Chapter 19: The Punch, the Pasta, and the Part-Time Memory
Interior – War Bunker Kitchen – Day 3, Midday
The clanging sound echoed again.
Akash froze, spoon still in hand.
Shiva tilted his head, eyes narrowing.
Sid stood slowly, already analyzing.
> "Could be an animal. Rats. Or something worse."
Akash whispered, "What if it's a giant lizard? Or some mutated raccoon? I saw that in a movie once!"
Shiva rolled his eyes. " are you in the movie, Akash."
They crept toward the kitchen. Sid turned off his flashlight — the backup lights in the hallway flickered just enough.
Another CLANG — this time followed by a dragging sound.
> Akash whispered, "Maybe it's just wind. Strong air vent or something—"
Sid cut him off. "Wind? Akash, we're 20 feet underground in reinforced concrete. There's no 'strong breeze' here unless the ghost of a hurricane showed up with a hall pass."
They reached the kitchen door . A single overhead bulb buzzed, casting strange shadows.
Then—
> WHAM!!
A blur of gray and muscle flew from the shadows and landed a solid kicked on Akash's chest. He was sent flying and slammed into a pile of metal trays.
> "Wha—WHY ALWAYS ME?!" Akash yelped from the floor.
Sid and Shiva leaped forward. Sid blocked a follow-up strike with a steel tray. Shiva raised his hands in surrender.
The attacker — an old man, white beard, battle-worn military uniform, and one hand replaced with a mechanical claw gripping a kitchen knife — glared at them.
> "You're not wearing combat dress. Who are you?! WHO SENT YOU?!"
Sid stepped forward, cautious.
> "Wait… your uniform… that's the same division as Rana's."
The old man's expression flickered — confusion, then recognition, then confusion again.
"Rana? Yes… yes, I knew him! Good man! Bad teeth. Great at poker… I think."
Shiva whispered, "Okay… so he's not the enemy."
Akash groaned from the floor, still winded. "Tell that to my ribs…"
Sid held up his hands.
> "We're civilians. Teachers. We were caught in the enemy ambush. Ended up here. We met Rana… he didn't make it. But he told us to finish what he started."
The old man lowered his knife slowly.
> "Hmm. Civilians… on this island? That's either bravery, fate, or a bad luck."
Shiva: "You're from the army?"
> "Retired—well, almost. Captain Krishnan, Mechanic Corps, 38 years of loyal service. They were just about to kick me out with a cake and a medal. Then the bombs came."
> "Whole Black Site turned upside down. I was in the lower generator sector when the attack hit. I saw furious fire… betrayals… something was wrong. Someone inside helped them."
Sid leaned forward. "Who?"
Krishnan scratched his head.
> "That's the thing. I heard a name. A voice. It was clear as thunder back then. But now it's… it's like my brain is buffering."
Akash: "You don't remember?"
> "Nope. Not even a syllable. It's like… it starts with a V. Or maybe a B. Or a D? Or is that the cafeteria code?"
He wandered over to a pot of canned pasta, sniffed it, then winced.
> "Ugh. This smells like betrayal."
Sid sighed. "So we found an army engineer with 30 years of experience, fists like stone, and a memory like Swiss cheese."
Akash slowly got up, rubbing his chest.
> "Sir, next time you forget something, please don't remember it with a kick ."
Krishnan grinned. "Son, that was just a reflex. You should see my real kick ."
Shiva smiled. "Still, if you're a mechanic… you can help us, right? The defense grid, the main supply system — it's all broken. We're trying to restore the island's core systems."
Krishnan straightened. The fog in his eyes cleared — just for a moment.
> "Defense grid? You bet I can. I designed half of it. Fixed it more times than I've fixed my wife's kitchen sink. Lead me to the main core. And maybe toss me a wrench."
Sid handed him a tool.
Akash mumbled, "He hits like a tank… and forgets like a goldfish."
The old man stretched, joints cracking like old machinery.
> "Let's go, boys. The nation's not going to save itself."
Narrator Voice:
> "The war island now has a new ally.
One hand is steel, the other trembles with age.
But behind the forgetful smile… lies a memory still waiting to wake."