Hero of My Heart (DeepVeer AU)

Random Spies from Delhi Die

"Okay, I think we're almost to the Thar Desert," Ranveer announced, flipping the map over. "Just one mile away."

"Okay," Varun said. "Wait... what is that?"

"What is what?"

"That." Varun pointed to a stone structure at least a hundred feet away from them. Five men were standing next to it, watching them intently.

"Those guys are disturbing," Tiger said, shivering. "Should we go over there and see what they want?"

"We don't even know who they are," Ranbir reminded him. "They could be working for Zaheer. They could be his spies."

"True," Varun agreed. "But we can't just drive past them! They have swords!"

"They do?" Tiger peered closer, almost collapsing on Varun. "What the hell?! Geez, these guys are creepy! Why are they so old-fashioned? Guns are the current trend."

Ranbir turned the steering wheel to the left, and the car turned towards the guys, heading straight for the stone structure. Ranbir stopped the car when they were only ten feet away from the structure, and everyone climbed out.

"Who are you?" Tiger called to the first man.

The man didn't say anything at first, and his dark eyes studied them from head to toe. Ranveer fidgeted under his cold gaze.

Tiger was about to advance on the men before the first man spoke up. "I'm Khalid. We come from Delhi, hoping to find a better kingdom. You four look like you come from Bollywood."

"We do," Tiger said, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"I'm Ram," the second man piped up.

"Sai," the third said.

"Rithvik," the fourth said.

"Arjuna," the fifth said. "Please lead us to Bollywood. We will aid you in any way possible."

Ranveer frowned, studying each of them individually. He noticed the men holding their swords at an angle which meant they were ready to strike. Their shurikens and daggers seemed very sharp, and Ranveer did not want to gain first-hand experience from the sharp points. Their clothes were dirty, and they were heading in the direction of Bollywood. A map was jutting out of "Rithvik"'s pocket.

"Distract them," Ranveer hissed to Varun. "They're lying."

Varun nodded and grinned at the men. "Of course. Tell me, why are you leaving Delhi?"

Ram seemed to be thinking of a lie. "Well, Zaheer was being selfish. He didn't care about his people. He only cared about himself and his title. But he won't have a title if his citizens perish. So we want to settle down in Bollywood and start a new life."

Ranveer snuck around the structure and stalked up behind Arjuna. He drew one of his daggers and drove it into Arjuna's back, leaving a gushing wound. Arjuna yelped and dropped to his knees, clutching his abdomen.

Khalid growled and spun around to face Ranveer. He tried slashing his sword against Ranveer's neck, but he dodged, sending the blade into the stone. Khalid tried yanking it out while Ram started jabbing his sword point at Ranveer aimlessly. Ranveer kept backing away Ro dodge them.

Ranbir lunged for Ram and grabbed him by the shoulders, twisting his arm all the way around, making his sword clatter to the sandy floor. Ram groaned in pain, clutching his bent shoulder. Ranbir didn't let go as he spun Ram around and tossed him ten feet away.

Varun went for Khalid, who was still trying to retrieve his sword. He grabbed Khalid by his long, frizzy hair and yanked it, sending Khalid to the floor. He picked Khalid up and punched his face, and he kept on punching him until he was knocked out cold. Varun grabbed Khalid's sword from the stone easily and drove it straight through Khalid's heart.

"A little violent there, buddy," Tiger winced. "But he's definitely dead."

"I think Arjuna is dead," Ranbir pointed to Arjuna, who collapsed at Ranveer's feet, the wound in his back still gushing blood. Ranveer scrambled away from the limp corpse.

"Okay. Khalid and Arjuna down. Sai, Rithvik, and Ram to go," Varun announced.

Ranbir grabbed Ram by his twisted shoulder and tossed him again. Then, he grabbed a shuriken from Ram's tool belt and stabbed his arm with it. Ram screamed in agony. Ranbir continued to stab his arm, then he stabbed Ram's leg.

"Bro, get it over with," Tiger yelled, advancing on Sai.

Ranbir rolled his eyes and stabbed Ram's stomach. Ram was dead.

"I will not let you go to Zaheer and tell him we're on our way to Delhi!" Tiger roared, kicking Sai into the structure. He grabbed a knife and stabbed Sai's leg and hand. Sai shrieked. Tiger punched Sai in the mouth so he would make any noise, then he stabbed his chest. Sai was also dead.

Ranveer waited for someone to go for Rithvik, but no one did, and Rithvik was advancing on him. So he grabbed a small sword from his own belt and slashed it at Rithvik. Rithvik blocked the attack with his own sword, and soon enough, Rithvik and Ranveer were sword fighting.

"You weren't seeking refuge in Bollywood!" Ranveer gritted out through clenched teeth as he continued to slash at Rithvik. "You were planning on ambushing Bollywood to take control for Zaheer, and then you were going to go to Tollywood, Mollywood, Kollywood, etcetera! And probably Hollywood as well."

"You are correct," Rithvik sneered. "But I'm afraid that won't be possible now that you've killed the others." He gazed at the dead bodies of Sai, Khalid, Ram, and Arjuna.

"You won't meet the same fate as them if you help us," Ranveer tried. "Join us."

"How do you know I won't betray you?" Rithvik questioned. "Do you really trust me?"

"No," Ranveer snapped. "But I'm giving you a choice. I'm being generous, which is not something you see everyday."

"I know." Rithvik took another glance at the corpses of his friends. "But I will not betray my friends." He threw his sword away, grabbed the tip of Ranveer's, and drove it into his own heart. Rithvik choked, slumping to the ground. Ranveer kneeled beside the dying man.

"My last words... will not be useless..." Rithvik choked. "Just know, I was never loyal to.... Zaheer.... But I was loyal to my brothers...." He glanced at the bodies again. "Arjuna, Sai, Rithvik, Khalid, and Ram. The Hari brothers. Don't let me go in vain. The other four shall be remembered as Zaheer's spies, but I shall be known as... the middle-class rebel.... Because I was never... loyal... to Zaheer... only to my .... Brothers...."

"Of course," Ranveer promised. "Sleep. Rest."

Rithvik managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Ranveer Singh." Then, his eyes clothes, and he took his last, uneven breath, before the life drained out of his body.

Rithvik was dead.

Ranveer wiped a tear away. He was still stuck on the fact that Rithvik knew his name. But he couldn't help but remember Rithvik's last words.

Rithvik Hari... a middle-class rebel.