Hello, lovely readers!
Thank you so much for being here and giving your time to this story ❣️
Here comes Chapter 2—
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the next step of our journey!
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The night air in Kumbhalgarh, nestled deep within the rugged folds of the Aravalli Hills, was sharp and heavy. The towering walls of the ancient fort loomed in silence, whispering old tales of betrayal and blood. Time had carved scars into the stone, but tonight, newer ones were being etched—ones soaked not in history but in danger.
A black SUV rolled to a quiet stop along the dirt track that snaked past the outer edge of the fort. The headlights dimmed. From its shadowed belly stepped Riyansh Malhotra, dressed in black tactical gear, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The moon above offered barely any light, its pale face hidden behind thick, moving clouds.
This was supposed to be a straightforward deal—an intel exchange with a known smuggler who’d proven reliable before. A 24-hour mission, in and out. Nothing too loud. That’s what Riyansh had told Veeransh and Ankush when they last spoke.
But as he crouched behind a broken pillar, pistol cocked and nerves taut, he knew something was wrong.
The silence felt... off. Too perfect. His instincts, sharpened by years of navigating shadows, whispered a warning.
He turned slightly. “Positions. Keep eyes wide. Something’s not right,” he murmured into the comms.
His men adjusted, fanning out silently.
Then it hit.
Gunfire cracked through the stillness.
Bullets flew from hidden corners, cutting through the darkness. Riyansh rolled behind a stone wall, breathing steady, mind razor-sharp. Dust and brick shards exploded around him as the old wall took the impact. The smugglers were gone—vanished into the chaos, likely part of the setup.
A sudden sharp pain lit up his left arm.
He bit down on a groan. Blood leaked through his sleeve, warm and insistent. But there was no time. He returned fire, precise and unshaken.
His men—trained, loyal, brutal—responded quickly, pushing the ambushers back. But it was clear: this wasn’t just a bad deal.
This was an ambush. A message.
Minutes later, with three men down and two injured, Riyansh led the retreat. The SUV peeled away into the winding roads of the hills, taillights disappearing into darkness.
---
Hours passed.
The safehouse on the edge of the forest was cold, abandoned long ago by the world but recently revived by Riyansh’s team. Dust still clung to the corners, but weapons lined the table, and satellite equipment buzzed quietly.
Riyansh sat on a worn leather chair, shirtless, a fresh bandage wrapped around his arm. His jaw was tight.
He poured himself a drink, the amber liquid burning its way down.
His phone lay face down on the table, waiting.
He didn’t like needing help.
But tonight, he needed his brothers.
Not by blood, but by choice.
He picked up the phone.
First call—Veeransh Rathore.
The line rang. Once. Twice.
A calm, deep voice answered. “Didn’t expect your call this early.”
“Trust me, neither did I.”
“Where are you?”
“Kumbhalgarh. The deal was a setup. We were ambushed.”
A pause.
“Are you hurt?” Veeransh asked.
“Just a scratch.”
“Riyansh.”
“It’s fine. I’m alive.”
Silence again.
“I didn’t call just to update you. I heard something before I escaped. A plan, It involved Udaipur.”
“Udaipur?”
“Yeah. I don’t know the details, but it wasn’t random.”
“You think this is bigger?”
“I know it is.”
“What’s the move?”
“I’m shifting base to Udaipur tonight. I need you both there.”
“Done. I’ll leave within the hour.”
“Veer... they want a war.”
“Then we give them one.”
With a hint of amusement in his voice, Riyansh murmured, “Don’t keep me waiting, brother.”
Riyansh ended the call, leaning back. The ache in his arm pulsed with every heartbeat, but it was the threat echoing in his mind that truly burned.
He dialed the second number.
A cheerful voice answered. “Riyansh? Wow, you actually remembered I exist.”
“Ankush.”
“You sound like death. What’s going on?”
“Setup. Ambush. Gunfire. Wound.”
“I’m alive, but it’s not good. This wasn’t random.”
“Where are you now?”
“Kumbhalgarh, but moving to Udaipur. I need you there. I need both of you.”
“Okay... what are we dealing with?”
“I don’t know yet. But before escaping, I heard plans that mention Udaipur. They were talking like something big is coming.”
Ankush paused.
“Alright. I’ll be on the next flight. Where’s Veer?”
“Leaving from Naples. Two days.”
“I’ll be there before him. Don’t bleed out till then.”
“No promises.”
---
That night, Riyansh and his team left Kumbhalgarh.
The SUV cut through empty roads, headlights slicing the darkness. Storm clouds gathered above, rolling across the sky like a warning.
He sat quietly in the back seat, his arm stiff and sore. His phone rested beside him, screen dark.
Every mile brought him closer to Udaipur.
Closer to answers.
Closer to war.
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Naples, Italy
A black motorcycle raced along the cobbled streets, wet from early rain. The rider, precise and aggressive, cut through traffic with unnerving calm. He stopped in front of a luxurious hotel, helmet coming off to reveal the sharp, cold gaze of Veeransh Rathore.
He walked into the underground garage. His men stood to attention.
“Cancel everything. I’m flying to India. One hour.”
“Sir, the meeting with—”
“Cancel. Now.”
His suite was pristine. But behind a hidden panel, a steel case held the tools of his old life: weapons, documents, disguises.
His fingers traced the edge of a gun for a moment before picking it up.
“Time to return,” he murmured, eyes cold.
He chose only what was necessary.
---
Dubai – Same Time
On the rooftop of a skyscraper, Ankush Singhania stood against the wind, looking down at the sparkling city. His phone buzzed.
“The jet’s ready. You’ll land in Udaipur by tomorrow night.”
“Good.”
He ended the call, sighing quietly.
He wasn’t the serious one. That was Veer. Riyansh was the ruthless one. Ankush was... the unpredictable one.
But when it came to family—he was always first in.
He lit a cigarette, took one drag, then flicked it into the wind.
“Back to India,” he whispered.
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Udaipur – 12 Hours Later
The haveli near Lake Pichola was once a royal residence. Now, with layers of dust and boarded windows, it served a different purpose.
Riyansh sat inside, watching the lake shimmer in the distance. The painkillers dulled his arm, but his mind stayed alert.
His men moved quietly around him. Equipment was being set up. Maps were being studied.
He looked out the cracked window.
Soon, Veeranshu and Ankush would arrive.
And once they did—
They three wouldn’t stop until they uncovered who dared target them.
Because this wasn’t over.
This was just the beginning, but beginning of what? A war? A story? Or was it the past coming back?
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