Chapter 57: 54. Playing with guns

As they sped along the road, the soft moments of the night shattered with the sharp crack of a gunshot. Samyuktika gasped, her heart racing as the realization hit her. Ekansh grimaced in pain, gripping his shoulder where the bullet had grazed him. Despite the sharp sting, his instincts kicked in immediately. With his free hand, he reached for the gun hidden in the console, his expression hardening.

"Stay down!" Ekansh barked, his voice filled with urgency as he pressed his foot on the accelerator, sending the car speeding down the empty road.

Samyuktika, shaken but not panicked, ducked low in the seat, her mind racing as she watched Ekansh focus intensely on the road ahead. The night that had been so peaceful was now filled with the sound of screeching tires and the haunting echo of gunfire.

"Who are they?" she asked breathlessly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Rivals," Ekansh muttered darkly, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. “They’ve been after me for a while. I didn’t expect them to strike now.”

He shifted gears, maneuvering the car expertly even with one hand on the wheel and the other clutching his gun. Another shot rang out, narrowly missing the car. Samyuktika's heart pounded as she glanced behind them, spotting a black SUV gaining on them.

"They won't stop," she whispered, her fear mounting. But Ekansh’s steady presence reassured her. Even in the face of danger, he was calm, focused.

“They won’t get away with this,” he growled, his eyes narrowing.

As the car sped through the streets, he swerved into an alleyway, trying to lose their pursuers. The tires screeched as they made sharp turns, the city lights blurring past them. Ekansh leaned out the window slightly, aiming his gun at the SUV behind them. He fired a few rounds, causing the car to swerve in response, but it kept coming.

“Samyuktika, I need you to trust me,” Ekansh said, his voice firm. “We’re going to get out of this.”

She nodded, though fear clung to her. Despite the chaos, she believed in him. Ekansh was skilled and determined—this wasn’t his first encounter with danger, and he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

In one swift movement, he veered onto the main highway, gaining speed, and then slammed his brakes, sending their car into a controlled spin. The sudden move caused their pursuers to overshoot, giving Ekansh just enough time to fire another shot at the SUV’s tires. The vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a nearby post.

Breathing heavily, Ekansh straightened the car and continued driving, his jaw clenched. Samyuktika reached out, her hand gently touching his arm.

“You’re hurt,” she said softly, her voice filled with concern.

Ekansh glanced at his injured shoulder, blood staining his shirt. "It's just a graze. I'll be fine."

But Samyuktika’s heart ached seeing him in pain. She sat up, her worry deepening as they drove in silence, the adrenaline from the attack slowly fading. They had made it out alive, but the danger wasn’t gone.

As they sped away from the scene, Ekansh handed the gun to Samyuktika, his face tense but calm. "Take this," he said, his voice steady, though the urgency was clear. "If they come closer again, I need you to be ready. Don’t hesitate. Aim and shoot."

Samyuktika stared at the gun in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. She had never held a weapon before, let alone considered using one. Her heart pounded, the weight of the situation hitting her all at once. The thought of pulling the trigger felt overwhelming, but she could see the trust in Ekansh’s eyes—the belief that she could protect them if needed.

“Ekansh, I’ve never…” she trailed off, her voice shaky.

“I know,” he interrupted, glancing at her briefly before returning his focus to the road. “But I need you to do this. I won’t let them get to us, but if something happens—if they get too close—you need to protect yourself. You need to protect us.”

She swallowed hard, gripping the gun tighter. The weight of responsibility crashed down on her, but she nodded, determination replacing her fear. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice firmer now. “I’ll do it.”

Ekansh gave a small nod, his expression softening for a moment. "Good girl," he said, his tone filled with pride. Then, his focus sharpened as he noticed the SUV reappearing in the distance, closing in on them once again.

"Get ready," Ekansh said, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the confrontation. Samyuktika’s pulse quickened, and she positioned herself, peering out of the window.

