The café buzzed with quiet conversations and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Shristi sat at a small corner table, stirring her drink absentmindedly, lost in thought. The recent events had left her drained, yet she longed for a moment of peace.
The door swung open, and Wick walked in, his sharp eyes scanning the café until they locked onto her. Without a word, he strode over.
"You never listen to me, do you?" he said, his voice calm but laced with frustration.
Shristi sighed, placing her cup down. "What now, Wick?"
"I told you to inform me before going anywhere. Do you even realize how dangerous it is for you right now?" he pressed, his fingers tapping lightly against the table.
Shristi rolled her eyes. "I don't need a babysitter."
"Then stop acting like someone who needs one," Wick countered, his expression unyielding.
Before she could respond, a shadow loomed over their table.
"Well, well, well… look who it is," a voice sneered.
Both Wick and Shristi turned to see Sam, standing there with his usual arrogance, flanked by a few of his men.
Sam smirked. "So, you've got yourself a bodyguard now?"
Wick leaned back in his chair, unbothered. "Umm… not really," he said smoothly, "but definitely better than being a dog like you."
Sam's smirk faltered. "How dare you—"
Wick tilted his head. "Oh, relax. No need to bark, buddy. Besides, dogs aren't allowed in here."
Sam's jaw clenched, his fists balling up, ready to swing. But before he could take a step, one of his own men grabbed his arm and whispered something. Sam shot Wick a venomous look before scoffing.
"You're lucky," Sam spat. "This isn't over."
With that, he turned and walked out.
Shristi exhaled sharply. "Are you insane? He could've killed you!"
Wick smirked, stretching his arms. "I knew he wouldn't."
Before Shristi could argue, a hesitant voice cut in.
"Uh… Wick?"
Wick turned to see Shanky, one of his juniors, approaching with a cup of coffee in hand. He was visibly nervous, fidgeting as he held it out.
"I got you a coffee," Shanky said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Wick, still looking at Shristi, reached for the cup with a nod. "That's very sweet of you, Shandy. Thanks."
Shristi, still annoyed, turned her face away.
Shanky hesitated. "Umm… there's no milk, though…"
Wick popped open the lid, peering inside. "Ah. No milk, huh?"
Shanky's nervousness escalated. "Th-That's not gonna be a problem, is it?"
Wick exhaled, shaking his head. "Relax, guys. You know the difference between Wick and Vikram, right? Wick is the fighter. Vikram is the friend. Keep that in mind."
Shanky and his friends, especially Brian, visibly relaxed.
But then Wick took a sniff. His brows furrowed.
"Wait… is this flavored?"
Shanky swallowed hard. "It's peppermint…"
Brian's face turned pale. Everyone knew Wick had a short fuse when it came to things he didn't like.
Wick sighed dramatically. "Not a big fan of the flavor. Can I just get a regular coffee?"
Before Shanky could respond, Wick crushed the paper cup in his fist and let it drop to the floor.
His expression darkened as he snapped, "Can't you just get me a fucking regular coffee?"
The café went silent.
Wick grabbed a piece of bread from the table and shoved it into Shanky's mouth.
"Go get me a regular coffee," he ordered, his voice eerily calm.
Shristi had enough. She shot up from her seat. "That's it. I'm leaving."
Wick caught her wrist before she could storm off. His grip was firm but not forceful.
"Shristi," he said smoothly.
She turned, her eyes flashing with anger. "What?"
He leaned in slightly. "I want a week of your time."
Shristi narrowed her eyes. "Are you out of your mind? I'm still with Vivaan."
Wick let out a slow, exasperated sigh. "I think you misunderstood. I'm not asking time to impress you."
Shristi crossed her arms. "Then what do you mean?"
"I want you to train with me for a week. Self-defense. You need to learn how to protect yourself and the people around you."
Shristi blinked. "What?"
"You heard me," Wick said, his voice softer now. "You should know how to fight back. I won't always be there to protect you."
She stared at him, conflicted. Then, exhaling, she ran a frustrated hand through her hair.
"Fine. But I'm only doing this because I don't want to be a burden anymore."
Wick gave a small nod, satisfied.
"Good," he said, releasing her wrist. "We start tomorrow."
Without another word, he walked out of the café.
Shristi remained standing there, watching him leave, her emotions a tangled mess.
To be continued...