It began like a dream—a memory from another life. The sunlit steps of the Calcutta Museum. His cousin Hridoy calling him out to hang after a gig. A lazy Saturday evening.
Rahul remembered walking through the museum's cool gallery halls.
And then—an explosion of light. A soundless bang. A moment of disorientation.
He blinked. Back in the present.
His eyes opened slowly. The jungle canopy above. A deep ache pulsed through his ribs. His body lay wrapped in torn strips of saree—Revati's saree.
She had bandaged him while he was unconscious.
Revati stood over him, her hands bruised, arms trembling, eyes pleading.
"I know it's tough for you," she whispered, "but there's no time. The landlord's men are here. They're back... for revenge."
Rahul's mind sharpened in an instant.
"What's the situation outside?" he asked.
She hesitated like a scolded child. "I killed one. Maybe injured a few more... I don't know. They're more in number this time. I—I ran out of ammo."
He checked his minimap. One grey marker. Seven hostiles closing in, their movement cautious, shaken by Revati's earlier ambush.
She looked at him, panic rising. "We need to run, now!"
Instead, Rahul walked toward her and pulled her into a tight hug. Her body pressed against his bare chest, and for a moment, the world outside didn't exist.
She hugged him back. Soft. Warm. Human.
But there wasn't time for tenderness.
He gently pulled away and cupped her face.
"There are seven out there. I'll finish them. And if there were seven hundred, I'd still fight them."
Revati's teary eyes widened, her lips trembling. She nodded.
His wounds, once raw, had closed completely. Dried blood flaked off his skin. Revati gasped. "Magic…" she whispered.
Rahul gave her a quick wink.
He stepped outside the hut, M24 stick grenade in one hand, Mk2 in the other.
The enemy didn't expect it.
The M24 landed first—caught by a curious guard. A second later, the Mk2 clinked at their feet.
Two consecutive booms.
The jungle shook.
One exploded in a man's face. The other burst near their legs. Blood sprayed. Limbs scattered. Metal armor bent inwards. Flesh turned to pulp.
Screams pierced the silence.
[➖Ping➖]
[Earned 980 exp + 251 soul points for killing lordship's guard]
[Earned 749 exp + 101 soul points for killing lordship's guard]
[Earned 394 exp + 490 soul points for killing lordship's guard]…
The bodies dropped. Six grey crosses.
Two men remained alive—one clutching a shattered arm, the other too dazed to stand. They dropped their weapons and groveled.
Rahul stood over them like a reaper made flesh.
"I warned Madan Mohan to stay away," he growled. "Now go. Carry these bodies back to your lord. Show him what I've done—and tell him what I can still do. Don't miss a word."
The terrified men nodded, too afraid to speak.
Rahul turned around, victorious.
And then—crackling. Orange. Smoke.
A tongue of fire raced up the side of the thatched hut. The grenade sparks had caught the straw roof. In the chaos, they had missed it.
Revati's home was on fire.
She stood in shock, eyes glassy, watching the roof collapse. Black smoke billowed into the sky.
A house is more than walls and timber. It's memories. It's years of laughter, love, and loss. It's where her late husband once lived. Where her life once felt whole.
Now—it was gone.
The fire hadn't just taken her shelter.
It had burned everything she couldn't replace.
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🔮 Coming Up Next – Chapter 9: Ashes to Brick – A Promise Rebuilt
The hut may be gone, but something stronger is rising from its ashes—a house, a bond, and perhaps a future worth fighting for. But can Rahul truly outrun the rumors and resentment his presence stirs up? And as feelings deepen, will restraint hold, or will something else ignite?
💬 If this journey's stirring your heart, consider voting, commenting, or bookmarking the story. Every bit of support keeps the fire alive!