Gift

She was getting ready, when she saw those earrings placed on dressing table .She put them on and checked in mirror. They were not real diamonds, though it looked good.  Her thoughts traveled to O'Henry's "Gift of Magi."  A beautiful story of love and sacrifice. A year ago she would think, how Jim and Della made futile efforts for each other. Only if Jim and Della talked to each other and coordinated. But then today these 10 bucks earrings weigh more than world's heaviest stone. They now weigh on her soul. As Riddhima got ready to conclude first job, a tear fell from her eyes.

Ashish was a ghost. He didn't exist on papers. Ashish had rather achieved a unique fiat in India. He had brought all the investigation agencies of India together to flush him out. He smiled on this thought but the agencies were still on a wild goose chase. Today was a remarkable day. He would buy something special for Riddhima. Riddhima, the innocent young girl unaware of world's treachery. He also had one last job to do and he would get papers. He had it all planned, he would vanish in thin air with Riddhima.  He would tell her everything today.

Riddhima dialed his number, from a line which no one tracked. She had an opportunity to tell him about the trap lay ahead. But the courage left her all alone in this battle. He was a paranoid fellow, when they met first. He was like wind the always changing places. But Riddhima was a sharp woman, she figured his movements and later his trust on her had grown manifolds .He would never lie to her. So, it had been easy to track Ashish for past six months. They decided to meet around 5.00 at coffee shop.  She called her team and said meeting is scheduled at 4.00.

The whole area around Citymall was cordoned off by the agency. The central agency was tracking Ashish for a year now with the help of Riddhima who was a local cop. Ashish was wanted for 11 murders in past three years.  He had killed cops , news traders ,billionaires . He worked for a high profile group. A group that knew Governments, Companies and Mafia. Riddhima wondered if Ashish ever had an idea about the group. Like Ashish , the group was a ghost too and they were untouchable . The agency could only eliminate people like Ashish and cut the chain, slow them down.

The mall was quarantined. Every shop was occupied by cops. At 3.30, Rididhima was in her police van tracking movements around mall, and hoped agency would move on over her false tip. But fate had brought Ashish there early. Riddhima froze as she saw Ashish walking down the road on her laptop. 

Ashish was a happy man. He was so consumed from within that he didn't notice the changes around him. Tea stall hawker looked bright, the road had minimum traffic. A professional would have sniffed the trap but love. He was not expecting Riddhima anytime soon. He planned to buy a ring to propose her. He intended to buy many more things for her. In the coffee shop, Riddhima was growing restless. She called Ashish; this would be their last conversation. "Hi!" As Ashish heard her voice, he raised his head. He noticed every bit of agency’s preparation.  He felt a sudden pang from within, no the bullet didn't hit him. He now saw what lay ahead.  So, she is a prop or she planned everything, thought Ashish .She spoke again," Ashish, don’t"." He cut the conversation there and begun to walk towards the Citymall. Almost everyone from agency was having a clear shot at Ashish. They were waiting for a go from Riddhima.

But Riddhima couldn't give a go ahead.

As he walked towards cafe, Riddhima walked out in  police uniform with  gun in hand .She shot him.