ALWAYS YOU

51] "CHOICE & SPITE "

Abhimaan :

The phone vibrated violently in my grasp, slick with sweat, as the line crackled in my ear. My own heartbeat seemed to reverberate in sync, each pulse a relentless reminder of the gravity of my words.

"I'll hand her over," I repeated, my voice scarcely a whisper. It felt as though the walls were closing in on me, the air thick with the weight of the impossible choice I was forced to make.

The voice on the other end of the line remained ominously silent for a moment, savoring my desperation. "Wise decision," came the cold, clinical tone of Priya Rajvansh. "But remember, Abhimaan, this is not a negotiation.  No tricks, no delays."

I swallowed hard, my throat parched. "Where and when?"

"You'll find out soon enough," she replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction. The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring at the screen, the silence in the room deafening.

Damn it!If the call had lasted a moment longer, we might have traced her location, and I could have dispatched my men.

Amara's labored breaths filled the void, each one more ragged than the last. Her eyes, heavy with exhaustion, fluttered open to meet mine.

I could see the confusion and pain swimming in those depths, and it shattered something deep within me.

"Amara," I whispered, cradling her close to my heart, the heart that belonged to her in every conceivable way. "Jaan, I... I need you to be strong for me, okay? Just a little while longer."

She attempted to nod, but the effort proved too great. Instead, she weakly squeezed my hand, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye. "Mann... don't leave me," she murmured, her voice so faint it was nearly lost in the hum of the medical equipment.

"I won't," I promised, though I knew it was a promise I might not be able to keep. My gaze shifted to Veer and Kabir, standing a short distance away, their faces etched with worry and sorrow.

They were our family, but I couldn't bear to look at them now. I couldn't endure the judgment I feared in their eyes.

Veer's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "What did you just say?" His tone was disbelieving, as if struggling to process the words he had just heard.

Kabir's eyes locked onto mine, a silent plea for me to say it was a mistake, a misstep in the chaos of the moment.

But there was no mistake. No room for doubt. "I'll hand her over," I repeated, my voice barely more than a whisper, yet each word carried the weight of a mountain.

The room fell into a heavy silence, the gravity of my decision settling like a dark cloud over us.

"You can't be serious," Veer finally managed, his voice choked with emotion. "You can't give my little light to that monster, Maan."

"I don't have a choice," I replied, my gaze never leaving Amara. Her face was pale, her breath ragged. "She'll die if we don't."

"She'll die if you do," Kabir countered, his voice laced with urgency that mirrored the turmoil in my own heart. "You know Priya won't just let her go. She'll kill her as soon as she gets what she wants."

"We can't let that happen," Veer added, stepping closer, his hands clenched into fists. "We have to find another way. We can't lose her, Maan."

I knew they were right. Handing Amara over to Priya was a gamble, one that could very well end in tragedy. But the alternative was to watch her die here, helpless and in pain.

And that was something I couldn't bear. My mind raced, searching for a way to buy time, to find some glimmer of hope that could lead us out of this nightmare.