"mera sher theek hai na?" asked raghuveer taking his daughter in his embrace once she returned from the dargah.

( You are fine my child, yeah?)

He had been going through some documents while sitting in his cabin when he heard the news about the incident happened in the dargah. Putting his work aside he had called her driver instantly demanding him to bring rooh home as soon as possible while he himself rushed out of the office.

Once he had reached home he was waiting impatiently for rooh to come home. The moment she entered her home her father hugged her taking her in his protective embrace.

He had got scared listening to the news and just wanted to see his daughter safe in front of his eyes.

"mein theek hoon papa" rooh responded softly while still being in her father's embrace. The incident happened today scared her bad but she didn't want to make her father worried.

(Yes dad, I am fine)

"Shukar hai Mera bacha bilkul theek hai. tu yahan baith mein tere liye chai bna kar lata hun, thoda achha lgega tujhe" raghuveer gestured her to sit on the couch in the living room while letting go of her.

(Thank God, my child is perfectly fine. You sit here, I'll make some tea for you. You will feel better)

"papa mera mann nhi hai abhi kuchh bhi khaane pine ka. I just want to sleep for some time" her voice came out low as she felt her energy drained off. She felt drained more in her mind than physically.

(Dad I don't feel like having anything right now. I just want to sleep for some time)

"It's okay beta, you take some rest. We'll go for the ice cream date in the evening. all right?" raghuveer understood that her mood was down and he wanted to lighten her mood somehow.

"okay, papa" giving him a small smile rooh went towards the stairs. She understood her father's effort and it warmed her heart.

"I've got the best father. I love you papa" she mumbled with a smile on her face as she walked towards her room.

__________________________________

The old iron gate was wide open. The place smelled of alcohol and excessive cigarettes. Smoke could be seen in the air making the environment feel suffocated.

Glancing at the place Adhvay stepped into his area. People could be seen gathered in different groups with cigarettes held in between their fingers as they talked among each other.

Sensing his presence there every eye turned towards him. The chatters stopped making the place go silent. Ignoring every presence around him he moved towards an old house looking not so clean.

"Bhai police janti hai ye aapka kaam hai" said a man around 30 walking a little behind him.

"Brother, the police know that it's your work"

"achhi baat hai" (it's good) he said casually while standing in front of the house. Taking out the key from his pocket he opened the door, entered inside and shut the door behind.

It was all dark. Only the sun rays peeking through the broken window was the source of light at that moment. He didn't bother to switch on the light.

The room seemed completely unorganised as things were scattered around in the whole room. Ignoring the mess he went into the small kitchen attached with the room. Taking a bottle of alcohol from the slab he went towards the terrace of the house.

Standing at the edge of the terrace he took a sip of his drink gulping down the alcohol. Looking down he could only see dirt. Almost everyone in the whole area was smoking and some were enjoying with their time paas lailas. This was the place where the dangerous goons and the gangsters of Mumbai could be found easily.

He doesn't live in this area but if anyone wants to meet him then he will be found there only. Nobody knows where his real home is.

This small house is just a place where he would take rest sometime. He chose this area to meet people from the dark world not wanting them to enter into another part of his life.

The part which he has kept only to himself.

Sipping the alcohol he remembered those innocent eyes he had seen in the dargah earlier today. The eyes which were not leaving his mind since the time he had left the dargah.

Standing at a distance with a gun tucked at his back he had observed how she was being pushed down by the crowd. She was in a state of shock that made her unable to help herself out of that situation. Sensing the need to help her he had moved towards her to take her away.

Every time those eyes would flash in front of his eyes, he could feel his breath becoming heavy.  He could hear his heart beating faster than usual making him feel something he had never felt before. He couldn't understand what exactly he was feeling.

There was an urge to see those eyes again. The want was so intense that it made him restless.

Restlessness to see her again. Her eyes.

Chugging the alcohol down his throat he tried to suppress that urge but today the alcohol didn't help him and it frustrated him. He didn't know how to deal with this feeling.

Finishing the whole bottle he threw the bottle harshly on the floor breaking it into pieces. The glass shattered on the floor.

He looked around the place he was standing in. The people there and he himself. His reality about who he was.  The place, the reality made him close his eyes as he tried to take a deep breath and calm himself down.

Those eyes were not for him. He knew that yet he couldn't resist that urge.

It bothered him. He needed to take a damn calm on himself.

________________________________

Putting on a fresh pair of her comfy lower t-shirt she came out of the washroom. Dragging herself up to the bed she just plumped on the soft mattress.

