. ..๐ เฃช ึดึถึธ๐ชฝเผเผเฟ
The next morning-
At Kalyani Niwas-
The house, which had been lively just a day before, now felt quiet again.
Everyone had finished breakfast early.
One by one-
They had all left for their respective work.
The large mansion, once filled with voices, laughter, and chaos-
Now stood calm.
Almost too calm.
Outside a cafรฉ-
A sleek, gleaming black car came to a smooth halt.
Its polished surface reflected the city's movement like a mirror.
The door opened.
And a man stepped out.
He was-
Strikingly handsome.
Sharp features.
Well-built.
Dressed in a way that spoke of power without trying.
But there was something else-
Something darker.
His aura-
Cold.
Dangerous.
The kind that made people instinctively step aside.
Without wasting a second-
He walked inside.
Sweet Life Cafรฉ.
The soft aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.
Light chatter.
Clinking cups.
A peaceful setting-
That sharply contrasted his presence.
His eyes scanned the place.
Calm.
Observant.
Calculating.
And then-
They stopped.
At a corner table-
Sat a man.
Around twenty-six.
Sitting casually-
Leg folded over the chair in a carefree manner.
Completely absorbed in his phone.
But despite his laid-back posture-
He was attractive.
Sharp.
Alert.
The kind who noticed more than he showed.
The newcomer walked straight toward him.
Pulled the chair.
And sat down.
The seated man sensed the presence.
He lifted his gaze from the phone-
And looked up.
A smile spread across his face.
Lazy.
Playful.
Almost mocking.
"Kya baat hai... aaj Mister Yuvraj Singh khud aaye hain... mere jaise chhote se detective Siraj ke paas?"
(What's the matter... today Mr. Yuvraj Singh himself has come... to a small detective like me?)
Yuvraj said nothing.
He just stared.
Cold.
Unblinking.
Siraj chuckled softly.
Leaning back.
Enjoying the silence.
Yuvraj was about to speak-
But Siraj raised his hand, stopping him mid-way-
"Arey arey... mujhe pata hai... tum seedha kaam ki baat karoge..."
(I know... you'll go straight to business...)
"Kaam ki baatein toh hoti rahengi... pehle coffee ho jaaye?"
(Work can wait... let's have coffee first?)
Without waiting for an answer-
He signaled the waiter.
Ordered two coffees.
And sandwiches.
Yuvraj didn't react.
Didn't object.
Just waited.
Minutes passed.
Coffee arrived.
They drank in silence.
Then-
Yuvraj finally spoke.
His voice low.
Firm.
"Tumhe ek cheez ka pata lagana hai."
(You need to find something out.)
Siraj's expression changed instantly.
The playful smirk faded.
Replaced by focus.
He leaned slightly forward.
Listening carefully.
Yuvraj explained.
Brief.
Precise.
No unnecessary words.
When he finished-
Silence followed.
Siraj leaned back.
A faint smile returning.
But this time-
It lacked confidence.
"Arey... yeh kaam toh tum kisi ko bhi de sakte ho..."
(You could give this job to anyone...)
"Tumhare under itne agents kaam karte hain... unse kyun nahi karwate... main hi kyun?"
(You have so many agents... why me?)
Yuvraj's gaze darkened.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Siraj immediately looked down.
Clearing his throat.
"Yaar... tumhe pata hai isme kitna risk hai..."
(You know how risky this is...)
"Mujhe marne se darr lagta hai..."
(I'm scared of dying...)
He looked back up-
Trying to lighten the mood-
"Abhi toh meri shaadi bhi nahi hui... bas engagement hui hai..."
(I'm not even married yet... just engaged...)
"Yeh kaam tum kisi aur se karwa lo... theek hai?"
(Give this job to someone else... okay?)
Yuvraj watched him.
Silently.
For a few seconds.
Then-
He stood up.
"Theek hai... phir agli baar tumse Boss baat karegi."
(Fine... next time, the Boss will talk to you.)
And he turned to leave.
"KYA?!"
Siraj almost slipped from his chair.
He jumped up instantly.
Rushed forward.
Caught Yuvraj's arm-
And pulled him back to the chair.
"Arey arey Yuvraj ji! Aap toh mazaak bhi nahi samajhte!"
(Come on, Yuvraj! You don't even understand jokes!)
Yuvraj looked at him sideways.
Unimpressed.
Siraj quickly sat down.
Grabbed the glass of water.
Drank it in one go.
Took a deep breath.
