Kabir sat in the plush leather chair across from Rajiv Rathore, his hands gripping the armrests tightly. The office was the epitome of opulence—floor-to-ceiling windows, intricate woodwork, and the faint scent of sandalwood in the air. It was a far cry from the world Kabir had grown up in.

Rajiv leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes studying Kabir as if he were an enigma waiting to be solved.

“You said you’re ready,” Rajiv began, his voice calm but firm. “But readiness isn’t just about words. It’s about action. Conviction. And above all, loyalty.”

Kabir nodded, his expression stoic. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t serious.”

“Good,” Rajiv said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Because the world you’re about to step into is ruthless. It’s filled with people who will do anything to crush you if you show even a moment of weakness. You’ll need to prove that you can rise above them.”

Kabir’s jaw tightened. “What do you need me to do?”

Rajiv stood, walking over to a small cabinet. He retrieved a plain black envelope and handed it to Kabir.

“This is your first test,” Rajiv said. “Inside, you’ll find details about a man named Ramesh Chatterjee. He’s a minor businessman who has been using Rathore Empire’s name to scam small-time traders. It’s ruining our reputation in certain circles, and we need to put a stop to it.”

Kabir opened the envelope and scanned the papers inside. They included an address, a photograph of a middle-aged man with a sly grin, and a list of complaints filed against him.

“What do you want me to do?” Kabir asked, looking up at Rajiv.

“Confront him,” Rajiv said. “Make it clear that Rathore Empire doesn’t tolerate such behavior. You can use whatever means you think are necessary, but the goal is to ensure he never dares to cross us again.”

Kabir frowned. “You want me to threaten him?”

Rajiv’s expression remained unreadable. “Threaten him, reason with him, or ruin him. That’s your decision. But remember this: how you handle this task will tell me everything I need to know about you.”

Kabir hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Where do I start?”

The Hunt Begins

The address in the envelope led Kabir to a dingy warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The area reeked of damp wood and oil, and the hum of industrial machinery echoed in the distance.

Kabir took a deep breath as he approached the warehouse. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. This wasn’t just about proving himself to Rajiv—it was about proving to himself that he could handle the challenges ahead.

Inside, the warehouse was dimly lit and cluttered with stacks of crates. Men moved about, their voices low and their faces shadowed. Kabir spotted Ramesh Chatterjee sitting at a makeshift desk, a cigar in his mouth and a stack of cash in front of him.

Kabir walked straight up to him, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous space.

“Ramesh Chatterjee?” he asked, his voice steady.

Ramesh looked up, startled. “Who’s asking?”

“Kabir Singh Rathore,” Kabir said, his tone cold. “I’m here on behalf of the Rathore Empire.”

Ramesh’s eyes narrowed. He leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. “The Rathore Empire, huh? Big words for a kid. What do they want with me?”

Kabir slammed his hand on the desk, making the cigar roll off the edge. “They want you to stop using their name to scam people. Your little operation ends today.”

The men around the warehouse began to notice the confrontation. A few of them moved closer, their hands resting on makeshift weapons—pipes, wrenches, anything they could grab.

Ramesh smirked. “And what if I don’t? You think I’m scared of some rich boys playing corporate games? This is the real world, kid. Out here, power comes from muscle, not money.”

Kabir’s eyes scanned the room, noting the growing tension. He knew he couldn’t afford to back down, but he also couldn’t afford to get reckless.

“I’m not here to play games,” Kabir said, his voice low and threatening. “You stop now, or I make you stop.”

Ramesh laughed, a cruel sound that echoed in the warehouse. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But guts won’t save you here.”

He gestured to his men, who began closing in on Kabir.

The Fight

Kabir’s instincts kicked in. As the first man lunged at him with a pipe, Kabir sidestepped and delivered a sharp elbow to the man’s jaw, sending him sprawling.

Another man swung a wrench at him, but Kabir ducked, grabbing a nearby crate and smashing it against the attacker’s arm. The sound of splintering wood filled the air as the man cried out in pain.

Within moments, the warehouse erupted into chaos. Kabir moved with precision, his years of street fighting coming to the fore. He was outnumbered, but his speed and determination kept him one step ahead of his attackers.

Ramesh watched the scene unfold, his smirk fading into a look of disbelief.

“Enough!” Kabir shouted, his voice echoing through the warehouse. He stood amidst the chaos, his chest heaving and his fists clenched. The men who had attacked him now lay groaning on the floor, their weapons scattered.

Kabir turned to Ramesh, his eyes blazing with fury. “Do you really want to be next?”

Ramesh held up his hands, his face pale. “Alright, alright! I’ll stop! You’ve made your point!”

Kabir stepped closer, leaning in until his face was inches from Ramesh’s. “If I hear even a whisper of you using the Rathore name again, I’ll be back. And next time, you won’t get off so easy.”

Ramesh nodded frantically, his bravado completely shattered.

Kabir straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the warehouse, leaving chaos in his wake.

A New Beginning

When Kabir returned to the Rathore Empire building later that evening, Rajiv was waiting for him.

“How did it go?” Rajiv asked, though his knowing smile suggested he already had an idea.

Kabir tossed the black envelope onto Rajiv’s desk. “It’s done.”

Rajiv nodded, his expression one of approval. “Good. You handled yourself well. Better than I expected.”

Kabir didn’t respond. He was too tired to care about compliments.

Rajiv leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with something akin to pride. “You’ve passed the first test, Kabir. Welcome to a new world.”

For the first time, Kabir allowed himself to believe that this might be the start of something greater.