Taking her favourite soft toy, the cute penguin she laid on the bed. She needed some sleep to take her mind off what had happened a while ago.

The moment she closed her eyes his face flashed in front of her vision. The gaze he had held when looking at her was so intense. His eyes were dark brown looking directly into hers. The perfect nose shape, the stubble on his jaw. She felt as if his image got imprinted in her mind.

His face inches away from hers fanning her face with his hot breaths while gazing deep into her eyes. Getting up with a jerk she opened her eyes. Her heart was beating faster, her breaths getting heavy making her hold her head in her hands.

The mere thought of him has increased her heart beats.

Taking the water bottle from the bedside table she drank cold water to calm herself down. Her eyes moved to her wrist which she had bandaged herself as she didn't want to worry her father.

The marks on her wrist made her think about him only.

"who are you? why I am not able to forget your face" she mumbled to herself while caressing the mark.

She was busy in her thoughts just then her mobile rang. Looking at the caller I'd she received the call as it was her manager.

"Yes arjun?" said rooh answering the call.

"Hii rooh, actually i called to remind you about the recording, you need to be at the studio tomorrow" said arjun from the other side.

Surely she had forgotten about the recording. The incidence of morning wasn't leaving her mind at all.

"yes arjun i remember. I will be there on time" she responded putting a stop to her thoughts.

"Okay then i'll meet u at the studio directly and we need to discuss some new projects as well" Arjun informed.

"all right!! bye arjun" ending the conversation she hung up the call while leaning her head back and closed her eyes.

__________________________________

"rooh, aaja mera sher, kahan reh gya?" raghuveer stood in the living room dressed up in a casual t-shirt and lower.

(Rooh, come fast. where are you?)

"aa jayegi, tu kabhi thoda sabar bhi kar liya kar" kalyani scolded him while sitting on the couch beside him.

(She'll come. You need to keep some patience)

"maa, phir andhera ho jayega. abhi theek time hai, time se ja kar aa jayenge na" raghuveer reasoned while looking at his wrist watch.

(Mom, we'll get late. It's better if  we come back home on time)

"aa gyi papa, sorry thoda late hogya. vo meri favourite eye balls wali chappal tut gyi papa. uski ek ankh hi nikal gyi. mujhe waisi hi ek aur leni hai" running down the stairs rooh came to her father complaining about her slipper making her father shake his head with a smile.

(I've come papa. I am sorry I got a little late. actually papa my favourite eye ball slipper broke. One of it's eye ball came out. I want a new slipper same like this one)

"Koi baat nhi beta, abhi jayenge toh hai hi toh chappal bhi le lenge theek hai?" he coed her patting her head making her happy instantly.

(It's okay child, we are going outside anyway so we'll buy your slippers as well. all right?)

The three of them walked out of the Malhotra mansion. Raghuveer chose to drive himself taking a seat behind the steering wheel. Rooh opened the back door and helped her dadi to get in. She then took a seat on the passenger seat and raghuveer drove the car out of the mansion.

"Papa jo market road par ice-cream shop hai na meri favourite, hum wahin jayenge" Rooh demanded looking out of the window.

(Papa, we'll go to my favourite icecream shop at the market road)

"Of course, mere sher. hum wahin jayenge" raghuveer agreed smilingly.

(Of course, my child. we'll go there only)

His daughter was the most precious gift of his life. She was the reason that he managed to live without the love of his life, his wife. His daughter is that part of his wife which she left with him to live for, to stay happy for.

The car slowed down coming to a stop as rooh looked outside getting excited already. The shop was named 'Ninja Hathodi's frosty treats'.

"Papa we will have butterscotch, hum dono ki favourite aur dadi aap vanilla hi loge?" rooh asked as they came out of the car.

(Papa we'll have butterscotch. It is our favourite and grandma you'll take vanilla like always, right?)

"haan beta, mein toh vanilla hi lungi. wahi theek rehta hai budhi dadi ko" kalyani joked as they moved towards the ice cream parlour.

(Yes child, I'll take vanilla only. It's better for your old grandma)

"arre dadi, budhe honge aapke dushman. meri dadi toh abhi jawan hain ek damm, sweet sixteen" rooh nudged her dadi's shoulder teasing her making her laugh while raghuveer smiled feeling contended looking at them.

(grandma, you are not old okay? you are my sweet sixteen young grandma)

Raghuveer ordered the ice cream for them while rooh and her grandmother sat outside in the open sitting area. They sat comfortably as they were in the elite area so nobody cared about her being a celebrity.

