NANDINI MISHRA

The rain was pouring heavily outside. I was sitting on an old Charpai, wearing his shirt.

His Shirt!

A sudden wave of nervousness travelled through me. All the moments of us from our first meeting travelled through my eyes.

We met in that old construction building, the way he looked at me, like he was unravelling my bare soul, his hands around my waist, unhinged, possessive and then that bullet shot.

Straight onto his chest.

Wait!!

Is he okay now? And how come he is so good after taking that bullet into chest?

Should I ask him ? No, no! He'll think I'm getting too close for no reason. But there's a reason, he got shot with that bullet because of me.

It's humanity to ask him about his wound.

Yess! Its humanity!

I lifted my gaze to see him, standing near the window, his bare back towards me, perfectly sculpted.

The butterfly back!!! Hot!!

What? Stop it Nandini! He is gunda! Stop railing over him, like a jerk!

Still my eyes betrayed me and started looking at his back. Those curves, those broad arms, those hair, maybe some of them have fallen on his forehead.

And then smoke. Of cigarette, enveloping his face.

Perfect cinematic scene.

I got up from my place, to walk towards him. The light in the room was still very dim, the one coming from the street light pole outside.

It was so dim that we can see and walk only one step at once.

I was walking towards him, when I felt some movement on my leg, at first I ignored it but then it clearly felt like, some long wire is dragging over my leg.

What?

I looked down and what I saw made me stop at once in fear.

Snake! It was a snake! Over my feet, still in one position.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa............."

I screamed on the top of the voice, and without thinking for even a second I ran towards him, hugging him from behind in fear .

"Bachi..... Baa baaa......bachiyeee hume, waahh..mm waha,, woh!...... I was still continuing but words weren't leaving my mouth.

I was so afraid that i didn't even realise that he was bare, without a shirt. And i was clinging to him, bare.

He turned towards me, but didn't touch me, instead he said something that made my stomach flip over the circle.

"Aaap agar aur ek bhi inch humare pass ayi na afsar madam, toh kal subh hum dono ko iss baat ka bahot pachtava hoga !"

What ?

What does he meant by that ?
I was thinking this when I felt is breath on my forehead.

I just looked up a little to see him, dangerously close to my face, his eyes, looking at me like he'll rip me apart now. All at once.

"Wohhh....waha pee.....wah..." I was continuing to say but my voice was trembling in fear.

"Sshhhhhhh! Breath butterfly, breath! What happened? Are you okay ?" He asked me, in the most quite and delicate tone.

I am traumatic to male touches, but his feel different. He didn't make me feel creepy or filthy. So many times he touched me, he was so close to me but still i didn't push him back ?Why? What is wrong with me?

I was in my thoughts when he blew air on my face, removing a hair strand behind, making me come to my senses.

"There's.. a snake there! I saw it " I said, trying to make my breathes still.

He slowly, removed my hands around him and made me stand there and he went forward.

"Dhyan see, bahot bada sanp haii" i said him, caring for him.

Wait what? Am I caring for him ?

I was thinking, when I saw he bent down, and picked up something, a long wire like thing.

"Aaaaa ,saanp, dekhaaa Maine kaha thaa naaa, bahot bada saanp hai waha pe,.... Aap chhodiye use neeche, kaat lega woh aapko.... Aaa, maa,,, he mahadev aaj bacha lijiye, maa ki kahi saari baatein manungi aaj see, pakkka....."

I started muttering in fear, when i saw he was coming towards me that snake, still in his hands.

"Aap.. kya kr rahe hai ye..... Dekhiye hum jante hai humne aapko kal se bahot pareshan kiya hai.pr... pr aise thodi na aap humein ye saanp se dasava skte hai, hum bh.. bhii officer haiii...... Aap aisa nhi kr skte .....aaaa"

i was screaming, still he was coming towards me.

" Please .... Shresth please stop...... I'm really fearing it ... " I said, pleading for him to stop and suddenly..

He stopped. At once he stopped.

I closed my eyes in fear..

"Open your eyes butterfly." He said.

"No...noo ! I can't see that snake..." I said.

"Trust me, butterfly, just open your eyes....please " he said.

And I don't know why, i felt like trusting him.

