~ Bad Guys ~

"You are such a nerd." Karan says the moment I step out of the bookstore. I notice the sky is a different colour now that it was an hour ago. Though there is another hour before the sun should go down in this part of the world but it looks like the sun was feeling a little shy and hid behind the dark grey clouds.

"I am a reader." I say as a whiff of cold and pleasant air brushes past me. I can smell the rain paying a visit today.

"Aren't those a little too many books?" He points at the bag in my hand, the books I just purchased peaking out.

"Yeah, well, it's for the whole month you see."

His eyes widen and he steps back, "A month? Those are like-" He peeps into the bag in my hand, counting the books, "Like five novels!"

"And I believe that I can achieve the impossible." I simply shake my head and laugh, walking past Karan onto the street.

"You can't read them all in a month." He follows up.

"I can, Karan. It's isn't that hard."

"Yeah, well. Anyway, what do you want to do? Now that you've achieved your Zen." He asks falling into step with me. "Do you want to eat?"

I move my eyes from side to side, tall buildings painted in white surround us. This is a busy area, buzzing with people all over. I don't remember how Connaught Place used to look like. The last time I came here was probably seven years ago.

Like promised, Karan had returned back in a couple hours after doing whatever his mom called him for. He had asked me where I wanted to go and I asked him to bring me to a place where I can find loads of books to clear my head. His instant reaction to the word 'books' hadn't been much pleasant. He scrunched his nose and stared at me like I was some alien from Jupiter.

"You read?" He had given me his incredulous face look.

"Is that a bad thing?" I had asked.

"Why would you read books when you already read study stuff?"

"Because books make me feel at peace. It's where my happy place is." He made a face that told me he didn't understand the concept of books bringing happiness to anyone but then, I get it. He was just being a boy.

Karan brought me straight to here, where there were a couple of bookstores for me to clear my head. Whatever that had happened with Manik back at home was stuck to the walls of my brain like gum to hair. All day. I just kept thinking: Where was he for the last two weeks? Why did he come back? Where did he go now?

But walking into the book store was like changing worlds all of a sudden. A second ago I was in the real world where I didn't know who the were the good guys and there didn't seem to be any bad guys. A world where my life wasn't an action packed romantic fantasy but a boring, dull, heartbreaks and tear packed flop show. The next second I was in the world that I knew I loved. In this whole new magical world where I knew the difference between the good and the bad guys, knew that I could find love without getting my heartbroken.

"I don't know.. I'm not that hungry." I stop walking and look at him.

"What? Why not?" Karan asks.

"I think that has something to do with the food I had earlier." I say.

Karan smiles sarcastically, "Yeah, well. Too bad because I am hungry. So-"

He stops talking as his phone starts buzzing. Taking it out of his pocket he brings it to his ear while I step back from him and roam my eyes around. There are quite a few people out here even though the clouds seem to be getting thicker and the sky darker.

A wild breeze of wind engulfs me in a cold and pleasant hug and I put my arms around myself, thanking that moment I decided to trade my dress with a jeans and my heels with a pair of sneakers. My dress would have blown in multiple directions in this crazy windy weather like the leafy branches of the trees are, right now.

"Nandini," Karan taps on my shoulder and I turn to face him, "I've.. I've gotta go." He says.

I notice, with a frown, that all the colour from his face has faded and he looks visibly white. "What's the matter?" I ask.

"It's.. It's.. ." He runs a hand through his messy brown curls. "I have to leave for the hospital-"

"Hospital? Karan what's the matter?" I step forward to keep a hand on his shoulder but he backs away.

"Don't.. Just.. I have to leave!" He shouts, inviting a few unknown gazes. I ignore the eyes at us and focus on Karan. I can see him shiver, his hands balled into fists at his side.

"Okay." I say, a sense of disbelief arises in me. Karan never shouts. I have never seen him get angry in the one month that I have known him for.

He starts to back away. "I'm going to get the car." He jogs away from me towards the parking lot, leaving me with words still silent on my lips.

I stare after him as he runs away from me. But without giving any thought to whatever he just said I run after him, my bagpack hitting against my back as I take fast steps in the direction Karan just left.

I spot him in the parking lot just when he gets inside the car and jog up to him. I knock on the window once I reach the car and he unlocks the door for me to slide in.

"Karan, I don't understand."

"You don't have to understand." I can feel he is somehow distressed and in pain but his tone just doesn't say it. I feel like along with all the other feelings he is suppressing something else- something bitter.

All of this and that too in a matter of a few minutes.

"Karan-"

"I have to, Nandini! I have to get to my sister!" He hurriedly starts the car.