Raghuveer took a seat beside beside while the ice cream was served to them.

"papa, agar iss duniya mein ice cream na hoti toh mere jaise ice cream lovers ka kya hota?" rooh savoured the taste in her mouth enjoying it like a kid messing up her hands.

(Papa, what if ice cream hadn't existed in this world, what would have happened to ice cream lovers like me?)

"kuchh na hota beta kyunki tumhe pta hi na hota ke ice cream bhi kuchh cheej hoti hai ya kaisi hoti hai" raghuveer answered logically while putting a scoop in his mouth.

(nothing would have happened because then you wouldn't have known what an ice cream is or how it tastes)

"haan, ye toh baat theek hai. na pta hota na dukh hota" rooh nodded in understanding.

(Yeah, that's true. Neither we would have known nor would've been sad about)

"arre beta, humare zamane mein toh ye chhatis tarah ki ice creamen hoti hi nhi thi. humare gaon mein vo kulfi wala aata tha ek bss wahi 3,4 rangon ki kulfiyan hoti thi aur hume wahi tumhari ye aaj kal ki ice creamon se achhi lgti thi" dadi smiled remembering those old days, her childhood.

(You know child, in our times there was no such thing as so many different flavours of ice cream with different types of ice creams that you today's kids enjoy. Back then when I was a child, a vendor used to come to our village. He would've had three to four ice creams and we used to be so excited to eat them. In those times, they held the same importance for us just like you've for your ice creams)

"papa mujhe bhi vo wali kulfi ek baar try karni hai. maine dekha hai vo sadak par ni ghumte vo uncle unki cycle par vo tunu nunu nunu wala gaana baj raha hota hai, papa mujhe bhi vo kulfi try karni hai ek baar" the sudden urge to taste that ice cream once made rooh insist her father who had already seen it coming when his mother was talking about it.

(Papa, I also want to try ice cream from a street vendor. You know they also have a music system on their cycle. Please papa, I want to taste it once?)

"Theek hai beta, khaa lena vo bhi par kisi aur din. abhi ye jo rakhi hai saamne, ye khaao" raghuveer dismissed the topic while she had her ice cream with a slight pout forming on her lips.

(Okay child, you can try that but some other time. For now, have this one kept in front of you)

The ice cream treat managed to take her mind off the things. She was relaxed and back to her usual self.

_____________________________

The blood was pooled all around her.

People were screaming and running here and there. It was all chaos. The man was lying lifeless in front of her eyes. She couldn't breath seeing a dead body just infront of her eyes.

Gasping for air she woke up with a jerk looking around getting panicked. Her hand reached to her chest as her heart thudded loudly against her chest. Realisation dawned upon her that it was just a dream or more of a nightmare.

She was in her room, in her safe place.

The morning incidence was bothering her too much. It was the first time in her life that she had seen a murder and that scene had got imprinted on her mind now.

She didn't know how to deal with it. The small lamp in the room was on as she couldn't bear the darkness. But tonight she didn't find the lamp light enough because she was scared so she quickly switched on the main light of the room.

Resting her head against the headrest she closed her eyes. His face flashed in front of her eyes.

Again !

Her thoughts shifted from the incident to him now. His face flashing in front of her made her forget about the incident and now she was thinking about him.

Her mind was messed up with all the thoughts ringing in her mind. Sighing she opened her eyes and switched on the television. She kept shuffling through the channels mindlessly while her mind was stuck on him.

She didn't understand why his face was not leaving her mind. Why couldn't she stop thinking about him.

Getting frustrated she randomly selected a channel and threw the remote somewhere on the bed.

"Iss pyaar ko kya naam dun" played on the screen on star utsav taking her attention. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes as she saw her childhood favourite show on the screen.

The scene where khushi was imitating manorama dressed up in a saree played on the screen making her giggle. The scene managed to take her interest as she laid back and watched the serial.

Wrapping her arms around the penguin she kept moving further down on the bed getting comfortable under the covers. Her eyes started to feel heavy making her want to close them.

______________________________

"Papa mujhe late ho rha hai studio jane k liye aur man bhi nhi hai breakfast krne ka" said rooh as her father was asking her to have breakfast before going out of the house.

(Papa I am getting late for the studio. And I don't even feel like having breakfast)

"rooh, kitni baar bola hai ke aise khaali pet ghar se bahr nhi jaate. phir sara din khana naseeb nahi hota. thoda sa khaa le chahe par khaa kar ja" said raghuveer keeping his tone a little strict this time.

