"Let me see that Vinayak's son. I will kill him on spot. How dare he played with my angel." Veera said cleaning the dust of a sword.

Samskriti and Shivani giggled hearing him.

"Didn't you say this on last time too? And what happened when you see him on that day. Sree Anna told that you were the one who first hided on the spot." Samskriti said chuckling.

"That..that because ...I didn't have weapon that time. And I was on a fast too. Otherwise I would have finish him that day." Veera said.

"Mama, Seriously you are the most brave warrior our family have ever produced. No doubt." Shivani said teasing him.

The sisters burst into a laugh when Veera took it seriously.

It was then they heard the sound of vehicles outside.
"Appa came." Samskriti showed excitement like a kid and rushed to the door. There she saw her Appa coming outside from the front seat. She ran towards him and hugged him smilingly. He hugged her back. That was when she noticed a few injured man standing behind her Appa.

"What happened to them?"she asked.
"Nothing a small encounter." He replied making her shock.
"Appa.."she called scaring.
"Nothing Angel. See I am alright." He assured her.

"Bava, who did this?" Veera asked tensed.
"That Vinayak has sent people to kill me. But luck was with me this time too." Sooryamoorthi said gritting his teeth.
"Appa, you should take care." Shivani said.

Within this time, Sreeram also accompanied them. He had a few injuries which are not serious.
"Get him outside."Sooryamoorthi gestured to Sreeram.

Sreeram went to the car just beside them and opened the door. From that, first Guna and Vinay got out. The three men helped Lakshya to get out from the car. He had an injury on his chest. Someone have stabbed him on his chest. The wound has been dressed perfectly. Samskriti couldn't believe her eyes what she is seeing. His condition made her more shock.

He came infront of them with their help. His eyes met Samskriti and within a second he averted it to another corner.

"You are going to stay here from today onwards."Sooryamoorthi said to Lakshya and his friends.

"Sreeram, arrange him a room and take care of him." He said to Sreeram and he nodded.

"Thank you for everything. My choice was right. You proved it today. Take rest. You would get whatever you want on that room." Sooryamoorthi said caressing his hair. That made Samskriti wonder.

"I know how to get things what I want. This is not new for me. I will be back soon. Trust me " Lakshya said.
Sooryamoorthi smiled at his confidence.

Sreeram and his friends helped him to walk. Before leaving he took a look at Samskriti who was standing there without understanding anything. Before she could realize it, he averted his eyes from her. They left.

"Appa, who is he?" Shivani asked.
"He is Lakshya. He saved our angel yesterday." Sooryamoorthi spoke and both Shivani and Veera smiled.

"And today he saved me" Sooryamoorthi added making everyone confused.

"He is the one who saved me and Sreeram from Vinayak's men. I didn't get any injury only because of his courage and skill. While trying to save me, he got stabbed at chest. We went to hospital and dressed his wound" he continued.

"He is a warrior I think. Like me. Thank God. You sent him at right time." Veera said.

"He will be staying here from today onwards. For our protection. Take good care of him."
Shivani nodded.
"As his name indicates, he is a Devil for enemies." Sooryamoorthi said.
"Devil??" Samskriti asked.
"Yes. Everyone calls him Devil. But he is a good man. Thats what I understood."he replied.
"Appa, you go and take rest." Shivani said and he left.
Samskriti stood there thinking.
_____________________________________

Samskriti looked through the window hole. She saw his friends applying medicine on Lakshya's wound. He was controlling his pain. She felt sad seeing him in that condition. She entered inside the room slowly.

Lakshya raised his eye brows seeing her. She shook her head in response.
"Dinner is ready. Akka is calling for you both." She said to his friends.

"We will have after dressing his wound." Guna said continuing his job.
"I will do it. No problem"she said and Lakshya glared at her. She remained unaffected.
"May be you don't have problem. But the person who owns the wound have some problem with girls touches."Vinay replied making her surprise.
"Can't you shut your mouth Vinay?"he shouted.

"Hey, I am daughter of Sooryamoorthi and this is my home."she said in a threatening way.
"So?"Guna asked.
"So get up and go have your dinner."she ordered.
"And what about this wound?"Vinay asked.
"I will dress it."she said.

