𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞*

Contains Violence read-only if you are comfortable

Chapter Twenty-One: Clutches of Justice

The room fell into a hushed silence after the guards' departure, the tension lingering like an invisible fog. Gill's gaze remained fixed on the wall, his mind racing to decipher the irregularity that had caught his attention. With newfound determination, he gestured to Vasisth and the others to gather around.

"Look here," Gill whispered, pointing to the subtle variation in the wall's texture. "There's something off about this section. It might be our way out."

Vasisth's fingers brushed against a minuscule groove. The texture was barely perceptible, but as she pressed on it, a soft click resonated through the room. Gill's eyes widened as a portion of the seemingly solid wall shifted, revealing a narrow passageway behind.

Vasisth couldn't conceal her triumphant grin as she turned to the group. "We found it! There's a hidden passage right here," she announced her voice a mixture of elation and relief.

The passage, dimly lit and barely wide enough for one person at a time, wound its way through the confines of the prison.

"Let's go, let's just run away!" the younger nurse cried, almost sprinting towards the passage.

As she was about to make a break for it, Vasisth reached out and held her in her arms, the younger nurse resisting and struggling to run. "Shh, darling, we'll do it at night. It's too risky right now," Vasisth said, kissing the younger nurse's forehead as she continued to cry and scream. Fortunately, the chamber was soundproof; otherwise, their escape plan might have been doomed from the moment they started contemplating it.

Gill's gaze softened as he observed the younger girl, tears streaming down her face, her longing for freedom evident in every tremor of her body. At that moment, she reminded him of his little sister and a surge of protective affection welled up within him. Without hesitation, he reached out and gently pulled the younger girl into his arms, holding her close.

"There, there, sweetheart. We'll get through this. It's not the right time to run, but we will, I promise. For now, let's gather our strength and wait for the opportune moment," Gill murmured, his words a balm to the young nurse's frayed nerves.

He brushed a stray strand of hair away from her tear-streaked face, offering a warm and reassuring smile. "I know it's tough, but we have to stay strong. We'll make it through this together. Just hang in there a little longer."

The little girl, now calm, looked up at him with her big, trusting eyes. "Pakka na, bhaiya?" she asked, seeking confirmation.

Gill's eyes softened as he met her gaze and a lump formed in his throat. Memories of his sister flooded back, and he felt a pang of both sorrow and determination. "Pakka, choti," he replied, his voice choked with emotion. He hugged the little one tighter as if to shield her from the harsh reality they faced.

Gill gently held her face in his hands, looking directly into her eyes. "Now, let's close the door, alright?" he suggested, his tone gentle but firm. "We need to be brave, just like you've been. We'll find our way out of here, but we have to be smart about it. Can you be brave for a little longer?"

The little girl nodded, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and trust. Gill gave her a reassuring smile and together, they moved towards the concealed door.

As they closed the door behind them, the group returned to their designated spots in the dimly lit chamber. With the ties loosely around them, they maintained the appearance of being bound, avoiding suspicion from anyone who might peer into the room.

Gill stared into space, his thoughts seemingly lost in a distant place. His expression was devoid of emotion, and his gaze unfocused. Observing his distant demeanor, Vasisth leaned in slightly, a concern etched across her face. She quietly asked, "Are you okay?"

Gill, pulled from his reverie, looked at Vasisth and managed a sad smile. He nodded, attempting to reassure her. He looked away again, refocusing on the task at hand. In a subtle gesture, he gulped, redirecting his mind to the future and the planning of their escape, steering clear of the haunting horrors of the past.

After a while, the guard returned, his steps echoing in the dim chamber. He scanned the room, finding all of them seemingly asleep from the exhaustion of days without food. However, his gaze settled on Vasisth and Gill, who were awake looking at him. He sighed, looking troubled, and glanced back as if contemplating his next move.

The guard reached into his bag, retrieving their equipment and a few weapons. Gill and Vasisth raised their eyebrows in surprise, uncertain of the guard's intentions. To their astonishment, he knelt in front of them, his eyes reflecting a mix of desperation and regret. A few tears escaped as he uttered, "Please, take him away with you. You are the only ones that could help us."

"The kid who led you here and the woman whose scars you traced," he began, revealing a vulnerability that contrasted sharply with his previous authoritative demeanour, "they are my son and wife."

The guard continued talking, his voice heavy with remorse, "I was asked to keep an eye on you the whole day, and it was Khatri who sent my kid to you to lead you here. The excuse he gave of finding the hostage was all orchestrated by Khatri."

Gill, his face contorted with disgust, couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. "Sharam nahi aayi, biwi bacheko isme lane ko?" he exclaimed, his voice laden with a mix of anger and disappointment.

Vasisth, too, looked at the guard with a stern expression, her eyes reflecting a blend of reproach and disbelief.

The guard seething with anger, cried out, "Janwar hai Khatri, kitno ko yaha dafna diya hai usne iss registan mein mana karne par, usne kitni zindagiyan barbaad ki hai, iska andaza nahi hai."

Wiping his tears, the guard took a deep breath before continuing, "So listen to what I am saying. Khatri will come with his associates here tonight. End the rest," he said angrily, his eyes burning with a newfound determination. "And take away that scum Khatri and that gadar Azaan with you. I know you have found the passage."

Vasisth, shocked by the guard's revelation, couldn't help but express her surprise. "How do you know?" she asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The guard chuckled, a bitter edge to his amusement. "I'm not stupid. I wouldn't purposely talk about the passage in front of agents," he explained, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. "I knew you were not asleep."

Vasisth, her disbelief evident, couldn't help but ask, "How did you know I was not asleep? And why didn't the other guard scold you for talking about it?"

The guard, with a wry smile, leaned in and whispered, "I've been in this game for a while. I can read people, and it was quite obvious. As for the other guard, he's on my side. Not everyone here is a blind follower of Khatri. Some of us have our reasons to resist, and we've been waiting for an opportunity like this."

"Tonight it is or never," the guard declared with a serious expression. He was acutely aware that lingering any longer could attract unwanted attention; anyone could arrive at this location within a matter of minutes. He gathered some water and food, handing them to Gill and Vasisth. "Be prepared. When the chaos begins, use the passage wisely. I'll do my part to distract the guards. This is our only shot."

After the guard left, Gill woke up the others, their faces lighting up at the sight of food. Vasisth took the opportunity to explain the details of her conversation with the guard while they ate.

"Listen, everyone," Vasisth began, her voice low but urgent. "The guard, he's on our side. He revealed that Khatri and his associates will come tonight. We have to use this chance to end their reign of terror. The guard will create a distraction, and we need to be prepared to make our move."

She went on to explain the plan, detailing the role each person would play and emphasizing the importance of timing. After eating, Gill distributed weapons to the other hostages for defence, ensuring that they had some means to protect themselves. Vasisth reiterated their roles once more to avoid any confusion or slip-ups during the critical moments that lay ahead.

Now, all they had to do was wait for the night, a night that held the promise of justice, where they would finally take Khatri into the clutches of the very justice he had so callously defied.