Hello everyone! This is my second book and I am pretty excited about this. I just wanna clear one thing that, this story is a hindu-muslim love story. Please do not take the religious aspect too seriously. I did this, just to make their love story difficult. I respect both religion. So, please, if you get offended by any sentence or phrase, do not take it by heart. It's totally unintentional. Even though I have tried not to make the story too sensitive, from religious point of view, but still, I wanted to clear this thing. Thankyou for reading.

"Niti, can you please meet me near the traffic light of your school. I need to talk to you about something. It's important." Nitya's best friend Shikar texted her.

She saw the text and replied instantly.

'Okay Shik, what time?'

After few minutes, his text came.

'Around 11 A.M.'

She asked, 'is everything okay?'

He answered instantly. 'Yeah! Don't worry. It's just some important issue I wanna discuss with you.'

She didn't reply back as she didn't have much balance in her phone.

Nitya is 21 years old and she has a sixteen years old brother. She loves him more than anything. For her, he is still her nine years old Anurag! Her family is middle-classed economically. Her father is a social worker and her mother is a housewife. She doesn't have many friends, actually, only one - Shikar. He has been her friend since the diaper days, and they were very close. Their parents had secretly arranged their marriage. She obviously saw him as a great friend. As soon as she reached the age of 20, many marriage proposals started coming for her, but she said no to everyone, in spite of her parent's request. Her parents were concerned about her. They thought she was stressing herself too much about the family responsibilities, which was partly true. Firstly, her family was average and she had to pay the house rent on time, always. And secondly, she always wanted to marry a person whom she loves. She believed marriage to be very auspicious, and this was one of the many reasons, why she denied all the proposals. She is the only one who earns in the family. She has two jobs. The morning job was from 7 am to 2 pm as a primary school teacher, and the night job was as a singer for various ceremonies.

She hated or rather feared violence, just like any other common citizen. And she was thankful that she lived in a country whose defense force was strong enough to keep its citizens safe. But she was aware of some criminal or mafia groups still hanging around without fear. She wished they all get caught, whenever she heard the news about them killing innocent people. But, as far as her life was concerned, it was simple and hard. She had to work hard to satisfy her family's requirements. Her major tension was her brother's education. She was aware of the fact that she didn't have enough money to pay his enormous fees. So, she had taken debt from a lot of people. Every night, she always wished to god, for a miracle to happen, which will take all her worries and make her life as normal as other girls'.

Shikar was her childhood friend. They used to go to the same school. He worked as an accountant in the hotel where she worked at night. Their houses were not very far, just two blocks away. Due to this, he always drops her off at night, to her home - safely. He was good-looking as well as had a good character. He had a soft corner for Nitya right from childhood days. He knew that she couldn't sleep alone at night and that seemed to make him smile sometimes. They were very good friends and shared everything. But, he never crossed his line, and Nitya was grateful about that. He was aware of the fact that she was never been touched by any stranger intimately, let alone a man, and so he kept his distance so as not to make her uncomfortable.

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After an hour:
Nitya reached the place where Shikar had asked her to meet. It was near the traffic signal. She went to the footpath and waited for him. Few minutes passed and he was nowhere to be seen.

'Phew Shikar! Where are you?' She thought as she was getting bored all by herself.

She saw a street dog sitting few meters away from her. She whistled and the dog's ear perked up. He looked towards her and she called him again. He came towards her waving his tail. She had always been in love with dogs, but couldn't own them because she couldn't afford one. She patted his head and then his back. Seeing that, other dogs came up too. Now there were around six dogs around her. They all started snuggling her legs. She played with all of them and gave them biscuits, which she actually was carrying for herself. She heard a prolonged car horn and she wondered who has gone mad. She looked towards the road and saw a sleek black car with tinted windows standing straight in front of her. She wondered why the driver wasn't moving. She looked towards the signal and could see that the signal was green. The horn rang again, and she noticed that it was coming from the car, behind the black one. She looked at the black car once more and then gazed back towards the dogs. She saw the black car moving after few seconds, due to the constant noise produced by the following car.

After a minute or so, Shikar came.

"Care to tell me why you called me...here? " She asked.

"I know I am sorry. Actually, I want your help."

"Okay! But why here Shik?"

"I was near this place and this area seemed quick enough to meet."

"Fine! What kind of help do you need?" She asked.

