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His fist tightened around the jewellery in a fit of rage as he glanced at the corpse. When he opened his hand, the sharp pin and beads had sliced into his palm. Blood welled up, staining the earring.
He stood there, intensely staring at the blood-stained jhumka resting in his wounded hand.
Suddenly, something clicked. Still clutching the earring, he whipped out his phone and began scrolling frantically. He glanced back and forth between the jewellery and the screen before a slow, dark smirk spread across his face. He cast a final, cold gaze toward the tree where the other man's body remained tied, then vanished into the shadows, leaving the horrific sight behind.
Meanwhile
The clock neared 9:55 PM as the college bus pulled away, leaving a trembling Pakhi at her doorstep. She pressed the doorbell with a shaky hand. When the door opened, Riva was standing there.
"Ab aa rahi hai tu, madam," Riva remarked. "Tere liye wait karte karte meri kamar akad gayi. Bus ka driver sote sote drive kar raha tha kya? Why are you so late?"
(Oh, finally you are here, madam. My back is completely stiff from waiting so long for you. Was the bus driver driving in his sleep or what?)
Pakhi was lost in her own world and utterly dumbfound.
It was then that Shivangi asked, "Yes, Shona, where were you?? I was so worried!!" her voice laced with concern.
Pakhi murmured it on a whim, "That man killed him."
"Wait, what? What are you even talking about, Di?" Mehek asked, looking genuinely puzzled. "We’re totally lost."
Upon hearing this, the moment Pakhi comprehended what she had inadvertently revealed, she quickly masked her reaction, returning to a neutral expression, diverted the conversation.
Uhh... Maa, actually, our bus tire blew out," Pakhi explained. "That’s why I'm late, seriously, nothing else happened."
"So, why are you so anxious, Golgappi...??" Riva asked casually. "What’s there to be so nervous about??"
"No, Riva, it's nothing like that," Pakhi lied. "It's just that I had a huge workload at the office, and after that, I was very busy at college, then seminar as well. So all in all, today was a very tiring day for me, and that's why I'm exhausted."
Further she said to Shivangi, "Maa, I'm starving!!" she tried to sound normal. "Could you set the table?? I'll be right there after I freshen up."
With those words, Pakhi rushed straight into her room without a second thought.
That's when Shivangi turned her gaze toward Mehek and Riva, "Bachon, you two sit at the dining table. I'm going to serve the food now." she said with a soft smile. "And Riva beta, there’s no need for you to rush home tonight, you'll staying right here, okay??"
Riva replied excitedly, "Yeah, yeah, Masi, I always look for excuses to stay here with the three of you."
(Hearing this, Shivangi happily went into the kitchen.)
"Riva Di, you need to change too," Mehek said sweetly. "I'll get you a night suit of my Di's so you can be comfy. Come on, let's go.
(Saying this, she took Riva to the room.)
A little later, the four of them were at the dining table. Pakhi was eating far more than her usual share—not out of hunger, but out of sheer terror. The murder she had witnessed with her own eyes was a nightmare she couldn't shake. She was stuffing one mouthful in before she’d even finished the last.
Noticing her erratic behavior, Shivangi, Mehek, and Riva looked at her with concern. "Slow down, Shona," Shivangi said gently. "Eat properly or you'll choke, beta."
Mehek teased, "Yeah, Sis, slow down! What’s the rush? Aap toh aise kha rahe ho jaise aapko aaj raat Rajdhani Express pakadni hai. Hahahaha...!!"
(You’re eating like you have a midnight train to catch.)
Riva chimed in casually, "Oye, Golgappi, did the seminar people forget to give you a snack box? Why are you starving?"
"Maybe they did, I don't know," Pakhi replied nonchalantly, her eyes fixed on her plate.
Riva playfully slid the plate away from Pakhi. "Stop eating for a second and tell us—did you actually attend the seminar?"
Pakhi swallowed hard and replied, "I went to the seminar, but I didn't actually go inside the hall."
"Kyun?" Shivangi, Mehek, and Riva asked in unison.
(Why?)
"Actually mujhe 'Mini' mil gayi thi." Pakhi said simply.
(I met 'Mini'.)
"Kaun 'Mini'?" they asked again.
(Who’s Mini?)
"Meri dost." Pakhi said.
(My friend.)
Riva raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Since when do you have a friend named Mini that we don't know about?"
"How would you know? She became my friend today outside the hall." Pakhi replied.
Assuming Mini was a person, Mehek smiled. "Well, Di, you should introduce us to this new friend sometime."
"I can't. Woh bhaag gayi," Pakhi spoke.
(She ran away.)
"Bhaag gayi???" the three asked, confused.
(Ran away?)
