During my first year in Paneria, I was lucky enough to be enrolled in the Watch Academy for training new recruits in the city watch.
Near the end of my training, we began going on patrols with our seniors. It was on one such patrol that I met Leanor.
Her family ran a cloth shop in the market, and she was there, helping an elderly woman pick out her clothes.
A thief had stolen her earring, and I had somehow been the one to catch the thief.
When I returned the earring to her, I knew in my heart that she was the one.
We started meeting a few more times and became friends. She introduced me to the culture and customs of this world, and it was strange at first, but soon it became easier and interesting.
I also met her family, they accepted me without problems, and a date was set for our marriage.
On my graduation day, my newfound family was there, they gave me the strength, when my batch mates and I took our oath, 'Offering all we are to protect the city and its inhabitants, to uphold truth and honesty with our lives, to live and die for the right thing.'
That was when my service began as I was posted in the city of New Plied.
Now, after seven years, that oath was going to be tested as we are going to begin the biggest operation this city has ever seen.
I stood on the balcony, and the darkness of the night was beginning to fade a little as the sun was about to rise in a few minutes.
The sound of the door opening came from behind as I looked back and saw Ori there.
"Morning. Ori"
"Morning, Jiju."
He stood beside me, leaning on the railing as we stood there in silence, birds chirping and the atmosphere getting warmer.
A few moments later, an unnatural noise came from the streets as a man came under our building.
He was riding a pedal cart, which was like a tricycle with a large carry bed in the back, where his wife was sitting with a child in her arms. He stopped it on the side of the road and moved to the front of our building, picking up the trash bags left out for him.
Then he loaded them into the metal cart and moved to the other building.
"Ori!"
I called out to him, wanting to get something off my mind.
"You remember when we used to meet for lunches and we would talk about things that bothered us."
Haha
He laughed before nodding with a smile.
"I do. We used to talk about the things we wanted but were unable to afford. I think I wanted to get that expensive watch at that shop named Timely. While I think you wanted to get some expensive boots."
I nodded to his words.
"Yes, that is what I wanted. But you know something else, whenever I see people like them, leaving their home in the morning, that is, if they have a home at all, going around picking up trash, God knows what people throw out, what rotten stuff is in there."
Ori's gaze matched mine as we watched the man load his cart and start checking the bags, out of which he picked out a slightly torn sweater. He unfolded it and flicked it a few times, getting the dust off. Then he moved on to put the sweater on the child, protecting him from the cold.
"I just feel that God has given me more than I need. Because I am able to think about getting things that I have no use for. I take what I have for granted and get upset over things I do not have."
In that moment, a random thought crossed my mind, and I took off my sweater and looked down at the man.
Ori was watching me from the side and asked. "What are you doing?"
However, I did not answer him and instead called out to the man. "Brother, over here."
He turned his head to look up at me as I held out my sweater and dropped it. He managed to catch the sweater and looked back up. "Thank you, bhai (Brother)."
"Don't thank me, he wanted you to have it."
I said as I pointed up at the sky.
He gave me a genuine smile that was not forced, and with that, he went on to carry out his duty.
It was still weird in a world where people speak English most of the time, yet certain words still carry from the old times.
This was one of the things that shocked me when I first learned of the history of this world. English was introduced to this planet by Istreid, and it spread as a sign of power and status.
But before that, the languages spoken here were Sanskrit and Hindi; I mean, this planet itself reflected the entire country of India.
Certain words are still being used, such as the words used for different relatives and food items.
While the language itself is mainly kept in use by the Brahmans and the Saints.
"That was very random of you."
Ori commented as he watched them leave, before looking at me with curious eyes.
Honestly, I agreed with him. I wasn't much into charity and all, just did it sometimes when I felt something telling me to.
"I just felt like he needed it more than me. Anyway, I should prepare for the day. You stay here and look after the family."
"You can count on me, I will keep them safe."
It was not that I did not have faith in Ori; the problem was that the task we were going to carry out today was too risky not to worry about.
Chief Yamla made it very clear yesterday when he came looking for me.
I was sitting in my cubicle, looking at a murder report of a woman who had been killed by a neighbour.
