"You didn't go to work, Niti? " Nitya's mother asked.

"Mum, it's Sunday! Why should I go on a fun-day? " Nitya huffed.

"Then go and get the groceries. I have kept the list on the table. Get it from the north supermarket. There's this discount thing there. Okay?"

Nitya woke up from her afternoon sleep reluctantly and looked at her mother irritated.

"Don't give me that look, if you want food at night." Her mother joked.

"I'll go at six, at least give me a cup of tea! Please!" She begged.
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"Where are you?" Shikar asked Nitya on phone. "Groceries?" He asked.

"Yup! What else do you expect from me?" She huffed which made him chuckle.

"How was it?"

"Superb offer. You won't believe me! 50 percent discount on all items."

"Seriously? "

"Yup! But you won't be able to enjoy the deal as the offer ended today." Nitya teased.

"Haha...Not funny!"

"Oh! Come on. It was." He prolonged the conversation.

She was busy talking with him when someone called her. Her bag was heavy as she had picked up as much as possible due to the discount.

"Excuse me, miss?" A stranger asked for her attention. It was Azmal. Faizal was beside him.

Azmal usually does the talking. Faizal just orders and makes decisions. He preferred to not get involved in silly talks.

She turned around to look who it was. Her phone was supported by her shoulder and both her hands were occupied by the bags.

As soon as Faizal recognized her, he raised his brows. Call it coincidence or destiny, but their meeting again was definitely something, he was not expecting. A smile came up his lips, which was more like a smirk.

Faizal looked at her keenly and watched her every move. He was more than surprised to see her again. He couldn't believe his luck. There he thought he would have to dig every hole to find her, but here she was, standing in front of him. He wondered whether she knew who he was! He hoped she did not. Seeing her casual reaction, he let a breath of relief.

She turned towards Azmal giving a brief glance towards Faizal.

"Yes? Can I help you?" She asked politely, too politely, that brought a smile on Faizal's lips, again. He was amazed by her polite manners.

"Actually, we are kind of lost. Can you please tell us where this...Mr. Ahuja lives?" Azmal asked. He too was shocked to see her here. He took a brief glance towards Faizal and saw his smile. His smile gave him some kind of satisfaction as Faizal didn't do that much, and he knew that.

"Vikram Ahuja?" She asked to confirm.

"Yes! Do you know him?" Azmal asked. Faizal didn't say anything. He was wondering whether they shared any relationship. That mere thought made him uncomfortable. Obviously, he can't hurt anyone in her family, until he gets to know her completely.

"Actually, yes! He is quite famous in society. Please follow me. I am actually going that way." She offered.

"Thank you so much." Azmal replied.

"Oh, it's okay! We are human beings after all. And Krishna says that we should help others whenever and wherever possible. Right?" She babbled; not knowing that they were Muslims and didn't know much about Hindu Gods.

"Krishna?" Azmal asked.

Faizal poked his arm and gave him a threatening look. He obviously knew about Hindu Gods as his mother was a Hindu. Azmal instantly apologized.

"Sorry! I was just kidding. I know him obviously." Azmal lied wondering in his mind about this person named Krishna.

"And there I thought you really didn't know him." Nitya laughed lightly.

"Your smile is pretty!" Faizal spoke before he could put any filter.

Nitya's eyes almost popped out at his blunt comment.

"Uh, thank you!" She replied while blushing a little.

'Wow! So this guy speaks! I thought he was mute.' She thought.

Faizal asked for the bags, so he could help her with that.

'And he is a gentleman too! Great!' She thought sarcastically.

"By the way, are you new here? I haven't seen you two before!" Nitya asked with a warm smile.

They both exchanged glances. Obviously, they couldn't tell her the true reason for the visit, or else she would run faster than light. And Faizal didn't want that.

"We actually came to visit him. He is our friend." Azmal said. Faizal still was looking at her intently as he did earlier. Nitya noticed his gaze on her, this time, and that scared her.

'Is he a psycho or what? I am just trying to help them here and he is looking at me as if I have grown two heads. Men! Seriously. They all are just the same.' She thought to herself.

They reached near Ahuja's house.

"He lives here." Nitya pointed towards his house.

"Thank you miss, sorry to bother you."

"Oh! It's okay. As I said, I am glad to help you. But next time, do not get lost. Delhi is a bit unsafe at night." Nitya gave them advice with a serious expression.

Faizal chuckled. He got lost in the depth of this woman's innocence. She definitely had no idea who she was talking to!

Nitya seeing his amused expression said, "You don't believe, do you? Okay! Try roaming on these roads at night. And trust me, you will remember your ancestors! And if you still come up alive, inform me." She joked, forgetting for a moment that they were strangers. But, then she was never going to meet them again, so there wasn't any problem; she concluded.

