Kritika's POV :

"Ma !" I smile, pretending to be angry by letting out a small huff and ignoring him. He tugs at my dupatta, and I already imagine his pouty face and teary eyes he's gonna make to calm me.

"Maa!" His voice turns wobbly and I finally turn, holding his cheeks. 

"Maa ! No leaving Ar.." I chuckle as he struggles to pronounce his own name, frowning adorably. I smile, pulling him up to kiss his forehead. He giggles, placing a sloppy kiss on my nose as I laugh.

"I will never leave you, Aryan baby.. Now let's go the mall ! We'll eat ice-cream and buy teddy bears.." His eyes light up, and that moment I swore that I would never allow it to dim, despite being a single mother and busy one at that.

A phone call made me put Aryan on the couch, picking up the call. It was my boss, Trivedi Sir. I had to admit that he wasn't like most bosses- snobby and arrogant.

But he could be difficult to work with.

"Yes, Sir ?" I sighed in relief. 

"Okay, Sir. Thank you." I looked at my son, who blinked his innocent eyes at me.

"What Maa?" 

"Come on, baby ! We are going to the mall !" He laughed excitedly, stretching his arms out as I held him close to my heart.

We stepped out of the house in matching attires. I wore a pastel kurti and jeans, while Aryan wore pastel and white outfit. As I put him inside the car, I could sense the judgmental gazes of the neighborhood. 

Most of them were old ladies who had absolutely no sense of privacy and filter. But I honestly didn't get it. Why couldn't just live their elite lives and leave us alone ?

"Ay ! Get married to some man before Aryan realizes how messed up his life is !" 

"And mind your business so that your husband wouldn't divorce you !" I muttered, gritting my teeth, smiling at them sweetly to avoid another brawl.

I was a high level diplomat who wasn't in the need of money. Aryan could comfortably spend his life, and we were rich enough to live in  4 BHK flat in an urban community. As a government official, I had a lot of benefits, so there was nothing to worry about his future.

"Ma! We reached !" I jerked as I saw the huge billboard and the massive neon lights that confirmed his words. I sighed.

I really needed to stop zoning out and focus on the present. He tugged at my sleeve, kissing my cheek with a pleading expression.

"Maa, can we first go to popsicle shop ?" I looked further to the right of the road, seeing a small shop that offered different flavors of popsicles and desserts. 

I nodded, smiling as he held my pinky finger and walked across the bustling road. It was late evening, and the traffic was slowly increasing. 

As we neared the shop, I felt shivers down my spine as I realized that the shop was at the entrance of a dark alleyway. The stares of the men weren't helping either. Most of them were casual wage workers and others were vagabonds, but their stance and gaits were slightly different from the usual men.

It was as if they were a part of a darker group. They didn't look like the usual gangster lackeys, and it scared me. I knew how men would gaze and then make a move. I just wanted to run away from here, but little Aryan wouldn't understand.

He squealed and jumped around as he saw various shapes and different flavors of ice creams, screaming excitedly. 

"Ma, I want this." I nodded, pulling out my purse to pay and get the bill. A waiter in his red uniform gestured for us to sit on the chairs as they got our order.

Aryan wiggled around in his seat, his eyes curiously observing his surroundings. I stood up as the man shouted for our order.

"Aryan, wait here, Okay ? I'll get our order." He blinked obediently, and I turned. Only later would I live to regret it.

I held the popsicle and a sandwich in a tray, turning to look at his excited face, but to my horror, he wasn't there.

I acted fast. I asked one of the person sitting opposite us, and he pointed to the direction of the alleyway exit.

Shit. I rushed out, screaming his name and begging for him to come out. I switched on the flashlight, knowing Aryan wouldn't have gone too far.

Loud shrieks and sounds interrupted my thinking. My breaths grew uneven as the worst scenarios popped up. What if I was too late ? My fingers typed up the emergency numbers, but I wasn't foolish enough to realize that the police could save us.

This area seemed too dark. As I approached closer, my eyes widened as I saw Aryan huddled against the wall, closing his mouth in shock. I turned forward, walking slowly to avoid being seen. I quickly grabbed him as I closed his mouth. I bit my lip as I saw the horrendous scene unfold in front of me.

There were men in black, all kneeling in front of a humungous man seated on a wobbly chair. He wore shades, but his chiseled face and muscular body were too visible to be ignored. His clothes seemed branded and he looked at his men dangerously.

"You said he was dead, morons !  How the hell did his men appear in that small shop !"

A shivering man in casuals fell at his feet, sweat dripping down his forehead. His face bore harsh imprints of violence, with busted lips and purplish eye.

"Saab ! We killed most of them ! Maybe they were hiding.." The man kicked him harshly, his leather shoes stomping on his chest as the man struggled to take deep breaths.

"Saab !" After his loud shrill and a deadly silence as the man stopped struggling, I realized that I had just been a witness to a murder.

"Neeraj.." The man next to him whispered something. He looked scared, but who was I kidding?

Neeraj laughed, pushing the guy onto the ground as he gripped his chin.

"Do you want to end up like him, Rishi? I don't get it! He isn't even a mob boss!"

My hands shivered as I realized the gravity of the situation. Aryan closed his eyes in fright, hugging me tightly. I wanted to get up and run away, but my feet were frozen to the spot, numb in terror and memories of the past.

My parents had long perished, but their identities weren't simple enough that I could just move on and live a normal life. They had become victims to the underworld crime, and I wouldn't foolishly jump into it again.

I lost my balance and crashed against the concrete wall, and I froze. I heard the men shuffling around as footsteps neared us. I looked at a petrified Aryan, whose eyes were filled with unshed tears that made my heart ache.

"Who's there ?" I shivered at the rough undertone. These men wouldn't leave us alone; not after what I witnessed.

"Aryan.. I am going to run from here. Just close you eyes, okay baby ?" He let out a soft sound in response as I steadied myself.

"Stop !" I closed my eyes in fear as I knew we were spotted. I could feel their hungry gazes on me. I opened my eyes, and saw some of them licking their lips, smirks visible on their greasy faces.

"What's a beautiful woman like you doing here ? Answer me !" The burly man next to their leader barked out, and I felt Aryan flinching.

He didn't like anyone raising their voice against me. I shushed him, taking some courage to look up.

"Sir, it was just a mere accident. I assure you that it has nothing to do with.." The man in chair looked at me, removing his shades as he looked at me.

"You saw me killing a man. You think I'd let you go?" A blank smile stretched out on his face, giving me chills.

He stood up, taking slow steps towards me. Aryan tried to act brave by glaring at him.

"Don't hurt my maa !" The man's eyes were filled with curiosity and amusement as he looked at the stupid toddler who dared to raise his childish voice.

"If you don't want your ma to get hurt, you shouldn't come to places like this and put her in danger, young man!" He was inches away from me as I took steps back nervously.

No. This couldn't be happening! I had to run away, but how?

"I suggest you let her go, Neeraj."

Those words from an unfamiliar voice was the last thing I heard as I collapsed against the cold and muddy ground, aware of Aryan's screams and frantic wails.