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Jaydev disconnected the call and clicked his tongue.
" Bastard," he mumbled in pure irritation.
" I believe this was for me," Aryan came from behind and sat beside him on the bench.
" Where have you kept those goons?"
Jaydev asked and Aryan acted innocent, " didn't you take them?"
" Do not lie, jerk. Some people attacked our police vehicle and took away the goons. I know they are your men," Jaydev said.
Aryan spread his arm behind on the edge of bench and said,
" I caught them so only I deserve to kill them. You police officers always take my credit."
Jaydev rolled his eyes, " If we don't do this then no one can stop you from going to jail. You shed their blood, but we have to take care of the rest. What should we answer to the government? What should we answer to the world? You don't think about all this."
He smirked slightly, " that's the work of cops, not mine."
Jaydev ran his fingers into his hair and asked another question,
" You are still into that stuff?"
Aryan rolled his tongue into his mouth and raised his eyebrows, " stuff? That's my work."
" Killing people is your work?"
Jaydev mocked him. Aryan frowned, " if I had not brought my men then there would have been dead bodies lying there today."
As much as Jaydev did not want to accept, he had no choice. If Aryan had not shown wisdom there, then probably a lot of things would have gone wrong there today. Because the cops were less in number and the opposition was very large.
Jaydev exhaled heavily and nodded while staring at the grass, " how about we.... Join hands?"
Aryan chuckled, " police will join hands with a gangster? Doesn't sound good."
Jaydev looked at him, " You also have the same motive as mine. We want to expose that gang because they are running illegal businesses. But you want to finish them off to increase your dominance and power. In short, we both want to end them."
" And you'll join hands with criminals? Will your morals allow you? Aren't you too committed to your uniform?"
Jaydev shook his head, " we have been trying hard to catch them. Their file takes so long to open but it gets closed even sooner. We have to follow the law and they escape by using the law. To stop them, one has to have an illegal mindset like them."
" You want me to work for police officers like you?"
" Nooo," Jaydev replied frustratedly and added, " for those women, children, slaves and much more. I am sure you know better than me what they do."
Aryan nodded slowly and turned his gaze at the flowers before him.
" I have to talk to my boss."
" Your boss?"
He hummed, " of course I work under him."
" So you use your position as a lawyer and never let your gang fall into the traps of the police?"
Aryan passed him a boring look then asked, " I am not a saint. Of course I do. But, you Mr. Chaudhary, have to promise that you won't betray us."
" Betray?"
Aryan hummed, " What if you put my gang in danger once your work is done?"
Jaydev shook his head, " I won't. I know your boss, what's his name?"
" Akshat Pratap Singh," Aryan replied.
" Yeah, I know what he's capable of doing. Just keep it out of your brain that I will touch your gang once my work is done."
Aryan nodded and Jaydev asked, " so? What do you say?"
Aryan smirked slightly, " so desperate to catch a gangster?"
Jaydev's expression stiffened and he really seemed desperate to catch a gang.
" But nothing comes without a profit," Aryan added.
Jaydev clenched his jaw knowing Aryan never join hands unless he does not see profit for himself.
" Ahh! Fine. My protection to you and your gang!"
Aryan's smirk widened, " that's the big deal."
He forwarded his hand and placed his palm over his.
" I am ready to help you," he said.
And after so many years, they joined hands for a mission. Both of them knew that if they were together then there would only be destruction. Obviously, this mission will demand blood but they will not step away out of fear. Jaydev wanted to save the lives of innocent people at any cost and wanted to discover many secrets. Aryan, on the other hand, was hungry for dominance and power. He knew that by just eliminating one gang, his gang would start ruling the underworld.
Both had different goals but the path was the same. One was like the water and the other was like the fire. No one knew where this wind was going. This relationship was going to bring a confluence or it was going to be a big conflict?
" Did Pakhi ask about your actions there?"
Jaydev asked.
" She slept due to tiredness but I am sure she will question me."
" And what will you say?" Jaydev asked curiously.
Aryan shrugged his shoulders, " I'll say I am... your man."
Jaydev rolled his eyes and Aryan showered him with a bright smile.
" Do you think she'll believe you? Just because my sister looks innocent, do not underestimate her. She is very smart."
" And do you want her to leave me after I disclose my other work? She'll hate me more," Aryan said irritatedly.