I opened my eyes, hesitantly, and looked at him.

He was still holding that snake.

But wait. It was not moving. Nor making any movement.

Ohhh!!! Fuckkkk!!!!!

I got first hand embaresment when I realized it was not any snake, but it was just an oversized wire.

"hehehe.... it's wire not snake" i said, making my self more embaress! Wow!!!! Great!!!!!

I closed my eyes, in embaresment, when i heard the sound of a chuckle.

What? He was laughing at me.

Yes, it was indeed funny.

"Aankhe kholiye, afsar madam" he said, in a calm voice.

I opened my eyes, when he came towards me in 2 quick steps and pinned me against the window.

"Ahmmm" a Whisper left my mouth, due to a sudden jerk.

He placed is face on my cheeks, then on my neck and started breathing it.

"Kya..kya kr rahe hai aap, piche hatiye, chhodiye hume!"

I said pushing him behind, but he shrugged my efforts and continued breathing near my neck.

"Sshhhh! Shant baithiye thoda rani, hum apna sukoon dhund rahe hai"he said in the utmost casual tone, still breathing near my neck.

Suddenly I remembered the wound on his chest.

"Hume aapse kuch puchna hai?" I said.

"Hmm ...." He said without lifting his face.

"Kal aapko, goli lagi thi na ? Woh thik hogayi? I asked, my voice coming out mere as a whisper.

"Nhi lagi thi goli humein" he said, his face still on my neck, his hands lingering on my belly.

"Par... Woh khoon" i asked, my eyes getting blurred with each touch.

"Goli humare locket ko chu ke mud gayi thi, toh bs thoda sa khoon beh gaya!" He said, taking his face out from my crook he looked into my eyes.

His locket. That Ferocious lion locket. Yes that was powerful enough to even turn bullet! I knew it!

He was still lingering his lips on my cheeks, when i muttered,

"Hum dar gaye the, hume lga...."

my eyes lingering over his bare chest unable to meet his intense gaze.

"Kya lga aapko afsar madam.....hmm" he said, his voice dripping with mischief, rubbing my cheeks with his thumb, making me look at him by lifting up my chin.

"Kuch nhi !" I said and tried to move by passing him.

But he was too reluctant to leave me, he pushed me back, to the place, his gaze fixing on me,

" Hum jab aapke pass ho, toh humein chhodke jane ki sochiye ga bhi mat. Humein raas nhi ata aapka hum se muh mod ke, chale jana.!"

He said, as if he has some right over me.

"Jii..?" I asked my eyebrows narrowing.

"Kuch nhi...." He said, and moved back.

Uno reverse! Great!

He went and sat on the charpai, whereas I stood there, looking at him, his smell was still lingering over my skin.
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After sometime, while I was sitting on the chair near the charpai,

I heard, the sound of a car, halted in front of the room.

I shivered, thinking that maybe they were the men of Dhanraj, who came here, I got up and was about to run behind the door, when Shresth stopped me and said,

"Dariye mat! Dhanraj nhi hai! "

"To....toh ?" I asked.

Suddenly i heard the voice, familiar, .....in fact it was ...

Revati.

She came running inside, but her steps halted when she saw, Shresth sitting, shirtless on charpai.

She was shocked to see him like this. And started calling me.

"Nandu? Nandu? Tu kaha hai ?"

"Hum... Yaha hai Revati" I said, running towards her hugging her.
She also hugged me back, but suddenly stopped when she saw, his shirt hanging around my body.

I followed her gaze, and before she could think of anything I said, " hume ghar jana hai, please, hum sab batayenge Ghar jake."

"Thik hai chalo," she said.

"Ruko!" Shresth's voice tore through the air.

"Aap dono ka akele jana safe nhi hoga, shivay aapko chhod dega Ghar!"

A man, entered the room. He came near us, and said " aap gadi mein baithiye hum aapko Ghar chhod denge!"

" Tum jao Revati hum aate hai" i said to her, making her and him go out.

I turned towards Shresth, walking towards him and removed his shirt from my body.

"Dhanywad!" I said, giving his shirt to him.

"Pehnayiye humein!" He said, coldly.

"Huh? What?" I thought i misunderstood it.

