A New India
Chapter 165 - 165: Escape - II

Ajay, his body aching from the countless bruises and the sharp sting of the bullet graze on his side, pushed forward relentlessly.

His eyes were fixed on the distant horizon where the Indian border lay.

Safety, security, and a breath of relief, just beyond that ridge.

But there was no time to slow down.

Karan, half-carrying Aditya, limped beside him, the weight of their fallen comrade nearly pulling him to the ground with every step.

Sandeep, blood dripping from his shoulder wound, staggered forward but kept his weapon ready, scanning the ridge behind them for any sign of the ISI operatives.

"They're not far behind," Sandeep muttered, his voice strained. "We need to keep moving."

Ajay glanced over his shoulder, his mind racing.

The explosion had slowed them down, and the ISI team was closing in, just out of sight but not far enough to let them feel comfortable.

They were running on adrenaline, and each second felt like it stretched out into an eternity.

"We can't outrun them," Karan said, his voice filled with desperation. "Not with Aditya like this."

Ajay's mind races, assessing the situation.

They were so close to the border, but ISI's best operatives were hunting them down, and they were injured, low on ammunition, and physically drained.

Ajay knew what he had to do.

"Karan, take Aditya and Sandeep," he ordered, his tone sharp and resolute. "Get them to the border."

Karan's eyes widened. "What are you talking about? We're not splitting up!"

Ajay turned to face him, his expression hard but not unkind. "You won't make it with Aditya slowing you down, not with those ISI men breathing down our necks. I'll stay behind and slow them down. You take Sandeep and get Aditya across that border."

"Ajay—" Sandeep started, but Ajay cut him off with a sharp shake of his head.

"This isn't up for debate, Sandeep. You're injured. Get across that border, and don't stop until you're safe. That's an order."

This decision hit Karan and Sandeep hard, but they both knew Ajay was right.

They had no choice.

With a grim nod, Karan adjusted his grip on Aditya's limp body and started moving toward the border.

Sandeep, limping beside him, cast one last look at Ajay before following, his heart heavy with the knowledge of what Ajay was about to do.

Ajay crouched behind a large boulder, his breathing steady as he readied his rifle.

He could hear the footsteps of the ISI operatives getting closer, their voices low but confident.

They thought they had him cornered.

They thought this was the end.

But Ajay wasn't about to let them take him down without a fight.

The first ISI operative appeared over the ridge, his rifle raised as he scanned the area.

Ajay didn't give him a chance.

With a quick squeeze of the trigger, the operative dropped, his body crumpling to the ground before he even realized what had happened.

The sound of the gunshot echoed through the mountains, and the rest of the ISI team surged forward, their rifles raised, ready for battle.

Ajay moved with precision, firing controlled bursts as he took out another operative, then ducked behind the boulder as a hail of bullets tore through the air where he had just been standing.

They were closing in, but Ajay was faster.

He moved from cover to cover, using the terrain to his advantage as he picked off the operatives one by one.

But they weren't slowing down.

For every man he dropped, another two seemed to take his place.

Ajay's heart pounded in his chest as he fired his last shot, the rifle clicking empty in his hands.

He tossed it aside, drawing his sidearm as he prepared for the final fight.

One of the ISI operatives charged at him, his knife glinting in the dim light.

Ajay dodged the first strike, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it violently until he heard the sickening crack of bone.

The knife fell from the man's hand, and Ajay drove his elbow into the man's throat, sending him crashing to the ground, gasping for air.

But there wasn't time to celebrate.

Another operative was already on him, tackling him to the ground.

The two men rolled in the dirt, fists flying as they grappled for control.

Ajay landed a solid punch to the man's jaw, but the operative didn't back down.

He drove his knee into Ajay's ribs, knocking the wind out of him, and tried to pin him down.

Ajay's vision blurred for a moment, the pain in his side flaring up as he struggled to catch his breath.

But he wasn't about to give up.

With a surge of strength, he twisted out of the man's grip and drove his knife into the operative's side.

The man's body went limp, and Ajay pushed him off, gasping for air as he staggered to his feet.

But the fight wasn't over.

More ISI operatives were closing in, their rifles raised as they moved in for the kill.

Just as Ajay thought it was over, a loud crack echoed through the mountains.

A single shot rang out, and one of the ISI operatives fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

Ajay's heart skipped a beat. Reinforcements? But how?

Suddenly, more gunfire erupted, but this time it wasn't aimed at him.

Ajay ducked behind a boulder, his mind racing as the sounds of gunfire filled the air.

Through the chaos, he caught sight of familiar uniforms, Indian Armed Forces.

They had arrived just in time.

Relief flooded through Ajay as the ISI operatives, realizing they were outnumbered, began to retreat.

The gunfire slowed, then stopped altogether as the remaining ISI agents disappeared into the mountains, unwilling to risk further losses.

Ajay collapsed against the boulder, his body shaking with exhaustion as he watched the Indian forces secure the area.

He had survived. Somehow, against all odds, he had survived.

Karan, Sandeep, and Aditya were safe, having crossed the border just before the firefight had begun.

Ajay limped toward them, his body bruised and battered but alive.

Sandeep, his face pale from blood loss, offered Ajay a weak smile.

"We made it," Sandeep said quietly, his voice filled with relief.

Ajay nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of the retreating ISI forces.

"This isn't over," he muttered, his voice low and grim.

Karan placed a hand on Ajay's shoulder, his grip firm. "It doesn't matter, we will still go in and kill anyone we want"

Ajay didn't respond. He knew this was just the beginning.

As the sun began to rise over the mountains, casting a warm glow over the cold landscape,

Ajay allowed himself a moment of peace.

They had won this battle, but the war was just beginning.