"Yeah, she was sitting in my lap and then suddenly she just bolted," Pakhi said innocently.
"Oh, so a little girl became your friend?" Shivangi said with a bright smile.
"A little girl? What girl, Maa?" Pakhi asked, confused.
Mehek replied, "Di, you just said Mini was your friend!"
Pakhi slapped her forehead. "Areyyyyyyy, nahi...!! Mini koi bacchi nahi hai, woh ek cute chotusi kitten hai jo mujhe seminar hall ke bahar mili thi."
(Ugh, no! Mini isn't a child, she’s a cute little kitten I found outside the hall.)
"Billi....?!" the three exclaimed, sounding like a scene from a TV serial.
(A cat?!)
"Of course," Pakhi said. "I got so busy feeding her biscuits and talking to her that I completely forgot about the seminar."
"Wahhhhh..... kitna mahan kaam karke aayi hai tu, toh bhuk toh lagegi hi na," Riva said sarcastically. "Masi, iss madam ko do aur roti dena toh. Bechari bada thak jo gayi hai itna hard work karke."
(Wow... what a noble deed. Masi, give this madam two more rotis. She’s clearly exhausted from all that hard work.)
Pakhi realized that as long as she stayed awake, they would keep questioning her. She was terrified that, in her panic, she might accidentally blurt out the murder she had seen.
Standing up, Pakhi said, "No... I'm full. I’m going to sleep. I have to leave for the office early tomorrow."
"But why, Di?" Mehek asked.
Picking up her plate, Pakhi replied, "I told you, our boss was selling the company. A businessman bought it today, and two new bosses are arriving tomorrow. We all have to be there early to welcome them."
As she headed for the kitchen, Riva called out, "Hey Golgappi, tell us one thing—I heard a world-famous businessman was at that seminar. Did you see him, or were you too busy with 'Micro-Mini'?"
"I didn't see him," Pakhi replied nonchalantly. "And I have zero interest in seeing some businessman anyway."
(With that, she disappeared into the kitchen.)
It was around 1:30 AM. Pakhi, Mehek, and Riva were fast asleep on a mattress spread across the floor. Pakhi, however, was restless, tossing and turning as sweat beaded on her forehead. The horrific murder she had witnessed played on a loop in her mind like a recurring nightmare. Suddenly, she jolted upright, gasping for air. Her eyes darted to the wall clock before checking on Mehek and Riva; she felt a wave of relief seeing them undisturbed. Her hand trembled as she reached for a glass of water on the bedside table, draining it in one gulp.
Unable to return to sleep, she stepped out onto the balcony. The gruesome scene flashed before her eyes again—something she never imagined she would witness.
“How can a human fall so low as to take another’s life?” she whispered to herself. “That person is no less than a monster. His hand didn't even shake before pulling the trigger.”
She contemplated telling her mother but immediately dismissed the idea. "No, if I tell Maa, she’ll be terrified, and it will take a toll on her health."
“I won’t share this with anyone. I have to forget this,” she resolved.
Looking up at the sky with innocent, worried eyes, she prayed,“Hey Bholenath ji, please... let’s just hope that monster didn’t see me.”
Meanwhile, miles away at the Mansion,
Sleep was equally elusive for Rajveer, though for a very different reason. Standing in his veranda, he stared at the stars, his mind anchored to the moment that unknown girl had crashed into him at the office. That strange spark still flickered in his heart.
"Who was she?” he wondered. “Why did I feel that connection? What is this feeling that refuses to let me rest? It’s never happened before... Who are you?"
"One was running from a face she wished she'd never seen; the other was searching for a face he couldn't wait to see again.
With a mountain of questions and not a single answer, Rajveer stood gazing at the silent stars, just as Pakhi did from her balcony. Could these unspoken questions be the beginning of a new destiny?"
Next Day
Since all the colleagues had decided to give the two new bosses a collective welcome, Pakhi a little earlier than usual. Needing to make two changes to reach her office, Pakhi had taken her customary auto rickshaw ride and was now standing at the bus stop, waiting.
The ordinary wait was shattered by a violent screech of tires. Startled, she looked toward the sound, her eyes landing on a car stopped abruptly nearby. There, she saw a driver, another guy, and, most disturbingly, an injured puppy right in front of the car.
Quickly and without thought, Pakhi ran toward the wounded puppy, and gently took it into her arms, an instant bond forming as if the little one were her very own pet.
With a cute little huff of annoyance, Pakhi glared at the man and his driver. "You don’t look blind! How could you two miss a tiny puppy and hurt it so badly? Just look at all the blood on its paw!"
The man, who happened to be Omkar, replied with surprising politeness. "What are you saying, Miss? Our car didn't hit this puppy. I think there’s a misunderstanding....."
