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A gunshot was heard. It wasn't something new to Veer though. Whenever he went to meet his Bhao Kaka in Ratnagiri, hearing gunshots at random moments was totally normal for him.

But this gunshot shook everyone, Veer included. Because the target was his Bhao Kaka, who was now clutching his injured arm and yelling at the men to catch the assassin.

Veer was the first one to start chasing the shooter. The other men followed after him. They chased him for fifteen minutes but then he entered a crowded marketplace to blend in with the crowd. But Veer didn't let him get out of his sight and kept running after him. All he could see was the man who dared to hurt his uncle.

During the chase, his shoulder hit a girl and he heard something crash. But he yelled a sorry and continued running. That girl cursed at him loudly but he could care less.

As soon as the shooter reached a less crowded area, Veer pulled out his gun and aimed for his leg. He didn't want to use the gun, but it appeared to be his last option so he chose to use it. His men caught the injured assassin.

Veer let out a sigh, “You messed with the wrong man. Now Bhao Kaka will decide what will happen to you.”

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Anokhi was over the moon. She finally got her hands on her Nani's forty years old Achaar.

“Now I can die peacefully after enjoying this Achaar,” She mumbled excitedly while holding onto the ceramic jar as if her life depended on it.

She was walking through the busy marketplace. Her attention was entirely on not crashing into anyone. And yet it happened. A guy came running at the speed of a bullet train and his shoulder hit her so hard that the jar fell down on the road and shattered into pieces.

Her precious Achaar was lying lifelessly on the road and Anokhi could hear her heart breaking into pieces. She murderously glared at the murderer of her Achaar through her glasses and yelled profanities at him.

“Hey, idiot! Can't you see? My Achaar fell and broke, do you even care? What in the world were you running for like a mad horse! Do you even have sense, or does your brain not work? I got my hands on forty-year-old Achaar! You'll go to hell!”

But the guy just ignored her and kept running.

“Is he- Is he running away from police or something?” She stomped her feet on the concrete road angrily and went back to mourning over her poor Achaar.

“Nani will get a heart attack when I will tell her that her forty-year-old Achaar is no more. Deva! She will disown me! And I still haven't learnt her secret recipes!”

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Anokhi's ninety-year-old granny was admitted to hospital after Anokhi broke the news of broken Achaar Ki Burnee. Her uncles, aunts, and cousins, all were angry at her. They were trying to taste that Achaar for years. And she broke the Burnee on the first day itself.

With a broken heart, Anokhi returned to Mumbai from Ratnagiri. She busied herself in her small business of Achaar Papad. But every night, that Achaar would haunt her dreams. If she ever crossed paths with that mad man again, he was bound to die from her hands.

It was a Sunday afternoon when Anokhi received a phone call from her friend Jigyasa.

“Hi, Jigyasa! How are you doing? You didn't even inform me about your marriage,” She complained.

“Arrey, my wedding happened hastily. No one was informed or invited. And I'm doing fine. But Yash's neighbour friends keep visiting us to enjoy my cooking.”

“Aye, if a chef like you lived in my neighbourhood, I would be doing the same.” Anokhi laughed.

“By the way, I called to tell you that a neighbour wants monthly supply of Achaar Papad. He is avid lover of Achaar Papad. Can you send a sample so he can try it and decide if he wants to buy your Achaar Papad or not?”

“Oh, sure! I'll come to deliver the sample in the evening. Can you make Pav Bhaji for me? You don't work in the restaurant anymore and I miss your Pav Bhaji endlessly.”

“Acha, I will.”

“See you in the evening. Bye!”

“Bye.”

Anokhi couldn't wait to enjoy Jigyasa's Pav Bhaji. She quickly prepared the samples of Achaar Papad and left for Gulmohar Society in the evening.

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Yash was sulking in a corner as Anokhi enjoyed Jigyasa's special Pav Bhaji. Jigyasa didn't offer him the dish saying it's not good for his health to eat heavy food everyday. Well, his brain agreed to her argument, but his stomach didn't. The doorbell rang, diverting his attention from Pav Bhaji.

“Oh, it must be Veer,” said Jigyasa.

A thought crossed Yash's head, “If Veer came in, then Jigyasa will definitely offer him Pav Bhaji. And a glutton like Veer will never refuse. But I didn't get to eat Pav Bhaji. Then how can I let him eat it? No! I won't!”

Yash picked the bag of Achaar Papad and headed to the main door. As the door opened, a very excited Veer came into his vision. An idiotic smile was plastered on his face.

Yash handed him the bag, “Here's the sample. Bye.” He was about to shut the door but Veer stopped him, “Yash, what is this behavior? You won't even ask me to get in?” Veer frowned.

Yash smiled, “No, I won't.” And he tried to shut the door again but Veer again stopped him, “Wait, I can smell the aroma of Pav Bhaji coming from your house.” He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the mouth-watering aroma.

“Oh, that's coming from my mouth. I ate all the Pav Bhaji and left nothing,” Yash lied, to get on Veer's nerves.

As expected, Veer's mood immediately soured, “No wonder you are getting fat day by day. Get a flat on the ground floor. I'm afraid you will end up breaking the first floor with your weight.” Veer taunted Yash, who looked down at his stomach which was perfectly find.

Yash looked back at Veer's soured expression and faked a laugh, “Haha, nice joke. Now get lost.” And he shut the door on Veer's face.

Yash laughed like a Bollywood villain, “If I don't get to eat Pav Bhaji, then I won't let this idiot Veer get it either.”

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What are your thoughts on the first chapter? 💭

Team Veer or Team Anokhi?