Guna and Vinay looked at her in disbelief.
"Dont look at me like this. I am not going to kill your friend."she said.
"What if he kills you? Dont try to wake up the devil in him." Vinay warned.
"You both go.."she pointed towards the door.
"And what about his dinner?" Guna asked.
"I will give him dinner after this"she replied.

"Ok Lakshya. All the best." The friends left while he was glaring at them.
"Hey idiots. Dont go" he shouted.
"Dont shout. It's not good for you "she said sitting beside him.
He immediately moved away. She giggled.

She took the medicine in her hand and was about to apply it on his wound.
"Dont touch me."he said pushing her back. She was about to fall down, when he held her and made her sit straight. In the process he gets hurted.
"Ahhh."he screamed in pain.
"What happened?"she asked worrying.
"Can't you see? This wound. It's hurting"he said loudly.

"Wait..Dont move now. Pls allow me to do this."she said.
He kept quiet.
She slowly applied the medicine on his wound. Her touch felt very soothing for him. For a moment he closed his eyes calmly. She dressed the wound carefully. He looked at her in wonder.

"Finished.."she said.
He is brought back to the world by her voice.He quickly averted his eyes from her. She smiled.
"Thank you."he said and wondered himself. He is not remembering the last time when he said thank you to someone.

She brought dinner for him and feed him with spoon. He had it like a obedient kid.
"Do you want more?"she asked.
"No. Thanks"he said.
She helped him to wash his face.

Within this time his friends returned back. They looked at them in wonder how she is treating him and how patiently he is obeying her.

"Sleep now. And one more thing. After you recovered, don't stay here anymore. Leave as soon as possible." She said and left. He looked at her in surprise till she vanish from his sight.

"What a girl is she?"Guna opened his mouth.
"What a family is this? Her dad told us to stay here and now she is telling to leave."Vinay said.

Lakshya didn't reply. He was busy thinking about her.
"Lets sleep."he said.
_____________________________________
Next Morning

He woke up hearing the loud anklets sound. He saw his friends sleeping on another bed on the same room. He slowly got up from bed. It was difficult for him to move. But still he managed. He went to the balcony and saw a beautiful sight. At downstairs Samskriti is practising dance. She is singing too beautifully. He looked at her anklets which makes the rhythm for her steps. He watched her dance for a few minutes. Then he slowly took steps downstairs. Before reaching downstairs he slipped his foot. But she held him before he fell down. She glared at him while making him sit on a chair.

"Didn't doctor tell you to not walk without help?"she asked in a serious tone.
"I can't sit idle for a long time. I didn't used to it."he replied.
"Why are you so stubborn? Is it necessary that every goon must be stubborn and maintain an arrogant face?"she asked with a disbelief look.
"Someone don't like girls touch, but can watch them dancing without their permission. Too cheap"she said teasing him. He was embarrassed with her statement.
"That..I.."he stammered.
"Now no more excuses..you have been caught red handed."she laughed.
He looked at her laugh admiringly.

"Why did you ask me to leave yesterday?"he asked couldn't handling the curiosity he is having.
Her laugh suddenly faded away.
"There are a lot of problems already in this house. I don't want any devil to be added in that list. Especially you."she said.

"What's special for me?"

"The people in this house only knows to kill. "She said
"Me too. I am also a devil."he said.
"Then why did you save me?"she asked.

He didn't have answer.
"Dont spoil your life for us. Go away and save yourself. I am telling for your good. You have a good heart. Dont let it lose"she said.

He was surprised with her words. Most probably she might be the first one who told that he have a good heart.

"I don't like people hating each other and killing. I hate violence. I know there is something good still remaining in you eventhough you are a devil. That's why you saved me. Stop all this and escape from this horrible life. Think well. What are you getting after killing people? Can you sleep peacefully after getting curse from all these innocent people?" she said and left making him dumbfounded.

He recollected all her words again and again. No one cared for him till now. There was no one for him to advice him. He was travelling through a wrong path only. Day by day his sins were increasing only. In between all this, no one had told him that he have a good heart. No one tried to change his path or show him right. No one wants him to be safe. Everyone wants devil to be killed only. Now an unknown girl caring for him.
I hate violence.
Her words made him think once more. And then he retrieved his serious expression back.

