Suryansh's POV
"Yes, Boss," they all said together.
"Okay, so as you know, we don't have much time. It's already been two months, and now we need to move faster. We still have a lot left to do.
Lately, we've been too focused on building our office image. It's high time we focus on what we actually came here for."
I looked at all of them.
"But very carefully."
"Yes, Boss. You're right. We were a little slow, but now we need to do everything faster," Siddhi said.
"Yes, because of all those distractions," Tripti added.
"Right," Tahir agreed.
I nodded.
"So, what's your plan? I'm sure you have one," Raghav said.
A small smile appeared on my face.
"Of course I do."
"But not here. Let's go upstairs."
Everyone nodded.
A few minutes later, we were inside our secret office, and I explained the plan along with everyone's assigned work.
After all the discussions were over, we were sitting in the living room.
Siddhi and Raghav were arguing as usual, while Tripti and Tahir were in the kitchen preparing something for all of us.
Meanwhile, I was sitting on the sofa, reviewing a few documents on my tablet while occasionally listening to their nonsense.
Looking towards the kitchen, Raghav said,
"Tahir, aise toh tujhe cooking karna pasand nahi hai haan. Aur aaj badi cooking aa rahi hai haan."
(You don't even like cooking, and today you're suddenly enjoying it so much?)
Siddhi instantly rolled her eyes.
"Tujhe kya problem hai? Do lovebirds time spend kar rahe hain toh aur tu har waqt dusron ke beech mein bolta rehta hai. Zero civic sense hai tum mein."
(What's your problem? Two lovebirds are spending time together and you're constantly interfering. You seriously have zero civic sense.)
Tripti and Tahir immediately became shy.
"Kaun dusre? Woh mere apne hain. Haan, tum dusri ho. Main unko kuch bhi bolun, tumhe kya? Har baar bas sunati rehti ho."
(What do you mean others? They're my people. You're the outsider. Why do you care what I say to them? You're always lecturing me.)
"Ab koi toh galat insaan ko sudharne wala hona chahiye na."
(Someone has to correct the wrong person, right?)
"Dekho kaun bol raha hai. Jo khud galat hai woh mujhe galat bol rahi hai. Wow, Siddhi."
(Look who's talking. The person who's wrong herself is calling me wrong. Wow, Siddhi.)
"Chup ho ja tu, warna main tera muh tod dungi."
(Shut up or I'll break your face.)
"Tujhe toh bas ek excuse chahiye violence karne ke liye. Hum muh se bhi baat kar sakte hain na, violence ki kya zarurat hai?"
(You just need an excuse to be violent. We can solve things by talking too, what's the need of violence?)
Siddhi glared at him.
Immediately, Raghav looked towards the kitchen.
"Bhai, tum logon ne khana bana liya kya? Varna yeh Siddhi mujhe kaccha chaba jayegi. Jaldi le aao."
(Bro, is the food ready yet? Otherwise Siddhi is going to eat me alive. Bring it quickly.)
"Tu ruk. Tujhe toh main batati hoon abhi."
(Just wait. I'll deal with you right now.)
The moment Siddhi stood up, Raghav ran from there.
Siddhi instantly ran after him.
A small smile appeared on my face as I placed my tablet on the table.
Looking at them, I sometimes wondered how I had ended up choosing these people as my team.
God.
No matter what happened, they could never stay serious for long.
But however they are, I love them.
They are the only family I have.
Being an orphan and growing up in an orphanage taught me the value of family better than anyone.
Maybe that's why I'm so grateful to have found them.
They aren't connected to me by blood, but somewhere along the way, they became my family.
Suddenly, a ringtone pulled me out of my thoughts.
I frowned and looked at my phone.
It wasn't ringing.
Then I remembered.
It wasn't my regular phone.
It was the satellite phone.
I immediately walked towards the drawer and took it out.
The moment I saw the number on the screen, my expression changed.
Why is she calling now?
"Guys."
My voice turned serious.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and immediately came over.
I showed them the number.
"Wait, I'll bring my laptop," Siddhi said instantly.
I nodded.
