The air in the safehouse was tense. Kabir and Ananya worked tirelessly, poring over maps, intel, and strategies for their next move. But the victory at the warehouse was short-lived. Kapoor’s retaliation was swift and insidious.

The Smear Campaign

The next morning, news channels across the city lit up with a sensational story:

“Wanted Criminal or Rebel? Kabir Singh Rathore Exposed as the Mastermind Behind an Illegal Arms Racket!”

Ananya’s fingers froze over her laptop as the headline flashed on the screen. The footage accompanying the report showed doctored clips of Kabir, appearing to load crates of weapons into a van.

“This is bad,” she murmured, looking at Kabir, who stood stoic, his arms crossed.

“It’s exactly what I expected,” Kabir replied, his tone calm despite the storm brewing outside. “Kapoor’s trying to isolate us—cut off allies and force me into hiding.”

Ananya’s eyes narrowed. “We can prove it’s fake. If we release the real evidence from the warehouse—”

Kabir shook his head. “Not yet. Kapoor controls the media and the police. They’ll discredit anything we reveal. We need a bigger strike, something that will cripple him beyond repair.”

The Family Threat

As Kabir and Ananya discussed their next steps, Rhea’s frantic voice came through on his burner phone.

“Kabir!” she gasped, her voice trembling. “They came to the apartment—two men in suits. They were asking about you. Arjun managed to stall them, but they were threatening us.”

Kabir’s grip tightened on the phone. “Did they hurt you or Arjun?”

“No,” she replied, her voice breaking. “But Kabir, they know where we live. What if they come back?”

His heart clenched, but his voice remained steady. “I’ll handle it. Just stay inside and don’t answer the door for anyone.”

Hanging up, Kabir turned to Ananya. “Kapoor’s making his move. He’s targeting my family.”

Ananya nodded grimly. “We’ll need to move them somewhere safe, but that’ll make us vulnerable. Kapoor’s counting on that.”

“Then we hit him harder,” Kabir said, his eyes blazing. “We’ll make him regret ever threatening my family.”

The Hunt for the Second Safehouse

Ananya pulled up their database, scanning through the intel they had gathered on Kapoor’s operations. “The second safehouse is in the city—closer to Kapoor’s headquarters. It’s riskier but also more valuable.”

Kabir studied the map. “If we hit it, Kapoor will have to shift his resources to protect the others. That’s when we strike again.”

“Time’s not on our side,” Ananya warned. “The longer we wait, the more he tightens the noose.”

“Then we don’t wait,” Kabir replied.

A Dangerous Disguise

To infiltrate the second safehouse, Kabir needed a disguise. Kapoor’s men were on high alert, and Kabir’s face was now plastered across the city. Ananya handed him a bag containing clothes and accessories.

“This should help,” she said.

Kabir emerged moments later, unrecognizable in a delivery worker’s uniform, complete with a cap and fake ID badge. Ananya smirked. “I almost didn’t recognize you. Let’s hope Kapoor’s men don’t either.”

Inside the City

The second safehouse was hidden within a legitimate business—a bustling logistics hub in the heart of the city. Trucks came and went, carrying goods to and from Kapoor’s network.

Kabir entered through the front gate, carrying a box labeled “Priority Shipment.” The guards barely gave him a second glance, their attention focused on the loading dock.

Once inside, Kabir slipped into a restricted area. The crates here were unmarked, their contents unknown. Using a small crowbar, he pried one open and found stacks of counterfeit passports and visas.

“Ananya,” he whispered into his earpiece, “we’ve got forged documents here—probably for smuggling operatives across borders. I’m setting up a live stream. Let the world see this.”

The Betrayal

As Kabir worked, a soft click echoed behind him. He turned to find a gun pointed at his chest.

“Well, well,” a familiar voice drawled. “The elusive Kabir Singh Rathore, caught red-handed.”

It was Devendra, Kapoor’s right-hand man. He smirked, clearly enjoying the upper hand.

“Did you really think you could waltz into Kapoor’s network and not get caught?” Devendra sneered. “You’re predictable, Rathore.”

Kabir’s mind raced. He glanced at the open crate, then at the live stream still running on Ananya’s laptop. If he could stall Devendra long enough…

The Counterattack

Kabir raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, you’ve got me. But tell me, Devendra—does Kapoor pay you enough to take the fall for him?”

Devendra frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Kabir’s smirk returned. “This entire operation is on camera. Your face, your voice—everything’s being broadcast live. When Kapoor sees this, who do you think he’ll blame for letting me in?”

Devendra hesitated, glancing at the crates. That split second was all Kabir needed. He lunged, disarming Devendra and knocking him out with a swift blow.

The Escape

An alarm blared as Kabir ran toward the exit, carrying the crate’s contents in a duffel bag. Guards swarmed the area, but Kabir’s knowledge of the layout gave him an edge.

He climbed onto the roof and jumped onto a passing truck, blending into the city traffic. Moments later, Ananya’s voice came through his earpiece.

“You’re on every channel, Kabir. The live stream went viral.”

Kabir chuckled, his adrenaline still pumping. “Good. Let Kapoor deal with the fallout.”

Kapoor’s Fury

In his office, Kapoor watched the live stream with a face like thunder. The incriminating footage was everywhere, and public outrage was mounting.

“Find him!” Kapoor roared. “I don’t care how much it costs—find him and end this!”

Devendra stood silently in the corner, his face pale. He knew Kapoor’s wrath would fall on him next.