Sanyukta stopped dead in her tracks.
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Did he... did he say... engagement ?! She wondered internally like it was the most intriguing concept in the world. Which it was !
Like seriously, a long and meticulously planned process, building up slowly... connecting the dots...from one relative to another...arguing... negotiating...bargaining... creating a strong web as a base for the much awaited event : the exchange of rings !
Still processing...
Engagement ! Reality hit her. She took a deep breath calming herself.
Yes, he really did say that ! She thought in all seriousness. Her heart was thumping hard against her chest by the revelation that he wanted her in his life as much as she wanted him... he had told her in his own way that he wanted to take their relationship to the next level... that he wanted a future with her.
O.M.G... she then screeched like a school girl. Engaged... betrothed... intended...fiance... soon to be groom... soon to be bride... soon to be husband...soon to be wife... soon to be married !!! MARRIED ! OMG ! Sanyukta lost herself in her chain of thoughts, happily bouncing from one status to another. Her joy was limitless...She was the luckiest girl on earth at the moment... the man she was deeply madly in love with, had finally proposed her !
Suddenly, she halted in her thoughts, realizing something. ...Something of utmost importance.
Wait a second. ...WHEN THE HELL did he ask her ?!... WHEN THE HELL did he propose ?!... No, Scratch that. When the hell did he take her on a romantic candle light dinner, got on his knees rose in his hand and proposed her ?! ... NEVER, that's when !
That infuriating little devil ! Once again he had done things in his barbarian ways. Instead of romantically proposing her, asking for her opinion on the matter he had merely informed her what he had decided.
Like hell she was getting engaged just like that ! If he wanted engagement, he will have to get on his knees and propose her like it was the tradition ! ...Even though in all honesty, it had more to do with the sweet satisfaction of seeing him on his knees in front of her rather than some old tradition...but he didn't need to know that, did he ? Setting up her mind she ran behind him.
"WAIIIT ! " she yelled as she followed him out of the room.
"I don't recall you proposing me" she said frowning at him.
"That's because I didn't" he nonchalantly replied.
Sanyukta scoffed at his non-constructive reply.
"Well I want a proper proposal" she retorted.
"I don't do "proper"" he replied quoting her word.
"Of course... how did I forget who I was talking to" She scoffed. "His highness of the primitive monkeys !" she insulted him.
"Ah the monkeys !" exclaimed Randhir. "You know, your fascination with them is a bit unsettling to be honest" he mocked her.
Sanyukta screamed internally, irritated with dismissive and mocking replies. A few deep breath and a count to ten later, she decided to approach the matter diplomatically.
"Well then... I don't recall saying yes" she tried.
"And I don't recall asking for you opinion... I merely informed you, we are getting engaged" he cleared it for her, not once looking at her.
"No !" came Sanyukta instant reply "No ! absolutely not, hell no ! I refuse !" she added pointedly.
Randhir stopped in his tracks. He slowly turned toward her, glancing at her for the first time since he graced her with the news. She was frowning at him.
"You don't want to get engaged ?" Randhir neutrally asked her, keeping a straight, emotionless face.
"No !" Sanyukta persisted. She saw a muscle twitch on his otherwise impassible face. "No...no I mean yes but no..." she quickly added seeing the little sign of dissatisfaction. "I mean not like that" she gestured around her with her hands, huffing.
Silence.
Sanyukta crossed her arms over chest, bracing herself for the argument she knew was coming. Could they do something without arguing for once ?
"What I mean to say is that you have to propose me correctly" she reformulated her demand calmly.
After a few seconds of eye battle and ghostly silence, Randhir spoke up.
"I am not getting on my knees" he said and resumed marching down the stairs. Like hell he was getting on his knees. Truth be told, he had thought not about the whole thing in details. He knew he wanted her in his life, with or without social status. It didn't matter to him. But based on their discussion on the way back from Raghav's place, it held importance in her eyes. And for her sake, he had decided that he would give it to her, he would give a name to their relationship. ...But getting on his knees ? that was never part of the deal.
"Yes you are ! This is the proper way !" Sanyuka insisted, trailing him. She wasn't asking for the moon was she ? Besides, looking at his argumentative behavior, he clearly had not read the guide of the healthy marriage : a marriage is relationship in which one person is always right...and the other is the husband. Yes, as simple as that. The faster he understood it, the better !
