Vikram Kapoor’s smirk held a mixture of amusement and unease. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“The Black Hand,” Kapoor began, swirling the last remnants of his whiskey, “isn’t just one person. It’s a shadow—a network. But if you’re looking for someone to start with, there’s a name whispered among my contacts.”

Kabir kept his composure, his heart pounding in anticipation.

“Devendra Sharma.”

The name hung in the air like a ghost. Kabir didn’t recognize it, but the weight with which Kapoor spoke made it clear this was no ordinary individual.

“Who is he?” Kabir asked, his tone steady.

Kapoor chuckled softly. “He’s a senior adviser in the Rathore Empire. Rajiv trusts him implicitly. He’s been with the family for decades, always in the background, always watching.”

Kabir’s jaw tightened. “Why would someone so trusted betray the Rathores?”

Kapoor shrugged. “Money? Power? Revenge? Who knows? What I do know is that Devendra is careful, but he’s not infallible. You’ll need to dig deep to find anything on him.”

Kabir leaned back, his gaze never leaving Kapoor. “Why tell me this? What do you gain from throwing him under the bus?”

Kapoor’s smirk widened. “Because if you take down The Black Hand, you weaken Rajiv Rathore. And a weakened Rathore Empire is good for my business.”

Kabir stood, his expression unreadable. “If you’re lying, Kapoor…”

“I don’t lie, Kabir,” Kapoor said, raising his glass in a mock toast. “I just play the game better than most.”

Unmasking the Betrayer

That evening, Kabir sat in his apartment, replaying every interaction he’d had with the Rathore Empire. Devendra Sharma’s name didn’t immediately strike a chord, but there had been moments—small, subtle interactions where he’d felt an undercurrent of tension.

Ananya arrived, her demeanor calm but curious. “What did you find out?”

“Kapoor gave me a name—Devendra Sharma,” Kabir said, handing her the notes he’d taken. “Apparently, he’s one of Rajiv’s closest advisers.”

Ananya’s eyes widened. “Devendra? That makes sense. He’s known to be cunning, and he has access to almost everything within the empire.”

“We need proof,” Kabir said. “Something concrete to expose him.”

Ananya nodded. “There’s a private gala happening in two days at the Rathore estate. It’s an annual event—exclusive, high-security. If Devendra’s involved in anything shady, he’ll likely slip up there. People get careless when they’re surrounded by luxury and alcohol.”

“How do we get in?” Kabir asked.

Ananya smirked. “Leave that to me.”

The Gala at Rathore Estate

Two nights later, Kabir and Ananya arrived at the Rathore estate, a sprawling mansion that exuded opulence and power. The grand ballroom was filled with Kolkata’s elite—business magnates, politicians, and celebrities mingling under chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds.

Kabir, dressed in a tailored black suit, blended seamlessly into the crowd. Ananya, in a deep red saree, played the role of a wealthy socialite with effortless grace.

Their objective was clear: observe Devendra Sharma and gather evidence of his connections to Vikram Kapoor and The Black Hand.

Kabir spotted Devendra near the bar, deep in conversation with a man Kabir didn’t recognize. He moved closer, careful to remain inconspicuous.

“I told you,” Devendra was saying, his tone hushed but firm, “we need to keep things quiet for a little while longer. The young one—Kabir—he’s sharper than Rajiv realizes.”

Kabir’s stomach clenched, but he kept his face neutral.

“What about Kapoor?” the other man asked.

“Kapoor is a pawn,” Devendra replied with a smirk. “Let him think he’s important. Once we’ve secured the deal, he’ll be expendable.”

Kabir quietly slipped away, his mind racing. Devendra was clearly involved, but he needed more than overheard conversations.

A Dangerous Gamble

Ananya approached Kabir, her eyes scanning the room. “What did you hear?”

“Devendra’s definitely involved,” Kabir said. “He mentioned Kapoor and something about a deal.”

Ananya nodded. “I spotted a security room down the hall. If we can access it, we might find something on the surveillance feeds or secure files.”

“It’s a risk,” Kabir said. “If we get caught—”

“We won’t,” Ananya interrupted, her confidence unwavering.

The two made their way to the security room, navigating the estate’s labyrinthine corridors. Ananya used a hairpin to pick the lock, and they slipped inside.

The room was filled with monitors and computers. Kabir scanned the feeds, looking for anything suspicious, while Ananya accessed the system.

“Here,” she said, pulling up a file labeled ‘Project Lotus.’

Kabir leaned over her shoulder, his eyes narrowing. The file contained detailed plans for a land deal involving Rathore property. The buyer was listed as a shell company, but the real beneficiary was none other than Vikram Kapoor.

“This is it,” Kabir said. “This ties Devendra and Kapoor together.”

Before they could celebrate, the door burst open, and two security guards entered, guns drawn.

“Step away from the computer,” one of them barked.

Kabir and Ananya exchanged a glance. They were outnumbered, but Kabir wasn’t about to go down without a fight.