It had been three days since Rohit and Isha arrived at their new location. The days were grueling, filled with intense training—martial arts drills, meditation sessions, and discipline routines unlike anything they'd experienced under Rathore.
The techniques were precise, controlled, and mentally demanding, almost as if their trainers wanted to break them down and rebuild them into something else.
Just as Rohit was catching his breath from another endurance drill, a voice called out his name.
He turned, wiping sweat from his forehead, and saw a figure waiting for him. Without hesitation, he followed. The corridors were dimly lit, silent except for the faint echoes of footsteps. After a few turns, they stopped in front of a closed door.
Outside, a group of four people stood quietly. Their expressions were blank, their posture stiff. But what caught Rohit's attention was what lay inside the room.
There he was—the President's bodyguard, finally reappearing after three days. Beside him, an unfamiliar man sat, his presence radiating an unsettling aura. Rohit's eyes instinctively darted to the shotgun resting beside the man, fingers barely grazing the handle.
A voice crackled from a mobile device on the table—Rathore. His tone was unreadable.
Rohit took a step forward, intending to enter.
Then it happened.
The President's bodyguard subtly lifted his hand, making an indistinct but unmistakable stop signal.
Rohit paused, wary. That moment of hesitation was enough for the unfamiliar man to notice him.
Their gazes locked. The man's stare was cold, calculating. Then,
"Look At Me.rudra "
"I already told you, Raavan" the bodyguard's voice was calm but firm, directed at the unfamiliar man. "That territory belongs to Rathore."
A tense silence stretched between them.
Then, the bodyguard added in a warning tone, "This is your final warning. Next time, you will face consequences."
The unfamiliar man gave no reaction, only a faint smirk before he turned and exited the room. As he passed by Rohit, he murmured .
"hmm, New pawn pieces ."
Rohit clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Once the door shut, the President's bodyguard exhaled and turned toward the group. His sharp gaze landed on Rohit.
"Why are you here?" he asked, almost tiredly.
Rohit's expression remained firm. "I was summoned."
The bodyguard studied him for a moment before sighing. "I see." His tone was unreadable. Then, after a pause, he added, "As of now, you don't have any orders. You may leave."
Rohit hesitated, sensing something off, but nodded and turned toward the door.
Just as he was about to exit, the President's bodyguard's voice rang out once more.
"The rest of you," he addressed the four waiting figures. "Behalf of President Aditya orders ,It's time for your first mission under my supervision. Get ready."
The weight of his words settled over the room like an unspoken omen.
And with that, the game had begun.
----
Isha had been searching for Rohit for a while, irritation creeping in with every passing minute. When she finally spotted him walking back through the dimly lit corridor, she wasted no time.
"Where the hell did you go?" she demanded, stepping in front of him, arms crossed.
Rohit barely had time to open his mouth when both of them stopped in their tracks.
Just ahead, the President's bodyguard stood with the four individuals from earlier. But something was different this time—each of the four members was now wearing weird blindfolds.
Isha's brows furrowed. "Blindfolds? What the hell is going on?"
Rohit, equally confused, narrowed his eyes. "No idea… but whatever it is, it's serious."
Before either of them could speak further, a sudden pressure filled the air.
It wasn't something visible, but it was there—an overwhelming presence, suffocating in its intensity.
A new figure emerged.
A man with an aura so dense, so powerful, that it seemed to distort the very space around him. His steps were deliberate, his gaze sharp, unreadable. Surya.
Their first time meeting him.
Both Rohit and Isha instinctively stiffened. Their bodies tensed, like prey sensing a predator nearby.
Surya's gaze swept over them, uninterested. He had already read them within seconds.
Then, without another glance, he turned his attention to the President's bodyguard.
A brief pause.
Then, Surya murmured, just loud enough to be heard:
"I heard about you from my grandfather… but I never met you. Just as he said, I am physically prepared well. And I want to fight you… to see just how strong you really are,Mr. Rudra"
Rohit and Isha exchanged glances. They caught every word.
But Surya didn't wait for a response.
With a final look, he turned and walked away in one direction.
At the same time, the President's bodyguard silently led the four blindfolded members to a waiting jeep. Moments later, the vehicle roared to life and disappeared down another path.
As Surya's figure faded into the distance, Rohit and Isha's eyes locked onto something.
A guitar.
Strapped to Surya's back, completely out of place with his overwhelming aura.
They didn't know why, but the sight of it left an unsettling feeling in their minds.
-----
The jeep moved steadily along the rugged dirt road, its headlights cutting through the dense fog of the night. The four blindfolded members sat in silence, their bodies swaying slightly with each bump in the terrain.
At the wheel, the President's bodyguard focused on the road ahead, his grip firm yet relaxed. The low hum of the vehicle was the only sound—until his phone buzzed.
He answered instantly.
"Yes, Captain Rathore ."
On the other end, Rathore's voice came through, direct and composed.
"General Rudra, Follow the route exactly as I've sent. No detours."
The bodyguard nodded, his eyes flickering to the road map on his device. "Understood."
As the call continued, one of the blindfolded members shifted slightly, as if trying to listen in.
After a pause, Rathore's tone grew sharper. "Remember, this mission isn't about engagement. It's about gathering intel. Nothing more."
The bodyguard finally spoke.
"Our mission is to investigate the unusual deaths of several news reporters."
For the first time, one of the blindfolded individuals reacted, their posture stiffening.
The bodyguard continued, his voice steady. "And our primary lead? Every single one of them was secretly investigating on—"
He let the words hang in the air before finishing.
"—The Survivors of Numn University."
Silence filled the jeep.
No one spoke.
But the weight of those words pressed heavy on the air.
The mission had just taken a darker turn.