[22 August 2115]
Kashi Vishwanath Mandir
Arya moved carefully, her eyes scanning the temple surroundings. She pretended to search for her bracelet, her fingers brushing against the cool marble floor. But the truth was—she already had it.
As the last of the devotees and officers stepped out, she subtly retrieved the bracelet from beneath her sleeve, its familiar weight grounding her. To avoid Pratham's prying eyes and relentless questions, she tucked it beneath the folds of her saree's pallu. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
She turned toward the Shivling. The divine energy in the temple wrapped around her like a protective embrace, sending a shiver through her weary body. The lingering scent of burning camphor, the rhythmic flicker of oil lamps, and the deep, silent presence of Mahadev filled her senses.
She folded her hands, lowering her head in reverence.
Arya (softly): He Mahadev... for the second time, I am hiding something from my friends—the only precious people left in my world. I swear, I do not do this with ill intent.
Her eyelids fluttered shut as she surrendered herself to the divine stillness. The weight in her heart remained, but for a brief moment, she felt lighter—like the burden was no longer hers alone to carry.
A slow breath. A silent prayer.
Arya (whispering): Mahadev… Raksha Karna.
[22 Augest 2115]
BhattTech's Private Hospital, Chennai
Sana slowly opening her eyes.
A dull ache. A suffocating heaviness in her limbs. The faint scent of antiseptic clung to the air.
Sana's eyelids twitched. Then, with great effort, she slowly opened her eyes.
Blurry figures hovered above her. The bright hospital lights stung, forcing her to blink several times before her vision adjusted.
And then she saw them.
Maharshi. Zeel. Jay. Hirak.
They were all there—bruised, exhausted, yet alive.
For a moment, none of them spoke. The steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence.
Zeel was the first to react. She exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging with relief.
Zeel (grinning, voice thick with emotion): Well, look who decided to wake up.
Sana tried to speak, but her throat was parched. Maharshi immediately grabbed a glass of water and brought it to her lips, helping her take small sips.
Maharshi (softly): Easy. You're safe now.
Safe.
The word echoed in her mind. Flashes of the battle surged through her thoughts—the blinding light of her Vajra Yantra, the monster's deafening roar, the moment her strength abandoned her.
Her fingers trembled as she forced out a hoarse whisper.
Sana: Did we… win?
Jay chuckled, crossing his arms.
Jay (smirking): We did. Thanks to you.
Hirak adjusted his glasses, nodding in agreement.
Hirak: That final surge of Vajra Yantra was enough to overload the monster's core. You were incredible.
Sana let out a weak breath. The weight of their words settled in, but so did the exhaustion.
Sana (softly): I… don't remember much.
Maharshi exchanged glances with the others before placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Maharshi: You don't have to. Just rest.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Sana let herself relax.
Suddenly a nurse come in the room.
Nurse : Excuse me, Sorry to interrupt but only one person can stay with patient, It's hospital so please understand.
Maharshi : Ok then, Zeel stay with Sana. Call if you need help.
Zeel : Yeah, Alright.
Maharshi,Jay,Hirak exited the room and gathered at gallery of the hospital.
Jay : Maharshi, You are also thinking what i'm thinking?
Maharshi : Maybe Yes.
Hirak : And what you two are thinking ?
Maharshi : First, why did Sana hide her Vajra Yantra ? While she was unconscious we check the records about Sana but find nothing special.
Jay : Second, If it's Sana's first time using Vajra Yantra so why did she collapsed ? We know that only few Srapit jadugar use Vajra Yantra. Because it drain more Srapit Shakti then any other Yantras, But.
Hirak : But ?
Maharshi : Sana use her Vajra Yantra 4 times. First, Solo duel with wolf.
Jay : Second, with wave of wolfs.
Maharshi : Third, This that powerful strapit aatma. And-
Hirak : And, Fourth when we use her Vajra Yantra explicitly.
Maharshi : Correct.
Hirak : But what can we derive from this information ?
