His dark obsession

54. Playing with guns

As they sped along the road, the soft moments of the night shattered with the sharp crack of a gunshot. Samyuktika gasped, her heart racing as the realization hit her. Ekansh grimaced in pain, gripping his shoulder where the bullet had grazed him. Despite the sharp sting, his instincts kicked in immediately. With his free hand, he reached for the gun hidden in the console, his expression hardening.

"Stay down!" Ekansh barked, his voice filled with urgency as he pressed his foot on the accelerator, sending the car speeding down the empty road.

Samyuktika, shaken but not panicked, ducked low in the seat, her mind racing as she watched Ekansh focus intensely on the road ahead. The night that had been so peaceful was now filled with the sound of screeching tires and the haunting echo of gunfire.

"Who are they?" she asked breathlessly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Rivals," Ekansh muttered darkly, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. “They’ve been after me for a while. I didn’t expect them to strike now.”

He shifted gears, maneuvering the car expertly even with one hand on the wheel and the other clutching his gun. Another shot rang out, narrowly missing the car. Samyuktika's heart pounded as she glanced behind them, spotting a black SUV gaining on them.

"They won't stop," she whispered, her fear mounting. But Ekansh’s steady presence reassured her. Even in the face of danger, he was calm, focused.

“They won’t get away with this,” he growled, his eyes narrowing.

As the car sped through the streets, he swerved into an alleyway, trying to lose their pursuers. The tires screeched as they made sharp turns, the city lights blurring past them. Ekansh leaned out the window slightly, aiming his gun at the SUV behind them. He fired a few rounds, causing the car to swerve in response, but it kept coming.

“Samyuktika, I need you to trust me,” Ekansh said, his voice firm. “We’re going to get out of this.”

She nodded, though fear clung to her. Despite the chaos, she believed in him. Ekansh was skilled and determined—this wasn’t his first encounter with danger, and he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

In one swift movement, he veered onto the main highway, gaining speed, and then slammed his brakes, sending their car into a controlled spin. The sudden move caused their pursuers to overshoot, giving Ekansh just enough time to fire another shot at the SUV’s tires. The vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a nearby post.

Breathing heavily, Ekansh straightened the car and continued driving, his jaw clenched. Samyuktika reached out, her hand gently touching his arm.

“You’re hurt,” she said softly, her voice filled with concern.

Ekansh glanced at his injured shoulder, blood staining his shirt. "It's just a graze. I'll be fine."

But Samyuktika’s heart ached seeing him in pain. She sat up, her worry deepening as they drove in silence, the adrenaline from the attack slowly fading. They had made it out alive, but the danger wasn’t gone.

As they sped away from the scene, Ekansh handed the gun to Samyuktika, his face tense but calm. "Take this," he said, his voice steady, though the urgency was clear. "If they come closer again, I need you to be ready. Don’t hesitate. Aim and shoot."

Samyuktika stared at the gun in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. She had never held a weapon before, let alone considered using one. Her heart pounded, the weight of the situation hitting her all at once. The thought of pulling the trigger felt overwhelming, but she could see the trust in Ekansh’s eyes—the belief that she could protect them if needed.