◇𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕆𝕣 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕕◇

Encounter-III

Sorry for the delay! I was just not in a good mood!

In the stillness of the late evening, the atmosphere was thick with tension and urgency. Rudrav's heart raced as he barked orders at his teammates, his focus zeroing in on Shruti’s unconscious body lying in the back of the ambulance. Her pale face, devoid of its usual life and vibrance, sent a cold shiver down his spine. He had never seen her so vulnerable, so fragile. His mind was divided—part of him wanted to stay by her side, but he knew what had to be done. Vaibhav was still out there, a threat that needed to be neutralized, and Ranveer—God knows where Ranveer was or what state he was in.

Rudrav- Take her to the hospital! Now!

He ordered the paramedics with a commanding tone, leaving no room for hesitation.

The sirens blared as the ambulance sped away, cutting through the thick night air. Rudrav clenched his fists, mentally preparing himself for what was to come. There was no time to waste—he needed to find Ranveer and fast. His gut churned with dread, knowing that the confrontation between Ranveer and Vaibhav was inevitable. He broke into a sprint, his feet pounding the pavement as his eyes scanned the dark alleyways and streets.

After what felt like an eternity, Rudrav spotted them. At a distance, amidst the rubble of a dilapidated warehouse, he saw Ranveer and Vaibhav engaged in a brutal fistfight. Both men were covered in blood, their clothes torn and dirtied from the scuffle. The fight was raw, animalistic—each blow seemed more desperate than the last. Ranveer’s face was twisted in rage, and Vaibhav’s eyes burned with a hatred that seemed endless.

Rudrav- Ranveer!!!

He shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the sounds of their struggle. He rushed forward, but before he could intervene, Vaibhav landed a crushing blow to Ranveer’s ribs, sending him crashing to the ground. A sickening crack echoed in the air as Ranveer let out a pained grunt, clutching his side.

But he didn’t stay down. With grim determination, Ranveer pushed himself back to his feet, staggering slightly but still standing. Vaibhav laughed, his voice dripping with malice,

Vaibhav- You're tough, I'll give you that. But you can’t win.

Rudrav's pulse quickened as he fumbled for his gun, drawing it from the holster at his side. He knew he had to act fast—Ranveer was on the brink of collapse, and Vaibhav was ruthless.

Just as Vaibhav raised his fist to strike again, Rudrav fired. The shot rang out, echoing in the empty space, and everything seemed to freeze for a moment. Vaibhav staggered backward, clutching his chest where the bullet had struck. His eyes widened in shock as blood began to pour from the wound. He fell to the ground with a dull thud, his breath coming in short, labored gasps.

Both Rudrav and Ranveer stood still, their chests heaving, eyes locked on Vaibhav’s motionless form.

Ranveer- Is he—?

He started, his voice hoarse.

Rudrav-I think so

Rudrav replied, his voice low, as he holstered his weapon.

But before either of them could fully process what had happened, a sudden movement caught Rudrav’s eye. Vaibhav, with the last vestiges of strength, had somehow forced himself back up onto his knees. Blood poured from his chest wound, but there was a fire in his eyes, a determination to take one of them down with him.

Vaibhav’s hand fumbled inside his jacket, and within seconds, a gun was pointed straight at Rudrav.

Ranveer- Rudrav!

He shouted, and before Rudrav could react, Ranveer threw himself between them.

The shot rang out, splitting the air like thunder. Rudrav’s eyes widened in horror as Ranveer collapsed in front of him, a cry of agony tearing through the silence. Blood blossomed from Ranveer’s back, staining his shirt as he fell to his knees and then into Rudrav's arms.

"No! No!"

Rudrav screamed, his voice raw with emotion as he caught Ranveer’s weight, feeling the warmth of his friend’s blood seep through his fingers. Time slowed as he knelt there, holding Ranveer in his arms, watching as the life began to drain from his friend’s eyes.

Ranveer struggled to speak, his voice barely a whisper.

Ranveer- I… I couldn’t let him… take you down.

Rudrav- You bastard!

Rudrav choked, his throat tightening as tears stung the corners of his eyes- Why would you do that? Why?

But there was no time to linger. Vaibhav, weakened but still alive, was lifting his gun again, ready to finish the job. Rudrav’s grief transformed into a blinding rage. He gently laid Ranveer down and stood up, the gun feeling heavy in his hand.

With no hesitation, Rudrav raised his weapon and emptied the remaining bullets into Vaibhav’s chest. The shots echoed through the warehouse, and Vaibhav’s body jerked with each impact, his eyes going wide before finally losing their light. He collapsed in a lifeless heap, the last remnants of his defiance draining away with his blood.

Breathing heavily, Rudrav turned back to Ranveer, who lay on the ground, his face twisted in pain. Rudrav knelt beside him again, pressing his hand to the wound on Ranveer’s back, but the blood wouldn’t stop. It flowed freely, slipping through his fingers like water.

Rudrav- Stay with me, Ranveer

He pleaded, his voice breaking- Don’t you dare leave me now!

Ranveer’s breathing was shallow, his eyes flickering as he fought to stay conscious.

Ranveer(murmured, his voice faint)- Take.......care of Sh....Shruti

Rudrav shook his head.

Rudrav- No. Don’t say this. Just stay awake, okay? Help is coming.

But Ranveer’s body was limp, and Rudrav could see that his friend was slipping away. His hands trembled as he held Ranveer close, helpless to do anything but watch as his friend’s life ebbed away.

Sirens wailed in the distance, but they were too late. Tears streamed down Rudrav’s face as he cradled Ranveer’s lifeless body in his arms, the weight of his failure crushing him. He had saved Shruti, but he had lost Ranveer.

And in that moment, surrounded by death and destruction, Rudrav vowed that Vaibhav would be the last person to ever take someone he loved. But it was a hollow promise. The price had already been paid in blood.

As the sirens grew louder and the flashing lights approached, Rudrav remained frozen in place, his mind numb to everything around him. All he could see was the lifeless body of his best friend, lying in his arms, and the searing pain of loss that threatened to consume him whole.

To Be Continued..........

So guys here was the Twenty Fifth chapter
If you like it then please vote and comment. And Stay tuned for the new chapter. Bye😊