Jay : When we check Sana's records we found nothing special, But found something suspicious.
Hirak : What is it ?
Maharshi : That it's Sana's first raid, In her whole life.
Hirak : What !? She participated in khatarnak shreni's raid in her first first raid ?
Jay : Her states are fully based on her academic battles,duels and exam.
Hirak : You guys are making it more complex.
Maharshi : The most confusing part didn't even came.
Hirak : And what is it ?
Maharshi : When we check her onscreen records it's normal nothing special but when we checked Database of BhattTech we found that some of her documents are unavailable.
Jay : And in BhattTech's Academy you can not enroll without those important documents.
Hirak : You mean, Sana entered Academy by corruption or nepotism?
Maharshi : It might be true, but i don't think so something like this can ignored by Dad.
Jay : The most probable case we thought is, BhattTech is hiding the information of Sana.
Hirak : And what is it ?
Maharshi : We don't know, But if we want to know than we can.
[22 August 2115]
BhattTech's Branch Kashi
BOOOOM!
The deafening explosion shook the cabin of Lieutenant Commander Surya Pratap Singh. Smoke curled through the air, swirling around the shattered furniture and broken glass. As the dust settled, a tense scene emerged.
Surya Pratap was on one knee, his sharp eyes locked onto the blade resting against his throat. His military coat was torn at the shoulder, a fresh cut seeping blood where Arya's attack had grazed him.
And standing before him—rage burning in her eyes like a divine flame—was Arya Singh.
Her sword hummed with latent energy, its edge pressed just enough to send a message. The atmosphere crackled with her restrained fury.
Pratham coughed, waving away the smoke. His voice was urgent, bordering on panic.
Pratham: Arya, take it easy!
Riva took a step forward, her hands raised in an attempt to de-escalate.
Riva: Ma'am, please! He didn't mean it that way—
CLANK!
Arya flicked her wrist, tilting her sword slightly. The sound of metal scraping against skin sent a chill through the room.
Arya (low, seething): Say another word, Riva, and I promise you—I will not hold back.
Riva froze. Even Pratham instinctively took a step back.
Surya Pratap, despite the blade at his throat, did not flinch. His gaze was like steel—unyielding, unwavering.
Surya Pratap: You have no idea what a grave mistake you've just made.
Arya's fingers tightened around her sword. A cold fury laced her every word.
Arya: And you have no idea what a sin you've just committed.
Pratham: Arya, we can—
Arya (snapping): Pratham, not another word.
Her voice cut through the room like a thunderclap. Pratham shut his mouth instantly, his heart pounding.
Surya Pratap exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin.
Surya Pratap: This isn't a game, Arya. You are refusing a direct order from your superior.
Arya leaned in, her gaze piercing.
Arya: And you are refusing to listen to the one person who actually knows what's happening on the ground.
Surya Pratap: Strategy and discipline win wars. Rashness gets people killed.
Arya: Cowardice gets people killed. Every second we waste, the enemy moves further out of reach. And you want me to sit back and wait?
Her aura flared—raw, untamed power pulsing through her veins. The sheer intensity of it sent cracks through the marble floor beneath them.
Surya Pratap's expression darkened. This wasn't just defiance.
This was Arya Singh challenging his authority as a leader.
For the first time, he wondered—had she finally become stronger than him?
Their locked gazes spoke volumes. This was no longer just a mission disagreement.
This was a battle of beliefs.
One that neither of them could afford to lose.
The air between them crackled like a battlefield before the first strike.
Surya Pratap (low, firm): Stand down, Arya. That's an order.
Arya (voice like steel): I don't take orders that go against my principles.
His expression darkened.
Surya Pratap: Principles? The mission comes before your emotions! We have a direct approach—eliminate the target, secure the objective. Simple.
Arya's grip on her sword tightened. That was exactly the problem.
Arya: And how many innocent lives will be lost in your 'simple' approach? How many people will we sacrifice because you think brute force is the only way?
