My Little Firecracker

Chapter 2

"Mr Arjun Sehgal, The king of business"

"All stocks and shares are ruled overnight by New Young Billionaire!!"

"New Sensation in Business Sector, Mr Arjun Sehgal"

"No Photos, No Background story, Mysterious Billionaire"

I huffed throwing all the newspapers on the chair beside mine.

Seriously, all those papers are filled with some businessman who either became billionaire overnight or has been for a while but came into lime light just now. No productive news at all.

Front page is filled with this crap, next few pages with Bollywood and last one with sports bullshit. 

No news or articles about human trafficking or rapes or kidnapping to create awareness among the youths and children. They won't post anything unless there's any physical proof like someone's missing complaint or rape evidences. Disgusting.

"Hey, bestie"

I heard Valerie say before she sat in the opposite chair. Smile on her face was so radiant that would make anyone smile automatically.

"Hey" I replied with a small smile.

Eyeing the newspapers, she sighed.

"You need to loosen up, honey."

I gave her a sarcastic smile and took a sip from my cold coffee, glancing at the pavement across the road through the cafe's window.

"Hey, did you hear about the new billionaire" she asked after ordering a cappuccino for herself.

"Hear? Every news and newspapers are filled with it"

"What do you think he looks like, handsome, sexy, hot ...."

"Old, burly, bald, fatty, burbs at every step he takes. Do you want me to continue?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"Prude"

"Slut"

"One day your sarcasm and sassy attitude will land you in big trouble, wait and watch" She hissed getting irritated as I ruined her fairy-tale.

"Yeah, yeah whatever" I waved my hands dismissing her words. I would love to see that come true.

"Hey, guys" Arsh chirped as he took his seat beside Val.

"Hey babes" Nisha entered after Arsh and sat beside me.

Nisha Kuranna, my friend/co-worker. She's sweet like honey and totally gullible, trust me dumber than a turkey.

"Done sucking up ha?" said Val. I choked as my coffee went into the wrong pipe and started coughing.

Nisha rubbed my back while Arsh handed me a water bottle.

"Shut up, Val" Arsh frowned at her. Nisha blushed profusely.

"Suck what" I asked keeping my dirty mind at bay.

"Get your head out of gutter Amy, I'm talking about their beloved Harshad and Tina" Val said rolling her eyes.

"Tina likes me Val, I don't need to kiss her feet for her to notice me" Arsh bragged.

"Yeah and basically very other guy in Mumbai" Val said looking at him in disbelief.

"Harshad is a respectable guy and also handsome one" Nisha muttered while her cheeks turned red.

I chuckled looking at her. I just want to hide her from the world, to keep her safe.

"Oh! we've seen how much he respects girls, Nish " Val said sarcasm dripping in each and every word. I kicked her leg, under the table.

Valerie is right though, one day when she left her house keys in office itself, we went to get it after office hours and saw Harshad and Tina doing "It" in his office. Let's just say I was scarred for life. It took hell lot of porn movies to get their images out of my head.

"Nisha, never judge a book by its cover" I said nodding my head trying to make her understand.

"But Amy, I don't read books" She said crunching her nose in confusion.

Val snickered.

See stuff’s like this makes us say "oh, honey!", tilting our heads.

I shook my head, patting her back sympathetically.

"Guys, Harshad just texted. He wants us in the office now." Arsh said typing on his phone.

"But today's our holiday" Val groaned.

"I think its urgent, if not he wouldn't have summoned us" Nisha said taking his side. I think I'm going to puke.

"Guys, let’s go" I said standing up. 

Nisha works in entertainment sector while Arsh and Val in politics and crime. I'm an undercover reporter in politics and crime, I don't interview people. Not many people know what I do except my friends and family. Even my other co-workers don't know, they think I work in children related news. It's confidential for some reasons, but more on that later.

As soon as we entered our office building we saw few police constables standing there and shared a few glances among each other in confusion. What are police doing over here? s**t! Did they find out about that girl? No, apart from my friends no one knows about her and I've made sure she is in a safe place.

"Guys, why are police here?" Arsh whispered as we walked in the hallway.

"Do you think about that girl...?" Nisha trailed off but I shushed her.

"No, she's hidden in a proper place." I whispered back.

"May be something big happened, that's why Harshad summoned us" Val said glancing around.

"Let's go to his office and find out. Nisha, go be in your cabin and we will keep you posted. Okay?" I said when Harshad's cabin came into view.

"Yeah" She nodded and walked off to her cabin.

Arsh knocked on the door, when we heard 'come in' from Harshad we entered and saw him and a police inspector sitting.

We shared a look and stood in front of Harshad.

"Guys, this is Inspector Abhimanyu Singh and sir these are my colleagues Amyra Singh, Valerie Davis and Arsh Dhawan" Harshad introduced us standing up, we shook hands with him muttering 'hi' and 'hello'.

"Harshad, what's the matter?" I asked him sharing a small smile with the inspector.

"Yes, there is something important to talk but first take your seats” He said taking his seat and we ensued. 

"First thing, Inspector is here because he found out about your mission Amy" Harshad said with a straight face making my heart beat raise.

Shit!

"but-" before I could continue Inspector spoke.

"Amyra, there's nothing to worry about. The case on which you are working is very important one. I have direct orders from Home Minister to look into this matter. We are after these bastards from 2 years and had no lead but working from last 6 months you have gathered more information than us. So I have a proposition" He said with a small smile.

"What is it?"

"I'm the head of this investigation and I want us to work together" He said in audacious tone.

"Sir, I'm an undercover journalist and you want me to work with police and make myself known to the mafia world. With all due respect no, sir. " I said raising my chin.

