Against All Odds

Chapter 20

Author's POV

Arjun Shekhawat had served his country as an undercover intelligence operative for 6 years. He was just 18 years old when he was hired. Being young and enthusiastic he was quick to learn the trade and excel it. Soon he was named amongst the best. But with excellence came responsibilities. The job started getting messier and then everyday brush with death started becoming inevitable. When his father expired, he knew it was time to leave the job and find the one with less risk. Though he loved serving his country, he knew how devastated his mother would be if she had to handle his death too.

At the age of 24 Arjun left his job and started his own security and investigation firm. Initial few months were a struggle, which changed when he met his school friend Shaurya Oberoi.

Shaurya had approached him initially only to keep watch on a girl. Slowly it expanded to the security of all his offices and his close relatives. He could no longer look at everything himself so it was obvious to hire and delegate his job. He had hired the best men and was never disappointed. Also he was always in loop. After all, it was his responsibility.

It came as a shock to him when he was urgently called with a possibility of having to deal with a dead body.

The moment he reached the lobby of Oberoi Group he was shocked to see Shaurya rocking someone in his arms pleading desperately to open her eyes.

It was the same girl. Niyati! How could he forget her. She was his first job. Another reason he remembered her was because she would bring him tea in winters. It's not that he was clumsy or very bad at his job. It's just that she knew she was being watched. She never asked questions, just used to give him tea and returned to fetch the empty cup. Not a single word was ever exchanged.

Arjun soon found out why he was tailing her. He was a detective after all. What he never understood was what satisfaction Shaurya got from troubling a sweet and innocent girl. But, it was not his place to question Shaurya. Even though he was his friend, but here, he was a professional hired to just do his job. What Shaurya did with the information provided was not his concern. All he could do was sympathize with her.

Trailing Niyati day and night wasn't an easy job. Not that she had a busy schedule but it was getting difficult to ignore how beautiful she was from in and out. Though the smile she gave seemed sad, yet it didn't lessen her beauty. Soon he realised he was falling for her. That day he hired someone else, to watch over her. Someone who was already settled and had more experience.

It had been more than eight years he had last seen her, but he could never forget her face. Yes, he no longer had feelings for her. She was out of his thoughts the moment he had gotten married and fallen head over heels in love with his wife. But when he saw Niyati lifeless he didn't like it one bit.

The scene before Arjun however did make him realise one thing… Shaurya was in love with her.

Arjun had to do something very fast. Things were about to go out of hand pretty soon. Staff had started to crowd around. It was a matter of minutes before someone would call the press and then things would complicate.

How he would react in other cases and when Shaurya was involved was totally different. Shaurya had turned into a ruthless person. Also he was in a position where he could make or break people. He was like a lion, king of the jungle. When satisfied he would not even glance in your direction, even if you were causing nuisance. But when hungry or wounded he will rip you apart. And right now the lion was wounded. One mistake and Shaurya would unleash hell.

That was the exact reason his staff had called him. They were wise enough to stay away from Shaurya.

Arjun had no choice but to face the situation. Slowly he approached Shaurya. Kneeling down the first thing he did was to touch Niyati's wrist to check for her pulse. He surely could feel it. Then he looked at her face which no longer looked white.