2023, a year that'll stand out in City Kolkata's history as the year in which the previous Mafia boss of Kolkata, Mr. Abhishek Pal aka Kalo Noyon(Black Eyes), was killed in an ambush by 280 police.
Everyone in Kolkata thought that the ruthless mafia boss's tyranny was over, but who knew that a young boy just turned 18 would soon become Kolkata's next Mafia Boss?
20th October 2023, It was the auspicious day of Maha Shashti when the spirited city of Kolkata immersed itself in the exuberant celebrations of Durga Puja that year
(One of the most popular festivals for Bengali people)
2:39 PM: In the depths of a desolate alley, tucked away in the rural outskirts of the city a young 18-year-old boy found himself confronted by a menacing group of eight thugs, their sinister intentions fixated on his very existence
"Say, boy, where's our money?"
With a demanding tone, the leader of the thugs inquired, casting his gaze upon the miserable and battered 18-year-old boy
"I-I don't have it yet, g-give me a few more days."
With a forceful kick to the boy's gut, the thug leader elicits a spurt of blood, causing the boy to wince in pain. However, resolute and determined, the boy stands firm, refusing to succumb to the ground beneath him
"D-dada I really don't h-have it, just a few more days."
(Dada is basically what you call older brother in Bengali or someone who's the same age as you but you call him brother with respect)
The thug leader grunts
"Do I come across as some sort of insensitive person to you? It seems you've been avoiding us for the past three months and disregarding our phone calls."
"Maa's health condition is very bad dada, the money I was supposed to give you has been used up for her treatment, please try to understand!"
The thug leader laughs at the boy's words
"That old hag? It was my boys who broke her leg and also gave her death threats"
The 18 year old boy looks extremely shocked
"...W-why?"
The thug leader smirks
"Why do you ask why? Let me enlighten you. By accepting this, you'll find yourself eternally indebted to us, trapped in a cycle where your dues can never be repaid, and the interest will continue to escalate. Failure to pay both your mother's hospital fees and our mounting interest..."
The #2 goon speaks up before the thug leader finishes his sentence
"When you reach the brink, it will be our boss's hand, or perhaps ours, that will seal her fate. You will remain forever ensnared in this debt, never able to escape its clutches"
The 18 year old boy was completely silent after this reveal but finally he looked up to the thugs
"Ravi, you've made a brutal mistake"
The 18 year old boy picks up a nearby metal pipe from the ground and he points the pipe at the Thug leader and his goons
"None of you will leave this place alive"
The thug leader and his goons laugh at the boy's words
"Oh really?"
The thug leader smirks as he looks at his goons from the corner of his eyes
"Break his leg"
The goons nod and everyone charges at the 18 year old boy with a metal stick and hockey stick
With a firm grip on the metal pipe, the boy charges towards the goons, his mind consumed by a void of thought. With an unyielding force, he brings the pipe down upon a thug's head, shattering bone and extinguishing life in an instant. The thug's skull splits open, releasing a torrent of blood that stains the metal pipe clenched tightly in the boy's hand. The gruesome spectacle leaves all witnesses frozen in stunned silence, their senses overwhelmed by the grisly scene unfolding before them
The thug leader speaks first
"M-murder? Oye Raktim, Bikram, is Priyam dead?"
One goon replies
"B-boss Priyam is dead"
The thug leader's eyes widen as he looks at the 18 year old boy
"ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE? YOU KILLED HIM?"
The 18 year old boy was standing with the metal pipe in his hand
"...one dead... 8 more to go..."
The boy charges again, delivering two brutal swings that kill two more of the thug leader's goons, while the other goons are left traumatized by what they witness.
"KILL HIM YOU IDIOTS OR WE'LL ALL DIE HERE"
The thug leader screams in anger and fear as he decides to join the fight himself
"Useless idiots, let me handle this"
The thug leader, wielding a metal stick in his hand, runs towards the boy, but is suddenly confronted by him.
"You were the one who broke my mother's leg, correct? Well, the time has come for me to seek retribution."
The boy slams the metal pipe onto the thug leader's leg, causing him to fall to the ground in pain and clutch his injured leg, as the pipe breaks his leg.
"AHHHHHHHHH"
The thug leader screams in pain as his leg gets broken
"KILL HIM! WHAT'RE YOU GUYS WAITING FOR? MY DEATH?"
The remaining six goons look hesitantly at the 18-year-old boy, but they charge towards him with their weapons. In an instant, the boy charges back at them with astonishing speed, swiftly killing all six goons in less than two minutes using a metal pipe. He then turns his attention to the thug leader lying on the ground.
"Any last words?"
