Worm on hook

Summary: This is the limit of my mercy..."

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Amrit fumbles with her hands, watching how pale fingers tremble with lack of energy. Or hope that she didn't dare to clasp her hands over.

Once a dream had turned into a twisted nightmare, broken shreds of the same pricked blindingly along her spine.

She had awoken in  terror of losing the man she loved, but the terror had transformed into something more fragile, delicate and intense still. She had not known then of the flimsy, precious life that grew within her. Now in place of hope and possible cheer, fear grew, cartwheeling at the pit of her belly.

There was no one to blame more than her, if they were to ...if she was to...

Amrit couldn't complete that thought.

She jumps at the sound of door opening, making Veer freeze at the threshold. They hold each other's eyes for a moment. Longing yet daring to let the moment go.

Her heart clenches at the look on his face. At the guilt so stark and devastation so apparent. It is an echo of her own agony.

They had shared love in abundance, now grief and fear were theirs to share as well. One had to take a step towards the other before the bridge built with so much effort between them crumbled under the weight of this unwanted darkness.

Amrit cannot summon words for the occasion.

A sob chokes her.

Instead she unfolds her arms and holds them out. Veer reaches her in two long strides, engulfing her in his embrace. That earth and spice scent of his is tainted by the lingering hint of blood.

Amrit inhales shaking and dissolves into a sob, bunching his collar to keep herself upright as the force of her grief drag her down.

Time slows until it could be counted in heart beats. His or hers, Amrit doesn't know.

"Kya galat kiye humne?" Her voice is small. "Aisi kaunsi galati hogai joh itni badi saza mili?"

Veer buries a sigh on her hair, holding her close without speaking.

He wonders if it had been greed, his sin. Amrit was already too good for him, and he dared to hope more.

"You know some people say," she talks in whispers now, tear stained whispers that tear at his heart.

"Joh bhagvaan ke saamne shaadi nahi karte, unhe bhagvaan ka aashirvaad nahi milta. Kya issi liye - kya issi liye ..."

"Shh," Veer silences her with kisses that he dots across the pale line of her forehead.

"Nahi. Nahi. God is everywhere where faith is. Where heart is pure. I've been true to you. You've been true to me. Lord knows."

"Then why did he do this to us? Why does he keep taking?"

"He won't," Veer himself is surprised at the tenor of his tone. "He won't take this from us."

"Veer..."

"You know why I don't pray? Whenever I have, those prayers were not answered. I'm afraid to ask, to be denied again. But if that is the only thing left to be done, I'll do that too."

His voice drops.

"I couldn't kill him. Despite every bit of me wanting to, dying to - rip him apart I couldn't. I couldn't because I wasn't sure, a man who had taken a life had the right to beg for another. And right now, right this moment there's nothing more I want."

He holds her hands in his and brings her knuckles to touch them against his bowed forehead.

"Humare bachche ko kuch nahi honga..." He looks up at her. "Kuch nahi honga na?"

The fragile hope breaks her heart, and the hold on her tears. Amrit lets them fall as they huddle together, awaiting an end - to either their suffering, or their bliss.

"This is unfair," Rukzaar turns away from the heart-breaking sight of their despair to an equally distraught Anwar. "Unkhe hisse mein itne aansu kyun?"

Anwar shakes his head, bunches his blood stained fists.

"Do we know for certain -"

"No." He looks away. "Only time will tell who made through this. They are keeping Amrit under observation for 48 hours more. Their child is in a delicate condition but not gone. No. God willing, we will mourn no one Rukie. Not a child, nor a parent."

Her hand is warm against his shoulder, as he turns to steal a look at the theatre where Farida's surgery continues. A shudder passes beneath her palm as Anwar relives the moment of horror and he whips around.

"Veer may be a Saint," he utters through clenched teeth. "But Farook Ansari has another man he must answer to!"

*

Anwar wasn't a violent man, but rage simmered in him, barely contained and threatening to ruin everything in his path.

It is a terrible combination, the authority at his disposal and the fury inside him. Vijendra could not have stopped him even if he so wished.

Currently though, making a tally of crimes committed by the man in his custody Vijendra did not find himself inclined to interfere.

It wasn't satisfying to hurt him, no, any physical damage would not have been enough. Anwar understood what Veer meant by stepping back.

"Chal," he spat, grabbing Farook by the collar and pulling him along the stairways.

Up and up they went, until the steps opened up into a terrace of an old watch tower, complete with monumental canons of an era gone by.

Farook laughs at him the moment he releases his grip. Taking a misplaced pleasure at how unmade the other man looked.

