Later that night, when Rony got back home by entering the pin and the code, he froze. There were piles of bills everywhere. Indian cash covered the whole apartment like someone had emptied a money vault inside his room. And Devesh was just… sitting on top of the cash.
"In those bags were six million francs. I cashed three million, invested two million, and bought bitcoins with one million. You can have fifty from any of those," he said casually.
Rony sank onto the floor, staring at the chaos.
"What did I say about not messing with big shots? I can't even be angry either." He pulled his own bag closer, took out the glowing cylinder, and said, "There were six cylinders."
"One cost a million? What is that stuff? You checked it, right?"
"Yes. But that's not it. The whole container has only one drop of that thing—whatever it was. I couldn't place it anywhere on the periodic table. That stuff has a molecular structure that's… not possible. Not in any science we know." He paused.
"That thing—I don't even know what to call it—has nothing that identifies it as matter. I checked a thousand times. Whatever that material was… it's pure energy. Pure power. So potent they had to add liquid Therium into it, which is the most powerful disexchanging element on earth. And the only reason I found the core material in the first place is because it has a mind of its own." He looked confused even saying it.
"What do you mean, mind of its own?"
"I don't know. But it glowed when I got close, and it went dim when I moved away. Maybe it's reacting to human heat or something, but no—it only glows near certain people. Like me, Sakshi, our professor." He dropped into the chair and rubbed his forehead.
"It's the answer to my questions. I don't know how they made it. But that one barrel is enough for me."
"Is it radioactive?"
"No! Not a bit. It's just plain water… but way heavier. I need more time to research it."
He started opening his tools. "I'm gonna add audio features on it. It'll enhance your speaking and make you look dangerous."
"Yeah, I don't want that. That's enough for me."
"What?" he asked, confused.
"I don't need that upgrade. DJ is going to retire in one month." Rony looked tense for a moment.
"What do you mean retire? We haven't even made a hero suit."
"Now you call that a hero suit," he muttered, not looking at him.
"Hey, don't mumble. I'm serious about that suit. What about the Justice Man?"
"Your Justice Man isn't needed, friend. They have Krrish—the freaking god of… I don't even know what. But he's a god in all scenes. I still remember when I saw him with my own eyes—he was holding a truck. A freaking truck. I'm sure that suit can't do that."
"It isn't made for that. It's for—"
"For giving bad people what they deserve. If you wanna be Batman, that's impossible," DJ cut him off.
"Batman has plot armor and billions of dollars. We just got our hands on one big deal. I steal, you got some money—good. I'll spend it on my things, you spend on yours. I don't wanna be part of your justice thing. I'm just a thief. And not for too long."
"What do you mean 'just a thief'? We're doing a job for society."
DJ only looked bored. He sighed.
"Listen, Rony. I'm not calling your dream stupid. You want me to be that Justice Man… but I don't. Why don't you become that Justice Man? If it's even possible."
Rony didn't say anything. His face fell—hurt, emotional. He moved to the pile of cash and started working on the mask instead, pretending DJ's words didn't hit him.
DJ knew they did. He flopped onto the bed and drifted to sleep.
---
Next day, Rony was in class when Sakshi sat beside him for the first time. He blinked, surprised, and gave her a small smile.
"So! What's up, brother-zone?" she whispered, handing it to her some papers while the class was still going.
"Nothing. Just crying on my luck. Here's your camera. I upgraded it like you said—lighter, better night vision, heat vision, a little x-ray. Hold still for four seconds and it won't make any sound. And it has infinite storage—well… almost." and grabbed the papers she give.
"Nice. Hear is the papers you needed about that… what do you call it ?"
" Quantum translocation, it's quantum translocation." And he started to read it, and sakshi checked the camera he gave.
" Don't know why you wanted to see my dad's research on quantum tunneling, it goes all over my head." Hearing her question he automatically replied.
" Not really. It's easy, I'm just looking at the base formula and structure for the de-" And sakshi cuts him not wanting to hear his long ass explanation.
" I know I know teleportation and stuff, dad said it's way beyond this time and hard blah- blah." And she looked at several features on it.
" Did you put an emergency alarm on it?"
"Yeah. Press this button twice. It'll call three people of your choice. You can add me—I'll call the police for you." He tried not to laugh.
"So where's your obsessed friend? He didn't call me. Did he get over me or am I a one-timer?" she teased.
He didn't answer. Just stared out the window. She frowned, confused, then followed his gaze—and saw a giant balloon rising outside. A huge one, like a tiny hot-air balloon. Across it: I love you unconditionally.
"Guess we know where he was," Rony muttered, bored.
"Where did he even get that?" Sakshi asked.
"Don't ask."
"Wait… is this balloon coming down?" She leaned forward in shock.
The balloon descended right in front of their classroom window. The whole college stopped to look. And then—
it exploded.
Not dangerously—playfully.
And it rained chocolate. Cadbury. All kinds.
"Where did he even get those?" Rony muttered, then looked at her.
"Please don't tell me you said something about chocolate rain."
She nodded.
Rony groaned. "Never tell him something impossible. He'll do it. As long as he personally likes the idea."
People outside were already filling their pockets with chocolates.
