After that bloody ordeal at the Korean hotel, Sawan had completely changed his identity. He wore his jacket inside out and his hat tilted down. Security at the airport was tight, but Sawan used a fake passport provided by the
agent." As he passed through the immigration counter, the officer took a close look at his 7-foot-tall frame, but Sawan's ice-cold eyes didn't dare to question him further.
As he boarded the flight, Sawan closed his eyes. The Korean silk dress for Komal was still in his bag. He thought to himself, "Kenji has played his cards, now it's my turn.
It was Monday morning in Delhi. The office atmosphere seemed normal, but nothing was normal for Komal. Rahul was very happy today. He was close to completing his new "deal" with Tanya.
Rahul came to Komal's desk and said with a smile, "Komal, where were you last night? I called you. Well, there's a small party this evening at Tanya's house. You have to come."
Komal looked at Rahul with those dark circles under her eyes. She hated the face she had once considered her own. "I won't be able to come, Rahul," she said in a mechanical voice.
It was 2 p.m. The office door swung open. Saavan entered. His face was tired, but there was a sparkle in his eyes that had never been seen before. He headed straight for Komal's desk.
Rahul saw him and said irritably,
Hey! Our great detective is back? Where have you been for two days? The boss is very angry."
Saavan completely ignored Rahul, as if he were a bug. He went over to Komal and took the packet from his bag.
"This is for you... I brought it from Korea," Sawan said in a low but deep voice.
The entire office was watching them. Komal looked at the silk dress with trembling hands. She couldn't understand why Sawan was giving it to her, when it reminded her of a horrific past.
Sawan was sitting at his desk when he received a message from an unknown number. It contained a photo—a photo outside Komal's house. Below it was written: "You killed my best man, Sawan. Now it's your turn for your most precious possession."
Sawan's blood boiled. He realized Kenji's goons were after Komal. He reached under his desk, where he had hidden a small knife. He no longer cared about office rules.
As Rahul and Komal headed for their car at the break, Sawan followed them like a shadow. Suddenly, two black cars stopped in front of them. Among them turned out to be the same syndicate goons seen at the Korean border.
Rahul hid behind Komal, terrified. "Who are these people?"
The goons drew their guns, but before they could pull the trigger, a 7-foot shadow flashed between them like lightning. Sawan grabbed the first goon's wrist and twisted it so hard that the sound of bones breaking echoed throughout the parking lot. He slammed the second goon's head against the hood of the car.
Komal screamed,
"Sawan! Stop!"
But Sawan wasn't about to stop. He picked up the goon's dropped gun and fired it at the feet of Kenji's goons. He looked at Rahul, who was trembling with fear. Sawan whispered into Rahul's ear, "This is just a trailer, Rahul. The next time you're seen near Komal, the next bullet will be right between your heads."
Sawan grabbed Komal's hand and led her to his taxi. Komal didn't resist, knowing that right now, Sawan was her only protector, no matter how scary he was.
As Sawan drove, he told Komal,
Rahul and Kenji... they're two sides of the same coin. You have to come with me to a safe place."
Komal looked into Sawan's eyes—there was the same passion to torture, but also a sense of security.
After that bloody scene in the parking lot, Sawan had practically dragged Komal into his taxi. Rahul lay on the ground, trembling. Sawan accelerated the car past 120 mph. Komal was silent, her eyes fixed on the trees escaping outside, but her heart had stopped beating.
Sawan...where are we going? My house isn't that way,"
Komal asked in a low voice.
Sawan gripped the steering wheel tightly, the veins in his hands bulging. "
Your house isn't safe anymore, Komal. Kenji's men have laid siege to it. You'll be with me now... right in front of me."
After nearly two hours of driving, the car stopped in front of an old mansion nestled in a dense forest, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was the very place Sawan had seen in his coma—his own secret chamber.
Sawan stopped the car and opened the door for Komal. "Get down."
Komal looked at the terrifying mansion.
"I can't stay here, Sawan. Let me go."
Sawan took Komal's face in his large hands, his eyes still slanted and ferocious. "
I've crossed all boundaries to save you, Komal. Now, you'll only leave here when I want you to."
Sawan led Komal inside. The mansion was old on the outside, but equipped with state-of-the-art security systems on the inside. Komal screamed as they reached the main hall.
Hundreds of photographs of Komal were hung on the front wall. Some were from the office, some outside her home, and some Komal didn't even know when they'd taken. It was a 'stalker's' den. Komal realized she'd escaped from the clutches of one stalker and landed in the cage of another, even more dangerous one.
Sawan said simply,
"I've seen you every moment. Even when you were unhappy with Rahul. Now, no one will hurt you.
He gave Komal the same Korean silk dress. "Wear it and get ready. We'll celebrate tonight."
Here in the city, Rahul had reached Kenji's place to save his life. Kenji was sitting at his desk cleaning his
gun.
Rahul pleaded, "He's no ordinary man, sir! He single-handedly killed five of your goons. He's taken Komal."
A terrifying smile appeared on Kenji's face.
I know who he is. Sawan... or maybe Aryan. He killed my most loyal driver in Korea. Rahul, you'll give me the address where he can take her, and in return, I'll give you both Komal and the money.
Rahul's greed overcame his fear. "I know about an old mansion that Sawan once mentioned while drunk...
In the mansion's room, Komal put on the silk dress and stood in front of the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes seemed even darker. Suddenly, she felt the temperature in the room drop. She saw Sawan's reflection in the mirror, but it wasn't Sawan—it was the terrifying seven-foot-tall Aryan who used to torture her.
You recognized me, right?"
Sawan's voice echoed near her ear.
Komal turned. Sawan was standing right behind her. "Who are you? Sawan or Aryan?"
Sawan placed his hand on her neck and squeezed gently. "I am the one you've chosen in seven lifetimes. In this world, my name is Sawan, but my soul is the one that both torments and protects you."
Just then, the sound of cars stopped outside the mansion. Kenji and Rahul had arrived with their entire army. Sawan drew his gun and looked at Komal with a menacing smile.
"The game is about to end, Komal. Today, the world's...