"No, forget it" countered Randhir.
"Yes you are !" Sanyukta raised her voice.
"No" Randhir copied her tone as he descended the last step.
"Randhir !" argued Sanyukta as they came to face with the rest of the gang.
Sahil, Vidushi and Parth were standing in front of the meeting room, all dressed up in black. A few weapon were on display, mainly guns and knives while others, like tears gas bomb had most certainly been hidden away from eyesight. They were ready for war.
"What now ? Why are you guys bickering now ?" Sahil chuckled looking at the newly arrived duo.
Randhir and Sanyukta glared at each other. Eventually Randhir broke the eye contact. They had more pressing matter at hand. Their argument could wait.
"Not now" he told Sanyukta, closing the topic right there.
***
"Here is how it's gonna be" he said putting a white paper sheet on the dark meeting room's table. He roughly drew the targeted building. Diving it in two, each section representing a floor.
"There are approximately 50 men, scattered on the first and second floor" he informed them.
"From what Sanyukta and I saw, there are more man on the first floor, strategically scattered, which mean at least a dozen guarding the entry to the second floor where there will most probably be a few children. As Raghav is leaving the country tomorrow, he has to deliver the children me and Sanyukta asked for today. So Let's say, approximately 30 men on first floor and 10 on second floor"
He looked up at the gang. "We are 10. Us 5 plus 5 hitmen. We will split up like that" He looked back at the plan.
"Sahil, Parth and 3 hitmen will barge in the den from the front and engage in fights there." he looked up at Sahil and Parth.
This was dangerous. They will be exposed to direct threats...and even though they were both very skilled, it was 5 against ...A LOT. They could very well die. He searched their eyes to know if they understood the gravity of their situation.
Both nodded at him, telling him they understood.
"Two hitmen, those who are good at long distance shooting will be helping us. They will stay hidden in the trees around the den and shoot from there. On will be aiming at the enemies on the first floor and the second will be taking down those who are on the second floor"
The gang nodded in understanding. Attacking on two fronts, from close up and from the safety on the trees was their best shot, it was the only they could make it work in their outnumbered state.
"Me, Sanyukta and Vidushi will climb up the wall from behind and land directly on the second floor."
At this point, Sanyukta badly wanted to point out that, while he and Vidushi might have been trained like the ninja turtles, she had not indulged in such activity...she for one, was just an ordinary turtle, without the ninja part.
But on the other hand she completely trusted the devil, surely he had a plan...
"My guess is that a dozen men will be wandering here and there guarding the children, while the rest, about 6 to 8 men will be around Raghav." He paused. His eyes then settled on Vidushi and Sanyukta.
"With the help of the hitmen, Sanyukta and Vidushi you will have to take care of a dozen men. Think you can do it ?" he asked them. He knew that Vidushi could take care of herself, she was as much capable as him... Sanyukta on the other hand... while lacking on the fighting department, had enough mind and ingenuity to create her way out of tricky situations, he trusted her on that. Still, they will be 2 against 6 to 8 man, after deducing those taken down from the hitmen... He couldn't help the concern for them... for her.
"No problemo boss" Said Vidushi.
"...Of course ! Piece of cake" added Sanyukta behind her, scoffing. ...Not. It was everything but a piece of cake, it was dangerous, very dangerous, life threatening kind of dangerous. She was hell scared inside, knowing the fact that she was soon going to face man that probably knew five different ways to kill her with only their pinky was not helping... her palms were sweaty and a trail of sweat was sliding her back... making her shiver in nervousness.
On the field, she was out of her comfort zone. Her comfort zone was behind the safety of her laptop screen. Being out in the open, brought a new level of fear. Having the knowledge that you could die at the next corner was alone a panic striking feeling.
"The life of the children inside will be at stake, it will be your responsibility to keep them safe" Randhir declared, looking at Vidushi and then Sanyukta.
Yes because they had a purpose. Several lives were at stake here, not only the children help captive in there... but also those already sold and living a life submission and misery... those like monica that had been the target of these monsters Barbary... those like randhir parents who had wanted to stand for themselves... all those were the reason the gangsters were going to do this tonight. The fear was certainly present, but their will to fight against those monstrosities was greater.
