A surprise for my dear reader who always makes me feel good about my writing through the comments !!!

OS dedication - Sambayar

I hope you like this story 😅

Note : this above statement doesn't mean I don't feel good about other's comments . They make me more and more happier . I respect you all with all my will and I'm forever grateful for the love you guys are showing with those comments . It's just a token of gratitude for that reader for taking time in appreciate the details of the work

I hope I didn't hurt anyone and wish you all understand the intention behind the surprise dedication!!!

Sorry if it hurts anyone but as I said before, I love all your comments!!!

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° 3 shot °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Grey shade

She was treating him since 4 months and he has grown into a obedient one. She was happy with the progress he was making and was feeling good about being his guide in the travel from black to white.

What she didn't notice was, there always exists a grey shade between black and white. The stage where utmost care has to be taken ensuring that grey shade might not turn into a deeper shade of black. The vulnerable phase of transformation.

Though she was experienced in handling such people, he was more to what she actually assessed. Fortunately or unfortunately he didn't show it up to her.

A strange level of intuition she had, often at times, when he behaved differently during his treatment sessions but she blamed her overthinking and let that intuitions slip away from her mind.

All these months, their presence and communication made them feel good around each other and slowly the friendship bloomed between them. The limits of his and her behaviour was still intact. A cordial relationship was always maintained. That's the beauty that withheld them in THEIR relationship.

The more we know a person the more we tend to understand them better.

But was the depth in their relationship a worthy thing to go for ?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The room was filled with silence where she was only sitting there watching him react to the situations that were given to him.

He was performing well in his tests and seemingly a good behaviour till now.

All the while she was in the same room, he had his eyes on her, stealing her glances in between the tests. Her gaze had its effects on him always. He did deny the fact but his heart knew it somewhere that her gaze is not a thing to be denied for, at any cost.

Strange!

After everything was done, the panel members gave a green signal indicating that he had come out with good grades.

She beamed with pride as all her efforts were fruitful. The amount of pleas she did, to higher officials, to consider him, was all worth this wait. He was now CERTIFIED.

She had been nervous before but this time she was beyond her senses to get him approved. The nervous woman she was, always showed it in the form of silence. And today she was dead silent. Not even a word !

Even her colleagues were surprised by her dead silence. But they knew the efforts she had put in to get this case a clean chit was more than an achievement for her.

She felt triumphant.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

" Thank you " he said

" It's my job and I'm happy you will be out of this soon" she replied

" I thanked you for the personal touch you gave for this treatment of mine " he confessed.

" That's how i work " she answered diplomatically.

" Anyways, do you have any idea when will I be getting out of this ?" He asked curiously

" I am not sure of the date but may be two weeks to go " she spoke giving final touches to the report she held in her hands.

" Umm..... Until then is the treatment going to be continued or is there any halt ?" He asked.

" I don't think it's necessary" she said

" Oh okay! " He sadly remarked.

" But ....."

He looked up at her when he heard her 'but' eagerly waiting for what she says

"......... You have 2 sessions before you leave this place" She completed.

He had a smile on his face.

She looked at him through the corner of his eyes while signing the report.

She doesn't wanted to show her reaction to his happiness. She was just happy inside.

One more success story to her list of cases.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked

" Sure tell me ! " She said handing him the final reports.

" Can we go out for a date after these two sessions !?" He asked her out straight.

She was stunned by his question.

She was silenced by his straightforwardness

Though she knew him out and out, well versed by his actions, his words, his expressions and sometimes his silence too but today his question made her heart clutch back to her past. Nothing fresh she wanted to have after a break she had in life.

She knew that he was not a person to beat around the bush and get things done. He was always this straightforward. This quality of him always made her incline towards him personally. She admired it.

He could be straight, clean and sharp to express his point or  get his point done. Both he mastered. Actually it was her patience in studying him, that brushed up this quality of him to come out as a beautiful part of his personality. She was his perfect guide.

That question made her think of what could be the intention behind the date he was asking her out for. She can't just flow with emotions like she did before, in her past. She has to be careful and she always did.

While she was staring at him blankly, he clicked his finger infront of her making her realise she was infront of him staring. She gained her senses back and felt little embarrassed. He slightly smiled at her consciousness of being lost infront of him.

She composed herself and as usual answered to him in her own tone,

" I think you are getting personal about this way too much "

" I guess I had that right to pay you back for all that you did to me " he answered

" Your release is my gift and your behaviour in life will be my pay back " she said looking straight into his eyes.

