Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, known as the city that never sleeps. It's a perfect blend of culture, customs, and lifestyles. People from all over India come to this city with many dreams, which is why Mumbai is also known as the City of Dreams.
Over the years, the city has attracted many prominent figures who have made it their home. Versova, a high-profile area of Mumbai, is where sitcom stars, various celebrities, and big company owners live. For the citizens, it was just another normal day. But for some, it was the end. Night had fallen, and darkness covered the whole city, yet it remained awake. Some people were working, others were resting after a long day, and many were enjoying the nightlife. Little did they know that something terrible was unfolding in a grand mansion in Persona.
Outside, it was quiet, but inside that mansion, the residents felt as if they were in a nightmare. A couple was tied to their bed with metal chains, their mouths sealed with tape. A dim light flickered in the room, where a man sat in front of them, cigarette smoke swirling around him. Even in his forties, he looked good, sporting a full beard and dressed in a black suit, though it was covered in blood. After a moment of silence, he sighed and muttered softly.
"If you had left us alone, this time wouldn't have come. I left you alone even when you betrayed my parents. My father was your brother, and you killed him for the wealth of the company. You should not have targeted my sister…"
The couple muffled their protests, the man glaring at his captor. He wanted to talk, but his mouth was sealed. The woman was too distraught to speak, tears streaming down her face. The man struggled to free himself, but it was futile. The captor stood up and pulled a chair beside the bed, freeing the man's mouth just as he began to scream in rage.
"I will kill you, Arjun! I will destroy you and your precious company. You better free me, or the person behind me will make things difficult for you. He will kill you and your sister—"
Arjun's irritation flared, especially when the man mentioned his sister. In a swift motion, he pulled out the man's tongue and placed a knife on it.
"You'd better be quiet, or else…"
The man went silent, fear evident in his eyes. He realized that if he uttered a single word, this maniac would really cut off his tongue.
"Do you think you're the first to threaten me? No. I've climbed over the corpses of my enemies. I knew that you are just dog of big prey. I wanted to hunt that man, I was waiting for him to fall into my trap."
The man, still incredulous, now felt a sinking dread. Just moments before, he had been confident that Arjun wouldn't dare kill him out of fear of retaliation. But when Arjun muttered a name, the couple's horror deepened.
"Rajshekhar Gujjar, right? I know who's pulling strings from behind your back. I've already disposed of him and his gang. There are remnants and supporters in the government, but I've already put a price on their heads in the underworld. In ten days, there will be no one left to threaten my sister or my company."
Despair washed over the man as he absorbed the news of his backing's demise. He had thought himself untouchable with that support.
"The news of their massacre will be on TV tomorrow… but you won't be there to see it."
"Please don't k-kill me… He did it! I didn't kill your father. He was my brother; why would I do it? Please! I am your uncle; you can't kill me…"
Arjun smirked, his expression cold. "Apart from my family, I've never cared for anyone else, and I never considered you family."
"F**k! I got injured by some bastard in that massacre. I have very little time left, so… See you in hell, my dear uncle."
Arjun stood to leave, turning back as he said, "Oh! And don't worry, your son is also on the hit list."
"No… No! You can't do this! He is innocent; he wasn't involved in any of this! At least leave him alone!"
The man shook his head, screaming hysterically as he begged for his son's life.
"He's not innocent. I know he destroyed the lives of many people. And I can't leave any threat to my sister… So, bye-bye."
Arjun threw the remnants of his cigarette on the floor as he exited, the door covered in petrol. The air was thick with its smell. In an instant, the whole bedroom ignited in flames. As he reached the gate, Arjun looked back with a smile mixed with satisfaction and sorrow, watching as the mansion burned in a raging inferno. He drove away just as an explosion erupted from the kitchen, a gas cylinder blowing up. The neighborhood awoke, trying to put out the fire, but it was too late.
An hour later, Arjun stopped outside the city to smoke as rain began to fall. He was in a dilemma about the future. He had planned to hunt his uncle, separating himself from the company and his sister two years ago. But he feared that if his crimes came to light, his sister and the company would be implicated.
"… well, Dad, I finished what Uncle started, but… why do I feel empty? Ha ha ha *hiss*"
Arjun muttered, gazing up at the sky as thunder cracked around him. He stepped out of the car and lit another cigarette. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning, thick as an arm, struck him. In an instant, the surroundings brightened, and when the light faded, there was no one there. It was as if the lightning had reduced Arjun to ashes.
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"Huh! Where am I? Wasn't I dead? I thought I'd be sent to hell… if it really existed."
"Hmm… But how did I get here?"
Arjun looked around, bewildered. He found himself in a white room, vast and empty, with no doors or windows—just endless whiteness. He was floating in the air, weightless and untethered. Looking down at his hands, he saw that they were translucent, glowing faintly in the dim light. His entire body had taken on this strange, ethereal quality, and he felt a mix of confusion and wonder.
As he floated there, memories flooded back to him—the life he had lived, the choices he had made, and the dark path he had chosen. Arjun's father, Rajat Ray, had been the owner of a large pharmaceutical company. His uncle who was shareholder of company, driven by more greed and jealousy, had plotted to take everything away from his own brother. In a cruel twist of fate, Rajat and his wife had died in a staged accident, leaving both of their children alone to face the world.
*To be continued.*