" what " nandini yelled getting up from her seat....." main....mafia queen.....ye aap Kya keh rahe ho mamu.....this is ridiculous....." nandini sighed suddenly feeling her head aching.....

" nahi nandini what uncle said is true..." keerthi spoke looking at her.....this made nandini more furious....

" what ...tumne dekha na.....waha.....I was not able to see that fight....I was literally shivering with fright...and you want me to be mafia queen.....this is just absurd....." nandini said trying to calm herself.....

" no nandini...try to understand the situation....." keerthi tried speaking but was interrupted by nandini.....

" what understand....why me.....In fact....you should be the mafia queen.....you know how to fight....you have been living your life here....no matter how I see it.....you are perfect to be mafia queen....then why me....." nandini spoke attempting to convince her......

But keerthi shook her head....." no it can't be me....it has to be you...."

" why can't it be you " nandini barked almost going hysterical.....

" because I was not the one on gun point few hours back....because I was not the one who's life is on line now.....because I am not the one amar is targeting...i am not the one.....but you.." keerthi yelled at her.......

Nandini became blank for a moment....she was finding it hard to believe that keerthi yelled at her....before she could react keerthi continued.....

" we did not choose you as mafia queen because the mafia world needs a weak pathetic defenceless girl that you think you are..... to rule it....we chose you because you need it....." listening this nandini looked at her flabbergasted......

" what did you think....if you won't accept this position then you will go back to normal life...then you are highly mistaken.....there is only entry into mafia world....the only way to escape this world is death.....that amar......do you think he will let you live in peace....he won't stop until he kills you.....and to be safe you have to become a  mafia queen.....because no one will dare to touch you in that position....agreed there will be more enemy for a mafia queen...but at least you would be able to fight back....so the choice is your's to fight for your life or die like a pathetic defenceless coward......." keerthi spoke....she knew she will be hurting nandini but she had to show her the reality....

Nandini was shook with the reveleation.....she knew deep down that what keerthi said was truth but she din't want to accept it.....not now at least.....she glanced at her mamu and giving one last look to keerthi she left from there......

After nandini left keerthi slumped in the couch of the hospital room holding her head....

" did I hurt her ...May be i said too much.....it's too soon for her to be involved in this mess...." keerthi spoke up......

Akash shook his head " no...it was needed to be told.....she needs to fight her own battles...we can't save her always......it better to leave her alone.....for the time being "

Keerthi frowned and got up " I need to make sure she is alright......I can't leave her like that.....and I will save her as long as I can......" with this she went in search of nandini......

Terrace of the hospital....

Nandini was at the edge of the terrace looking at the night view.....she was just staring blankly at the sheer darkness above her.....there were no stars today.....just a dark night....with no more stars to shine over......she was in her thoughts when she felt some one beside her......she din't need to see as she knew it was keerthi.....

" I was 14 you know when I was dragged into this mafia world......" keerthi spoke......her eyes were red due to earlier crying......her tone was unsteady....but her gaze was unwavering as she continued to stare at the darkness.....nandini shifted her gaze to keerthi.....keerthi too looked at her.....

And in that one eye contact nandini knew that the person in front of her was not the keerthi she knew....in fact the person that stood in front of her was a broken girl who held her ground and remained unfazed no matter what life threw at her.....

" my father worked for mafia....but he never involved me in it.....he kept me far from it.....but one day he lost his life in a fight....I was on streets...left all alone.....my mother died after I was born....so I became an orphan.....until ajay found me....he took me with him saying that he will give me place to live....and I like a fool followed him....do you know where he took me....? " keerthi asked nandini....while all nandini could do was shake her head in a no.....

Keerthi chuckled painfully and spoke the words out " he took me to a brothel to sell me....." nandini gasped hard at this.....

" I was old enough to understand that the place was not good...so I tried to leave but they hit me and locked me in a room....everyday they used to torture me...take their frustration by hitting me....they would starve me for days.....making me survive only on a glass of water......a month later....I was saved by akash uncle...he took me to an orphanage and said that they will take care of me....but I stopped him and asked him to teach me how to be strong.....I din't wanted to be defenceless again....it scared me that I couldn't fight back....and once I entered mafia I knew there was no turning back....."

By the end of it both were in tears....looking at her nandini knew what she had to do....this girl in front of her after loosing everything still managed to survive...and fight for her self.....and what was she trying to do....run away...no...she will not run anymore...she will face her fate.......she was not afraid anymore......

nandini looked at her and spoke In a trembling voice " will you help me be strong "

Keerthi looked at her and nodded....

Nandini continued " will you train me....so that I will become the mafia queen...."

Keerthi " I will......"

Nandini " will you be there for me "

Keerthi  smiling a little " always "

With this nandini once again hugged her and muttered " then show me how it's done....I don't want to be a weak defenceless girl anymore.....I want to become strong....and even if I have to die......I want to be able to put up at fight..."