The Thug leader is speechless with what he just witnessed as he slowly looks at the boy
"y-y-ou killed e-everyone...you m-monster"
The 18 year old boy looks at the thug leader with cold eyes
"Ravi, what will you do about it? I trusted you. I've been working overtime at three different shops every day to repay your money. Yet, you broke my mother's leg and traumatized her with threats of killing me. How could you keep telling a widow that you'll kill her only son and destroy our home?"
The thug boss looks at the boy with fear and shame
"H-hey hey you d-don't need to repay me anymore, l-l-let's forget a-about whatever happened here today and in the past, from now on we d-d-don't know each other a-and I-I promise t-to pay y-your moth..."
Before the thug leader can finish his words, the 18-year-old boy smashes the metal pipe onto his head, causing it to split into pieces and resulting in the thug leader's immediate death.
"don't bring my mother's name in your mouth you foul animal"
The boy says coldly to the corpse of the thug leader as all of a sudden he hears a clapping noise from behind
"Beautiful, that was impressive kiddo"
The boy immediately looks back at a guy who was leaning on the wall and clapping his hands while looking at the boy with a smile
"w-who're you? are you with them as well?"
The mysterious man chuckle
"Me? with those pathetic fuckers? Oh hell no"
"oh..."
the boy looks at the mysterious man with suspicion
"W-who're you then? are you here to arrest me?"
The mysterious guy shakes his head as he walks to the boy
"Listen, kid, as I was passing by here, I witnessed you mercilessly killing those goons earlier, and I must say, I'm impressed. Many kids your age tremble at the thought of a fight, but you fearlessly took them all down without hesitation."
The 18 year old boy looks away
"M-my mind went blank after the thug leader said something about my mother"
The man puts his hand on the boy's shoulder
"I've heard everything, kid. There's no need for further explanation. Now that these guys are dead, the police will likely be swarming the area by tomorrow morning or even in a few hours. And with today being Maha Shashti, people will be out in large numbers pandal hopping."
("Pandal hopping" is a popular term used in the context of Durga Puja celebrations, particularly in West Bengal, India. During Durga Puja, elaborate and artistically decorated temporary structures called "pandals" are set up in various locations. Pandal hopping refers to the act of visiting multiple pandals, usually in different neighborhoods or areas, to appreciate their unique themes, decorations, and idol installations.
People engage in pandal hopping to experience the vibrant atmosphere, witness the creativity of the pandal artists, and pay homage to the goddess Durga. It involves moving from one pandal to another, exploring the different artistic styles, enjoying the cultural performances, and immersing oneself in the festivities. Pandal hopping has become a significant part of Durga Puja celebrations, attracting large crowds who enthusiastically participate in this tradition.)
The boy looks at the man
"So I'm going to jail?"
The man chuckles
"Kid, you've got some real talent in killing. I can offer you something that might help you stay out of jail if you're interested."
The boy looks at the man with curiosity
"Really?"
The man nods with a smile
"Kid, there's a world beyond the shadows where safety awaits. Step into the darkness, and we shall be your guardians, shielding you from the storms that rage outside."
The boy looks shocked
"w-w-wait what? That went above my head"
The man laughs
"Join the Mafia and work for us kid and we'll protect you"
The boy continues to gaze at him, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion
"Until today, the existence of the Mafia was nothing more than a tale to me."
The man chuckle
"Our existence remains shrouded in secrecy, known to only a select few"
The boy seems to believe a little of his words
"I-I see... so what's the catch?"
The man smirks
"Is it true that your mother is in the hospital? And do you require additional funds for her treatment?"
The boy looks down
"yeah..."
The man nods a silent command that sets the gears in motion. In a matter of minutes, his trusted enforcers materialize, discreetly emerging from the shadows to swiftly remove the lifeless bodies from the forsaken alleyway
The boy gazes at the man and his formidable enforcers, a mixture of awe and trepidation flickering in his eyes
"Are they your men kaka?"
(In Bengali, 'kaka' is the term used for an uncle who is younger than your father in age)
The man nods and turns his gaze back to the boy, extending his hand for a handshake
"so do we have a deal?"
With unwavering resolve, the boy swiftly nods his head, his eyes betraying no hint of fear, as he firmly clasps the man's hand in a handshake that speaks of loyalty in the shadows of the underworld
"In the depths of night, where shadows dance and whispers echo, I stand as Akash, a servant to your clandestine desires, ready to execute your bidding in the clandestine realm"
The man smirks
"You catch on quickly, kid"
the man remarks, a glimmer of appreciation hidden within his words
Kolkata Chronicles - The Rise of the Underworld... just the beginning of a gripping saga that will plunge you into the depths of darkness