"Arey Boss ko kyun beech mein la rahe ho... main hoon na... main kar dunga..."
(Why bring Boss into this... I'm here... I'll do it...)
"Itni si baat ke liye unhe takleef dene ki kya zarurat..."
(No need to trouble her for such a small matter...)
Then muttered softly-
"Pata laga lunga..."
(I'll find out...)
Yuvraj nodded.
"Sahi decision liya tumne."
(You made the right decision.)
Siraj straightened-
"Lekin paise zyada loonga."
(But I'll charge more.)
No response.
Siraj opened his bag.
Pulled out a laptop.
Turned it on.
Started working.
His fingers moved fast.
Eyes scanning.
Mind calculating.
After a few minutes-
He turned the screen toward Yuvraj.
"Mujhe lagta hai... yeh 'Moon Stone Bar' ho sakta hai."
(I think... it could be this 'Moon Stone Bar'.)
An image of a dimly lit bar appeared.
Yuvraj studied it.
Then said-
"Tumhe sach mein lagta hai woh yahan ho sakta hai? Yeh zyada mashhoor jagah bhi nahi hai."
(You really think they could be here? This place isn't even that famous.)
Siraj smirked.
Turning the laptop back-
"Haan... mashhoor nahi hai... lekin uljha hua hai."
(Yes... not famous... but complicated.)
He leaned in slightly.
Voice lowering-
"Ismein kuch secret doors hain... secret rooms... jinke baare mein kisi ko pata bhi nahi."
(It has secret doors... hidden rooms... that no one knows about.)
Then lifted his collar dramatically-
"Lekin mujhe pata hai."
(But I know.)
Yuvraj stared.
Siraj immediately panicked-
"Mera matlab... main sure nahi hoon... kabhi kabhi yeh mislead karne ke liye bhi hota hai..."
(I mean... I'm not completely sure... sometimes these things are just for misdirection...)
Yuvraj-
"Toh tum sure kab hoge?"
(Then when will you be sure?)
Siraj scratched his head-
"Mujhe thoda waqt chahiye..."
(I need some time...)
"Ek din."
(One day.)
Siraj froze.
"Kya? Ek din?!"
(What? One day?!)
He leaned back dramatically-
"Yaar mere aur bhi kaam hain... kam se kam do-teen din toh chahiye..."
(I have other work too... I need at least two-three days...)
Yuvraj-
Without even looking at him-
"Atharah ghante."
(Eighteen hours.)
Siraj leaned forward-
"Nahi tum-"
(No, you-)
"Pandrah ghante."
(Fifteen hours.)
Silence.
Siraj's eyes widened.
Speechless.
He opened his mouth-
Closed it again.
No point arguing.
Inside-
He groaned.
"Pehle 24 ghante mil rahe the... ab woh bhi gaye..."
(I had 24 hours... now even that's gone...)
Making a miserable face-
He muttered-
"Theek hai... ho jayega."
(Fine... it'll be done.)
Yuvraj stood up.
And walked away.
Siraj quickly got up-
"Arey mere paise?!"
(Hey, my payment?!)
Ignored.
Yuvraj walked out.
Siraj sat back down.
Face scrunched.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Complaining internally.
Then-
His phone buzzed.
A notification sound.
He picked it up.
Opened the message.
And froze.
His eyes widened.
"Yeh toh... zarurat se zyada hai..."
(This is... more than necessary...)
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Inka kaam karne mein toh bahut fayda hai... is baar toh pichli baar se bhi zyada..."
(Working for them is very profitable... this time even more than before...)
His eyes sparkled with excitement-
"Is baar... apni mangetar ko diamond necklace gift karunga."
(This time... I'll gift my fiancรฉe a diamond necklace.)
He quickly packed his things.
Energy restored.
Fear forgotten.
And walked out of the cafรฉ-
With a smile.
And a dangerous deadline ticking in the background.
๐ถ__________________________________________________________
๐ฆ๐ถ
Somewhere else...
Two young men-
Dressed in simple kurta-pajamas-
With mufflers wrapped around their faces and necks-
Moved silently through a narrow settlement.
Their steps were slow.
Measured.
Careful.
Not a single unnecessary sound.
Hidden beneath those mufflers-
Tiny earbuds rested in their ears.
Invisible.
Yet active.
They crossed the last row of huts-
And slipped into the dense jungle behind the settlement.
The air changed instantly.
Heavier.
Damp.
Unsettling.
