The Rules Of Pursuit

45. 416

It had been nearly a week into the New Year. On a cold and crisp Tuesday morning, our class of twelve were gathered at the indoor firing range. Instead of the paper sheet targets that hung from the ceiling, there were cardboard cutouts of human silhouette placed at the far end of the wall opposite to where the booths stood.

"Time to upgrade class." Mentor Varun boomed. On each booth table, there was something lying beneath a white cloth. "Days of handguns are gone, time to take the next step. Uncover them." He motioned us to remove the white cloth.

There, lying on the table was the most badass gun I had seen.

"HK416, one of the lethal Assault Rifles in the world. They are known for their spurt and velocity. One of their kin holds the honor of shooting dead, the most dreaded terrorist of all time." Mentor Varun informed us.

I stepped in closer, picking up the Assault Rifle. The Picatinny rail wrapped around its hand guard welcomed the touch of my palm. The narrow sleek barrel pointed ahead as I placed the butt-stock against my shoulder. The automatic handguns could never have generated the adrenaline rush 416 did.

I grazed its body delicately, the cold metal feeling edgy against my hand.

"Looks like I have serious competition now." Avinash smirked at my gesture picking up the other 416, which was lying with the one I held.

"Bad-ass!" He smirked mimicking me and placing the rifle against his shoulder. The magazines were already inserted.

"No more firing from the booth," Mentor Varun announced. "You will follow my instructions and fire on motion."

Whoa. This was going to be difficult. Moving and firing meant, we won't get a chance to take aim properly. Before I could ponder, Mentor Varun made one of us from each pair, stand infront of the booths. The cutout targets stood ahead of us.

"Ready class?" Mentor Varun roared.

"Yes Sir!" We roared back.

"Fire," our mentor shouted.

I pulled the trigger in response. The recoil was vigorous, making the butt-stock dig into my shoulder. Pain shot through my arm from the force of the recoil, making me wince. However, the pain was nothing compared to the thrill the 416 gave me.

"Down," Mentor Varun shouted and we hunched down on the floor. I looked up and smiled. My cut out had a bullet hole in its centre. Avinash was right. I indeed was quite good at shooting.

"Up and move," Mentor Varun's words were followed by us standing up and scurrying ahead.

"Fire."

I lifted my gun, once more placing the butt-stock against my shoulder as I jogged towards the cardboard target and fired. My shoulder was prepared this time, yet pain shot through it from the gun's recoil, the butt-stock punching my shoulder.

The pain couldn't dampen the exhilaration though. I kept pulling the trigger and witnessed the bullets make a vertical straight line along the middle of my cardboard target.

"HALT." Mentor Varun commanded and the six of us stopped firing. I held the riffle down, its barrel facing the floor.

"SWAP," Mentor Varun roared.

I jogged back, allowing Avinash to rush forward and take my place at the spot we had halted.

"FORWARD," Mentor Varun screamed and our partners jogged forward pointing their guns ahead. "AND FIRE".

The sound of guns blasting filled up the range once again, as I saw Avinash's shoulders jerk back repeatedly while his bullets made a horizontal line along the center of our cardboard target.