𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐍𝐚𝐚𝐳 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬

IUS: Epilogue (1)

It had been four months since everything changed. Since I had sent Tina away to Greece, giving her a new identity, a new life. Shehnaaz knew where her sister was, but they hadn't spoken. It was better this way, safer. I kept Shehnaaz updated on Tina's life, letting her know that her sister was okay and that she was working as a waitress in a small restaurant, blending ,in with the locals. But beyond that, there was silence. No calls, no messages, just the occasional update from me.

Mahesh Chawla's death had been a necessary deception. The accident I had staged was so meticulously planned that even his family believed it without question. The body burned beyond recognition, the car wreck so convincing that no one thought twice. There were no investigations, no suspicions. The man who had terrorized Shehnaaz's family was gone, and the world believed it had been a tragic accident.

For this plan, Tina was spared, and Shehnaaz was relieved that I didn't blame someone else for what Tina did out of revenge. I had to make sure my informant, Nikhil, understood the situation. I explained everything to him about what Mahesh Chawla did to my father and Shehnaaz's parents in the past. He understood and agreed to keep quiet about it. I had helped him out in the past, and he had his own run-ins with Mahesh Chawla.

Last week, his family held a Shanti havan at their house. The whole police department was invited, including me. I'd attended the Shanti havan at Mahesh Chawla's house, standing among his grieving family and my other colleagues.

It was there that I learned the truth- Mahesh's son, the one I had almost beaten to death at Shehnaaz's college, was the same arrogant bastard who had dared to propose to her.

The memory of it still made my blood boil. It took everything in me not to drag him outside and finish what I had started months ago. But I kept my composure, for the sake of the people around us, but mostly for the sake of my Shehnaaz.

Later that night, when my duty was done, I went to see her directly. She is still staying at her house, alone. I asked her to shift to my house many times. There she won't be alone. My Mom will be there. They can spend some time together and get to know more about each other. But, no, she is not ready to listen to me. She is acting stubborn about staying at her house alone. Last night, she told me she loved the peaceful time. No one is there to bother her apart from our babies Venus and Shotgun.

Anyway, also that night, when I went to her house, the sight of her calmed me and made everything else fade into the background. She opened the door with that beautiful smile, the one that made me forget about all the darkness in my life. But that night, I didn't feel like talking. I didn't feel like pretending that everything was fine. I wanted her to see the real me and face all my emotions.

Without a word, I grabbed her, pinning her against the door, and kissed her with all the pent-up frustration and anger I had been holding back all day. The kiss was urgent, almost desperate as if I was trying to pour all my emotions into it. Which was true. Love, anger, passion, possession, and possessiveness. She was shocked at first, her eyes wide with surprise, but then she responded, matching my passion with her own.