NIYA'S POV:-
It had been four long months since my mother had disappeared without a trace. Every day had been a struggle, and each attempt to reach her had failed.
I sat at the kitchen table, sipping my tea and staring out the window, hoping she would return home. I picked up my phone and dialed her number, but it rang endlessly without answer.
"Mom, please pick up," I whispered, my voice filled with desperation.
But just like every other time, there was no answer. I sighed and got up, feeling hopeless and helpless. I had a training session scheduled for the day, so I quickly got dressed and left the house. Before closing the door, I double-checked the lock to ensure everything was secure.
As I arrived at the Colonel's office, I was greeted by a warm smile and friendly faces. The Colonel had been my mentor for a few years now, and he had always been tough on me during training. He believed in pushing me to my limits.
When I arrived at the Colonel's office, I was greeted by a warm smile and friendly faces. "Niya," the Colonel said, his voice deep and commanding.
"Colonel," I replied with a nod.
Colonel had always been tough on me during training, never allowing me to rest until it was absolutely necessary. But I knew he had my best interests at heart and wanted me to become the best version of myself.
He wasted no time and got straight to business. "Niya, today we're going to focus on close-quarter combat," the Colonel said, his voice commanding.
I nodded, feeling a sense of dread inside me. Close-quarter combat was one of the toughest and most physically demanding aspects of training. It required immense strength, agility, and quick thinking.
The Colonel handed me a set of gloves and said, "Put these on. We're going to start with some sparring."
I put on the gloves and stepped into the sparring ring. The Colonel was already there, waiting for me. He raised his fists, signaling that the training had begun.
The first few minutes were brutal. The Colonel was relentless, throwing punches and kicks at me with lightning speed.
I did my best to dodge and counter, but his movements were too fast for me. I stumbled a few times, and the Colonel quickly took advantage of my weakness.
"Come on, Niya! You can do better than that!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the gym.
I gritted my teeth and pushed myself harder. I focused on the Colonel's movements, trying to anticipate his next move. Slowly but surely, I began to hold my ground.
The sparring session went on for what seemed like an eternity. My arms and legs ached, and sweat dripped down my face. But I refused to give up. I kept going, pushing myself to my limits.
Finally, the Colonel signaled the end of the session. I collapsed onto the mat, feeling exhausted but proud of myself for making it through.
"Good job, Niya," the Colonel said, his voice softer now. "You're getting better every day." I smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
******
I arrived at the base and quickly made my way to Bhatia's office, trying not to make eye contact with anyone on the way. Bhatia was waiting for me, looking stern as usual.
"Sir, did you call me?" I asked, standing at the doorway of the Colonel's office. He nodded, gesturing to me to come in and take a seat.
As soon as I sat down, he threw a thick file in front of me. I could feel its weight as I lifted it and opened it. The pages were filled with information about a girl named Khushi who was involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked, my forehead creasing in confusion.
"Go through it once," he replied, his eyes fixated on me as I scanned through the file.
"And Niya, you can go home for now," he added, noticing my continued perusal of the contents.
"Training? Or cooking?" I asked, wondering what my next task would be.
"Tomorrow you'll meet a few people, and further instructions will be given to you later," he replied, smiling faintly.
"Okay, see you tomorrow then," I said, grabbing the file and standing up to leave.
As I walked out of the office, I couldn't help but wonder what was in store for me. It had been a while since my last assignment, and I was both excited and nervous about what was to come.
I drove back to my apartment, feeling a sense of loneliness. I had been trying to contact my mother for a month, but she hadn't responded to any of my messages. I decided to distract myself by browsing through my WhatsApp statuses.
As I scrolled through the updates, I came across a photo of Daniel, my mother's best friend, and his three-year-old daughter. She was a beautiful child with bright, expressive eyes and curly hair. I smiled at the photo, wondering what it would be like to have a family like theirs.
With a sigh, I leaned back on the couch, my thoughts drifting back to my estranged relationship with my mother and my distant sister Riya. I wished things could be different between us, but I had to focus on my work.
My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I groaned as I picked up the call, only to hear Bhatia's angry voice booming through the speaker.
"Niya, you were supposed to be here two minutes ago," he scolded.
"Oh! I... I'm on my way," I mumbled, quickly gathering my senses.
"I want you in my office in 10 minutes," he instructed before hanging up.
