Ishan expected awe, Ishan expected crying, Ishan even expected fear, but not even in a thousand years had Ishan expected Shubman to start cackling like a maniac at the sight of him. The shock of it made him stumble back, but not before he caught Shubman's shirt and dragged him aside. He knew he did not have much time - he had spent the entire night carefully navigating the dense forest to avoid being sighted, and it was only a stroke of luck that he saw some goons and followed them to the decrepit cave. He had diverted some of the men to a wild goose chase by tying a beeper to a remote car, but he knew they would be back soon, and once they saw the dead bodies of their comrades, Ishan and Shubman would be in deep trouble. Not to mention the reinforcement that would be swift on their tail.

But first, Shubman.