(Rooh, how many times have I told you not to go out with an empty stomach. If you go out without having food, you don't get to eat food all day. at least have something little)

"papa sachi bikul man nhi hai. Achha ye lo mein ye apple le kar jaa rhi hoon apne sath, okay?" said rooh taking one apple from the fruit basket placed on the dining table.

(Papa, I really don't feel like having something. All right I'll take this apple, okay?)

"Beta araam se beth kar khana khaya kar tu. bilkul dhyaan ni rkhti tu apna" said her dadi who was having her breakfast along with her son.

(Child, you should have your proper meal. you really don't take care of yourself)

"Dadi don't worry. i'll be fine. abhi mujhe late ho rha hai. mein jaa rhi hoon. bye papa, bye dadi" said rooh kissing her dadi's cheek and giving a quick hug to her father.

(grandma, don't worry. I'll be fine. Now I am really getting late so I am going. Bye papa, bye grandma)

"Bye mumma" saying she kissed the photo hanging on the wall and left for the studio in a hurry.

__________________________

"Uncle kya ho gya hai. aaj itna traffic kyun hai?" rooh looked out of the window as their car was stuck in traffic from last half an hour.

(uncle what happened? Why is there so much traffic today?)

"Pta nhi beta. kuchh samjh nhi aa rha. lgta hai kuchh hua hai aage" said the driver as he tried to look out from the window.

( I don't know, child, I am so also unable to understand. Maybe something has happened ahead)

"Haan arjun mujhe aane mai time lgega. I am stuck in the traffic" dialing his number rooh chose to inform him about her delay.

(Hi Arjun, I'll be getting late today. I am stuck in the traffic)

"It's okay rooh, mai bas abhi pohncha hoon. tab tak i'll check if everything is ready or not for the recording" Arjun responded from the other side.

(It's okay rooh, even I also reached just now. Till then I'll check if everything is set up or not for the recording)

"Thanks arjun" saying she cut the call. Putting her mobile back in her bag she again looked out of the window and something caught her attention.

A puppy was lying on the other side of the road. She could see his leg bleeding and it didn't take her even a second to understand that some vehicle must have had hit the puppy and went away without even caring about the helpless soul.

"Uncle mai abhi aayi" saying she opened the car door and before the driver could ask her anything she rushed out of the car.

(Uncle, I'll be right back)

Crossing the road fastly she rushed to the puppy and bent down near him.  His leg was badly injured. Blood was oozing out of his wound and the puppy was lying there in pain. The small winces leaving his mouth continuously made her heart ache.

He was helpless. He couldn't help himself. Those who could chose to ignore him and walk away as if his life didn't matter.

To most, it actually didn't matter!

Her eyes filled with tears seeing the condition of that little one. How can people be so cruel that the person who had hit the puppy didn't even bother to look once if he was fine or not.

Animals can't tell their pain but their eyes shows their pain. Their moist eyes pleading for the help that they can't voice out shows their pain that not everyone can understand.

She held the puppy in her arms carefully balancing his injured leg on her arm. Glancing at the road once she started walking towards the car.

A loud wince from the baby took her complete attention as she looked down at him. He was in so much pain. Her feet kept moving as she tried to balance him more carefully not wanting to hurt him further.

A loud horn echoed on the road startling her. Her eyes turned to her right side only to realise a truck moving towards her at a fast pace.

Before she could understand the situation the truck came too close making her eyes go shut out of fear.

The next moment she felt a tight grip around her waist pulling her into something. Her feet were off the road, she felt a sudden swirl and the next moment she felt her feet touching the ground again.

Her mind was blank. Her heart was pounding in her chest as if actually hit by that truck. Her legs trembled making her feel like she could fall down any second. Her breaths were heavy as if she had just run a marathon.

There was something more to uncover. She was caged.

Realisation dawned upon her when she didn't feel any impact of the hit that she had seen coming. With her breaths uneven she slowly opened her eyes only to realise that she was in someone's embrace.

The grip on her waist loosened making her look at the arms wrapped around her.

The touch ! It felt familiar to her.

Before she could realise a small push made her stumble back a little. Her gaze moved up to look at the person.

Her breathes got stuck in her throat making her freeze.

It was him ! The same face she was struggling to forget.

Those intense eyes looking at her with the same intensity she had seen a day before.

Adhvay was waiting for someone leaning on his bullet at the side of the road. His focus was on his mobile screen as he had received the information about his next work.