"Your sister?" I didn't even know he had a sister. Has. I correct myself mentally.

"She needs me, Nandini. I have to go now! Stop talking to me now!" He shouts again.

He fumbles with his seat belt and curses.

I reach my hand to his side of the seat to take the belt from his hands. But the moment my hand comes in contact to his I feel his fingers tremble. "I'll..." I say and he removes his hands from under mine while I pull on his seat belt. The button clicks and I bring my hands back to my lap.

Without a word his hand goes to gear, his foot onto the clutch and then the gas, and he takes off. "I'll drop you home and then go." Is what he says.

Karan fixes his eyes on the road ahead and drives away into the traffic stuffed roads of Delhi. Silence creeps in on us. He doesn't say a word for a very long time and looking at his distraught face, I don't ask any questions either.

Once the road gets clear of traffic, Karan steps onto the accelerator and speeds through the city, cutting through the edges, overtaking the cars. I hold myself back, clutching onto my seat belt tightly.

There seems more anger on his face than pain. I don't know what has happened to his sister and I don't think asking him would be advisable either. I have never seen Karan like this. The Karan I know is always laughing and making others laugh but the Karan sitting next to me right now seems like a whole new person.

I hear the tires shriek and I am thrown off my seat to the front. My hands clutch onto the sides of my seat, when Karan steps on the break. I jerk up, my heart hammering against my chest, and look in front of me.

A red light.

My breath evens. I look at Karan with my hand over my heart, "What the hell?!"

"I didn't see the red light." He says through a clenched jaw. "I'm in hurry."

"Look, maybe you don't have to drop me off at home. I can come with yo-"

"No!" He looks at me, "I mean, no. I can't.. I don't want you to come. I'll just drop you at-"

"Why don't you want me to come? If it's your sister-"

"It's.. I can't.." He struggles for words and it is clearly visible on his face. Is it pain or the anger that he is trying to keep in, I don't know. "Listen Nandini-"

"Drop me here." I say.

Karan's hands tighten around the steering wheel, his knuckles turn white with the pressure. "I'll drop you home."

"No, Karan. It's clearly something important to you and if you don't want to tell me then it's okay but I don't want to slow you down. You need to be where you have to and I can get a cab."

Karan takes a minute before replying. "Okay."

"Yeah." I put my hand on his shoulder and smile lightly. "It'll be okay. Whatever it is."

"Thanks." He says. No smile but.

I quickly stuff my books into my bagpack and get out of the car.

I step back onto the footpath as the light turns green. Without a look at me Karan drives away into the traffic. My heart slumps down like something heavy is being kept on it. I am not used to Karan being like this maybe that's why it hurts to see him.

Without further ado I take my phone out and call for a cab from the Uber app. The sky above is now completely dark, full of dark grey clouds, the sun hiding behind them. The coolness in the air helps a lot in keeping my mind at peace.

First Manik, now Karan.

And they say girls have tantrums.

Instinctively my hand slides into the pocket of my jeans. A rough piece of paper touches my fingers and I pull it out knowing exactly what it is.

Folding it open I read the words scribbled on it.

I know you're angry. I'm sorry. I'll be back later.

I heave a sigh and push the piece of paper back into my pocket.

I found this paper lying on my nightstand where I used to keep the lamp that he broke. I don't know what he meant by later because he didn't come back the entire day and if he is there now, I'm sure he is disappointed. I am not even sure why I want him to be there just because he said so. Maybe because I want him to stick to his words for once.

The cab arrives soon and I slip into it, giving the address to the driver.

It takes twenty minutes for me to reach home. I check the time in my phone, 7pm. I get out of the cab among the gurgling thunders of the skies above. Paying my fare, I jog up to my porch and push the key into the lock. The lock clicks and the I push the door open. Navya's car was nowhere to be seen outside so that means she isn't back yet.

I shut the door behind me and walk towards the kitchen to grab myself a bottle of water. Throwing my bag onto the kitchen counter I open the refrigerator, pick up a water bottle and-

"Welcome back." A voice startles me and the bottle falls right out of my hand and the water spills all over the floor. I turn back around, my hand on my racing heart.

An unknown face greets me leaning by the door of the kitchen.

"Who are you?" I step back, almost falling on the wet floor.

I hadn't switched on all the lights while I entered the kitchen so the only light illuminating the house was the tiny one in the hallway. Which, for the record, does no good to me because I can't see the face of the person leaning against my kitchen door.

The man laughs, "You don't know me." He says.

"That is why I am asking, who are you?" I stand still- frozen, my heart is hammering against my chest and I can feel the sweat forming on my forehead.

