Vikram Kapoor sat in his luxurious office, the faint scent of expensive cigars lingering in the air. The glow of the city lights seeped through the massive glass windows, but his focus was on the message glowing on his phone.

“Tell Kapoor: The game has begun. – K.”

He read it again, his lips curling into a grimace.

“Kabir Singh Rathore,” he muttered under his breath, his tone a mix of annoyance and intrigue. He turned to Devendra Sharma, who sat across from him, his face pale but composed.

“This boy,” Kapoor said, tossing the phone onto his desk, “has become a thorn in my side faster than I expected.”

Devendra shifted uneasily. “We underestimated him. He’s not just some orphan living in obscurity. He’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Kapoor scoffed, though his irritation was evident. “He’s a nobody. A street rat. Whatever leverage he thinks he has, it won’t matter once we tighten the noose.”

“He has the files on Project Lotus,” Devendra reminded him. “If he exposes them, we’re not just looking at financial losses. It’s jail time—maybe worse.”

Kapoor’s expression darkened. “Then we make sure he never gets the chance.”

The Plan in Motion

Kabir and Ananya spent the next two days preparing for the meeting at the luxury resort. Every detail had to be perfect.

Kabir sat in their small apartment, poring over blueprints of the resort. “Security will be tight,” he said. “They’ll expect anyone trying to disrupt the meeting to come from the outside.”

Ananya leaned over the table, her finger tracing a path through the blueprints. “Which is why we won’t come from the outside. Look here—there’s a service tunnel connecting the main resort to the private villas. It’s used for maintenance and staff movement. If we can get access, we can slip in undetected.”

Kabir nodded. “Good. What about disguises?”

“I’ve arranged that too,” Ananya said, a mischievous glint in her eye. “We’re going as catering staff. I have a contact who’ll help us get the uniforms and fake IDs.”

Kabir smirked. “Efficient as always.”

The Enemy Reacts

Meanwhile, Kapoor and Devendra were not idle.

“We’ve increased security at the meeting site,” Devendra said during their final briefing. “No one gets in without clearance. I’ve also hired additional guards—mercenaries, not just the usual security detail. They’ll shoot first and ask questions later.”

Kapoor nodded approvingly. “And what about Kabir?”

“We have people watching his every move,” Devendra replied. “If he makes even the slightest misstep, we’ll know.”

Kapoor lit a cigar, exhaling slowly. “Good. Let him try something. I want him to see how futile his efforts are before we crush him.”

The Meeting Begins

The luxury resort was buzzing with activity. High-ranking officials, influential businessmen, and powerful politicians gathered in the grand conference hall, sipping expensive wine and exchanging pleasantries. The atmosphere was one of quiet opulence, but the undercurrent of secrecy was palpable.

Kabir and Ananya entered through the service tunnel as planned, dressed in catering uniforms. They carried trays of champagne, blending seamlessly with the other staff.

“Stay close,” Kabir whispered to Ananya. “We need to locate the main meeting room.”

As they moved through the hall, Kabir’s sharp eyes scanned the room, noting every detail. The guards were positioned strategically, their earpieces crackling with quiet instructions.

Ananya nudged him gently. “There,” she whispered, nodding toward a side door guarded by two men.

“That’s our target,” Kabir said.

A Dangerous Discovery

Inside the meeting room, Kapoor and Devendra stood at the head of a long table, addressing a group of powerful individuals.

“We’re on the brink of something monumental,” Kapoor said, his voice commanding. “Once Project Lotus is complete, we’ll control the flow of goods and money across this region. No one will be able to challenge us.”

The room buzzed with approval, but Kapoor raised a hand, silencing them. “However, there is one loose end—a young man who thinks he can disrupt our plans. Kabir Singh Rathore.”

At the mention of his name, Kabir, listening from the ventilation shaft above, clenched his fists. Ananya placed a hand on his arm, silently reminding him to stay calm.

Kapoor continued, “He’s a minor inconvenience, nothing more. By the time this meeting is over, he’ll be dealt with.”

Kabir leaned closer to the vent, his mind racing. The stakes were higher than he’d anticipated.

The Reveal

As the meeting continued, Ananya signaled to Kabir. She had accessed her tablet and was quietly transmitting the live audio feed from the room to a secure server.

“We have what we need,” she whispered. “Let’s get out of here.”

But as they turned to leave, the vent beneath them creaked loudly.

“What was that?” one of the guards in the room barked.

Kabir and Ananya froze, their hearts pounding. Kapoor’s sharp eyes scanned the ceiling, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

“Looks like our little rat couldn’t resist,” he said. “Seal the exits! Don’t let him escape.”

A Race Against Time

Kabir and Ananya scrambled through the vent system, their path illuminated only by the faint glow of emergency lights. The sound of footsteps and barking dogs echoed behind them.

“We need to split up,” Kabir said.

“No!” Ananya protested.

“I’ll distract them,” Kabir insisted. “You get the files to safety.”

Before she could argue, Kabir dropped down from the vent into the hallway below, drawing the guards’ attention.

“There he is!” one of them shouted, raising his weapon.

Kabir sprinted down the hall, dodging bullets and weaving through the maze-like corridors. Every step he took was calculated, every turn a gamble.

Meanwhile, Ananya slipped out through the service tunnel, clutching the tablet tightly.

The Cliffhanger

Kabir burst into a storage room, barricading the door behind him. He was trapped, his chest heaving as he searched for an escape. Outside, the guards pounded on the door, their voices rising in anger.

“End of the line, Rathore!” one of them yelled.

Kabir glanced around the room, his eyes landing on a small window high on the wall. It was a long shot, but it was his only chance.

As the guards broke down the door, Kabir leapt for the window, shattering the glass and disappearing into the night.