"Oh hello, there’s no 'misunderstanding' here!" Pakhi cut him off, her voice rising in a cute, frustrated squeak. "Main bohot acchese janti hoon aap jaise 'Hi-fi' types logon ko. Aap jaise high-class log toh bhul hi jaate hai gadi chalate hue ke raste pas animals aur aam aadmi bhi chalte hai....!!"
(I know exactly how you 'Hi-fi' types are. You high-class people forget that animals and common folk use the road too when you're behind the wheel!)
Omkar tried to explain calmly again. "Miss, please understand, the puppy was already injured and sitting in the middle of the road. The moment my driver saw it, he slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting it."
"Shut up....!!" Pakhi snapped, giving him a bubbly scolding.
Omkar flinched comically. "Okayyyyyy..."
"Finger on your lips!" she ordered cutely.
Making a puppy face, Omkar immediately put his finger to his lips like an obedient schoolboy. His driver, watching the scene, followed suit. It was a sight that would make anyone burst out laughing.
"The moment you were caught, you started spinning a story," Pakhi replied with a pouty glare. "Don't you dare lie to me!" She added, "By God, agar iss puppy ki jagha main hoti na toh aapka naak kaat leti...!!"
(By God, if I were in this puppy's place, I would have bitten your nose off!)
The moment Omkar heard she’d bite his nose, he whipped his finger away and frantically covered his nose with both hands, looking like he genuinely expected her to attack.
Eyes wide and nose shielded, he muttered to himself, "Hey Bhagwan! Yeh ladki hai ya... 'Lady-Don'? Itni sundar, pyaari shakal aur itne khatarnaak iraade...!!"
(Good Lord! Is she a girl or a... 'Lady-Don'? Such a beautiful, cute face, but such dangerous intentions!)
"Dekha baby?" Pakhi pouted at the puppy. "Yeh bade log kitne darr-pok hote hain. Khud ki naak ki fikar hai, par tumhare nanhe se pair ki nahi....!!"
(See that, baby? These 'grown-ups' are such 'scaredy-cats'. He’s so worried about his own nose, but he couldn't care less about your tiny little paws!)
Peeking through his fingers, "Darr-pok nahi, cautious hoon!" Omkar replied. "Aur driver kaka, aap kyun statue bane khade ho? Kuch bolo!" he said looking at him.
(I’m not scared, I’m being cautious! And Driver kaka! Why are you standing there like a statue? Say something!)
Still with his finger pressed to his lips, the Driver mumbled, "Mmmmm-hmmm..!!"
"Driver uncle ko mat daraiye!" Pakhi snapped. "Woh toh bechare shareef lag rahe hain, saari fasaad ki jad aap hain—'Mr. Nose-Holder'!"
(Don’t bully the Driver Uncle! He seems like a decent man; you’re the root of all this chaos—Mr. Nose-Holder!)
Just like that, every time Omkar would try to say something again, Pakhi kept interrupting him mid-sentence, scolding him showing her displeasure with a noticeable and endearing cuteness.
Rajveer, growing impatient with the argument Omkar was having right outside, was already annoyed. "Who the hell is Om getting into it with?"
Murmuring this, Rajveer just about to filing the door open when Omkar shifted aside. That brief movement revealed Pakhi through the widescreen of the car. It was enough to stop Rajveer cold: his feet rooted inside the car, his hand retracting instantly from the door latch.
From behind the widescreen, Rajveer watched Pakhi with a fierce, unblinking intensity- a gaze that had completely frozen on her. As he did so, a stream of thoughts flowed unspoken through his mind.
At the same time, Pakhi standing outside, "Aap logon se na baat karna matlab time waste karne jaisa hai- faltu aadmi kahinke....!!" she pouted an adorable, angry protest at Omkar.
(It's just a waste of time even not talking to a people like you- you utterly worthless man!)
Leaning closer, Pakhi’s face softened with genuine worry as she continued to murmur soothingly and affectionately to the little injured puppy, "Come on, lil puppy, I'm gonna bandage your injury now."
(With those words, she carried the little puppy and made her way to a roadside park.)
Utterly bewildered, Omkar and the Driver, kept staring as Pakhi walked away, struggling to comprehend why she had scolded him so much, especially when it wasn't his fault at all.
Omkar let out a long breath, averting his gaze. "Driver Kaka, can you take a look at the engine? See if you can get it running."
"On it, sir," the driver replied.
As Omkar climbed back into the vehicle, he sighed heavily. "Baba re..... kya ladki hai. Toofan ki tarha aayi aur mujhpar daant ki baarish karke chali gayi."
(Good grief... she was a whirlwind. She blew in, trashed me up one side and down the other, and then just vanished.)