"I don't know how to put this!" He tried to say but couldn't come up with words.

Nitya waited for a while and then asked.

"How much?" She asked.

"What?" He became confused.

"How much cash do you want Shikar. You don't have to feel shy about it. When I can ask you for cash without hesitation, shamelessly, why do you feel shy?"

He sighed and replied. "It's actually Ananya. She is getting into the new college and the fees is 1.5 lakh. I have arranged 1 lakh but..."

"50K right. I'll withdraw the amount. Do you want it right now?" She asked.

"Yup! That's why I called you here or else I would have come to your workplace."

She entered the nearest ATM and withdrew the said amount.

"Okay, here it is. But make sure to give it back as soon as possible." She winked and gave him the cash.

"Yeah! I'll return it to you in around three months."

"Relax! I was just kidding. Take your time but don't take forever." She said with a smile.

"I hope I didn't disturb you from your work."

"Nah! I had 2 free hours." She lied.

"So, I'll go now. Thanks so much, dear. I love you." He said. Even though the latter part of his sentence was taken as a sarcastic comment by Nitya; he was serious about it. He had always loved her but never had the strength to confess it to her. He knew she was not ready for any relationship due to her family responsibilities. So he just waited for the right time.
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"Boss! We have to move to another place as soon as possible!" Azmal informed his boss.

"I know. And I had already found a location. It's near a middle-class colony- Vikaspur. "

"But Faizal, that sounds like a Hindu colony. Do you think we can live with them!"

"Our mission has nothing to do with religion. Just because we are Muslim doesn't mean we can't talk to Hindus. We all are human beings Azmal, so never take this topic again in front of me" He replied coldly as he hated to explain his decisions. But, Azmal was his right-hand man and he had to explain his actions to him. Apart from him and his sister, he never listened to anyone. His childhood days were cast with poverty and hardship. So, the moment he entered the criminal world, he worked very hard; so hard that now, he was termed as one of the most feared and rich criminals in Mumbai. Due to his painful past, he got addicted to getting what he wanted. He could go to any extent to get what he desired. His target was not to collect money, but power. His hunger for this, never let him think about anything else - not even women. He never got indulged with women. The only women in his life were his mother and sister. He had no experience with other women, and so, he didn't know how to treat them. It was always a mystery to solve. People say he does not respect women, but the reality was, he did not know a thing about them. Then how was he supposed to treat them? His sister didn't bother giving him tips, as she thought, he would learn with time. He adored his sister and fulfilled all her demands. He kept his sister hidden from his world so that she could be kept safe from the dirty world he was in. His sister too, loved him a lot. Even though she despised his way of living, but she was aware that he had every reason to do, what he was doing.

"So, where is the report of that mutt who has refused to pay back?" He asked.

"It's coming soon, sir!"Azmal replied. He addressed Faizal according to his mood. He was aware, that Faizal hated if somebody called him by his name. He considered it as challenging him. He only gave that right to his sister, which actually wasn't required. He called him boss, when they were talking business; 'sir' when he was angry or upset; and 'Faizal' when he was in a normal mood. Quite a routine.

After fifteen minutes:

"Faizal, the report has arrived." Azmal spoke.

"Go on!" Faizal asked keeping a pen on his forehead and eyes closed.

"He is 45 years old. Has a wife, two daughters, and a son. He has one crore to pay us. We have already given him a year more than the maturity date, but he says, he needs more time. This is why we brought his case to you."

"Hmm. I think I'll have to pay a personal visit to his home then. Where does he stay?" Faizal asked looking at him, in an even tone.

"Boss, it states here...that he lives in...Vikaspur! That's a terrible coincidence, isn't it?" He smiled.

"Indeed it is. Let's go then. Our things will be shifted there in few days. I need to personally go and visit the villa. I hope, the things are made, as I asked them."

"But boss, we are staying there for only a few months, right."

"Hmm." He answered while taking his phone from the table.

"So, why did you buy a villa there, then?"

"What do you mean by that? Do you expect me to stay in a three-room apartment? I haven't collected this much wealth and power to stay in an apartment. Now, would you please mind not asking me any more questions!" He said getting irritated.

"Yes sir! When do you plan to visit that man?" Azmal asked.

"Tomorrow night. We have to make it quiet so that he doesn't escape. Understood. And yeah, get the pistols order. I have arranged for new men to patrol near the villa. And keep my reason for moving there, a secret. No one should know about it."

