GURU

That night, Guru arrived at the location with his team—Kiara, Laksh, and Neil. The four of them stepped out of the car and immediately surveyed their surroundings.

The place was unusually quiet. Too quiet. Guru glanced toward the dark building ahead.

"Let's move."

They began walking forward, but before they could get far, several men emerged from the shadows. Laksh immediately stepped in front of Guru.

"Guru, you go ahead."

Kiara nodded, positioning herself beside Laksh.

"We'll handle them."

Guru looked at them for a moment before giving a slight nod.

"Don't take too long."

With that, Guru and Neil continued toward the building. The moment they disappeared into the darkness, the men surrounded Laksh and Kiara.

One of them lunged forward.

Kiara stepped aside effortlessly and caught his arm, using his momentum to send him stumbling away. Another man charged at Laksh.

Laksh blocked the attack and countered with a swift strike, forcing the man several steps backward. The others rushed toward them together.

Kiara exchanged a quick glance with Laksh. They didn't need words.They had worked together too many times.

Kiara moved first.Laksh followed. Every movement was precise, controlled, and practiced.

They fought like a team rather than two individuals—covering each other's blind spots and never allowing the men to surround them completely. One attacker tried to sneak up behind Kiara.

Laksh noticed immediately.

"Kiara!"

She ducked.

Laksh's strike stopped the attacker in his tracks. Kiara turned toward him with a faint smirk.

"Still watching my back?"

"Always."

Within moments, the men were forced to retreat. Laksh straightened his jacket and looked toward the building.

"Come on."

Kiara nodded.

"Guru must already be inside."

Meanwhile, further ahead... Guru and Neil continued walking through the darkness. Neither of them looked back.

Whatever waited inside that building... They were ready for it.

Neil stepped inside the building and immediately stopped. His eyes widened as he looked around.

The marble flooring gleamed beneath the dim lights. Expensive artwork covered the walls, and every corner of the enormous hall screamed wealth.

Neil slowly turned his head, taking in the lavish interiors.

"Guru..."

Guru continued walking without looking at him.

"How much does this man earn?"

Neil gestured toward the extravagant surroundings.

"He has so much money."

Guru finally glanced around the room. A cold, humourless smile touched his lips.

"Definitely."

He paused.

"By selling the organs of poor children..."

His expression hardened.

"...he earns very well."

Neil's face fell silent. The luxury around them suddenly didn't look beautiful anymore.

It looked disgusting. Every expensive piece of marble, every painting, every decoration seemed to carry the weight of someone's suffering.

Guru continued walking deeper into the building.

"Remember, Neil..."

His voice was low.

"Never judge a man's wealth by what he owns."

He glanced back at the magnificent hall.

"Sometimes, the more beautiful the house..."

His eyes turned cold.

"...the uglier the secret hiding inside it."

They continued deeper into the building, their footsteps echoing through the long corridor.

Neil noticed a door slightly ajar. He pushed it open.

"Guru..."

He looked inside and froze.Children were hiding in the room.

Some were huddled together in the corner, frightened and silent. Others looked up at them with wide, uncertain eyes.

Neil's expression softened.

"There they are."

He turned toward Guru.

"Finding them was easier than I thought."

Guru's eyes immediately narrowed.

"Neil, wait—"

But Neil had already stepped inside.He took two steps forward.

Suddenly—

A figure emerged from behind the door.A knife flashed in his hand.The man lunged straight toward Neil.

"NEIL!"

Guru reacted instantly.He grabbed Neil by the arm and yanked him backward.The blade sliced through the air where Neil's chest had been only a second earlier. Neil stumbled back, shocked.

The attacker immediately turned toward Guru.Guru's expression changed.The calmness disappeared from his face.

He stepped forward, placing himself between the attacker and the children.

"Wrong move."

The man tightened his grip on the knife.Guru's eyes remained fixed on him. Behind Guru, the frightened children huddled together.

