UNIVERSITY ARC
Deepika stormed out of the bank, her voice echoing faintly down the corridor. The room felt quieter without her, but the tension she left behind still clung to the air.
I let out a breath, walking in the same direction to the exit, thinking it was finally over—until the manager spoke.
"Sir, please wait a moment."
I turned. His eyes were sharp now, more focused than before. Not aggressive—just… alert. As if what was coming next was far more important than what just happened.
"There's someone who wants to see you. Please kindly follow me."
That's what he said and with no turning back, he walked inside.
I looked back once, but the manager had already vanished into his office, leaving me alone with my thoughts. A strange unease settled in my chest.
Outside, the sun had dipped a little lower, casting long shadows across the pavement. The sky had turned a hazy gold, the light filtering gently through the city skyline. It was nearly 2 PM—a quiet time at the bank. Most people wouldn't prefer the morning rush or late hours, but I had deliberately chosen this morning.
I thought I was being smart.
My classmates at college, most of them from wealthy families, sometimes carried regular debit cards of nexus, but none of them had what I now owned—a golden card. This wasn't just plastic and code. It was rare. Valuable. Dangerous, even.
I had believed coming in the morning would reduce attention. Fewer people. Fewer eyes. But I didn't expect Deepika to show up at the same time. That changed everything.
Still, it wasn't her presence that bothered me now. It was the manager's tone—the seriousness in his voice. I think all the procedures are already done. Then why did someone in this place want to see me here? The way his expression shifted in that last glance. As if he knew something I didn't.
I couldn't shake it.
So, without hesitation, I turned and walked back into the bank. The lobby seemed emptier now, quieter than before—eerily so. I passed by the reception desk without stopping, heading straight to his office. The tension inside me grew tighter with every step.
The soft click of the office door closing behind me didn't feel ordinary—it sounded like the start of something I couldn't yet name.
I stood still for a second. The bank manager was beside me, but the real weight in the room came from the man seated across the table—Raghunandhan.
Him? Why did he want to see me again?
His presence was unsettling in a calm, composed sort of way. Eyes sharp, posture straight, like someone who'd spent a lifetime watching everything unfold from the shadows.
Sir…" he began, his voice composed, "…I hope I'm not overstepping."
Before I could speak, he gestured toward the manager.
"Thank you. Give us the room," he said.
The manager gave a slight nod, glanced at me briefly, and stepped out without another word. The silence that followed made me uneasy.
I didn't sit. Just watched him carefully, unsure what to expect. There was a strange kind of gravity in the air—something told me this wasn't just about my card.
"I thought the procedures were done, right? I have my card now. So why did you call me back?"
"You were wise to come during the quiet hours," he began, his voice low but firm. "But someone still noticed you."
His words sent a subtle chill through my spine.
"Noticed me?" I asked.
He leaned forward slightly, folding his hands.
"A man. Dressed in black—coat, mask, hat. He wasn't here for business. He stood near the entrance when your friend was arguing with you. Pretended to be waiting, but never took his eyes off you."
My pulse quickened. I hadn't noticed anyone like that—but then again, I was too distracted by Deepika at the time.
"He made a quick call after your conversation," Raghunandhan continued, "didn't speak. Just pressed a number and waited. Likely a signal. He followed your movements while you were alone. It wasn't a coincidence."
I clenched my jaw.
"You're saying someone is targeting me?"
He nodded once.
"About a month ago, we started hearing rumors—about a group targeting people with high-value cards. Regular debit card users have already been hit. Victims were followed, cornered, and forced to hand over everything. But you…" He hesitated. "You, sir, carry something far rarer. Your golden card... it makes you stand out more than you think. And in the wrong circles, that kind of attention can be deadly. This makes you more than a target—it makes you a prize."
The room felt colder all of a sudden.
"That's why I've ordered the CCTV footage to be erased. No record of your visit should remain. It's safer that way. That's when I found him."
I stared at him, heart pounding—not with fear, but with something else. Suspicion. I'd trusted the wrong people before. Paid the price for it.
I narrowed my eyes, leaned back. My arms crossed as I studied him. "Why are you helping me? Why should I believe anything you're saying? What do you gain from helping me?"
Raghunandhan didn't flinch at my question. He seemed to expect it. Maybe he'd dealt with enough betrayals in his life to recognize the look in my eyes.
He looked at me with calm patience. Then he reached into his drawer. For a moment, I tensed—reflexively—but all he pulled out was an old, worn-out keychain.
It was shaped like a lion. Gold-plated, slightly chipped on the edges, but still regal.
I recognized it instantly.
My throat tightened.
"That used to hang on my father's car keys..." I whispered.
He looked up and nodded.
"He gave it to me the night before everything changed."
My mind reeled. Flashes of the past flooded in—late-night conversations between my father and his most trusted men, whispers I wasn't supposed to hear, loyalty that didn't need to be spoken aloud.
"You..." I swallowed. "You were one of ours."
His gaze held mine with quiet pride.
"I served your family before you were born, sir. Your father—Mr. Gowtham Vardhan—trusted me with more than just finances. He trusted me with protection, secrecy... and now, with you."
I stepped back slightly. Not because I was scared. Because I didn't know what to feel.
All this time, I thought I was alone in that world. That everyone who once stood by us had either turned or disappeared.
But here was this man, speaking like he never left.
"If that's true," I said carefully, "then why now? Why are you showing yourself all of a sudden?"
Raghunandhan's tone dropped lower.
"Because they've started moving. The moment your card activated, the ripples began. It won't be long before more eyes fall on you—dangerous ones. You need to be prepared, and more importantly… you need to know who's still with you."
I stared at him. A storm of thoughts crashed in my mind.
Even if he was telling the truth, I can't dare to trust anyone from that terrific world.