"Pehnayiye humein !" He repeated his words.

"Hum? Kaise pehna....skate hai aapko?" I said, averting his intense gaze.

"Ya toh aap ise hume pehnayiye apne hatonse ya fir ise apne sath le jaiye. Chunav aapka hai!" He said, shocking me.

"I can't take this. What will i say to maa about this. She'll wreack havoc on me, if she comes to know about it."
I thought.

Suddenly Revati called out my name, "nandu chalo jaldi, der ho gayi hai pehle hi, Vidya chachi ke pehle hi bahot phone aa chuke hai."

"H....haaa ayi." I replied.

"Jaldi kariye madam ji, warna aapki mata ji yaha ajayengi aapko le jane." Shresth said, his voice was mischievous.

Now I had no choice. I reluctantly went towards him, my steps slow.
My all the way towards him, he kept looking at me unwavering his gaze over my face.

I stood in front of him, a shirt in my hands, my body shivering in anticipation.

"Haat uthaiye," I said, making him wear his shirt.

Throughout, he kept looking at me, in middle and slid his hands on my waist. Squeezing it, he said, looking at me, " jana jaruri hai kya ?"

What? Am i hallucinating it or has he really said that.

"Huh?" I exclaimed.

"Mat jaiye na hume chhodke, please " he said, his eyes soft and calm.

Listening to him, a sudden wave of pain engulfed me. Why is he so desperate to have me around him? Who am I to him?

I made him wear his shirt, pinning is buttons, i moved back a little, but in no moment he jerked me towards him.

"Kaha na humne, jab hum aapke pass ho toh hume chhod ke mat jana" he commanded, his eyes turning into something dark.

I was in utter shock now. Why is this man treating me like, he has found me after years of struggle.

" Hum aapki koi hai kya, jo aap humein aise baar baar khinchte rehte hai aapki taraf? " I don't know why? But i asked him.

"Aap hi humari sab kuch hai.... Ni..." He was saying something and then stopped suddenly.

Why is this man so complicated.

Stop it Nandini, he is mafia, usse itni najdikiyn sahi nahi hai, akhir hai toh gunda hi na, stop yourself. Now!!
My mind ordered me.

"Humein jane dijiye Shresth, humare gharwale raah dekh rahe honge humari." I said, and in the sudden move he left me.

Without saying anything he held my wrist and guided me towards the car.

Revati and that man, Shivay, yess, shivay that's what Shresth called him, was waiting for me .

"Inhe dhyan se apne ghar chhod dena." He said, making me sit in the back seat.

"Hmm" shivay said, starting the car.

"Dhyan se jayega, humari Rani ji.
Jald hi milenge aapse hum, aur fir humesha ke liye aapko apna bana lenge...." He leaned forward through the window, whispering in my ear.

I looked at him shocked, widening my eyes .

But he ! He just gave me that evil smirk on his lips and signal Shivay to take us to our house.

The car came to life, pulling us towards the house, but my mind, it was still on him, watching him through the mirror, till he disappeared behind the rain drops, but his smell, his touch, his voice and his words lingering over my heart, my mind and my body along with me.

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THIRD PERSON

The door bell rang, when Vishakha went to open it.

She saw, Nandini and Revati, drenched in rain. Nandini was shivering, while Revati was holding her.

"Nandu!" Vishakha called out, listening to which all the ladies from inside ran out.

"Are..... Choriya toh Puri bheeg gayi hai, andar le chalo inhe!" Padma said, taking both of them inside.

"Ruko!" A sharp voice, came , making all of them stop in their place.

"Kaha the tum log itni der?" Vidya asked both of them, her voice sounding impatient.

"Are vidya dekho toh unka haal pehle, unhe baithne toh....." Padma was cut in between her words by vidya

"Batao!" She shouted.

"Woh.... woh, chachi ji mele mein aag lag gayi thi toh afra tafri mach gayi thi, bs wahi, wahi der ho gayi humein chachi...." Revati said, a complete lie to her, to avoid Nandini getting bashed by Vidya.

"Ye sach hai Nandini?" Vidya asked Nandini moving towards her.

"Kya pucha humne yeh sach hai!" She asked her voice increasing, now.

