decided to sleep with her parents but because she had so many assignments to complete, she stayed in her room to complete them as lightning in her parents room wasn't that great. Her eyelids grew heavy while she was trying to complete the work and therefore she simply laid on her own bed and slept, cleanly forgetting the threat of the stalker. Most certainly it was late midnight when she felt the bed beside her sagged and a heavy weight being put behind her. She was in a deep sleep and paid little attention to that. Slowly she felt fingers skimming the side of her face and gently tucking the wisps of her hairs behind her ear. She moaned and stirred on the bed. After that a heavy arm was stamped over her tummy and she could feel the warmth of the hand percolating inside her tummy. It was a dream, she thought. Suddenly, on the side of her face a pair of rough though warm lips began leaving sweet, butterfly kisses all over. At this point she started uneasily on her bed and knew that this wasn't a dream. Her eyes shot open and she quickly sprang out of the bed panting heavily. Quickly she threw on the switches and gasped loudly. The room was empty and that there was no sign of any person other than her in the room. It took a minute for her to steady her breathing and convince herself that it was but a dream. Later she put off the lights and hopped back into the bed and slept. A shadow crept silently from behind the door of her bathroom to her bed. A tall shadow it was. Slowly the shadow climbed into the bed next to her and watched as she slept soundly unknown of his existence.
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