The soft Delhi breeze played with the edges of Maahika's saree as she stepped onto the sun-drenched terrace with Kanishq. Bougainvillea vines climbed lazily along the railings, their blossoms swaying gently as the city murmured below.
For a brief moment, neither of them said a word. But the silence wasn't heavy—it was warm, tinged with the familiarity of shared memories.
Kanishq leaned casually against the railing, his eyes studying her with quiet curiosity.
"You haven't changed much," he said with a soft smile. "Still quiet… but your eyes say everything."
Maahika smiled faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"And you? Still confident... and still that effortless charm."
He laughed. "Only on weekends... and arranged marriage interviews."
They both chuckled, and the nervousness between them seemed to melt into the breeze.
"I honestly never imagined running into you like this," Maahika said, her voice dipping into something more sincere. "Last I heard from Naira—your sister—you'd gone abroad after school."
Kanishq nodded. "Yeah, you and Naira were inseparable in those days. I did move abroad... finished my college and MBA in London, worked a bit in Singapore. But I'm back for good now. Settled here. Took over a big part of the family business."
Maahika nodded, a genuine smile blooming across her face.
"That's really great to hear, Kanishq."
He tilted his head slightly, eyes softening. "And you? Dr. Maahika Chhabra—cardiologist, right?"
She smiled, "Yes. Long nights, difficult patients… the usual chaos."
He looked at her, quiet for a beat. "You always were someone who cared too deeply."
She looked away, heart skipping a little.
Before she could respond, her smartwatch vibrated again.
"Location confirmed. 3 PM. Parking Lot – Lodhi Art District. Come alone. – B."
Her smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly masked it.
"Everything okay?" Kanishq asked, noticing the change in her expression.
Maahika nodded, regaining her composure. "Yeah, just hospital stuff. Comes with the job."
He didn't push. Instead, he smiled again, more thoughtfully this time.
"You know... I'm glad it's you. I've met a few people, but this—this feels different."
Maahika's eyes met his.
"Yeah... different."
But in the back of her mind, something stirred—a feeling she couldn't name.
Because no matter how gentle this moment was… her other life was waiting. And so was Kabir.
Maahika glanced sideways at him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"So… what do you think?"
Kanishq smiled, eyes twinkling. "About this?"
He paused, letting the air between them linger just a second longer.
"Let's give it a try."
Maahika's heart fluttered—just for a moment. She looked down, hiding a shy smile that tugged at her lips.
Neither of them said it out loud, but they both knew.
This wasn't just politeness. This wasn't just another arranged meeting.
They'd both carried this quiet affection for years—buried under life, distance, and hesitation. And now, somehow, fate had pulled them into the same orbit again.
"Well," she said softly, teasing just a little, "as long as you don't run away mid-conversation like you did in 12th grade…"
He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey—I had my reasons. Mostly fear. You were intimidating back then."
"You mean intelligent," she corrected him and laughed.
"Exactly that," he grinned.
Just then, her phone buzzed again—another coded reminder of the 3 PM rendezvous.
She stole a glance at her watch.
Time was slipping.
"Listen," she said gently, "I have a hospital shift this afternoon. Emergency consult. But… it was really nice seeing you again."
Kanishq nodded. "Same here. Maybe dinner sometime?"
"Sure," she said, her smile lingering. "Let's… take it slow."
He gave a small nod, stepping back. "Slow works for me."
As Maahika walked him back downstairs, her heart still warm, her mind was already shifting gears.
Because beneath the soft saree and innocent glances… was a woman ready to step into a shadowy parking lot in two hours, to face a threat from her past.
As the families gathered back in the living room, sharing light snacks and laughter, Maahika stepped in, phone in hand, her expression composed but alert.
"Sorry, everyone," she said politely. "I have to leave—an emergency came up at the hospital."
Mrs. Chhabra looked up from her conversation with Mrs. Ranawat, a mix of concern and pride in her eyes.
"Okay, beta. Take care. Let me know if you'll be late."
Maahika gave her a quick nod, then glanced at Kanishq, offering a small, meaningful smile.
"Let's catch up soon?"
He returned the smile, soft and knowing.
"Looking forward to it."
Within minutes, she was out the door, keys in hand, slipping into her car with a grace that masked the shift happening beneath the surface.
The moment she shut the door, her fingers flew across the dashboard panel. A hidden compartment popped open, revealing a sleek black pouch. Inside: a small-caliber pistol, a comms device, and a foldable tactical knife—each piece familiar, each one deadly in the right hands.