"Amyra you have to co-operate with us "Inspector said in a hard tone. As if I will.

"Sir if I remember correctly, last time when Arsh helped police with the information he found, he spent 2-week vacation in the hospital" I said with a sarcastic smile.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Amyra" Anyone could see how sincere he is.

"I don't worry much about myself sir but my family is my priority" I said thinking about my family.

Val's phone rang, she excused herself and rushed out.

"Amy-  " I interrupted and spoke in final tone.

"I'm sorry sir, I can't. If I find out who's been doing all these illegal activities or any solid proof, I will contact you but I won't work with police. I have enough on my plate, I don't need any attention" Inspector pursed his lips and nodded.

Saying goodbye and shaking hands with Harshad, he walked out.

"Amyra, that was harsh" Harshad said leaning on his chair backwards. 

"You know I don't want to get involved with any authorities" I said with a straight tone.

"Okay, Okay fine. You're so obstinate Amy" He said shaking his head.

"We all know that Harshad, was this the important thing why you called us" Arsh asked looking bored.

" No, there's another thing. Amy I have another important work for you"

"okay, what is it about?"

"You guys might have heard about Arjun Sehgal, right?"

I nodded in irritation. I'm sick and tired of listening to that name.

"There is a news that he will have a press meet and introduce himself to the world" He said in a calculative tone.

"So?" I asked in a disinterested manner.

"I want Arsh to attended that and you to find out about his family history" He said.

"You're kidding right, I'm working on such an important project and you want to me to pry into his personal life" Are you serious? I hate it when journalists pry into celebrities life to increase their TRP and make a joke about those people's life without any regards that even they are humans like us and have family like ours who care about them just like ours do. 

"Amy, his guy became a temporal news overnight. We need to know more about him. He is so secretive that no one has any idea where he was born or where his family is and not to mention no one knows how he looks" Harshad said trying to persuade me.

His history is secretive cause he wants to keep it that way. Duh!

"And you have no say in this, I'm the boss and you have to do this" He said in cold tone when he saw me shaking my head sideways.

"I'm knee deep in this human trafficking thing Harshad, how can you expect me to work on another project?" I huffed in anger.

"You won't be working alone. Arsh and Valerie will assist you and you will work with a partner" He said hesitatingly.

"Partner?" I said raising my eyebrows.

"Danny" He muttered slowly.

I sprinted out of my seat.

"Hell No" I said gritting my teeth. I would never work with that douche bag. Never.

"Amyra listen-"Harshad tried to talk but I stopped him.

"No, what made you think I will work with that jerk-face. Just by looking at his stupid face, I want to strangle him" I said my eyes blazing fire.

I hate that Danny Takkar.

He's my nemesis.

Let me tell you guys about that jerk. He's one of my colleague and head journalist like me. He is very good at his work and trust me I would never accept that in front of him because he has an ego, taller than Himalayas. But he has this annoying trait and that is he loves to pick on me, taunt me and let’s just say irritating me is his favorite pass time. I hate that shithead. 

"Amy, I don't have any choice. You guys need to work together on this project " Harshad gave an ultimatum. Huffing I came out, Arsh following me.

Before I could enter my cabin I saw Inspector Abhimanyu standing at the end of the hallway talking to some guy but his eyes were scrutinizing me like he knows something that I don't. His look gave me chills, not in a good way.

Ignoring him I went into my cabin and sat on my chair clutching my hairs.

"Hey Amy, come on it's going to be fine" Arsh tried to calm me down when Val entered.

"What’s wrong? what did Harshad want to talk about?" She said taking a seat.

"Oh! I'll tell you. He wants me to take a binoculars and peep into that Arjun Sehgal’s house like a creep to find out about his family and his past and that's not it. He wants me to do that with that i***t Danny and oh! oh! even you guys can join us. Goodies!!!" I said clapping my hands sarcastically.

"Woah! Sister, calm down" Val said passing me water.

"You know what, let’s do one thing, let’s set out tents outside that billionaire’s house and set bonfire and oh! also burn some marshmallows and eat them. Camping trip guys!" I said in excitement. Do you guys want to know how real my excitement was?

"Offo, Amy. Calm down. It won't be so bad." Arsh said.

"Yeah girl. Take a chill pill." Val said.

"yeah right" I said rolling my eyes.

"Guys, I have to go. There are three missed calls from mom. If I don't go, she'll kill me " Arsh said stuffing his mobile in his jeans pocket.

"Say hi to aunty "I said smiling lightly.

"From me too" Val added opening a chocolate from her bag.

"Will do, bye" Saying this he rushed out.

Sighing, I started looking around to make sure all my things are inside the cupboard and are locked.

"Amy" Val said in quite tone. 

"Hmm" I said checking my cupboard.

"I got a lead " I whipped my head so fast that I damn lucky that I didn't get a whiplash.

"There are some financial paper trail, I’ll look into them" I tried to calm my breathing.

"Hey, we will find him soon" She said holding my hand, sympathetically.

I nodded. Trying to remember my blurred childhood.

My phone buzzed. Reading the message, I smiled. All my worries and head ache vanished.

"Thanks Val, keep looking into it and make sure no one's finds out about it. Just you and me" I said in calm tone.

"Got you, babe" She nodded.

"Now I have to go, my boyfriend is waiting for me" I winked and took my purse, standing up.

"oh yeah, tell him I miss him'" She said smirking.

"Hey, He's mine" I said glaring. 

She laughed.

"Okay, calm your t**s. And go before he calls everyone in the office getting all worried" I giggled at her words.He would do that for sure.

"See you later" I said walking out.