Author's Note: Actually, this is more of an announcement...SnickerishRogue and I have decided to co-author this fanfic! And of course, I'm eternally grateful to her for coming to my aid whenever I need inspiration...

From this point forward, please pardon any swearing...It's just what Laila does.

Idiotic Blunders

Idiot! Rikki mentally slapped himself. He had been a total idiot to fall for her. She had done it all on purpose, he knew. That was her job. It's what people like her did. They used their beauty and charms to seduce the opposite sex, and those stupid enough would easily fall prey to their wiles. Apparently he was stupid enough to fall for her charms.

He hated people like her, who toyed with hearts and emotions to make a living, without caring about the consequences. The fact was, as Rikki had always believed, that people like her had hearts of stone. Maybe they didn't have hearts at all. How could they pretend to like so many men, and then leave them in the dust without a second thought?

He hated her. He hated her, he hated her…

Then why did he see her face when he least expected it? Why did her laughter still ring in his ears?

He didn't know how to answer himself. And it unsettled him that he didn't have any answers.

"So, Rikki darling! How are you feeling?"

Huffy Bhai was smiling up at him. "Did you have a good time?"

Rikki nodded faintly. "Yeah. Thanks, Huffy Bhai."

"It's the best place to go on a Friday night." Huffy Bhai sat down in a chair opposite Rikki's bed. "That Laila…"

Oh no. Not her…

"She's a stunner, isn't she?"

"Hmmm." Rikki nodded again. She was a stunner, all right. But he wasn't going to admit it, especially not to Huffy Bhai.

"Bas? Nothing else?" Huffy Bhai looked mildly amused at Rikki's lack of enthusiasm.

"Is there really anything else to say?" He was trying to be indifferent, but Huffy Bhai wasn't going to live with that.

"Well, you were talking with her, na? And you seemed to be having a good time."

"You didn't tell me about her job." Rikki replied quietly, looking at Huffy Bhai.

He seemed slightly flustered, but only for a second. "I told you that she was a dancer," he said.

"Not that. Her real job."

Huffy Bhai was silent for a moment. "It was her choice to tell you, and she did. Rikki, I know you feel awkward around people like her, but she's very close to me. Shabbo cares for her like she would care for a daughter, and I feel the same way. You'll have to give her the respect she deserves. Just do that much, if nothing more."

Rikki nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Huffy Bhai. If you say so-"

"Wonderful! That's the way to be, Rikki."

Huffy Bhai had apparently come upstairs to ask him about Laila, because he left the attic soon afterward, leaving Rikki to his thoughts.

Respect. If Huffy Bhai wanted Rikki to treat Laila with respect, of course he would respect her. On the other hand, maybe it would be better if he just avoided her…Then he wouldn't risk making any more fatal blunders…From now on, he would keep his distance…

If that was the way he was going to be then it was fine with her. Laila kicked her shoes off her feet, and massaged her heels.

Maybe she shouldn't have told Rikki so callously that she was a prostitute. Maybe then his demeanor wouldn't have changed all of a sudden. He probably was like everyone else, looking down at her, for being who she was.

Laila had learnt the harsh truth earlier in her life. That to be in her profession she had to learn to be callous or risk getting hurt. What was that saying? Something about hurting others before they had a chance to hurt you.

"Saala, why should I care what he thinks? Meri jooti…" Laila sighed. For some reason she did care what Rikki thought.

She could still remember his eyes, as he'd smiled at her. They were so kind, it made her feel warm all over. A warmth she'd never felt before. She rubbed her arms as the feeling washed over her.

"Thand hai?" Shabnamji walked in, inquiring if Laila was feeling cold.

"With my tough skin, no way. Don't worry."

"But I always worry, my dearest. It's my job. Besides I saw that guy at the bar harassing you again. You have to be careful."

Laila hugged Shabnamji, "I know, my pyaari Shabbo Aunty, but he's not bad. Apna Haath Safaai, he only flirts harmlessly, and on the occasion his hands wander. I don't think I have anything to worry about."

"Paagal! Okay, if you say so. What about that Bhatinda ka Chokra, Huffy Bhai brought in today? You guys seemed to be having fun."

"Who?" Laila pretended not to know what Shabnamji was talking about.

"That, what's his name? Ronnie Thakkar?"

"Rikki Thukral." Laila supplied, the name coming easily to her. Another thing to add to the list of "Why Rikki Thukral bothered her." How was it that she managed to remember his name after only one meeting but had a hard time recalling Haath Safaai's real name, considering he bothered her everyday?

"So you do know who I am talking about?" Shabnamji interrupted Laila's thoughts. "What did you think of him?"

"Well, he's a guy. That pretty much sums it all up, right there. All guys are saalas. Nothing much to it." Except that he wasn't like other guys she'd spent time with, and she didn't know why.

Laila shook away her thoughts. It wouldn't help thinking like that. She'd made a rule that she abided by. No relationships, no attachments in her field. It was easier that way. Just let the men do what they wanted. She got her money and she was happy. It paid for her survival. That was all there was to it. Rikki Thukral wasn't going to change a thing. She wasn't going to let him.

Author's Note: Just a quick crash course in Hindi: Haath ki Safaai, literally meaning "cleaned by hand," is used figuratively to talk about stealing. Since one of Laila's customers seems so loose with his hands, she nicknames him Haath Safaai ('cause that's just what Laila does).