Meera stared up the man, his teal eyes grabbing her attention, immediately recognising who the man was while few words escaped him, "It indeed is you!!" in a whisper.
She blinked, not at all seeming to digest the sudden encounter of a robber and a saviour.
The other way, the man whose hand Neel held, began to feel inexplicable pain passing through his nerves, by the pressure of the hold he was receiving from him. As though an invisible energy coming through his hold crushing his hand slow by slow! The pain was too much that his grip over the knife loosened, the weapon falling down while his other hand came up holding his painful wrist, a scream leaving him.
Meera who kept staring up Neel suddenly looked at the man, his scream taking over her attention which soon fell over his hand! She didn't find any hint of pressure applied by Neel, by what she saw, however the man screamed out as if his life depended on it!
Her gaze travelled back to Neel, who still kept watching her, his eyes settling right into hers' with a smirk, barely paying any attention to the robber while single handedly defending her!
What was.... happening?!
"Irony!! You didn't even fulfill your previous promise of repaying my help, and seek another today!!" he smirked with a brow raised.
Meera frowned while he now chuckled, "World full of lies!!"
She suddenly felt infuriated again, completely disturbed by his demeanour again, "I didn't ask for it!!" she retorted.
His brow raised amused, "Is it?!"
"Ah, never help someone who doesn't deserve it!" Neel playfully said with a tilt of his head and for her surprise or shock, he released her instantly making her fall on the ground.
A low groan of pain escaped Meera, immediately realising the fact that the entire time, she stayed at the dependence of his arm.
A part of her felt thankful for his presence while the other taunted him for his behaviour.
Neel's attention finally now shifted to the man, "So.... what do you want me to do with this filthy hand of yours?" he asked with a sweet smile which probably wondered Meera.
He could actually smile, though it being a pretentious one!
The man looked at him with that teary eyes, "It's paining, let me go!!" he yelled!
"I almost forgot about this foul mouth!!" Neel continued, while the pressure he applied grew more on his hand and he screamed again!
"I.....I... apologise!!" the man pleaded, with a painful swallow, "Let me....go!!"
Meera who slowly got up on her feet, her spine sending down a shiver of pain, making her hiss. However all her focus was dragged to both the men, not at all able to get any sense in the pain the man was feeling by just a hold by Neel.
The nonsense that was only possible in any of those action films.
"You see, you should only fight with someone who could actually keep up with the fight!!" Neel said with a nod as if guiding him while the hold tightened even more, "Not with someone as weak as her!!" he shook his head!
Seriously?!
Was he here to help her or insult her?!
Neel with a shook again, pushed the man away, making him sigh in relief but the pain shot back as though immediately, making him shake his hand in pain before the other hand came up for rescue, holding his painful hand with tears.
While Neel dusted his hand as if he touched something disgusting, "Get going before I choose to tear that hand off your body!!" he warned which barely looked like a warning with that soft smile still playing on his face!
The man didn't waste his time to even hesitate and got on his feet, leaving the place as soon as possible.
"How come... was it possible?!" she blurted once he turned to her, wonderment clearly visible on her face, amusement evident in her voice.
"With that demeanour of yours', you will soon visit the seventh heaven in literal, lady!!" he scoffed.
"And with THIS demeanour of yours', you will never get a lady liking you, mister!!" she paid back.
Neel chuckled, before he decided to leave, turning ahead, moving!
Meera who was left behind chuckled in disbelief, what was this man in real leaving her like this?!
"Mr.Neel!!" she called loud, halting him!
Neel?
She knew his name?!
Wondered, he turned back, his eyes narrowing at her figure, however he didn't try to know how did she get wind of his name. That was the least of his concerns. "Speak!!" he demanded.
Meera couldn't even trace any hint of that soft smile he maintained till now, feeling confused at how fast could his facial expressions change. "Thank you, for the help!"
He paid no heed and just turned to leave.