Pakhi, meanwhile, settled onto a bench just outside the park, cradling little injured puppy. She whipped out her hankerchief from her bag and tied it around the puppy's injured left paw.
Crucially, the puppy wasn't a stray- it was a golden retriever, and everything about it screamed that it had been deliberately abandoned on the path.
"Puppy, you wait here!!" Pakhi said innocently to the little one. "I'm going to run to the medical shop and get a bandage and some cotton for you."
With those words, Pakhi rushed off to the nearest pharmacy, swiftly procuring a bandage and cotton. Returning, she tenderly unwrapped the handkerchief she had tied around the puppy's leg. She then poured water from her bottle, applied a thick swab of cotton to the injured left paw, and slowly, gently secured it with the bandage.
All of this was being watched by Rajveer and Omkar, sitting in the car. Rajveer’s sharp doubtful eyes simply couldn’t leave Pakhi.
It was then that, Omkar smiled. "Just look at her, dude, what a lovely girl," he said looking at Pakhi and the tiny puppy outside. "And she’s caring for that puppy with such pure, selfless devotion."
Rajveer offered no reply, only his doubtful eyes continued to bore into Pakhi, then Omkar spoke further, "But it's heartwarming to see that 'Humanity' is still alive."
"Look at this sweet girl, she scolded me so cutely and with such passion, all because of a puppy!!" he said, looking towards Pakhi, giving a soft smile. "It makes me think; if she can do all this for a puppy, there’s no telling the sacrifices or efforts she'd make for the person she loves or falls in love with."
"The person who has this pure girl in their life is, or will be, truly blessed." He spoke with a profound sense of understanding.
Omkar grew frustrated with Rajveer’s icy silence. "Am I speaking to a ghost, dude? Why aren’t you answering? I’ve been the only one barking here."
Noticing the way Rajveer’s eyes were locked onto Pakhi, a smirk played on Omkar’s lips. "What is it, Veer? Why the intense gaze on that girl? Don't tell me the 'tough guy' has finally lost his heart, eh?"
Rajveer was about to say something when the driver knocked on the window. Rajveer rolled it down, and the driver whispered, "Sir, the car's brakes have failed."
Rajveer had something urgent to discuss with Omkar, so to get some privacy, he told the driver, "Alright, Kaka. Do one thing—go find a mechanic and bring him here."
"Yes, Sir," the driver replied and walked away.
Omkar immediately went back to teasing him. "Whoa! You’ve got something that important to say about her that you even sent Driver Kaka away?" He playfully nudged Rajveer’s shoulder. "But seriously, Veer, you two would look great together. You’re the rough-and-tough guy, and she’s the cute, bubbly girl. Total 'made for each other' vibes."
"I’m telling you," Omkar continued, his voice rising with excitement, "Go ask for her hand in marriage right now. I’ll finally see you 'mingle,' and I’ll get a cute sister who can scold me every day!"
"Stop this damn nonsense, Om, and listen to me...!!" Rajveer’s voice boomed, cutting through the air.
Omkar raised his hands in mock surrender. "Easy, tiger. Take a chill pill. Fine, I’m listening. What’s the big deal?"
Rajveer pointed a finger toward Pakhi, his voice turning deadly serious. "That girl... that girl is spying on me."
On the other side, Pakhi lovingly offered water to that tiny puppy from her water bottle, and then with pure innocence, she questioned, "Puppy, you are in terrible pain, aren't you?? I can feel that." She said further, "Don't worry, cutie pie, I'm going to take you to the doctor right now. They'll give you medicine and your injury will get better," her voice laced with concern.
Inside the car, Rajveer shared some vital information with Omkar. After hearing him out, Omkar replied in a gravelly, serious tone, "Veer, are you sure? What you’re claiming about her... that’s a serious allegation."
Rajveer didn't look away from Pakhi, his gaze piercing. "I need her full profile," he said, his voice low and steady. "Name, background, every detail. I’m not making a final call until I have the facts."
"Okay, okay. Just breathe," Omkar said, trying to diffuse the tension. "Let’s get to the office. We can discuss this girl later."
Just then, the driver returned with a mechanic. After a quick inspection, the mechanic turned to Rajveer. "Sahab, main isse yahan thik nahi kar sakta. Isko tow karke garage leke jana padega."
(Sir, I can't fix this here. It needs to be towed to the garage.)
"Sir," the driver added quickly, "another car is here. You and Om Sir go ahead. I’ll stay with this one and bring it to the office once it’s fixed."
Upon hearing this, Rajveer and Omkar began heading for the other car. However, just as they were about to step inside, Rajveer glanced back, fixing Pakhi with an intensely sharp look, prompting Omkar to say, "Dude, come on!! Let's head to the office otherwise we'll get even more late."