I quickly jumped off the couch, my heart racing as I realized I was running late. I rushed to the bathroom and took a quick shower, then got dressed in record time.
I grabbed my car keys and hurriedly made my way out of the apartment, knowing that Bhatia wouldn't appreciate any further delays.
As I got into my car, my phone pinged with a notification of Rs. 50,000 being credited to my account. It was my monthly allowance from my mother, but I couldn't help feeling frustrated that she never called or texted me.
I threw my phone on the seat beside me and put the car into reverse, determined not to be late again.
When I walked into Colonel Bhatia's office, I could feel the tension in the air. He was sitting behind his desk, looking annoyed. "I'm sorry for being late," I said, trying to make an innocent face.
"Today, of all the days, you had to be late," he huffed, clearly irritated.
"I'm sorry," I sighed, knowing that there was no point in arguing with him.
"Fine, let's go," he said, grabbing his car keys and asking me to follow him.
As we drove, I asked him where we were going, but he remained tight-lipped. Instead, he asked me if I had gone through the file he had given me earlier.
"Yes, I did," I replied, wondering where this was going.
"You need to know one thing, Khushi," he said, his eyes scanning my face.
"My name is Niya," I reminded him, wondering why he had called me Khushi.
"I know, but from now on, you're Khushi," he said, his voice firm.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"Your mission starts today," he said, looking serious.
"But you said it was starting next year," I protested.
"It is, but from today, you'll be someone else. No matter how close you get to any of your teammates, you must never let them know who you really are," he said, his face devoid of emotion.
I was stunned. "Teammates? I'm not even trained," I said, my voice rising.
"You're perfectly trained for now," he said, as if that settled it.
I got out of the car and followed Colonel Bhatia through an empty corridor. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, and I hit my head on his back. "Agrrr," I groaned, rubbing my forehead.
When I looked up, I saw four people on the ground - three boys and a girl. But something else caught my eye. "Uncle!" I yelled, running towards the man who was standing nearby.
It was Rohit uncle, Monica's father and my NCC trainer. He had always been like a father to me - supportive and caring. I rushed into his arms, and he held me tightly. "Oh!! my dear," he said, smiling.
I felt a sense of relief flood through me as I hugged him. For a moment, I forgot about Colonel Bhatia and my mysterious mission. It was good to see a familiar face in this strange, new world.
I broke the hug with Uncle Rohit and turned my gaze towards the four individuals who were now standing in front of me. They were all looking at me with curiosity and amusement, I couldn't help but notice their unique features.
The first boy had light brown eyes that sparkled in the dimly lit hallway, and his face was a perfect square shape with sharp cheekbones. His hair was spiked up in a trendy style, giving him a stylish yet edgy look.
The second boy, had dark brown eyes that held a certain intensity. He had a round face with an edge-cutting jawline, which gave him a rugged and handsome look. His hair was short, neat and well styled.
The third boy had striking blue eyes that stood out against his olive skin. He had an oblong face, perfectly groomed stubble, and a lean, muscular build, made him look like a model straight out of a magazine.
And, damn, that body of his was definitely worth a second glance. His demeanor was confident and relaxed, but there was a hint of mischief in his gaze.
Finally, the girl stood out, she had striking brown and yellow tinted eyes, which made her look exotic. Her long black hair was neatly tied in a ponytail. She had a petite yet athletic build and carried herself with poise and confidence.
As I took in their appearances, I couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by their good looks. They all seemed to snicker at my reaction, which made me feel a bit self-conscious.
"Wait, did I say it out loud?" I placed my hand over my mouth, embarrassed at my slip-up.
"Yes, you did," they laughed.
"N...Khushi, these are your teammates," Uncle cleared his throat and gestured towards the group.
"Hi, I'm Arjun," said the blue-eyed guy with a friendly smile.
"Hi, I'm Karan," said the spiked hair guy with a playful grin.
"Hi, I'm Khush," said the rugged-looking guy with a serious expression.
"Hi, I'm Bethelda. You can call me Betty," said the only girl in the group with a warm smile.
"Hi, I'm Khushi," I said, smiling at them, although I couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed by their impressive appearances.
"So I guess you all know why you're here," said Colonel Bhatia, bringing my attention back to the matter at hand.
"Yes, sir," we all replied in unison.
