The giant cranes moved like metallic beasts in the dead of night, their hooks lifting enormous containers off the ship's deck and dropping them onto the dock with dull, echoing thuds. Floodlights cut through the darkness, casting harsh shadows over the workers moving like ants beneath the looming cargo ship.
Away from the chaos—deep inside a remote section of the dock, surrounded by towering stacks of containers—a single container sat half-open.
Inside, two men stood close together, staring into a small wooden box placed carefully on the floor.
One of them was Dilip Topi, a wiry man with darting eyes, his signature cheap cap pulled low over his forehead. The other was Rocky, a bald man with a dangerous calm about him. His sharp eyes reflected no emotion, but his presence made the air heavy. His voice, when he spoke, was deep and deliberate:
"Is everything ready?"
Dilip swallowed, but forced a smile. "Don't worry, boss Rocky. I've already planned the route. My men are stationed everywhere. We can move it anytime we want."
Rocky's eyes didn't move from the box. "Hmm… that's good." His lips curved into the faintest smile. "Dilip, you've done great work. Ghani Bhai will be happy to hear that."
Hearing Rocky's praise, Dilip's heart raced—not from pride, but from greed. The thought of the huge payout made his palms sweat. He hadn't seen this kind of money since he first stumbled into the underworld. And if Ghani Bhai trusted him with more jobs after this? Even better.
At least it's better than training those low-life beggars and wasting my life for scraps, Dilip thought, eyes glinting in the dark.
Whatever was inside that wooden box—it wasn't drugs, it wasn't weapons—it was something else entirely. Something dangerous. Something alive?
Neither of them mentioned it, but both had felt the same chill when they first opened it.
After a few more whispered instructions, the two men separated quietly into the night.
Dilip's Command
On the other side of the dock, three men stood waiting for Dilip, smoking nervously. One of them was Raja, tall, sharp-eyed, and silent.
Dilip approached, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Alright boys, we've got the green light." His voice was sharp, commanding. "Get the teams ready. Beggar squads need to be at every circle, every hour, feeding us updates on police movement. If there's an inspection, we'll divert. No mistakes."
They all nodded.
Dilip had arranged everything—from the warehouse at the far end of the dock to the hidden checkpoints across the city. The beggars he trained weren't just panhandlers; they were his ears in the streets, scattered near police stations and traffic points.
One of his men spoke up, trying to sound confident:
"Boss, don't worry. We've planned every move. There won't be any hiccups."
Dilip gave a satisfied nod. His mind flashed forward to the government rally happening in a week. All the police, media, and security forces would be focused on that event.
While the city looked the other way, he would quietly move the container by road—out of the docks and into Ghani Bhai's warehouse.
He let his gaze drift to Raja, thinking for a second about cracking a dirty joke about Raja's sister—just to mess with him, like usual. But tonight wasn't the time for distractions.
"No mistakes," Dilip repeated, his tone low but sharp. "If this goes right, we're set for life. If it goes wrong…"
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't have to.
.............
Somewhere far away from the noisy classrooms and crowded hallways, Veer and Suhana sat together in the quiet school garden, the soft rustle of leaves their only company. They were lost in a sweet, easy conversation, soaking in their rare moment of peace.
Veer broke the silence first, smiling gently.
"It's really relaxing to have a moment like this… just to talk with you."
Suhana rolled her eyes playfully.
"And whose fault is that? You're always so busy. Spending way too much time in the library or your personal space. Whenever I call, you say something like 'something came up,' or 'my back hurts,' or 'I'm sleepy.'"
Veer laughed, nudging her lightly.
"Yeah, yeah, that's my mistake, not yours. But come on, you're the one who wants to go shopping, treat your boyfriend like a butler, and unload all your 'big problems'—like not liking breakfast or fighting with your parents—as if I have all day to listen."
Suhana blushed but grinned.
"Well, that's the privilege of being a girlfriend, and it's the boyfriend's duty to listen."
They laughed together, the tension of the day melting away. Veer had been so focused on Raja and the mess surrounding him that he hadn't spent nearly enough time with Suhana lately.
Suhana's voice softened.
"Listen, Veer, you have to come to my house sometime."
Veer's smile faltered just a bit.
"Suhana, I'll come over when we're older. Honestly, I'm not sure I'm ready to ask your father for your hand just yet."
Suhana's eyes sparkled with mock anger, but her smile showed she was pleased. She playfully slapped Veer's shoulder, causing him to put on crocodile tears.
"Veer, my dad's birthday is coming up. He's planning a big—no, a grand party. And my dumb brother already told him I have a boyfriend… and now he wants to meet you."
A chill ran down Veer's spine.
He'd never had the chance to fall in love in his past life. This was new territory. And meeting Suhana's father? The legendary Shah Rukh Khan—the king of Bollywood, known not just for his talent and humility but for his sharp eye and cunning judgment—felt like stepping into the lion's den.
Veer swallowed hard.
"Okay…" he said reluctantly.
Looking at him, Suhana felt a mix of happiness and nervousness. She was glad to see something finally shook Veer—but worried about the moment he would meet her father.
She tried to calm him, but it felt more like she was trying to calm herself.
"Everything will be fine," she whispered, almost like a promise.