In Mumbai,

"Here is the breaking news of this hour ..... Yet again for second time in a month Mr Manik Malhotra has been linked up with the drugs. Yes u heard it right .... As per some strong sources there were some predictions regarding the secret drug supply at Bombay Adda, one of the famous club of Mumbai." Again for the second time this news with more spice repeated in the Kamat house. Nd watching this Sumit instantly moved from his chair to follow same plan like before in a hope of getting lucky for second time.

"Stop nd don't go this time too?" A woman of a height 5'2 inches, shouted repulsive-ly and came out of kitchen to stop her half-witted and highly arrogant husband.

Hearing her authoritative command his eyes flickered with anger making him look more cheaper for having attitude which doesn't suit his skinny body with zero maintenance, nd negligible respect in society.

"U don't get to order me like that ...... And ur words have no importance ...... So move" he said angrily but it didn't scare her a bit. He always thinks of himself as mafia of movie who's only voice is enough to intimidate anyone but she finds him highly disgusting.

"Stop with ur cheap thrills  ..... Be a man and do something to fulfill ur responsibilities for ur family" she spat the venom. Because she is clearly annoyed with the man who does nothing for their survival but also steals hers money who is the only working person in their family of three people.

"And to give the light to subtle predictions, Mumbai police are once again in action to catch the drug mafia. But will they be successful or will return empty like every other time?. Will they be able to find the face of the criminal, to give image to a fear of millions of people.?" Again the words of reporter resonated in their apartment of one room kitchen.

"U earn that doesn't make u superior ...... Always remember ur place, u r just a dust of my feet" he opened his filthy mouth.

"And any insect is more useful than ungrateful man like u ...... Who lives on other's mercy or flith" she said venomously and it triggered his cheap manly ego and he slapped her with force that the silver ring on his skinny finger left a dark red patch on her white chubby cheek.

"We heard some progress in the operation ...... Police have entered the club nd also found some suspicious videos..... But still there's no sign of cocaine or heroin". News was still going on in the background which Sumit heard half attentively.

"Sumittt ...... Enough" his mother dared to raise her voice on her son, she just entered with sorted Fenugreek leaves in her hands and watched not so unfamiliar scene for nth time. Giving death glare to his mother which made her shut, he left the house.

Tears prickled down from Nandini's eyes at humiliation and also because of the extreme pain she felt on her cheek. It's not first time still it pains same as first time. And at such every moment in her life she curses herself for choosing this fate over protective shield of her orthodox but caring parents.

"Now this situation is turning into a war zone ...... Cameraman of our channel has captured the most thrilling snap of man getting injured with a blade in back ...... He couldn't get to capture the face but according to sources injured man surely was a Manik Malhotra who just escaped after shooting the officer dead who dared to harm him ...... Without turning to face officer he did the cruel act efficiently nd ran away" absent mind-ly Nandini watched the news.

"Nandini" she heard voice of her mother in law, filled with little guilt. She waited without a word but didn't get to see or hear any word of comfort or act of condolence. But knowing that she is as spineless as her, she had lost her hopes way earlier. And she can't blame her either at the end she is mother who loves her child nd even she did loved him, only to regret later in life. She sighed and went out of the house.

Suman didn't find it safe for Nandini to go out at this hour when specially there's a sudden curfew on roads. But she couldn't stop her either because this was the least she could have done for her daughter in law, giving a little space for her to cry in loneliness. And also the fact that she has nowhere to go nd she will return to them made her worry less.

"There goes one more important news of the hour or should I say the threat to everyone who leaves near Yewale chawl. Police saw him running........" Abruptly switching off the TV Suman went inside the kitchen to make food as she assumed Nandini won't come in next hr or two. But to her luck half items were already cooked nd she just needed to make sabji nd chapati. Nd to her badluck she missed hearing serious words of reporter as she always finds reporters irksome to repeat one news for thousand times in a hour.

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She kept walking aimlessly on the street but after crossing a certain distance she realised her surroundings were unfamiliar, not totally but she don't come till this long distance that too alone in the darkness of night. But also this loneliness was giving her peace which her husband can never give.

