-------------🙏"Namaste"🙏-------------
Raju regained consciousness and spotted Tanuj fleeing. With a swift motion and concealed by the lingering smoke, Raju vanished from sight, proclaiming, "I'll be back," while carrying Updesh, becoming invisible in his escape.
Shiven, carrying Nikhil, quickly made his way to the safety of the living room. There, he sought assistance from the old man, explaining the urgent need for healing. The old man promptly mixed herbs and potions, skillfully bandaging Nikhil's wound. "His wound will heal completely by morning," the old man reassured. Recalling a familiar connection, he continued, "I remember this child. He came to me six months ago, seeking help for someone in need of immediate treatment. He had no money, but he offered to work here in exchange for the potions. He worked at night for more than three months."
Shiven was momentarily lost in thought, contemplating the significance of this revelation, while Kamna carefully processed the information, trying to fit the pieces together. The events of the battle had taken an unexpected turn, revealing a web of interconnected stories and motivations, leaving Shiven with more questions than answers.
Meanwhile, Raju and Updesh tirelessly searched for Tanuj, wondering where he had run off to and why. Raju's frustration grew with every passing moment, and he questioned, "Where did he go, and why did he run away?" Updesh held a different perspective. The memory of their opponents' unexpected resilience and unwavering determination haunted his thoughts, and with a grave expression, he responded, "He was overcome by fear when he fled. Something is definitely wrong with that guy named Shiven."
Raju's frustration surfaced as he exclaimed, "We were so close to success! If Tanuj had held on for just a few more minutes, with my regained consciousness and his expertise in energy manipulation, we could have defeated them." However, Updesh offered a contradictory viewpoint, saying, "Who knows?"
Suddenly, their search came to an end as Updesh pointed towards Tanuj, who appeared visibly shaken, trembling with fear and perspiration. Raju looked directly at him and questioned, "Why did you run back?"
"I was terrified. He was no ordinary person; he was like a monstrous embodiment of death itself. Fighting him would have cost us our lives," Tanuj explained, his voice filled with fear and hesitation. Updesh, taken aback by Tanuj's words, tried to reason, but Raju laughed it off, saying, "What nonsense! You're scared of a mere brat." His tone shifted abruptly as he asserted, "Listen, I will take care of him. You have nothing to fear. And this time, you must break through Annagriha's defenses and steal those herbs."
Tanuj murmured in disagreement, "It's not right, none of this is right. Neither stealing nor fighting against those children." Gathering his courage, he continued, "We should turn back. I'm certain we'll find another way."
"No, we can't turn back now. We have no other choice," Raju bellowed, his tone commanding. "In this selfish world, you have to be selfish. If you're not going to do it, then I'll do it alone."
Lost in a sea of conflicting thoughts and emotions, Updesh grappled with the weight of their choices. Deep down, he yearned for a different path, one that did not involve stealing or fighting against those who were merely children. However, he couldn't ignore the harsh truth that they were cornered, left with no other viable options. He silently pondered, "Is what we're doing right? Is this truly our last option? But at this point, nothing else matters. We can't go back now." His mind revisited scenes from a few hours ago, reflecting on the gravity of their situation and how everything had led to this point.
Meanwhile, the scene shifted to a few hours ago when the three of them were discussing their predicament. Raju made a disheartening statement, "Look, even after two months, we won't be able to repay the debt from this job," his voice tinged with frustration.
Updesh agreed with a solemn nod. "That's true, but we don't have any other options, do we?" he reasoned, recognizing the desperation of their situation.
Tanuj spoke up, his voice laden with determination. "Look, I don't understand, but I need the money to save her," he confessed, revealing the underlying motivation behind their actions.
Raju and Updesh interrupted, their voices unified in support of Tanuj. "It's not just you; we need the money. Our friend's family is our family," they declared, emphasizing the bond that connected them.
"Look, maybe we can get a substantial sum through gambling," Updesh proposed, considering the allure of chance.
Raju hesitated, rejecting the idea. "No, we can't. Most likely, we would end up losing it all too. If we want the money, there is only one way: we have to steal," he suggested, his determination shining through, leaving the others shocked.
But Tanuj firmly refused, driven by his sense of morality. "What? We can't do that. She wouldn't be happy either," he asserted.
Raju, however, remained resolute. "Who's going to tell her? You? Me? Or Updesh?" he challenged, his certainty unwavering, convinced that their actions would remain undetected.
Tanuj's argument gained support from Updesh. "Still, it's not right. We can't steal from someone who has worked hard."
