Terrorized By Love [ON HOLD]

Chapter 14: I'll Die Loving You

For the rest of the day, Aditya kept watch outside, while Laksh kept Mahima company inside the cabin. Aditya could hear Mahima laughing inside, and Laksh laughing along with her, and he felt his stomach churning. It was almost like he wished that he was there instead, keeping her company, making her smile. Then he tried to force the thoughts to leave his head, which only made them worse.

"Dammit. Why the hell do I want to be around her?" he asked himself.

It was the most baffling, unsettling, yet strangely entrancing question.

When Laksh came outside to keep watch, he informed Aditya that Mahima was already sleeping.

"Why don't you just allow yourself to love her?" Laksh asked his partner.

"You know we'll have to kill her if the President denies and we'll have to lose her if the President accepts. Either way, there is no room for love in this profession," Aditya answered. "So stay out of it."

"I know there's no room for love already Aditya," Laksh said. "But maybe you can make room. She loves you too."

She loved him? His heart leaped upon hearing that.

"Don't say those things. She can't love me," Aditya hissed. "And mind your own business. We've come here for a mission. Let's do it and go. We're terrorists Laksh, we aren't meant to love."

Laksh laughed grimly.

"I fell in love once. I had to kill her family," Laksh informed, a slight hesitation in his voice. "She found out. She was very hurt, of course... but she still forgave me you know. She loved me too. Then, she told me to leave my world of sin. I told her I couldn't... and she... she went and..."

Laksh took a deep breath.

"She went to Boss and begged for him to free me. He killed her on the spot. I watched it. I didn't speak up. I didn't do anything to save her. Maybe I couldn't save her... but Aditya, you can do something to save Mahima. If you love her, then you can save her," Laksh urged. "Save her before it's too late."

Aditya didn't know whether to feel pity for his partner or whether to get angry with him for breaking their code of conduct.

"I'm going to sleep. I'm sick as it is," Aditya replied, and then without saying another word to Laksh, he went inside his room and saw that Mahima was sleeping angelically on the bed.

He changed into his sweatpants and a t-shirt that had come in a bundle of clothes for them this morning, and got into bed next to her. As soon as he got in bed, She pressed her face against his shoulder and held his arm.

"I was waiting for you," she murmured, and opened her eyes.

"Don't ever wait for me," Aditya replied, and closed his eyes.

"If I have to wait my whole life, I will," she answered.

"You'll die, but you won't ever get my love," Aditya told her bluntly.

Mahima smiled.

"Then I'll die loving you," she whispered in response, before reaching down his arm and intertwining their fingers together.