"Hai Mr.Devil. "he turned back to see Veera coming towards him.
He didn't respond.
"Devil is angry I think. What to do? I will also get angry unnecessarily. I read in a book that brave people will get angry easily. Like me." Veera added and he gave him an unbelievable look.
"Did you like our home?" Veera asked and he just nodded.
"And what about the pain?" Veera almost touched his wound and suddenly he screamed. He glared at him while Veera was busy watching the muscles of Lakshya.

"Beautiful muscles. I too had such muscles at this age. Girls always disturb me seeing my fit body." He said pretending to recollect. Lakshya wanted to run away. He cursed the moment he decided to come downstairs.

"I was the biggest rowdy of our region. I used to defeat atleast 10 men alone." He said exaggerating.

"And then Sreeram's mom came to my life. She fell in love with me after seeing my fight. I too reciprocated her feelings one weak moment. And that was the end of all." Veera paused.

Lakshya noticed it and he felt interested.
"What happened after that?" He asked.
"On our first night, my wife, his mom asked me to promise her that I won't fight anymore. To fulfill the promise given to her, I stopped everything."

Lakshya heard it and suddenly remembered Samskriti's words. He tried to not focus on it. But he couldn't escape from her thoughts.

"My muscles gone, I became lean. Now no girls are interested in me. She is also gone making me alone." Veera acted like he is crying.

"Are you angry with your wife?" He asked.
"For what? Actually I am thankful to her. She saved me from hell and gave a beautiful life. It was only because of her I came to know about what is love. I got a family, son. All Thanks to her. Do you know the beautiful feeling of having our own family? It's a blessing to have someone to love us. There is no meaning for life without love." Veera said emotionally.

Lakshya smiled inwardly. He thought about his life. He is an orphan. He was brought up at an orphanage. He don't know anything about his family. He didn't meet anyone till now. Only companions in his life is his two friends who are even ready to die for him. That's the only love he is experienced in his life.

"By the way, even if any girl comes to love you don't fall for them. Think about your muscles before taking a decision." Veera adviced him.

"Veera, don't disturb him."They saw Sooryamoorthi and Shivani coming towards them.
"Here is your tea" Shivani gave him tea and he slowly started having it with much difficulty.

"Dont give him ears. He will eat it." Shivani said about her Mama.
Since no one was laughing, Veera himself laughed.
"Mama..."she warned him to stop.

Sooryamoorthi sat infront of him.
"Did you sleep well yesterday?"he asked.
He nodded.
"If you want anything, don't hesitate to ask us." Shivani said.
Shivani and Veera left.

"Who is trying to kill you?" Lakshya asked hesitately.
Sooryamoorthi thought for a second and then smiled. He said the entire story of his enmity with Vinayak and his son. Lakshya heard it. He didn't expect Sooryamoorthi to tell all this to him. He was more surprised.

"I am not afraid to die. But I have two daughters. Shivani will be safe with Sreeram. But my angel. She is too innocent. A small drop of blood can even scare her. I want to see her settling in life. I can't see her getting hurted. After giving her to right hands, I can die peacefully."he said.

Lakshya can see the entire love he is having for his daughter.
"Dont worry. She will be always safe. She is good at heart. No one can hurt her. God will be there to save her from all danger."Lakshya assured.

Sooryamoorthi smiled.
"Ok I will send someone to help you walk. Take some rest till breakfast gets ready." He stood up

"Lakshya. How did you reach here? There is no place left for us to search for you." Vinay and Guna came towards them.
"Good friends. You both are here to help him or to sleep well." Sooryamoorthi scolded and they gave a pale smile. He left after that.
Vinay and Guna supported him to walk. He suddenly heard the anklets sound and turned back searching for her. But she was not there.

"What happened?" Guna asked him.
"Nothing."he shook his head and left with his friends.
____________________________________

Here is the third chapter. Hope you will enjoy reading. Forgive the mistakes if any.

Happy Republic Day!!! Proud to be an Indian. Wish you all the best.