She changed in the backseat—from delicate saree to tactical black jeans, boots, and a denim jacket. She tied her hair up into a clean ponytail, clipped in her earpiece, and adjusted her smartwatch.
A final glance in the rearview mirror.
Dr. Maahika Chhabra was gone.
Agent Pulse was back.
3:02 PM – Lodhi Art District, Delhi
Golden sunlight streamed through the colourful, graffiti-covered alleyways as Maahika parked her car two blocks away from the designated location. She moved swiftly but subtly, her footsteps quiet, eyes sharp—just another face in the bustling Sunday crowd.
The parking lot itself was almost deserted. A single motorcycle stood near the edge, a rusted van rested in the shadows, and the rest was silence—except for her team.
Saanvi leaned casually against her red sedan, lazily chewing gum, arms crossed.
Antra sat on the hood, eyes glued to the screen of her modified tablet, fingers moving with calculated precision.
Naira paced along the far end, eyes constantly scanning, mind already working in overdrive.
As Maahika approached, Saanvi gave her a mischievous look.
"Well? How was the shaadi interview, Doctor Danger?"
Maahika allowed a small smirk. She glanced at Naira, her voice calm but deliberate.
"It was with your brother."
Naira froze mid-step. "Wait—what?"
Maahika shrugged playfully. "We'll talk about that later. First things first—Mr. Budge called an emergency meet. Something's up."
Immediately, the teasing vanished.
Antra slid off the hood, setting her tablet aside.
"Emergency? He didn't say anything in the last ping except to be here by 3."
Naira joined them, her expression turning serious.
"If Budge sounded urgent, it's not good."
The team closed ranks, forming a loose circle, scanning the lot out of habit.
Suddenly, a sleek black car turned the corner and pulled into the far end of the parking lot—slower than normal. Its tinted windows glinted under the sun.
Saanvi squinted.
"That's not Budge's usual car…"
The engine cut. Silence.
Then—the driver's window rolled down.
Maahika's breath caught.
A familiar face leaned slightly forward from the shadows of the driver's seat, a cold smirk playing on his lips.
Kabir Malhotra.
Alive.
And watching them.
Maahika's phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the caller ID—and felt a cold wave rush down her spine.
Kabir.
She answered without hesitation, voice flat, emotionless.
Kabir:"Hi, Agent Pulse. Long-time no see."
Her heart skipped a beat, but her face stayed calm—trained, unreadable.
Maahika (coolly): "You should've stayed dead."
Kabir (light chuckle):"Ah, but where's the thrill in that? You know me—I hate unfinished stories."
Just a few feet away, the girls noticed her shift.
Naira narrowed her eyes and mouthed silently: Kabir?
Maahika gave a subtle nod, not breaking eye contact with the horizon.
Kabir (continuing):"By the way, nice saree this morning. That soft blue? Elegant. But I've always thought black suits you better… you know—your real color."
Maahika's grip tightened.
Maahika: "Shut up, Kabir."
Kabir (mocking):"And the guy… what was his name? Oh right—Kanishq. Tall. Smiles a lot. You were blushing like a college girl."
Maahika: "That's none of your business."
Kabir (dangerously soft):"Oh but see, it became my business when I found out he's one of India's top industrialists. Would be tragic if he became a former industrialist, don't you think?"
Her voice dropped, cold and sharp.
Maahika: "Don't you dare touch him."
The line went dead.
She lowered the phone, fury barely contained beneath her calm exterior.
Maahika: "Naira—boost security around Kanishq. Immediately."
Naira: "On it. I'll activate two shadows and trace Kabir's location from that call ping."
She pulled out her phone, fingers flying across encrypted channels.
Saanvi: "You think Kabir's targeting him to get to you?"
Maahika: "He doesn't care about Kanishq. He just wants to rattle me. But we're not giving him that satisfaction."
Antra (checking tablet): "Budge is still MIA. No trace on his tracker. This might've been a decoy all along."
Maahika: "It was. Kabir wanted us here… distracted."
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the lot again.
Maahika: "Everyone—lock in. We're not walking into a trap. We end it."
The girls exchanged a single glance.
Time to switch from defense to hunt.
Location: Kanishq's Corporate Tower – Connaught Place, Delhi
Inside the towering glass-and-steel structure, Kanishq stood near the massive window of his 32nd-floor office, gaze fixed on the street below. Two armed security guards moved swiftly through the lobby, taking up discreet positions. Another team shadowed the elevators with trained precision.