Faizal tried to control his laughter but failed terribly.

"I'll remember!" He replied. His husky voice sent chills down her spine, which she ignored.

"Okay! So I'll go now. Have a nice day!" Nitya said.

"Do you live here?" Faizal asked to make sure whether she resided here or not. He had planned not to scare her. His earlier plan was to threaten Ahuja, but if she did live nearby, it could be a problem. He didn't want to show her, his real identity, not yet, at least. And the threats would definitely catch mass attention, which may include her too. He didn't want her to hate him as he felt himself getting self-conscious.

Nitya weighed the question and the possible consequences of her reply.

'Is this guy indirectly asking for my address? What if he is a serial killer, and is planning to kill me. No way will I give him my real address.' She decided.

"No! I don't live here. It's actually two blocks away." She lied. Two blocks away were her grandparents' house. 

Faizal sighed feeling relieved. Now, he won't have to change his plans. No way will she know about his actions, he thought.

But he didn't know that she didn't live two blocks away, but she lived two houses away, only, in the very same colony.
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"What the hell were you doing with them?" Shikar screamed at Nitya as soon as she entered her house. He was watching her talking to them from her house. He didn't have the guts to take her away right then and there. He knew one of them was Faizal, and obviously, he was scared of him.

"Whoa! Hold on. What do you mean by that? I was just helping them. They were asking Ahuja's address and I helped them!" She defended herself.

"Are you crazy? They asked you for an address and you gave them? Just like that, before even asking them who they are?" He scolded her.

"First of all, stop shouting at me. You are screaming at me as if they are terrorists!" She raised her voice.

"Because they are!" He said.

"What do you mean?"

"He is Faizal Khan! The one who was wearing the black jacket!"

She realized, he was talking about the one who was looking at her intently. She knew who Faizal Khan was. The mafia leader of North, after whom the whole police force was running after; but couldn't trace a single proof which could land him in jail. She obviously feared him as everyone else did, and realizing the fact that she just talked with him, made her paranoid.

"N.no, he wasn't him!" She stuttered still not believing Shikar.

"He was Niti. And God knows why he is here. You are lucky he didn't kill you."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"What were you expecting me to say in front of him- Nitya don't talk to him, he is a criminal! Because I am sorry to disappoint you, but I don't wanna die too soon." He said.

"What if he kills me since I know he was here? He may think of me as a witness or whatever rubbish there is in criminology. Shit! I don't wanna die, especially with the responsibilities I have for my family. Shit shit shit. Why did I help him!" She mumbled to herself.

"Don't worry much. I don't think he knows that you know him, or else you wouldn't have been here!"

"Is he really that dangerous?" Nitya asked pointing towards all the stories about him which were famous. She wasn't quite interested in the mafia world, but some stories about him did pass through her ears. And those stories weren't something you would not tell to a child trying to sleep.

"A man who has killed his own father and has put his own sister on house arrest? I think he is definitely dangerous!" He replied irritatingly.

"Do you...do you really think he did those stuff?"

"I don't think Nitya! I know that! He is a bloody cold, arrogant and selfish *******. He doesn't even respect women, so you can imagine how he is! I just want you to be away from him, as much as possible." He said; more like ordered.

She knew how dangerous he was and she would be stupid if she had an encounter with him again. She resolved within her mind to follow Shikar's advice. 

She felt relieved that he didn't do anything to harm her. Maybe her karma was good enough to save her. She relaxed.

Suddenly, the sound of loud cries came from the street. Shikar and Nitya came outside to see what was happening. Her parents and brother weren't at home, about which she was glad.

Out there, they saw, Ahuja's family wrecked. The whole Ahuja family was outside looking flushed. The three young girls who were actually Nitya's good friends were holding their mother for dear life. Mrs. Ahuja was crying waterfalls.

Nitya looked around and saw the whole society out there. She wondered why no one was helping them. She glanced at Shikar as if asking his permission to interrupt. Shikar noticed her uneasiness and stared at her angrily.

"Have you decided to die today?" Shikar snapped at her.

"Are you crazy? Can't you see they are in trouble?"

"Really Nitya! They are bloody criminals. If you interrupt them, then soon you will find yourself in trouble. And I won't allow you to go there."

"But we can't let that happen Shik!" She pleaded but then suddenly she heard a clapping voice and saw that Faizal had slapped Ahuja's son.

"Do you think I am a fool? You are going to pay the debt tomorrow with the total interest or else, be prepared to be an orphan. I don't give a damn to what will happen to your sisters, so don't give that excuse!"

"Faizal, trust me, just give me one more month and I will pay every cent. Please..." He pleaded.

