When Stars Descend

Aarohi

She remembered the first time she had heard a gunshot. It had been from her own hand. The sound and fear of the bullet had haunted her days and her nights. The bullet gave her the adrenaline rush she had detested the most. So when she heard the gunshot firing through the window , shattering the glass shards and evoking screams from people, the adrenaline rush told her, it had been for her. Her mind told her to withdraw her own emergency gun from her bag but the somehow the frightened look on noor's face was more bearable than the betrayal face which she would have to face for hiding her lies. Noor was shouting at her, everyone around them was shouting "AAROHI! GET DOWN!" he said pulling her hand and pulling her under the table, "What the fuck is happening" he said, his lips shaking. She assumed it was his first time witnessing a gunshot. " stay calm. we are hidden. They cannot see us" she said as if calming her own self too." How are you so calm. SOMEONE FUCKING SHOT A GUN AAROHI "he bellowed. " Shut up or the next gun shot will ring in your head." she hissed. Noor was staring at her as if looking at her in a new light." do you know about this?" the anger on aarohi's face turned into guilt. "noor. i will tell you everything later. Lets just get out of here first. Please. Just do what i say and we will both live" she said, eyes staring intently in noor's. Noor nodded, he did not have much options here. The shop only had 2 more couples and they were successfully hidden from sight. "Should we call police?" aarohi's eyes widened. " NO!" she whisper shouted." Do you have a death wish or what" she said anger shining in her eyes. Noor might get them both killed." I just mean any call might alert them and you will be dead okay? so just trust me, I will get us out" noor gave a small chuckle and muttered , " Trust? i don't even know if you are somehow involved in this" aarohi chose to ignore this. This was just the start, if noor knew everything he would not even look at her. Footsteps thudded the shop and they heard a rasp male voice "Aarohi come out you bitch" aarohi's blood started roaring into her ears. Noor was looking at her with his wide eyes. " I will not wait for long" he said, " come out or everyone in this shop will die" . It was surprise that noor didn't give her a push outside. He was just looking at her as if trying to solve a Rubic's cube. " Alright, if you do not come out in 10 seconds this shopkeeper is dying, did you hear me bitch?" aarohi could hear the whimpers of the shopkeeper, she need not have to look to see that the gun was pointed at his head. "10" aarohi looked at noor."9" he looked at her."8" she tried to stand up with wobbly legs "7" noor pulled at her hand and got her back down. "6", "we don't have much time" aarohi said. "5", "i do not want you to die" noor said "4", aarohi smiled tears flowing down. "3" noor did not. "2", " do anything, get us out and do not die" noor said. "1" aarohi got up with her gun pressed on her back." Oh there you are, i though this old man would have to die today" he laughed like a maniac. " yo you are lucky only this bitch will die today" he said as he approached aarohi. " Had the same look on you face when you killed my brother didn't you?" he said sneering, " It was my pleasure to erase on piece of dirt from this planet" aarohi smiled. He sprung at her to attack her but she dodged him," i do not think god gave you brain with your bull body". he growled and attacked her again. This time she pinned her elbow in his face and his nose almost broke as he crashed on the marble floor, yelling with pain. " aarohi still had her elbow pinned on his face. "i would gladly kill you too today. " she pointed the gun at head, he had tossed his gun aside in combat . Shat's what angry fools like him did. she knew she wouldn't kill him. She was just waiting for them, her friends but most importantly her team, the ones who always got her out of these situations because soon more goons will come and aarohi cannot wrestle them all alone and as if god had heard her plea, she heard kartik's voice screaming her name as he burst into the shop, the look on his face had the fear that it had been too late. Then he saw her and rushed in to hug her, she cried with relief. Her gun was still pointing at the goon's head. Suddenly her eyes looked for him and there he was standing in the corner, not hiding from the people who had guns in their hand. " we have to leave, more will come soon" kartik said urgently. " were you here with him? did they see him with you" kartik asked sensing the tension. "yes " she whispered as if she had committed a sin. "Then he is going with us" kartik said letting out a sigh," or else they would go after him next, might even....." his voice drifted. She need not hear to know what would happen to him. " i am leaving" noor said, "i am leaving Mumbai today". "you don't get it, they are everywhere" kartik said. " why should i trust you guys? what if you get me killled?' he said looking at aarohi. Her gut clenched. "we have to hurry noor, they might be here any minute. please. i will explain everything" aarohi said her voice breaking. she had never been so vulnerable in front of anyone before, she could see the surprise on kartik's face. "okay  but i leave as soon as possible. i want to get out" kartik rolled his eyes at him, "yes sure just hurry or we all will die her"kartik slammed his gun's head on the goon's head and he passed out. Noor was in absolute disgust, he was looking at aarohi's gun, he kept it in her bag. they walked out as if nothing has happened. "where is everyone else" aarohi said slamming the car door shut." They are waiting at our place" kartik said," where is your place?" noor asked, "you will know soon" kartik said looking in the front mirror. "talk" noor said looking at aarohi. she was caught off guard. " Explain what the fuck just happened" noor stared at her. kartik flinched. He knew better than to interfere, he also knew no one talked to her like that. aarohi met noor's gaze, she saw hatred, distrust and million other emotions. " i will" and she did but she knew noor would not like the end.