Pride ✔

08 - The Mission

~Time has come~

"Enter the next room and shoot the guy on left. Then free those kids and get through the backdoor. " The voice in intercom spoke.

"Copy that." She said.

She opened the door in swift and shot the guy in black sweatshirt.

"D..didi-di..di...hame..bacha..lo..please." The little boy sobbed so hard. She felt her heart breaking at the sight of those kids who were tied and their eyes looked like they never slept in last few days.

"shshs.. kuch nahi hoga tum logo ko." They nodded with tears but hopeful this time.

She untied them all and soon Hriday joined him.

"Lead them to the background." Mallika said to Hriday who nodded. Mallika walked back to the front door and sees two men coming in the way. She shot both of them but one of them stood his ground and shot Mallika on the same shoulder she had been shot.

"Ahh..." She shrieked which caught Hriday's attention and he instantly shot the guy who finally fell.

"shit, you're bleeding. " He put an arm around her shoulder and called a number.

"Mallika is shot, you need a team at the backdoor."

"Reaching in 2." Came the reply.

He tried to stop the bleeding but few people again barged into the room.

"Mallika leave through the background and I'll join you in 5."

"No, I can fight." Hriday nodded at her confidence and punched the first guy while kicking the second. Mallika simply shot two guys but one holded her wrist and yanked her to the side causing her head to hit the tables.

The rescue team came and soon a large fight broke.

"We need to leave asap." All nodded kicking the guys and leaving the injured ones behind.

"The children are being taken away. You both need medical help." Akira said to Hriday and Mallika.

"YAHHHH." They heard a voice and turned around to see the same men running with wooden logs.

"Guys, leave." Akira shouted but nobody paid heed.

If they die, they die together.

Again the fight started. Hriday's bullets got finished. He threw it and landed his fist into the guy's face who fell back.

"GUYS, WE CANNOT FIGHT THIS MANY. LEAVE." Akira yelled and they finally agreed.

Mallika nodded at Hriday who wrapped his hand around her waist picking her up and she kicked all three guys coming in her way.

Her eyes blurred for a moment but before she could realise she was being led by Hriday and they were running.

They ran for 700 metres and jumped into the jeep.

"You okay?" Mallika barely nodded and winced when Hriday touched her worn.

"the stich is opened, shit. DRIVE FAST."

"We need to fly, Mallika guide us" All of them hopped off the jeep and sat on the small flight made for such missions. She nodded.

She was Flight Lieutenant after all. She gave all the directions, and supervised estimating everything. She found her head spinning soon.

"Mallika will you able to manage 20 mins, we just need to cross and reach safety zone." Akira asked tracking the route.

"WHAT NO! SHE HAS ALREADY LOST SO MUCH BLOOD." Hriday said taking out the cloth and tieing it around the wound causing her to curse him.

"I don't want you to die." Hriday said with a sad voice.

"She's not dying, shut up " Akira grumbled.

"Even if I do, tell my husband I fought well." She grinned and jerked her head when everything started spinning.

"shut up, how will he live then, it's just been 7 months to your marriage." Hriday scolded her.

"I..I..-

Everything blanked out for her soon. Hriday gasped and tapped her cheeks, sprinkling water, checking her breath.

"FASTER!" He yelled and everybody obliged.

The stretcher came, Hriday put Mallika on the stretcher and leading it to the emergency ward of the army hospital.

"Hriday." He turned to witness his senior Yuvan who stood their trying to find out.

"She got shot again. On the same place. And got unconscious." Yuvan leaned to the Ward's glass door and saw team of doctor's rushing.

3 hours went by and both guys sat outside waiting for the positive reply.

A doctor rushed by but did not spare them a glance. "Doctor, is she fine?" Hriday asked.

"A lot of blood has been lost. And she isn't responding to any treatment. We're trying our best. I suggest you to contact her family members. Prayers and blessings sometimes work faster than science." The doctor said and left leaving both the guys in shock.

"Hrid-

"No, I'm not calling. You're the senior you call." Hriday refused.

"If you remember I called last time. And I can't bear to call the same man again. You know he did not even reply, he was blank and when I met him in the hospital, he looked like he could get broken any second. " Yuvan explained.

"A husband loves his wife. And it's not been even a year to their marriage." Hriday said.

"That's why I can't." Yuvan sighed

"What can 2 army officers can't do? " They turned to see Officer Khanna there.

"Contact Mallika's family." Yuvan says in a slow voice.

"I will inform. Nothing will happen to her though, she's a fighter." Officer Khanna said to the boys who just stared at him.

"Remember, the mission is not over yet." And he left leaving the two behind.

*

"Congratulations Mr. Mudgalkar, you've finally made it." Sumedh gave a proud smile and shook hands with the chairman and accepting his award.

He had finally got his dream position. Senior most financial analyst in North India with all his capabilities, success and hardwork.

"Congratulations Sir" He nodded and smiled at his workers.

"Who do you give credit for all this?" Somebody asked.

"Well definitely myself, my family and my wife. " He said with a proud smile. His phone goes off with a number again.

"Excuse me" He went outside the took the phone.

"Speaking from Army Headquaters." Was the first thing he heard.

He stood silent for a second.

"Mr. Sumedh?" He cleared his throat and replied with a 'yes'

He took a deep shaky breathe.

'why will I receive a call from headquaters?'

'time will tell'

And that time has come.