"You'll know. Soon." He says and steps into the kitchen. I still can't see the person's face but the little light does outline his figure. He's just as tall as Karan but not quite as lean as he is.

I step back reflexively and hold the side of the kitchen counter for support lest I fall on the slippery floor. "What do you want from me?" I keep backing up until back hits a cabinet drawer.

I know on the shelf, behind my back, are the knifes and forks and all the sharp objects that I can use to run away from here but I can't bring myself to reach for it. Something tells me I won't be able to make the run. The man is standing right at the one and only entrance of the kitchen.

"You can try," My heart jumps as he speaks, "but you won't be able to." Though I can't see his face but somehow from his tone I can make out a grin.

With whatever little light that was peeking into the room from the window I could make out the broad shoulders and a sharp jawline on the man.

"To do what?" I stammer.

"The knifes and forks and sharp objects... You know the rest." He says.

"I- what do you want from me? And how did you get in?" My fist that are closed tight are itchy with all the sweat.

"It's really nothing you see, I want you to come with me."

"Wh-"

"I know you wouldn't come with me on your own without wanting to know where and why and blah blah. But I can't tell you. Not yet, at least. So I'm gonna have to drug you." I see the shadow move closer to me in a slow and confident way.

"WHAT?" Drug me?

"Either that or hit you on the head so you'd faint. Now drugging you wouldn't cause pain, so you can choose." He says in a careless tone.

The man takes another step close to me. I can see some part of his face now, the rest hidden in shadows. My hand reaches for the knifes on the shelf behind me very slowly. I can feel the back of it in my hand, I pull it out and a clinking sound makes me suck my breath in. I don't know if my heart can beat any faster than it already is.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk." The man takes his last step, his eyes stare into mine and I notice that he is somewhat around my age, give a year or two. "You did not just do that." He says, his voice as sweet and deadly as sugar.

My next move leaves me surprised at my own self as I pass my knife from my left hand to my right just when the man seizes my left arm behind my back and twists it hard. A cry escapes from my mouth and I bring my right hand forward and jab the knife hard at what looks like his shoulder.

The man cries a loud roar into my ear and for a split second his grip loses on my hand. I take the opportunity, shove him away with all my strength and when he staggers back, I run. For my life.

But just as I reach the kitchen door I am pulled back inside, my back hitting against a live but hard chest. I scream in a loud, shrilling manner but a hand stops it from reaching anyone. He twists my hand behind my back and I think I hear a bone crack. I bring my other hand to my mouth and try to free it from him.

"You shouldn't have done that." He speaks into my ear, his hot breath making me shiver with fear and disgust. "Who would have thought some as untrained as you is capable of wounding me. But then again, you aren't just any ordinary girl now, are you? You're the girl who has kept my entire team going in circles. You have quite some bodyguards. You know that right?" He says and let's go of my mouth. "Scream as loud as you can for no one will hear you." He remarks and before I can bring myself to scream for help I feel something pricking into my skin on my back, like a needle-

The man loosens his grip on my hand and pushes me away. I stumble a little and find the kitchen door to help me stand straight. I look at him, my body trembling with fear. A face so young, yet so deadly. A nasty grin lines his lips and it sends bolts of disgust through me. "Run." He says and that's when my eyes land onto the nasty gash on his left shoulder. The T-shirt is torn apart and thick red blood is dripping down.

The sight of it renders me paralysed for a moment.

"RUN!" The man roars and something falls into place in my mind. I cover my hand lest I should puke and dash out of the kitchen, heading towards the front door but I find it hard to even walk. My lungs are begging for air but I know if I stop I will die tonight.

I keep on moving, dragging myself towards the door ahead which feels like it's miles away. An excruciating pain hits my head and my vision starts to blur. I can still see the door ahead but it's just not still. It's moving from side to side. I blink my eyes a couple times but all I see is a moving door.

I hear a cruel laugh from a little behind me. I glance back and find the man, now a hazy figure, standing at a distance, not moving at all. I tell myself not to dwell on what or why and just keep moving ahead, step by step.

Suddenly the little light in the hallway turns brighter and whiter. A flash of white light hits my eyes in hazy rays as I see a figure standing in front of the door. The laughter stops.

I hear my name in a voice so familiar and I force my legs to reach that voice but even my legs betray me. They turn into jelly and I feel them fold in, just like I feel the hard ground which my head bangs on and in the hazy white light I see a face and then nothing more. The darkness wraps me in its embrace and there is nothing more left to feel.

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Next chapter coming soon! Do like and comment and let me know how you feel about this.

We are now walking into the world I wanted to introduce you to.

So stay glued?