Abhimanyu, a runaway who fled the hellish environment his father created, has spent a decade navigating life's uncertainties through a world of gambling. Alone and drifting through the streets of Lucknow, everything changes when he encounters Roop...
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A primal urge, a force far stronger than reason, moved Abhimanyu forward. He shoved through the crowd, his usual nonchalant swagger replaced by a focused intensity. Sweat beaded on his forehead, a stark contrast to the cool night air, as he bulldozed his way through the crowd. The stench of cheap perfume and stale beer hung heavy in the air, a suffocating counterpoint to the pounding of his own heart.
Reaching Jiyu, Abhimanyu surprised even himself. He wasn't known for physical confrontations, yet here he stood, towering over the hulking enforcer. A tense silence stretched between them, thick enough to choke on. Jiyu, a mountain of muscle with a shaved head that glinted under the harsh neon signs, raised an eyebrow, his face an unreadable mask. A single gold chain looped around his neck, disappearing beneath a wifebeater stained with unknown grime.
"Let her go," Abhimanyu rasped, the urgency in his voice a stark contrast to his usual lazy drawl. "She's with me."
Jiyu grunted, a low rumble in his chest that vibrated through the pavement beneath Abhimanyu's feet. "Not taking orders from you." He started to turn away, the movement like a tectonic plate shifting, but Abhimanyu darted in front of him, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. A smirk, more of a challenge than amusement, played on his lips. Despite the bravado, a flicker of unease flickered in his eyes. Was he in over his head? The air crackled with unspoken threats, the weight of the situation settling on their shoulders like a physical burden.
Abhimanyu puffed out his chest, a touch too dramatically, trying to project an air of effortless dominance. "Come on now, big guy. You wouldn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, would you? Especially not with Raghu's gang." His voice held a hint of bravado, a shade too high-pitched to be entirely convincing. He knew Raghav was rotting in jail right now, but gambling on ignorance was his only shot.
The vile woman, Shaalubai, sashayed over, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What's the meaning of this little charade?"
Abhimanyu schooled his features into a smirk, all lazy charm on the surface. "This little one," he drawled, gesturing towards Chand with a nonchalant flick of his head, "happens to be with me. You wouldn't want to upset the delicate balance of power in this neighborhood, would you, Shaalubai? Especially not by messing with one of Raghu's closest associates." He leaned in.
Shaalubai, threw her head back and cackled, a harsh sound that scraped against Abhimanyu's already frayed nerves. "Raghu? Honey, the whole city knows he's cooling his heels in jail. Your threats are about as effective as a wet firecracker." A cruel glint flickered in her eyes. "But," she continued, her voice dropping to a sly purr, "if you're that attached to the little one..." She eyed Chand with a predatory glint, "...there's always a price."
A knot of dread tightened in Abhimanyu's gut. He stole a glance at Chand, her wide eyes filled with a terror that mirrored his own.
"How much?" he rasped, the question a bitter pill to swallow.