"Sorry, Raghunandhan. Still I can't take risks by trusting an unknown person to me. I know it is not the correct reason to help me."
He closed his eyes. Before I stood up, he finally told the tooth.
"Because I swore an oath—to your father," he said, his voice steady, eyes misting with a faraway memory. "I was there the day he opened your account. I still remember how proud he looked when he held you in his arms and said, 'This card will protect him when I no longer can.'"
A silence stretched between us.
He placed a trembling hand on the desk. "You may not remember me, but I've watched over this account for years. I served your family with loyalty, and I intend to do the same for you. That's why I couldn't stay silent."
He looked down, and couldn't see my face. The guilt in his voice was clear.
"It's a shame that I can't help you right now. I have no authority or power to safely escort you back. The only thing I can do now is to warn you."
I went into deep thoughts for a few seconds. If he was the one of them, he didn't have any reason to tell me all this. He would definitely give information about me. I think I can trust him.
"There is no need to worry about me. I have my ways for that. I can see my safety. If that's clear, I will take my leave."
This wasn't just about a golden card anymore.
It was about the past resurfacing...about enemies I hadn't even seen yet...and about a loyalty that hadn't died, even when everything else had.
....
I stepped out of the Nexus Silicon Bank, the golden card resting quietly in my wallet, yet feeling heavier than anything I'd ever carried. Raghunandan's warning echoed in my ears.
"You may not realize it yet… but that card can attract both respect and blood."
And though I had smiled at him with reassurance, something inside me remained unsettled.
The city was slipping into the night. Street Lights flickered on, casting long shadows between buildings. A breeze rustled the trees lining the sidewalk. The world felt strangely quiet—as if holding its breath.
A strange chill brushed my neck. I paused, glanced around. Nothing.
I kept walking—until I noticed how quiet the street had become. Too quiet.
That's when I felt it—that feeling. Like the air had thickened around me.
I turned into a shortcut alley—narrow, dimly lit, with flickering lights overhead.
Then... footsteps.
A figure stepped out from the shadows. Then another. Then more.
Ten more men emerged from the shadows, moving like a pack of wolves. They surrounded me, forming a circle. Their leader stepped forward—stocky, tattooed, with a grin that didn't reach his eyes.
"You took longer than expected," he said. "Figured we'd miss you."
I didn't react. "Who are you?"
He chuckled. "We're the ones who clear out the 'lucky ones' like you. That golden card—rumor says it's worth a kingdom."
My hand instinctively shifted closer to my jacket's inner pocket. "And if it is?"
"Then we'll be kings too," he said, stepping closer. "Now be a good boy. Hand it over."
I stared at him. "It's useless to you. Need both my thumbprint and retina scan. Even if you kill me, you won't access it."
Another man snorted. "We know. Doesn't mean we can't extract what we want before that."
A thinner one smirked. "Pain makes people generous."
I shifted my weight, calmly. "Still won't work. Without the linked biometric passkey from Nexus servers, it locks down permanently."
They exchanged glances. The leader's eyes narrowed.
"So you do know how it works. That confirms the rumors. This isn't just a gold card—it's a vault key."
I stayed quiet. I needed time. I needed an opening.
They closed in.
"Well, if we can't have the card, we'll take everything else. Watch, phone, wallet. Empty your pockets."
"I'm not carrying cash."
"You rich types always say that. You bleed money."
"Try me," I said, smiling faintly. "I'd suggest you don't."
They hesitated. Just for a second.
And then I felt it.
She was here.
Not seen—but felt. A shadow clinging to the rooftops. The same presence I'd sensed at somewhere. That lingering gaze I'd ignored.
I let the moment stretch.
One of the men pulled out a switchblade.
"Enough talking. Let's beat the truth out of him. He'll give the scan when he's begging."
The leader raised his hand. "Wait."
His eyes were sharp now. Calculating.
"There's something off about you," he said. "You're too calm. Not the usual spoiled brat. Are you expecting backup?"
I kept my eyes locked on him. "I warned you."
They laughed—loud, nasty. One of them cracked his knuckles. "You? Alone? Against us?"
Another thug growled. "Screw this. I'll make him cry."
He lunged.
A whisper of wind.
Then a flash.
A spray of blood hit the wall. The man stumbled back—his knife hand now severed at the wrist.
He screamed, falling to his knees.
Everyone froze.
"What the—?!"
Another man turned to run. He didn't make it two steps. A throwing blade pierced the back of his leg. He crumpled.
Panic rippled through the gang.
"Who's there?!" one of them shouted. "Show yourself!"
The leader drew a gun and pointed it at my chest.
"You think we're scared of tricks? Let's see if you can block this!"
Bang! The sound of the bullet echoed through the surroundings.
But the bullet… never hit me.
Mid-air, it split in two, deflected by a flash of silver. One half hit the wall. The other clattered on the ground.
Gasps filled the group.
And then… she dropped from above.
A soft thud. A blur of red fabric. A sword glinting in her hand, curved and deadly.
She moved like a dancer trained in death. One man swung at her—she ducked, twisted, and elbowed him in the throat. Another tried to grab her—he was thrown to the ground in a blur of motion.
Three more charged.
They didn't last ten seconds.
By the time the last one hit the ground, groaning in pain, the alley had fallen into silence—except for the soft hum of a katana sliding back into its sheath.
I stood still, heart thundering.
She turned toward me—calm, precise, breathing steady. Her face emerged from the shadows.
The girl from Geetha's party. The one watching me.
She stepped closer, eyes meeting mine. They are calm. Not a scratch on her. A katana glinting in the dim light.
At that moment, something inside me clicked. This wasn't a coincidence.
She spoke, voice steady, as if all this had been routine.
"Are you alright?"