Leaves crunched faintly under their feet-
But even that seemed too loud.
They moved deeper.
Further in.
Until-
They stopped.
In front of a swamp.
The muddy water lay still.
Too still.
Almost unnatural.
One of them stepped closer-
His eyes narrowing as he observed the swamp carefully.
Every ripple.
Every shadow.
Every detail.
The other one-
Didn't look at the swamp at all.
His gaze moved constantly.
Scanning the surroundings.
Sharp.
Alert.
Predatory.
Kilometers to their left-
Hidden inside thick bushes-
A man lay concealed.
Watching.
And to their right-
Another one.
Equally hidden.
Both of them held specialized binoculars.
Not ordinary ones-
Advanced.
Precise.
Scanning for movement.
For threats.
The jungle wasn't empty.
It was surrounded.
Controlled.
The man near the swamp finally spoke.
His voice barely above a whisper-
"Babbar sher... kya kuch mila?"
(Babbar lion... did you find anything?)
The one called Babbar Sher-
Major Ayaan-
Didn't even look at him.
His eyes were still fixed on the swamp.
"Haan... isi daldal ke neeche hai unka base."
(Yes... their base is beneath this swamp.)
Major Ronit glanced around again.
Then said calmly-
"Toh uda dete hain."
(Then let's blow it up.)
Ayaan pulled out his phone.
Checked something.
His expression hardened.
"Nahi... khabar mili hai... in logon ne kuch ladkiyon ko bhi qaid mein rakha hai."
(No... we've received intel... they're holding some girls captive.)
Ronit's eyes widened slightly.
"Kya? Lekin ladkiyon ko toh hum nikaal chuke the, na?"
(What? But we already rescued the girls, didn't we?)
Ayaan slipped the phone back into his pocket.
His jaw tightened.
"Haan... lekin humne sirf ek gang pakda tha..."
(Yes... but we only caught one gang...)
"Dusra gang... jo in terrorists se mila hua hai... unhone kuch ladkiyon ko inke hawale kar diya tha."
(The other gang... connected with these terrorists... handed some girls over to them.)
A pause.
Heavy.
"Ab humein pehle unhe yahan se zinda nikalna hai."
(Now we need to get them out of here safely first.)
Ronit nodded.
No hesitation.
He moved away slightly-
Pushing aside grass.
Clearing bushes.
Searching.
His hands brushed against something solid.
Hidden.
He crouched.
Cleared the dirt.
A lid.
Perfectly concealed beneath the ground.
Near the base of a tree.
Ronit signaled Ayaan.
Ayaan walked over silently.
His eyes studied the lid carefully.
An entry point.
Before either of them could act-
A voice crackled in their ears.
Through the earbuds.
"Sir... woh yahin aa rahe hain."
(Sir... they're heading your way.)
It was the man hidden on their left.
Ronit reacted instantly.
He covered the lid again-
Perfectly.
As if it had never been touched.
His eyes scanned the area-
And then-
He spotted two large rocks.
A few meters away.
Without wasting a second-
He slipped between them.
Flattened himself against the ground.
Completely still.
Invisible-
Unless someone came very close.
Moments later-
They arrived.
Two.
Then three men.
Faces covered.
Weapons in hand.
Guns ready.
They moved toward the swamp first.
Careful.
Suspicious.
Their eyes scanned everything.
Every shadow.
Every movement.
Ronit watched them-
From the edge of the rocks.
His breathing controlled.
Silent.
One of the men-
Started walking toward the hidden lid.
Ronit's grip tightened slightly.
His mind flashed to Ayaan.
Where is he...?
The jungle was filled with tall trees.
Thick branches.
Perfect cover.
Ronit's eyes moved upward-
Searching.
And then-
He saw him.
Ayaan.
Sitting high above-
On the topmost branch of a tall tree.
Still.
Balanced.
Like a predator waiting for the right moment.
His gaze fixed on the men below.
Cold.
Precise.
Deadly.
Ronit exhaled silently.
At that exact moment-
Another voice came through their earpieces.
This time-
From the right side.
A hint of impatience.
Almost boredom.
"Kya in teenon ko daboch loon? Main yahan bore ho raha hoon."
(Should I grab these three? I'm getting bored here.)
Silence followed.
The jungle held its breath.
And the mission-
Was about to begin.
That voice-
It belonged to Tej.
The same settlement-
Through which Ayaan and Ronit had entered the jungle-
Tej was inside it.
Hidden.
In a small, corner house-
Dimly lit.
