Arjun's POV:

The sounds of the Ramleela performance echoed through the village, filling the air with music and laughter. But despite the festivities, my mind was anything but at ease. The mafia's presence was still too close, and I couldn’t afford to let my guard down, even for a moment. I was about to return to my team when a strange sound caught my attention.

It was coming from behind a nearby wall. I paused, instinctively drawn to the muffled voices. I pressed my ear to the cool surface, straining to hear what was going on. I could make out bits and pieces of the conversation, but it was enough to make my interest peak.

Two voices—young, and filled with distress. I stepped closer, careful not to make a sound, as I tried to discern who was speaking. And then, I heard it clearly.

"Please, Amrita, they took all our money! The money we earned! We worked so hard for it!"

It was a child's voice, panicked and filled with desperation.

"Shh, it’s okay," came a calm, yet firm response. Amrita's voice. "Tell me everything. I’ll get it back for you. I promise."

I didn’t know what had drawn me to this, but I stayed hidden, observing the scene unfold before me.

I saw Amrita kneeling beside two small kids, their faces streaked with tears. Their clothes were old, patched up, their faces young and innocent. They must have been from the orphanage in the village. The kids continued sobbing, explaining how a group of goons had snatched the money they had worked so hard for, probably by doing odd jobs around the village or selling small goods.

Amrita, with a determined look on her face, took the children’s hands in hers. "I will get the money back, don’t worry. I’ll make sure they pay for what they’ve done."

She promised them like a fierce protector, her tone leaving no room for doubt. Something about her, the way she handled the situation—calm yet fierce—struck me. She was nothing like the docile girl everyone expected her to be. She had strength in her, a force that, for some reason, I found myself both drawn to and wary of.

Without saying another word, Amrita stood up and ushered the children along, sending them off with a soft pat on the back. I didn’t approach them. I stayed in the shadows, still unsure of how much I could trust her.

I turned to leave, deciding to go back to the Ramleela tent where my team was waiting for updates. But just as I started walking away, something else caught my attention.

Amrita, now moving swiftly, was heading towards another part of the village. I couldn’t see clearly, but it was obvious she was headed toward a more secluded area. My instincts screamed that something was off.

I followed her at a distance, keeping myself hidden among the crowd, my steps quiet as I made my way through the bustling village. The last thing I wanted was to get noticed, but curiosity gnawed at me.

Eventually, Amrita reached a small tent, one I hadn’t noticed before. I could see rough-looking men milling about, their conversations filled with crude laughter. The tent had the unmistakable air of a gang’s hideout. My suspicions flared.

I lingered, watching from the edge of the crowd, trying to make sense of what she was doing there. It didn’t add up—Amrita didn’t seem like someone who would associate with this kind of crowd. But what did I know about her?

I waited for what felt like an eternity, watching her speak to one of the men through the flap of the tent. The conversation was too far to hear clearly, but I could tell something was off. My gut twisted with unease.

Then, suddenly, the flap of the tent burst open. Amrita rushed out, her face partially hidden by a scarf. She was running, her movements swift and panicked. Two men, clearly not friendly, were chasing after her. They shouted, but she didn’t slow down.

I crossed my arms, scowling to myself. This girl was a magnet for chaos. Shaking my head, I turned to leave. “Stop Arjun…,” I muttered again, trying to convince myself. “It’s not your business.”

But I couldn’t take more than a few steps before stopping again. My fists clenched at my sides as I battled the urge to interfere.

“She’s reckless. She’s trouble. She’s…” I trailed off, letting out a sharp exhale. “A brat.”

Still, something gnawed at me.

“This is the last time,” I told myself, cursing under my breath as I pivoted and followed her.

Without thinking, my legs moved before my mind could catch up. I pushed through the crowd and ducked into a nearby alley. I knew this path—there was a shortcut that would bring me ahead of her, allowing me to cut her off before the goons could do anything stupid.

My heart raced as I followed the familiar path, my breath coming in quick bursts. I could see the alley ahead, the sound of footsteps growing louder as Amrita’s pursuers gained on her.

I picked up the pace, adrenaline coursing through my veins. She had no idea I was following.

As I rounded the corner, I saw her up ahead, running with everything she had. The goons were still close behind, shouting at her, threatening her.

I gritted my teeth.

“This is the last time,” I told myself again, my voice firm. “The last time you save her.”

The moment she neared the alley, I stepped into her path, my presence hidden by the shadows.

It was time to act.