A minute later, all of us were seated on the sofa.
Then I answered the call.
"Hello."
I answered the call in my usual tone.
Straight to the point.
"Itni der laga di call uthane mein."
(You took quite a while to answer the call.)
Her voice came from the other side.
"Come to the point. Why did you call me?"
A soft chuckle came from the other side.
"Chill. What's the hurry? Aur yeh kya tareeka hai baat karne ka? Mujhe accha nahi laga tumhara andaaz."
(And what is this way of talking? I didn't like your attitude.)
"Nothing. I was just asking what happened. Why did you call?" I said, keeping my tone calm this time.
"Aise baat karo. We are partners. I am not your servant, right?"
(Talk properly. We are partners. I am not your servant.)
"I know we are partners."
"Good."
"Then check your bank account, Red Diamond."
I gestured towards Tripti.
She immediately checked her phone and a second later turned the screen towards me.
Fifteen crores had been transferred to my account.
"Yes, I checked."
"I have completed my part of the work. Now it's your turn."
"I know. And I'm already working on it. You don't need to remind me."
"I was just saying."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked,
"By the way, why did you kill Ruhi?"
"Who is Ruhi?"
A small frown appeared on my face.
"Don't tell me you don't know her."
"Oh, that girl."
She sounded completely unconcerned.
"Actually, I don't remember the names of unimportant people."
"Then why did you kill that unimportant girl?"
"Woh apni aukaat se kuch zyada hi upar udd rahi thi. Marna toh tha hi usse."
(She was flying a little too high. She was bound to die.)
"Jo bhi mere raaste mein aayega, woh zinda toh reh nahi sakta."
(Anyone who comes in my way can't stay alive.)
I leaned back against the sofa.
"I could have handled her. She was my stalker."
My voice remained calm.
"And I don't like someone interfering in my life. Remember that."
"I know."
She replied casually.
"But she wasn't just your stalker. She was also a danger to our plans."
"What do you mean?"
Siddhi's fingers paused over the keyboard for a moment as everyone listened carefully.
"She got to know about our plans. Kabhi bhi jaakar media ya police ko inform kar deti toh?"
(What if she had gone to the media or the police?)
"I can't take such a huge risk because this plan belongs to me just as much as it belongs to you."
Her tone remained relaxed.
"Aur jo bhi iske beech mein aayega, uska bhi yahi haal hoga."
(And anyone who comes between it will meet the same fate.)
"Toh tumhe kya lagta hai? Main usse yun hi chhod deta?"
(What do you think? I would've let her go just like that?)
"This plan is just as important to me as it is to you."
A brief silence followed.
"This time, I'm letting it go."
"But don't do this again."
My voice turned slightly colder.
"That's not a request. Remember that."
"Ab itna gussa kyun ho rahe ho tum uss ladki ke liye? Main karun ya tum karo, baat toh ek hi hai."
(Why are you getting so angry over that girl? Whether I do it or you do it, the result is the same.)
"Still, I'm telling you again."
"I don't like anyone interfering in my work."
"Okay."
She laughed softly.
"I won't do it again. Happy?"
Then suddenly, something crossed my mind.
"And one more thing."
"Hmm?"
"You killed her, that's fine."
I frowned slightly.
"But what were those white roses scattered around her dead body for?"
For a few seconds, she remained silent.
Then she laughed.
"Nothing. They were lying nearby, so I used them."
A brief pause followed.
"Looked nice, didn't it?"
A confused look appeared on Siddhi's face, but she remained silent.
Mallika laughed softly again.
"Waise bhi, kabr par phool toh chadhate hi hain na? Toh wahi samajh lo maine bhi kuch chadha diye."
(After all, flowers are offered at graves, aren't they? Just assume I offered some too.)
"Aur waise bhi, bahut simple tareeke se maarna mujhe pasand nahi hai."
(Besides, I don't like killing people in a simple way.)
"That's not Black Rose style."
"And people should know the consequences of crossing me, shouldn't they?"
For a moment, I remained silent.
There it was again.
That feeling.
Sometimes, while talking to her, I felt like she was saying one thing but meaning something completely different.