" But ....." He said and before he could continue she said

" All the best for the future " and left.

The retreating figure infront of his eyes was a blessing in his life which he couldn't help but thank his enemy for all that happened.

But his grey mess weighed more than her efforts, to turn him to white from black.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

2 weeks to his release and he was counting on his days for the planning he did in the dark all these months.

Waiting for his release and execute it.

There will be no tomorrow after that, he decided in his mind.

"I'll see you soon " he murmured.

The tomorrow you think of, may or may not go according to you. The thought arising from your black spot never makes you look at the white side of any situation. And he was in similar situation not knowing what was in-store for him.

Time has to take charge to show him a mirror. That time was yet to come.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

2 weeks to his release and she will miss this special case on which she worked so hard, day and night, using all her experience through the years, for pulling him out of so many things. She will have to become little harsh on herself to forget her inclination towards this case. She has to. That's how she has to do it to move forward.

The personality he carried was rare to her own brain and heart. It amazed her of the good qualities he held being so black to the eyes of whole world. He had his own set of rules which he never crossed. That's what made him so special out of all her cases she treated. 

"Even the longest one she ever took in her whole career" she mumbled and chuckled.

She only wished this white form of his behaviour takes him to heights and make him more capable of anything and everything he ever wished for.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

2 formal sessions and the last day was very controlled one for both of them. They behaved very well and showed up less in front of each other and also to the world.

The farewell was formal and when he walked into his room to take his bags, he rolled his eyes around the room to have a look at it one last time.

"Hope you will stick on to what you have become today, for the rest of your life " she said entering the room

He turned back to look at her and smiled. He wasn't expecting her to bid him a personal goodbye but somewhere his heart knew she would come to give him her final words to him.

" I hope to see you soon at the cafe tonight and wish me with all the good luck which you have intended to give me now" he said

She was quite surprised by his words. He didn't request like the last time but demanded her to come over for a date.

Absolute surprise!

" You are still at it ? " She questioned

" I haven't moved from it yet, unlike your thoughts which pushed this request to the roots of the mind only y " he answered.

She chuckled at his words knowing how well he guessed her intentions behind her formal words.

Her smile was rare gesture. She never shows up but today I think the candid behaviour he gave her in the room owing to his cordial bond with her, made her to come out of her formal self.

" See you then at 1700 hrs " he said.

" Seems someone has high expectations" she said, joking a bit

" Not expectation, it's a belief " he cleared.

" Haummmm....... Let's see " she said

He kept looking at her until she asked him

" Anything else ? "

" Black " he said

"Huh?" She was confused

" I want you to come in black " he said

Now this shocked her

" What ? " She quipped

" Yeah ! Preferably black gown !" He said.

Now this is too much

How come he's so sure that she will visit him and how he's asking her to come in the attire which he liked and also tue colour.

" You are taking this too far " she said sternly looking at him

" No ! It's just a few minutes away from this place " he said

She closed her eyes in response to his stupid answer. What she was speaking and where did he think this was going. Stupidity!

" I did not warn you about the place being far instead it's about your imagination of date going too far" she plainly said.

" I know that " he said

" Then ....." She said in confusion to which he said ,

" One meeting will not cost you anything ..... It's my treat ! "

She did not mean that way and he very well knew it but his audacity with her was one added addition to his personality which she liked the most.

She just smiled. He took it as a yes and moved away from the room leaving her behind,  who was smiling at his back.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

He was decked up in black waiting for her at the cafe. He was damn sure she would come and he so wanted her to come to complete some unfinished works.

He had his reasons and he took the help of silly heart to finish his own work.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The gown was bit short for her usual attire but her sister was adamant on making her wear it. She cursed her teenage behaviour. She was feeling weird that her sister was more excited for this meet than she was.

She already warned her sister not to build castles and behave normal. Who listens to her, she was already in the air thinking of all the filmy things in her head because of that bollywood movies. Uff!! The sense of difference between real and reel life is what is the need of hour for her sister. It's waste to explain her sister when she is in her la-la-land. She ignored her and left the house in haste .

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

2 months later :

All the decorations in the house was indicating the importance of the day in the house. All decked up for the engagement ceremony.

This was a much needed break to her. After 2 months she is attending some family function and she has put her all works at bay for some days

She was dressed up traditionally and was waiting for ceremony to start to enjoy this time with family.