Neil quickly moved toward them.

"Don't be scared," he whispered. "We're here to get you out."

Guru didn't take his eyes off the attacker.

"Neil.Get the children out."

Neil nodded.

He carefully began guiding the children toward the doorway.

Guru remained behind. Standing between them and the danger. Waiting for the attacker to make his next move.

The man suddenly charged at Guru.

Guru stepped aside just in time, letting the attack pass him.

The man turned and attacked again.

This time, Guru caught his wrist.His grip tightened.

Before the man could react, Guru twisted his arm, pulled him off balance, and slammed him onto the floor.The man struggled beneath him.

Guru pinned him down and pressed a hand around his neck, restricting his movement.

Within seconds, the man's strength faded.His body went limp.Unconscious. Guru slowly released him and stood.

"Let's go."

Neil had already taken the children outside.

A few moments later, Kiara and Laksh appeared.

"Guru!"

They quickly helped Neil get the children into the waiting cars. Guru turned toward them.

For a moment, everything seemed under control.

Then— The unconscious man opened his eyes.

His hand searched the floor.It found the knife. Before anyone could react, he pushed himself up and lunged toward Guru.

The blade struck Guru's shoulder.

Guru's body jerked. A low, painful groan escaped him.

He immediately grabbed the man's wrist and pulled the knife free from his shoulder. His expression darkened.

Then his fist connected with the man's face.

Once.

Hard.

The rings around Guru's fingers made the blow even more devastating. The man collapsed onto the floor, unconscious once again.

"Guru!"

Neil came running back.

His eyes widened when he saw the blood.

"How did this happen?"

Guru looked down at the knife in his hand before casually tossing it aside.

"It's nothing."

"Nothing?!"

Neil stared at his shoulder.

"You've got a knife wound!"

Guru barely reacted.

"Neil, it's okay."

"No."

Neil shook his head.

"I'm taking you to the hospital."

Guru looked at him for a moment. Then, despite the pain, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Why not?"

They had been best friends since they were eight years old.

Years Ago...

An orphanage.

A little boy sat alone with his plate of food.

Guru.

He had never known where he came from.

He didn't remember his parents.

He didn't even remember how he had ended up at the orphanage.

All he knew was that this place had become his home.

One afternoon, while he was about to eat, another boy accidentally bumped into him.

Guru's entire meal fell onto the floor. He stared at the spilled food.

Then he looked at the boy.The boy immediately lowered his head.

"Sorry..."

He looked genuinely guilty.

Guru simply shrugged.

"It's okay."

The boy walked away. A little later, Guru saw him again. This time, the boy was carrying a plate of food. He walked toward Guru and held it out.

"Here."

Guru looked at him.

"Why?"

"I ruined your meal."

The boy pushed the plate toward him.

"So have mine."

Guru shook his head.

"No, it's okay."

But the boy insisted.

"Please."

After a moment, Guru finally accepted it.

And that day...Two lonely boys shared a meal.

Neither of them knew that they had just found the person who would become their family.

The boy was Neil. Neil had a father who struggled with alcohol and violence. His childhood had been filled with pain, and he had eventually been separated from his family and brought to the orphanage.

But despite everything he had gone through, Neil still carried the memories of his mother close to his heart.

Guru had no such memories.

When he once asked one of the sisters about his parents, she told him the truth.

"One day, we found you outside the orphanage.We tried to find your parents.But we couldn't find anyone."

Guru had never asked again.

Perhaps because, somewhere along the way, he had stopped searching for the family he couldn't remember...

And started building one of his own. With Neil.

Present Day

Guru sat in the passenger seat while Neil drove.

Blood had stained part of his shirt.

Neil kept glancing at him with concern.

"Guru..."

"Hmm?"

"Stop getting yourself hurt."

Guru looked out of the window.

"It's not that much blood loss."

Neil glared at him.

"Not that much?"

Guru sighed.