(With that, Rajveer and Omkar settled into the car and drove away to the office.)
On the other side, Pakhi murmured to herself, "But Pakhi, you don't even know is there’s a pet clinic nearby."
She paused for a moment, then chirped to herself, "Oh, Pakhi... you're such a dumbo! Just search on Google."
She pulled out her phone and found a pet clinic only 30 minutes away. Looking down at the tiny puppy, she cooed, "Look at this, cutie pie. I’m taking you to the clinic right now, okay? Let's go."
Gently scooping the pup into her arms, Pakhi hurried to the roadside to wait for an empty auto-rickshaw. In the rush of the moment, the fact that she had to reach her office completely slipped her mind. She avoided waiting for a bus because she didn't want to carry the puppy into a crowded space where its injured paw might get hurt further. However, every rickshaw that passed was already occupied.
"Oh no, at this rate, we'll be so late reaching the clinic. What do I do? What do I dooo..." she fretted.
Just then, Pakhi spotted a middle-aged traffic policeman standing with his bike on the other side of the road. An idea struck her. Cradling the puppy, she dashed across the street, approached him, and asked, "Police uncle, could you please help me out?"
Standing beside the officer was a younger man. As he turned his gaze toward Pakhi, his eyes seemed to freeze, captivated by her presence.
The traffic policeman gave her a soft smile, "Yes, bitiya, tell me. What help do you need?"
(Child.)
Pointing toward his bike, she asked sweetly, "Is this bike yours?"
"Yes, it is, but why?" he asked politely.
She spoke, "Could you please drop me at a pet clinic about 30 minutes from here? Look at this little puppy; he needs a doctor immediately and I can't find an empty auto," her voice laced with concern.
"Of course, why not?" the policeman replied. "But you’ll have to wait about 20 minutes, beta. My shift is almost over, and the relief officer should be here any moment. Then I can take you."
"No, no, uncle, I can't wait that long! Look, his paw is bleeding. I’ve barely managed to keep it steady," she pleaded.
At that moment, the younger man spoke up politely, "Miss, if you don't mind, may I take you?"
This man was none other than Shimla’s braveheart police officer, ACP Neev Khanna. Standing 5'10" and 31 years old, he carried an air of quiet authority.
The traffic policeman turned to Pakhi and said, "Bitiya, go ahead with Neev Sir. Don't worry, he is an ACP."
Pakhi looked at Neev and chirped, "Oh, I’ve seen you in the newspapers once or twice. You’ve caught a lot of goons, haven't you?"
Neev gave a slight nod with a smile and said, "Shall we go then?"
He led Pakhi to his jeep. As she went to sit in the back, Neev interjected, "Miss, please sit in the front, otherwise people will think I'm your driver."
Pakhi chuckled and climbed into the passenger seat. Neev started the engine, and they took off.
The tiny puppy sat curled up in Pakhi’s lap while she gently stroked its head. Neev was driving, but his eyes kept drifting toward Pakhi with a smile. And why wouldn't they? Pakhi had already made an impression on his heart.
Breaking the silence, Neev asked, "By the way, Miss, what's your name?"
"My name is Pakhi Sharma. And I already know your name—Neev Khanna, right?" she replied sweetly.
"Yes," Neev said with a soft smile. He gestured toward the puppy. "And what is the name of this 'Shahenshah' here?"
(Emperor.)
"I don't know," she said simply.
"Meaning?" Neev asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Meaning, he isn't my puppy. I just found him injured a little while ago... but now, he's mine," Pakhi replied, cuddling the puppy close to her face.
Talking along the way, they arrived at the pet clinic. Neev accompanied Pakhi inside. As the doctor began treating the puppy’s left paw, Pakhi began to shudder. When the doctor pulled out a needle for an injection, Pakhi instinctively grabbed Neev’s hand and squeezed it tight.
Neev looked down at her. Her eyes were squeezed shut in fear. Seeing her like this, and feeling the warmth of her hand in his, Neev felt a strange, pleasant stir deep inside.
The doctor finished bandaging the paw and turned to Pakhi. "Don't worry, I’ve dressed the wound. Just make sure he doesn't jump around too much. His paw will be perfectly fine in about two weeks. Give him his medicines on time, change the bandage twice a day, and bring him back for a check-up in a week."
"Okay, Doctor, I’ll take full care of him," Pakhi promised.
As they stepped out of the clinic, Pakhi’s foot slipped on a slick patch of ground. She was about to fall with the puppy in her arms, but Neev caught her instantly. He held her steady, his eyes fixed on her face, while Pakhi kept her eyes tightly shut. When she realized she hadn't hit the ground, she slowly opened them.
