It was around 9 p.m., and the café still echoed with soft laughter and gentle chatter from the last group remaining—three women and one man. Pooja and Sneha, both clearly exhausted, leaned back in their chairs while Sneha glanced at her phone. Pooja sighed and looked toward Anaya. "Anaya, it's 9 already. We need to go pack our luggage. Our hostel is vacating tomorrow."
Ayaan blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, vacating?"
Anaya leaned closer to him, a playful glint in her eyes, and whispered smoothly, "The hostel owner's kicking us out by next Monday. I'll be homeless. So… I guess I'll need to stay at your place."
Ayaan's face instantly turned red. He became so flustered that he could barely form a proper response, which only made Anaya burst into laughter.
Still clutching her singing competition trophy, Anaya smiled softly, though a faint shadow crossed her expression. "Actually, we're all Political Science students. Next month is our final exam. I stayed at the hostel just to win this trophy. Pooja and Sneha tagged along to chill with me—and Riya came to gather material for her research."
Pooja and Sneha immediately protested together, "We also came for our own research!"
Ayaan ignored their outburst and turned back toward Anaya, concern flickering in his voice. "So… you're leaving in three days?"
Seeing the expression on his face, Anaya chuckled and tilted her head. "Guess where my college is?"
Ayaan frowned. "I don't kn—"
"It's in your city," Anaya interrupted with a grin. "MM College of Political Science."
Ayaan's eyes widened. "Wait—the rich college? In my town? It's only thirty minutes from my house! But… that college only cares about money and—"
He suddenly stopped.
A memory struck him.
Ajay's words echoed in his mind: Brandless bastard.
Anaya watched his face carefully. She understood immediately what had crossed his mind and gently rested her head against his shoulder. "Hey, you're remembering that loser's words again, aren't you? Forget Ajay and his garbage. Also… I almost chose a different college. But just for you, I chose this one. So when I come to your town, you better show me our home. I miss it… a lot."
Ayaan stared at her.
Our home?
He didn't understand what she meant, but something about the way she said it made him hesitate before finally nodding. "Okay."
Just then, a cab pulled up outside the café. Pooja glanced through the window and called out, "Anaya, it's time!"
Everyone stood up. Ayaan started Dev's bike while Anaya, Pooja, and Sneha began walking toward the cab. But just before stepping inside, Anaya suddenly turned around, ran back to Ayaan, and wrapped her arms around him.
She rested her head against his shoulder and whispered, "Today, I thought I might lose you. I… I don't deserve to smile. But somehow, you became the reason I still can."
Ayaan didn't answer with words. He simply wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.
Soft rain began to fall around them.
From inside the cab, Sneha shouted, "Anaya! Stop flirting already! The driver's threatening to charge extra!"
Anaya laughed as she finally pulled away. "See you later, Ayaan."
He smiled back. "Same. Meet you later."
The cab slowly pulled away, its taillights disappearing into the rainy night. Ayaan remained where he was for a moment, his eyes following them until the vehicle was almost out of sight. Then, abruptly, his expression changed.
A sharp, murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
He turned his head quickly.
Something wasn't right.
Someone was watching him.
Yet the presence disappeared before he could locate it.
Ayaan shook off the feeling, mounted the bike, and rode away as the rain slowly soaked through his shirt.
Behind a trash bin nearby, a news reporter named Shyam shivered violently. It wasn't because of the rain. He clutched his camera tightly, his eyes wide with fear. That pressure… that killing intent he had just felt from Ayaan was the same pressure he had experienced that day when he first saw President Aditya's infamous bodyguard, Rudra.
Shyam slowly looked down at the pictures stored on his camera.
Ayaan.
Anaya.
His fingers tightened around the device.
"Monster…" he whispered.
---
Inside the command center's treatment zone, the air was thick with the metallic scent of antiseptic and heavy with sorrow. Riya walked silently beside Isha, her eyes scanning the chaotic yet organized triage area as medical personnel moved between injured patients and treatment rooms. But after a few steps, her breath caught, and she suddenly froze.
Ahead of her stood a group of people in still formation. They were saluting, some of them crying. Around them lay several bodies covered beneath sheets, their forms completely still.
Riya slowly raised a hand to cover her mouth, her eyes widening in horror.
Seeing her stop, Isha turned toward her with concern. "It's your first time seeing a group of dead bodies… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shown you this side of humanity so soon."
Riya's voice trembled, but there was strength beneath it. "Isha, it's okay. Your job was to stop the bomb during the finals, right? And… now I understand why Teja asked about the number of casualties."
Isha fell silent for a moment, pain flickering across her face. "If only communication hadn't been tampered with… and if that bastard—the Sixth Commander of that filthy Council—hadn't appeared… if both of those hadn't happened, then the casualties could've been avoided." Her voice tightened with anger. "But because of him… because of that Sixth Commander, so many people are dead. And he… he also injured your father."
Riya's body went cold.
Her voice sharpened with trembling rage. "So… he's the one who hurt my father?"
Before Isha could answer, a loud voice suddenly cut through the treatment zone.
"RIYA!"