"Yes, boss."

After a while, when Faizal was ready to go, they went downstairs and asked the driver to take them to his new villa.

A red signal made them stop. Their car was the first one on the lane. Faizal looked out the window and saw a woman playing with the dogs. The sun shone perfectly over her petite body. She had long hair and fine height. The dogs seemed to really like her. He always had a liking for dogs and he himself had two German shepherds. He never knew a woman was able to play with dogs. All the women he knew, even his sister were terribly afraid of dogs. But here he saw this woman, playing as if they were her own dogs-fearless.

He saw her smile at them and realized that a smile had escaped his own lips. He was stunned by this. No other person had ever made him smile, other than of course his sister. He had a very hard childhood, and that had made him a very cold man. He was regarded as an emotionless person who never cared for anyone. But deep down, he was just as normal as anyone; the only thing is, this other part of his personality was hidden. And nobody dared to bring that soft part of his life, not even his sister. 

But, seeing this young woman, so happy, made him want to touch her that instant. He saw her through his tinted car window. The red light turned to green, motioning the cars to move. The driver started the car but he stopped him. 

"Is something wrong, boss!" Azmal asked getting worried. He always respected Faizal like a father, brother, and friend. He could do anything for him, even kill or get killed.

"No! Nothing is wrong. Just wait for a while here!" Faizal replied in his low husky voice. He wanted to look at her for some more time. She gave him peace, somewhere deep in his heart. He was amazed by this. How can a fragile girl like her, bring such a feeling to his heart?

The car behind them started horning at them, asking them to move. The driver looked at Faizal for permission but he didn't say anything. The driver didn't say anything then, after all, he loved his life. Faizal never thought twice about killing someone, if they were found guilty. And insulting him or questioning him, was a part of crime according to Faizal's crime book.

Listening to the sound of the horn, Faizal saw the girl turn around. The way her hair flipped due to wind, made his junior go crazy. This was one thing that had never happened to him before. No woman had ever made him get aroused, especially by their mere presence. Who is she, he wondered.

The sound of the horn increased and he saw the girl looking straight towards his car, towards him. He saw her mildly shrug and turn her attention again towards the dogs. When she looked at him through the tinted window, which was obvious that she couldn't see him, but he could see her; his heart skipped a beat. For that moment he became self-conscious and then he realized that it was of no use, as she couldn't see him.

The horn was blowing furiously now. This time he turned to look who the hell it was. He asked the driver to move. 

'If only I could have seen her for a little longer.' He thought still looking at her from the rearview mirror, till the image became too small to be visible.

He was quiet and restless throughout the drive. This didn't go unnoticed by Azmal.

"Anything bothering you boss?"

"Yes. When I am done with that old man, I have another job for you."

"You can tell me now. I'll start right away."

"Not now. First, we will finish this work."

"Does that have to do something with that girl?"

Faizal looked at Azmal and thought for a while. It was definitely safe to tell him. After a while, he looked ahead and replied.

"Yes. I need you to find about her."

"Okay, boss." Azmal said and smiled. He could sense his tension and knew at that instant that his friend had finally found interest in a girl. He was so happy that he wanted to tell this information to Faizal's sister but resisted it. He wanted Faizal to tell this to his sister, himself.

"But after we are done with this work at hand, first. I want to deal with her when I have no work pressure. Got it?"

"Yes, boss! " He said jokingly.

"By the way she did look quite hot!" Azmal said excitedly.

Faizal snapped his head to face him, getting possessive like anything. 

"Stop fantasizing about her. It's my job to do. Treat her like my woman!"

"I.I.I. wasn't fantasizing about her boss! Trust me. Sorry to use that word." Azmal apologized. If he had any doubt about his boss falling for that girl, it was clear-crystal.

"How far are we?" He asked the driver.

"About to reach the villa, sir."

"Boss! What if she is not a Muslim?" Azmal asked out of nowhere. In addition to it, she had her hair on full display, which further decreased the possibility.

"It doesn't matter to me. What matters is, whether she is a good and respectful woman or not. And as much as I could see, she did look innocent." He answered straightforwardly.

"If...If she is a Hindu?" Azmal asked slowly.

Faizal was quiet for a while. That was a good question.

"As I said, it doesn't matter." He answered.