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Chapter 5 - Fragile alliance

Wounded but resolute, Rohit navigated the labyrinthine alleyways, leading Sanju through the concealed passages toward the drainage canal. The city, veiled in darkness, became their refuge as they darted through shadows and narrow pathways, the sounds of their pursuit gradually fading into the distance.

The drainage canal, a subterranean network hidden beneath the city's infrastructure, beckoned as their escape route. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the damp tunnels as they descended into the concealed underworld. The distant clamor of police sirens and the sporadic bursts of gunfire above ground seemed like a distant memory.

Rohit's injured shoulder throbbed with each step, but the urgency of their escape propelled him forward. Sanju and the tall robber, following Rohit's lead, matched his pace. The drainage canal, dimly lit by sporadic overhead lights, unfolded before them like a serpentine maze. The stench of dampness and the murmur of flowing water accompanied their clandestine journey.

The trio, relying on the familiarity of the labyrinthine passages, moved with practiced agility. The twists and turns became second nature as they navigated the subterranean channels. The echoes of their footsteps mingled with the distant sounds of the city above, creating an eerie symphony that mirrored the unpredictable nature of their escape.

As they delved deeper into the drainage canal, they found a temporary sanctuary from the chaos above. Darkness embraced them, offering a respite from the relentless pursuit. The water beneath reflected fragmented beams of light, creating an ethereal ambiance that heightened the tension of their clandestine flight.

With every step, Rohit's mind raced, calculating the next move and contemplating the consequences of the heist that had spiraled into a thriller of unexpected proportions. The wounded joker, once the orchestrator of joy, now steered their escape through the murky waters of uncertainty.

The drainage canal, a silent witness to their passage, concealed their movements as they emerged near a concealed exit. Night air greeted them as they ascended into a secluded area along the riverbank. The distant sounds of the city remained, but the immediate threat had subsided.

Breathing heavily, they exchanged glances that conveyed a mixture of relief and the unspoken acknowledgment of the challenges that lay ahead. The city, its pulse throbbing with the aftermath of their daring escape, held secrets that only subterranean passages knew.

Rohit, clutching his wounded shoulder, took a moment to assess their surroundings. The night sky, obscured by the city's skyline, offered a veil of anonymity. The trio, now free from the immediate pursuit, contemplated their next move as they disappeared into the shadows once more.

*****

In the aftermath of their daring escape, the trio found themselves in a dimly lit, secluded room. The air was thick with tension as Sanju, the tall robber, and Rohit took a moment to catch their breath. The room, a refuge from the chaos outside, provided a temporary haven for the orchestrators of the audacious heist.

The dim glow of a single, flickering light bulb illuminated a small, hidden room where Rohit, blood-soaked and battered, faced the aftermath of the gunshot wound. Sanju, a seasoned thief hardened by the shadows of the city, took charge. In the thriller's clandestine setting, their actions became a desperate dance between survival and the relentless pursuit outside.

Rohit, gritting his teeth against the searing pain, peeled off his blood-soaked shirt. The room, shadowed and suffused with the metallic tang of blood, bore witness to the stark reality of their escape. Sanju, his movements swift and decisive, retrieved a makeshift first aid kit from the concealed compartment of his backpack. The air grew thick with tension as the urgency of the situation took precedence.

" Arghh...."

The bullet, a sinister reminder of the close encounter with law enforcement, nestled on Rohit's shoulder. Sanju, hands steady despite the palpable anxiety in the room, took a deep breath. The makeshift first aid kit, a collection of rudimentary tools, became instruments of impromptu surgery.

As Rohit lay bare-chested on a makeshift table, the creaking sounds of the cramped room heightened the suspense. Sanju, his hands stained with the grim reality of their escape, assessed the wound with a seasoned eye. The air was charged with the palpable fear of discovery, as every sound outside the room became a potential harbinger of their demise.

With the precision of a skilled surgeon, Sanju went to work. His hands, calloused by countless heists and escapes, delicately probed the wound. Rohit, his consciousness teetering on the edge, barely held on as waves of pain surged through him. The makeshift operation, a dance with danger, unfolded against the backdrop of muffled footsteps and distant sirens.