She receives a call and had to leave the house immediately much to her disappointment.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"What ? How can this be even possible?" She asked in horror

" Yes mam ! We got the information right and tapped him but he has changed his location 17 times since he left us" a middle-aged man informed her.

" What about medication ?" She asked

" Unfortunately no records of him taking medicines from any of our branches and no record of him continuing the treatment mam !!! " that man confirmed looking at the computer screen in front of him

" Don't worry ! He might be taking it from somewhere else " nidhi told her by placing a hand on her shoulder only to comfort her.

" Hope so ! " She sadly replied.

" What about other records ?" She asked the man

" Yet to receive the information mam!" He said waiting for a fax

An error occured much to her worry.

" Mam ! The machines went out of service . Will inform you as soon as possible" he said

" Okay prakash ! Please text me or mail the fax to me " she said.

" I think you should go back home " nidhi adviced.

" Yeah ! You are right !" She exhaled

" Don't worry yaar . He will be soon traced " nidhi assured her.

" I hope it turns out in a better position" she said closing her eyes.

" He will ! You have turned him around girl! Don't you believe yourself ?" Nidhi said

" I don't know nidhi ! This is too much for me to handle now " she said.

" Don't be disappointed! " Nidhi said.

" It's a week since this fiasco and everyone is worried at home. Just that they are not showing it up like me." She said.

" Everything will be alright ! Just breathe " nidhi adviced holding her palms assuring her of the good.

" Yeah! Thanks Nidhi for your help " she said

" Oh c'mon ! What are friends for ? " Nidhi replied.

She hugged her and bid a good bye !

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As soon as she entered the decorated house, she heard shrieks and cries of many people. She could recognise all of them, they were her family members. She hurriedly entered the main door and was stunned to see the sight in front of her.

" OMG! " she blurted out with her hands on her mouth

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

He was on verge of his success for all that he planned and now a satisfying grin on his face where he could see the man begging infront of him to leave the person who was in his clutches.

He was enjoying the shrieks, cries, taunts, warnings and what not.

The person in his clutches was his pawn to get the king under his roof. He didn't care to bother what was the person going through.

Suddenly he hears a voice call OMG!

He ignores it as another shock after all he heard so many such shocks since he executed his plan.

" Please leave her ! " The voice shouted and he stilled in a moment.

He know that voice.

He was stunned

His brain blanked out.

"It cannot be HER ! "  His heart shouted

He dreaded to turn around to look at the owner of the voice.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

She saw that the man held her sister at gunpoint holding her in his elbow.

Her sister was struggling to release herself from clutches but all efforts were in vain.

He held her sister tightly and her brother-in-law was shouting, begging, screaming at the man to leave her.

All members in the house were horrified. She was equally affected.

She tried to compose herself and speak

" Please leave her !"

He stilled at her voice and she observed that. She thought this worked. She thought she has to continue to bring things under control. She has to do it.

She continued,

" Please! Just listen to me once ! " She continued, " we can sit and solve problems. We promise we won't harm you or call cops. Let's first please talk "

" What you will talk with this man ?" Her brother-in-law shouted

" Please jeeju ! Let me handle " she said.

" Let her ! She will do it well " Aai said.

Her brother-in-law allowed her .

" See ! I know It's hurting you to be this negative and become bad in front of people but everything can be sorted , we just have to try" she said.

He was still in that same position like a statue. He was not moving nor is letting the person go off from his clutches.

She slowly moved from behind his back and walked to see him. All the while she was walking she noticed something familiar about the man with the gun.

Her heart beat has increased ten folds looking at the similarities.

And when she stood in front of him to look at him, her ground just slipped away from her feet and she felt all numb......

The disaster struck ......

She couldn't believe that it was HIM.

she managed only a word out of her mouth

" Ved ?"

The next what occured was all the chaos.

She fell down unconscious and he couldn't see her like that. A sharp pain tinged his chest and made him numb after looking at her pale face and her unconscious body.

He closed his eyes in disgust

He only blurted out , " mansi !" With a deep sigh audibly heard by the person in his clutches.

*********** To be continued**************

So here's the twist guys !!!  😉

Do let me know how it is  !

Would appreciate honest reviews on this part! Awaiting your response!!

I hope you guys like it !!! 😅❤️

Soon, details will be clear by the next shot 😉🙂

Till then, stay tuned 😉❤️

Thank you so much guys for all the love ❤️

Writer_Ak signing off !!☺️❤️