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The cold steel barrels of the security guards’ guns glinted under the dim light of the security room. Kabir’s mind raced, calculating the odds. Ananya, standing just behind him, tightened her grip on a USB drive she had hastily inserted into the computer moments earlier, downloading the critical files on Project Lotus.
“Step away!” barked one of the guards, his tone laced with authority.
Kabir raised his hands, feigning surrender. “Alright, let’s not make this a mess. We’ll leave quietly.”
The guard smirked. “You’re not going anywhere. Mr. Rathore will decide what happens to you.”
In that split second, Kabir noticed the slight shift of the second guard’s focus. It was the opening he needed.
The Fight
In a fluid motion, Kabir stepped forward, grabbing the wrist of the guard closest to him and twisting it sharply. The gun clattered to the ground. Before the second guard could react, Kabir delivered a swift kick to his knee, causing him to stumble.
“Ananya, go!” Kabir shouted.
Ananya darted toward the door, the USB drive clenched in her hand. She hesitated for a moment, looking back at Kabir, but he was already grappling with the first guard, who had recovered enough to throw a punch.
Kabir ducked, his reflexes honed from years of street fights, and landed a solid uppercut that sent the man sprawling. The second guard lunged at him, but Kabir sidestepped, using the man’s momentum to slam him into the wall.
“Move!” Kabir yelled as he grabbed the fallen gun.
The Chase
They bolted down the corridor, alarms blaring throughout the estate. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind them as more guards joined the pursuit.
“This way!” Ananya whispered, leading Kabir through a narrow servants’ staircase that spiraled down to the basement.
Kabir followed, his heart pounding as they emerged into a dimly lit wine cellar. The exit was blocked by a heavy wooden door.
“Locked,” Ananya muttered, frantically searching for an alternative route.
Kabir glanced around, spotting a small ventilation grate. “Help me with this!”
Together, they pried the grate loose and crawled through the narrow duct. It led to the garden outside the estate, where the cool night air greeted them like a lifeline.
Project Lotus Unveiled
Once they were far enough from the estate, Kabir and Ananya paused in a secluded spot to catch their breath.
“Did you get the files?” Kabir asked.
Ananya handed him the USB drive. “Everything we need is here.”
Kabir plugged the drive into a small tablet he carried and opened the files on Project Lotus. The more he read, the more his blood boiled.
Project Lotus wasn’t just a land deal; it was a carefully orchestrated scheme to siphon resources from the Rathore Empire. The project involved:
At the center of it all was Devendra Sharma, the trusted adviser within the Rathore Empire. His role wasn’t limited to facilitating these deals—he had used his position to sabotage legitimate Rathore projects, ensuring they failed while Kapoor’s ventures thrived.
“This isn’t just betrayal,” Ananya said, her voice trembling with anger. “This is systematic destruction.”
Kabir’s jaw tightened. “This is war.”
The Implications
The revelations in the files made it clear that Kapoor and Devendra’s ambitions went beyond personal gain. They were orchestrating a long-term plan to erode the Rathore Empire from within, ultimately positioning themselves as the new powerhouses of Kolkata.
But there was more. Buried in the files was evidence of a secret meeting scheduled in three days—a rendezvous between Kapoor, Devendra, and several high-profile individuals involved in the smuggling operation. The location: a luxury resort on the outskirts of the city.
“If we can expose them at this meeting,” Kabir said, “we’ll have everything we need to bring them down.”
Ananya nodded. “But it won’t be easy. They’ll have security, and they’ll be prepared for anyone trying to interfere.”
Kabir smirked. “Let them prepare. They’ve underestimated us long enough.”
A Message for Kapoor
Before leaving their hideout, Kabir pulled out his phone and sent a single text to an anonymous number he had obtained through his contacts.
“Tell Kapoor: The game has begun. – K.”
Ananya raised an eyebrow. “You’re taunting him?”
Kabir slipped the phone back into his pocket. “No. I’m letting him know that his time is running out.”