LEGAL VENGEANCE

19. ASSET

Veer's POV:

A moment of ignorance and I inhaled the water. I waited to feel my breath being caught up but I was left utterly baffled when I felt myself being able to breathe within.

I worried that I was merely already dead than experiencing something this bizarre. I opened my eyes and looked at Shrishti who had her eyes widened already. I looked at her with confusion.

She was fearful. I looked at Rohit who was fretting too much, splashing the water around. Moving tensely. I, on the other hand, was still confused but was relieved that I could breathe.

"You see Shrishti...all it takes is you. You to destroy who you love." Jiwon spoke as dread filled Shrishti's eyes.

If I was out of this water, I would have plunged a blade into her artery.

"But I do wanna offer. You join forces with us and best believe all your friends will be freed." Jiwon offered.

But Shrishti couldn't take her eyes off Rohit who was starting to give up. He had stopped moving. His motions were sloppier.

My eyes shifted to Prayas whose tears were visible even from here. Even though my attempts at keeping my eyes open.

What is this liquid? How can I breathe in this?

"I'll consider it!" Shrishti yelled, "I'll think about it. Please...let them go."

My lungs started filling up with water. But I could breathe perfectly well.

"Now," Jiwon pity fully said, "That's what a little shark is supposed to do," Jiwon said and tapped Shri under her chin. 

My lungs started feeling tingly. I was more than appalled that not a single breath of mine was my last. I looked over to Rohit's container but the air that left his mouth made me nervous.

Jiwon left with her men. Shrishti fought her way out of the ropes that bound her hands. She didn't bat an eye towards me. She hurriedly freed Jai and Prayas. Prayas and Shri both rushed towards Rohit. 

"Jai! Here," Shri said as she held the rope to lift Rohit. 

I was left a little happy that they went to him first. He seemed to be in the worst state than me. But somewhere I felt a little bad that everyone went to him than me first. 

They hoisted him up. They set him down on the ground. They tore the ropes off him. 

Rohit did not move. His movements were not even visible. Shrishti was overly fretting too much over him. I could tell from her face that his situation was more dire than mine. Prayas and Jai placed their hands on his chest and started giving him sharp compressions. 

Shri checked his eyes. She held his face and shook him. I could feel my heartbeat rise. My mind started imagining the worst. Rohit was inactive in every part of his body. 

Shrishti leaned down and pressed her lips against Rohit blowing air into him. The little distance between us and I was still able to see her shaking finger. 

"Shrishti, do something," Prayas yelled. His desperate call for help reached my ear though distorted. It made me fear more and more. 

I felt a pain shoot up in my lungs. Shrishti, who was looking at Rohit fell back. No, save him, Shri. Don't give up. Please, we can't lose anyone anymore. 

"He's gone." The words left Prayas's mouth like a needle that pierces through the skin. Prayas sat still there for a little less than a minute. He stood up then and rushed over to me. He grabbed the rope that would pull me up.