It's Called: Freefall

Chapter 18

Amar and Meghna had their guns drawn out. They were alert as they made their way towards the bunker, in the basement of the building. Fortunately or not, the CCTV cameras were placed at obvious locations so they shot them down on the way as well, just to gain an upper hand. It was too late for that anyway. Both of them were tired after fighting for hours. The physical and mental exertion from the last couple of days was also taking a toll on their bodies. They were panting after that short run.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the service stairwell that would take them down in the basement.

This was it. Amar thought.

He had been thinking about this moment since they made the plan, probably even before that. He switched off his comms.

This was it. Meghna thought.

Her search of a decade, was coming to an end today. She was standing in front of the door, about to turn the knob, Amar standing behind her.

-----

"Meghna."

Amar panted her name, and she turned around in a spur.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

Her eyes showed worry and panic, her hands already scanning for any injuries on his person. Apart from the few cut and a purple bruise forming on his left cheek, he seemed fine. Out of breath, but fine. Meghna was so engrossed in fussing over him, she didn't realise he had taken out her comms too.

"No, I'm not hurt. Listen to me-"  He started, and held both her hands in his. He contemplates for a second and then looks her in the eye before continuing,

"I- when they told me you were KIA 10 years ago, I didn't believe them. I looked for you for a year. A part of me knew you were out there."

"I know. I saw you, you were pretty close once. I'm sorry I didn't reach out." She tilted her head with a sad smile on her face.

"- and, and then you came back to me and told me not to look for you. To not follow you."

"Amar- I'm sorry. I should've let you in. You deserved to know it all along. I-"

"No. No Meghna, I am sorry. I didn't look hard enough. When have I ever done as I'm told? I should've tried to find you. I shouldn't have given up so easily. But I was- I was just so angry, at everything."

"Amar we-" Meghna tried to interrupt, this was probably not the time to sort this out.

"Listen, please. From now on, if - if we make it out, what if, I go, where you go?" Amar asked with the most puppy dog eyes she had ever seen him make at her.

"You're not serious." She laughs in disbelief.

"I've never been more serious. Meghna, you are the part of my life that I really need. It's you that keeps me alive. I don't know if we have any chance in the future, but I know I'm free with you. I've realised that again in the last two days." He was pleading and she was looking at him with a fond smile now.

"Think about it. What if this is not the end, but a new beginning?" He adds.

"No. They'll find us." Meghna chuckles.

"We'll keep moving. Change identities. What do you say?"

Meghna pretends to give it some thought,

"I say... we move to London? Madrid? Tunisia? There are sexy places to hide."

She knew this was futile, but what the hell, this might as well be the last thing they talk about before the inevitable. So she plays along.

"And we'll buy a house with white picket fence and a front yard with flower beds that bloom all year round. Maybe you can put your muscles to use and take up carpenters job?"

"Hm. Maybe. I've never done anything but be a spy." Amar muses.

"Because you love your job. You love your country."

"And I'd die protecting it. But there's one thing in this world that I love more, and it's you." Amar confessed and all Meghna could see in his eyes at the moment was unadulterated love and sincerity she once saw when they were young.

"Airports just an hour's ride away. All we have to do is survive whatever is there behind this door." Amar gives her a smile.

"Then let's get out of here." Meghna returns the smile.

She turns around to turn the knob to the door, which will take them to LUCIFER.

-----

Author's note: this is the second of the two scenes that caused this entire fic and we are also nearing the end now. Truth to be told, I am not sure what October is gonna bring for us, but I've made sure long back, this fic won't disapoint (hopefully). Happy Silver Jubilee month of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ✨