AN: This chapter will be in typical south indian action drama ishtyle.

Please bear with it XD

******

Nothing much happens after Maari has drove those drunkards away. He goes the way he came from.

Devi has no other option but to go home with Adith and Sani who offer to stand guard outside her house. After sending them off, Devi shuts the door. She changes into her pyjamas and crawls into her bed. Now, without mom and dad, Maari or the pigeons around, she really is lonely.

****

The next morning, 9AM-

Maari is with Velu, his mentor, a bigger Don, his boss-man in a sort of sense. Everything Maari has he owes it to Velu, whom he had earlier rescued from jail. Velu has become an MLA due to which Maari couldn't contact him often but here it is, after ages.

A meeting between them.

"I just wanted to check on you," Velu says with a smile, "how are you doing?"

"Just fine." Maari smiles back.

He truly is happy to see the older man.

"I thought your face would be glowing now that you have a woman in your life. What's this? You're still frowning huh?"

Maari frowns for real, "when did I frown? I was smiling for you."

"Yeah. and you were stressed inside. What happened? Love problem?"

Maari rolls his eyes, "nonsense. There's no girl, no love..."

Velu smirks, "is it? I heard some other things..."

"Who told you? Weren't you busy in politics?" Maari is really irritated.

"I was..but I always keep information. Tell me, what is stopping you Maari, you need to tell someone how you feel. How long do you intend to hide it? Adith, Sani are worried too..." Velu gives him a sad smile.

Maari sighs, "did they tell you? Well listen--"

"What kind of man rejects the girl he loves?"

Maari's jaw drops, "what? Velu Anna? Enna pesar-"

"You love her right?"

Maari falls silent.

"A man needs to stand up for love."

"But I'm... I'm a rowdy... and I'm a really bad person..."

He is a bad person, Maari knows it.. guys like him can't fall in love. and love is trivial...

"Bad? Don't make me laugh! Well, Aren't we allowed to love? Think over again Maari..."

Maari is lost in thoughts, that's when a pigeon lands in his lap. His pigeon!!

A note attached to the birds leg read-

'Maari, if you are a man, come, save the woman you love. If you can...'

There's only one man who can send a letter like that. And how dare he touch his pigeons and his girl!

Crumpling the note, Maari stands at once. Velu is confused. The chai they were about to drink has only arrived.

"Some other time, Anna, " says Maari, "now I need to go..."

Velu asks, "everything alright?"

Maari smiles, "it will be."

His usual overconfident attitude perhaps made Velu smile, he relaxes.

"Go... we'll meet again."

Smiling at his mentor one last time, Maari rushes out of Velu's place.

****

Around same time

Anirudh is reading some files in the police station. He's not gathered enough evidence to frame Munna. If what Maari says is right and Munna is after Devi, he needs to do something to save his friend... but what... he's pulling the hairs on his head when a constable walks in--

"Sir, there's a parcel for you. But there's no sender's name."

Still confused, Anirudh opens the package, there's a bloodied rose, and a note--

'Can you save your best friend and the woman you love?? Come face me like a man.'

Anirudh crushes the note and the letter, shouting, "I'm a man alright, and you're a coward, to send me something like this. I'll finish you off Munna!"

Then pocketing his revolver he rushes out.

****

A while later--

Devi's boutique is torn up, people are gathered outside the place as Anirudh reaches there.

"What happened? Where's Sridevi?" he asks the people there.

"Munna's men were here," says a fruit vendor, "they were angry that Sridevi isn't here. So they just destroyed her shop."

"What?? Where's Sridevi then?"

Fruit vendor shakes his head. Anirudh sighs. At least she's safe now.

*****

Devi is walking out after offering prayers in the Ashtalakshmi temple. She remembers their temple date and smiles. She feels bad for not letting Adith, Sani escort her. But she feels she needed some alone time. what's gonna happen to her and her feelings? she needs to think... She has texted Sani though, so it should be fine. They will understand.