"Thank you, Sir, for catching me," she whispered.
Snapped out of his trance by her voice, Neev helped her stand properly and asked, "Where do you need to go now? Tell me, I’ll drop you off."
"Oh, no no, Sir, that’s not necessary. You’ve already helped me so much. I’ll just go to my office now."
"I truly enjoyed helping you, Pakhi," Neev said with a touch of charm. "Come, let me drop you at your office."
(They got back into the jeep and headed toward her workplace.)
After a 45-minute drive, Neev pulled up in front of her office building. "Here you go, Madam. You have reached your destination."
"Thank you so much, Sir. You really were a lifesaver today," Pakhi said politely.
Neev replied charmingly, "It would make me even happier if you’d call me Neev instead of 'Sir'."
Pakhi chuckled. Neev handed her a card. "Take this. My number is on it. If you ever need anything, definitely call me."
"Okay," Pakhi said casually, taking the card.
Neev extended his hand. "Toh, Phir kab mil rahe hai?"
(So, when are we meeting again?)
Pakhi shook his hand and said with a soft smile, "Agar kismat mein dubara aapse milna likha hoga, toh zaroor milenge."
(If meeting again is written in our destiny, then we surely will.)
With that, Pakhi climbed out of the jeep with the puppy in her arms and headed inside the office. Neev watched her go, murmuring to himself, "I don't believe in destiny, Pakhi. I write my own destiny. We will meet again... very soon."
He looked at the hand Pakhi had just shaken. A smirk played on his lips. "Neev, my boy, you've fallen... love at first sight."
Just then, his phone rang. It was one of his officers. "Hello!"
The officer’s voice was urgent. "Sir, there’s a deserted path behind the hall. A dead body has been found tied to a tree."
"What?" Neev exclaimed. "Fine, I’m coming. Send me the address immediately."
(Neev hung up, shifted into gear, and sped away.)
Meanwhile
Pakhi spent a long time getting the little pup treated, and it was only in the second half that Pakhi reached the office, bringing the puppy with her. When she walked into the company, a noticeable buzz went through the colleagues, staff and even the security guards- she was, after all the soul of that company.
Pakhi’s laughter, playful teasing, and little pranks were something everyone looked forward to. Her sweet and bubbly nature ensured that absolutely no one in the entire company remained a stranger to her.
The moment her colleagues saw the tiny puppy in Pakhi’s hand, a crowd formed. They quickly gathered, standing shoulder-to-shoulder around her, launching the barrage of questions about the adorable newcomer, one after the other.
(Meanwhile in Rajveer’s cabin)
Rajveer was immersed in reviewing a crucial file. Across from him, Omkar was casually monitor the live feeds from the company's security cameras on his laptop.
It was a normal check until one monitor snagged Omkar’s attention- a clear shot of all their colleagues forming a tight circle, completely surrounding someone. The moment all the colleagues stepped slightly aside, Omkar spot Pakhi on the screen cuddling that tiny puppy.
"Hey.... what is she doing here??" Omkar spoke, a hint of astonishment
"Who are you talking about, bro?" Rajveer asked casually.
"Dude, that’s the girl you told me about... arey, the one who stepped in front of our car," Omkar remarked with a serious expression while staring at the laptop.
"What...??" Rajveer shocked.
With those words, Rajveer lunged from his seat. Rounding the table, he seized the laptop from Omkar’s hands. As his eyes fell upon Pakhi’s image on the screen; the suspicion lurking in the depths of his mind was instantly confirmed.
"Om, call the manager right now." Rajveer stated firmly, gazing intently at Pakhi on the laptop screen.
Meanwhile, in the desolate path behind the seminar hall
By the time Neev arrived, his officers had already sealed off the area. He stared at the corpse lashed to the tree and barked at an officer, "Identified the body yet?"
"Yes, Sir," the officer replied. "It’s Danny—one of the top-tier gangsters. Word is, he brought in a massive consignment of drugs and illegal weapons four days ago. It was worth 200 crore, but somehow, someone completely destroyed the whole shipment."
The forensic doctor looked up as Neev approached. "Time of death?" Neev asked.
"Killed yesterday, Sir. And it wasn't quick. He was brutally tortured; fingers and toes systematically broken. They took their time with him." The doctor explained.
As Neev tried to piece the puzzle together, the officers moved to untie Danny to lay him on the ground. Neev’s eyes caught something on the man’s mangled back. "Hold on... flip the body over," he commanded.
As they turned the corpse, Neev’s eyes widened. Carved deep into the flesh with a sharp blade was a name. Neev whispered it with pure rage, "RV."