"Jii....jiii maaa, ye sach hai !" Nandini said, of course a lie.

She has never ever spoken lies to her mother, but today was not any other day. She knew, if Vidya came to know about Dhanraj, she would just take her away and at once get her married. Her dreams, her sacrifices everything would just get mixed to dust.

"Tum thik ho ? Lagi toh nhi na tumhein? Bolo na ?" She asked Nandini, her eyes teary now.

"Hum.... hum thik hai maa, aap chinta mat kijiye, bs road block ho gaya tha toh ane mein der ho gayi aur barish thi toh bhig gaye hum ." Nandini said, a pure lie, first time in her life.

"Tum dono nhi the toh hum bahot dar gaye the baccha" vidya said, hugging both Revati and Nandini.

"Hum dono thik hai chachi ji, aap shant ho jaiye ab" Revati said comforting Vidya.

"Jao apne kamre mein. Aur haan, kal subh niklna hai humein, toh jaldi uth jana tum dono." Vidya said, hugging Nandini, and making her go to her room .

Nandini and Revati went to the room, Reavti locked the door as soon as, they entered the room.

Nandini straight went into the bathroom, switching on the hot water shower, she stood under it.
Her mind was remembering everything that happened today.

But her mind was continuously making her remember Shresth.
His words, his voice, his touch.

" Aaj pehli baar humene maa se jhoot bola, uske barein mein unhe pta na chale is liye, ye galat hai, uska mere pass ana, uska mujhe yu chhuna galat hai, humein use rokna chahiye tha, pagal ho kya tum Nandini, aise kisi ko bhi apne pass kaise aane de skti ho, itna kaise beh jaati ho usmein ki maan, maryada kuch samjh mein nhi ata tumhein? Tum ek ladki ho, aur ab ek officer, apni maryada mein rehke chalo, yahi sahi hai!" She muttered to herself.

"Kaha na humne, jab hum aapke pass ho toh hume chhod ke mat jana" his words, those memories, flashed in her mind;

"Leave me, leave me Shresth, kal tak toh anjan the tum, aaj itna kareeb kaise agaye mere ki apne maa se tak jhoot bol gaye hum tumhare liye?" Nandini was crying as if she was fighting a lone battle of emotions and reality.

"Why? Why god? Kyu ho raha hai humare sath ye? Aisa kya kiya hai humne ? " She said, and started crying.

"Nahii.... Kal hum yaha se chale jayenge, aur laut kar kabhi yaha nhi ayenge, tumhare pass atae hi humare sare rishte, unke mayne dhundle ho jate hai Shresth. Tumse dur rhne mein hi humari bhalai hai. Haa... Yahi sahi hai.... Hum kal chale jayenge, tumse dur aur fir kabhi tumhare pass nhi ayenge... Kabhi nhi....!"

She started crying, guilt totally engulfing her.
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After taking a shower, she came out in the bathroom robe, wrapped around her. She saw Revati sitting on the balcony, holding tea set in her hand.

Nandini, changed into white suit, thin and perfectly hugged her curves, and straight went towards Revati.

"Baitho nandu, ye lo chai!" She said,
Giving her a cup of tea.

"Tum thik toh ho na Nandu? Us ladke ne tumhare sath kuch....." She was stopped in between by Nandini,

" Shresth! Shresth naam hai uska!" She said, "aur usne kuch nhi kiya humare sath, balki usne toh humein bachaya hai, un gundon se!" She continued to tell her.

One by one, Nandini told her everything that happened yesterday and today.

"Ye sab, chachi ji ko pta chala toh pata nhi woh kya krengi? Tumko leke kitni possessive hai janti ho na tum?" Revati said, the thing that Nandini Already knew.

"Hmm" nandini replied, coldly.

"Tumhare sapne, tumhara career isse jyda jaruri kuch nhi hai Nandu. Tumhara training shuru ho jayega agle hafte fir posting, tumne dekha hua har sapna sach hone wala hai, bs apne kadam ladkhadaye na iski jimmedari tumhari hai." Revati said, making her understand.

"So jao ab tum, hum bhi jaate hai sone, kal subh 11 baje ki train hai, hum wapis banaras jaa rahe hai, thik hai?" Revati told her

"Hmm, thik hai " nandini said .