She has spent nearly 4 hours within the temple premises. It's almost 12 PM. praying one last time, she steps out, only to be hit by something---

Someone has hit her on her back as she's walking to get to the auto stand, maybe kicked her because she now lies face down on the floor with a scraped chin-- her back hurts too...

She flips around and frowns seeing Munna's men.

Munna, the man who probably hit her laughs, "serves you. See what being loyal to him does to you... he's a coward.. he leaves the town knowing well his woman is in danger. Probably too scared to face me ahaha."

Devi adjusts her dupatta, glaring at the man, "Maari isn't a coward! You are! You scoundrel, only cowards target women! Do you think I can't fight you? I might lack strength but I'm brave. I won't bow down to you!"

Munna acts as if he's scared. For a moment Devi is confused not knowing what Munna would do, then he laughs, 

"if you won't... then die!"

A shiver runs down her spine when he pulls out a large knife. Devi gulps. This Munna really seems to be in mood to kill, how does she save herself? Only option is....

Run!

She begins to run but Munna's men surround her, she bends down a little, kicks one of the underling's legs, who falls to the ground. Having an opening, she runs at faster speed.

She keeps running while keeping an eye on the men trailing her, hoping she'd get to the auto stand.

She's so focused on the men behind that she doesn't notice what is in front. Not until she slams into something solid, a man's chest?

The man holds her by her shoulders and pushes her behind his back---

Maari??!!!

There's that familiar back, that warmth from his back as she rests her head against it--

"Oh Maari, thank god you're here..."

She heaves a sigh of relief. For a moment he turns to pat her head soothingly, then he turns his angry gaze on the men who were following her.

"Come!" he shouts, "you will regret for laying a hand on her!"

Devi backs up, standing near a shop watching as the fight unfolds. Maari has come alone but he has quickly dispatched all of Munna's men.

"Watch out!" she cries as Munna himself lunges at Maari, the knife still in hand.

The duo engage in a terrific fight. Few minutes of punches and kicks, and scrapes..... Maari is injured too, Munna has hit him in the stomach and stabbed him in the shoulder. But he still stands, knocking the knife out of Munna's hands---

"I'll kill her now..."

Devi panics as Munna escapes Maari's grip and heads for her.

"I'll kill the woman you love so deeply... watch it Maari.. You can't stop me..."

Maari begins to run after him but Munna's underlings soon surround him.

Devi runs but Munna is quick to catch up. By the time he has a knife to her throat, Maari has got rid of the men holding him back and is before her eyes.

"Don't move.." munna warns Maari, "or I'll kill her..."

Devi is teary eyed, suddenly feeling very scared for Maari, and for herself. Is this the end??

Maari watches her expression, his own turning into a pained one.

Then he laughs...

"Haha... Ahhahahaa.... Ahahaha...."

That laugh seemed to distract Munna, perhaps scare him... because.. His grip on her loosens.

"Now!" yells Maari, swiftly kicking Munna and pulling Devi to him.

As Munna's knife goes flying in the air, Maari catches it. He pushes Devi aside gently.

"I'll kill anyone who touches her! How dare you--- you are dead Munna Bhai!"

Then the fight begins again. Those words.... that intense anger is possible only if he loves her.. does he love her really? Munna dodges Maari who throws the knife aside and begins a fist fight.

Devi watches in horror as he beats everyone to pulp. Munna seems exhausted, almost ready to drop... but Maari is still kicking him...

"Maari stop!" she shouts, "he will die! Stop! Let go!!"

Maari yells back, "he should die! How dare he! He tried to kill you... now I'll kill him.. I don't even need a knife.. I'll kill him with my own hands."

*more kicks* *punches**

Devi attempts to tug on his arm, moving closer, "come. enough! Lets go!"

"Lemme go!" he shrugs her off.

*kicks Munna again**

"Maari.. I said--"

A shot fired in the air freezes everyone. Anirudh is there, standing beside his jeep. Several constables rush to arrest Munna and gang.

Devi is still holding on to Maari's arm when he walks closer.