"Hey, wait up, man!!" she called out as she followed him!
"Thanking for something you didn't even ask for?!" he smirked without paying her any of his attention.
This man!!
Meera held back the whatever curse she could bring up at present, "Could you assist me to my home?!" she asked hesitantly.
That halted him, almost making her guess his reply!
Yeah, of course, he would deny!
"So, you're ASKING for help?!" he looked at her with that sweet smile again, the smile which.....never reached his cold teal eyes.
"Yes" she blurted, lost in his gaze for a moment!
He pondered on her reply before with a sigh, he continued to walk, which forced her to follow him!
He, surprisingly, did accept!!
As they walked, she couldn't help but ask, "Your good name?!"
"At least now?!" she asked with a raised brow.
"I thought you knew!"
"Not full name!!" she replied!
"I would be glad to know it from you rather than a receipt!!" she shrugged.
So, that was it!
Neel stopped turning to her, offering her the as usual unreadable expression as he kept staring her!
Meera just sighed defeated, "Limits, I know!!"
"It's a big thing alone that you choose to spare your time to me!!" she smiled knowingly.
He watched her repeating his words again, just what was this woman, "You have a good memory!!"
"Thanks!!" she scoffed almost making him remember his rude and cold 'thanks' he threw at her in the shopping mall that day!
"Neel!" he sighed, turning to look at her briefly again, "That's what's my name! Neel!!"
"No stuff like first name, middle name or last name!!" he added as they continued to walk.
Meera however couldn't understand why did he state it that way, as if it's something nonsense to him.
"Your boss is someone too cruel to make you work for late hours!!" he suddenly said with a shrug as his hand reached into his pockets.
"Do not judge in consideration of half knowledge, Mr.Neel!!"
"He isn't someone who has no morals!!"
"I didn't say that!!" he simply added again, briefly taking a note that this woman was somehow definitely close with Deep.
Meera took a deep breath, "I was returning from an orphanage, that man might have seen me there!" she said after thinking for a second!
Was it? Well, who cares!!
"How far is your house?!" he asked in calm, yet she found the glimpse of impatience in his voice. How well could he seal his emotions?! She wondered.
"We almost reached, two streets away!" she replied with a smile, inwardly already thanking him for his assistance till here.
"Come on, it isn't that far!!"
"It isn't about the distance but your talkative mouth!!" he rolled his eyes.
What the hell?!
"Did you just say I'm.... talkaholic?!"
"Oh, I did?!"
Meera looked at him in disbelief, "And you hate it!!" she didn't even ask!! She just knew!!
Neel didn't respond, finding pleasure in her annoyance strangely, and surprisingly, well, not so surprisingly, she didn't speak up again, nor did he say anything.
They both continued to walk in silence until they reached her home. Neel took a look at the house which was completely dark, no source of light present.
Meera turned to him, "Despite the bitterness your words sometimes leave behind, I find it really appreciating that you always had chose to help and not to deny."
Oh, did he?
"So thanks! For that day, and today as well!"
"Have a safe journey until the home, Mr.Neel!"
Home?
A chuckle escaped him, "Get in!!" he simply nodded his head towards her house.
Meera watched him for a second more before turning back, leaving him behind!
Neel watched her getting into the house, soon the windows reflected the just turned on lights!
So, she lives alone!!
Neel turned to leave, his head and heart pondering on the same word.
Home!
With a deep sigh, he tried to shove the thought away, he had much more things to invest his time on.
**************
Deep sat back in his seat, closing his eyes! He knew no one was here, in this time in the company, and somehow that brought relief in him!
Finding solace in silence, he began to dig deeper into the recent events!
With a sigh, he leaned forward, his chair groaning low.
Deep took out a pen and paper swiftly out, and began to sketch out all of his thoughts!
Trying to paint out a mind mapping of the whole situation, to trace out the point where everything began to lose control.
Exactly from where everything went wrong and the trial of finding the reasons for the present threat!