Neev's mind flashed back to yesterday’s murder—another gangster involved in human trafficking and he’d been gunned down. Someone had liberated the seven girls trapped at the scene and rushed them to the hospital. But the detail that chilled him most? The killer had left a signature there, too. Written in the victim's own blood on the wall were two letters: 'RV'.
Neev clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white. "Who is this RV?" he thought grimly. "His name is everywhere, yet he's a ghost. Is he a gangster? A vigilante? This riddle is only getting more tangled. Just one clue.... that’s all I need. I’ll expose him to the world and show him exactly what happens when you try to become the law."
Meanwhile in the office.
Omkar called the manager into the cabin. When the manager entered, Rajveer immediately showed him Pakhi on the laptop screen and questioned him, "Manager, could you tell me who's this girl?"
"Oh, this girl!!" The manager replied with a bright smile. "Sir, her name is Pakhi, and she’s the heart and soul of this entire company. She has been working here part-time for a year. As she is currently a student, she completes her shift here before attending her evening college."
He spoke further, "You know, sir, Pakhi is not only sweet and mischievous but also very diligent. The company owes a lot of it's recent success to the outstanding presentation she delivered."
"The office just loses its focus on the days Pakhi is absent. Everyone, from colleagues to staff and even the security guards, feels her absence so much that they call her up to find out why she didn't come in," he said.
Turning to the manager, Omkar said, "Hmm, alright, you may leave now."
(Hearing this, the manager left.)
Omkar confronted him, saying, "So... what now, Veer? You told me in the car that this girl is a 'spy.' After hearing the manager, do you really still think she could be one?"
"Yes," Rajveer remarked.
"Dude, did you even listen to what the manager said?" Omkar argued. "Pakhi works here. Yesterday she clearly just ran into you by accident. As for the seminar—you heard him—she’s a college student. She’s obviously one of the students you were giving business tips to."
"No, Om... I can say with absolute certainty that she is a spy," Rajveer said, his voice deep and serious. "She is spying on us, and our secret profile is at risk."
"Hold on, Veer, how can you assert that so confidently?" Omkar asked. "Isn’t there a high chance it's just a coincidence?"
"Coincidence? Coincidence, huh?" Rajveer remarked grimly. "Fine. I’ll prove right now whether this is a coincidence or something else."
With these words, Rajveer flipped open his laptop and began hacking into the seminar hall’s CCTV feed. It wasn’t a surprise—both Rajveer and Omkar were brilliant hackers as well. Once through, Rajveer played the footage for Omkar, showing the moment Pakhi had turned away from the hall instead of entering.
"Look," Rajveer pointed out. "She didn't go inside; she headed outside instead. Why?"
"Maybe she just had some work to take care of," Omkar argued.
In response, Rajveer pulled up another clip showing himself giving a speech inside the hall. "Look here. Everyone is present while I’m speaking—except for her. If she had 'work' like you say, what kind of work keeps someone out that long?"
"Now watch this," Rajveer added, switching to a clip of himself leaving through the back exit with his bodyguards. Moments later, Pakhi entered the hall and sat in a distant chair. "Exactly five minutes after I left, she walked in. What do you have to say now, Om?"
"Fine... I admit the footage looks strange," Omkar replied seriously. "But you told me in the car that you only saw her back both times—when she bumped into you and when you shot Danny. What proof do you have that it was actually Pakhi both times?"
"You're right, and I had my doubts at first too," Rajveer explained. "But when I fired at Danny, I heard something hit the ground hard. I turned, and she started running. Her silhouette and dress matched the girl who bumped into me at the office. My doubts were cleared when I stepped on an earring. I hacked the hall footage right then and saw that no other girl was wearing that specific dress or that earring—except for Pakhi."
Rajveer leaned back against the table. "And this morning, she was the one who jumped in front of our car to save a puppy. Why her? There were plenty of other people on that road. She did it because she wanted to be noticed."
Her bumping into me, her skipping that seminar despite being there, her being on that deserted path behind the hall, and now today... stepping in front of our car to save a puppy? That can't just be a coincidence, Om. Coincidences happen once, maybe twice. But over and over? No. That’s gotta be something else," Rajveer said with absolute certainty.
Rajveer’s extensive remarks compelled Omkar to reflect, and to a great extent, he felt Rajveer’s point was valid, yet he still couldn't shake the feeling that Pakhi was innocent.
At that moment, Rajveer said, staring intently at Pakhi on the laptop. "Om, this girl isn't innocent and naive as she looks. That innocent face is keeping an eye on both of us, which could put our secret profile at risk."
"So Veer, what to do now??" Omkar asked seriously.
Rajveer spoke firmly, "Bro, tell our sources to get me the full details about this girl, within 30 mins. Not a single detail should be missed."