The SUV roared closer, and Ekansh swerved to avoid another shot fired in their direction. Samyuktika’s breath hitched, and she tightened her grip on the gun. She could feel Ekansh’s calm presence beside her, which gave her strength.

“Now, Samyuktika!” Ekansh shouted as their pursuers got within range.

Without thinking, she raised the gun, her hands shaking slightly as she aimed at the vehicle. Her heart pounded in her chest as she pulled the trigger, the deafening sound of the shot echoing in her ears. The bullet struck the windshield of the SUV, causing the driver to swerve violently.

She blinked in shock, unable to believe what she had just done, but there was no time to process. Ekansh looked at her briefly, his eyes filled with a mix of pride and urgency.

"Keep going, just like that," he encouraged. "You’ve got this."

Samyuktika nodded, her confidence building with each second. She fired again, this time aiming for the tires. The SUV faltered, struggling to maintain its pursuit. Another shot, and the vehicle lost control, crashing into a barrier at the side of the road.

For a moment, there was silence. Samyuktika’s hands shook as she lowered the gun, her heart racing, but she had done it. She had protected them.

Ekansh let out a breath, his hand reaching over to give hers a reassuring squeeze. "You did amazing," he said, his voice filled with pride. "I knew you could do it."

Samyuktika exhaled deeply, her adrenaline slowly subsiding as she looked at him, relieved but shaken. "I can’t believe I actually did that," she whispered, still processing everything.

Ekansh smiled softly, his eyes warm. "You’re stronger than you think."

Ekansh noticed movement in the side mirror—a shadowy figure approaching their car from behind. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the man inching closer, his steps quickening with dangerous intent. Ekansh’s instincts kicked in instantly. Without a second thought, he reached for the car door handle, throwing it open with force.

The sudden movement startled the man, making him stumble back for a split second. Ekansh jumped out of the car, his stance firm, blocking the man's path. He glared at the stranger, his body language signaling that he wasn’t backing down.

"Stay back!" Ekansh growled, his voice cold and commanding. He could see the man had a weapon in his hand, but Ekansh was faster. Before the man could react, Ekansh lunged forward, his hand moving to disarm him in one swift motion. The gun clattered to the ground as Ekansh shoved the man back with a hard strike to the chest.

The man staggered, trying to regain his balance, but Ekansh was relentless. He grabbed the collar of the man’s jacket, pulling him closer. “Who sent you?” Ekansh demanded, his voice low but filled with rage. "Speak now, or this won't end well for you."

The man’s eyes flickered with fear, his bravado fading as he realized he was no match for Ekansh. "It was… it was your enemies," the man stammered. "They wanted to send a message, that’s all!"

Ekansh’s grip tightened, his knuckles turning white. “Tell them they’ve failed,” he hissed. "And if they come near me or her again, they'll regret it."

With that, Ekansh shoved the man away, his voice dripping with finality. The man stumbled back, terrified, before turning and fleeing into the darkness.

Ekansh turned back to the car, his breath heavy but controlled. He glanced at Samyuktika, who was watching the entire scene unfold with wide eyes. She had the gun still clutched in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly, but her gaze was locked on Ekansh.

He walked back toward the car, his expression softening as he saw the concern in her eyes. “It’s over,” he assured her, his voice steady. “We’re safe now.”

Samyuktika nodded, relief washing over her, but the fear from moments ago still lingered. “Ekansh…” she whispered, her voice trailing off as her emotions overwhelmed her.

Ekansh reached out, gently taking her hand. “I won’t let anything happen to us,” he promised, his voice firm but tender. "Not now, not ever."

Just as Ekansh was about to return to the car, another shot rang out, louder and more precise. The impact was instant—Ekansh’s body jerked as the bullet tore through his arm. He let out a low, pained groan, stumbling backward before steadying himself against the car.

