It was early afternoon. Vedant stood silently in the room above, his face tense, lost in thought. And why wouldn't he be? Just below, in the opulent hall draped with velvet curtains and bathed in dim lighting, so faint that even conspiracies would blush, sat two of the most powerful men in the country: Kabir Sinha, the charismatic leader of the opposition, and Kamal Kishore Bansal, the ruling party's master strategist and a contender for the chief minister's seat.
There were no cameras in the hall. No recordings. Just four men and one heavy suitcase that had arrived with Bansal. He was accompanied by only one person, his most trusted aide, a man who never spoke, only acted on signals.
The elections were still months away, but the deal was to be sealed today.
Kabir had made a promise. He would withdraw, step back from the race, and instead prop up a weak candidate in his place. In return, Bansal would get a clear path to the chief minister's chair and Kabir would receive his payment in cash. No digital trail. No fingerprints.
Bansal placed the suitcase on the table. Kabir offered a faint smile, though his eyes betrayed no satisfaction. Bansal glanced at his aide, who stepped forward and opened the suitcase. Bundles of currency, stacked with precision, gleamed like offerings laid out for a ritual of power. Kabir, who had been lounging in his chair, straightened at the sight. His smile deepened, but something else flickered behind it, something unreadable.
Directly above the hall, behind a switchable glass wall, Vedant stood watching. To him, Kabir was nothing more than a wolf in a tailored suit.
He saw everything. Heard every word.
"Greedy opportunist," Vedant muttered under his breath.
"Mr. Bansal, you certainly keep your promises. Just forgot the ones made to the people," Kabir said with a smirk.
"We're not in power for the people. Power is for ourselves. Everything else is just theater," Bansal laughed, proud of his own cynicism.
"Politics is an addiction, Mr. Kabir. Once it takes hold, it never lets go," Kabir replied, smiling.
"We wanted that addiction too. But your money kept us right here."
"You can have it for life. Just hold on to us. We'll be your shadow, your crown," Bansal leaned in, voice low and deliberate.
Kabir's smile turned sinister.
"This time, I got the money. Next time, I'll be sitting in your lap and hovering over your head."
Bansal paused, his face briefly serious, then burst into laughter again.
"Of course. But for that, you'll need to keep working just as hard."
Kabir closed his eyes, like a victor meditating on his triumph.
"Don't worry, Mr. Bansal. We won't campaign anymore. We'll just grab popcorn and enjoy the show. You'll win and we'll enjoy the spoils."
Bansal took a sip of water and stood. Kabir rose with him. They shook hands, and Kabir escorted him to the door. As soon as it closed, his face turned grim. He spun around, grabbed the suitcase, and disappeared into his private room.
Vedant's eyes were still locked on the scene that had just unfolded. The raw truth of Kabir and Bansal's selfish pact. A deal worth crores, made right before his eyes. He knew the world worked like this but witnessing betrayal and greed so closely was enough to make anyone's breath catch. It was his first taste of realpolitik and perhaps the bitterest.
Inside the cold walls of the bathroom, Vedant stood alone. He pulled a camera from his pocket and began reviewing the footage. He had positioned himself behind the glass wall so precisely that the camera remained invisible. Every word, every face, every gesture, he had captured it all.
The evidence he needed was now in his hands.
And it was enough to destroy Kabir.
Suddenly, the door slammed open. Vedant cursed himself, he had forgotten to lock it again. Kabir stood at the entrance, smiling, his hands clasped casually in front of him. Vedant quickly slipped the camera behind the soap holder near the bathtub and turned to face Kabir with a faint smile. But it wasn't a welcoming one, it was a warning.
"Vedant! Seems like you want me to keep barging in," Kabir teased.
Vedant's jaw tightened. "You say whatever suits you."
"Then why didn't you lock the door today?" Kabir stepped forward.
"You should be ashamed," Vedant said, his eyes flicking toward the hidden camera.
"Shame? What's that?" Kabir replied with a grin, now standing close.
Just then, the slick floor played its trick. Kabir lost his balance, and Vedant instinctively reached out to catch him. Both of them fell into the bathtub, water splashing around them. Vedant's grip was firm on Kabir's arms, and their eyes locked, intense, searching.
There was innocence in Kabir's eyes—so much that Vedant couldn't believe this was the same man who had just sealed a multimillion deal. Could someone look so pure and yet be so selfish? The question echoed in Vedant's mind.
He quickly pulled his hands back and turned his face away. Kabir was still smiling. He reached out, gently took Vedant's hand, and pressed it against his chest. Vedant was about to speak when Kabir placed a finger softly on his lips.
Vedant's face flushed. Kabir's eyes were deep, unreadable, as if holding back something unsaid. For a moment, Vedant froze. Then, abruptly, he pushed Kabir's hand away. Kabir's expression didn't change, he remained calm, almost amused.
I've warned you before. Don't touch me. Don't try to stain me with your selfish, manipulative hands. Who knows how many innocent women you've preyed upon. People like you… are the ones who cross every line," Vedant said coldly.
A heavy silence fell over the bathroom.
"Vedant!" Kabir shouted. It was the first time Vedant had heard such sharpness in his voice.
"So there it is your true face. That fake smile of yours disgusts me. And what are you angry about? That someone finally called you out? You spend your time with women, don't you? Have you ever truly loved anyone? Or have you always hunted the vulnerable? It's men like you in politics who exploit and bury the truth." Kabir's laugh was bitter now, like it came from somewhere wounded.
"I've been silent all this time. But that doesn't mean you can say whatever you want," Kabir said, his voice steady. "Yes, I've been with women. But only those who came to me willingly. I've never looked at anyone with intent. I've never approached anyone. They come to me."
"And you use them. Then leave them," Vedant replied coldly.
"So what do you expect? Should I marry every single one of them?"
"You're not even worthy of that."
"Then tell me, Vedant. Who am I worthy of? Could you accept me? I could make you mine," Kabir said, his tone shifting.
Vedant's jaw clenched again. His hand shot up, a punch aimed at Kabir but Kabir caught his fist mid-air.
"Anger isn't good for your health, Vedant. If you want, I can help you let it go," Kabir whispered, pulling Vedant close in one swift motion. Vedant's back pressed against Kabir's chest. Kabir leaned in, his breath brushing Vedant's ear. Vedant tensed, his body shivering involuntarily.
Kabir placed a soft kiss on Vedant's neck. In that moment, Vedant felt the world spin around him. Then Kabir stood up abruptly. Vedant's eyes were shut, but when Kabir stepped away, the absence felt strangely unsettling.
"When you're truly ready… we'll continue," Kabir said, leaning over the edge of the bathtub, his hand resting on the rim. Vedant's eyes snapped open. Kabir gave a sly smile and walked out, leaving Vedant sitting in the tub, his entire body flushed red.
"He acts like he's going to steal my innocence. That pervert Kabir," Vedant muttered under his breath. "I could give myself to a devil… but not to him."
"I am a devil too, Vedant," Kabir called out from the doorway, peeking in with a grin. Vedant groaned and shut his eyes in frustration as Kabir laughed and disappeared down the hallway.
Back in his room, Kabir's face looked strange neither smiling nor serious. But his eyes held something… unspoken. As if Vedant's words had cracked something inside him. He had acted normal in front of Vedant, but now, something about him felt different.
Meanwhile, Vedant sat motionless. He couldn't tell whether Kabir's closeness had disturbed him… or stirred something else. He splashed water with his hand and lay back in the tub, trying to understand himself. Or perhaps… trying to understand Kabir.