Sanyukta and Vidushi nodded.
"One last thing, despite our precautions... despite all the planning... do not forget that we are going in the enemies terror, anything can happen... I want all of you to think before you act, I want all of you to stay alert, and above all I want all of you to get out of this alive !...and that is an order !" he roared.
Every member nodded at their leaders orders knowing well that it was his was to ask them to take care of themselves.
Randhir put down the marker he had in his hand and paused, thinking about his next set of words.
"This is the culmination of all our efforts... today ours sacrifices, our struggles will pay. We went through a lot together...and we will also go through this... we will come out winners... like we always did in the past. Get ready. We will leave as soon as the news is broadcast" he finished.
***
One by one they left the meeting room. Leaving Sanyukta and Randhir alone. Randhir's speech had somewhat appeased Sanyukta's state. She was more calm and focused now...still she couldn't shake the air of fatality that hung to his words... like... like a farewell.
She looked up at him, her teary light brown eyes clashing with his stormy dark brown ones. She ran upto him and crashed her lips to his, pouring all her fears , her anxiety, her love into it. Randhir didn't wait and firmly grabbed her waist plastering her against himself, running his hands to her sides, soothing her. He wanted to hold her to him his whole life, close to him, close to his heart.
Their future was without a doubt uncertain... and they both knew it. Their kiss was hungry, almost desperate... taking whatever they could while they still had time...
"There is so much I want to say..." whispered Sanyukta parting just slightly. her eyes closed, her lips still brushing against his.
"Hmmm..." replied Randhir, eyes closed as well, savoring this moment with his ray of sunshine in his arms.
"So much things I want to tell you... so much things I want to show you..." she said dropping her head in the pit of his neck, hugging him for dear life. She knew his past, she knew his pain... she wanted to show him how much life could be bright.
"Hmmm" Randhir didn't trust his voice at the moment.
"When I think about it... it's so weird..." she said, her voice barely audible, as if... as if she spoke any louder she would break the moment.
"I mean us...you and I... who would have thought... we couldn't stand each other even for a second..." she smiled as she recalled their meeting, their arguments, their hate for each other.
Randhir chuckled.
"...Yet here we are..." she said her voice breaking toward the end. She tightened her hug. "I...I..."
She wanted to tell him how much she much she cared for him, how must he meant to her, how much she loved him.
"Shhh, we will be okey" Randhir simply told her, caressing her hair, dropping a small kiss.
"Hmmm"
They stayed like that for a few minutes, reveling in each other embrace, holding each other, cherishing the moment.
"Randhir ?" Sanyukta spoke up.
"Hmmm"
"If you dare to die today, I promise you I will hunt down your spirit, I'll even join a satanic-cult if I have to... and make it my life goal to torture your soul ! You will come out of this alive ! Do I make myself clear ?" she asked him.
"Cristal clear Love" Randhir chuckled.
***
"It's time" informed Sahil, as Randhir approached them.
The news was being telecasted. Two news channels were giving it their full time. The video had also been uploaded on social media and sent to various online newspapers, In a few minutes the words will be spread to the whole country.
It was time to strike.
"Where is Sanyukta ? " asked Vidushi.
"She is coming, she called Tara" said Randhir. After their little heart to heart, Sanyukta had left him to make a call to her friend and daughter, she wanted to hear their voice to give her motivation.
"Sir" interrupted one of the reporters. It was the suspicious looking one from erlier.
"Ummm...Others channels are also asking for the right to telecast the news... do you want us to give them ?" she asked. The previous uncertainty was gone now. She was still nervous but she seemed less alert now. Her previous display of tension must have been the result of underlying fear. He couldn't blame her. She was alone in a mobsters homeland, about to go against one of the most influential politicians. She was taking a huge risk being here doing what she was going to do, not only it could endanger her career but it also endanger her life. It felt good to know that there were still people that were ready to risk so much for the benefit of others...for justice. His respect for the reporter increased considerably in these few moments.
"Yeah give them every proof you have" Randhir told her.
Just as his said that, Sanyukta came toward them smiling.
"Time to kick some ass guys !" she beamed