"You had me bailed for this?" He asks sarcastically. "Think of avenging your mother single handedly?" He clicks his tongue. "At least your friend has more sense to know I am beyond his league. But you seem to fancy an early death little too -"

Anwar's fist catches him straight in the mouth, knocking off the last of his words. Farook takes it in stride, tasting the blood that rushes to fill his mouth in place of words as he too manages to sink his knuckles into Anwar's gut, twisting an arm around him, flopping him over his shoulder, an elbow locked around his throat.

Anwar kicks out under him, far more agile than he had predicted. It takes him a mere few minutes to turn the situation around, take Farook by his throat. Anwar presses him against the low wall of the watch tower, not much unlike how Farook had held Amrit earlier and forces him to watch down.

"You take too much for granted Ansari," he tells him. "Watch and learn, how little value dogs has in the eyes of your master."

From where they stood they could see the opposite building clearly. Where he had been held before, Farook could spot the cell with ease. He could also notice the gunman discreet in a corner, making last fine adjustments to his weapon.

"He has made arrangements for you," Anwar hisses. "Not just outside, but inside too. Tuje pata bhi nahi chalenga kab aur tera kissa katam."

First tendrils of fear crawls into his conscience, Farook struggles against Anwar rather half heartedly.

"Yeh galat feimi mat rakh ke humein tere fikra hai. Tu toh marenga hi..."

Anwar leaves him at the window with yet another crushing punch and stands over him, watching with a wicked indifference.

"You are a dead man Farook Ansari and we shall take pleasure in watching how your own pack of wolves drag you to hell."

"He wouldn't," Farook scrapes at his quick dissolving courage.

"Rathod wouldn't dare - he wouldn't. Not when I could ruin his entire game."

"I'm not interested," Anwar brushes him off. "Don't be deceive yourself into thinking that you could buy your safety with information Farook. There is nothing in this world that you would tell me and I'd spare your life. Humare Ammie par goli chalayi tu ne, woh ladki joh humari behen jaisi hai uss par humla kiya. You do not deserve to live."

He makes to leave and Farook calls after him.

"I'm the one who brought Rathod his grandson! Raguveer Singhania has no claim on Rajghar."

Anwar shrugs.

"Shout a little louder, those sniffing around for you would find you quicker."

Farook subdues for a moment then something occurs to him.

"I'm sure this you will want to hear Nawabzade," he says rather knowingly. "After all aashiq toh hum sab hai, ek Noor Jahaan ke."

Anwar stops cold.

"Don't you want to know where her Kabir is?" He sneers. "Wouldn't she be eternally grateful to you if you bring back her son?"

Anwar yanks him from his collar, the man replies with a blood smeared smile.

"I'm sure you'd want to keep me alive now - Nawabzade. Bohot duniya dekhe hai. Maut se bhi khele hai. Itne asan nahi honga Farook Ansari ko katam karna."

"No need," Veer speaks from the mouth of the staircase. His face set in cold lines. "I already know where Kabir is. And of every other child you have stolen from their families."

Anwar searches his face and Veer meets his gaze calmly.

"Chacha sahab," he says calmly informing Anwar what he dud not know. "Which is why he is against the entire Ranjhan business. I learned of it only recently, you must believe me. I would have returned the child at once otherwise."

Anwar nods briefly, his shoulders falling into tired lines.

"Farida Begham and I -" Veer bites back wincing at the memory. "We were arguing about this in the morning. Everything we found out so far - my entire research...everything Rathod did - Awaz will publish it all. Tomorrow morning. Unless you want to override my instructions to them. I didn't want to go through it before. I don't want to hold back now."

He sighs and the fury that holds him leaves in a hushed exhale. Anwar lays a hand upon his shoulder and Veer looks up at him. Regret awash his face.

"She told me that I will have to make a stand. That this choosing to ignore will end up causing more hurt than I am prepared to take. Your Ammie was right."

"I'm certain she did not pray this upon you Veer," Anwar says cautiously. "Neither did I. But she is right."

"She is." Veer says shortly, turning away with resolve. "Which is why I have made that stand. None of you will have to suffer anymore because of my indecisiveness."

His eyes falls upon Farook.

"You will die," he says. "This is where your actions have brought you. There is nowhere left to go now. The only purpose you would serve is to tighten the noose around your master. You will do that by dying."

Farook understands the same a beat later.

That the open space exposes him to those targeting him with murderous intent and that neither of the two men planned to do anything to help his survival.

He scrambles to his feet, eyes darting back and forth trying to judge from where the danger posed.

Anwar's eyes flicker towards Veer, unsure what he expects to see.

Veer doesn't move, doesn't return his gaze. He emits a fury that simmers low and potent, Anwar feels the strength of it and a certain decree of fear settle within him.

"This is the limit of my mercy..."

**
I'm planing to update again rather sooner than later, so I advise you to catch up quickly in case you are stocking up chapters.
We have a lot to go through before we reach our rainbow land.
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