Windows half-covered.
He sat comfortably on a chair-
A laptop placed in front of him.
A packet of chips in his hand.
Casually munching-
As if this wasn't a high-risk mission.
On the screen-
Two live feeds played simultaneously.
Ayaan.
Ronit.
Every movement.
Every step.
Everything they saw-
He saw.
Because the buttons on their kurtas-
Weren't just buttons.
Mini cameras.
Perfectly embedded.
Invisible.
Tej leaned back lazily-
Crunching another chip.
Bored out of his mind.
"Yaar... kya boring kaam diya hai..."
(Man... what a boring task they've given me...)
He rolled his eyes.
"Sirf dekhte raho... dekhte raho... aur kuch mat karo..."
(Just keep watching... keep watching... and do nothing...)
That was Major Ayaan's order.
Observe.
Report.
No action.
And that-
Was exactly what Tej hated.
He wasn't built to sit still.
To watch.
To wait.
Which is why-
He had just suggested grabbing those men.
But Ayaan's voice came through.
Cold.
Strict.
Unyielding.
"Nahi... yeh mat bhoolo... woh ladkiyan abhi bhi qaid mein hain..."
(No... don't forget... those girls are still captive...)
"Hamari ek galti... unke liye khatra ban sakti hai."
(One mistake from us... could put them in danger.)
Tej frowned.
Frustrated.
"Phir toh bahut waqt barbaad hoga..."
(Then a lot of time will be wasted...)
Ayaan's reply came instantly-
Sharp.
Decisive.
"Nahi... aaj raat... ladkiyon ko bhi nikaalenge... aur inka khel bhi khatam karenge."
(No... tonight... we'll rescue the girls... and end their game.)
Tej paused.
Then smirked slightly.
That sounded more like it.
Meanwhile-
Back in the jungle-
The masked men finished their inspection.
Looked around one last time.
And left.
Silence returned.
Ronit slowly emerged-
From between the rocks.
Brushing off dirt.
Above-
Ayaan jumped down from the tree.
Landing smoothly.
Without a sound.
They walked back toward the hidden lid.
Ronit pushed aside the grass again.
Gripped the edge.
And pulled.
It resisted at first.
Stuck.
Hidden well.
But after a little effort-
It gave way.
The lid opened.
Darkness.
Complete.
Ronit leaned forward-
Trying to see inside.
But saw nothing.
He turned on his torch.
Shone the light inside.
Depth.
A narrow descent.
He bent further-
Trying to look deeper.
And then-
He recoiled instantly.
"Ugh-!"
He covered his nose.
Face twisting in disgust.
"Yeh toh naali hai..."
(This is a sewer...)
Ayaan nodded slightly.
Still observing.
"Jis tarah se ise chhupaya gaya hai..."
(The way it's been concealed...)
"Yeh ek raasta bhi ho sakta hai... ya phir ek jaal."
(It could be an entry... or a trap.)
Ronit glanced inside again.
Unhappy.
"Phir kisi ko andar jaake dekhna hoga..."
(Then someone has to go inside and check...)
Ayaan replied calmly-
Without even looking at him-
"Haan... toh jao."
(Yes... so go.)
Ronit froze.
"Kya? Main jaaun?"
(What? Me?)
Ayaan simply nodded.
Ronit made a face.
Disgust clear.
"Lekin ismein se kitni badboo aa rahi hai..."
(But it smells so bad...)
Just then-
A burst of laughter echoed in his ear.
Tej.
Watching everything live-
Laughing uncontrollably.
"Hahaha... Ronit bhai... maza aa raha hai..."
(This is fun, Ronit bhai...)
He knew.
Of course he knew.
Ronit hated filth.
Hated sewer smell.
Absolutely couldn't stand it.
Ronit clenched his jaw.
Irritated.
Embarrassed.
He looked at Ayaan-
Almost pleading.
Ayaan ignored him completely.
Turned.
And walked back toward the swamp.
"Raat ko mujhe yahin milna..."
(Meet me here tonight...)
"Tab tak andar jaake pata karo... kya haal hai, Major Ronit..."
(Till then, go inside and find out what's going on... Major Ronit...)
"Main tab tak is daldal ko dekhta hoon."
(I'll examine the swamp till then.)
Ronit sighed deeply.
Defeated.
He tapped his earpiece.
"Captain Sumit... jaldi se samaan leke aao."
(Captain Sumit... bring the gear quickly.)
Within seconds-
Movement in the bushes.