---
Later in the cafeteria, Sakshi ate chocolate like a kid—ten or twelve silks in—and had lemons on the table to fight the sugar crash. She bit into one, squinting one eye, when DJ slid into the seat across from her.
"Ahh! Winking at me in the cafeteria? Bold," he grinned.
"Maybe you should calm down before advancing. Two or three steps at least."
She spit the lemon peel onto the table and stared at him.
"Seriously—chocolate rain? You think you'll just walk away?"
"Obviously. I'll pay the cleaners. No one will know. I bet some idiot's already claiming he did it to impress his girlfriend."
"Smart move. You just look dumb."
"Hmh? You say something?"
"Nothing."
"You wanna eat something at a special place?"
"I'm full of chocolate. And seriously—where did you get all that?"
"Can't say. Secret. What are you doing tonight?"
She looked at him.
"Nothing cool. Just news work. Free in the evening."
"Okay, so what do you wanna do?"
"Nothing. Just walk."
And they walked.
Outside, he asked, "So you were looking for me?"
"No. Who said that?"
"No one. Just asking. Is my dream dreaming about me?" He tapped his chest.
"You're dramatic. But yeah… you made an impression."
"Really?"
"No, I'm messing with you. Of course I dreamed about you. You're a good guy, like Ronit said."
He blinked. "You mean Rony, right? His name is Ronit?"
"You didn't know?"
He shrugged. "Who cares. Always knew him as Rony. First time we met he was crying outside a bar."
"Really? About what?"
"No idea. He looked pitiful, we drank and forgot. Anyway, what did that idiot say about me?"
She decided to tease.
"He told me about your childhood. How you pooped your pants. How you cried like a girl every time you stubbed your toes."
DJ sighed, shaking his head.
"That's exactly what I'd say about him. And since you came with me… I'm guessing he didn't tell you my bad habits?"
"No. So what bad habits?"
"Nothing crazy. I drink every weekend. I have a fetish for money. I love my bike more than my life. And I'll sell my soul for a reasonable price."
"What?" she blinked.
"You think that part's important?"
"Yes. Very. Do you sleep with bills or what?"
"Both."
"So I'm the second woman in your bed?"
"Yes. But there's room for you too. You can sleep beside them."
She laughed, unsure if he was serious.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I like sleeping on money."
"Why? That's weird."
DJ went quiet, thinking. She assumed he had no answer—until he spoke softly.
"Growing up, I didn't have much."
She fell silent.
"Money wasn't my concern. Having a day was. The orphanage wasn't bad. They fed us, took care of us… but an orphanage is an orphanage. When I got out, I learned the value of money. Food isn't cheap. A few months in the dump… you learn fast. Money doesn't buy happiness, but it stops sadness. I'm not happy right now. But I'm not sad either."
She finally understood.
"But why sleep with money?"
He laughed softly.
"You look cute when you're confused."
"You're funny."
"Am I? Most people say I'm vulgar."
They passed an alley and a group of muggers stepped out.
"Take out your purse and wallets," one said.
The two teens looked at each other—silent, synced.
Then both screamed like little kids.
Pedestrians turned. The muggers panicked. People were close enough to reach them if they rushed.
All four ran.
And DJ and Sakshi ran after them—laughing, shouting "Thieves!" like it was a game. They eventually slowed down, breathless and dying of laughter.
She told him she liked that he didn't try to fight. He laughed.
"Fight four grown men? I'm not crazy. I know my limits. I'm not a superhero."
"So what are you doing now?" he asked.
"You know I work for Drisyam News."
"Yeah, your childhood friend."
She giggled at his annoyed face.
"I'm a crime photographer. Here and there."
"Oh? Crime photos. Ever heard of that small-time thief? The one who left his devil face behind?"
She nodded.
"Not much. My boss is interested. He stole from some rich guys."
"What's your opinion on him?"
"Don't know. Sometimes he seems good—stealing from bad people. At first I thought he wanted to make a statement. Then I thought he was ridiculous. Doing it for fun. Then we found out someone unknown keeps donating a big chunk to orphanages, disaster relief, langars… helping the poor. No idea who. But he leaves two words behind."
She lifted her hand and traced the words in the air.
Everything is gonna be alright.
And a smiling emoji—just like that thief.
Devesh's steps didn't stop… but his eyes did.
"So that donating guy—is that the thief?" he asked.
"I don't think so."
"And why?"
"If they were the same person, he'd leave the same mark at the donation spots. That big devil face."
"True. But how do you link them?"
"The timing. The deposits always happen right after the heists. Same incognito habits. Same emoji."
"So that idiot is donating his money… that's why he still works three part-time jobs," he muttered to himself.
"Anyway, forget the thief. Heard of any hero other than Krrish?" he asked.
She listed a few—small donation heroes, drivers who saved lives, that storm in Maldives. But he cut her off and asked:
"Did anyone wearing a blue costume fly past you the day Krrish caught those terrorists? In the city?"
She looked confused, then something clicked behind her eyes—but she hid it.
"Blue suit guy? What do you mean?"
"Nothing. I just saw someone in a blue suit flying over the disaster district. Thought it was Krrish, but no—Krrish wears black."
She nodded.
"Hey, wanna see Krrish's pictures? I have a lot."