Chapter 7- Paths Collided Again?
The black car pulled away from the curb and slipped into the current of Mumbai's late afternoon traffic, heading toward New Lane Street.
What's going to happen?
At Patil Vendor's Building
The sleek black car rolled to a stop outside a squat commercial building, its sign faded but still bearing the name: Patil Vendor Services. The place looked ordinary on the outside-too ordinary for the kind of shady business they suspected was happening inside.
Veer and Anvika stepped out. She didn't waste a second. Dressed in sharp, fitted formalwear and heels that clicked with authority, Anvika stormed through the glass doors and straight up to the front desk. The manager, a balding man with spectacles slipping down his nose, was busy coordinating a delivery but still froze the moment he recognized her.
"I need to meet Patil. Your boss," Anvika said curtly. "Now."
"Ma'am, he's currently in a meeting. You'll have to-"
"Oh, shut the hell up," she snapped, voice slicing through the hum of the lobby. "Since when is your boss ever busy?"
The manager shrank back, fumbling with his notepad. "Alright, alright! Go up, I'll inform him. Just... don't yell."
"Good." She turned on her heel.
Veer followed close behind, texting Zain along the way: Hurry. We're already inside.
Zain replied that he was en route and needed a few more minutes. Veer slipped the phone into his pocket and leaned toward Anvika. "We'll need to buy some time. My work here isn't done yet."
"What?" she said, eyebrows raised in confusion.
"No problem," she recovered quickly, flashing a grin. "Leave it to me. I'm an expert in wasting time."
Veer smirked.
They entered the upstairs office, where a bulky man with slicked-back hair and an oily smile sat behind a massive desk. Patil. His rotund figure was too big for the creaky chair he occupied, and he looked up with a mix of surprise and smug delight.
"Well, well," he chuckled. "You brought a colleague this time, ha ha ha!"
Anvika rolled her eyes. "He's not a colleague. Just a friend."
She leaned forward, eyes sharp. "But Patil ji, one thing-what deodorant do you use? It's surprisingly good."
Veer turned to her with the most bewildered expression he could muster.
Deodorant? Seriously?
She carried on, expertly keeping Patil engaged in meaningless chatter. Patil, of course, loved the attention. He leaned back and soaked it up while Anvika asked him everything from his opinion on AC brands to his cholesterol level.
Fifteen minutes later, the door opened.
Zain stepped in, a stack of documents under his arm. He looked tired, sweaty, but alert. Anvika gave him a brief glance and a subtle nod.
Veer stood up, finally done playing along.
"I heard you're the one responsible for sending all the ingredients and materials to KN Hotel tomorrow, right?"
Patil grunted. "Yes, yes. That's me. What's the problem now?"
"I just wanted to know what the delay is."
Patil scratched his neck. "Problem is, I don't think I was paid enough for such a big consignment. Plus, it'll take at least two days to move everything. We don't have enough trucks. So, if I were to be paid a little extra..."
"Hah!" Anvika stood, fury flashing in her eyes. "We've already made a deal. And now you want more money?"
"Calm down," Veer interrupted, holding up a hand. "Alright, we get it. If we want this to happen, we'll talk. But Anvika, can I have a minute alone with him?"
She frowned. "Alone?"
"For your own sake," Veer said in a quiet voice.
Though confused, Anvika nodded and left the room, heels echoing down the stairs.
Downstairs - Lobby
As Anvika descended, she noticed a small crowd gathering near the delivery docks. Curiosity tugged at her, but before she could investigate further, her phone rang.
It was Saurav.
"Where are you, Anvika Senior?" he chirped. "I'm here to help you resolve the vendor issue. I'm standing in front of the building."
"There's a bit of a crowd here," Anvika replied, eyes narrowing.
"I'm here too, actually. Looks like the issue is getting handled already... I'll meet you in the lobby."
A Few Minutes Earlier - Lobby Area
Meanwhile, in the lounge area just inside the building, a young man sat with perfect posture, dressed in a neat grey suit and thin-rimmed glasses he clearly thought made him look more intellectual than he was. His eyes darted between his phone and the clock.
Pari walked in through the entrance, eyes scanning the lobby with practiced caution. Her eyes fell on the young man.
Her thoughts went back to the recent call she had with Mr. Sharma.
"How the hell am I supposed to recognize the new agent?" Pari had asked, annoyed.
Mr. Sharma had only chuckled on the line.
"Trust me-you'll know. He's brand new. You've handled enough rookies to spot one in five seconds. Just... look for the one who talks too much."
Back in the present, Pari narrowed her eyes. That was him.
She walked up to the young man and tapped his shoulder. He turned, ready to dismiss her as another staff member.
"I'm waiting for someone. Already informed the-" he stopped mid-sentence as he saw her face.
He stood up abruptly, clearing his throat.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. Sorry for the mistake. I'm Rahul Sharma, new recruit from RAW, assigned by Mr. Sharma to assist you."
He paused. "It's... good to finally meet you."
Pari crossed her arms. "And how exactly did you know I was the agent you were assigned to?"