"I'll be fine."

Neil tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"One day you're going to get yourself killed."

Guru looked at him.

"At least then—"

"Don't."

Neil immediately cut him off. Guru raised an eyebrow. Neil continued driving, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Don't talk about death."

For a moment, Guru said nothing.

Then a small smile appeared on his lips.

"Okay, okay."

He leaned back against the seat.

"I won't talk about death."

Neil finally relaxed a little. Two boys who had once shared a single plate of food...

Now sat together in the same car, carrying wounds neither of them had ever truly learned how to heal.

The car finally came to a stop outside a government hospital.

Neil switched off the engine and immediately turned toward Guru.

"Wait."

Guru raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Leave the gun in the car."

Guru looked at him for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the weapon. Neil opened the glove compartment and carefully placed it inside.

"Now come."

Guru stepped out, pressing the handkerchief Neil had given him against his injured shoulder.

They entered the hospital.

The familiar smell of antiseptic filled the air, mixed with the sounds of hurried footsteps, crying children, and people waiting impatiently in the corridors.

Neil approached the reception desk.

"Excuse me, where's the doctor?"

A nurse looked up.

"The doctors are on their break."

Neil stared at her.

"All of them?"

The nurse nodded. Neil's expression changed instantly.

"Is there some kind of rule that every doctor has to go on break at the same time?"

The nurse blinked. Neil pointed toward Guru.

"My friend is injured. What if someone comes here in an emergency? What if a patient dies while your doctors are resting?"

Behind him, Guru stood quietly.

And judging by the faint amusement on his face...

He was enjoying the show. The nurse sighed.

"Sir, they're human beings too. They need rest."

"I understand that," Neil replied. "But shouldn't there be at least one doctor available while the others are on break?"

The nurse opened her mouth to answer.

Before she could say anything, a tired female voice came from behind them.

"What happened?"

Guru turned. A young woman in a white coat walked toward them. She looked exhausted.

Her hair was slightly messy, as though she'd been running her hands through it all day, but there was something striking about her eyes.

Even through the exhaustion, there was a quiet spark in them. Neil looked at her.

"Are you a doctor?"

She simply nodded.

"Can't help it."

She gestured toward her coat.

"I'm wearing the apron and carrying an MBBS degree."

Neil looked at her skeptically.

"We don't know what degree you're carrying."

His eyes moved toward Guru.

"But can you treat my friend?"

The doctor finally looked at Guru.

"What happened to you?"

Guru opened his mouth. Before he could answer, Neil quickly stepped in.

"We were playing."

The doctor stared at him.

"Playing?"

Neil nodded.

"And he got hurt."

The doctor gave him an unimpressed look.

"Of course."

She turned toward Guru.

"Come. Sit."

Guru sat down on the examination bed while Neil remained standing beside him. The doctor walked closer.

"Remove your hand."

Guru slowly moved the blood-soaked handkerchief away from his shoulder. The doctor looked at the wound. Her expression immediately became more serious.

"How did this happen?"

Neil answered again.

"It happened while we were playing."

The doctor looked from Neil to Guru.Then back to Neil.

"Right."

Her tone made it clear she didn't believe a word.She examined the wound carefully.

"It's not very deep."

She looked at Guru.

"Open your shirt. I need to clean and dress the wound."

Neil immediately helped Guru with his shirt.The doctor prepared the instruments while the nurse stood beside her.

"I'll put in a few stitches."

Guru nodded.

The doctor began working.After a moment, she casually asked,

"So... how old are you?"

Guru looked at her.She immediately added,

"For the documentation, of course."

Guru's lips curved slightly.

"Thirty."

The doctor nodded.

"Nurse, write his name and details."

The nurse began filling out the form.The doctor continued stitching.Neil watched anxiously.

"Doctor, when will this heal?"

She didn't look up.

"If you keep it clean and follow the instructions, it'll heal properly."

A few minutes later, she finished the stitches.

