Page 30 of Born in Sin

Virat rolled his head towards Ishaan who shrugged. “I don’t tell Yukhi what to do. I like having my balls attached to my body. She said she’d give us boys some time before she came down and solved all our problems.”

Virat shook his head in defeat. “Honestly guys. I’m fine. What I’d really like is to be left alone for a bit.”

“So, you can brood and stew over that?” Amay asked, pointing a finger at Virat’s screen.

A still from Cara’s upcoming movie covered the majority of the page. Kabir had his arms around her, his face bent towards her tilted, smiling one, his lips hovering over hers. Virat stared at the image, allowing it drive red hot pokers through his brain.

“Vir-“

Virat shut the laptop screen before Amay could finish whatever he was saying, plunging them all into darkness. They sat in silence for a while before Ishaan said, “She had good ideas.”

“Yeah.” Virat agreed.

“You got the burner she needed?”

Virat nodded, the gesture almost invisible in the dark. Amay sighed.

“So, we’re doing this?” Ishaan asked.

“Yeah, we are.”

Amay rubbed a tired hand over his face before turning to Virat. “I don’t know if this is worth it,” Amay said abruptly, angling his body to face the two of them.

“Not worth it?” Virat repeated slowly. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Everything we’ve done, everything we’ve worked towards, has been taking these assholes down. There is no cost we weren’t willing to pay for that!”

“There is.” Amay’s lips flattened into a thin line. “For us there is.”

Virat stared at him, flabbergasted. “What the fuck are you talking about? Have you forgotten what they did to Dhrithi?” He looked at Ishaan. “To Mayukhi? To us? What they’re doing to all those poor women every two weeks? We have nothing to lose here.”

“We do, Vir,” Amay said gently. “We can’t lose you. Wewon’tlose you.”

“You’re a cost we’re not willing to pay, my friend,” Ishaan added, meeting his shocked gaze.

“Me?” Virat asked, forcing the word through numb lips.

“Vir, you’ve spent a lifetime taking care of all of us, protecting us. Allow us to do the same for you.”

“I’m fine,” Virat interrupted. “I don’t need-“

“If you have one weakness, it’s her. It’s always been her, Vir. This.” Amay pointed to the laptop. “Is going to break you in ways we don’t even want to imagine. It’s not worth it. We’ll walk away, all of us.”

“For me?” Virat asked, looking at his best friends.

“For you,” Ishaan said. “And for us. There is no us without you, Vir. Nothing is worth doing this to yourself. Let’s call it.”

Virat stared at them, allowing their words to seep into him chasing away the numbness that had stolen over him in the last few hours.

“It’s always been her,” he said, meeting their gaze. “It’s, also, always been you guys too. The three of you, you’re all I have, all I’ve ever had. And I will give all I have to see that you get what you deserve. What we all deserve. We’re going to end this. We’re going to end their sick games. We’re going to set fire to their world. And then, only then, are we going to walk away from it.”

Crestwood

Celina dropped her hand below the desk, allowing it to dangle in the space between them. Crestwood’s two seater wooden benches were old, steeped in heritage and had broad enough tops to hide what her errant hand was trying to do.

Her little finger hooked around Virat’s thumb. His entire body jerked like he’d been prodded by an electric pole. He shot her a glare even as his thumb brushed against the back of her palm. Celina caught his hand before he could pull away, her fingers twining through his. He shot her another wide-eyed look, but he tightened his fingers around hers.

“Celina.” The snap of her name had their hands swiftly retreating to their respective sides.

“Yes, Sir.” She tried to look innocent as she curled her hand in her lap.