Even though I started as a foot soldier, I had since made my way to the investigation unit of the City Watch; my job involved gathering Intel, piecing together clues and finding out the real culprit.
To put it bluntly, I am a detective, even though that post does not exist, but it pays well.
I was tired of reading the case files, so I stood up and left the office to go to the roof to clear my mind.
There I was, looking over the edge at the city before me. I could see the smoke rising in the distance at the industrial area situated along the rift; the smoke shielded the city of New Plied from me.
Footsteps approached from behind, they were loud and heavy, I didn't need to look back to know who it was.
It was Chief Yamla. A man who was about three inches shorter than me, who used to be a warrior in his youth but had started to age at last after entering his mid-fifties. A proud moustache adorned his face as he kept the shoulder-length hair tied back in a bun.
Dressed in the City Watch's uniform, he approached my side and leaned on the railing before speaking.
"Long live the King."
"Long live the Kingdom."
This was one of the phrases that the honest members of the City Watch used to greet each other.
It was meant to remind us what we are here for.
"Jacob, have you heard the rumours about the Hero coming to the city?"
"I didn't need to hear it; I saw him with my own two eyes this morning. Apparently, he and the Princess put a stop to the Count's commission."
Sigh
Now that was a sound I had never heard from the Chief's mouth, so I had to look over to see if it was true, and indeed it was.
"I have word from Commander Opus that the Crackdown of Plied will begin tomorrow. Word has been received from the Duke; the Band's presence has acted as a catalyst, which has moved up our plans. The higher-ups believe, if things are allowed to pass, Raghav might just end up taking down the underworld by himself."
For so long, I had been dreading this day. Ever since I had been accepted by Chief Yamla into his inner circle. I knew that the Duke had plans to eradicate the world of organised crime from the kingdom. It was only a matter of finding the perfect opportunity.
"If you wish to stay back home with your family, we will understand. There is a lot that you could lose."
Was he for real? I could tell he meant those words as he looked at me with sympathetic eyes.
I turned towards him, standing tall and looking him in the eyes, even though I did not feel like it in the slightest, I forced a smile on my face.
"Chief Yamla, if I were to do that, then what would happen to the Oath we all took?"
The sympathetic eyes shifted into a proud look as he also stood tall, inhaling to puff up his chest. "I am proud of you, Beta! I know for sure that one day you will achieve something great."
Surprisingly, ever since I came here, everyone I met and got close to treated me as family. To the elderly, I was a Beta, to people my age, I was a Bhai, and to children, I was a Bhaiya (older brother).
Which was why today I had to give my all for all those who have called me even one of those things.
So I sat on a stool wearing my shoes nearby the door, when Leanor came from behind, grabbing my shoulder.
I melted at her warm touch, and it felt as if a burden was lifted from my shoulders. "Will you not see Nathan before you go?"
All I did was shake my head, and as I was about to turn around, she stopped me. "When we took our oaths at the temple, you promised that I would be your life and your half, and I took an oath that for me, you are Bhagwan, and I will devote myself to you. But you have also taken an Oath before that to serve this land and the people."
I would be lying if I said that this was not what I needed in this moment. The way she said it, it felt so easy, because she meant every word she said.
"We will be alright. The One is watching us, and he always protects those who walk the path of Dharm. He will keep our family safe, so be fearless."
"Thank you, Priye."
I held her hands and stood up as she finally let me turn around. I got to look at her and smiled for real this time, and channelled my best Arnold.
"I'll be back!"
Those were the words with which I left my home, and now that I was in the streets, I thought of a million different things that were a lot better to say in that moment.
"Jacob!"
I was jolted out of my thoughts by Chief Yamla as I turned to him.
"Yes, Chief!"
"Who is the closest officer to this location?"
Heeding his question, I looked down at the file in my hand and pointed west.
"Two streets to the west, in building number nine seven three six. It is the residence for both Officer Kal and Officer Mani."
Chief Yamla turned towards the others and spoke in a raised voice. "You heard him, nab those two."
The officers nodded and moved forward after throwing a person in a locked carriage.
Right now, the honest members of the City Watch are out to catch our own rotten brothers before we move onto the city.
Walking behind the rest of the soldiers, I sighed, knowing that going forward, it would only get tougher.
But that did not scare me anymore.