His heart felt restless all of a sudden. The feeling was so strong, it made him feel that something was not right. His hand gripped the mobile in a tight hold as he felt like something was eating him up from inside.

This restlessness. He could feel it only for her. He felt it yesterday for the first time and it was only because of her.

She was there! 

She was in trouble. That was his first intuition.

He looked around feeling desperate all of a sudden to find her. She was nowhere to be seen but a sudden horn took his attention making him turn around and look at the road.

A girl facing her back towards his side was crossing the road looking down at something. In an impulsive act he ran towards her without giving a thought about the situation.

Before the truck could hit her he wrapped his arm around her, held up her against himself and ran to the other side of the road.

Everything happened so fast that he himself couldn't process it in his mind. His heart was racing fast while his breath became heavy.

The girl in his arms pressed against his chest, she felt familiar.

Keeping aside whatever he was feeling he pushed the girl a little back and was about to move away but unknowingly his eyes moved to her face.

An angelic face is what they say. She was truly one. Her eyes closed, those long lashes falling down, a cute button nose, rosy lips, her skin flawless, she was beautiful.

His eyes refused to move away from her face. His gaze was stuck on her face not knowing how to look away. Her eyes were closed but he knew it was her.

It could be her only !

The next moment his heart skipped a beat when she opened her eyes and looked into his. His breath stuck in his throat seeing those eyes again.

The eyes which made him restless. The eyes which made him feel that strong urge to see her again.

A thing called feelings didn't exist in him. They were never there in his heart. But seeing the girl in his arms looking at him with those doe eyes, he knew he was loosing his control.

The control that he never needed to have because no one had ever made him feel anything in his cold heart. He never needed to control himself because nothing could ever move his heart the way she was doing.

Unaware !

Unknowingly!

A loud wince brought them back into their senses. Rooh looked at the puppy in her arms who was wincing in pain. A gasp left her mouth as she realised that the poor soul was sandwiched between them.

"I am so sorry, baby" she caressed the baby softly trying to soothe his pain and took a step back trying to go.

Adhvay wrapped his hand around her wrist stopping her in her steps. A slow hiss escaped her lips with his firm grip on her wrist.

His gaze shifted to her wrist before turning back to her face. Her eyes were fixed on him only. Glancing at her once he shifted his focus back to her wrist.

Sliding up the long sleeve of her kurta he looked at the mark on her wrist. That broken bangle left in his hand, it had hurt her. He observed.

She stood rooted to her place, her gaze fixed on him. She didn't feel like stopping him. She should have pulled her hand back but she was unable to. It felt as if some spell was cast on her making her freeze, unable to react.

His thumb brushed on the mark with the softest touch. His hold was gentle, his touch felt soothing. He himself didn't realise what he was doing while she didn't stop him.

It felt natural to both of them as if it was meant to be this way.

The baby in her arms made a sound again bringing them back into their senses. Realisation dawned upon him that what he was doing.

His actions surprised him. He was doing something he never did and he could never think to do. He was loosing his senses when around her.

This was the second time he met her and he could see the changes in himself. It truly bothered him.

Change ! He didn't want to change!!

"kahan jana hai?" his voice came out harsh as he tried to lie to himself about things he didn't want to acknowledge.

( where do you want to go?)

She felt her voice get stuck in her throat so she gestured towards the car parked on the other side of the road.

Gripping her uppr arm in a tight hold he looked at the road to ensure that it was clear. Pulling her along by her upper arm he made her cross the road safely along with the puppy she was carrying in her arms.

"Dekh kar chalna seekho" adhvay spoke keeping his tone rude and opened the back door of her car.

(learn to look around when walking)

"zroori nhi hai har baar koi bachane aayega" pushing her inside the car along with the baby he slammed the door shut making her flinch and move back.

(It's not necessary that every time someone will come to save you)

Keeping the puppy on the seat she turned around and slid the window down to look for him but he was nowhere.

He was gone just like the last time !

"Beta, do you know him?" the driver asked her concerned as he had recognised him and her coming in his contact made him worry.

"No uncle, he just helped me to cross the road" she denied making him take a breath of relief.

She herself didn't know if she know him or not. It was the second time she met him. Both the times he saved her when she was in trouble.

A sense of familiarity was what she felt with him.

"Uncle, take the car to our dog farm first, this baby needs to get treated immediately" she demanded caressing the baby's back while he laid on the seat closing his eyes as if he knew that he was safe now.

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