Captain Sumit appeared silently.
Handed over the equipment.
Ronit took it.
Prepared himself.
Reluctantly.
Then-
He climbed inside.
Into the dark.
Into the stench.
Into the unknown.
Back in the house-
Tej leaned forward.
Eyes glued to the screen.
Now slightly more interested.
Meanwhile-
Ayaan returned to the swamp.
He stood at its edge.
Studying it again.
Then slowly-
He extended his foot.
And dipped it into the muddy surface.
Tej's voice came instantly-
Panicked this time-
"Arey Babbar Sher! Kahin tum andar jaane ki toh nahi soch rahe?!"
(Hey Babbar Lion! You're not thinking of going inside, right?!)
"Tum phas jaoge!"
(You'll get stuck!)
Ayaan ignored him completely.
He pressed his foot deeper.
Waited.
Observed.
And then-
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Exactly as he expected.
It wasn't a real swamp.
Just water.
Designed to look like one.
A trap.
A disguise.
To keep people away.
He pulled his foot out.
Stepped back.
His mind already working.
Connecting pieces.
Planning ahead.
Without another word-
He turned.
And walked away.
The mission had just become clearer.
And far more dangerous.
๐ถ__________________________________________________________
๐ฆ๐ถ
On the other side...
Night had settled quietly over the deserted road-
Stretching endlessly under dim streetlights that flickered now and then-
As if even they were too tired to stay awake.
A lone figure walked through that silence.
Slow.
Steady.
Unbothered.
It was Mahika.
She had left college early that day-
After attending just two lectures.
No one knew where she had gone.
No one had asked.
And now-
She was returning.
Dressed entirely in black.
A high-neck top hugging her frame.
A long coat flowing slightly with each step.
Black shoes making soft, almost inaudible sounds against the road.
Her hair-
Open.
Loose.
Dancing lightly with the night breeze.
Her hands were tucked inside her coat pockets.
Her posture relaxed.
But her presence-
Anything but ordinary.
Her face held no expression.
No emotion.
No hint of what she was thinking.
Yet-
She was thinking.
Deeply.
Lost somewhere far beyond this empty road.
Unseen to ordinary eyes-
But very much present-
Four to five shadows moved with her.
Left.
Right.
Behind.
Ahead.
Bodyguards.
Hidden.
Silent.
Alert.
They blended perfectly into the surroundings-
Watching every movement.
Every passing second.
They were hers.
Assigned to protect her.
Always at a distance.
Always invisible.
And Mahika knew.
She knew they were there.
Knew they followed her every step.
But she didn't care.
Not even a little.
One of the bodyguards whispered softly-
Through the communication device-
"Boss ek ghante se paidal chal rahi hain... kya gaadi le aayein?"
(Boss has been walking for an hour... should we bring the car?)
Another one immediately replied-
A hint of fear in his voice-
"Bilkul nahi... jab tak boss koi ishara nahi karti... hum kuch nahi kar sakte..."
(Absolutely not... until boss gives a signal... we can't do anything...)
"Agar bina permission ke kuch kiya... toh hamari laash yahin milegi."
(If we act without permission... our bodies will be found right here.)
Silence followed again.
Mahika kept walking.
Then-
Her eyes caught something ahead.
A car.
Parked awkwardly on the roadside.
Beside it-
A man paced back and forth.
Trying to stop passing vehicles.
But none stopped.
Mahika's steps slowed slightly.
Her gaze sharpened.
She recognized him.
Yash Singhania.
Without hesitation-
She walked toward him.
"Kya baat hai, uncle?"
(What happened, uncle?)
Yash turned at the sound of her voice-
And froze for a moment.
Surprised.
"Arey... Mahika beta... tum?"
(Oh... Mahika, dear... you?)
She simply nodded.
Just then-
The car door opened.
Malini stepped out.
She had already seen Mahika from inside-
And now, up close-
Her surprise doubled.
She walked quickly toward her.
"Arey beta, tum yahan kaise?"
(Dear, how are you here?)
Her eyes instinctively scanned the surroundings-
Searching.
For someone else.
Sanju.
Mahika noticed.
Understood instantly.
"Sanju mere saath nahi hai."
(Sanju is not with me.)
Both Malini and Yash looked at her-
Surprised.
Seeing their reaction-
Mahika spoke calmly-
"Mujhe kuch kaam tha... isliye main jaldi nikal gayi thi... Sanju ab tak ghar pahunch gayi hogi."