“Ekansh!” Samyuktika screamed, her heart racing with panic. She saw the blood seeping through his shirt, spreading rapidly from his wounded arm. Fear gripped her as she rushed to his side, her hands shaking as she tried to support him.

He clenched his jaw, his face contorting in pain, but his eyes remained sharp and focused. Through the haze of agony, he glanced at the direction of the shot, spotting the figure in the distance—the man behind the attack was none other than Anirudh Bansal.

“Anirudh,” Ekansh muttered under his breath, his voice filled with cold fury. He knew this wasn’t just another hit—this was personal. Anirudh had finally shown himself, and Ekansh realized that this confrontation had been inevitable.

Samyuktika’s panic deepened. “Ekansh, we need to get you to a hospital,” she urged, her voice shaky as she tried to pull him toward the car.

But Ekansh shook his head, his expression hardening. “No,” he grunted, his eyes locking onto Anirudh. “This ends now.”

Anirudh approached, his gun still in hand, a sinister smile curling on his lips. "I warned you, Ekansh," Anirudh taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "You took everything from me, and now I’ll take everything from you."

Samyuktika tightened her grip on Ekansh, her fear morphing into determination. “We can’t do this now, Ekansh. Please—”

But Ekansh wasn’t listening. He pushed her gently away, his eyes never leaving Anirudh. "Get in the car, Samyuktika. Stay low," he commanded, his voice firm despite the pain coursing through him.

Samyuktika hesitated, her heart torn between listening to him and staying by his side. But she knew the gravity of the situation and reluctantly obeyed, ducking into the car as Ekansh instructed.

Ekansh, wounded but unyielding, raised his gun with his good arm, aiming it at Anirudh. “This is the last time, Anirudh,” he growled, his voice cold as ice.

Anirudh’s smile widened. “We’ll see about that.”

The two men stood facing each other, the air thick with tension, the sounds of the night drowned out by their impending clash.

He tried to grab Samyuktika’s arm, but before Anirudh could pull her close, the sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the air. Everyone froze, their eyes darting in the direction of the shot.

Standing tall with guns raised were Rihaan and Mahindra, flanked by Saransh and their mafia team, the Orchid Outlaws. Their presence was imposing, and the sheer number of men surrounding them sent shockwaves through the atmosphere. The Orchid Outlaws had doubled in strength since the last time Anirudh had crossed paths with them.

Anirudh’s face twisted in shock and anger, his confident smirk fading as the tables turned. He hadn't anticipated Ekansh calling for backup.

Ekansh and Samyuktika exchanged a glance, a knowing smirk playing on their lips. They had been prepared for this.

Flashback to the Beach:

As they stood together, enjoying the peacefulness of the beach, Ekansh had felt it—a strange sensation, like someone’s eyes were on them. The peaceful moment had suddenly felt off. He casually pulled out his phone, pretending to take a selfie of him and Samyuktika, but his real intention was to capture the man lurking in the distance. His sharp instincts hadn’t failed him.

Once he zoomed in on the photo, it became clear—the man watching them from afar was one of Anirudh’s men. Ekansh knew they were being tracked, and he wasn’t going to let Anirudh catch him off guard. Without alarming Samyuktika, he had discreetly called Rihaan, alerting him about the potential danger and asking him to be on standby.

---

Back in the present, Ekansh’s smirk deepened as he watched Anirudh falter. "You didn’t think I’d come unprepared, did you?" he said, his voice laced with cold amusement.

Samyuktika felt a surge of pride as she stood beside Ekansh, knowing they had outsmarted Anirudh. With the Orchid Outlaws surrounding them and Rihaan’s steady aim, the odds were now firmly in their favor.

Anirudh’s jaw clenched as he realized he had no way out. This was the end of the line.

Rihaan's eyes narrowed as he glanced between Ekansh and Anirudh. “Let’s be honest here, this is all happening because of Samyuktika,” he said, frustration lacing his tone. “You two wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for her.”

Ekansh raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you mean?”