' Damn it... ARGHHH'

Rohit, taking deep breaths, tried to ground himself. The adrenaline that had masked the pain during their escape now subsided, leaving him vulnerable to the raw reality of his injuries. His screams echoed in the confined space, a symphony of agony that reverberated through the hidden room.

Sanju, unfazed by the visceral sounds, continued his meticulous work. The bullet, extracted with a precision born from necessity, clinked against the improvised tools. The room, a sanctuary turned surgical theater, held the secrets of their desperate bid for freedom.

As the makeshift operation progressed, Rohit's consciousness wavered between lucidity and the numbing embrace of pain. The room seemed to pulse with an energy that mirrored the relentless heartbeat of the city outside. Sanju, driven by the urgency of the situation, patched Rohit's shoulder with makeshift bandages.

The blood-soaked shirt, discarded and forgotten, became a symbol of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of their audacious escape. Rohit, shirtless and vulnerable, found himself at the mercy of his surroundings. The room, hidden from the world outside, bore witness to the toll exacted by their perilous flight.

With the impromptu surgery complete, Sanju and Rohit shared a silent moment of acknowledgment

Sanju, still catching his breath, eyed the money with a mix of relief and exhilaration. The tall robber, however, seemed to be consumed by a different emotion – greed. His eyes lingered on the stacks of bills, and a sinister smile played on his lips.

"Easy now," Sanju cautioned, his eyes narrowing as he sensed a shift in the atmosphere. "We've come this far together. Let's not ruin it now."

But the tall robber, driven by a hunger for more, couldn't resist the allure of the stolen riches. He reached for a stack of bills, his fingers tracing the edges as if counting the potential wealth. The room grew quieter as a sense of unease settled among the trio.

Rohit, maintaining his composure behind the mask, watched the unfolding drama with a keen sense of awareness. He understood the delicate balance that held their alliance intact. The tall robber, however, seemed oblivious to the unspoken rules that had guided their collaboration.

In a sudden and unsettling turn of events, the tall robber's hand moved to the gun holstered at his side. The metallic click echoed through the room as he pointed the weapon directly at Rohit.

"Time to see who's been hiding behind that mask," the tall robber sneered, the greed in his eyes turning to a sinister glint. "Take it off, Joker. Let's see your face."

Sanju, alarmed by the escalating tension, interjected, "What are you doing? We had an agreement!"

The tall robber, unmoved, pressed the gun against Rohit's masked face. "I've had enough of hiding and sharing. We don't need him anymore. With the money we've got, we can disappear, and he won't be a problem."

Rohit, maintaining his composure, reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile phone. With a subtle flick of his fingers, he activated the screen, revealing a video file that held the potential to unravel their carefully woven escape plan.

"Before we do anything rash, consider the consequences," Rohit said, his tone unwavering. "This video contains information that, if shared with the police, will ensure all three of us end up behind bars. We had an agreement, a plan. Let's not throw it all away. Also, I have another recording on my brother's mobile. You know what will happen if I die now."

The tall robber, his eyes narrowing, hesitated as the weight of Rohit's words sank in. Sanju, sensing the escalating tension, stepped forward.

"Listen, we've come too far to let greed and mistrust tear us apart," Sanju implored. "We've got a good thing going here, and we can all walk away with our share. Let's not ruin it now."

After a tense moment of deliberation, the tall robber reluctantly lowered his gun. The room, still charged with an undercurrent of tension, shifted into an uneasy truce. The trio, each grappling with their own desires and fears, faced a pivotal decision.

Realizing that a peaceful resolution was the only viable option, Sanju took charge. "Let's be smart about this. We've got the loot, and we can make a clean getaway. No need for unnecessary risks."

The trio, their initial discord simmering, engaged in a heated but ultimately productive discussion. After much bickering and negotiation, a compromise emerged. They agreed to divide the loot equally, each receiving a share of the 20 crore rupees. The tension in the room gradually eased as the allure of wealth eclipsed the earlier discord.

With a collective sigh of relief, they began counting and dividing the money. Each stack of bills became a symbol of the improbable alliance forged in the crucible of their audacious heist. The room, once a battleground of conflicting interests, transformed into a space where compromise and shared success prevailed.

As they pocketed their respective shares, the trio couldn't shake off the lingering tension entirely. The weight of their choices hung in the air, a silent reminder of the fragile alliance that had brought them to this point.