Jaydev smiled victoriously and stood up, " she should."
" Bastard!"
Aryan cursed.
" Same to you," Jaydev replied while walking back into the hotel.
" Back to you," Aryan stood up as well and they both added in unison,
" Not return!"
Aryan chuckled while walking and failed to see Jaydev's smile because he was some feet away from him.
Very soon, the last night of the year arrived. They went to a firework show together. There was still an hour left for new year eve so they thought to grab a meal till then.
" Mmh~ very tasty," Shruti squealed with delight.
" Here," she forwarded a bit to Pakhi who had it and gave a similar response. Aryan and Jaydev were silently eating their snack. They had finished their meal and after paying the bill they headed towards the firework show.
Around 15 minutes were left for the new year. Enthusiasm was visible everywhere. Pakhi rubbed her palms together to make them warm and steam came out of her mouth as she exhaled.
She turned to her Jaydev and said something before looking back at the sky. Aryan tucked his hands inside his jacket pocket and smiled. He is going to spend the new year for the first time with her. What an outstanding start to the year.
His happiness did not last long when someone called him from behind.
" Aryan?"
His smile faded. The voice was familiar to Aryan and Shruti but not to Jaydev and Pakhi. They turned around and stared at the middle aged woman. Anger flickered in Shruti's gaze while Jaydev clicked his tongue, recognising her. He had seen her pictures. He chuckled lightly and humorously.
The woman, Aryan's biological mother, smiled at him who was staring at her with a blank expression on face.
" How are you, son?"
She raised her hand to touch his cheek but he turned his head sideways. She brought her hand down in embarrassment and glanced at Shruti,
" How are you, Shruti? Your parents?"
" Everyone's good, fortunately," Shruti gave a plain reply and crossed her hands around the chest.
" What are you doing here?"
Aryan finally broke his silence. Pakhi looked at him confusedly because he sounded so rude. The woman smiled and replied,
" I was just wandering here.. and saw you. Is..is she your wife?"
She pointed at Pakhi who turned her gaze at her.
" Yes, she is. Done? You can leave now."
Aryan said in a disrespectful voice, clearly showing that he despised her presence. The woman's smile depicted sorrow and longing to hug him for once.
" It's been 5 years, Aryan. You did not come to meet me."
Pakhi startled when Aryan's voice raised,
" Why do I come to meet you?-"
He pinched the bridge of his nose, " please leave, Mrs. Mehta. I am with my family. I am sure your family must be waiting for you. Stop wasting your time here."
" Aryan-"
Aryan turned his back to her.
" Listen to me, once-"
" I think bhai did not speak in German, did he?"
The woman shot a glare at unaffected Shruti then inhaled a deep breath and said to her son,
" We should meet soon, hmm."
She patted his back and smiled at Pakhi then walked away.
" God! This woman!"
Shruti shook her head in disbelief and faced the sky. She checked the time on her face and found out that 5 minutes were left only. Pakhi went to her while Jaydev stared at the woman until she was out of her sight.
" Who was she, Di?"
Shruti looked at her and glanced at her brother before replying, " bhai's biological mother."
Pakhi knitted her eyebrows and felt puzzled. She found it hard to process what Shruti said just now.
" Huh?"
Shruti took a deep breath and parted her mouth to speak but just then Jaydev said to Aryan,
" So you were still meeting her? Back in university, you said you despise her."
Aryan looked at him with a pissed off expression, " listen. Do not start now."
" What? I am not starting anything. But you know, you were rude to her. She's your real mother-"
" She is not my fucking anything!"
Aryan stepped closer to him while uttering the above sentence. He looked furious while Jaydev did not budge from his place and smirked slightly. Pakhi and Shruti came to them.
" Bhai, do not start here-"
" I am not starting! Why don't you say anything to this asshole?"
Aryan got angry at his sister and she sealed her mouth. Realising his mistake, he rubbed his face in frustration then talked to her in calm voice,
" I am sorry. I am really sorry."
Shruti smiled reassuringly at him. Just when they thought the fight ended, Jaydev began again.
" You are an asshole, not me. And don't vent this useless anger of your mother on us. You remain silent in front of her-"
" Bhai," Pakhi interrupted her brother. Jaydev frowned as she shook her head at him, gesturing to him not to start an argument right now.
" What? I am not saying anything wrong."
" Oh, you are."