After that she went to sleep on the bed, trying to sleep, but her mind made her remember only about one person....

Shresth Dixit!!!
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Here, Shresth was seen, talking to someone on the phone, "use dada nagar wale godown mein leke aao, main pohochta hoon!" He said, hanging out the phone and sliding into his thar, making his way towards the godown.
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AT GODOWN;

The basement was filled with the loud screams of a man, who was screaming with every ounce of energy he had.

His blood was pooling alongside him, chained in rusty metal chains, scars present on almost every part of his body. He was trembling in pain. But the hands that were hitting him didn't stop.

In a moment, a man came there, his shoes clicking on the marble floor. He came and stopped in front of that man.

Seeing him, the man started crying, begging in front of him.

"Maa...maaf kr dijiye chote sarkar, humse bahot badi bhul ho gayi,, maafii de dijiye. Aage se madam ji ke saye se bhi dur rahenge hum!" He said.

The man was none other than SHRESTH. And the one chained was the same who had dragged Nandini in mela.

"Humari Rani itni ful ki tarah najuk hai, haat lagao na toh kaanp jati hai, aur tune, saale, teri himmat kaise hui unhe chhune ki? Mad@rchod, Tune unhe ghasita? Teri toh hum khaal udedh ke rakh denge, kutte!" Shresth shouted at him.

Taking a leather belt, he started hitting him like a mad man.

" Teri. Himmat . Kaise . Hui. Humare Rani. Ko .haat. lagane ki?" He said hitting him with each word.

Leaving the belt after a few minutes, he went and brought a sharp razor blade in his hand. He bowed down to the level of man, who was now on the verge of dying, he started smashing his face, his chest, his body like a man who had become blind in revenge. Shresth was fully drenched in the blood but still was not stopping from slashing him.

Shivay came there and stopped him, taking the blade from his hand....

"Mar gaya hai woh shresth, chhod use...... Chhod" shivay shouted, taking him away.

Shresth, was breathing heavily, his body fully drenched in blood and sweat.

"Shant ho ja , mar gaya hai woh, shant jo ja" he said, making him calm.

"Use chhod diya ghar?" Shresth asked him.

"Haa chhod diya hai un dono ko ghar"

" Aur Riya?" Shresth questioned him.

"Use bhi ghar chhod diya hai!" Shivay told him to make him calm.

"Woh jaa rahi hai kal, humein 'usne' bataya hai !" Shivay told him, to which Shresth nodded coldly.

"Tu ghar ja, hum aate hai! " Shresth said and went into his Thar, making his path towards Nandini's house.

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At Nandini's house; 1pm

Nandini was sleeping in a sound sleep, when footsteps were heard in her room.

A man; to be precise Shresth, was seen jumping in her room through the balcony his shirt still that same drenched in blood.
He was using a shawl to cover himself, to avoid anyone seeing his shirt.

He with very quiet steps went towards bed, near Nandini.

He quietly sat on the bed, the mattress going down under his weight. He was silently looking at Nandini, who was engulfed in sleep.

"Sote hue bhi aap kitni pyari lagti hai, humari Rani. Kal aap firse humein chhod ke chali jayengi, par aap chinta mat kijiye iss baar aap humein bhulengi nhi. Hum bhulne nhi denge aap ko. Aur haa laut ke to aapko humare pass hi ana hoga. Uske baad aap humesha ke liye humari ho jayengi. Humesha ke liye!"

Saying this he put his hand into the pocket, removing a gold chain. It was a delicate chain with the locket of 'S' inital on it as pendent.

"Ye hum aapko pehna rahe hai, rani, isse utarna mat, ye aapko yaad dilata rahega , humari , aur aapke khayalon mein hum rahe woh humein bahot pasand ayega. Tab tak hi sahi jab tak hum aapke khayalon se nikl ke aapki bahon mein naa ajaye" saying this is tied that locket in her neck.

"Sundar......" He whispered near her ear.....

Kissing her cheek, he laid down beside her, with the thought of seeing her last time for today and with the anticipation of meeting her next time......

Very soon !!!!

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To be continued.....

So guys do comment your thoughts....

Ill post the next chapter soon.

I love you all 😘