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Ram doesn't register it the first time - the burning flames of jealousy licking at his heart that is.
It's a morning much different from usual. He watches as Jenny hurries over to Akhtar, purse and camera in one hand as she adjusts her summer hat with the other. The latter is waiting for her on his motorcycle, his nervousness making him repeatedly glance in Ram's direction. Ram can't help but find it indescribably cute.
Jenny gets on the bike and they leave for the market, an unconventional but charming pair. Ram is left waving at them, a small smile playing on his lips at the thought that his friend gets to spend some quality time with his crush.
If his mind lingers a second longer on the hand on Akhtar's shoulder and the spot behind Akhtar that's no longer just his, it's not something he dwells on for too long.
It happens again, just a few hours later. He's giving Akhtar a piggyback ride, the afternoon sun shining down on the two of them. They're glued so close that Ram can feel Akhtar's heartbeat. It's a calming rhythm but for some reason, Ram can feel his own heart starting to beat faster.
The proximity is doing strange things to Ram and he tries to shift his focus by talking to his friend. It's easy to get him to talk; Ram only needs to bring up a topic and Akhtar can go on and on about it for hours. But Ram doesn't mind because he's the same around Akhtar (and also because Akhtar's voice is music, Ram could listen to its melody forever).
The sound of honking brings him back to reality and the bubble around them pops. Jenny's looking at them from her car, a concerned expression on her face, and Akhtar hastily gets down. For a second, Ram sees red as he's forced to reluctantly let go.
It's decided that Akhtar will go to Jenny's place. He settles next to her and the two of them depart on the two-seater to bond over a cup of coffee.
Ram's left looking at their backs again, waving even if he knows Akhtar is too distracted to look at him. His back feels cold without Akthar's warmth. The thought makes his smile falter but he's soon reminded of his goal by the teal coloured fixture on the car and a part of him sighs in relief at having something else, to think about.
The relief is short-lived. The night is suffocating as he makes his way through the utter chaos of the governor's palace. He can't find the person he's looking for.
Ram doesn't believe in prayers but for the first time, he prays with his entire being that he doesn't find him. He can't bear the thought of capturing Akht- no, Bheem. The name feels foreign and his brain rejects it, wanting to hold on to the Akhtar he knew a while longer.
He pushes through the frenzy of people and animals, the gunshots ringing in his ear disorienting him. The poison hasn't left his body completely and the sweltering heat makes him pull at his shirt, his fingers accidentally latching on to a thin cord of rope through the fabric, making him pause in his tracks.
That's when he sees them. They're quite far but Ram clearly sees his Akhtar dressed in clothes he's never seen him in, wearing an expression of wrath he never thought he'd see on this sweet man.
Ram has barely processed what he's seeing before the expression dissolves, like it never was there to begin with, when Akhtar sees the person standing next to him, Jenny. In that instant, his entire demeanour changes and he goes back to the Akhtar that Ram had come to know so closely. And Ram, he wants to cry. Wants to rush over to him. Wants to hug Akhtar tightly and never let go.
But Akhtar only has eyes for Jenny. And she, for him. She's settled in the car and they're looking at each other through the glass, the very picture of star-crossed lovers.
The thought comes unbidden and tinged with vicious joy - this time Ram isn't here to bring them closer, he's here to separate them forever.
Ram blinks. What is wrong with him? How could he revel in their misery?
Nothing makes sense and Ram wishes more than ever that Akhtar was by his side, to help him figure out the tangled emotions inside him and set him free.
It's like the stars heard his wish. (Or maybe Akhtar heard it.) As if on cue, Akhtar looks up and their eyes meet. Time comes to a standstill and the truth hits Ram with astounding clarity.
Oh.
Oh. He's in love with Akhtar.
The realization engulfs him with the ferocity of a wildfire and leaves him breathless.
Akhtar is still looking at him. Ram's legs move on their own and he's walking towards him before he knows it, crossing all the hurdles coming his way, never breaking eye contact.
For a split second, Ram's heart blooms in hope. A part of him knows he's being delusional but he feels that they're going to get out of this just fine and maybe, maybe Akhtar is going to reciprocate his feelings.
"ANNA!"
And just like that, reality crashes down upon them. Akhtar turns away, his eyes desperately searching for Malli and Ram stands there rooted to the spot, ashamed that he ever thought he could throw away his goal and follow his heart.
He closes his eyes and gives himself a moment to mourn his love that died before it blossomed. And when he opens them, he's no longer the Raju that Akhtar met below the bridge.
If Bheem had to kill Akhtar to reach his goals, then Ram would have to kill Raju to reach his.
(But he would never be able to kill his love.)