No Longer Fighting Alone
A month later.
Siku had barely managed to wake up the laborers and rush them to safety across the street, when the rich assh*le rammed his car onto the very footpath they had been sleeping on minutes before. He didn't even bother to call the emergency helpline. The rich SUV owner could die for all he cared. But the rush of adrenaline after averting the disaster was causing his ears to ring and heart to beat fast, just like on the day he had seen Surya surrounded and attacked by fifteen men.
It had been almost a month since Siku had met Surya, and he still felt his heart drop to his stomach when he thought about their meeting, the same feeling he got at Bhavesh's mention. Maybe it was because of the naivete the two shared. Though Siku didn't know Surya much, he knew enough to tell that he was an idiot to jump in headfirst at an opportunity to fight.
"Siku!"
Siku almost jumped as the dark, empty streets echoed with Surya's voice.
"What are you yelling for?"
"Hi Siku," Surya greeted him, ignoring his question. Siku blanched, blood draining from his face.
"Who… Siku? I don't know any Siku!"
But Surya simply smirked and started sipping on his water. Why did he drink so much water, was that a side effect of his medical condition?
"Having a policewoman for a girlfriend has its perks, Siku. Which reminds me, Supri asked me to give you this."
He pulled out a small chainless pendant shaped like a black flower. Siku took it, despite himself. The last ten years had made him a wandering soul, and such small acts of kindness were always welcome.
"She wanted to thank you for saving me."
"I am not Siku," he persisted.
"So who are you? Daredevil?" Surya deadpanned. Siku stayed silent.
"You two are similar, by the way. Both wear black, both have red eyeglasses, both are vigilante, both fought against a kingpin."
Siku turned and started walking away. This man would get him killed some day.
"Don't be like that!" He heard Surya whine and then the sound of running footsteps. In no time, he had joined Siku.
"I read about you, all of it. A journalist on some digital news portal had written an article on you, with video proofs and everything. They even had your video clips at the anti-corruption rallies. I just had to put two and two together to figure out that Bhavesh was dead and you took on his identity." he said and kicked a stone out of his way. Siku didn't turn to look at him.
"I saw his photos. Bhavesh. Nice fellow. Ajoba said he was very brave and kind. I am praising the original Bhavesh, just to make it clear."
"Yes, he was a brave man, bit stupid, but brave." Siku muttered. His friend had been one of the kindest souls to walk the earth.
"He didn't die in an accident, did he?"
Siku shook his head. The murder case had been pushed under a rug and had now become a small part of a much bigger water cartel scandal, so people tended to overlook the first death that had started it all.
"I am so sorry."
Siku nodded brusquely, accepting his condolences. It wasn't a good idea to give away his identity, but Bhavesh deserved to be acknowledged, and if that acknowledgement came with a cost, Siku was fine with it.
"Will you… will you let me help you?" Surya asked and Siku looked at him, horrified. Where was this even coming from?
"No! Didn't you read the whole thing? Bhavesh died, the old man who complained about the water shortage was beaten to death. I almost died. I had to fake my death. I am not letting more people die for me!" he yelled.
"But I won't be dying for you. I will be dying for the greater good, for India." Surya shrugged.
Bhavesh wanted to smack him. Was he a complete idiot? But he knew men like Surya, like Bhavesh. They didn't know when to stop, they HAD to be stopped.
"And have you wondered what will happen to your family? To Supri?" he asked, slightly menacingly, in the hopes that it was enough to scare him off.
Surya looked at him thoughtfully, considering his options.
"When we were kids, Supri's dad stole her mother's chain, so in a bid to become a hero, I accidently pushed him off a building. He went into paralysis from the waist down. That's why my Papa always feared I would do something drastic since my inability to feel pain blinded me to the understanding that others actually feel pain. So, we shifted to a small house on the outskirts, and I was kept locked in the house. He would take me outdoors every weekend so I wouldn't be cooped up in the house all the time. When I met Mani, for the first time in a long time, I felt like my life had a purpose, and in my haste to chase that adrenaline rush, I put Supri, Ajoba, and Mani at risk. It was our luck that we won against Jimmy and his goons."
Surya sighed. Siku looked at him warily.
"Look man, I am not doing this for kicks."
"I know. You are on a mission, and I want to help you. You know I can help you. And not just me, but Supri too."
"The Police tried to kill me once," Siku said with a hint of bitterness.
"Not all are corrupt. Plus, if you keep looking at the world through one lens, you will never see the other side of it," Surya said and blinked.
Siku couldn't help but chortle.
"Nice line, but no!"
"Oh, come on! Haven't you been fighting alone for a long time now?"
Siku sighed. Yes, he had fought for a long time now, specifically, three years. But he was fine alone.
"I am fine." He tried to sound firm, but he could already feel his resolve wavering. It wasn't fine alone. It was...lonely.
"I know you are, but the two of us will be double fine!"
Siku rolled his eyes. Now he understood why this man was so naive. He had no understanding of the world, or of its bleakness. Surya had seen his share of darkness, but was now looking at life as if it was a chapter of a comic book with a happy ending was at the end of it. Surya needed a new chapter, a new adventure to get through so he could get to that elusive ending.
"I don't even know you,"
"I didn't say we were best of friends, but we will get there and become best friends, like the Avengers," Siku scoffed at the reference. Surya really was a child in a man's body.
"See, I am not doing this for kicks or anything, but fighting gives my life a purpose, and if my fighting can help someone, why not? Supri did her bit by joining the force, and I don't think I am doing enough. Please, just let me help you. I need someone to fill the void Mani has left, the void of a mentor, a guide. Plus, your motivations aren't even misguided, you’re just carrying forward your best friend’s legacy. That of helping others." Siku blinked at him, trying to find the underlying meaning of his rant. Could he take help from this strange man? Maybe.
"Ok, you can help me," he relented finally.
He had no idea what he had agreed to, but it was worth a shot. He knew this. He also knew that Bhavesh would want him to seek help. Siku had failed when it was his time to help, but at least he could accept help from someone else. It was a risk, but Surya had made it abundantly clear that he understood the risks, maybe not in the way Siku wanted him to, but it was ok for now. Siku wasn't even sure if he needed any help, but he had to consider the future. These were f*cked up times, so all help was appreciated, even if it came from a Midnight stranger with a water bag and swimming goggles, and an ability to feel no pain.
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SONIA441 @SONIA441
+ 4
2 years ago
The last line was reallllly gooood 😛That's some great amalgamation of the two movies 🤯