Page 9 of Twisted Bonds

He smiled. “What time do you want me to come there?”

“The shift begins at seven. But I will meet you here at six thirty.”

“You don’t have to come all the way,” he said. “I can come to the soup kitchen directly.”

“It’s not a problem. Until you get used to these streets, I’ll accompany you.”

Before he could tell her not to trouble herself for him, she waved. “Get a good night’s sleep. Bye, Mihir.”

“See you tomorrow, Chitra.”

He watched as she got on another bus that would take her to her place, which was near the temple. It was only when the bus disappeared from his sight that he turned and headed back to his place.

He knew he was going to spend yet another sleepless night because he couldn’t wait for the morning to arrive.

CHAPTER 4

It was almost five o’clock in the morning. Mihir pulled the long jacket closer while a cold wind blew over his face. Trying not to shiver, he held a map and walked in the direction of the soup kitchen, which was thirty minutes away from the university.

The roads were empty as it was too early and cold for anyone to be around.

A job.

Although he had served his people right from his childhood along with his older brother and sister in the Singoor region, he had never worked for money before. The idea felt strange.

But when Chitra proposed that he join a job where she worked, he decided to take her up on the offer. It wasn’t for money. It was to spend more time with the beautiful girl who continued to captivate him.

Even though he had barely known her for two days and spent only a day with her, he knew right away that she was someone special.

He smiled as he recalled the moments from the previous day. She was not only beautiful, but she was also funny, friendly, and generous-hearted.

“Hey you, stop right there,” a man’s voice spoke.

Mihir looked up from the map, and he saw two men standing in front of him. They were in black clothes and were wearing masks over their faces. One of the men held a knife in their hand.

“Give us your money,” one of the men instructed.

Mihir had been told by his university roommates about incidents where many students got robbed by masked thieves outside the campus. The incidents usually happened late at night. But right then, since it was early morning and the place was deserted, it made the thieves bold.

“Did you not hear us?” the man snapped. “Give us your money!”

Mihir looked at the two men for a moment and took out his wallet from the back pocket. He opened it and took out something.

“Give us all your money!” one of the men growled.

“I am giving you all the money,” Mihir calmly said as he handed the wallet. “This is a photo of my family.” It was a picture of him with his older brother and sister.

The masked man snatched the wallet from Mihir’s hand.

“Whoa! There’s a lotta money,” the man remarked in surprise, looking at the cash inside.

Mihir didn’t say anything. He opened his jacket slightly and placed the photo into his shirt pocket.

“What’s that you wearing!” the other man remarked.

The man was looking at the gold chain around Mihir’s neck.

“Take it out and give it!” the man demanded.

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