The nurse cleaned the area and carefully dressed the wound.The doctor wrote down a few medicines on the prescription pad and handed it to Neil.

"Here."

Neil took the prescription.The doctor looked at Guru.

"Don't let water touch the wound."

Guru nodded.

"Okay."

She gave him one last glance before turning away.

"Take the medicines on time."

And with that, she walked away.

Guru watched her disappear into the corridor.Neil looked at the prescription in his hand.

Then he looked at Guru. Guru was still staring in the direction the doctor had gone.Neil raised an eyebrow.

"Guru?"

Guru blinked.

"Hmm?"

Neil smiled.

"Nothing."

He slipped the prescription into his pocket.

"Come on, patient."

Guru stood up.But for some reason...His eyes lingered on the corridor for one moment longer.

By the time they returned home, the night had grown quieter.

Their home was a two-storey building tucked away from the noise of the city. It had four bedrooms—one for each of them: Guru, Neil, Laksh, and Kiara.

There was also a kitchen, a small storeroom, a weapons room, and, hidden behind an ordinary-looking wall, a secret room that only the four of them knew about. The moment they stepped inside, Kiara looked up from the couch.

"Why were you guys so late?"

Then her eyes fell on Guru. She immediately noticed the bandage around his shoulder. Her expression changed.

"What happened?"

Guru casually walked past her.

"It's nothing."

Kiara frowned.

"Nothing?"

She followed him with her eyes.

"Then why are you bandaged?"

She turned toward Neil.

"You were with him, weren't you?"

Neil opened his mouth.

"I—"

Kiara interrupted him.

"You two are always together."

She folded her arms.

"Best friends, blah blah blah..."

Guru chuckled and dropped onto the couch.

Before the argument could continue, Laksh entered from the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly fried fish.

Guru's eyes immediately lit up. He took the plate without hesitation and started eating. Laksh sat beside him.

"Is it hurting badly?"

Guru shook his head.

"No, bro. I'm fine."

He took another bite.

"It'll heal with time."

Meanwhile, Neil and Kiara had already started arguing about something completely unrelated. Laksh watched them for a moment before turning toward Guru.

"What happened to those two?"

Guru glanced at them.

"What can possibly go right between those two?"

He shook his head.

"They're literally Tom and Jerry."

Laksh laughed and sat back.

"Fair enough."

He switched on the television. Guru continued eating his fried fish peacefully. Until Neil suddenly looked at him.

"Wait."

Guru stopped chewing.

"What?"

Neil pointed at the plate.

"You know what the doctor said?"

Guru frowned.

"What?"

"You can't eat fried food."

Guru stared at his fish. Then at Neil. Then back at the fish.

"But this is my favourite."

"No."

Neil reached for the plate.Guru immediately pulled it away.

"What the hell?I'll be fine in a few days!"

Neil shook his head.

"The doctor gave you instructions for a reason."

Guru looked offended.

"It's just fish!"

Laksh nodded toward Neil.

"If the doctor said you shouldn't eat it, you should follow the instructions."

Guru glared at both of them.Kiara immediately joined in.

"In this matter, I'm with the blue team."

She pointed toward Neil.

"One point for you."

Neil smiled triumphantly.Guru looked at all three of them.

"Traitors."

Kiara laughed.Neil crossed his arms proudly.

"Your health comes first."

Guru sighed dramatically.

"My own house has become a dictatorship."

Laksh burst out laughing. The tension of the day's events disappeared beneath their laughter.

HEER

The nightclub in California was alive.

Music thundered through the walls, colorful lights swept across the crowded dance floor, and the air was filled with laughter, conversation, and the rhythmic beat of the music.

The dance floor was packed.

Then she walked in.

A woman in a sleek black sequin dress stepped onto the floor.

The lights caught against the tiny sequins of her dress, making them shimmer with every movement. Her long black hair fell freely around her shoulders, reflecting the flashes of light.

