The next day

Rajeev smiled widely upon receiving the text from his bestie stating his surprise visit to Mumbai.

He rushed to the Kumar residence to inform his uncle and plan for a grandeur party for the Lieutenant.

Ping!

‘…lets go for shopping…’ Ramya messaged him who tsked at the unwanted intrusion and replied her back saying that he had some pre planned engagement till evening.

Kumar residence

Mrunal agreed to leave for her course in Delhi, upon Deepika’s suggestion. As she felt that it would help her forget the one person once and for all.

“…Raj!!...you are a little late…anyways sigh…lets go to the garden area…” a scornful Arjun signalled him to follow him to plan for the party.

Deepika laughed loudly on the request from Rajeev for the prank that they were planning for Lieutenant, making Arjun irritated at his boyish smile for his wife. She moved out to prepare the line of dishes for the afternoon party.

“…” Arjun saw the way Rajeev was scanning the area looking here and there, making him realise the unrest. Arjun didn’t want his daughter to have any interaction with the boy. So…

“…Raj…lets go the market to get the supplies…hm?” Arjun then took out his car keys from his kurta pocket handing them to the boy who was still searching the premises with his waiting eyes to catch a glimpse of her serene eyes.

But she didn’t even bring his favourite cookies – as usual.

As he took the car out, he saw the sight which he had wished. Mrunal came out to water the plants in the front porch with a sad look.

It hurt him to see her gloomy face and asked Arjun who followed his gaze.

He contemplated on what possible reply could he give him and answered that she was tensed with the exam results.

“…Uncle!...she is an ace…getting first class is like a cakewalk for her…*tsk*…don’t worry…I will talk to her…hm?” pacifying the father, Rajeev took the car to the market for the supplies. Arjun could only hum in agreeing the clueless man about his crush’s first heartbreak.

Pomp!

Dhiraj was taken aback by the sudden burst of the confetti on his broad self. And felt the warm hug of his bestie after 2 long years, making him smile.

“…Dude!!…you are buffed up like hell!!!...” Rajeev was not able to contain himself and saw the way his ‘Buji’ came to have a soft hug from her brother.

As the family and friend sat to have their lunch, Rajeev was conversing and laughing loudly at the camp stories being narrated by his bestie.

It didn’t go unnoticed by him the way Mrunal was silently serving the food, avoiding him.

He seriously thought to cheer her up and let go of her unnecessary tension for a measly exam results. But whenever, he would approach her to talk; there would be some or the other interruptions. And at times, she would just move away from his even shadow; disheartening him.

Ring! Ring!

Rajeev hummed in response at the person on the other side of the phone.

Arjun told him that he would expect him for the dinner, to which Rajeev replied that he was supposed to travel at night to Goa for official purpose.

Dhiraj eyed him at the words nodding slowly. Both the besties moved out to reach the car.

“..So, the felines are out…I guess…” Dhiraj asked to which Rajeev looked back at the house replying

“…its code red…”

Dhiraj suddenly had the scared look on his face, glancing back at his house and asked gulping

“…the Papi…has it?…” Rajeev nodded at his next question, understanding the fear in the eyes of the Soldier.

“…I think then you should not visit us anymore…at least till the time…I am here…you know, since…the hyenas will be on the lookout…” Dhiraj gave out his contribution of the mission but with caution to not involve the family.

Rajeev agreed and hugged his bestie one last time before the mission could start off full-fledge.

Once it does – no family, no friends…just men in defence mode…to protect and kill…

Menon residence

Sanal and Prisha reached home with the twins on each of their arms.

The maid came to help them out with the luggage and arrange them in their room.

It was almost midnight, with the other members deep in their slumber.

Sanal covered the twins with the duvet and caressed their hair. The twins had fallen asleep on the way from the Nair residence to home.

Prisha got the message from the String-Breaker and smiled at the way the Capo was diligently doing his work with no complain.

She went to take her night clothes to have a warm bath and sleep off. Sanal back hugged her, hearing her sweet giggles and moved to the washroom to have their hot shower.

Inside the train berth, Rajeev smiled at the way his babygirl was able to lie on his face so effortlessly.

She had grown up so much from the last time he realised. The way she was able to hide her tears and love for him even after knowing that he would never be hers.

Was it because he was engaged?

Or was it that he didn’t have the same intense feeling as hers?

What is going on in your head, Mr. Rajeev?

He had received the photo and video clip of the scene post the community program by the Nibbler revealing the real face of her fiancé who was shamelessly making out with the caterer boy. It was an unfortunate event wherein the caterers wore the similar dressing of white shirt with jeans as Rajeev, making it even more difficult for him to convince his Buji.

