The cold wind whipped through the streets of Minsk, carrying with it a biting chill that seeped into the bones. The city, with its stark Soviet architecture and sprawling avenues, seemed like an unlikely stage for the next chapter in the high-stakes game unfolding between Pathan and Tiger. But in the world of espionage, nothing was ever predictable.

Pathan stood on the rooftop of an old apartment building, his breath visible in the frigid air as he surveyed the city below. He could see his team positioned strategically around the target area, their presence hidden from view. They had been tracking Tiger for days, following a trail that had led them from the deserts of Dubai to the frozen streets of Belarus. But despite their best efforts, Tiger had always been one step ahead.

This time, however, Pathan hoped the odds were in their favor. The intelligence they had gathered indicated that Tiger was planning to assassinate Rubina Khan, a high-ranking ISI agent who was currently stationed in Minsk under diplomatic cover. It was a bold move, even for Tiger, and one that had the potential to ignite a firestorm between India and Pakistan.

Pathan knew that if they could stop Tiger here, they might finally be able to end his deadly campaign. But deep down, he also knew that confronting his old friend would be anything but easy. The history between them was a tangled web of loyalty, betrayal, and unresolved emotions.

As the minutes ticked by, Pathan's mind raced through the possibilities. He had trained for moments like this, where every decision could mean the difference between success and failure, life and death. But this mission was unlike any other he had faced. This mission was personal.

The trail had led them to Minsk through a combination of intercepted communications, satellite imagery, and old-fashioned detective work. Kabir, Pathan's tech expert, had been instrumental in piecing together the clues that pointed to Belarus as Tiger's next target.

"It wasn't easy, but we managed to trace some encrypted messages sent from Tiger's known associates," Kabir had explained during the briefing. "They were using a dark web network that's usually impenetrable, but I found a backdoor through an old connection we had in Eastern Europe. It seems like Tiger is coordinating with someone here in Minsk-most likely to take out Rubina Khan."

Leila, the infiltration specialist, had been skeptical at first. "Minsk? Why would Tiger come all the way out here? It's not exactly a hotspot for international intrigue."

Pathan had understood her hesitation. "That's precisely why it makes sense. It's off the radar, a place where he can operate without drawing too much attention. And Rubina Khan is a key player in ISI's operations. Taking her out would send a clear message."

The plan had been simple enough: locate Tiger, stop the assassination, and, if possible, capture him alive. But nothing about this mission had been simple, and Pathan knew better than to underestimate his old friend.

Now, as he waited on the rooftop, Pathan's senses were heightened, his instincts honed to a razor's edge. The streets below were quiet, with only the occasional passerby braving the cold. His earpiece crackled to life as Kabir checked in.

"Pathan, we've got eyes on Rubina's convoy. They're heading towards the embassy. ETA five minutes."

"Copy that," Pathan replied, his voice steady. "Keep me updated on any movement. We can't afford to let him slip through our fingers."

"Understood," Kabir responded. "But remember, Pathan-this isn't just about stopping Tiger. It's about protecting Rubina. We need to keep her alive."

Pathan knew the stakes all too well. Rubina Khan was more than just an ISI agent; she was a symbol of Pakistan's intelligence apparatus, a woman whose death would send shockwaves through the region. But for Pathan, this mission was about more than just geopolitics. It was about finally putting an end to the dangerous path that Tiger had chosen.

As Rubina's convoy approached the embassy, Pathan's mind worked furiously to anticipate Tiger's next move. His knowledge of Tiger's methods gave him a unique insight into how his old friend operated, but it also made him painfully aware of how dangerous Tiger could be.

"Kabir, do we have any indication of where Tiger might be positioned?" Pathan asked, scanning the rooftops and alleyways around the embassy.

"Negative," Kabir replied. "We've got all possible sniper positions covered, and there's no sign of him yet. But he's out there, Pathan-I can feel it."

Pathan's gut told him the same. Tiger was a master of misdirection, a man who could blend into his surroundings and strike without warning. If he was planning to take out Rubina, he wouldn't do it from a predictable location.

Leila's voice cut through the static. "Pathan, I've got a visual on a potential vantage point. Northwest corner, top floor of the hotel. It's got a clear line of sight to the embassy entrance."