Little far away there was a Radha Krishna temple in the locality. She walked till there and sat on the stairs, outside. Long ago she stopped holding God responsible for happenings in her life. She don't even have right to regret too so she only sits outside whenever she visits any temple, because peacefulness of the place helps her to calm the storm inside her.

Leaving aside her ache she thought about the recent matters in her hand. Next week her school will start nd she don't have her nuptial chain yet which was the last piece of jwellery she had, black beaded with two round hemispheres of gold at the end. Which her husband snatched from her to buy his stock of alcohol. Nd since that day she didn't mind absence of it but in the school people will suspect her relationship with her husband nd they may doubt her character. She lost the belief on it's sacredness but still it's needed to save her dignity and may be she could buy fake one. She will also buy two cotton sarees for school if she manages to save money from household expenses.

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A man was running through the narrow routes of local streets of Mumbai to make it more difficult for cops to find the most wanted criminal who's face is unknown to them. He was far ahead of the people running in their uniforms. Nd at that instance his ph rang again for nth time and he decided to wipe out unnecessary worry of the person at other end.

"Manik ...... Did u escape? ....... Is the injury too serious? ...... No one saw ur face right" the man from other end asked in his diplomatic way.

"Yes ...... Just clear out the mess on social media and news channels" he said patiently in his usual cold tone.

"Do u have any way in mind?" He asked in advance before working on his plan.

"Spread the news that I wasn't there but my most trusted man was in place of mine" his back was aching but he didn't remove the blade.

"Anybody saw u?"

"No but do it to be on safe side ..... I don't want anyone to have even a vague memory of my physical appearance".

"Okay ...... I will find someone who has betrayed u in our army". He said suggestively.

"Is such person alive till today?" His tone was dangerous.

"Of course not ..... No one get to live after betraying you ...... I was just saying of finding any suspicious person as u have already killed the inspector so to be on safe side I will arrange a person who's loss will mean nothing to us" he explained in detail.

Manik nodded silently. He never trusts anyone except his own judgements but still he can't doubt on Adhiraj's escape plans, he is best in it. Nd he is the only person who can barely manage to be in the list of Manik's friend. Manik never formed any relationship but he was bound to accept Adhiraj as he was the son of earlier leader of their gang, who's Manik's mentor.

"When will you return home nd did u treat your wound?" Adhiraj asked in concern.

"Whenever my walk will reach the doorstep of mansion" he said nd tried finding a place where he could sit nd look at his bleeding wound.

"Uk sometimes ur this negligence makes me think, u should have fallen in love so that you would have cared for ur life" he said seriously because never in his life he has seen Manik's care for his own life, it was always his greed to be superior and powerful kept him going.

"R u done ? ....... Now fuck off" he dismissed the subject from his end.

"As usual u won't take me seriously but world has seen the history of love ...... It has power to bring any man on his ..."

"Have u been in love?" Manik interrupted his super theory.

"No" he said meekly.

"Good ...... Nd for the last time, I'm not even tempted by the idea of destroying my empire in any woman's feet" he disconnected the call harshly. It's not first time he was having this conversation nd that made him more irritated. His mentor have told him rather warned him against the idea of love since the very beginning nd he didn't even think of rebelling rather he made sure to stay miles away from the being called woman. He don't underestimate the power of love he has seen his mother suffered in love and no way in hell he will witness such revolting feeling in his own life.

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Before getting up she checked time on her wrist it was past seven nd it will take another half hour to reach her house. Her husband won't come soon but still she knows that old woman must be waiting for her. So taking one glance of temple she started moving towards her home. This time she chose another route which is less crowded, because she don't want to meet any familiar person nd design series of lies.

In the lonely night, under the street light she saw another person walking aimlessly from a distance. Awareness of being alone on the street creeped fear in her heart. Trying to keep her mind sane she paced faster and when she passed the stranger she turned back just to make sure she is at safe distance but the dagger in his back startled her to roots. She should have been scared by seeing the person walking with dagger in body in the darkness but 'someone might have backstabbed him in real' this thought made her halt. She has been through the emotional pain nd it's not difficult to see that physical damage is severe too as his white shirt is soaked in blood.

Thinking for a while nd calculating all the possibilities she dared to follow the steps which will take her to him. It must be horrible descision she made till date but when she has made the right decisions to worry about this one. At least this will give her relief of saving someone.