Rajeev could then decipher on the sudden behaviour of his ‘Buji’ towards him, making him rush to the Kumar residence to explain his absence from the said disgusting act. But what Mrunal told and expressed to him, made him wonder on the way the fine lady was able to side line her feelings so beautifully.

He closed his eyes to sleep till the destination would arrive to wake up the String-Breaker to follow the Delhi mission, albeit followed by the Goa trial.

The Jokester was sitting in the next berth to avoid the suspicion among their enemies, who were closely following them.

Flashback

3 hours to midnight

Kumar residence

splash, splash

She moved her legs over the pool water, reflecting on the turn of events that would probably float her away from him.

But why did he kiss her and why did she slap him for that?

Weren’t they engaged?

Then why the diffident?

She sighed and thought to just not let her mind whirl around him anymore. He was taken, not hers anymore.

But when was he?

He didn’t even realise her existence in his vicinity?

Ping!

Dhiraj creased his brows at the message while sipping his wine on the couch. He tsked at his restlessness. Vinay warned him about his son’s possessiveness, which was building up ever since the program.

Arjun will have a field trip at the knowledge of his pampered daughter being whooshed away from her feet by his arch enemies handsome hunk of musician son. Not to forget an engaged son.

But Dhiraj had heard his confession and the way he convinced him at the bar when they had their ‘talk’ about the matters in hand with the ‘Tigris’ and ‘Panthera’ being under the scanner of the authorities.

But before the Scillian mob could cower the land with their bloodshed, it was the duo feline team that rescued the mission with their expert team and group of assassins, before the hyenas (as teasingly named by Dino) of the police force.

In all this, Prisha told Dhiraj about the Loverboy and suggested to give him time alongwith trust on his technique of approaching his ladylove.

As he shut the internet power down alongwith the radio signals being jammed by the blockers, he went to his mom’s room.

Deepika was worried for her daughter but trusted Reena and Sharanya about the knowledge given by them about the actuality of the program during their mall visit.

Dhiraj checked the house for any frequency which can be captured by the intruders and signalled him through the window to enter their residential space, who was standing near the front gate.

Knock! knock!

“…where is she?!...” a panting Rajeev asked Dhiraj who pressed his lips gesturing the pool area.

As Rajeev rushed past Deepika who adjusted her glasses at the naïve boy who was hurrying as if to get a pat from his mentor.

“…I am not liking how this will end…” she then glanced at Dhiraj who held her shoulders in a caring manner replying

“…give him a chance Ma…maybe what Uncle said…”

“…even though…she is my daughter, Dhiraj…I worry for her…” Deepika sighed cutting his words and told him to keep a watch on the couple to not let them linger away with their new feelings.

Dhiraj chuckled at her words who smacked his buff arms at the audacity of not taking her seriously.

Flashback ends

For few days, Dhiraj was able to cheer up the Kumar family with his small trip to the mall or park. His mother was the happiest who could finally spend some quality time with her first born.

Dhiraj used to help his mother in the dance class to arrange the instruments. He also suggested to reorganise the class for more artistic feel from the existing dull looking dance class.

Mrunal was able to feel joyful again with her brother who would always make her laugh, cry, scream with anger at his mischief…alike. Arjun was content that at least his ‘Buji’ would be able to forget the one person.

After Dhiraj told Rajeev to not visit him, Arjun was happy with the way Mrunal was able to come out of her heartbreak.

It was still a secret between Arjun and Mrunal not let the other family members to tense up. But he couldn’t hide it from Sonia who asked him during one of her visit to his centre.

So, he could only find the solace in his bestie Sonia’s words, who told him to not lose hope. At times, he would have a chat with her on the phone whenever he would witness the sad face of his ‘Buji’ to get the calming words from Sonia.

Even Vinay called him up to suggest for accepting the akademi proposal and give her own space in a new place and new atmosphere.

After a week

At the airport

Dhiraj hugged his sister the longest hearing her sweet sniffles wetting his blue shirt.

Sonia was tearing up at the bonding between the siblings and looked at Dino who smiled equally.

Vinay then hugged his ‘Buji’ advising “…don’t you dare cry anymore after reaching the akademi, hm?...call me for the least request, ok?...I am your Appa too, hm?...”

Mrunal teared up at the mention of the feelings that she had for the Nair and Menon family.

They had seen her grow right in front of their eyes and was like their own kid.

As Mrunal looked back while moving to the boarding area, she saw the way Rajeev smiled and waved bye to her.

She didn’t yet speak with him and only listened to his words advising her on the change of weather, place and food.

She took everything in her stride like a good student but couldn’t yet heal her broken heart.

But she knew this was the only way to heal it and maybe find the peace in the new place.