Katha wakes up, her eyes filled with sleep. She reaches over and picks up her phone, you tube still on, some Japanese anime ongoing...oh! I fall asleep...she thinks. Tapping on screen few times, she closes off the app, and phone screen goes blank. Placing the phone beside her, like some soft toy, she goes back to sleep, closing her eyes.
Thud
Thudthud
Katha's eyes flew open, heart pounding as she pays close attention and the banging continued. The sound felt like things falling on the ground. It was almost inaudible yet it also didn't felt like whoever it is, is trying to muffled the noise...is it some burglar?.. she sits up instantly, opening her phone, dialing for cops when she stopped. Her vision swarmed with flashes of her past encounter with people belonging to that cast. And she immediately discarded the idea of calling cops as she didn't want to add to her trouble. For now its only thief she would have to deal but with those people with caps and name tags, she has to deal with a less civilian interrogation under her own roof. Getting down her mattress, she takes out pepper spray and a pocket knife from her bag, she carry everyday. Don't judge. She is a woman living on her own. These two are her sidekicks.
Stealthily getting out of her room, she made her way to the stairs. She lives in a two floor apartment. Actually the place is a fully furnished house and the room she lives in used to be the guest room. The owner wanted to lease the whole property but it was out of budget for Katha's paper salary. So, she requested the old man and managed to convince him to allow her the guest room. The rest of the house is given to another on lease. However, the tenant has moved out two back. Since then, it has only been Katha living there. She clearly remembers the owner coming back and locking the floor when Katha refused his offer to shift down in less price.
Moving on quiet feet, Katha reaches down. Fear gripes her as she sees the door jarred open, lights turned on...what an audacity!! Turning on lights to rob!!...thieves don't have fear these days...
Clipping out the pointed sharp blade part of the knife, Katha moves inside, her steps skulk. Eyes roaming around and quickly zoning down on the snow white hoodie. At the moment, standing outside a closed door. His hands struggling with the door handle. Like they are in a match. Katha gulps, inhaling as her breath stutters in terror. Heart jumping inside the ribcage. It won't be her first encounter with violence but it surely will be her first time having hands on combat with a thief.
...don't get scared Katha...don't get scared....when man dares..God helps...you die the moment you got scared....all these quotes runs in a loop in Katha's mind as she strides with hurried legs, both hands raised as she lungs for the robber. However, a high pitch shriek left her mouth, as her feet get caught in black palazzo pants, over flared from the bottom. She lurks forward, eyes widen as she sees the thief turning her way in haste. Her knife catches the other on neck. Pepper spray falling off her hold as she tries to catch on something to stop herself from going down. She felt the man reaching out for her which only propelled her to dig the knife more. She heard an yelp before she dropped down on floor. Her heart jackhammering as she stretches her limbs and picks up the spray bottle. Still on floor, she turned, pepper spray raised and ready when a hand grabs her  hand. The hold firm and crushing. Katha closed her eyes as her fingers trembled in pain. The bottle falling down her hand. Not ready to give up just yet, Katha used her free hand to land a punch on the guy, which only made her fall flat on back, making her more vulnerable to prey.
"Easy there, Tiger", a male voice tinched with equal playfulness and mockery, comes to her ears.
Katha opened her eyes, now filled with tears, and finds the thief staring down at her. His eyes, a mix of black and blue. Face clean shaved. Jawline straight and sharp. Few strands of hair falling off the neatly combed hair. His features delicate yet masculine, if that's possible...since when robbers started being this handsome?...the woman slapped herself mentally, shaking off the ridiculous thought. She is better than this. She had first hand experience how good looking face doesn't discrimate with psychos.
"You done?", the man tilted his head to side.
Katha, not ready to give up so easily, lifts her head, striking against the man, simultaneously kneeing the other in groin.
The effect was immediate. Either the man was not prepared for it, or he didn't thought that Katha would make such a move, the effect was immediate. His hold on Katha lightens as he hollered in pain, cupping himself, falling on his ass on the ground.
Katha, taking the opportunity, hurriedly picks up the knife from the floor, before scurrying away to a safe distance. Her breath jaggered, uneven. Hair, long opened, messily scattered over her shoulders. She looked like a caged animal ready to strike any moment to get away.
"What the fudge!!!", the man cries out, his whole face contorted, like he is in utter pain, which he might have been.
"Get out be before I call co cops", Katha stuttered. She bluffs, knowing she really can't call cops as it would only lead to uncomfortable questions and judgmental eyes. But thief doesn't have to know that, right?"
*****
Destiny cackled noisily, thoroughly enjoying the show. "Good job Katha! This arrogant piece of crap deserves it"
Fate, who was seated across her, smiled a little. Shaking his head. " You really do hold grudges, Destiny. You should not do that.", he looked over at Arth, and grimaced," Angel or not, no male anatomy can bear that brutal kick"
That remark only send Destiny into another fit of laughter. "Oh God! I am really enjoying it. I am team Katha already!"
Fate chuckled softly, but remained silent. The story has begun. Characters have met, but misunderstanding had already placed herself firmly between them. Completly different from what he and Destiny has thought of. Looks like, time is still being a lazy bum.
*****
"What's wrong with you woman!", Arth gritted through clenched teeth. Placing hands on wall for support, he comes up to his feet. Anger flashing in his eyes...just what this human is acting crazy for?... It is not how woman react to him, especially in their first meet. The angel may have forgotten most part of his life, but it's most certainly not his first time with an opposite gender and that too a human. He has seen his face. Woman, no matter in what realm, no one can deny his charm. Then how come this ordinary human has not only kicked his ass literally but has managed to hurt his male pride at the same time. The remembrance only fueled his rage. He limped towards the lunatic human," Have you lost -
"Stop!", Katha back steps, her back meeting the wall. She brandished the small knife in air," Stop or you die today"
...what in the freaking Heaven!!!...Arth faltered. He gives a long stare to Katha - the human, whose red strings he was supposed to severe. His gaze flicked to the little finger of left hand and indeed there's a thread tied around. Arth eyes narrows a bit...what's that?..
Katha followed robber's gaze," wh what are you staring at, thief?"
Arth lifts his head," thief? Who? ME?", he pointed to himself before lifting his index, placing it beside his temple, wiggling in gesture," are you crazy? What kind of thief comes with luggage and stuff?"
"Wh what?", Katha fumbled. As seconds are trickling and she is actually talking to the burglar, a logical part of her brain is going back through each event.
The man upped his chin towards Katha," beside you"
Katha, like an idiot, does the same. Floor slips beneath her feet as she finds two large suitcase, airport tags still attached on them.
Airlinecode ......HL
Flight number...... HL342
Destination......  JFK?   DED?
Passenger name
Her brain goes over the letters again. And again. And again.
Arth Riyansh Arya.
Arth Riyansh Arya?
Arya?
Riyansh Arya?
Katha's brain malfunctioned as she goes through the name again and again before looking up at the burglar. Her face pale white.
"You...Arya...Riyansh Arya? Arya uncle... this house owner's son?"
Arth smirked, evilly. He crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his head to side, left corner of mouth tugging up in a diabolical smile. " one and only"
****