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The rhythmic sound of my boots against the cold concrete floor echoed as I walked down the dimly lit corridor of the military base. Tonight was quiet, the kind of quietness that wasn't peaceful but rather unsettling. The weight of my uniform felt heavier tonight not because of exhaustion but because of the tension crackling in the air. Something was off.

As an officer in the Indian Army, instincts weren't just a tool for survival; they were second nature. And right now, Mine was screaming.

I tightened my grip on the rifle slung across the shoulder, my fingers flexing against the cold metal. The base was supposed to be secure yet a sense of unease crawled up my spine. The guards at the entrance had reported strange movements near the perimeter but when the patrol was sent they found nothing. A false alarm, they had said. I wasn't convinced.

I wasn't supposed to be here. Women officers in the Indian Army weren't assigned direct combat time but I didn't want for permission when duty called. I turned the corner and went met with an all-too-familiar face.

"Captain Trisha," Colonel Manveer Sethi greeted with a nod, his expression as composed as ever. A respected officer, a mentor, someone I had looked up to since my early days in training. "You're still patrolling at this hour?"

"I had a bad feeling." I admitted. "Something doesn't sit right with me tonight."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You need to learn to relex. Not every night needs to be a battlefield."

I didn't smile. "You taught me to never ignore my instincts, Sir."

He gave me a thoughtful look before nodding. "Fair enough. But don't exhaust yourself. We have an early meeting tommorow."

I nodded and watched him walk away, his posture straight and authoritative. I respected him, I really do. He had guided me through the toughest phases of my career. But still, my gut twisted uncomfortably.

Shrugging off the feeling, I continued my patrol, my eyes sharp and scanning every shadow. That was when I heard it.

A faint rustle

I stiffened, my fingers twitching over the holster. It came from the far end of the hallway near the storage room.

The lights flickered slightly, casting shadows across the walls.

Slowly, I moved towards the source of the noise, my heart pounding in my chest. Years of training had made me good at masking fear but the anticipation, the thrill of the unknown was something even the best soldiers couldn't shake off.

Whoever they were, they were fast. Too fast. This was someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

I reached the door and carefully pressed my back against the wall steadying my breathing. Then, with one swift motion, I kicked the door opened.

I turned sharply, finger on the trigger-

A hand came out from the darkness gripping the barrel of my rifle and twisting it away from me. My pulse spiked. Not out of fear but out of rage. No one disarms me.

I twisted bringing the butt of my rifle up hard. It connected with the solid muscle- a sharp exhale of breath followed but the bastard didn't go down.

Instead, he CHUCKLED.

The sound sent the shiver down my spine. It wasn't the laugh of someone caught off guard. It was laugh of someone who enjoyed this.

"Not bad" he murmured, his voice low and taunting.

My eyes narrowed. "Kamin kutta kahi ka,"

I cursed him inside my breath. His face was hidden behind the black mask which covers the lower portion of his face but his brown eyes almost sweet honey brown eyes in the dim light burned something dangerous. His dark hair was slightly damp from the sweat and some of the few strands falling on his forehead. Whoever he was, he wasn't just some low-level threats. He was a trained fighter.

I didn't give him the chance to make another move. Twisting my body, I slammed the butt of my rifle to his forehead really hard pushing him back. He placed his hand on his head but didn't fall. Instead, he grabbed my wrist before I could my knife from my waistband. He flipped me into the ground in a swift, merciless

Pain shot through my back as I hit the cold floor but I didn't have time to dwell on it. He was on top of me in an instant, pinning me down, his forearm pressing against my throat- not enough to choke, just enough to remind me that he had the power.

Rage burned through me.

He pushed back using every ounce of strength to twist beneath him. My knee shot up hard. This time, he grunted him grip loosening just enough for me to take advantage.

In a second, I flipped out position. Now I was the one on top of him, straddling him, my knife pressed against his throat.

"Take off the mask," I ordered, my breath coming fast, my heart hammering. That damn smirk was still on his lips. "Okay, you take this off."

Cocky bastard.

I didn't hesitate. My finger reached for the edge of his mask-

BOOooom.

The explosion sent a wave through the building. The world around me was a blur of smoke. My ears rang from the explosion,a sharp high-pitching sound that drowned out everything else my body ached, my arm scraped and a dull throb on my forehead where something- maybe debris had struck. I coughed, distracted for the fraction of seconds- just a second. But that second was all he needed.

By the time I regained my focus, he was gone.

The only thing left behind was the faint echo of his chuckle and the imprint of his sweet honey brown in my mind like a curse.

"Ayesha!" I barely turned before I felt a firm grip on my arm. A familiar voice with worry yet steady cut through the noise.

Kunal.

Captain Kunal Malhotra. My best friend, my comrade, the only person who could match my stubbornness and not want to kill me for it. He was breathing heavily, his uniform slightly torn, a streak of dirt across his forehead. His eyes scanned me like a hawk assessing damage.

"Are you okay?" She looked really worried, gripping my shoulder.

"I'm fine," I answered but my voice still weakened Kunal narrowed her eyes. "Chal jhoothi."

Before I could protest, he pulled a small torchlight from his best and checked my face. I groaned, pushing his hand away.

"I said I'm fine," I insisted. "We need to-

"Shut up." He shouted on me. I blinked

"You're bleeding, your balance is off and you look like you've through hell." He grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards a safer spot behind a partially collapsed. "Sit."

"I don't have time to-

He shoved me down, harder than necessary. "Then make some time for yourself too."I let out a frustrated breath because my body was too exhausted to argue. The distant sound of gunfire and shouting echoed in the background but we were shielded.

As she dabbed an antiseptic wipe over the cut on my forehead, I hissed. "Damn it Kunal, it's stinging."

He said, "Oh, of course it will sting. You should see your face, what a mess you have made."

That was Kunal for you- deadly and sarcastic. He is one of the best officers I know, a tactical genius with nerves of fire. He had been my friend since our training days, always looking out for me and always making sure I didn't do something too foolish.

"Are you mad? What if something had happened to you?" He again shouted at me.

"Ego Kunal rather self respect. I had to fight to prove and break those fragile male egos who think I can't do anything. And I am not less than a man."

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