Aryan replied in pure anger. Jaydev looked at him as he continued,
" You were waiting for this opportunity, weren't you? You have always been thinking of a way to bring me down. Then and now."
Jaydev raised his eyebrows, " do I? Because you are already an insensitive human."
Shruti and Pakhi tried stopping them but did they care about their surroundings? No. It was pretty normal for them.
" At least I am not like you who bring people down. Such a fucking pathetic loser!"
Jaydev chuckled mockingly, " everybody knows who is pathetic here. You followed in your mother's footsteps. Just like she betrayed your father, you did the same."
Shruti widened her eyes while Pakhi was shocked seeing the reaction of Aryan. He did not raise his hands or get angry as usual, he just stood at his place, silently. Not a single word came out of his mouth. He kept looking at Jaydev.
" Fucking bastard-"
" Bhai!"
This time, Pakhi took a stand for him. Aryan turned his gaze away and Pakhi stood in between them. The countdown for the new year has started. Jaydev tilted his head confusedly while Aryan couldn't hold himself anymore, that is why he went away from there.
" Bhai-"
Shruti tried stopping but he did not listen to her.
" Bhai, what did you do?"
Pakhi said angrily.
" What did I do?"
They stopped momentarily when everyone started exclaiming in joy.
" HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
But in this noise of happiness three people did not feel happy at all.
" Why did you say all that to him? Did you see his face? He looked so heartbroken. Why would you do that, bhai?"
" Princess, I was not wrong-"
" But you should have fought later!"
Pakhi snapped at him and his expression stiffened.
" Stop raising your voice at me, Princess. Do not fight with me for him."
Pakhi sighed heavily and stared at the way he went.
" You really left me disappointed, bhai. You shouldn't have done this. I never thought my Bhai would stoop so low."
Jaydev clicked his tongue and nodded, " so you are taking his side."
" Noo! I am just trying to show you what is wrong, what is right. Your personal grudges are something else but that matter was sensitive, bhai."
" Stop giving me lectures. If you want, you can go to him."
Jaydev turned his head away from here and his eyes landed on the sky which was being lit up with fireworks. Surprisingly, she really turned on her heels and ran the way Aryan went.
Jaydev looked at his sister's disappearing figure with not any definite expression on face. Shruti felt stuck in right and wrong. Jaydev was surely wrong but she just couldn't leave him at that moment.
Pakhi spotted Aryan sitting in the taxi. She smiled and parted her mouth to call him but everything went in vain because he already drove away from there.
Pakhi dropped her hands to her side in a defeated way and sighed heavily.
She looked around her surroundings. Everyone was busy wishing one another new year. They all looked so happy but a great new year these 4 people celebrated.
She felt bad for Aryan. He seemed very broken. This was the first time she had witnessed such behaviour of his. Vulnerable.
She doesn't know about his past and his mother but she knows something really bad happened to him in childhood. Her brother was wrong this time. She could not bear that expression of Aryan. It broke her and she felt like doing anything just to bring the old Aryan back.
In the next 5 minutes, a car stopped before her. It was Jaydev's car which he borrowed from one of his friends. Pakhi stared at her brother in the driving seat then quietly opened the back seat door and sat inside. Jaydev drove them away from there. Shruti was seated on the passenger seat.
Pakhi first time raised her voice at her brother like this. It left both of them shocked. Shruti could sense the disturbing silence between brother and sister. Pakhi did not initiate any conversation nor Jaydev did. Probably both knew silence was better.
Upon arriving at their destination, they went together to the hotel. Pakhi's room was locked from inside which meant Aryan was inside. She grabbed the doorknob and Jaydev waited for her to say something but she went inside.
He clenched his jaw and entered the room before Shruti once she opened the door. She startled when he banged the door.
" What the hell?"
She mumbled and shook her head in disbelief then went inside her room.
Pakhi sighed, not spotting Aryan inside the room. He must be in the bathroom because she could hear the sound of a shower running.
She started changing her clothes in the meanwhile and removed her makeup. It took her half an hour to complete the task.
She put her hands inside the pocket of her jacket and frowned when she realised that she had her brother's mobile with her. He gave her to click pictures because her device was dead. She thought of returning it to him.
She exited her room and stopped outside Jaydev and Shruti's room. She raised her hands to knock but stopped momentarily when she heard noises from inside.
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