Chapter 8: Robbery in a Robbed House

Whether Fayez was a savior or a robber didn't matter anymore — not when the other party agreed without resistance.

Still, he felt uneasy about simply "providing" for Roshni. She didn't seem like someone who'd accept handouts forever. It'd be better to give her a stake in something meaningful.

"As for providing... I'm starting a security firm, maybe more ventures later. I'll give you a 10% stake. You can work from home, like an employee."

Roshni was caught off guard. In this era, women rarely left their homes — let alone imagined having a job or owning company shares. It felt foreign concept to her.

"I can't do a job. I don't have knowledge or experience. And besides..."She stopped mid-sentence. Likely, it had something to do with her being a girl.

"You don't need much. Basic education is enough. I'll help you.Besides, you're not planning to live off my money forever, right?"

He intentionaly said that to force her taking the offer.

"Fine. You win. But what job exactly? I won't have to work with strangers, right?"

Fayez smiled. He already had something in mind.

"You'll be the treasurer. Just handle money, records, spending — basic math. That's all."

"Sounds manageable... But if you're gone running the company, who'll protect us?"

"I'll teach you all how to fight," Fayez said half-joking — but he meant it."Plenty of women fought on the frontlines."

Roshni didn't know whether to laugh or panic. She stayed skeptical.

As he stood up to leave, he remembered something.

"Oh — one more thing. Can you gather all the cash in the house?Rupees might become useless soon."

That was a lie. The market would likely keep the rupee circulating for a while as taka would too much unstable as a currency. But Fayez just needed that money under his control.

"I'll bring it to your room."

Since when is it "my" room? Fayez wondered.

Soon after his peaceful "robbery," Fayez started counting the cash.₹7120 — which in future value (2025) would be over $20,000. But for a war torn nation, it's a big fortune.

That evening, he walked through the wide corridors — a beautiful architecture but destroyed by the war.

Then he heard it — footsteps.

His instincts flared.

Is it an ambush? My arm still isn't healed...

He had money in his pocket and a nearby bush he could hide behind.

He thought about running.

But then he remembered the faces of two girls and a child depending on him.

Even if it's a robbery in a robbed house... I swore to protect them. I won't let anything happen.

His resolve was strong, even if his body trembled.