October 2014,
Location:
A deserted place, outskirts of Mumbai.

A girl in her early twenties weeping, "Please leave me ... what do you even want? I am sure there has been a misunderstanding, let me call my dad."

She was scared by the people around her and the place where she was being held at since two days.

What did they want from her?

This was the first time that she ever saw them and they seem to be enjoying every bit of torturing her. Red marks covered her body.....marks, which came from the lashings of their whip.

She was tied to a chair, pale due to due to exhaustion, struggling to talk and was trembling with fear!! Fear of not seeing her family ever again, bringing tears to her eyes.

She remembered the day two days back when she was abducted by these ruthless people.
What started as any normal day ended up being the worst nightmare of her life.

She was coming back home from her college when she was ambushed by a group of men. One of them caught hold of her and when she tried to scream, he closed her nose and mouth by piece of cloth. She struggled to get out of the hold and scream for help but no voice came out ...all she remembered was she being dumped into a van, before losing consciousness.

The next, she woke up to darkness, her eyes covered with a piece of cloth. She tried moving only to realize that her hands and feet were tied and her mouth was gagged.

The girl struggled to break free when she heard the Voice for the first time which send chills down her spine.

"Eyy chirayya !!! stop struggling. It will be less painful to you and a bit less work for us if you co-operate. Don't even try to escape from me" it warned.

"Escape is impossible and if you get caught, you will regret to have even thought about it."

And then, nothing.... She again slipped into a deep sleep only to wake up to the sound of commotion wondering if it was just hours or days since she lost her senses.

The cloth covering her eyes and the gag closing her mouth was removed. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light, she saw a group of 20 people dressed in what could be put as wear-tear clothes hovering around her.

The man in front of her was tall, well built with a muddy face which had a scar on his right eyebrow. He who seemed to be the one incharge of the mob snarled at her.

"Hai, how are you doing my dear. Looks like your dad doesn't love you much. He gave us the reason to touch you now."

Scared of what he might do, she decided to talk "Look, I seriously think there is a misunderstanding.... You might be having the wrong person with you. If my dad comes to know of this, you will never get away alive. I give you a chance to live. Let me free and you can have as much money as you want."

"Ohh, the girl has a nerve" he joked.

"How dare you threaten me with your dad. You think I fear him?" he laughed. "Ok since you put a deal before me, why don't you hear my end of the bargain."

Relieved that they were atleast negotiable, she said "You can have anything. Tell me how much you want and let me talk to my dad. You will get it."

"How about me getting a taste of you in exchange of letting you go" he snarled.

Disgusted, she spit on his face and shouted, "Over my dead body."

"Ok...if that's what you want" he agreed...

The whip hit her body and she let out a scream. She didn't know for how much time or for how many days she was tortured while she slipped between sleep and consciousness. She dreamt about her dad, thought about that voice which still echoed in her ears and the grubby face guy.

********************************************************
"One week... seven bloody days and still we did not get the required response from your father. Are you even his own?" the man said slyly.

At that moment, Heavy boots sounded hurrying towards the room and before anyone can take action, she saw the people around her dropping to the ground one by one with a bullet in their heads and the door to the room was knocked down. She saw the person that ran into the room and relief filled her body.

"Shivaay bhaiyya !!!" she screamed and cried.

Shivaay looked at her, tears filling his eyes looking at her state and anger coursing through his veins. He put more bullets into the body lying in front of him before coming to free her.
A bunch of policemen entered the room behind him collecting the dead bodies, removing evidence and simultaneously looking out for any signs of danger.

"Bhaiyya, kaha the aap? itna time laga mujhe dhundne? (Why did you not come earlier?) " she wailed.

Shivaay cried hugging her to himself "I am sorry dear I shouldn't have even let them get to you. Forgive me... Let's go... the premises are still not clear."

They just made it to the door when Shivaay felt a sharp pain at the back of his head. He closed his eyes to numb the pain and tumbled to the ground.

Before succumbing to the darkness he remembered the only person that meant his life , his Gauri.

*************************************
Same day, earlier, in Mumbai

Location: Police grounds, Mumbai.

The police grounds were filled with young and old cops cheering for their respective teams. The most awaited football match of the year being held today made the crowd glee.