"Hey wait" nd for the first in two yrs she called stranger man in loud nd desperate voice.

"Please stop" she again yelled from behind nd this time he stopped.

And going against his sane mind he turned back to see the illuminating intruder walking towards him. He saw her glowing under the street light, looking like a nature's beautiful creation with no ounce of make up except small brown Bindi on her forehead,  draped perfectly in faded dark maroon, cotton saree and gray blouse.  Her milky waist was peeping through visible gap on which ends of her half opened hair were dancing, freely.

She neared him like a enchantress making him stilled at the moment. Except her presence everything seemed meaningless in that moment. Bleeding wound didn't make him flinch but the passionate care in those scared eyes of stranger shook him.

"U need help" she said after standing at a distance of one foot.

"I don't" he said ruthlessly, killing her already non existing courage.

"Let me help you" with the face that carried innocence of new born baby she pleaded softly.

When she saw him not saying anything but still standing she assumed his silence as a yes. She looked around to find anything which can help her but she realised she can't do anything to stop blood flow if she pulls out the blade but he needs to be treated immediately. So she called the small ambulance immediately from nearby clinic.

"What do u think of urself?" He swiftly turned her to face him by holding her arm above elbow nd glowered at her. He can't risk to get treated by any doctor, there are news of him getting stabbed by police.

"I just wa-nt t-o he-lp you" she stammered seeing the lethal aggression in his gaze, never in her life she has seen eyes as dangerous as his. That dark red patch on her soft cheek didn't escape his eyes.

"Tumhe mujh se dar nhi lagta?" Though he looked no less than any real mafia or killer directly from fantasy, who won't hesitate to choke her neck but still something was different in his rough, manly touch as if he himself is scared of hurting her yet didn't want to tame his own anger for any mere reason. 

"Lagata hai na, par usase Kai jyada dar tumhare sath dikhne se lagata hai" her words didn't make sense to his brain but when her gloomy eyes travelled down to his forbidden touch on her arm he released her.

"To kyu ho mere sath?" His abrupt questions and her own fears were already hampering her confidence that she don't have answers to his question. How will she answer, when she herself don't know what she is doing with him instead of thinking about her own ruined life?.

"If it was a daylight I wouldn't have dared to look at you even if u were dying but I guess this darkness is helping my courage to save a person" her gaze directly penetrated in his own eyes and don't know why he felt so vulnerable by looking in the depth of those beautiful black eyes.

"Why would you be so courageous for a Stranger?" His tone was still aggressive the one she never heard before. And he was a man she never saw in real, she never thought anyone can have such perfect, sharp, scarry and manly features all in one.  He was a art personified in the history of mankind too perfect to be real man on earth.

"No matter how u r or how u got this injury but even ur mother will be waiting for her son to return. So don't want to delay her wait" she said before going towards his back to examine his wound. Her slight touch nd he flinched with current, his bloodied hand clutched her naked side waist in reflex, making her numb to think or realise anything. Seeing no trace of protest he didn't lose the hold but maintained the appropriate distance.

"Or u could make it more early by shoving it directly into left side of my chest. So i could go nd put end to her wait" nd in this moment she knew she saw beyond his facade of being dangerous, she saw something raw, damaged nd real in those eyes.

"Sorry ...... I didn't know" she don't know which power of universe transmitted in her that she took two steps to reduce forbidden physical gap and kept her soft palm on his fairly rough cheek, trying to absorb his pain, forgetting her own. As adrenaline rushed through his body, he closed his eyes for a second to control the enraged harmones which had shook his existence since the time he saw her in that saree, looking like a walking flame, ready to burn him.

"U r unleashing the beast so stop if u don't have intentions to tame it" nd for the first time she saw someone as intimidating as him and intensity in his eyes terrified her soul so much that she ran away from him to save herself from getting more ruined by him.

That one simple caress on his cheek nd he was so close to feel the essence of madness called love.

..................... End .....................||

Let me know if you find any mistake.

So this is the first chapter nd now u got glimpse of storyline so is anyone interested in further story?

(Next update will depend on the response of this one)

................... Aish ❣️...................