The basement was dark. They dare not put the lights on and risk giving their location away. Though this was an underground basement and there was very slim chance of anyone finding them here, but still better safe than sorry.

Another window broke upstairs with a sharp shattering noise. They could here the grumbles of the angry crowd gathering outside the house, increasinv in numbers by the minute, primitive animals in guise of humans. The little girl clutched onto her father's shirt as her father held her in his lap, trying to give her some form of security in the embrace.

The mother of the girl sat beside the father stoic and silent, she looked resilient enough to weather a storm, to stand beside the man of her life. But deep down, under the garb of a strong woman there was a mother, terrified for her daughter in this darkness, the mob outside was angry and they could do anything at any moment.

"It will be fine Sakshi" The man spoke, he sounded like he was trying to assure himself more than his wife.

"I know Mahi" She pressed his hand as they sat, almost shocked into silence or may be there was nothing else to say.

There was loud thudding noise, Sakshi shuddered at it. They have broken the gate.

"Mahi..." She started.

"Shhhhh" Mahi sushed her, they must not make sound.

"Papa...what will happen?" Ziva asked.

"Nothing will happen baby" Mahi consoled "Don't talk now"

They only had to break the main door now to enter the house.

Suddenly, above the rumbles and shouts and bangs on the door, came another high pitched sound. A siren, police siren.

They could hear faint commotion outside. Announcements, warnings and dispersing crowd.

And after what felt like eternity, they saw a light come down the stairs.

"Thik ho tumlog?" They heard the familiar voice, voice which always signified "safe" to Mahi, the voice of Chittu.

He was accompanied by two officers.

They lead them upstairs. The house was in shambles, there were remains of acid bombs and rocks here and there.

Sakshi shivered at the possibility of the crowd reaching them in the basement if police hadn't come.

"The crowd has been dispersed" The officer spoke in a formal tone "We will try and get police protection to the house."

"Thank you officer" Mahi said in a tired tone.

"Actually after what you have done, and given how passionate Indian crowd is..." The officer stopped himself realizing how rude his statement sounded.

"Was natural and expected, I know" Mahi completed "I am a scum, and I don't care what they do with me but you see my little girl and my wife, they haven't done anything and the crowd today didn't just come for me, they came for them too."

"I didn't wanna say like that" The officer said "I will put protection in this house as soon as possible."

Mahi nodded.

As soon as the officer left, little Ziva slowly approached Mahi pulling on his trousers.

Mahi lifted her up, "Yeah baby?"

"Why are they angry on you papa?" She asked

"Because they think I betrayed them" Mahi answered truthfully

"But you cannot betray anybody, you are the best papa in the world" Ziva said, with the innocent trust oozing in her voice.

Mahi hugged her close. This innocent voice can keep him going forever, against everything, in every situation.

Sakshi was looking around the house, one of the stones had hit the big photo in the hallway, the photo of her complete family, the whole ICT, their kids wives, clicked at the time they cam to Ranchi. Now the glass was completely cracked, just like her family was.

She looks back at Mahi, lifeless eyes, drooping shoulders, as though she was looking at a different man than the one she married. And Ziva, her ever bubbly, talking 1000 words per minute, hyperactive little daughter. Now so scared and coccooned in her father's embrace. Nothing was same anymore, and she doubted if everything ever would be same.

"Tu chinta mat kat Mahi" Chittu said "Police protection de denge toh problem nahi hoga, par tumlog ghar se mat nikalna jo bhi lagega hum le aayenge"

"Nahi" Sakshi suddenly said in a firm voice, all turned to her.

"Tum kya kahna chahti ho?" Chittu asked.

"Yahi ki hum ab yaha nahi rahenge" Sakshi said.

"Kya kah rahi ho Sakshi?" Mahi said.

"Thik hi kah rahi hun" Sakshi said "Mumma papa ko toh UAE bhej hi diya hai bhaiya ke paas...ab hum bhi yaha rah ke kya karenge?"

"Desh chhor ke jane ki baat kar rahi ho Sakshi?" Mahi asked a little shocked.

"Nahi" Sakshi said after a moment's consideration "Bas aisi kisi jagah jane ki baat kar rahi hun jaha yeh log, yeh media kuch na ho"

"Jaogi kaha par?" Chittu asked.

"Mahi" Sakshi said "Wahi chalte hain jaha tum academi kholna chahte thhe. Yaad hai tumhe?"

Mahi looked at her searchingly, and then said in slow tired voice "Thik hai Sakshi"

"Arey Tum dono pagal ho gaye ho kya" Chittu said.

"Nahi yaar, Ziva jitne din aise situation mein rahegi uss pe asar parega" Mahi said "Chale ja na hi thik rahega, aur rakha hi kya hai yaha pe, ab jab sare rishte khatam hi kar diye hain maine toh aur kya hoga rehke?"

Chittu looked at his friend, he didn't like the idea at all, but he had been there for Mahi always, so how could he not now.

"Thik hai hum bandobast karte hai" Chittu said.

"Tu na hota toh mera kya hota" Mahi smiled despite himself.

"Ab zyada senti mat jharo tum" Chittu said "Par bhagwan agar hai na Mahi, toh ekdin sab thik ho jayega dekhna tum"

Mahi didn't reply, he just let out long defeated sigh. He didn't dare to hope.

2 weeks from this day, the every major news channel and every major news paper was abuzz with a single news "India's ex captain, Match fixer, conspiracy creator, and lobbyist Mahendra Singh Dhoni has seingly dissapeared from Ranchi with his family, it doubted that bieng accused and proved guilty of crimes line match fixing and lobying in team selection has led him to take this action."

Indian team watched this news in Australia as they were playing a series there.

"Good for him" Virat said in disgust as Ro switched the tv off.

In a posh South Delhi bungalow in India, a small group of people met, celebrating the disapearance MSD.

"Cheers to the end MS Dhoni" They said as they raised a toast.

Somewhere, away from all this, in quite little unknown nook, a small family of three were starting there new life.

Everything had changed in span of a month. All this had started exactly one month ago...