Hold on...Please.

Club Night.

"You brought the cop with you!" Manny cried out loud at me. The music was at full volume at the club, people loved the artist playing EDM songs. We stood at the bar counter but still the music was more like a noise. "Are you nuts?"

"Come on... He's suspended and let him believe that this is a regular club, so he doesn't ruin the mood so often." I brought my lips close to Manny's ear so I didn't have to shout. "Got the drugs? "

"Don't worry it's sorted. But Dad heard about the blunder. He's furious."

"Let Ansh come please. He is not an officer now... Just a regular customer and my friend!"

"Friend or something more..." Manny raised an eyebrow. "He is a cop, Sandy. You have to be really foolish to think anything beyond that. The hate should be mutual."

"Manny... the gun that you gave me..."

"Your friend's girlfriend's.... I know. She's dead... I know. Dad is the prime murder suspect... I know!"

"Why didn't you tell me?" I shrugged. "About this..."

"Because I didn't know then... Salim brought Ansh's information yesterday... I found out yesterday. So stay away from him. He's an enemy and he's wounded... So he's very dangerous."

"Did you find out who targeted me? Or whether I was the target or you or the other team or Ansh?"

"We are on it... Until then we have to stay low... No deals... No fights... No drama." Manny straightened her posture and tipped her chin up, "How did you come in?"

I turned around and saw Ansh standing at a distance.

Ansh smiled and came closer, "The bouncers are easy to bribe! They are at par to their owner I guess" He winked.

"You are a guest today... Behave like one. The drinks on me. We cracked a pretty good deal today, you know!" Manny bragged. "You two enjoy yourselves... I got some work."

Ansh sat on the high chair beside me and ordered a drink. I stared at Ansh and pulled my chair closer to Ansh.

"What?" Ansh frowned.

I cleared my throat and swallowed. My eyes shut with the pain. "Umm... I am sorry to hear about your girlfriend... "

Ansh looked at me and then lowered his eyes. "So you stayed in London for seven years...what were you doing all these years there? Studying?"

"Don't you already have my details? You must have done a background check I believe!" I ordered a scotch.

"You shouldn't drink today... The doctor had advised you not to..." Ansh stopped when he saw me taking a sip. He frowned a bit and again went back to his straight face.

"So your girlfriend died last year? And you think dad... "

"I don't think... I know that Pankaj killed her." Ansh gestured to the bartender for some ice. "And she was my fiancee... We were getting married this year!"

"Yeah but.... "

"Hey you! Officer!" Manny came running. "Get inside... Dad's coming. He cannot see you!" She panted while holding her stomach.

"Why? I am off duty... I am a customer. Why do I hide?" Ansh causally sipped his drink. Meanwhile the club was made empty by the bouncers. "So Mandira Dwivedi is afraid of her dad?"

Manny took the drink from Ansh's hand and dragged him behind the bar. Ansh didn't resist and just smiled to tease Manny.

"Why don't I just get out of here?" Ansh asked.

"He has reached... If any of our men see you here... I'm dead. Sandy is dead. And you are definitely dead. The choice is yours! " Manny pushed Ansh below the bar counter.

I breathed heavily, my legs trembled and my ears had already turned red. The music was put off as the man entered. Covered from all directions by guards, Dad stood in front of me. I didn't look up. I kept my eyes  glued to the floor.

"What happened today?" Dad roared. "Look up!" He shouted.

"Dad I.. "

"You got caught? A simple deal Sandy! And you fail!" Dad pulled me by my tee and pushed me on the table. "Are you partying here? " He actually stood up to my expectations! He didn't even ask if I was hurt or what I have been through.

"Dad I.. "

"Don't say a word or I'll kill you myself! " He took out his gun. Manny saw all this from behind. I was embarrassed as Dad talked to me like that. And Ansh could definitely hear all of it.

"Like you killed mom... " I finally looked up to my father. Smiled faintly as my eyes filled up with tears. "Go ahead kill me!" I took a step forward with my chest out.

Dad again held me by my tee and punched me hard on my face. I fell on the floor."Don't enter the house ever again! " He roared and left the club. The guards went behind him. All in great synchronicity. Manny too went running behind Dad.

"Hey... Here..." Ansh offered his hand, "get up!"

"I am okay." I touched my lips. It was bleeding. I looked at the blood and rubbed it on my pants.

"Yeah... I can see that.. You are quite okay!" Ansh gripped me around my waist. I kept my arm around his neck. I really didn't want him to see this. My helplessness and my disfigured handsome face.

"Dad killed your... Your fiancee... You must be hating me! "

"Yeah... I hate criminals." Ansh made me sit on the couch. "But you are not one of them. I did run a background check on you!"  He gulped. "I have been in this profession for long, long enough to know people's intentions, their lies and their weaknesses."

"Leave! the party is over... " Manny came in. "You have seen enough." she gave Ansh a cold stare.

"True... So your dad killed your mother too!" Ansh sat on the couch beside me putting his head on the back-rest ignoring Manny. Suddenly his phone beeped.  He took out his phone from his pocket and started typing on it.

"Are you going or not?" Manny yelled. Manny was baffled by Ansh's attitude. "You are in my club. Get your ass out of here."

"Manny... So you tried to kill Sandy today?" Ansh straightened his back.

"What!" Manny  and I uttered in unison.

"The officer who was shot... Was shot by a colt python... The rifling pattern and primary markings   match... What gun do you have, Manny?" Ansh stood up and went closer to Manny.

"How do you know that I have that gun?" Manny was taken aback.

 "You hired someone to extract my information right? Well...this goes both ways!" Ansh clenched his teeth, his eyes glistened.

 "Dad gifted us both a colt and what proves it... Wait... Sandy where's your gun? You didn't say anything about it!" Manny gaped.

"I haven't seen it after I shot dad with it... I don't know where it is! " I looked blankly at Manny.

"What! You shot your dad!" Ansh laughed.

"Don't you already know everything about me? This is not any sort of entertainment!" I rebuked.

"If Sandy is dead... Manny you... You would be the only... " Ansh took slow but big steps towards Manny. "Lovely family... Sandy you are indeed lucky! " He chuckled.

"Ansh enough!" I growled. "She is my sister... She would never ever think like that...." I wanted to beat the s**t out of him for talking s**t. "Ansh, please leave..."

"Yeah... I am leaving anyway. Today wasn't all bad I guess. I had fun tonight!" Ansh winked at Manny. "Report to the NCB quarters tomorrow morning or you'll be escorted to the office by evening... The choice is yours!"

Manny plopped on the sofa and sighed. Manny and I looked at each other all puzzled.