The drawing room had never felt this.... slow.
Four queens.
One wide couch.
Zero adrenaline.
Saraswati lay sprawled across the couch like gravity had personally offended her, one leg dangling off the armrest. She stared at the ceiling for a full ten seconds before finally groaning.
"So," she said, voice lazy also irritated," what exactly are we going to do for the next seven days ?"
Durga cleaning her weapon knives said, " Breathe."
Saraswati turned her head." I said do, not suffer."
"I swear" she muttered, "if boredom were illegal, we do all be arrested by now."
Radhika, seated cross-legged with her laptop balanced perfectly, didn't look up.
"Speak for yourself. I'm busy."
Saraswati squinted at her," Busy doing what? Hacking the fridge?"
" I have to find someone," Radhika replied calmly.
Saraswati got up instantly,"What do you mean find someone?"
Sia was standing near the window she looked at Radhika and gave her a slight nod.
"Finding the once who think they can't be tracked?,she continued," of course the first rankers."
Saraswati and Durga nodded but Sia still looking at Radhika, it was the moment when Durga realised that there is something which Radhika's hiding and Sia definately knows about it. But what can it be?
Saraswati went to Durga putting her hands around Durga's neck and her head on Durga's shoulder looking at her phone and Durga finally spoke," Tell me what you want to say and stop acting so childish."
Durga removed her hands from her.
Saraswati replied,"I just want to know what are braves doing?"she continued,"I am missing him already, yaar."
Before Durga could reply..
Sia and Radhika out of frustration replied,
"For gods sake please don't start 'Braves the love story' again."
Saraswati replied with a smile," You guys are just jealous because you didn't get your type yet."
Durga agreed with a nod and said ," well, I gave a seven- day holiday to the training centre kids."
Saraswati stared," You WHAT?"
"They earned it."
"And we didn't? I still remember your torture Durga everyday 4 am and that harsh training, but now I am good with it because now I am habitual," she continued," but that early waking up should be changed atleast."
Sia moved and then sat on the couch," Well, Radhika is lucky in this matter she does her meditation and dance no harsh training like us."
Radhika glanced up, kept her laptop aside.
Durga replied,"You know what? Sometimes I feel Radhika is much more stronger than what we think,we have more strength but she has more agility."
Sia agreed,"Her dance moves sometimes explains it better."
Radhika smiled and shook her hand in a gesture of no." I don't like fighting, guys,"she continued," I'm good with hacking and giving mental torture to enemies."
Saraswati laughed and said," Durga do you really think our Radha can kill people I mean... seriously. She is strong enough to protect but killing or hurting is not what our Radha is."
Sia smirked...
She stood up walking towards her table which was right infront of the couch.
"What about you?" Saraswati asked," Please don't say 'strategy'."
Sia didn't turn.
"I need to find mystery man. And Queens don't get to relax."
She added quietly," Don't forget why we started."
The room stilled for half a second. Everyone became serious this was the line which made each queen remember what they have suffered all along.
Saraswati softened,"We won't forget. EVER."
Then she flooped back on couch dramatically." But if we don't rest, our souls will resign before the mission does."
Durga chuckled," she is not wrong."
"So," Saraswati grinned," I vote for something normal. No underworld. No Braves. No teams. No mystery man---"
Durga cut in mock-solemnly,"--Mr.K--"
Radhika passed a death stare to her.
Durga raised her both hands." What? I like naming ghosts or should I say nightmares."
Saraswati and Sia enjoyed it.
Then--
Buzz.
Sia froze.
Radhika's hand shot out instantly. She grabbed the phone.
" Radha --- don't ---"
Too late.
Sia didn't even moved when Radhika's smile changed.
That smile.
The one that meant trouble.
Saraswati bolted upright." WHO IS IT?"
Durga leaned back, amused," Ah. Fate."
Radhika answered brightly."Namaste, Dadi!"
Sia covered her face." Tell her I'm not here."
" Yes, Dadi." Radhika nodded seriously." She's not here."
Pause.
"She's only glaring at me."
Sia said," I'll kill you,Radha."
Radhika just smiled and sent a flying kiss to her.
" SIA BETA," the warm voice echoed through the room.
Durga clapped once." Mission confirmed."
Saraswati grinned like a villain."Seven- days boredom cured."