(I had some work... so I left early... Sanju must have reached home by now.)
They relaxed slightly.
Yash looked at her again-
Concerned.
"Waise beta, tum kahaan se aa rahi ho... aur itni sunsaan road par... woh bhi paidal?"
(By the way, where are you coming from... and on such a deserted road... on foot?)
Mahika paused.
For a brief second-
Even she didn't know the answer.
How long had she been walking?
Where exactly had she been?
But she replied anyway-
"Main kisi kaam se gayi thi... koi cab ya taxi nahi mili... toh bas chalti hui aa rahi hoon."
(I had gone for some work... couldn't find a cab or taxi... so I just walked.)
Malini's eyes widened.
"Kya? Tum paidal ghar ja rahi thi?"
(What? You were walking all the way home?)
Mahika didn't answer.
Instead-
She shifted the topic.
"Aap dono yahan... sab theek hai?"
(You both here... everything okay?)
Yash sighed.
"Hum ek rishtedaar ke ghar gaye the... wapas aate waqt gaadi ruk gayi... samajh nahi aa raha kya problem hai... na lift mil rahi hai... na mechanic."
(We had gone to a relative's place... on the way back, the car stopped... don't know what's wrong... no lift, no mechanic.)
Mahika glanced at the car.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Then calmly-
"Main dekhun?"
(Should I check?)
Without waiting-
She walked to the front.
Opened the bonnet.
Heat rushed out.
The engine was overheated.
She examined it quietly.
Hands moving with precision.
Confidence.
Familiarity.
Within minutes-
She stepped back.
"Ek baar start kijiye."
(Try starting it once.)
Yash and Malini exchanged confused looks.
How could she possibly fix it?
Still-
Yash sat inside.
Turned the key.
Nothing.
He looked at her.
Malini sighed softly-
"Koi baat nahi... mechanic dhoond lete hain..."
(It's okay... we'll find a mechanic...)
But just then-
Yash tried again.
The engine roared to life.
He froze.
Surprised.
Impressed.
Confused.
Malini smiled brightly-
"Arey wah! Tumne toh itni jaldi gaadi theek kar di!"
(Wow! You fixed the car so quickly!)
Mahika said nothing.
Just stood there.
Silent.
Unbothered.
Malini gently cupped her cheek.
Warm.
Affectionate.
"Chalo, ghar chalte hain."
(Come, let's go home.)
Mahika replied flatly-
"Aap jaiye... main aa jaungi."
(You go... I'll come on my own.)
Yash spoke from inside-
"Arey, hum bhi ghar hi ja rahe hain... tum bhi saath chalo."
(We're going home too... come with us.)
Malini didn't wait.
She held Mahika's hand-
Gently.
Firmly.
"Chalo."
(Come.)
And made her sit inside the car.
She herself sat in the front seat beside Yash.
The car moved forward.
Inside-
Silence.
Malini kept glancing back at Mahika.
Something about her felt...
Familiar.
Her face.
Her aura.
As if she had seen her before.
Somewhere.
She finally spoke-
"Waise, Mahi... tumhara college kaisa chal raha hai? Koi dikkat toh nahi?"
(So, Mahi... how's your college going? No problems, right?)
Mahika looked at her briefly.
Then answered-
"Ji nahi, aunty... sab theek hai."
(No, aunty... everything is fine.)
And turned her gaze back-
Toward the window.
Outside-
The night passed by in silence.
Malini tried again.
Asked a few more questions.
But every answer from Mahika-
Was short.
Minimal.
One word.
Two at most.
Her attention remained outside.
Her face-
Still emotionless.
Distant.
Unreachable.
Yash and Malini exchanged a quiet glance.
They understood.
She didn't want to talk.
And so-
They let the silence stay.
But neither of them realized-
That the girl sitting quietly in the backseat-
Was anything but ordinary.
And the silence she carried-
Was far louder than words.
๐ถ__________________________________________________________
๐ฆ๐ถ
At Army Base...
Morning had arrived-
But for them-
The night had never really ended.
The mission-
Was successful.
After hours of silence, danger, and calculated risk-
They had done it.
The girls-
Rescued.
Safe.
Untouched.
The gang-
Captured.
And more importantly-
They had uncovered leads.
Hidden terrorists.
Operating quietly inside India.
All that remained-
Was the report.
But right now-
Something else burned stronger than victory.
Ayaan's anger.
It simmered beneath his calm exterior-
Sharp.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Because one thing-
Had gone wrong.
