Winds of Destiny

Chapter 9

(Mischievous Celebrations)

In a dimly lit, secluded warehouse, two men sat bound to chairs, their faces swollen and bruised from the relentless blows they'd endured. Agni Rana stood before them, a dark, ominous figure with an unsettling calmness, his eyes cold and calculating. Beside him stood another man, one of his trusted associates, prepared to assist in whatever Agni deemed necessary.

Agni's voice was low but firm as he demanded, "Who sent you to harm my mother?"

The two men, trembling and drenched in sweat, exchanged a brief, silent look but remained quiet. The silence seemed to taunt Agni, fueling his anger. With a quick, impatient sigh, Agni pulled out his phone and dialed a number, pressing the speaker button. The room fell silent as the call connected, and a commanding voice rang out through the small speaker—a voice that sent an instant chill down the men's spines.

"Cut their bodies into pieces and sell them in the market," the voice ordered, every word laced with calm ruthlessness. The line clicked off, leaving the command hanging heavily in the air.

The men's faces went pale as they began to grasp the gravity of their situation. Terrified, they started begging, their voices choked with desperation. "Please... please don't! We'll tell you everything!"

Agni smirked, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Sorry, boys. Orders from Shankar Bhai are not to be ignored."

The men continued pleading, but Agni only watched with detached amusement as their fear grew, knowing full well that, in this world, disobedience to Shankar was a death sentence.

Back in the Rana residence, Shankar lay with his head in his mother's lap. A rare sight for anyone else, but here, in the quiet comfort of his mother's presence, he found his mind wandering into a strange calm. Mrs. Meera Jai Pratap Rana gently ran her fingers through his hair, reading from her holy book in a soft, melodic tone.

After a pause, she looked down at him with a bright, affectionate smile and began, "Shankar, u remember the girl I told u  who saved me . A young girl—a vibrant spirit, full of life. She reminded me of the river: strong, unpredictable, but with a certain light. Her name is Madhavi,"

Shankar's eyes remained closed, but he tensed slightly, recognizing the name immediately. Mrs. Meera noticed nothing, continuing with admiration in her voice. "You know, she didn't even hesitate, didn't think of her own safety. Such bravery, such genuine kindness. I haven't met anyone quite like her in years."

Shankar's phone vibrated softly, a notification appearing on the screen. Without shifting much, he opened his eyes just a sliver to see a message containing Madhavi's details pop up. She'd been on his mind since the mall incident or maybe from the time he first met her, and the image of her mischievous smile and challenging gaze surfaced, unbidden.

A rare, faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth—a reaction so minute it was nearly imperceptible.

Mrs. Meera, still deep in her praises of Madhavi, didn't notice as her son's thoughts drifted, his mind filling with flashes of the confident, bold girl who seemed to ignite something in him. She was a strange and unpredictable force in his life—one he felt might either bring him to ruin or unlock something hidden within him.

Mrs. Meera finally glanced down at her son. "Shankar," she said, smiling, "I'd like to meet this Madhavi again and introduce you properly. She has a spirit I admire."

Shankar, breaking from his musings, gave a small nod. The dangerous, strange spark Madhavi had ignited was simmering just below the surface—a feeling he'd stayed miles away from, yet now found impossible to ignore.

Madhavi burst through the glass doors of her Mamaji's large sweet shop, her black sunglasses catching the morning light. With an excited smile, she surveyed the crowd inside, raising her voice in a joyful announcement. "Everyone, today's a special day—no one pays for sweets! It's on me!" Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she added, "And for all the workers here, your bonuses are coming in advance this month!"

Customers and workers alike gasped in surprise, the air buzzing with excitement. Satyanarayan, who'd just been about to sit at the cashier's counter, froze in place, his jaw dropping at his niece's declaration. He whispered to himself, exasperated, "A niece or nephew will surely bankrupt their uncle one day." Hurriedly, he made his way over to her, nervously smiling at the customers before taking her by the wrist.

"Niece of mine, what charity virus bit you today?" he muttered under his breath. "Do you realize this shop doesn't run on your whims? Let's not turn my livelihood into a festival of charity, hmm?"

With a look of defiance, Madhavi adjusted her glasses. "Relax, mama Ji. I got a job—at the Angel Wings Foundation! That's why I'm celebrating!"

Satyanarayan's eyes widened, and after a moment, he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "A job? You? Are you pulling my leg, Madhavi? huh? ....well guess what your mami ji left the house also."

Madhavi's eyes narrowed, and she grabbed a laddoo from a nearby tray, forcefully pushing it into his mouth to cut him off. "Aye, Satyanarayan, I'm serious!" she said with her hands on her hips. "Swear on your... well, whatever black hair you still have left, I'm telling the truth!"

With mock indignation, Satyanarayan replied, "Calling me Satyanarayan, not even Mamaji anymore?" His face softened into a smirk, but he still looked at her skeptically. "So, tell me how you, my mischievous niece, landed a job at the foundation ."

Madhavi removed her sunglasses, her expression suddenly serious. "I met Mrs. Meera Jai Pratap Rana at the mall," she explained, though she carefully avoided mentioning the attack, not wanting to worry him. "She saw my... potential, I guess, and offered me an opportunity."

Still unconvinced, Satyanarayan crossed his arms, eyeing her with suspicion. "So, you're saying you didn't get into any trouble? Nothing fishy?"

With an innocent look, she placed a hand over her heart, saying, "You don't trust me? I swear on your black hair, Mamaji, it's all true!" Without giving him a chance to reply, she suddenly burst into mock tears, running out of the shop with a dramatic cry. "The horror! My own Mamaji doesn't believe in me!"

Satyanarayan sighed, calling after her, "Wait! Do I even have black hair left for you to swear on?" He turned to find a worker grinning at him.

"So, does that mean we'll get the advance bonus, sir?" the worker asked.

"Oh, sure, here's your bonus," Satyanarayan muttered, picking up another laddoo and stuffing it into the worker's mouth, earning chuckles from nearby staff.

As he looked around the shop, he folded his hands, praying aloud, "Lord Krishna, if you're listening, please give me strength...and maybe a bit of extra money to keep up with my niece's grand plans!"

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-Melodic Narrator