"Your training starts today. I want everyone to follow a strict diet and involve yourselves in gangsters and illegal work. However, it should just be a facade and not the reality. If I find anyone seriously getting into it, the consequences won't be pleasant," Colonel Bhatia warned, giving us a stern look.
"I won't," I assured him, raising my hand to show my commitment.
"Khushi, you're the youngest person among your teammates," Uncle Rohit said, looking at me with a hint of concern.
"How old is she?" Betty asked curiously.
"18," I replied, and all four sets of eyes widened in surprise.
"How old are you guys?" I asked, curious to know more about my teammates.
"The boys are 22, and Betty is 21," Uncle Rohit replied.
"Isn't she too young for this?" Arjun asked, looking at Colonel Bhatia with a concerned expression.
"She is, but she's strong and intelligent, and she's been trained by me and Colonel Bhatia," Uncle Rohit explained, giving me an encouraging smile.
"Ohh," Betty nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer.
"So let's start your training now. From tomorrow, you'll have a new trainer," Colonel Bhatia declared, and we all nodded in agreement.
*** 7 months later***
I tackled Arjun to the ground, feeling my muscles straining under the exertion. He laughed as I tried to pin him down, my heart fluttered as I felt Arjun's breath on my face. I bit her lower lip, trying to suppress my feelings for him.
"Damn, girl, you're getting stronger and wiser," he said, still laughing.
"You can say that again," I replied, grinning up at him.
"Khushi, you got distracted," he said, as he was quick and flipped me over. His blue eyes sparkling mischievously as he glanced from my eyes to my lips and back again.
"Did I?" I asked, biting my lower lip playfully.
But before he could respond, I quickly flipped him over and strangled him in a playful chokehold. "You got distracted, Arjun. Not good," I said, smirking.
"Shit!" he breathed out, clearly caught off guard.
Arjun's gaze shifted from my eyes to my lips and then back up again. I felt a surge of excitement and nervousness. Before things could get too intense, Khush interrupted our moment.
"God, cut the tension already," Khush yelled from the sidelines.
"What tension?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him as I got up and dusted off my trousers.
"You guys are so obvious. Cut the tension already," he chuckled. I threw my water bottle in his direction and he ducked, laughing as he took off running.
I chased after Khush, my feet pounding the pavement as I raced to catch him. He was the fastest among us all, but I was determined to catch him.
As we ran, my heart fluttered in my chest as I caught glimpses of Arjun laughing on the sidelines. I couldn't help but wonder if I had started to develop feelings for him.
But our fun was cut short when we heard Colonel Bhatia's voice booming across the training ground, followed by the arrival of our new trainer, Mr. Romanio D'Souza.
"OK, kids, form a line," he yelled.
"I want you guys to make important decisions now," Mr. D'Souza said, scanning the group.
"About what?" we all asked in unison.
"Choose a captain for yourselves," Colonel Bhatia spoke sternly.
"What?" I was stunned, and I knew everyone else was, too.
"You all heard me loud and clear," Colonel Bhatia said, narrowing his eyes at me.
"But that's impossible," I protested. "We all have different strengths and we're all good at different things. It's impossible to choose just one person to lead us."
"Choose someone who's good in all sectors and let us know by tomorrow," Colonel Bhatia ordered before walking away, leaving all five of us in shock.
"This is not acceptable," I groaned in frustration.
"Khushi, don't stress yourself," Betty said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"But I don't want this to create a rift among us," I said, looking at everyone. "We all have each other and I don't want to lose the only family I have now."
My mother was nowhere to be found, and even her office didn't know where she was. I couldn't help but wonder why these kinds of situations always seemed to happen to me.
"I choose Karan as our captain," I said as everyone looked at me expectantly.
"I choose Khushi," Arjun said, turning to face me.
"I'm with Arjun," Betty chimed in. I knew Betty had a soft spot for Arjun, and it wasn't a surprise to hear her choose him.
"I'm not sure," Karan said, scratching his head. "I think both Khushi and Arjun would make great captains."
"I too choose Khushi," he said, finally making a decision.
"Guys, I really don't think I'm cut out for this," I said, feeling the weight of the responsibility.
"You're more than capable, Khushi," Arjun said, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"He's right. You're smart, strong, and you've got great leadership qualities," Betty added.
I looked at them, feeling a mix of emotions. It was both flattering and daunting to be chosen as their captain.