She didn't look around to see who was watching.

She didn't need to.

The music changed. And she started dancing.

Her movements were confident and effortless, completely lost in the rhythm. She wasn't dancing for anyone else.

She was dancing for herself. A few men nearby couldn't stop looking.

She noticed.

She didn't care.

After a while, she stepped away from the dance floor and walked toward the bar. She took a seat.

"One mocktail, please."

The bartender nodded. She waited patiently.A man soon approached her.

"Hi, I'm—"

"I'm not interested."

He blinked.

"What?"

She looked at him.

"Whatever you're about to say."

The man stood there awkwardly.She raised an eyebrow.

"Are you deaf?"

He quickly shook his head.

"No."

She laughed softly.

"Good."

Then she gave him one sharp look.The man immediately disappeared into the crowd.

She shook her head, took a sip of her mocktail, and continued enjoying her evening.

Later, when she finally decided to leave, she stepped outside the club.

The cool California night air hit her face. She walked toward her car.

Before she could reach it, another man approached.

"Hey, sweety."

She stopped.

"Alone?"

He smiled.

"Need some company?"

"No."

She didn't even slow down. She unlocked her car, got inside, and started the engine.

As she pulled away from the club, she glanced at herself in the rear-view mirror.

A frustrated sigh escaped her lips.

"I came here to enjoy myself."

She shook her head.

"Why does the whole world think a woman can't enjoy herself without needing someone's company?"

She increased the volume of the music.

"Club karo toh problem."

She rolled her eyes.

"Alone raho toh problem."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Whatever."

She looked back at the road.

"People can think whatever they want."

The city lights blurred past her windows as she drove through the California night.Tonight was hers.And she intended to enjoy every second of it.

The car finally pulled up in front of a magnificent mansion.

As she stepped out, the guards immediately bowed respectfully. She handed the keys to one of them.

"Park it."

The guard nodded. She walked inside without another word. The moment she entered, one of the maids approached her.

"Ma'am, shall I arrange dinner?"

She paused for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, please."

"Of course, ma'am."

The maid immediately turned toward the dining area.

She went upstairs to change.

A little later, she returned in something more comfortable and sat down at the dining table.

Just as she picked up her spoon, her phone began to ring. She glanced at the screen.

Mumma~

A small smile appeared on her face.She immediately answered the video call. Her mother's face appeared on the screen.

"Baby..."

Her voice was warm and familiar.

"Baby, aap khaana kha rahi ho?"

"Mumma, I'm at the mansion. Having dinner."

Gauri nodded.

"Okay, baby. So when are you coming back?"

Heer continued eating as she answered casually.

"I'll be back after I get the deal, Mumma."

Gauri's expression immediately changed.

"And if the deal doesn't go in your favour—"

"Mumma."

Heer cut her off with a small, confident smile.

"Heer Singh Shekhawat knows how to crack a deal and get it on her terms."

She leaned back in her chair.

"After all, whose daughter am I?"

From the other side of the call came a soft chuckle.

"Whose daughter indeed."

Heer smiled.

"Exactly."

Gauri immediately turned toward her husband.

"Hriday!"

Hriday Singh Shekhawat was sitting beside her, clearly enjoying the conversation. He tried to suppress his laughter. Gauri gave him a sharp glare.

"Don't encourage her."

Hriday raised his hands innocently.

"I didn't say anything."

Heer laughed softly. Gauri shook her head before turning her attention back to her daughter.

"Okay, baccha. Whatever you're doing, take care of yourself."

Her voice softened.

"And don't forget to eat properly."

Heer smiled.

"I will, Mumma."

"Good night, baby."

"Good night, Mumma."

Gauri smiled and ended the call.

Heer looked at the screen for a moment before placing her phone on the table. Then she remembered her father. She smiled and spoke toward the screen before the call completely disconnected.

"Good night, Papa."

