Rishi Saxena was visibly distressed, pacing back and forth in his private office. His mind was racing, struggling to figure out how to handle the current situation. He had always managed to take care of every problem that came his way, whether it was forcing powerful men to bow before him or securing political victories for his allies in the region. Rishi Saxena had built an empire with his cunning, force, and sheer will. But today, an insignificant boy had driven him to the edge, pushing his patience to its limit.
What infuriated him the most was that he hadn't even been able to capture the boy yet. Rishi knew full well that if he couldn't get this situation under control soon, it wouldn't take long for his entire gang to lose their grip on this part of Pune. His reign of terror, his status as the untouchable don of the area, would crumble in a matter of days. And with that, his carefully built empire would disintegrate. Respect, fear, and control—all would vanish if he couldn't deal with this boy, Ranveer.
Rishi Saxena's problem wasn't just about power anymore. It had become a matter of pride, a battle for his very existence in the underworld. If he managed to put an end to this conflict on his terms, his dominance in the region would reach new heights. But there was a catch—a dangerous one. If he had to use all his resources to crush a mere orphan boy, it wouldn't be seen as a great victory. It would, in fact, be an embarrassment.
Rishi knew this well. Ranveer was just an orphan with no influential family or connections. What would it say about Rishi Saxena, the feared don, if he had to deploy his full force against a kid? People would laugh at him. His enemies would lose their fear, and even his own men might begin to question his authority. The impact would ripple through the underworld, with rivals sensing weakness. The very foundation of his empire would be shaken, and if that happened, it wouldn't be long before the underworld threw him out. This was a scenario Rishi couldn't afford to let happen.
As he thought about his options, a solution slowly started to form in his mind. He decided that this time he would go all out—but from behind the scenes. He couldn't afford to confront the boy personally because that would only make him look weaker. However, if he sent his men to finish the job and they failed, it would send a message that he wasn't strong enough to handle his enemies himself. This was a delicate situation that required careful maneuvering.
And then, in the midst of his thoughts, his phone rang. He ignored it the first time, too deep in his contemplation to care. But when it rang again, insistently, he grew agitated. Frustration boiled over, and he nearly threw the phone across the room. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the name on the caller ID. His heart skipped a beat when he saw who was calling.
Without a moment's hesitation, Rishi answered the call, his voice suddenly calm and respectful. "Yes, Khan Bhai, what can I do for you? What has made you remember your humble servant?"
On the other end of the line was Wahab Khan, a figure whose very name sent shivers down the spines of most men in Rishi's world. He was one of the most feared figures in the underworld, and someone even Rishi Saxena would never dare to cross. Wahab Khan's voice, cold and authoritative, came through the receiver.
"Saxena, why didn't you pick up my call the first time? You know very well that I don't call anyone twice. Are you trying to insult me?"
Rishi's heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat formed on his brow. He stammered as he replied, "No, boss, I would never dare insult you. I have no excuse for my mistake, but I was handling a situation that required my full attention. I thought the call was from someone else, related to this problem. I deeply apologize for not answering immediately. I hope you can forgive your humble servant for this oversight."
Wahab Khan's silence on the other end made Rishi's stomach churn with anxiety. After a few tense moments, Wahab finally spoke again, his voice still laced with menace.
"Very well, you've admitted your mistake. But tell me, what is this situation that's causing you so much trouble that you ignore my call? If your excuse is good enough, I might forgive you. Otherwise, it won't take me a minute to destroy everything you've built."
Rishi took a deep breath, relieved that Wahab Khan was at least willing to listen. He knew that lying to Wahab would be suicidal; the man had ways of uncovering the truth, and if Rishi even tried to spin the story, he would likely end up dead. So, he decided to be completely honest.
"Boss, as you know, I have a son—Aryan. He's in his final year of school, 12th standard. He has a habit of causing some trouble with his classmates, nothing too serious—just some harmless bullying. But recently, one of the boys, a kid named Ranveer, fought back. He humiliated Aryan in front of the whole school. I've sent my men after him several times, but this boy... he's slippery. He's managed to escape every time. It's been five or six days now, and I still haven't been able to catch him."
Rishi paused, feeling the weight of Wahab Khan's silent judgment over the phone. Then he continued, his voice tinged with desperation. "Boss, I'm starting to wonder if I even deserve to be the don of this area anymore. If I can't deal with a single orphan boy, maybe I'm not fit to lead."
There was a long silence on the other end before Wahab Khan's deep, commanding voice cut through it. "Saxena, have you lost your mind? This is a boy we're talking about! You should have had him in your grasp by now. If word gets out that you can't handle something like this, your power, your reputation, will be in tatters. You know what that means, don't you?"
Rishi gulped, knowing full well what Wahab Khan meant. His empire would collapse, and Wahab Khan would have no reason to keep him around as a representative in Pune. Rishi quickly spoke up, trying to assure his mentor. "You're right, boss. I won't let this slip any further. I'll send everything I've got after this boy. He won't be able to hide from me any longer."
Wahab Khan's tone softened slightly, but the threat remained. "Good. Do whatever it takes. Use every resource at your disposal. I want to hear that this boy has been dealt with by the end of the day. Don't fail me again, Saxena."
Rishi nodded, though Wahab couldn't see him. "Understood,boss. I'll take care of it."
As the call ended, Rishi Saxena let out a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. He had narrowly avoided disaster, but the pressure was now greater than ever. There was no room for failure.
Determined, Rishi reached for his phone again, this time calling his most trusted lieutenants. It was time to escalate. "Get everyone ready," he barked into the phone. "I don't care what it takes—Ranveer must be caught today. I'm sending out the heavy artillery. Do you understand?"
His men responded immediately, sensing the urgency in his voice. Rishi Saxena was ready to unleash the full force of his empire. Little did he know, however, that Ranveer had prepared for this moment, and the battle ahead was not going to be as simple as he thought.
Dear Readers,
I want to take a moment to sincerely apologize if you find any mistakes or inconsistencies in this chapter. At the time of writing, I was feeling quite tired, but I didn't want to keep you waiting. Despite my best efforts, there may be some errors that slipped through, and for that, I apologize.
I truly appreciate your patience and understanding, and I will work hard to ensure that future chapters are of the highest quality. Thank you for your continued support.
With gratitude,
[Sandeep Kumar]