"Yeah," Tanuj replied, encouraged by Updesh's agreement, their united front standing against the allure of theft.
A tense silence settled over the scene as Raju's frustration became evident. "Look, you're not getting it!" he argued, his words echoing through the air. He turned away, his frustration palpable.
In contrast, Tanuj spoke softly but resolutely. "You're not getting it...."
Raju, growing increasingly exasperated, challenged them both. "Do you have any other ideas, then?" he demanded, his voice tinged with impatience.
Both Tanuj and Updesh fell into a disheartened silence, realizing that they had no alternative solution to offer.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, after a few seconds, Updesh broke the silence. "Okay, so if we are going to steal, then who will be our target?" he posed, acknowledging the uncomfortable truth they faced. Tanuj felt a mix of surprise and resignation, realizing that they were inching closer to an evil path.
Raju, displaying a lack of foresight, admitted, "I haven't figured that part out yet," a tinge of foolishness coloring his confession.
"Alright, so at least we've established that," Updesh proposed, trying to infuse some semblance of order into their desperate situation.
As they each pondered in silence, searching for a target to fulfill their desperate needs, Updesh's voice broke the stillness. "There's a herb field nearby, situated in the North-South direction. The herbs have already been harvested, and tonight the place is defenseless because the guard has gone to another town.
"Raju's eyes lit up with realization. "That's perfect! We'll just take what we need, nothing more," he explained, a sense of purpose settling within him.
Tanuj, unable to muster any further arguments or objections, agreed. As they approached the Annagriha, the sight that greeted them was unexpected. A team of children stood guard, protecting the herbs. Raju and Updesh came to a halt, exchanging surprised glances.
Tanuj, trying to make sense of the situation, questioned, "So what do we do now?"
Raju took charge, asserting, "Well, for us, the situation remains the same, despite these children being here."
Updesh nodded in agreement. "Still, we should formulate a plan. This is our one and only opportunity," he suggested.
Engrossed in their discussion, they huddled together, discussing their strategy. Meanwhile, Nikhil and his team maintained their vigilant watch over the Annagriha.
Amidst their deliberations, Updesh deduced, "It seems like those children are trained, but the two of us should be able to handle them."
Raju, brimming with confidence, declared, "Yeah, it should be a piece of cake. We'll go straight in, defeat them, and steal the herbs."
Updesh intervened with caution, "No, we don't know the extent of their strength. So both of us will act as decoys while Tanuj goes ahead and steals the herbs."
Raju considered the suggestion and found no fault in it. "There's no harm in that plan. Besides, Tanuj can also utilize his prana energy," he acknowledged, his gaze shifting towards the children. "I suppose it's a fine strategy, and we'll just have to relocate them from this place."
Back to the present, Shiven's mind was a chaotic whirlwind of questions and frustration as he trudged towards the back of the living room. Fatigue etched deep lines on his face, mirroring the weight of his thoughts. Why had Nikhil saved him? What did he want in return? And why had he been granted three months of treatment without any form of payment?
With each heavy step, Shiven's mind became consumed by suspicion and frustration. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Nikhil's actions than met the eye. A surge of aggression surged through him, finding release as he delivered a powerful blow to the nearby rack, cracking it into fragments. His words rang out in the air, laced with aggression and desperation.
"What is it that you want from me?" Shiven's voice trembled with a mix of anger and fear.
Meanwhile, Kamna, ever vigilant, kept her narrow eyes peeled for any sign of the thieves. She understood the gravity of the situation, the imminent danger that lurked in the shadows. Instead of following Shiven, she chose to remain at her post, her senses on high alert. She knew that protecting the old man and preserving their fragile sanctuary was paramount.
The scene was shrouded in tension, with Shiven's inner turmoil echoing through his aggressive actions and words. The air crackled with uncertainty and the weight of secrets yet to be revealed. As Kamna stood guard, her narrowed eyes reflected her determination and readiness to confront any threat that dared to breach their defenses.
In that instant, Raju and Updesh returned to face Kamna and Shiven in the ultimate showdown. With a steely resolve, Kamna rose to her feet, ready to confront her adversaries. Shiven's sharp ears picked up the sound of a disturbance, and without a moment's hesitation, he swiftly made his way from the back of the living quarters to the front. His senses on high alert, he was prepared to face whatever awaited him there. A fierce glare passed between Raju and Shiven, each recognizing the intensity in the other's eyes.
----: End of the Chapter:----
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