Tej.
The task assigned to him-
Was incomplete.
No update.
No report.
No trace.
And that-
Was unacceptable.
Ayaan walked ahead-
Fast.
Rigid.
Every step heavy with suppressed fury.
Behind him-
Ronit followed.
Trying-
And failing-
To reach Tej.
Call after call-
Unanswered.
"Utha na yaar... please utha..."
(Pick up, man... please pick up...)
But nothing.
Ronit exhaled slowly.
Already imagining what would happen next.
Today... no one can save him.
They crossed the settlement-
Two more officers trailing behind.
And then-
Ronit saw him.
Tej.
Sitting casually-
With a girl.
Laughing.
Loudly.
Carefree.
Ronit's eyes widened.
Anger flared.
But fear-
Took over immediately.
He glanced at Ayaan.
Then back at Tej.
Please... don't let him see him...
But fate-
Had other plans.
Ayaan noticed.
The shifting glances.
The sudden tension.
His gaze followed.
And landed-
Directly on Tej.
In that instant-
His anger snapped.
He turned.
And strode toward him-
With fast, sharp steps.
Dangerously calm.
Ronit closed his eyes briefly.
Bas... gaya tu.
Ayaan stopped in front of Tej.
His voice-
Cold.
Hard.
Unforgiving.
"Major Tej... kya main jaan sakta hoon... apna mission chhod kar aap kaunsa important kaam kar rahe hain?"
(Major Tej... may I know... what important task you are doing instead of your mission?)
Tej jumped.
Literally.
He hadn't expected that.
The girl beside him froze-
Then looked at Ayaan-
And immediately panicked.
His voice.
His presence.
His intensity.
Too much.
Her eyes filled-
And she started crying.
Tej panicked instantly.
"Arre... arey... ro kyun rahi ho...?"
(Hey... why are you crying...?)
But that only made it worse.
Ayaan's irritation spiked.
He hated-
Crying.
Especially unnecessary tears.
He looked at her sharply-
"Tum kaun ho... aur ro kyun rahi ho?"
(Who are you... and why are you crying?)
She cried harder.
People nearby began to notice.
Whispers rising.
Tej clenched his jaw.
Trying to stay calm.
"Meri baat sun-"
(Listen to me-)
But before he could continue-
Ayaan cut him off.
"Mujhe aadhe ghante mein tum base par chahiye."
(I want you at the base in half an hour.)
A glare.
Sharp.
Final.
And he walked away.
Tej stood there-
Frozen.
Then looked at Ronit-
Helpless.
Ronit raised both hands-
Surrendering.
"Galti ki hai... saza toh milegi."
(You made a mistake... you'll be punished.)
Then glanced at the still-crying girl-
"Isse chup kara... warna sab tujhe hi galat samjhenge."
(Calm her down... or everyone will blame you.)
And left.
Tej sighed.
Then gently calmed the girl.
Explained.
Pacified.
And finally-
Left for the base.
At the army base-
The mission report had been submitted.
Inside the room-
Ayaan stood near the table.
Ronit beside him.
Discussing details.
And in the corner-
Tej.
Balancing.
One leg raised.
A pile of books stacked on his head.
Doing squats.
Again.
And again.
Sweat dripping.
Eyes constantly shifting-
Toward Ayaan.
Hoping.
Waiting.
That he would say-
Enough.
But half an hour passed.
Nothing.
Except one warning-
"Ek bhi kitaab giri... ya tum ruk gaye... toh saza aur badhegi."
(If even one book falls... or you stop... your punishment will increase.)
For Tej-
This wasn't difficult.
He was a soldier.
Trained.
Disciplined.
They all were.
At a young age-
All three had become Majors.
Through sheer hard work.
Relentless training.
But still-
This wasn't about difficulty.
It was about endurance.
And Ayaan's anger.
Tej stared at him-
Unblinking.
When Ayaan didn't react-
He finally snapped.
"Yaar... tu mere saath galat kar raha hai."
(Man... you're being unfair to me.)
No response.
Tej groaned.
Then removed the books.
Walked straight to him.
Still-
Ignored.
"Arey yaar... us ladki ke pair mein moch aa gayi thi... woh ro rahi thi..."
(That girl had sprained her ankle... she was crying...)
"Aur tu toh jaanta hai na... main kisi ladki ko rote hue nahi dekh sakta."
(And you know... I can't see a girl cry.)
Ayaan looked at him.
Slowly.