Pathan's heart raced. "Move in, Leila. We need to secure that position."

"I'm on it," Leila responded, already in motion.

As Pathan watched the hotel from his position, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Tiger was too smart to be caught so easily. This had to be a trap-or a diversion.

"Pathan," Kabir's voice came through again, more urgent this time. "I've intercepted a new transmission. It's encrypted, but the metadata suggests it's coming from inside the embassy. Tiger might already be inside."

Pathan's blood ran cold. If Tiger was inside the embassy, Rubina's life was in immediate danger."Damn it," Pathan muttered, his mind racing. "Kabir, get me into the embassy's security feed. We need eyes inside."

"I'm on it," Kabir replied, the sound of rapid typing filling the earpiece.

As Pathan waited for the feed to come online, he considered his options. If Tiger was inside, they would need to move fast-but they also needed to be careful. A direct assault could lead to a shootout, putting Rubina's life at even greater risk.

"Pathan, I've got the feed," Kabir said, breaking through his thoughts. "There-second floor, west wing. That's him."

Pathan's eyes locked onto the screen in front of him. The grainy footage showed a figure moving through the embassy's corridors, his face obscured by a cap and scarf. But there was no mistaking the way he moved-the controlled, deliberate steps of a man on a mission.

"It's Tiger," Pathan confirmed, his voice hardening. "Leila, change of plans. We're going in."

Leila's acknowledgment was swift. "Understood. I'll be right behind you."

Pathan's adrenaline surged as he left his rooftop perch, descending the fire escape in record time. He knew that every second counted, that any delay could mean the difference between life and death for Rubina-and for Tiger.

As he approached the embassy, his mind was already strategizing, calculating the best way to confront Tiger without causing a bloodbath. He needed to get close, to talk to him, to make him see reason. But deep down, Pathan feared that Tiger was too far gone, that there was no turning back from the path he had chosen.

Inside the embassy, the tension was palpable. Pathan moved silently through the halls, his senses alert to every sound, every shadow. He could feel Tiger's presence, could sense the danger that lurked around every corner.

As he approached the west wing, Pathan's thoughts turned to the years they had spent together, the missions they had completed, the trust they had once shared. It was hard to reconcile those memories with the man Tiger had become-a man driven by vengeance, willing to kill without hesitation.

But Pathan had to believe that there was still a part of the old Tiger left, a part that could be reasoned with. He wasn't ready to give up on his friend-not yet.

"Leila, I'm in position," Pathan whispered into his earpiece. "Stay close, but don't engage unless I give the signal."

"Copy that," Leila replied, her voice steady.

Pathan moved cautiously, his weapon at the ready. He knew that Tiger would be expecting him, that this encounter had been inevitable from the moment Pathan had agreed to the mission. But he also knew that he had to approach this carefully-one wrong move could trigger a deadly confrontation.

As he rounded the corner, Pathan saw Tiger up ahead, standing in the doorway to Rubina's office. The sight of his old friend, so close and yet so distant, sent a wave of conflicting emotions through him. This was the man he had once trusted with his life, the man who had saved him more times than he could count. And now, he was the man he had been sent to stop.

"Tiger," Pathan called out softly, his voice carrying down the corridor.

Tiger froze, his hand on the doorknob. Slowly, he turned to face Pathan, his eyes hidden behind the brim of his cap. For a long moment, neither man spoke, the air between them thick with unspoken words.

"Pathan," Tiger finally said, his voice a mix of surprise and resignation. "I knew you'd come."

Pathan took a cautious step forward, his weapon lowered. "You didn't leave me much choice."

Tiger's lips curved into a bitter smile. "There's always a choice, my friend. You chose to follow orders. I chose to follow my conscience."

Pathan's heart ached at the coldness in Tiger's voice, the distance that had grown between them. "This isn't you, Tiger. This isn't who you are."

"Isn't it?" Tiger countered, his eyes narrowing. "You don't know me anymore, Pathan. The man you knew died a long time ago."

Pathan shook his head, refusing to believe it. "I don't accept that. You can still stop this, Tiger. We can find another way."

Tiger's expression hardened. "There is no other way. They took everything from me, and now I'm taking it back. By any means necessary."