Riya turned instantly, her eyes widening.
"M-Mother…?" she whispered before running forward and falling into her mother's arms.
Latha embraced her tightly, holding her daughter as though she were afraid to let go again. After a moment, Riya pulled back and looked toward her father. Ranveer lay inside a nearby treatment room, pale but breathing.
"Mother," she asked, her voice cracking, "how… how is Father?"
Before Latha could answer, a doctor approached them. "Mrs. Latha. And… Riya, yes?" he asked gently. "I need to speak with you both regarding your father's condition."
Riya immediately stepped forward, anxiety flaring in her eyes. "Is he… is he alright?"
The doctor hesitated before answering. "His condition is stable… for now. But—"
Latha and Riya spoke at the same time. "But?"
Before the doctor could continue, another figure approached.
A woman walked toward them with a solemn expression, her face heavy with emotion.
Latha gasped. "Padma? So you finally came…"
Padma didn't answer immediately. Instead, she embraced Latha tightly and held her for a moment before whispering sorrowfully, "We're… we're so sorry about Ranveer's condition."
Riya stared at her in confusion. "Padma Aunt… the doctor just told us my father is—"
Padma cut her off sharply, anguish and restrained fury filling her voice. "Mr. Ranveer is physically and mentally stable. But… he was cursed. Cursed by the most wanted of them all—the Sixth Commander of the Council of Six."
Riya and Latha froze.
"Cursed?" they echoed together.
Padma wiped away her tears, and her voice hardened. "I know this may all sound foreign to you. You've only just stepped into this world today. But this… this is not just about politics, bombs, or missions. This is about a darker layer of reality—a side of humanity people aren't supposed to see."
Riya stared at her. "Please… please explain what you mean. And what the hell is this Council of Six?"
Before Padma could answer, Isha stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she began explaining what she knew.
"The Council of Six… and their commanders."
She took a breath before continuing. "The Sixth Commander is Pothasura—the embodiment of making curses and turning people into damned slaves to the Second Commander."
"The Fifth Commander… his identity and motives are unknown, but rumours say he is the embodiment of corrosion."
"The Fourth Commander is Shunyavakta, the leader of the Hollow Pact and the embodiment of control. He loves turning innocent civilians into his puppets. He feeds on their screams."
Isha's expression became more serious as she continued. "The Third Commander… his actual name remains unresolved, and he is the embodiment of nightmare. That's why we call him Nightmare. He doesn't follow anyone. He doesn't obey anyone. He doesn't lead anyone. He acts alone. He is also the most unpredictable and deadly. Rumours say he will never spare his prey."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"The Second Commander… no one dares to investigate him because he is nothing but the embodiment of a walking disaster. There are also rumours that he is the 'last heir of Asura.'"
Isha's eyes finally met Riya's.
"And the First Commander?" she said softly. "Even their existence is still debated."
Padma continued in a low, sharp voice, adding to Isha's explanation. "Ranveer was attacked by the Sixth Commander. That monster's knives aren't ordinary. His blades carry a curse technique. The wounds he inflicts… they connect directly to the victim's mental state."
She looked directly at Riya and Latha. "If the person suffers any kind of mental pressure—grief, panic, trauma—the curse worsens. The wound begins to corrupt the tissues, spreading from the inside out. It doesn't just kill—it destroys. Slowly."
Her voice cracked slightly as she continued. "The only hope we have now is to make sure Mr. Ranveer isn't pushed into stress or emotional strain. That's why he must not be told about—"
Padma stopped herself as she noticed Riya and Latha growing paler with every sentence. The weight of her warning left both of them silent and stunned.
Then Latha suddenly slapped herself lightly, her voice trembling with grief and helplessness. "I… I still don't understand what happened today."
She lowered her gaze toward the floor, completely broken by the events of the day. "With my own eyes, I saw my husband… bleeding out. With my own eyes, I watched my daughter being threatened… assaulted by her own college mate. Then came the bombs, the gunshots… those monsters…"
She looked up at Padma, tears filling her eyes. "One day. Just one day turned our entire lives upside down. Why? Why us?"
She stepped closer to Padma. "We've been childhood friends… right? Then why didn't you tell me? Why did you let my family fall into this chaos?"
Before Padma could respond, a nurse suddenly rushed toward them.
"Madam Padma," the nurse said quickly, "Mr. Ranveer just regained consciousness."
Hope immediately returned to Latha's face. She turned and hurried toward the treatment room.
Riya stepped forward to follow her, but Padma placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Latha," Padma said, her voice soft but serious, "please—don't mention the curse to him. He's stable now, both mentally and physically… but if his mind breaks, his body won't be far behind."
Latha paused at the entrance and looked back at Padma. Her eyes were still heavy with worry, but she nodded.
"I… I still have questions, Padma. So many questions. But thank you for the warning."
Together, Latha and Riya stepped inside the treatment room.
Padma remained outside, watching them disappear through the doorway. Her shoulders slowly sagged as the weight of everything that had happened finally settled upon her.
"In Operation SBS… we won," she whispered.
She clenched her fist and stared blankly ahead.
"But at what cost?"