20 Taarini

Due to layers and layers of loose sand which spread across the floor, Aditya's footsteps were muffled and couldn't be heard easily. Aditya saw two men who were beaten severely and tied up on one side. When Aditya was trying to figure out the actual situation, the woman moved towards one of the people who was rolling on the ground with pain while holding his right arm. Visible muscles could be seen on her arms as she wrapped the opponent's arm around her staff, she was panting heavily, loose strands of her hair stuck to her face due to sweat.

The woman had a small cut on her left arm which was bleeding slightly, Aditya then noticed that they were many sharp weapons sprawled around these injured people. Aditya was even more impressed which this woman's fighting strength.

As Aditya was marvelling about this scene, the woman looked at the person as she spoke calmly, "I never thought that Varma gang had the gall to mess with me in my territory, now tell me who is behind you if you want to keep your hand."

Fear and panic showed in that person's eyes but he still clenched his teeth and shook his head. The woman looked at the person and shook her head as she forcefully twisted the staff in a particular direction.

A pop sound was heard after which a high decibel howl was heard which caused Aditya to gasp when he saw the decisiveness of the woman. His only thought right the was to stay away from this woman at all costs. He even wanted to turn back now but his curiosity stopped him from doing this. That woman had dislocated the person's arm.

The woman left the right hand which fell on the ground at a very unnatural angle while the person gave another cry of pain. Aditya felt his stomach churn when he saw the deformed hand, he had never seen such injury before. He also saw that the people who were rolling on the ground crying with pain also stop making any sounds as they trembled to see the pain of their leader.

The woman stood and slowly walked to the other side of the person and caught his left arm as she started the same procedure of wrapping his arm around her staff as she slid the staff from under his armpit. Aditya trembled when he imagined the same scene repeating. The woman did not even bother asking the question as she just looked at the person, anyone could understand what would happen if he didn't answer.

"Star Empress, it was the Flame Tiger gang, they said that they would give me 20% of your territory if I could catch two of your gang members and lure you here to come alone." the person admitted, he was really regretting being tempted by the offer, how did he dare to go against this devil? He wanted to slap himself for his foolishness. Everyone in the Bangalore underworld had thought that since Star Empress's elder brother, who was the actual leader of Star gang, had been killed, Star Gang was just a lump of fat waiting to be cut and distributed by the other wolves. Never did he expect that this woman who had always remained low-key was such a terrific fighter.

The woman called Star Empress calmly looked at the person as she spoke, "I didn't ask you anything."

Another pop sound was heard followed by another louder cry of pain as another deformed arm fell lifelessly on the ground. Aditya did not expect that the woman would continue even when the person confessed. He knew that he was watching what they call underworld fights, but he was shocked that these people still used cold weapons instead of firearms.

"Now, who is going to release my people?" the woman calmly asked looking at the fallen men. Two people got up despite bearing much agony while gritting their teeth as they released the two men.

Thought the two men had bloody, swollen faces, they were still much better than those people on the ground. Their injuries were more 'visible' while the wounds inflicted by the Star Empress's staff were all internal, each one had at least broken one bone.

"Raju, Rana let us return." the woman calmly ordered while preparing to lead them out of this site.

Clap clap clap…

Aditya saw a group of five people walking exactly from his opposite side. The leader of the five was wearing a white suit, everything was white about this person, his clothes, tie, shoes etc. he looked like he was in his forties with thinning hair on his head. He was the one who clapped. He smiled exposing his full set of teeth in which Aditya saw some golden teeth, as he praised," I did not expect that the small girl who liked to blow bubbles while playing the park has grown so strong and reached great heights in 'Silambam' staff technique. Your elder brother Manu would have been proud. Alas, he died in an accident, pity."

"Shut up."

For the first time since the beginning, the woman showed signs of anger on her face. Her eyes turned icy as she looked at the leader in a white suit as she said, "You, Flame Tiger, are not qualified to take my brother's name and you know that he had not died in an accident."

"Taarini, let me advise you as an elder and as an acquaintance of your brother. The underworld is going to change soon, those who can't adapt to new rules are bound to be washed out." the person called as Flame Tiger spoke as if an elder was advising a junior.

Aditya wanted to smile at these names of these underworld figures, 'Star Empress', 'Flame Tiger'. Were they watching a lot of animation movies?

"how about this, you hand over 80% of East Bangalore to me and become my mistress, I will protect your properties and give shelter to your gang so you don't have to vanish in these chaotic times." Flame Tiger had the same genial smile as he said to the women called both 'Star Empress' and Taarini.

Taarini had a cold smile on her face as she turned and started to walk outside with the two men following her.

Flame Tiger sighed as he said, "Taarini, I tried to negotiate with you as I like you since when I saw as a kid, pity you never learn due to your stubbornness."

