27th February, 2031
06:00
Ratnodweep Resort
Sohel, Naomi, Mitali, and Jacob stood quietly in the dimly lit reception hall. They had just said their goodbyes to Ovi. Before leaving, Ovi gave Sohel a firm hug, his voice steady but comforting.
"You did nothing wrong, Sohel. Remember that."
Sohel nodded, but inside, a storm of guilt and sorrow churned. He took a step toward Tahmid, intending to say something — perhaps an apology, or to offer support — but Tahmid abruptly turned away.
"Ovi, I'm leaving. Are you coming or not?" Tahmid's voice was cold but weary as he strode toward the driveway.
Ovi hesitated only a moment before chasing after him. Before stepping outside, Tahmid paused, glanced back at Sohel, and gave a sad, lingering wave.
Watching their car pull away down the driveway, Sohel felt his composure crumble. Tears welled up, unbidden and hot.
Mitali saw him, opened her mouth to speak words of comfort, but before she could, Naomi stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around Sohel.
Sohel whispered, voice cracking, "Naomi... Tell me. Where did I go wrong? If I had never left, would things be different? Is this all my fault — that I wasn't there to support him when he needed me most?"
Naomi stroked Sohel's hair softly, steadying him with calm certainty. "It's not your fault, Sohel. NWO is the one who manipulated Naser, forced him down that path. They're the ones to blame — not you."
Sohel's face flushed, but this time with rage. Naomi slowly loosened her embrace, letting him wipe away his tears.
"Unforgivable," Sohel said through clenched teeth. "They made me lose two of my friends... They have to pay for this. I swear, they will pay."
He straightened, determination igniting in his eyes. "You two go to my room. I'll be there with our gear shortly."
Sohel stepped outside the hotel room. Jacob smiled and nodded, mentioning he was off to fetch breakfast. As Naomi and Mitali followed Sohel down the corridor, Naomi leaned closer to Mitali and asked quietly, "So... do you like Sohel?"
Mitali's cheeks flushed pink, but she quickly masked her embarrassment. "So what if I do? We've been inseparable since childhood. After my parents died in the war, Sohel and his father were my only support. When his father disappeared, it was just us. After everything, I don't think it's weird to care for him."
Naomi smiled knowingly as they reached the room and settled onto the couch. "No, it's not weird at all. But... there's a small problem."
Mitali raised an eyebrow. "What problem?"
Naomi looked her in the eye. "I like Sohel too."
Mitali's heart skipped a beat. She'd suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was something else entirely. She studied Naomi's serious face and asked softly, "How did it happen?"
Naomi's gaze drifted to the window for a moment before she spoke. "At the Academy, I was all business — no time for friends or distractions. I thought those things were a waste. Then I was forced into Sohel's squad. At first, I admired his skills but dismissed him because of his carefree attitude. But spending time with him, with his friends... I started to see that making friends wasn't so bad after all. And somewhere along the way, I realized I liked him. He reminded me what it was like to enjoy life."
She grinned. "So, don't expect me to give him up easily."
Mitali was about to reply when there was a sudden knock on the door. Naomi stood and opened it. Sohel entered carrying two large suitcases, followed closely by Jacob and a waiter with a tray of breakfast. The waiter set the food down and left quickly.
Sohel placed the suitcases on the bed and opened them carefully. Inside each suitcase were two boxes, each labeled with their names.
"So, take your box," Sohel instructed, "inside you'll find a kevlar and chainmail suit. The fabric stops 7.62 bullets and absorbs about 30-40% of impact. You'll also find a small firearm and a butterfly knife. Mitali, since you don't have your own weapons with us, you'll find yours inside."
Mitali looked inside her box curiously. "What weapons do you guys use?"
Jacob smiled, "We each have our preferences. I carry a Beretta M9, Naomi uses a Beretta 93R, and Sohel sticks to his Heckler & Koch M17."
"Sohel got me a Glock-19," Mitali said with a mix of surprise and pride. "The standard issue for SNA operatives."
Sohel nodded. "Alright, eat up. Afterward, change into your gear. We'll meet back here at 0700."
The team ate quickly but in thoughtful silence. Afterward, they changed — Sohel in a sharp navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt, Naomi in an all-white tailored suit, Jacob opting for casual jeans, a T-shirt, and jacket, and Mitali in navy jeans, a T-shirt, and a blazer.
At 0700 sharp, they reconvened in the lobby. Sohel informed them that an SNA civilian vehicle was waiting at the entrance to take them to their next destination. Without further ado, they left the resort, the early morning light casting long shadows behind them as they headed toward the waiting car.