Author's Pov

Rocky stumbled out of the bar, a lit cigarette on his lips and a half drunk bottle of beer in his other. He would occasionally puffed out greyish smoke from his mouth, making the acrid smell of it reek in the atmosphere. Looking at his condition one thing was clear, he was quite drunk.

The cars of Rajendra Desai and his henchmen, zoomed past one by one, leaving the long haired guy all alone in the dark night, to ponder upon himself.

Reena couldn't help but roll her eyes seeing the condition Rocky was in. Drunk, yet again. Can't this guy stay sober for even a few minutes? Reena couldn't help but wonder. She had meet him just two times and both the times he was completely high and it was one of the reason that added fire to her hate for him.

Long dark lashes and black silky hair - he had it all. He was definitely good looking, there was no doubt in it. His eyes always held a look of mirth in them, which makes it hard for his enemies to depict his thoughts. And he always had a playful smile on his lips which makes girls swoon over. She had seen the way her own sister ogle at him like he was some kind of forbidden candy. Unfortunately she, Reena, was not impressed.

Because, being good looking will not save one from getting killed for their stupid and rash behaviour. She was sure that more than once his tongue had landed him in serious trouble. Man the guy need serious filters. Never in her life, has she seen someone as reckless and stupid as him. He was the kind of man who doesn't fear of his own life. More clearly speaking, he showed a reckless disregard for his own safety.

Till today, she had thought her sister was a fool to fall for him, a complete idiot. She misinterpreted her sister's feelings to be one that was caused due to desire. She even remember giving a long lecture to her sister on how good looks was blinding her thoughts, depriving her of her perceptions. She had concluded, her sister was choosing her own destruction by growing feelings towards the long haired rouge.

But today, all her assumptions and judgements about Rocky took a wild turn. He was not completely bad. Somewhere deep down, he had a good heart, a heart that knows how to respect women. And today for the first time, she understood why her sister had developed feelings for a goon like him.

How much ever Shravani negates it, the love and desire, she saw in her sister's eyes could never be fake. Her sister might yet to realise it completely, but her feelings are quite evident -the frequent looks, the blush, the smiles- in her mannerisms.

And today she got the best reason to unite Rocky and Shravani. A reason that made Rocky see worthy in her eyes. A reason, a promise, she would never reveal. A promise, she would keep for her dead mother.

Moreover, she doesn't want her sister to have the same fate as hers. Love one man with all her heart only to marry another. She knew the pain of sacrificing her love and she definitely didn't want her sister to go through the same.

Never. Not when she is alive.

Taking a deep breath, Reena moved out of the shadow. The pale light of the tube light grazed upon her features, making her skin glow in the dark.

"Rocky." He froze, his jaw tightened, as he heard his name being called out.

He turned around swiftly only to face the person he had least expected to see that night. His eyes widened in shock, his mouth open. He looked so comical that Reena couldn't help but smile.

She is here and she is smiling? He shook his head trying to clear his head. He brushed the hair back over his shoulder and looked at the woman before him with an uncertain doubtful eyes.

"Sister-in-law? You? Here?" He uttered, uncertainly.

Reena rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time that day and that too because of the same guy. If it was some other day, she would have given him a good punch but unfortunately for her, she needed him, unscratched.

"I need your help, Rocky." She said, without beating around the bush.

"What?" He asked confusion clouding his face. The echo of his voice made him double take his surroundings. He felt his consciousness kicking in as his eyes took in the way too calm atmosphere. Way too calm for his liking, he concluded.

"I need your help." She repeated yet again. Her calm demeanor fading.

"Help?" He chuckled, his eyes sparkled with amusement. Well, it is not everyday that the person who loathes you, comes in search for you to seek your help. "You want my help?" He asked again, pointing to himself.

"Rocky, I really don't have any time to waste snickering with you. This is really urgent. Shravani is in big trouble." She sighed.

The mocking smile on his lips faded, and the amusement in his eyes was replaced with a cold look hearing HER name.

"Shravani? What happened to her?" He asked, his voice sober.

"She is getting engaged tomorrow, to the brother of the man, for whom they have called you as an assassin." She revealed.

"To Garuda's brother?"

"Yes!"

A pregnant silence prolonged between them before he spoke again, "Is she happy?"

"If she was happy, I won't be here asking for your help." She snapped, raising her hands in exaggeration.

"Oh!" He ran his hand through his hair, tugging it softly before releasing it. "Why should I trust you? What if this is a trap set up by you to separate me and Shravani? A trap to finish me off?" He couldn't help but ask.

Come on, you can't blame him for thinking like that. He and Reena never had the best of feelings for each other. She loathes him with every fibre of her body. The mere sight of him angers her and suddenly she is here, seeking his help. Not suspicious, not suspicious at all.

"This is not a trap, you can trust me on that. I would never use my sister's name as a bait. And Rocky, I have approached you because I know my sister means something to you, I have seen it." She said, her hands folded across her chest. "Listen, if you can't do it, just tell me, I can always look for another one."

He sighed, somewhat satisfied with her explanation, "So, what do you want me to do?"

"I don't know. Kill him. Make him disappear. Do whatever you want but don't let him proceed with the marriage."

"Hmm." He hummed, still not convinced. 

"Listen I'm not entirely happy with the idea of you and my sister together. I still believe she deserves someone better, but what to do that idiot thinks you are best for her. And taking in today's account, I feel that you are not as bad as I imagined you to be. So..." She trailed off not know what else to say.

He smiled at her, a genuine smile not the mocking one. "You hates me. In your words I'm a scoundrel, bastard and what not. Still you want your sister to end up with me? Why? Why are you doing this?"

She chuckled, "Rocky I don't exactly hate you. Yes I do dislike you but hate, No. Your this reckless and impulsive behaviour just keeps reminding me a lot of someone, and it agitated me. He was very daring but very reckless, so naturally he had many enemies, enemies who were waiting for a chance to strike. And one day, he himself gave them the perfect opportunity. He was young and handsome. Unfortunately, he ended up losing his life even before he could live it." She paused, her stomach twisted into a knot and her throat constricted, stopping her.

Her eyes were burning with tears, making her blink rapidly. No, she can't cry, she shouldn't cry, not again. She cleared her throat before continuing like she was narrating a fictional story, "He sacrificed his life for what he thought was right not knowing it was nothing but a deceit from the people he trusted. A deceit that caused him his entire life. He left, leaving behind many to mourn for him. Incidentally, you and him have a lot of similarities but sadly for him, he didn't know how to tackle down his enemy tactfully like you. You know how to identify the wolf warped in sheep skin and finish it off without spilling your own blood."

She looked at him and smiled as if the words she spoke didn't affect her, like she didn't care. However, years of experience made him an expert, an expert in reading people. He could clearly read the pain in her eyes despite the cold barrier she put up.

"Anyway, I'm here for my sister. She might not realize it yet but she does feel something for you. I don't know whether it is love or not but it is something powerful enough to make her pray for you safety. Don't let her down" like he let me down. "Save her before it's too late." She said, wrapping up.

They looked at each other, a mutual understanding passing between them. She turned around, ready to leave when his voice cut through the air, stopping her midway.

"Who was he?"

"Someone I used to love." She whispered, before walking away.

She left leaving him behind with various thoughts and questions clouding his mind.

She closed her eyes finally letting the tears trail drown her cheeks as those memories, HIS memories, resurfaced in her mind making her heart cry out in agony yet again.

'How I wish you were here with me now. Pulling me in a comforting hug and whispering sweet words but alas fate played us dirty. Now memories is all I have of you, which helps me survive the storms and live.' She cried that night, yet again for the love that left her.

~••*••~

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