Radhika cleared her throat politely. " Dadi said you are going on a date."
Sia spun around." What?"
The voice from the phone continued, calm but final.
"I've fixed the boy, beta. His name is Shashank. He'll meet you at the E cafe near your company. Today. Seven p.m."
Sia blinked." Dadi, I have work."
Other three screamed." No, she does not."
Sia's grandmother said this time tone was really serious," Sia, don't make me tell your secrets too your friends."
Saraswati asked," What secrets?"
Durga came towards Sia," you can't hide any secrets from us?"
Radhika was just smiling there, Radhika and Sia really had some sort of different bonding, they were the first two members of queens as well as bestfriends since childhood, they knew each and every secret about each other doesn't matter how dark it was.
Saraswati trying to listen the phone leaning towards it and said," Dadi, just tell the secret..."
" She had an incident where she met a bo...". Before she could complete her sentence Sia ended the call.
"This is not fair, I know you both are our seniors but you don't have any right to hide your secrets.." Durga and Saraswati exclaimed.
Radhika and Sia looked at each other and laughed."Don't worry queens its nothing important."
Radhika looked at Sia, she knew that Sia has also suffered a lot since her childhood and she also needs someone in her life, someone to give her the love she deserves,the care she craves. Although queens will always be there for her but... you know its different, how much you love a person in the end everyone deserves a soulmate.
"No, no, no... I'm not going on any date you guys said for rest, we can enjoy watching some movie at home." Sia said.
Durga replied," Of course you will go."
Saraswati said," There is nothing bad to
have some fun or who knows you might find someone of your type."
"Don't worry we won't tell Agni." Durga and Saraswati said mockingly.
" I don't fucking care even if you tell him." Sia responded angrily.
"But he might not like it." Saraswati said in a teasing tone.
"Sia you need balance and you promised me you will think about yourself too." Radhika said trying to convince Sia,"you told me to let go once from someone now its your time."
Sia moved her face towards Radhika and nodded her head in agreement.
Saraswati and Durga all excited because Sia has never been to a date.
Saraswati who was listening very carefully, gasped dramatically."WAIT, first date?"
Durga slowly raised her head." She has never been on date."
Sia glared," I have been to meetings."
"That's worse." Saraswati," you can't intimidate a date."
"I absolutely can."
"No," Saraswati shook her head." Now that's how people cry."
Radhika leaned closure to Sia."Okay, listen. This is not dangerous. Cafe. Public. Safe."
"I don't do safe," Sia muttered.
"Exactly," Radhika smiled." That's why you need this."
Sia folded her arms." I'm not sitting across from a stranger and pretending I like small talks."
" You don't have to pretend." Radhika said." Just.... don't interrogate him."
Saraswati raised her hand." Or... threaten him."
Durga added calmly." Or check his reflexes"
Sia exhaled." This is ridiculous."
"Sashank cafe." Saraswati announced. "Table prepared."
Radhika added."Outfit decided."
Durga finished."Excuses denied."
Sia rolled her eyes.
Radhika continued smoothly."I'll go with you. We'll enter together."
Sia frowned." Why?"
"I'll sit on another table in case you need any help." Radhika said. " I'll guide you."
"Guide me how?"
"Earbuds. Signals.Emergency exits."She grinned." I'm your tech support also moral support."
Sia hesitated.
Durga stood."Don't worry, leader. We're backup."
Sia turned." Backup?"
"Yes,"Saraswati nodded seriously.
"Disguised backup."
Durga crossed her arms,"After what happened at the restaurant, we can't take risks."
Saraswati smirks," Also we are curious."
Durga glanced at Sia with a teasing smile." You didn't think we'd miss your first date,did you?"
Sia stared at all three of them.
Three identical smiles.
Her ears burned.
"This is humiliating."
Radhika squeesed her arm." It's human."
Saraswati grinned," And historic."
Durga concluded calmly." And necessary."
Sia signed,defeated."Fine."
Radhika raised her two fingers."Scout's honor." And continued," we'll just observe."
Saraswati added," And judge."
Durga concluded," harshly."
Sia groaned," I hate all of you."
Radhika called after her, smiling.
"No you don't. You trust us."
Somewhere else in the city.
Four boys sat around the table--
unaware that fate had already decided their next move.
And this time
It wasn't going to be a game.