"Anyway."
I leaned back against the sofa.
"Why did you call me?"
"To know when you'll complete your part of the work."
She replied immediately.
"You said that man would reach me by tomorrow, but I don't see him here."
A small smirk appeared on my face.
"If I have said something, Black Rose, then it will happen."
"I don't make false promises."
"And don't forget, there is still one day left."
"Okay."
She laughed softly.
"Let's see."
The call disconnected.
For a few seconds, nobody said anything.
Siddhi was the first one to break the silence.
"She's weird."
"That's one way to describe her," Raghav muttered.
I didn't say anything.
........
Author's POV
In a house far away from the city, inside a room that looked more like a private office, a woman sat on a chair with a satellite phone still in her hand while her assistant stood nearby.
As soon as the call ended, she placed the phone on the table and slowly walked towards the wall.
A large photo frame hung there.
Stopping in front of it, she gently ran her fingers across the frame before smiling.
"I'm sorry, my love."
Her voice softened.
"Mujhe tumse chhota sa jhoot bolna pada."
(I had to tell a small lie to you.)
A small laugh escaped her lips.
"Usse toh kuch bhi pata nahi tha humare plan ke baare mein."
(She knew nothing about our plan.)
"Par usko uski galti ki saza toh milni hi thi."
(But she still had to be punished for her mistake.)
Her gaze remained fixed on the photograph.
"Aakhir usne meri Mallika Mirza ke pyaar par nazar daali thi."
(After all, she dared to set her eyes on Mallika Mirza's love.)
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"Tum sirf mere ho, Suryansh."
(You belong only to me, Suryansh.)
"Sirf mere."
(Only mine.)
"Kisi ko itni ijaazat bhi nahi hai ki woh tumhare baare mein soche bhi."
(No one even has the right to think about you.)
"Phir woh Ruhi..."
At the mention of her name, she shook her head.
"Woh toh tumhe love letters aur tumhare favourite white roses bhej rahi thi."
(She was sending you love letters and your favourite white roses.)
"Usse apni hadd nahi paar karni chahiye thi."
(She shouldn't have crossed her limits.)
"Dekha na kya anjaam hua uska?"
(You saw what happened to her, didn't you?)
She pouted slightly as if genuinely disappointed by Ruhi's actions.
Behind her, the assistant shifted uncomfortably.
"Mam... par agar unhe pata chal gaya ki jo last letter bheja tha woh uss Ruhi ne nahi, aapne bheja tha toh?"
(Ma'am... but what if they find out that the last letter wasn't sent by Ruhi, but by you?)
The smile instantly disappeared from her face.
Slowly, she turned around.
The assistant immediately lowered his gaze.
Within seconds, she grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against the wall.
His eyes widened in fear.
"Kaun batayega?"
(Who will tell them?)
Her grip tightened.
"Tum?"
(You?)
"Mere alawa sirf tumhe pata hai."
(You're the only one who knows besides me.)
She tilted her head slightly.
"Toh lagta hai tumhara bhi kuch karna padega... hmm?"
(Then it seems I'll have to deal with you too... hmm?)
The assistant's face turned pale.
"N-Nahi, Mam..."
He struggled to breathe.
"Main kuch nahi bataunga."
(I won't tell anyone anything.)
"Nahi, Mam. Main nahi bataunga."
(No, Ma'am. I won't tell anyone.)
"Main toh aapka wafadaar hoon."
(I'm loyal to you.)
"Main kaise bata sakta hoon?"
(How can I tell anyone?)
For a few more seconds, she kept staring at him.
Then she finally loosened her grip.
The man immediately took a deep breath.
"Yaad rakhna."
(Remember this.)
"Mallika ko dhokha dene wale log pasand nahi hain."
(Mallika doesn't like people who betray her.)
......
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And finally... we got our first proper glimpse of Mallika. ๐๐น
So tell me...
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โฅ Did Mallika's obsession surprise you or had you already guessed something was wrong? ๐
โฅ And most importantly... what do you think will happen when Suryansh eventually learns the truth?
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