That was enough to make Tej stutter.
Still-
He continued.
"Kaam maine time pe kar diya tha... bas inform nahi kiya..."
(I completed the task on time... just didn't inform...)
"Baaki kaam Captain Sumit ko bol diya tha..."
(Assigned the rest to Captain Sumit...)
"Aur main us ladki ko akela nahi chhod sakta tha..."
(And I couldn't leave that girl alone...)
He went on.
And on.
"Tu hi toh kehta hai sabki madad karni chahiye... maine uski moch theek ki... phir usko distract karne ke liye baat karne laga... itni mushkil se chup karaya tha..."
(You're the one who says we should help everyone... I fixed her ankle... then talked to distract her... I had just managed to calm her...)
"Teri shakal dekh ke phir ro padi... tu usko rula ke aa gaya."
(Then she saw your face and started crying again... you made her cry.)
Ronit kept signaling-
Stop.
Just stop.
But Tej-
Didn't.
And then-
He felt it.
A sudden chill.
He looked at Ayaan.
Those eyes-
Were warning enough.
One more word-
And even Ayaan didn't know what he'd do.
Tej stepped back immediately.
Two steps.
Then made an innocent face.
"Ab kyun naraz hai mujhse...?"
(Now why are you angry with me...?)
Silence.
Ayaan stared.
Tej turned to Ronit-
Helpless.
Then-
Ayaan's voice cut through-
"Major Tej... aap duty ke time gayab the... aur time pass kar rahe the... kya ek honhaar soldier aisa behave karta hai?"
(Major Tej... you were missing during duty... wasting time... is this how a capable soldier behaves?)
Tej lowered his head.
"Agar seniors ko pata chala... toh jaante ho kya hoga."
(If the seniors find out... you know what will happen.)
Tej made a sad face.
Looked at him.
Ignored.
So-
He did what he always did.
Walked up.
Clung to Ayaan.
"Mujhe pata hai... jab tak tu hai... mujhe koi daant nahi sakta... seniors bhi nahi."
(I know... as long as you're here... no one can scold me... not even seniors.)
Ayaan glared.
And he was right.
No one-
Dared to touch Tej.
Not in front of Ayaan.
Because despite everything-
Ayaan saw him-
As a younger brother.
And Tej-
Used that.
Shamelessly.
He turned to Ronit-
Grinning.
"Roni... apne Babbar Sher ke liye shayari ho jaaye?"
(Roni... shall we do a poem for our Babbar Lion?)
Ronit raised his hand dramatically-
"Ho jaaye!"
(Let's do it!)
Tej cleared his throat.
"Arz kiya hai... zara gaur farmaiye...
(Presenting... please pay attention...)
Na zarurat hai sitaron ki... na zarurat hai faltu yaaron ki...
Ek dost chahiye aap jaisa... jo vaat laga de hazaaron ki.
(No need for stars... no need for useless friends...
One friend like you is enough... who can mess up thousands.)
"Waah waah!"
(Bravo!)
Ronit clapped.
Ayaan's lips-
Almost-
Curved into a smile.
But he hid it instantly.
Returned to seriousness.
Tej smirked.
Then added-
"Waise bhi... tu toh akhand single rehne wala hai... kam se kam mera ghar toh basne de..."
(Anyway... you'll stay single forever... at least let me settle down...)
"Tu nahi chahta tere bhatije-bhatiji aayein... aur tujhe tau tau bulayein?"
(Don't you want nieces and nephews calling you uncle?)
He drifted into his own imagination.
Dreaming.
Ronit and Ayaan exchanged looks.
This guy...
And then-
Without warning-
Tej leaned forward-
And planted a loud kiss-
On Ayaan's cheek.
Silence.
Ayaan froze.
Completely.
That-
Was unexpected.
Very unexpected.
He immediately pushed him away.
Wiped his cheek aggressively.
Then looked at him-
Like he might actually kill him.
Tej realized.
Too late.
"Uh... main chalta hoon-"
(Uh... I should go-)
And before anyone could react-
He ran.
At bullet speed.
Straight out of the room.
Ronit burst out laughing.
Holding his stomach.
Ayaan shot him a glare.
Instant silence.
Then-
They looked at each other again.
And this time-
Both of them-
Burst out laughing together.
Because no matter how intense the mission was-
How dangerous their lives were-
Some things-
Never changed.
ึดึถึธ. ..๐ เฃช ึดึถึธ๐ชฝเผเผเฟ
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