On the other side, Singhania was sitting in the balcony of his house, enjoying his evening tea like he always did, with that same dangerous smile resting on his face, completely at ease as if the world moved exactly the way he wanted it to.
He was lost in the calm rhythm of his tea when suddenly his phone started ringing.
He glanced at the screen.
An unknown number.
For a moment, Singhania frowned slightly, thinking.
"At this time… an unknown number? Who could it be?"
Without overthinking it, he picked up the call.
"Hello… who is this?"
There was a brief pause.
Then a voice came from the other side—
"Om… didn't recognize me?"
Singhania's expression hardened instantly.
"Which Om? Keep your jokes to yourself, and how did you even get my number?"
His tone turned sharp, irritated.
A soft chuckle came from the other side.
"Wow… forgot so quickly? You were the one giving threats just yesterday."
Om said, smiling as he drove his car toward home.
The moment Singhania heard that—
It clicked.
"Oh… so it's you. I must say, you have quite a talent for getting on my nerves. Now tell me… why did you call?"
Om smiled faintly.
"I called to apologize."
Singhania went silent for a second.
"What do you mean?"
Om continued, his voice calm and almost playful.
"Well… some of your men came to meet me today, and very lovingly explained to me who you are in this city, so I thought why should I mess with you for no reason, so I decided to call and apologize, I'm sorry, sir."
For a moment—
Singhania didn't react.
Then slowly, a smile spread across his face.
In his mind, he replayed his conversation with Shura.
So…
Shura had done the job.
That thought alone made him relax.
"Good. Better late than never. Come to my office tomorrow, apologize in front of everyone, and then I'll decide what to do with you."
His voice carried a quiet threat.
"Of course, sir," Om replied smoothly, "and you be ready for a surprise too."
Before Singhania could say anything—
The call disconnected.
For a moment, he stood there, slightly confused.
"Surprise…?"
Just then—
He noticed a car entering his house compound.
Shura's car.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face, and he immediately headed downstairs.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
Singhania stepped forward, smiling.
"Well, well, Shura… I thought you wouldn't be able to do it, but looks like you proved me wrong…"
But his words stopped midway.
Only four men walked in.
Shura wasn't with them.
His expression turned cold.
"Where is Shura?"
One of the men stammered.
"Big boss… he… he…"
"What 'he he'? Speak properly! Where is Shura? I want to talk to him!"
Before anyone could answer—
Another man entered through the door.
Pushing a wheelchair.
And on that wheelchair—
Was Shura.
The moment Singhania saw him—
Everything froze.
His eyes widened.
His breath caught.
Shura's hands—
Were gone.
Cut.
Blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his arms.
For a second, Singhania couldn't even process what he was seeing.
His throat went dry.
Slowly, he walked closer.
In Shura's eyes—
He saw it.
The same fear.
The same helplessness.
The same terror he had once seen in his own son's eyes.
Shura lifted his face slightly and looked at him.
"How… how did this happen… and who did this?"
Singhania asked, anger rising—but deep down, he already knew the answer.
Shura swallowed.
"Om… that's his name… the same boy who destroyed me… and your son…"
His voice trembled.
Even now, it felt like he was still stuck in that forest, watching that nightmare unfold again.
"How many were there?"
Singhania asked, his tone turning colder.
Shura shook his head slowly.
"Just one… he was alone… and he destroyed all of us in minutes…"
Singhania's patience snapped.
"What nonsense are you talking? Were you drunk? A single boy did this to you? Are you even in your senses?"
Before Shura could answer, one of the men stepped forward.
"Big boss… he's telling the truth… he was alone… and he fought like a monster… we've never seen anything like that before…"
Shura cut him off.
"That wasn't even a fight… we didn't even get time to defend ourselves…"
Another man added, his voice shaking,
"He attacked like some ruthless beast… knocking us out with a single punch each…"
Singhania looked at all of them in disbelief.
"So one twenty-year-old boy did this to all of you… and what were you doing? Watching a show?"
No one had an answer.
Every single one of them lowered their eyes.
"What could we even do?" Shura said, his voice filled with frustration and fear. "There was no fear in his eyes… we thought he was running from us… but instead he dragged us into that forest and took us down one by one… I even threatened his family… but instead of scaring him, it provoked him… and this…"
He looked at his own condition.
"This is what happened."
Singhania clenched his fist tightly.
"So… this was your 'surprise', huh…"
He muttered under his breath.
Then he turned to his men.
"Take him to a doctor immediately. Maybe they can still do something. And all of you… you couldn't handle one boy."
They nodded silently.
As they began to take Shura away, he turned his wheelchair slightly and looked back at Singhania, his eyes burning with hatred.
"I want revenge… that boy will pay with his life… I've done so many illegal things for you… now you owe me this… I want his dead body… no matter what…"
Singhania looked at him, unimpressed.
"That's what I sent you for… and instead you came back like this… you used to call yourself a monster, right? Got beaten by a kid who just showed up yesterday… I told you, this wasn't your job."
His voice was low.
But dangerous.
Then his expression slowly changed.
"Now… that boy has to die. This game will only end with his death… Om…"
His grip tightened.
"If I don't deal with him, my reputation will crumble… and to protect that reputation, Singhania can go to any extent."
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"Let's see how long you can stay out of my reach…"
With that, he turned and walked away.
Meanwhile—
Om had reached home.
Inside his room, he sat quietly, wearing just his night pants, his upper body bare, completely still, lost in deep meditation.
After everything that had happened today—
He understood one thing clearly.
This new life of his would give him a name…
But it would also bring danger along with it.
And that's why—
He sat there, focusing his mind, strengthening something deep within himself…
Preparing.
For whatever was coming next.