Rahul's mouth opened-and then the floodgates burst.
"Well, Mr. Sharma told me that I'd recognize you by the expressionless face, but also this angry aura for no reason, and that I'd probably hear a scary voice yelling at someone-and if the woman was wearing black, then it's definitely My Pari-wait, that's what he said! I didn't mean it like that-"
Pari raised a single eyebrow, unimpressed.
"You called me your Pari?"
He froze.
"Shooot. I mean-I didn't-I would never-Ma'am! I mean Ma'am! I won't say your name again. Ever."
"Good," she said, her tone like steel.
Back to Work
Pari motioned for him to walk with her. "While you were busy rehearsing your intro, did you observe anything?"
"Yes, actually," Rahul said, surprising her. "The manager's been sending out trucks every 15 minutes. Most are normal size, but a smaller truck comes in between. Every time, the manager personally inspects it. Also, those smaller trucks have a black crate inside, hidden under vegetables."
Pari gave a small nod of approval.
"Not bad for a rookie."
He grinned like a proud schoolboy.
"We have to act fast," she continued. "Go near those trucks. Inspect them. I'll handle the distractions."
"But... the manager's always around."
"Leave that to me."
The Distraction
Pari marched up to the manager's desk and raised her phone to her ear-no call, just perfect acting.
"What the hell did you just say to me?" she barked into the phone. "This is the kind of hospitality I get? No one at the desk? I flew across the country for this garbage treatment?"
Her voice rose to a pitch that echoed through the building.
The staff froze. The manager sprinted to her side.
"Ma'am! I'm so sorry! I'm the manager. What happened?"
"This is how you handle VIP clients?" she thundered. "A crore-rupee deal and not even a proper welcome?"
All attention turned to her-and Rahul seized the chance.
He slipped behind the trucks, opened one of the smaller crates carefully. Inside: jet black boxes-sealed tight. Definitely not vegetables.
He attached a tracking device beneath the crate, then gave Pari the signal.
She saw him from across the room and wrapped up her performance.
"I won't deal with amateurs. Cancel everything!" she yelled.
With a huff, she stormed off, leaving the manager panicked and shouting at the staff.
Outside - Final Collision
Saurav stepped inside just as Pari and Rahul made their exit.
Anvika was coming down the stairs. She spotted Saurav and waved.
"Senior! I'm here," Saurav called out, not watching where he was going.
He collided straight into someone-Pari.
Their eyes met for a second too long. Saurav scrambled to pick up her phone, which had fallen.
"I'm so sorry!" he said, handing it back.
Pari looked at him, then at Anvika beside him.
Without a word, she took her phone and walked out.
Saurav turned to Anvika. "That woman's aura was... intense."
Anvika exhaled slowly. "You've got no idea."
Patil Vendor's Office - Top Floor
As soon as Anvika exited Patil's office with a purposeful stride, Veer stepped forward and took the thick file of documents from Zain's hands. His fingers quickly flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning line after line with sharp precision. The moment he reached a particular section, he paused, eyebrows raising in delight, and then-he burst into laughter. It wasn't a mocking chuckle; it was the kind of laugh that rang with triumphant disbelief.
"Zain," Veer said, still laughing, "good job! I knew something was off with this guy."
Patil narrowed his eyes, confused and visibly growing uncomfortable. "What's so funny?" he barked.
Veer stopped laughing and looked straight at him. "So... what now? You want to help me or burn in your own little hell?"
Patil's expression twisted. "How dare you speak to me like that? Do you even know who I'm connected to? Where I have my reach?"
"Actually," Veer said, smiling coldly, "I do. Because of this."
He casually tossed the file across the table, the pages fanning out as they landed. Patil grabbed it hastily, eyes widening as he recognized the contents. His blood drained from his face within seconds.
"How-How the hell did you get this?" he stammered, visibly shaken. "This... this is..."
"I know," Veer said with a wicked grin. "Quite the portfolio, isn't it? Drug trafficking, shell companies, offshore laundering-God, you've been busy."
Patil looked like he'd been hit by a truck. "Wait! Don't leak this... please. I-I don't have that kind of power anymore. I'm sorry. Just tell me what you want. Money? You want a deal? I'll give you anything."
Veer turned to Zain with a dramatic sigh and scratched his head. "What do you think? Should we ask him for a yacht?"
Zain blinked. "Sir, you're the boss. You tell him."
Veer rolled his eyes at Zain's lack of flair. "Alright, fine. What we want... is simple."
Patil leaned in, desperate. "Yes? What is it?"
Before Veer could respond, Zain jumped in too eagerly. "We want you to do that person-uh, I mean, give the goods to Anvika sir!"
Veer gave Zain a slow side-glance, clearly unimpressed. "Yes, thank you for the dramatic interruption. As he said... You will deliver all the materials to the hotel where Anvika works. Today. No extra charges. No delays. And everything must be of top quality."
Patil blinked. "That's it? You're blackmailing me for... a delivery?"
Veer's voice turned cold. "Look, if I wanted something big, I'd take it anyway. Just do what I said. And maybe-maybe-I'll consider keeping this little treasure trove of yours out of the headlines."