Pathan felt a surge of desperation. "This isn't justice, Tiger-it's vengeance. And it's tearing you apart."

Tiger's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't talk to me about justice, Pathan. You have no idea what it's like to lose everything, to have your entire life ripped away from you."

Pathan's grip tightened on his weapon. "I do know. I was there, remember? I was with you when it happened. And I know that this isn't what your family would have wanted."

The mention of his family seemed to strike a nerve, and for a moment, Pathan thought he saw a flicker of doubt in Tiger's eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a steely resolve.

"They're gone," Tiger said, his voice hollow. "But I'm still here. And I won't stop until those responsible pay for what they did."

Pathan knew that he was running out of time. He could see the determination in Tiger's eyes, the unyielding drive that had pushed him to the brink. If he didn't act now, Rubina's life-and perhaps many others-would be lost.

"Tiger, please," Pathan pleaded, taking another step forward. "Don't do this. It's not too late to turn back."

Tiger's gaze softened, just for a moment. "I'm sorry, Pathan. But this is something I have to do."

Before Pathan could react, Tiger moved with the speed and precision of a trained operative, pulling out a flashbang grenade and tossing it down the corridor. Pathan barely had time to register the threat before the device exploded, filling the hallway with blinding light and deafening sound.

Instinctively, Pathan dropped to the ground, shielding his eyes and ears from the worst of the blast. But as the effects of the grenade faded, he realized that Tiger was gone.

"Damn it!" Pathan cursed, pushing himself to his feet.

Leila's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Pathan, what happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Pathan replied, frustration lacing his voice. "But Tiger got away. We need to find him before he can strike again."

Pathan moved quickly, scanning the area for any sign of Tiger. But the embassy was a maze of corridors and offices, and Tiger had the advantage of knowing the layout. As Pathan rounded a corner, he spotted a flash of movement up ahead-a shadow disappearing through a side door.

"Leila, Kabir, converge on my location," Pathan ordered, his pulse racing. "I've got a visual on Tiger. He's heading for the back exit."

"We're on our way," Leila responded, her voice tense.

Pathan sprinted down the hallway, determined not to let Tiger slip away again. The memories of their confrontation still echoed in his mind-the look in Tiger's eyes, the pain and anger that had driven him to this point. Pathan knew that if he didn't stop Tiger now, there might not be another chance.

As he burst through the side door, Pathan found himself in a narrow alleyway behind the embassy. The cold night air hit him like a wall, but he ignored it, his focus entirely on the figure moving swiftly towards the end of the alley.

"Tiger, stop!" Pathan shouted, raising his weapon.

Tiger hesitated, glancing back over his shoulder. For a moment, their eyes met, and Pathan saw the turmoil within his old friend-the conflict between the man he had been and the man he had become.

"Don't make me do this," Pathan said, his voice filled with a mix of sorrow and determination. "You know I don't want to."

Tiger's expression was unreadable as he turned to face Pathan fully. "You already made your choice, Pathan. Now I'm making mine."

Before Pathan could react, Tiger threw something small and metallic towards him. Instinctively, Pathan fired, the shot echoing through the alley. The object-another flashbang-exploded midair, blinding Pathan once again.

When the light cleared, Tiger was gone.

Panting, Pathan lowered his weapon, a sense of defeat washing over him. Tiger had escaped, and with him, the chance to end this without more bloodshed.

Leila and Kabir arrived moments later, their expressions grim as they surveyed the empty alleyway.

"We lost him," Pathan said, the words heavy on his tongue.

Leila placed a hand on his shoulder, offering silent support. "We'll find him, Pathan. This isn't over yet."

Pathan nodded, but his heart ached with the weight of what had just happened. The confrontation with Tiger had been everything he feared it would be-painful, emotional, and ultimately, unresolved. He had tried to reach the man he once knew, but that man seemed further away than ever.

As the three of them made their way back to the embassy, Pathan's mind raced with questions. Where would Tiger go next? What was his ultimate plan? And most of all, how could Pathan bring him in without losing himself in the process?

The hunt for Tiger had taken a new turn, and Pathan knew that the path ahead would only grow more treacherous. But no matter what lay ahead, he was determined to see it through-because in the end, he couldn't give up on his friend, no matter how far he had fallen.