From somewhere beside Gauri came Hriday's amused voice.

"Good night, beta."

The call ended.

Heer leaned back in her chair, a small smile still lingering on her face. For all her confidence in the outside world...With her parents, she was still their little girl.

Gauri ended the call and immediately turned toward her husband.

"Hriday, why do you always encourage her?"

Hriday looked at her innocently.

"Sweetheart, she's our only daughter. Whom else am I supposed to encourage?"

Gauri sighed.

"Still... she's a child."

Hriday smiled.

"She's twenty, Gauri."

He reached for her hand.

"And she knows what she's doing.Our daughter is the managing director of our company for a reason. People admire her ideas. They trust her decisions. She has earned her position."

Gauri fell silent.

Hriday knew that silence.

It wasn't disagreement.

It was worry.

He moved closer and gently wrapped his arms around her.

"Sweetheart, don't think too much."

He softly rubbed her shoulder.

"Wherever our daughter goes, I'll always be there to protect her."

Gauri looked at him.A small smile finally appeared on her face.

"I know."

Hriday smiled back.

Together, they turned toward the family photograph displayed on the wall.

The three of them stood there, smiling at the camera—Gauri, Hriday, and their daughter, Heer. They simply looked at the picture.

Their little girl had grown up.

And no matter how far she went...To them, she would always be their daughter.

The Next Morning — California

The next morning, the atmosphere inside the conference room was tense. A long glass table stood at the center of the room, surrounded by executives from two major companies.

On one side sat the representatives of Shekhawat Enterprises.

On the other sat the delegation of a reputed Italian automobile company.

Between them lay the contract everyone wanted.

A tender for a revolutionary new technology in automobile manufacturing.

Whoever secured the deal would gain a significant advantage in the industry.

And Heer Singh Shekhawat had no intention of walking away empty-handed.

She sat confidently at the head of the table, her presentation already prepared.

One of the Italian executives leaned back.

"We have received several proposals for this project," he said. "Convince us why Shekhawat Enterprises should be our partner."

Heer smiled.

"Gladly."

The lights dimmed.

The presentation began.

She walked them through the technology, its manufacturing potential, cost efficiency, long-term benefits, and most importantly, how Shekhawat Enterprises could turn the concept into something commercially successful.

But Heer wasn't simply presenting numbers.

She was selling a vision.

Every question thrown at her was answered without hesitation.

Every concern was met with a solution.

When one of the Italian representatives challenged her projected figures, Heer calmly turned to the screen.

"You're looking at the initial investment."

She changed the slide.

"I'm asking you to look at the five-year return."

The room went silent.

She continued.

"Anyone can offer you a lower price."

Her eyes moved around the table.

"But not everyone can offer you the infrastructure, market reach, and technological support required to make this project successful."

She paused.

"You're not choosing a company today."

"You're choosing who you trust with the future of this technology."

The final slide appeared.

SHEKHAWAT ENTERPRISES.

Heer turned toward the executives.

"That's what we're offering."

Silence filled the room.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then the head of the Italian delegation exchanged a glance with his colleagues.

Finally, he smiled.

"Ms. Shekhawat..."

He extended his hand.

"Congratulations."

Heer shook his hand.

"You've earned the deal."

A few members of the delegation applauded.

One of the executives who had been negotiating against her earlier stood and offered his hand as well.

"That was an excellent presentation."

He smiled.

"And your negotiation strategy was even better."

Heer gave a polite smile.

"Thank you."

Another executive nodded.

"I've attended hundreds of business presentations."

He glanced at her.

"Very few people manage to change the direction of a negotiation without making the other side feel like they've lost."

He smiled.

"You managed to do exactly that."

Heer leaned back slightly.

"That's the point of negotiation."

A faint smile crossed her lips.

"Both sides should leave the table feeling like they won."

The executives exchanged impressed looks. Heer gathered her documents. The deal was hers.

And she had earned it on her own terms.

-----

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