MAFIA'S OBSESSION

Part 01. Two Ends of Delhi.

A part of Delhi...

Even at the crack of dawn, the kitchen in that house was bustling with activity. 21-year-old Khushi, wiping the sweat trickling down her forehead with her dupatta, was busy preparing tea. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep. Since the car accident in her childhood that took her parents away, she had never known rest. The uncle who took her in on that dark day was her only solace. But even he could not provide her with complete peace.

"Hey, Khushi! Is the tea still not ready? Neha is getting ready for college... bring it quickly before I lose my temper!" Eswari shouted, standing at the kitchen entrance.

Eswari is the wife of Khushi’s uncle, and Neha is their daughter. Neither of them considers Khushi a human being. She is expected to do all the housework, and in return, she receives only insults and leftover food. Sometimes Dharmalingam wondered whether bringing Khushi into this house had truly saved her... or pushed her into another kind of suffering.

"Coming, Auntie..." Khushi said, fearful, as she picked up the tea cups.

In the living room sat Khushi’s uncle, Dharmalingam. When Khushi brought the tea, his heart melted at the sight of a small burn mark on her hand. He knew how Eswari and Neha treated her, but he felt helpless. They never listened to him; the power in the house rested entirely with Eswari.

"Khushi... how did you get that burn on your hand?" Dharmalingam asked softly.

"It’s nothing, Uncle... I accidentally burned it while cooking yesterday... It doesn't hurt at all" Khushi tried to brush it off.

"Don't act smart and try to gain sympathy, Khushi! Leave the tea and go iron Neha’s clothes this instant! Move it!" Eswari snapped.

Khushi bowed her head and went inside, her eyes welling up with tears, wondering if her life was destined to end this way.

Meanwhile... A grand mansion in Delhi...

The room was submerged in silence and authority. On the large LED screen on the wall, maps of Delhi and some classified information were scrolling.

Sitting in a luxury chair was he... ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA.

The entire underworld of Delhi trembled at his name. He was a massive Mafia Don. His dark eyes always held a ruthless coldness. Both the law and the police were in his pocket. The only languages he knew were power and destruction.

His right-hand man, Aman, entered the room and stood respectfully.

"ASR... a new local gang in Delhi’s West Zone market area is threatening our people and demanding protection money. They are trying to block our business," Aman reported.

A dangerous smile curled on Arnav’s lips.

"Who in Delhi dares to enter my fortress and oppose me? Get the car, Aman... Let us go there personally and show them who 'ASR' is," Arnav rose.

Arnav took the gun in his hand and tucked it behind his back before walking away from there. Aman and Arnav’s men followed closely behind him, trailing after him.

The West Zone market of Delhi was busy as usual. That afternoon, Khushi had come to the market to buy groceries based on a long list given by her aunt Eswari.

In her hands, she carried bags of vegetables and a small, pink-colored diary that was dearer to her than her own life. This was no ordinary diary; it was a gift from her parents. She wrote all her burdens, sorrows, and secrets in it. It was the only place in the world that felt safe to her and she carries it with her wherever she goes.

Khushi was walking quickly through the crowd, and the entire place suddenly came to a standstill.

"Hey... run! Run! ASR is coming... everyone cleared the way!" People screamed as they scrambled in terror.

Shop shutters were pulled down with loud clangs. The busy market street turned into a ghost town in seconds. Khushi, terrified, hid behind a large pillar.

Then, a line of black luxury cars arrived. He stepped out of the centre car... Arnav Singh Raizada.

His black sunglasses, expensive branded coat, and the command on his face made those around him tremble. Behind him stood his men with guns.

Arnav walked straight toward the leader of the local gang, who had caused trouble in their market. The man fell at Arnav’s feet, wailing.

"Please forgive me, Bhai... I didn't know what I was doing..."

Arnav took off his sunglasses and gave them to Aman. He grabbed the man by his collar and lifted him with one hand. His eyes were red with rage.

"You come into ASR’s territory and plot against me? No one should see you in Delhi ever again... understand?" With one blow, the man was sent flying across the road.

Khushi, watching Arnav’s aggressive mafia avatar for the first time, covered her mouth with her hands and trembled in fear.

"Aman... take him and his men to our place. I am heading to the office," Arnav said in a cold voice and walked toward his car.

Seeing him approach, Khushi tried to run away in fear. As she turned quickly, her vegetable bags and her precious diary fell to the ground.

Afraid that Arnav’s men would spot her, she didn't even stop to pick up the diary or vegetables and ran into the crowd to escape in fear.

As Arnav was about to open his car door, his expensive leather shoe stepped on something.

He looked down. A small, pink diary lay there. Amidst the bloodstains of the mafia world, that diary looked remarkably pure.

Arnav usually never bent down to pick up anything, but for some reason, the diary caught his attention. He picked it up. Opening the first page, he read the beautiful, jasmine-like handwriting:

"Even though my mom and dad have left me... I believe that someone, somewhere in this world, is born just for me... Someone who will protect me and show me what real affection feels like. — Khushi"

A strange feeling stirred in Arnav’s heart as he read those lines. For a split second, a softness appeared and vanished on the face of the man who always had a heart of stone.

"ASR... the car is ready," Aman said.

Arnav, closing the diary, tucked it safely into his coat pocket and he stepped into the car, his mind suddenly occupied by a girl he had never even seen.

Meanwhile, having run all the way back to her desolate room, Khushi slammed the door and searched her empty hands. The horrifying realisation hit her like a physical blow. Panic, Khushi realised her precious diary was gone.

"Oh no... my diary... the one Mom and Dad gave me is lost..." She sat in her room and wept bitterly.

To be continued...