Surya Pratap: You think mercy will save them? Mercy will get you killed, Arya! I won't let that happen.
Arya took a step closer, pressing the blade slightly deeper. A single drop of blood trailed down his skin, but he didn't flinch.
Arya: And I won't let your cold logic turn me into a machine! I don't fight just to win—I fight to protect. All of them. Not just the ones deemed 'important' in your damn strategy meetings.
His fingers twitched. A lesser man would have retaliated by now. But Surya Pratap wasn't a lesser man. He was a commander, a warrior, a Singh.
And so was she.
The weight of their shared bloodline, their family's legacy, pressed between them like an invisible force.
Surya Pratap: You're reckless.
Arya (deadly calm): I trust myself.
For the first time, he hesitated. That was it. Arya wasn't just defying him—she was proving she had the strength to stand on her own.
A sharp breath. A tense silence.
Then, with deliberate control, Arya lowered her sword. But her eyes never wavered.
Arya: I'll complete this mission. But I'll do it my way.
Surya Pratap exhaled slowly. He wiped the blood from his neck, watching her.
Then, finally—a nod.
Surya Pratap: Fine. But if you fail… you answer to me.
Arya sheathed her sword, a smirk ghosting over her lips.
Arya: I never fail.
Arya stepped out of the office. The night air was heavy, thick with the remnants of her confrontation. Her knuckles still tingled from gripping her sword too tightly.
She was heading toward her car when a voice cut through the silence.
Pratham (shouting): Arya, wait!
She stopped, turning slowly. The rage in her eyes hadn't faded. If anything, the dim glow of the streetlights only sharpened the fury etched across her face.
Pratham slowed as he neared, his expression a mix of frustration and disbelief.
Pratham: Arya, how could you put a blade to your own uncle's throat? You were about to kill him! Do you even realize what would happen if that got out? If the media caught wind of this—
Arya (coldly): I don't care. If something is wrong, I won't stand by and watch.
Pratham clenched his fists.
Pratham: Arya, you still think I'm mad, don't you?
She narrowed her eyes.
Arya: What are you trying to say?
Pratham exhaled, rubbing his forehead as if bracing himself.
Pratham: Look, Surya Pratap's plan was flawed—no doubt. And you were right to stand against it. But, Arya… it's obvious what this really means.
She remained silent.
Pratham: You don't just want to change the plan. You want the entire command of this mission.
Arya didn't even flinch. Her voice was sharp as a blade.
Arya: You're right. So what? Are you going to report me?
Pratham scoffed, shaking his head.
Pratham: Are you joking? Everyone knows that in this world, nobody can touch an Ati-Khatarnak Shreni's Srapit Jadugar. Not the law. Not the government. Not even BhattTech itself.
A smirk ghosted over Arya's lips.
Arya: Then what's stopping me?
Pratham's breath hitched. That confidence… that terrifying certainty. He had seen Arya fight before, had witnessed her ruthless efficiency on the battlefield. But this? This was different.
Pratham's words hung in the air, heavy with concern.
Pratham: Look, I have no intention of stopping you. You're Arya Singh. No one can stop you.
He hesitated, his voice lowering.
Pratham: But… I just don't want you to turn into someone egoistic. Someone who puts command above trust. I don't want this mission to break our group apart.
His eyes softened, his frustration fading into something far more vulnerable.
Pratham: We don't want you to drift away from us, Arya.
For a moment, silence. The night breeze rustled past them, carrying the weight of unspoken emotions.
Arya didn't move. On the outside, she remained the same—unshaken, unreadable. But deep inside, something tightened in her chest.
She had lost too many people already.
She wouldn't lose them too.
But even so… she couldn't back down.
Her voice, steady yet softer this time, finally broke the silence.
Arya: I understand.
She turned away, stepping toward her car. But before getting in, she paused. Without looking back, she spoke again.
Arya: No matter what happens, trust me.
Then, without another word, she drove off into the night.
To be continue