He turned sharply, brows drawing together.
Kanishq: "What's going on with all this security? I didn't authorize a high-alert protocol."
His personal assistant, Neelam, glanced up from her tablet, clearly trying to maintain her calm.
Neelam: "Your sister's orders, sir. Ms. Naira said it was urgent. She insisted it wasn't up for discussion."
Kanishq crossed his arms, processing.
Kanishq: "Naira doesn't act on impulse. If she's moved chess pieces this fast, something's definitely wrong."
Neelam (softly): "She didn't share any details—just said it was for your safety."
He pulled out his phone and dialed Naira's number.
Straight to voicemail.
Frowned.
He dialed again.
Still nothing.
Lowering the phone, his jaw tensed. His mind began stringing together small but telling details—the intense look Maahika gave him before she left. The odd calm in her voice. And now this sudden storm of protection.
His gaze darkened.
He turned toward the side wall of his office, tapped a hidden panel behind a bookshelf, and a sleek fingerprint scanner lit up. He placed his thumb on it. The panel slid open, revealing a small secure comms console and a matte black tablet.
He picked up the device and, with a single encrypted code, the screen glowed to life.
Kanishq (to himself): "If Naira's involved… and Maahika's rattled... then this isn't just corporate politics."
He opened a private encrypted chat marked OP: KARMA and typed quickly.
Activate Tier-2 assets. Full surveillance perimeter. Eyes on Chhabra family and all known Naira affiliates.
A voice buzzed into his earpiece within seconds.
Voice: "Orders received, Kaiser. Asset grid mobilized."
Because Kanishq Singh Ranawat wasn't just an industrialist.
He was Delhi's cleanest-faced kingpin—a silent ruler of the underworld with an empire built on shadows, sealed behind boardroom smiles.
And though he trusted Naira with his life…
He wasn't going to sit this one out.
Not when Maahika might be in danger.
Not when ghosts like Kabir Malhotra were back on the board.
Location: Lodhi Art District – Temporary Safe Zone
Maahika stood by the rusted van, arms folded, eyes narrowed, as Naira's tech crackled to life.
Naira: "Kanishq's building just deployed private-tier defense. Non-government. Heavy surveillance just activated across Connaught Place."
Antra (frowning): "Wait… Naira, are those your protocols?"
Naira (confused): "No. That's not me. I didn't send Tier-2 surveillance."
Maahika's brows pulled together. "Then who the hell did?"
Saanvi glanced between them. "You don't think…?"
Maahika's pulse quickened. A possibility she hadn't considered was now staring her in the face.
Maahika (quietly): "What if he's not as normal as he looks?"
Location: Back Alley – 3:27 PM
Naira's tablet pinged again.
Naira: "He's pinging Maahika's last known location… He's tracing you."
Saanvi (wide-eyed): "Okay, either your almost fiancé is the clingiest man on earth—or he's something else."
Antra (calmly): "I'd bet on something else."
Maahika didn't say a word. But deep down, her instincts were already drawing the outlines.
She pulled out her phone and dialed him.
He picked up in one ring.
Kanishq: "Took you long enough."
Maahika (directly): "Who are you really?"
A pause.
Kanishq: "The same question I was about to ask you."
Silence crackled across the line. A thousand truths hung unsaid between them.
Kanishq (calmly): "Let's stop pretending. Come to the penthouse. Now."
Maahika: "Fine. But if this is a trap…"
Kanishq: "It isn't. But if you bring backup—bring only those you trust with your life."
He hung up.
Maahika looked at the girls.
Maahika: "He knows. And I think… he's one of us. Or something close."
Naira: "Want us with you?"
Maahika nodded once. "We go together."
Maahika lowered the phone slowly, eyes narrowing in thought. Then she turned to the team.
Maahika: "He knows. Not everything… but enough. And I think—he might be one of us. Or something close."
Naira (already moving): "You want backup?"
Maahika (nodding once): "We go together. Silent mode, tactical gear in the car. If this turns sideways, we're not walking in blind."
Saanvi (grinning as she popped her gum): "Finally. A rishta meeting with guns and encrypted comms. My kind of romance."
Antra (slinging her bag over her shoulder): "Let's just hope the groom doesn't turn out to be the final boss."
They moved like clockwork—no hesitation, no panic. Just the quiet, trained efficiency of women who lived double lives.
Because now, two secrets were about to collide in one penthouse.
And only the truth would survive.