Omkar acted instantly on the information, contacting their sources to demand a full background report on Pakhi.
In under half an hour, the contacts for both Rajveer and Omkar successfully extracted all of Pakhi’s comprehensive information and delivered it to their office.
Following this, Omkar meticulously reviewed all of Pakhi’s data, and subsequently, said, "Dude, take a look at Pakhi’s details; from what I can see, I don't think this girl is spying on us."
"A simple middle-class girl, Pakhi strictly minds her own business, her small family consists of her mother and younger sister," he spoke further. "Since her father died a year ago, she has taken on all the household responsibilities. She works part-time here and goes to evening college. The very college her sister, Mehek, and her friend, Riva, attend in the morning. Aur....."
(And.)
"Aur?? Aur kya...??" Rajveer asked, his voice weighty.
(And? And what?)
Omkar interpreted, "The girl's house is currently mortgaged to a man named Brijesh Khatri. Pakhi’s father had put the house up as collateral to secure college admission for both his daughters. Moreover, this Khatri is a despicable man; he keeps a very lecherous eye on Pakhi."
"Veer, do you still feel this girl is a danger to us??" Omkar asked, with a profound understanding.
Coldly, Rajveer remarked, "Yes....!!"
Omkar sighed, "So, what do you wanna do now....??"
Rajveer’s smirk was all Omkar needed to see to know that he was concocting a plan. After all, Omkar was the only one who could truly read Rajveer and his mind, and, no one else ever caught a whiff of what Rajveer was about to do- except for Omkar.
It was then that Omkar posed a question, "What’s on your mind, dude??"
Rajveer smirked. "Bro, I'm thinking of completely resolving all the problems affecting this girl's family."
"What do you mean, Veer?" Omkar questioned, his voice thick with suspicion.
Smirking, Rajveer declared, "Pure haq se lekar aaunga is ladki ko apni zindagi mein, aur hamesha hamesha ke liye kaid karke rakhunga apne pas. He continued, "Tune dua manga tha na, bro? Chal, teri dua qabool hui. Kal meri shaadi hai is ladki ke saath."
(I’ll claim her for my life by right, and I’m going to keep her as my captive forever. You prayed for this, didn't you, bro? Well, your prayer has been answered. Tomorrow is my wedding with this girl.)
"What....??" Omkar shocked. "Are you actually planning to ruin a girl's life?!"
"Ruin?!" Rajveer replied nonchalantly. "Let me rectify you bro, not ruin, I'll be securing this girl's life. After all, the house she has mortgaged, I'll pay off the debt. Her financial situation will be stabilized."
"Beyond that, along with her, I'll also take the responsibility of her mother and sister. That's it, all her problems solved!!" he remarked.
"In return, I'll keep her perpetually captive. 24 hrs a day, she’ll be under my watchful eye, that way, she can never share a word about last night's murder, and both our secret profiles stay safe." He said further, a cold glint in his eyes.
Omkar questioned, "How are you going to ensure Pakhi says 'YES' to marry you?"
Rajveer smirked, "Just leave that task to me, bro."
Omkar asked, "Veer, I'm worried, what if Pakhi learns the true reason behind the marriage after the wedding??" his voice laced with concern.
"If she finds out, let her, I don't care, and we'll deal with it when it happens, Om," Rajveer replied nonchalantly. "And also, after the marriage, I'll live my life and she'll live hers. We are completely poles apart."
With that, Rajveer put on his blazer, picked up his phone from the table, and seeing him do so, Omkar asked, "Where are you going??"
Rajveer smirked. "Bro, you handle the office for now. I have some work to do, I'll be back."
(Saying this, he left from there.)
With an understanding Omkar murmured to himself with a subtle smile on his lips, "But Veer, you might be forgetting that 'opposite poles attract'."
"Kahin aisa na ho jaye, Veer, ke Pakhi ko apne pas kaid karne ke chakkar mein tu khud is pyaari si ladki ke pyaar mein hamesha ke liye kaid na ho jaye." He spoke while smiling and watching Pakhi on the laptop screen.
(Be careful, Veer, in your attempt to hold Pakhi captive, you might end up forever captured by this sweet girl's love.)
"And I myself want this to happen, Veer, because only Pakhi can bring you out of the darkness you have been living in for 20 years." He muttered under his breath.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
Please don't forget to vote, comment, and share🙏🏻. LOVE YOU ALL❤️.
Also, just a quick heads-up: I’ll be taking a short break from Scrollstack after this chapter. As some of you know, I’m in the 12th grade, and it’s getting a bit tough to manage everything. I’ll still upload there whenever I find the time, but for now, it’s on a brief pause. Hope you all understand!
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