Patil, though confused, nodded furiously. "Alright, I'll do it. It'll be there today."
Veer stood up and clapped his hands. "Perfect."
He gave Zain a high-five like they'd just won a game of poker in Vegas. The two exited the office with practiced ease, descending to the lobby below. As they approached the waiting area, Veer spotted Anvika standing beside a young man.
Zain nudged him. "Who's the guy with her?"
Veer shrugged. "How in the world would I know?"
"Fair," Zain mumbled.
Anvika saw them and waved, striding over with urgency. "Did he agree? Is it done? Tell me fast!"
Veer gave her a satisfied smile. "Of course. Isn't it obvious?"
Anvika exhaled in relief. "Thank God. I don't know how you pulled it off-and honestly, I don't care-as long as the delivery's happening."
Zain chuckled. "That's the spirit."
The young man beside her stepped forward, studying them both. "Who are they?"
"Oh, right!" Anvika said quickly. "This is Saurav-my new intern and junior colleague. He was helping with this issue too. Saurav, meet Veer and Zain-they're... uh..."
There was a pause.
"They're my dad's friend's... friend."
All three men stared at her.
Anvika laughed awkwardly. "I mean-they're my friends. From abroad. Just visiting."
Saurav wasn't convinced. "But why did they help you?"
Anvika rolled her eyes. "Because they're not heartless, Saurav."
Saurav folded his arms, but dropped the subject.
Curious, he turned to Veer. "How did you convince Patil though? That man never backs down."
Veer smirked. "Let's just say... I deal with people like him all the time."
"Impressive," Saurav muttered.
"Anyway," Anvika interrupted, "we should get back to the office."
"Wait," Veer said, pausing. "Send me your dad's number. And some info about that place you mentioned."
"I will." She started to leave but Veer added, "Zain, go with her. Make sure the materials are delivered properly. Don't leave until it's done."
"It's fine-he doesn't need to-" Anvika began.
"Nope," Zain cut in. "We never leave our work half done. Besides, I'll drop you off. Saves time."
Anvika, amused, agreed. "If you insist."
Saurav watched them leave, eyebrows furrowing. "Hmm... something's off," he whispered to himself.
Later That Day - Anvika's Office
Zain waited in Anvika's cabin while the deliveries arrived. They made light conversation.
"So," he asked, glancing around, "are the people here super serious? Like... scary boss types?"
Anvika laughed. "Only on Mondays. And during audits."
The mood was light and surprisingly fun, even for Zain.
Meanwhile - On the Road
Pari and Rahul stepped out of a building they had been watching and climbed into a car.
"I've planted a tracker on the truck," Rahul said. "We just need to follow it."
Pari nodded. "Good work. Let's go."
They followed the truck for over half an hour until it turned into a massive corporate complex-clean, modern, and alarmingly well-secured.
They got out and tailed the delivery crew discreetly. One box-distinct from the rest-was wheeled into a private elevator.
"Something's not right," Pari whispered.
The elevator reached the top floor. From the shadows, they watched as the suspicious box was delivered straight into a locked office-one belonging to a man infamous in whispers and headlines.
"I knew it," Pari said grimly. "That box has drugs."
"How are you so sure?" Rahul asked.
"Because that man isn't just rich. He's untouchable in the drug underworld. No one's ever pinned anything on him. But I know him. I've studied his moves. And now-he just made a mistake."
She turned to Rahul. "Let's get out of here. We need to plan."
Back in the car, she laid out the next steps with sharp precision, Rahul listening intently.
After she had her work done for the day, Pari left for her house and so did Rahul.
They bid farewell to each other and left for different ways.
That Evening - Veer's Current House.
Veer finally returned home, shoulders slumped with exhaustion.
"Oh god. This country is going to be the end of me," he muttered, throwing himself onto the couch.
He picked up his phone and typed out a message:
Hello Sir,
This is Veer Singhania.
Your daughter gave me your number and said if there's anything related to the restaurant in the city, I should talk to you.
Please get back to me at your earliest convenience.
He hit send, stretched, and got up to grab water. But as he passed the hallway, something caught his eye.
A door-once shut-was now slightly ajar.
Confused, he walked over. The lights inside were on, and the room looked... lived in.
"What the hell..." he whispered. "Zain told me this place was vacant. Unless-"
His eyes widened. "No way. Is it... a ghost?"
He laughed nervously. "Stop it, Veer. Get a grip."
But then-the door behind him creaked open.
He turned.
Standing there was a figure dressed in black.
"Aaaaaaahhh!! Ghost!!! Bhoot!!" he screamed, nearly leaping out of his skin.
"Aaaaahhhhhh!!" the figure screamed back.
It was Pari.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" she shouted.
Veer's jaw dropped. "What the hell are you doing here like a horror movie jump-scare?!"
They both stood there, breathless.
Pari crossed her arms. "I live here."
"So do I!!"
There was a pause.
Then both spoke in unison:
"This is ridiculous."
To be continued...