Wednesday, 20th August, 2003

03:00 AM

City Hospital, Mumbai (Maharashtra)

The night was stormy, with lightning flashing across a sky marked by a crimson moon. The red-tinted orb hung ominously, casting a chilling glow over the hospital, as if nature itself had conspired to mark this event. This was no ordinary night—it was the beginning of something dark, the origin of a deadly chain of events. Inside the hospital, the wails of newborns filled the maternity ward. But just as life was being celebrated, an ear-splitting explosion ripped through the building. Windows shattered, walls crumbled, and fire spread like a ferocious beast devouring everything in its path. Alarms shrieked, and the cries of patients and hospital staff echoed through the chaos. The smell of smoke, blood, and panic filled the air as flames consumed everything they touched.

Outside, the fire brigade and Rescue Force swarmed to control the blaze and save lives. Inspector Jagannath Saxena, the officer in charge, immediately took charge. A seasoned and fearless officer, he dived into the inferno with a relentless resolve, determined to save as many people as possible.

Amid the chaos, a nurse with a determined but mysterious aura darted through the ward. She had an air of both fear and fierce commitment as she clutched two newborns in her arms, trying to get them to safety. Her gaze shifted back and forth, searching for an exit. But her heart dropped when she encountered two dark figures blocking her path. By their appearance anyone could guess that they were 'Assassins'!

The assassins were clad in pitch-black garments that absorbed the flickering light, their faces obscured by hoods, their hands holding Eastern-style projectiles: shuriken and kunai, sharpened and deadly. Their presence was an anomaly, chillingly calm amidst the chaos. Their mission was clear—they were there, for the babies.

"Hand them over," one assassin commanded in a voice as cold as steel. The nurse's breath quickened. Instead of surrendering, she clutched the children tighter and broke into a desperate sprint. But the assassins pursued her relentlessly. A shuriken flew through the air, and she felt a sharp, searing pain in her left arm as it was sliced off, causing her to drop the child in that arm. She screamed in agony, the child's cry silenced under the crushing heel of the assassin who ruthlessly stomped on the fallen newborn, killing it instantly. Blood spattered across the floor.

"Please, no!" the nurse cried, her face pale with horror and grief. The other assassin grabbed debris from the crumbling walls and hurled them at the remaining babies. She watched, helpless and terrified, as each child met a gruesome fate, her cries drowned by the roaring flames and the cacophony of chaos around her.

With what strength she had left, she held the remaining baby close and ran, her body battered and bleeding, but her resolve unbroken. Another shuriken struck her back, and she nearly collapsed, her knees buckling as she stumbled forward. But she pressed on, clutching the child close, determined to save it even at the cost of her life.

Just as the assassins closed in for the kill, a voice cut through the air.

"Not another step!"

Inspector Jagannath Saxena stormed into the hall, gun raised, his stance that of a warrior. His presence was commanding, his face set in a hard line, determined to protect and serve even in the face of these formidable foes. Without hesitation, he aimed and fired, his bullets tearing through the space between him and the assassins. One assassin was hit squarely on the head and dropped instantly. But the other dodged with an agility that defied belief, sidestepping the bullet before launching himself at Jagannath. Their movements were swift and brutal, exchanging punches and kicks that echoed through the burning corridor. Jagannath was strong, his experience and training evident in every move, but this assassin was something else. His blows were sharp and precise, each strike aimed with lethal intent. The assassin wielded his kunai with a deadly expertise, narrowly missing Jagannath's throat as the officer dodged, countering with a headbutt that sent his opponent reeling.

"Nurse! Run!" Jagannath yelled, his voice hoarse but unwavering. The nurse, her breath ragged, forced herself up, pain coursing through her body with every step as she stumbled towards a back exit. Outside, smoke billowed and flames leapt from the windows, illuminating the scene with an eerie glow. She glanced back one last time, tears streaming down her face as she caught sight of Jagannath locked in combat, his determination unyielding.

The nurse staggered through a narrow alley, her vision blurring as blood loss took its toll. Her mind raced, desperate to ensure the child's safety. She caught sight of a stray puppy and, with trembling hands, swapped the baby for the small creature, wrapping it in cloth. She whispered a quiet apology to the sleeping girl in the alley, leaving the baby with her and the puppy in her arms.

Back in the hospital, Jagannath fought valiantly, but he was tiring. The assassin was relentless, landing a powerful kick that sent Jagannath's gun skidding across the floor. The assassin seized the weapon, his dark eyes gleaming with triumph as he leveled it at the officer's chest. Two shots rang out, and Jagannath staggered, blood staining his uniform as he collapsed to the ground. But even in his weakened state, he reached out, gripping the assassin's leg in one final act of defiance. The assassin sneered, yanking his leg free.

"This is what happens to those who cross the path of the 'Truth of Devotion.'"

With that, he vanished into the smoke, leaving Jagannath lying on the ground, his vision fading as darkness closed in.

Outside, the nurse stumbled toward the railway tracks, still clutching the puppy, unaware that the assassins were no longer pursuing her. She felt a flicker of relief, thinking she had escaped, when another shuriken sliced through the air, embedding itself in her leg. She collapsed, her scream of pain lost amidst the distant sound of an approaching train.

Crawling in desperation, she tried to drag herself and the animal to safety, her strength waning with every moment. The train horn blared louder, closer, and she looked up in horror as the massive engine bore down on her.

In a final act of defiance, she threw the puppy from her arms just as the train struck, her body shattering under the impact, blood splattering across the tracks in a gruesome testament to her sacrifice.