"I'll do it," I said, finally making up my mind.
"Great!" Khush exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air.
"Let's get to work then," Arjun said, flashing me a smile.
I nodded, feeling grateful for their support. As we walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with nerves about what was to come.
"I'm proud of you, Khushi," Arjun whispered in my ear as we walked, causing a shiver to run down my spine.
"Thanks," I replied, trying to hide the blush that crept onto my face.
The tension between Arjun and me had been building up for weeks now. We had become close during our training sessions and I couldn't deny the attraction I felt towards him. But I was hesitant to act on it, not wanting to ruin our friendship.
As we reached the training ground, I took a deep breath and stepped forward as our new captain. I could feel the weight of everyone's expectations on my shoulders, but I was determined to prove myself.
"Alright team, let's get to work," I said, and we all started our training drills.
Arjun and I were paired together for a sparring session. I could feel his eyes on me as we fought, and I knew he was holding back. I wanted to prove to him that I was capable, but it seemed like he didn't think I was strong enough.
"Come on, Arjun. Show me what you've got," I taunted him.
He smirked and lunged at me, catching me off guard. I stumbled backwards and he pinned me to the ground.
"I win," he whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.
I could feel my heart racing as he hovered over me, his eyes locked onto mine. The tension between us was palpable, and I didn't know how much longer I could resist him.
But just as quickly as it had started, Arjun got up and helped me to my feet. We continued our training session, but the tension between us lingered.
As the day came to a close, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something had shifted between us. I didn't know what it meant for our friendship, but I knew that I wanted more.
*** 2 months later***
Things escalated soon, from celebrating my 19th birthday to joining the Russian mafia.
Yes, we all joined the Russian mafia, this was our mission. Arjun and Betty were the first ones to join just after ten days of my birthday.
Next was Karan who joined the mafia as the explosive handler and handling weapons. Then Khush who turned into the informer for the mafia. We all were recruited by a mole in the Russian mafia. We never met that guy and where asked not to dig in that matter.
"Khushi" Mikhail called me out, I turned to look at him sitting on the desk given to me.
"Yes, how may I help you Mikhail" I smiled at the 25-year-old guy.
"Boss asked for you to look into this" he handed me the phone, I inspected it and nodded my head.
"Mikhail" I called him as he was walking out of the room.
"Yes," he spoke with his thick Russian accent.
"Why haven't I met the boss yet?" I was curious, one met the boss. His name is like forbidden fruit.
"No one here knows who's the boss, except for a few of us. Only family and close members know who the boss is" Mikhail spoke in a cold tone.
Great! So if I can't know his boss, then I can't get information about their Pakhan. The head of this mafia.
"Ohh! And what are you to the boss?"
"Curiosity kills the cat, Khushi" Mikhail's evil laughter filled the room.
"Anyways I'm his cousin"
"Ohh"
"Anything else?" He eyed me and I just smiled at him.
"Good then, just get any information you can retrieve from the broken phone, you have 3 hours" with that he slammed the door.
"Nice way to get caught and killed, Khushi" Khush laughed through the earpiece.
"Shut up khush" Arjun scolded him.
I removed the earpiece and started working on the phone, I found out it belonged to someone from France. There was a wired transaction from France to Italy. I retrieved some messages which were in codes. I saw a thing which was totally Weird!!
I walked through the hallway to find Mikhail, who was probably eating some girl's face. God! Seriously?
I cleared my throat to get their attention, "What?" Mikhail snapped his head in my direction.
"I figured out few things from this phone" I cleared my throat as he eyed me to continue. I looked at the figure seating beside him.
"Moya Lyubov," Mikhail gestured her for some privacy and she kissed him and walked outside the room.
"Spill it," he said in a cold tone which gave me a shiver down my spine not in a good way.
I told him everything except for one, yes the weird thing I saw. It can be an asset for us, so let's keep it a secret for now. After telling him everything and showing him the information he smiled.
I walked out of his room, to get into the Italian mafia's server. It's the hardest thing to do, their server is the hardest one to crack. With the upgraded firewall system, I must say their IT department is strong.
Let's get started with the work.
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Author's Note:-
Dear readers,
I just wanted to let you know that this chapter has been edited since its original posting.
I hope the changes have improved your reading experience and made the story more enjoyable.
As always, thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my work
If any mistakes please let me know
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