The crowd was split into two groups one cheering for team "EAGLES" headed by the hot headed, blue eyed no-nonsense officer SHIVAAY TRIVEDI and the other team "PANTHERS" led by the calm, charming and equally if not more handsome officer OMKARA SINGH OBEROI.

The crowd erupted into a roar of applause as the EAGLES team scored a goal. The teams were head on today giving no chances to guess as to what the end result might be. Team PANTHERS were on the lead with one goal till then which was equaled by the EAGLES scoring the last goal. It was the last 2 minutes of the match, making the people grip their chairs and pray for the respective teams.

Within the crowd************************

"Shivaay bhaiyya come on... you can do it !!" yelled Rudra singh oberoi .

"Omkara sir... keep going !!" Cheered Bhavya Pratap Rathore.

The pressure builds as the times comes to an end.

Omkara's team manages to get the ball close to the goal, Shivaay's team trying to dodge it.

Last 10 seconds left to the game ....

Omkara goes for strike and............

GOAL!!!!!!

The crowd roared with applause for Omkara.

"Yesssss!!!" Cheered Bhavya and hugged Rudra who had a sour look on his face.

"Shivaay bhaiyya....made me lose ten thousand rupees" whined Rudra as Bhavya laughed

"Don't worry Rudy try your luck next year as these two are never going to back down from a challenge. That is the reason everybody eagerly waits for this match every year. Eagles won the trophy last time so now Omkara sir ke izzat ka sawal hai na."

"Yup Bhavya you are right, but I don't understand one thing. Shivaay bhaiyya and O are best friends. There is absolutely nothing that can break them apart but still when it comes to this match they leave no stone unturned to win the bloody trophy. One would think they could kill each other for it."

Bhavya laughed "That's what is called team spirit Rudy. When they play for their respective teams, their friendship takes a back seat"

Come lets go to the players room they might be waiting for us to celebrate."

When they reached the players room, they saw Shivaay and Omkara hugging each other, both the teams were celebrating the victory, not minding that one of them lost today.
Bhavya and Rudy came to stand beside Shiv-Om.

"Congratulations Omkara sir I cheered for you today."

Omkara smiled "I know Bhavya you are my lucky charm". He winked at her and turned to Shivaay with a smug look. "See Shivaay that's what I say about a lady's charm. How long will you depend on Rudy's charm."

Rudy intervened "O hello ... there is nothing such as a lady's charm I cheered for Shivaay bhaiyya last year and he won. Right bhaiyya?" he asked turning to Shivaay.

Shivaay smiled at Rudy and said "Ofcourse Rudy, it is just luck by chance that they won this time. Next year it will be our turn. By the way someone is trying to dodge the conversation. Om what was the challenge this time" smirked Shivaay.

Omkara chuckles nervously, "What Shivaay why will I dodge any conversation. I very well remember the bet."

Rudy's interest in the topic increased within seconds The great Omkara Singh Oberoi being nervous?? How the hell is that possible.

Unable to hold the anxiety he asked "Kaunsa bet?? And O stop trying to cover it up. Saaf saaf dikh raha hai ki aap nervous hai."

Shivaay smiled and replied, "Nothing big Rudy Om is going to propose his girlfriend today."

Rudy and Bhavya collectively gasped at the knowledge and looked at Omkara who was looking flustered.

Omkara has been in a live-in relationship with his two-year long girlfriend Ridhimma Saxena. They met at an art exhibition three years back and became friends.

Both of them belonged to the same social circle which paved way for them meeting often. They decided to take their relationship to the next level by living together a year ago. Things were going smoothly sometime back when Omkara was promoted as assistant commissioner of police.

Omkara was busy with the new responsibility and couldn't get time to be with Ridhima leading to frequent fights between the couple. However both of them loved each other and managed to work on their differences or so he thought.

As for Omkara's family, none of them shared a friendly bond with Ridhimma. Their relationship was merely cordial so as to not offend Omkara. Out of everyone Shivaay was the one who outwardly showed his dislike towards her. Now at the moment, Shivaay encouraging Omkara to propose Ridhimma shocked both Rudra and Bhavya.

"Shivaay!!" said Omkara.. "How can you out of everybody ask me to propose her. I agree that I love her but we need time to figure things out and settle down I'm 27 and in no hurry to get married. You know that. Most importantly we have an important assignment today why do you want this to be done today!! What's the hurry? I need an answer and without you giving an explanation to this I am not going to move a leaf."

