CHAPTER 3: Part 2 (MY LITTLE RABBIT)
~ ISHIKA (POV) ~
I turned to Ansh. "Ansh Jaa pani leke aa. (Ansh go bring water.)" I instructed, a fond smile playing on my lips. He is such a cute little brother. I love him so much.
"Di aap bohot bure ho.(Sis you are very bad.)" He whined, bringing the bucket of water.
"That, I am," I replied, a mischievous glint in my eye.
*Ring Ring*
Ansh's phone rang, disrupting the peaceful ambiance. He excused himself, moving a short distance away to take the call.
My hands were covered in mud as I was already halfway through shaping the Shiva Lingas.
"Di, I have to go. Baba Sa asked me to come," Ansh informed me.
"Okay, go," I replied, my attention returning to the task at hand.
~ MRITYUNJAY (POV) ~
The dilapidated mansion loomed large against the morning sky. Its crumbling facade was a stark contrast to the vibrant life that pulsed through the village.
I parked the car, a sense of foreboding washing over me. This was the place Chirag had mentioned, the heart of Atharva's operation.
As I stepped out of the car, the silence was almost deafening, broken only by the distant cawing of crows.
I found myself greeted not by my target but by some of his underlings. A wave of disgust washed over me as I watched the scene unfold.
Ten burly men, their faces contorted in rage, advanced towards us. Kartik, as efficient as ever, was already engaged, his movements a blur of calculated violence.
I joined the fray, my body moving with a cold precision, each strike a calculated response to the chaos around me.
Two of their men lay sprawled on the concrete and the rest had fled, their bodies still twitching.
Kartik stood over the captives, his face a mask of cold efficiency as he extracted information. The fear in their eyes was palpable, a stark contrast to the calm brutality in Kartik's.
I stood at the periphery, watching, The question on everyone's lips, including mine, was simple: where was Atharva?
Twenty minutes had passed in what felt like an eternity. One of the men was unconscious, his body limp on the cold concrete.
The other, a quivering wreck, could only manage a stuttering, "I d-don't kn-know." Impatience gnawed at me, a feral beast clawing at the walls of my control.
"This is the last time I am asking, Where. Is. He?" I demanded, my voice a low grow I could feel the anger coursing through me, a hot, destructive force. One more wrong word, and I would unleash it.
"I Re.. Really D.. Do... don't." *bang bang* I shot him dead.
Kartik stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"He was getting on my nerves"
"Why did you shoot?... Nerves.. we could have..." Kartik was visibly agitated, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
"Take the other one in the custody and If you want you can go back now. I'll leave after some time." I ordered Kartik succinctly, my tone brooking no argument.
>>>>>>>
The morning sun cast long, dancing shadows across the courtyard, its warmth already beginning to bite.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of jasmine and wet earth, a symphony of nature's awakening. The villagers were stirring, their day already in motion.
It was a scene of tranquil rural life, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within me.
My phone rang, interrupting the tranquil morning. I answered, "Yes, Chirag?"
I glanced across the expansive pond towards the imposing mansion on the other side. It was a stark contrast to the rustic charm of my own abode.
"I couldn't get the information about the girl, because the footage was missing," Chirag's voice came through the phone, his tone professional.
There live the Jaiswals. A name synonymous with rivalry in our family owns the mansion that is right across ours on the other side of the pond.
Bade Rana Sa's disdain for them is legendary. And for good reason, I suspected.
"Is that so, and how did that happen?" I asked, my voice low, a dangerous edge creeping into it. I heard a voice talking to itself.
A familiar voice, not any other voice, it is the very same one that had been haunting me the whole night yesterday.
I immediately went to where the sound came from, I was stunned to find her standing there, looking as breathtaking as yesterday.
Her presence was as unexpected as it was captivating. Her ethereal beauty was intensified by the soft morning light filtering through the trees.
She looked out of place, a delicate flower amidst the rustic charm of the village.
"I don't know..." Chirag's voice faded as I hung up the call, I found myself standing behind her before I could consciously register the decision.
It was as if my body had acted on its own accord, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
"Pata nahi kaun tha vo? Aapko toh pata hai na, ye sab mere bas ki baat hi nahi hai. (I don't even know him. You already know that, all this is beyound my control.)" She was talking to the shiv ling in her hand, her hands were covered in mud.
She stood there, lost in thought, her voice a mere whisper carried by the wind.
The setting sun casts long shadows, creating an ethereal atmosphere. I watched her, a sense of protectiveness washing over me.
"mujhe kuch nahi pata. (I don't know anything else)" She said, her voice barely audible. Gently placing the Shiv Ling on the tray.
"Dekhiye aapko meri sunni hi hogi bas, (you just have to listen to me that's it.)" She said, her voice firm, suddenly she stood up, turning around her hands landed on my chest, startled by my sudden presence, she stumbled backward, her eyes wide with surprise.
I caught her before she could fall, my arms instinctively wrapping around her waist.
Our eyes locked, a silent current passing between us. She was breathtaking, a vision of innocence and vulnerability.
For a fleeting moment, the world outside ceased to exist.
"A.. Aap Yaha. (Y.. you here.)" She breathed, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Aapko mera yaha hona achchha nahi laga? (You didn't like me being here?)" I questioned, a playful edge to my voice.
She averted her gaze, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Her shyness was endearing, yet perplexing.
"Hamne aise toh nhi kaha. (I never said that.)" She replied, her voice soft and sweet.
A gentle smile played on her lips, dispelling the earlier tension.
I steadied her, my arms a comforting brace.
Her breath was rapid, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and embarrassment. There was an undeniable vulnerability about her that tugged at something deep within me.
To Be Continued...