"I think it is all a matter of love; the more you love a memory the stronger and stranger it becomes."

― Vladimir Nabokov

***

"Hello! Agent Oxygen here," Oxygen was speaking to Agent Fluorine, who is a Level 3 Detective there, and also his team leader. Fluorine is exactly like the element Fluorine. So corrosive.

"Agent Fluorine here. Speak," Fluorine replied in a monotonous tone.

"The file regarding Operation M is safe."

After seconds of silence, Fluorine said, "Good."

"Thank you," Oxygen replied and hung up, placing his satellite mobile inside the last division of his chest drawer.

***

Oxygen accompanied Angela to the airport as she was leaving for Berlin. They were at the lounge, waiting for Angela's flight.

"I'm getting too jittery, baby. How will this end up?" Angela asked, initiating the conversation.

"Even I feel jittery. But still, we deserve what we deserve," Oxygen said, monotonously.

"Don't sound pessimistic, man!" She exclaimed, slapping his arm. "No matter how it ends. I will fight for our love. I could never afford to lose a guy like you. I swear, baby. I'm being honest," Angela said, in a seriously serious tone, while Oxygen secretly admired her for being passionate towards her relationship.

With a gentle smile, Oxygen said, "I know you, baby. But... Wasn't that supposed to be my dialogue?"

Again, she slapped his arm and said, "That's why you need a girl like me," and laughed lightly.

Holding her hand, Oxygen said, "I love you."

Looking at him, surprised, Angela said, "I think I'm not sitting with the real Oxygen. He won't be proposing to me like this."

Laughing gently, he said, "I just got time to say this. So..."

Then they heard the flight announcement, and they stood up to leave. Oxygen didn't have the heart to send her. He was feeling uncomfortable sending her home. For the first time in five years, he felt clingy towards her.

While at the terminal, Angela was all set to leave, facing Oxygen for the last time.

"Bye!" Angela said.

"Bye," Oxygen whispered.

As she was about to leave, Oxygen held her hand and pulled her towards his side. They were looking intently at each other. They were able to feel each other's breath, and they have never been this close.

"Baby. Are you alright? What's with you since this morning?" Angela whispered while checking if anyone was seeing them.

"I could never afford to lose a girl like you. I swear, baby. I'm being honest," Oxygen replied with a whisper, repeating Angela's line. Unlike Angela, he was staring deep into her eyes, which could make anyone melt.

"Are you romantic?"

"Not since this morning."

"Oxygen. I have to go. It's getting late."

Oxygen, who had been holding her hand since then, took away, while Angela chose to leave.

Sometimes, leaving for a while may seem like leaving forever.

And that's when you love someone.

***

It has been a month since Angela left. She should've arrived in New Delhi by then. But she hadn't.

Oxygen was so worried about this. He tried to reach her in many ways, but all went in vain. He had had enough of waiting, so he decided to leave Berlin.

He called his colleague Carbon the day before his trip to Berlin. Carbon was his closest person to others in Inspygency.

"Hi, Oxy!" Carbon initiated the conversation.

"Hey, Carb!" Oxygen responded.

"Whatcha doin', man?" Carbon asked in a cheerful tone. Unlike a typical secret agent, Carbon is a lively and friendly person, just like the element Carbon.

"Well, Carb, I'm leaving for Berlin tomorrow."

"Wow! Anything special?"

"Ummm... Sorta yes. Gotta meet my girl there."

"Ooh! Got it. You go Mr Lovesick Oxygen. I can take care of our corrosive Fluorine here."

"You da best, Carb!" Oxygen exclaimed in happiness.

"If not me, then who else?"

Chuckling lightly, he said, "Okay, Carb! See you," and hung up the call.

***

That day on the flight, Oxygen had mixed feelings. He was excited to meet her after a long time. But he was worried about what would happen to her. Throughout his trip to Berlin, his thoughts were mixed like a cocktail.

As the time came so close, Oxygen couldn't wait for the moment. He didn't wait for anyone at the airport, as he knew the way to Schmitz's house. He booked a cab and went on a ride in it. In his uncontrollable excitement, he was urging the cab driver to ride fast for the umpteenth time that the cab driver couldn't help but yell at him.

As they reached Angela's apartment, Oxygen paid the required money and rushed. Angela's house was on the twenty-fifth floor of the thirty-storey building. Oxygen first tried to get on the lift, but the lift hadn't reached yet. So, he decided to climb up twenty-five floors, which he regretted while he was on the tenth floor.

Still, motivating himself, he ran up the stairs, climbing speedier than before. He was on cloud nine as he reached the twenty-fifth floor. He felt like he reached the top of the world. He was panting and sweating unduly, and his legs were trembling. But he was least bothered about it. His moment has come.

He pressed the doorbell and was composing himself. The door opened and he saw a woman older than Angela there. It was Angela's sister, Anne Miller.

"Who is this?" Anne asked in German.

"Ummm... Hello, ma'am. This is Ajay Sharma, from India. Is this Angela Schmitz's...?" Oxygen said, lying about his name.

"Yes," Anne replied in English. "By the way, you're Angela's..."

"Neighbor," Oxygen lied again.

"Oh! Get in first," Anne said and went inside, while Oxygen removed his shoes and went inside.

There were Angela's parents, Mr and Mrs Schmitz, Anne, and her husband Karl Miller.

"Sit down, Ajay," Anne said, as she saw Oxygen getting inside.

"Yeah. Sure, ma'am."

And Oxygen sat on the sleek black comfy leather couch, with humbleness. After all, he was at his in-laws' house.

"What would you like to have, Ajay?" Mrs Schmitz asked.

"No, thank you, aunty," Oxygen replied, while the house became eerily silent.

"So, are you Angela's neighbour?" Karl asked.

"Yes, sir," Oxygen said.

"Ummm... I thought that you knew this. About Angela," Mr Schmitz said in a gloomy tone.

Baffled, Oxygen asked, "Well, what happened, uncle? Anything bad?"

"Worse," said Anne. "It was worse."

"Ummm... May I know what has happened?"

"Two weeks ago, we were leaving for a party. Angela refused to come with us, so she stayed back at home. We all left for the party. Later that night, we came home. The... the door was open. Everything was scattered. And Angela..." Anne started to sob, which seemed fishy to Oxygen.

After seconds of sobbing, Anne continued. "Angela was... She was lying down. Full of blood. The floor was full of blood..."

Oxygen stood up and said, "Please... Please don't tell that..."

"Someone killed Angela," Anne sobbed again, while Oxygen froze. His heart skipped a beat. Yes, that was the moment he was waiting, but he didn't anticipate this. A lone tear glided through his left side, while he jumped onto the sofa. He couldn't hear what people were talking about. His ears were full of white noise. He couldn't believe that that moment was a reality.

After minutes of subconsciousness, he came back to reality.

Oxygen finally thought something, while he asked, "Where is her room?"

"Pardon?" Mrs Schmitz asked.

"Where is Angela's room?"

Karl showed him and Oxygen walked fast to her room. He locked the door and went on a search. He searched her wardrobe, her bookshelves, her suitcases, and her bureau.

And soon he got one answer.

Operation M's file was nowhere. So, M killed Angela and took the file.

So here we are, at the second chapter of Retaliation. Hope you guys enjoyed it! Please drop some constructive criticisms. I'm waiting.

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Song Courtesy: Galliyan (Unplugged) by Shraddha Kapoor