"Om there is no hurry it is just a bet. I anyways challenged you thinking I would win the match" Shivaay clarified.

"Moreover no one is going to force you to marry her right now. You could propose her get engaged and marry later whenever you are ready. It will make Jhanvi ma happy. She has been worried over people talking about you and Ridhima living together before getting married. So, if you get engaged those talks will mellow down. There is no hidden intention of mine behind this. Why would I have any when it comes to Ridhima specially. I only tolerate her because of you. I don't know what you even see in her" he said making a face.

Omkara was not convinced but didn't oppose him either as he thought of getting it done with. He was anyways planning to propose Ridhima then why not today.

When it comes to challenges, Omkara singh Oberoi never backs down however trivial they might be. He was thinking of calling Ridhima to inform her that he would be home tonight but decided against it thinking to surprise her. She deserves all the love and surprises in the world. Though he would propose her today for the sake of the bet, he would give her a grand engagement later he thought with a smile.

He always wanted Ridhima to get along with his family specially Shivaay and Rudy since he loves them and respects their opinion but alas that never happened. Though he was outwardly charming unlike Shivaay who always keeps his stern face to the female population around him, he has always been a commitment phobic. Ridhima understood him and his dreams and gave him space. His family members were not so friendly to her though not outwardly rude and she never seemed to mind that as long as she had him beside her. It was only towards Shivaay that she seemed to have developed a dislike and fought with him but eventually she came around since she knows the importance Shivaay holds in his life.

Their relationship had sustained turbulence in the past and would be subjected to more in future but he was sure she was the one for him and he would never back out on her. May be if things were official Shivaay would consider working on his relationship with Ridhima too.

Rudra on the other hand was utterly pissed-off at his favorite bhai. How could he even suggest Om to propose that woman. He never liked her and would never like her. He tried to tell Omkara about it in the beginning but he would just shush it down saying they will get to know each other eventually but it has been two years and he never once got the Bhabhi vibes from her.

His mother Jhanvi and he would team up to piss Ridhima off whenever they meet at social gatherings but not once did she complain about them to Om. That should have scored her some brownie points but his gut feeling was always against her and Rudy was always a believer of instinct rather than appearance.

"Shivaay bhaiyya what was your bet exactly," asked Bhavya.

Shivvay smirked "Umm...if I won Om was to marry my sister and if Om won, he was free to stay with Ridhima. To make it more interesting I added the 'proposal' part".

"What!!" Exclaimed both Rudy and Bhavya... "How could you lose such an important bet bhaiyya".

Shivaay chuckled and looked at Omkara who looked flabbergasted at the people whom he considered friends. The question should have been 'What kind of bet is this !!' but no his little brother and his friends have no problem in betting about whom he should marry. Rather, they were disappointed that he wouldn't marry Shivaay's sister.

Why would he do that? He loves Ridhima and didn't even see Shivaay's sister. He doesn't even know her name for godsake. For reasons only known to them Shivaay and Rudra had been pestering him to meet Shivaay's so called sister so that he could fall in love with her and leave Ridhima.

Why does God had to endow him with people who loved him immensely yet did not apply logic in relationships.

Why did he even agree to the bet? Well, the answer was 'pure male ego' He would win and he would marry Ridhima anyway. Even if he lost, Mein kaunsa Harishchandra huun ki apna 'vachan' se peeche nahi hat sakta. His thoughts were interrupted with the shrill tone of Shivaay's mobile ringing.

Shivaay, Bhavya and Rudy smiled looking at the caller id of Shivaay's phone. 'Sherni' it read. "Speak of the devil!!" smiled Shivaay before lifting the call and moving out.

"What is wrong with you people Rudy you don't like Ridhima I understand but how can you like someone whom you didn't even meet. Let alone how can you wish for me to marry her?"

"Mujhe unse Bhabhi wala vibes ate hai O tum nahi samjhoge" explained Rudy. Bhavya responded by nodding her head in agreement.

Looking at them, Omkara could only shake his head in disbelief while Shivaay returned after attending the call and said "Ok guys let us get going its already noon. Let us leave Omkara to prepare for his proposal while we celebrate his barbaadi" Shivaay, Rudy and Bhavya laughed while Om just rolled his eyes muttering dramebaaz.

All of them left the place each happy in their own world not aware of the tornado that was lurking in the corner to create havoc in their lives.