Faizal took out his gun from his back pocket and placed it on the boy's temple. Nitya gasped surprised and afraid to see the gun. Guns had always scared her.

"Do not ever address me as Faizal. You are not of that level to call me by my name. And no, I will not give you another month. My men have been more than lenient towards you. One year was enough to payback! But seems like you wanna disappear with all that money!" Faizal was about to say more when Azmal whispered into Faizal's ear. Nitya could see the tension rising everywhere, and she felt very bad for the poor family. She wondered what she would have done if she was at their place.

After some thoughts, Faizal smirked and seemed to praise Azmal. He turned toward the young boy and said.

"Listen and listen very carefully, if you don't want your sisters' life to become that of whores', you will get the money tomorrow. I don't give a f*** to what method you choose. I want all the money by tomorrow in cash." He said.

Azmal just stood smirking. He knew his boss was just great at giving threats. No one could get away from his threats because they were never empty threats. He would actually do as he committed. This is why he respected Faizal. He was aware of the fact that, once Faizal decides to get something, he gets it, no matter what!

His thoughts wandered toward the young woman with whom they just met. They believed that she didn't live in this colony, and this is why Faizal was so open with the threats. If Faizal knew she did live in this colony, he never would have been so openly threatening them. He would have used another method. He knew that Faizal needed a feminine company to complete his life, and that girl seemed perfect for that. Hindu or not; that didn't matter. And inwardly, he decided to take up this task into his hands. The task of bringing them together. He decided to make that girl also fall for Faizal just like Faizal had; no matter what method he had to use. He smiled to himself and started making plans to make her come closer to him, for he knew that if Nitya knew who Faizal was, she will run like an animal set free. And he won't let that happen.

He won't let Faizal be alone, again. Faizal had passed through a lot of things in his life, lost many things in his past. So, not being able to get the only girl who caught his attention, would definitely hurt him. Azmal's heart crunched about thinking Faizal getting hurt. No, he won't let that happen. He will do anything to make him happy. And now, Faizal's happiness seems to reside on that young girl. 

His train of thoughts was blocked by a loud screaming voice. Mrs. Ahuja screamed when she saw that Faizal had shot her husband's leg in a final warning. Nitya gasped at what happened. She couldn't help but release a low pained noise. Shikar instantly spun her around to hide the horrible scene in front of them, from her. He knew she was too fragile to witness such a traumatic incident. He could see the blood flowing through Ahuja's leg like a tap being opened. He was crying out in pain. His pained voice was enough to reveal how much that bullet hurt. Hearing his pain, Nitya clutched shikar's arm more tightly, if that was even possible. Shikar felt bad for her. He wanted to take her inside the house, but in some corner of his heart, he wanted Nitya to see this, to see this man's cruelty so that she would not even spare a glance at him if she ever meets him again. It was not his protectiveness but his possessiveness in talking.

Mrs. Ahuja quickly went into her house and quickly came back with a big bag of something, something which the others couldn't see. Shikar turned her around in spite of her reluctance. He could see that she was crying. Not only her but every woman in the society witnessing this were crying lowly. How could the public do anything? Little did Nitya know that she had the power of stopping this; just by her mere presence. But she too was standing there, looking at everything as if it was a movie.

She saw Mrs. Ahuja open the bag and reveal lakh worth of jewelry. Even though the dim light she could see the glittering gold. She gasped! She never had seen such an amount of jewels in her life. She wondered how much it cost! 

Faizal looked at the jewels with distaste. He never was interested in money or jewels; what he was hungry for was- power. He wanted the whole world under his feet. Azmal whispered in his ear again and after a while, he replied. 

"Looks like the lady here is wiser than you two dimwits. I think this stuff would make half crores. Get the rest in another week, or else, one of your family members is sure to die. I have given you a whole week now, not a day late. Or else, the consequence would be worse than you can imagine. I'll be here for a week to make sure you dimwits do not run." He finished and walked towards the colony gate with Azmal following close behind him.
Nitya concluded that it was jewelry that made Faizal leave.

After they were gone, the men of the colony rushed towards them to provide help. Some called the ambulance but Nitya was too shocked to move a limb. She never ever had seen such violence in her life. She realized how it felt to be near a criminal for the first time.

And, she came to the obvious conclusion. She hated Faizal.  
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At night, Nitya didn't have the courage to eat anything. After all that she saw, she wondered, how a man could be so cruel! 

She made all the mental notes and remembered what Faizal had said.

'I'll be here for a week.' She recalled him saying.

His husky deep voice rang in her head again and again. She finally came to conclusion:

'Ignore this monster.'

She thought it was just a matter of a week and then everything would be fine. Her colony will come into rest again. She wished for his mission to get over as soon as possible so that they all could be in peace finally.

But, little did she knew that he had come up with another mission: her!