Aditya almost vomited when he heard this 'Uncle's confession, what kind of a pervert would hit on a child. When Aditya thought that everything had ended with Taarini walking out. He heard a sound which he heard only in his movies.

Bang!

One of the two persons who was following Taarini fell to the ground with a bloody hole in his back. Everyone in the scene jolted with this sound and were shocked. Aditya froze when he saw a live person being shot in front of his eyes. He forgot to breathe as he saw blood trickling down the hole as Taarini caught him. Her hand drenched in blood as she tried to stop the outflow. The person who was shot trembled for a few moments before his body became still.

Taarini's eyes became bloodshot with anger as she spoke calmly with a cold fury, "Flame Tiger..."

"Taarini, did you really think I was joking when I said that the rules are going to change. I know that since the underworld meeting convened by your elder brother five years back had prohibited usage of firearms in gang wars in Bangalore. But that rule has died with your brother. These are new times, new times need new measure." Flame Tiger spoke as he stroke his gun which was smoking lightly from the muzzle.

Aditya did not want anything other than to vanish at this moment, why did he have to come here? Why did he have to try to act cool by smoking? Why did he have to follow the sounds? Why did he not return when he saw the fight? Many regrets started appearing in Aditya's mind as he watched.

He turned and looked around the surroundings for potential covers which could protect him from gunshots. Luckily he found many, there were concrete bags, heaps of sand, gravel piles near him, though Aditya was not sure about other materials, he had seen a YouTube video where a person shot through sand and checked the depth of the bullet penetration. Though Aditya didn't remember the exact depth, he remembered that he had thought at that time, it wasn't much depth. So, Aditya was sure that the sand heap in front of him could definitely protect him. This calmed him a little as he continued to watch trying to stay as calm as possible.

He remembered when he gave an 'ultimatum' to Bunny that he would rescue his parents over his corpse. If he could not handle just watching such a scene, he would look down upon himself. So he inspired deeply as he observed.

Taarini stared Flame Tiger with cold eyes, though she did not show fear at the seeing a gun, she did not make any extra movements.

"See, when a firearm is used, its that simple. You look at these people who could not beat you even when they ganged up on you, but look at me, even though I am not a fighter, I could get you to lie under my crotch just the same. don't you think it makes many things convenient."

Taarini was just about to say something but a blunt impact hit her head which stunned her. A sharp pain confused her as she felt dizziness. Her figure shook as she found it hard to maintain balance, she fell on her four limbs as she looked back. There was no one else but Rana who was her brother and gang member. Her vision blurred as she held her head where it was hit, she gasped in pain as she saw two Ranas due to double vision.

Rana dropped the iron rod as he walked towards Flame Tiger as he said, "Elder sister, I thought that with Elder Brother's death, you would change and lead us to become the biggest gang in Bangalore's Underworld but I was very disappointed that you were the same as the elder brother. You have many qualms to smuggle drugs, encourage prostitution or extort money from the wealthy. How much money could we make by running entertainment centres like pubs and bars? I have lost my patience waiting for you to change. That was why I contacted Flame tiger myself and surrendered to him."

Though Taarini heard the words, it took a long time for her to understand the meaning, it was as if her brain had suddenly become slow. She had trouble concentrating, she felt as if someone left an alarm clock in her head as the ringing sound didn't stop. She felt nauseating.

Flame Tiger walked up to her while he hit Rana head in a jovial way, "Pig, who is going to be responsible if you knocked her out or worse got her killed. How am I going to enjoy her?"

Rana rubbed his head as he laughed embarrassingly, he said, "You look at her big brother, she is awake but doesn't have the strength to resist, you can do anything to her, even many embarrassing things which she would rather die than do if she was fully conscious."

"Good, good, welcome to my gang, from today I will gift you a bar on MG road, look after it well." Flame Tiger laughed as he walked towards Taarini with lustful eyes as he scanned her body curves while licking his lips.

"Taarini, I promise you will never forget this, it is going to be remarkable and never-ending night for both of us." when Flame tiger reaching his hand which was not holding the gun to hold Taarini, A sharp crack sound was heard followed by a pitiful yell of Flame tiger.

The gun fell down as Flame tiger held his hand with the other while looking at a medium size gravel stone which was lying harmlessly on the ground, beside his gun. He never expected that there would be another person in this scene and that person had actually dared to attack him.

He turned towards the direction from which the stone hit him, apart from the light in the centre the rest of the construction site was shrouded in darkness. From the pain radiating from his arm, he knew he definitely broke a bone. He was driven mad that his 'good' deed would be interrupted by some bastard.

Veins popped from Flame tiger's forehead as he shouted towards the darkness, "If you are a man, come fight from front, you motherf**..."

Before he could finish his words, another stone shot from the darkness with high speed knocking into Flame Tiger's mouth. Blood leaked out from his mouth as he spat the stone out. Besides the stone, flame Tiger's followers also saw a shiny gold tooth.