He looks at Maari, who seems equally bloodied and wounded, "it's kill, kill for you isn't it?"

He then glances at Devi once, "just this once... I'll let you go.. Next time think before you try to kill someone."

Devi heaves a sigh of relief.

Adith, Sani arrive... she watches as they support Maari who begins to walk away. wait did she think he will confess his love next? he's back to ignoring her... just as she bites her lip-

"Come." says Maari say it over his shoulder.

She smiles. It's like playing 'Palat' thing from DDLJ one of her fav movies. Now she's sure he loves her. Together they all get in an auto and drive home.

A nightmare is over. but the good thing, she got to know how he feels. it can't be a coincidence that he's always there whenever she needs him. she looks at Maari as the ride goes on. he's sitting by her side, eyes closed. Sani is next to him while Adith drove the auto...

she feels like this is a new beginning altogether

****

An hour later, Maari's place-

Devi follows the three men upstairs. Maari can't do anything but grumble as she shouts orders at Adith and Sani asking them to fetch bandages, clean cloth and water. when they step onto the terrace, Devi makes Maari sit on his charpai.

"Sani, water needs to be lukewarm! Go get some dettol too will you?"

"Adith, do you call these bandages?? Go! Get some from medical shops! Wait! Maybe we should call a doctor!"

Maari sighs shaking his head, "Eh, you can't order my men."

He reminds her, "I'm their boss."

She gives him a small smile, "oh you are. I'm boss too."

Did she wink at him?

Mouth agape, he watches as she begins to dress the wound on her shoulder, "does it hurt?"

he shrugs. Carefully cutting off the sleeve of his shirt, she applies some salve, then wraps a bandage.

Maari is shouting all the time.

He shouts again, "are you mad? Deaf? I said... Lemme go... "

But she doesn't pay heed.

"There all done. Anywhere you're hurt? ohh here..."

he winces as she applies some salve on a cut down his chest. great, his shirt is ruined too, all thanks to her.

"Now it's fine... Sani, Adith, please take away the water."

Maari shakes his head in disbelief. 'Rowdy'

He motions for Adith and Sani.

"Eh, go these two will take you home. I'm fine amma, now go... Go rest up."

He gets up begins to push her away.

"Go go!"

"I won't. You saved me and--"

"Ehh don't eat my brain. I'm exhausted. Go! I want to rest. You should rest too, eh you guys... take her away..."

She almost pouts which he finds it cute but seems to agree with the fact that he should rest.

When he thinks she's leaving, she comes back, and hugs him---

Whatt? His heart skips a beat-- what's this girl doing?

"Thank you... you saved me."

She hugs him a little tighter, lets go when he whimpers. She frowns almost touching the gash that ripped his shirt--- but pulls back.

In a flash, he remembers, she's getting married to Anirudh. Maybe that's why she didn't touch him--What's he thinking?!

"Rest well Maari..."

With a small smile, she leaves with Adith and Sani.

****

Devi visits her boutique, Adith and Sani by her side.

"He'll be fine right?" she asks them, "will he rest?"

"Anna is strong. You should rest. Come we'll drop you home. Why are we here?" Sani asks.

"I wanted to see my shop-- ahh look at what they done!"

She's teary eyed as she finds fabric lying torn on the floor, sewing machines smashed, her laptop too. And the windows and doors...

"Anni..." Adith places his hand over her shoulder comfortingly.

"I.... I... I want to see him..."

She wants to see him, see Maari, hug him and cry. It's silly but no one but him can offer her strength to stand.

"See who?" says a voice.

She turns around seeing Maari standing there, now dressed in fresh clothes. He still looks the same though, except for the bandage on the shoulder--

"See you you dumbo!" she yells at him half crying.

Then runs to hug him.

Is he real or an illusion?

*****

FIN!

NEXT:

Just when you think they are about to get together... Devi is leaving??

Why?

Will Maari stop her?

****

Just 2 more chaps to go to the end :) thank you guys for ur lovely votes n comments. love u :* :*

Stay tuned :D