Wrecking Ball | 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒏

chapter 25

There was a silence in the room.

"I cannot give the password.", Anuj stated finally, looking up. They were sitting on the bed, the gun was safely tucked under the bed mattress. Anu had bandaged almost all of Vanraj's wounds, while he had spoken about Zener and the deal.

Vanraj drew in a sharp breath.
"Anuj.. but why not? Look at his state.. those people are really dangerous.. I don't know what they are up to in the future.", Anu said placing her hand on Anuj's.
Anuj sighed.
"Anu I know but you have no idea how dangerous they are. Those weapons are sold to terrorist groups. My weapons that should be exclusive for the Army are sold to terrorists! I cannot bear it-"

"Here my mother's life is on stake and you care about your freaking morals?! Are you kidding me Anuj?!", Vanraj burst out in anger.
"Vanraj you got yourself in this mess! Who asked you to agree on joining Ignis?!"
"You are the reason! You and your beloved friend destroyed my everything, put in under a fake case and-"
"Really?! You were the one who preponed the wedding-"
"Who asked you to fall for my fiancee?! Did I?!"
"I can-"

"SHUT UP!", Anu shouted at both of them as they fell silent.
"Here we have a problem in hand and you are busy blaming each other like five year olds!", She shouted, she looked at Anuj irritably, "I can understand Vanraj doing this because he is childish-"
"Excuse me? Childish who-"
"You. You are childish and impulsive, accept that and move on.", Anu snapped at him.

"But you Anuj?", Anu said as Anuj looked down at the bed, "You are the mature guy and still..", She said nodding her head in disappointment.
"Sorry Anu.. but I cannot give him the password-"
"Then you meet Zener yourself and sort this.", Vanraj stated.

Anuj drew in a deep breath.
"I guess I should then. Anyways if not you it would have been someone else he'd get through to get to me.", He said.
They heard the thunder outside.
"I will tell him then and you meet him tomorrow and get this crap off my back.", Vanraj said.
"Fine.", Saying so Anuj stood up to leave.

Anu didn't feel too good about this but agreed nonetheless.
She got off the bed and stood beside Anuj.

"Also.", Anu stated, "Remember the price of saving you."
Vanraj gave her a hard look and nodded, "I know how to keep my word."
"Good for you.", Anuj stated as he turned to leave.
"I sometimes wonder how a man who was my friend became such an enemy over a woman.", Vanraj said bitterly.

Anuj stopped and glanced back at him. Vanraj got off the bed. 
"I guess our friendship wasn't strong-"
"Or maybe love does dominate over friendship.", Vanraj stated.

Anuj gulped, a pang of guilt hit him. He knew Vanraj wasn't playing any games at that moment, they had spent enough time with each other to know it.
"You might want to leave now.", Vanraj said drawing in a sharp breath and turning away.
Anuj looked down.
"Keep the bandages even after we leave. The scars need healing.", He said.

"Scars don't heal, my friend.", The last two words were laced in sarcasm.
Anu felt the tension in the air, the ache of a bond torn apart so relentlessly over her. She wasn't really guilty, it was their choice to fight over her, but she felt bad.
She had seen Mukku's desperate attempts to hold onto him and yet she has seen Anuj's show of annoyance towards the very same man.

Anuj sighed and walked out of the room.
Anu didn't say anything as she followed him out. 
It was raining heavily.

"I sent the driver away, we can drive home.", Anuj said as they stood below the building, under shade.
"You can talk if something bothers you.", Anu said softly.
The sound of the rain hitting the ground rang around them.
Anuj drew in a sharp breath.

"He didn't lie, did he?", He asked, his voice broke a little.
Anu nodded, "He did not."
Anuj smiled tragically, "You know Anu.. We met in school, he had to take admission under that Under Priviledged Quota. He always had this extroverted king like attitude while I was extremely introverted. He had once saved me from bullying when we were in class two. Ever since then we had stayed together.. until now."