Leap of Faith

Last Man Standing

There was a loud bang behind me. It was another gunshot. Meanwhile, Aayan pushed me behind, still crouching near the side desk near the door.

"Vikram, I suggest you drop your weapons. Police officers are already on their way. You have absolutely no chance to run away!" Aayan called out in the dark. He had already switched off his flashlights.  On his other side, I noticed a tall man wearing a vest, pointing his gun in Vikram's direction.

"Are you okay?" he whispered, clutching my hand tightly. 

I nodded as a sigh of relief mixed with the warmth of his presence had relaxed me to myself again.

"Kumar, get Trisha out of here. Just sneak her out of the door, and check the status with the police," he whispered urgently looking at the man. "I want to finish what he started."

"I am not going anywhere! Damn it!" I snarled against his ear. I was not going to let him go alone into the dark ahead, especially when I know the women were professional, and Vikram was not less than a maniac himself. I remembered his furious glare when I was switching off the fuse.

"Get out of here Trish! You have done enough already. Please do me a favor and live!" He muttered back and signaled Kumar to take my hold.

"Sir, please. Leave those to me. I will see to it that they don't run away. You take her out to safety instead." Kumar tried to sound as professional as he could be.

"Please, would you two listen to me already? Kumar, do as I ordered!" he countered and moved away from my hold towards the danger.

When I tried to go after him, Kumar grabbed my waist and was now opening the door. Still slouching, he pulled me out. As soon as the door shut behind me, my senses brought alive. The wind was blowing in all its glory, trying to get us out of balance. I did not know where he was leading me because it was still dark. I could see the silhouettes of tall coconut trees swaying wildly in mother earth's wrath.

Reluctantly I was ensuing Kumar, ducking my head to follow the rough pavements. Internally I felt tormented knowing well, Aayan was still in the house, fighting his battle. Finally, I couldn't follow him out anymore. "Kumar," I began, fixing my gaze at his back when a gunshot was fired.

And it was just like the time had slowed down. I looked at his shoulder. The blood slowly soaked his jacket, as he fell back. He had already pushed me down, probably saving me from another shot. 

"Trisha, run along this pavement. There... is a... car... down the street." He struggled with his words, his right hand pressing the wound tightly. His eyes started fluttering; his breathing became uneven. And I could feel my eyes brimming with tears as I witnessed his big form sunk into unconsciousness.

I was left alone in the dark. I mediated in that short seconds of all the possibilities. For a split second, the thought of running away from danger seemed alluring. I could be safe. No gunshots, no blood, no dying! I could imagine my family smiling, happy to get me back, glad that I survived. 

But was Aayan there in my imagination? I rummaged my illusion once more, but no. He was nowhere. I turned back, saw the huge house, standing erect on a pinnacle of the creek, haunted.

Life without Aayan! Was that even possible?

I will rather die!

A shiver went down my spine. Now was the time. The time for me to act, no fear, no force to stop me from getting my man back. He would always have me, in happiness and in trying times. How much so he tried to keep me out of it, to keep me protected, I would be by his side, fighting our battle together!

"Kumar, be okay. I will be back!" I muttered to his unconscious form, and picked up his gun, and checked for its bullets. Thank god that TV had educated me enough to know how to fire a gun.