January 01, 2019, Shambala City. A city concealed within the extensive annals of humanity's history. Only the chosen ones are privy to this location, as it stands as the birthplace of illustrious individuals. Situated in the valleys of the Himalayas, a region largely veiled in snow, a few houses are constructed on the mountain slopes. Within one of these dwellings, predominantly crafted from stone due to the harsh winds that make wood unsuitable, a structure encompasses three rooms, replete with fine furnishings, and one of the rooms hosts a hearth. Adjacent to the hearth, a young man in his mid-twenties sits at the table. Possessing black hair, amber eyes, an oval face, distinct features, a tall stature, and lean muscles, he is engrossed in writing within a diary on the table. "At last, the moment arrives for its commencement. Will his dream be realized in this era or not?" He mumbles until this point, then closes the diary. He proceeds to the wall opposite the hearth, pressing a particular spot on the wall with his finger. The area he presses in bulges outward, causing the entire wall on that side to slide up, unveiling an entrance—a door to a lift. Upon opening the door, the man steps inside and presses the button for the ninetieth floor. After a few moments, he reaches his destination. Stepping out of the lift, he takes a leisurely stroll through a capacious hall containing bookshelves, a sizable round wooden table circled by chairs, an enormous chandelier suspended from the center of the ceiling, and a throne constructed entirely from books and built into the wall. Positioned above the throne, a massive portrait of a man is displayed. Below the portrait, an inscription reads: Vishnu Gupta (375-283 BCE) Founder of the Gupta Clan. The young man retrieves a book from the throne, the lone actual book affixed to it. The cover bears the inscription: Clan's Genealogy. This diary chronicles the lineage of all the Heads of this clan across history. Upon opening it, he flips to the latest filled page, upon which a name is inscribed: Ansh Gupta (2016-......). While caressing the page, he remarks, "The wait concludes; now my time has arrived. World, prepare to witness humanity's most brilliant spectacle. Hahahahaha..." He concludes with a hearty laugh. Through the room's window, snow-white peaks and clouds come into view. Despite appearances, this uppermost floor resembles a natural mountain summit when observed from above. In truth, an extensive building structure is nestled within the mountain, providing a perfect façade to remain isolated from the external world. … … … … … January 3, 2019 Akash and his team visited a mall after receiving information from their source that the person depicted in a sketch had been spotted there. They arrived to search for him, blending into the crowd. Akash, dressed in a red jacket, white t-shirt, and blue jeans, stood by the entrance, scrutinizing those coming and going. He communicated via his earpiece, asking, "Did you see him?" Rahul and Karthik, positioned on the second and first floors, replied in unison, "No." Harish added, "I haven't spotted him yet." Akash then inquired about Sudhesh's whereabouts, noticing he hadn't arrived after half an hour. Rahul explained, "Earlier, Sudhesh said he'd be here in ten minutes. But now..." Karthik suggested, "Perhaps something urgent came up unexpectedly." During their conversation, Akash's phone rang, displaying Sudhesh's name. Answering the call, he asked, "Where are you?" Sudhesh's voice turned serious as he shared, "I'm tailing the man we've sketch of. He's alone in a car. I spotted him on the way here, recognized by his distinctive features—bulging eyes, covered face, and a scar under his right eye. Don't share this. I'll update you once he reaches his destination." Akash acknowledged, "Understood. Stay safe." After the call ended, Akash refrained from informing the team, respecting Sudhesh's instructions. Despite their search efforts, they couldn't locate the man. Eventually, they gathered in the parking area. Akash inquired, "Any luck?" Harish, Rahul, and Karthik shook their heads. Akash reassured them, "That's fine. But it's strange how he seemed to anticipate our arrival." As silence settled, Akash's phone rang again. Stepping aside to take the call, he returned with a determined look, stating, "Get ready; we're raiding a house in the slums. My contact informed me of human trafficking connections there. It's time to take action." The team geared up at the headquarters, equipping themselves with weapons, grenades, and ammunition. Akash drove them in a bulletproof SUV, collecting their phones as a precaution. After a 30-minute drive, they arrived at an abandoned warehouse. Akash parked some distance away, and Sudhesh joined them, sharing his findings. "...I followed him here. The warehouse is heavily guarded, but their firepower is limited. The issue is that they're transporting girls from a container to a large, old house behind the warehouse. This could be where they train them, as Geeta mentioned," Sudhesh explained. The others contemplated, then all of them directed their gaze at Akash simultaneously. Akash sighed, "I occasionally despise assuming the leadership role. Alright, let's assess the situation. One of us needs to infiltrate to provide visual information. Afterward, we'll launch a frontal raid. This person will prioritize securing the victims before rejoining us. So, who excels at infiltration?" No one responded; Sudhesh scratched his head and suggested, "Rahul, you should go." Rahul hesitated, "I can't." Sudhesh exerted pressure, "You must, no one else is as capable as you. Akash, you can trust him; he knows what to do." Understanding Sudhesh's intent, Akash walked over to Rahul, patting him on the shoulder. "Yes, we need you for this, officer. Rahul, you are a capable individual, courageous. I believe you can handle it." Rahul protested, "But—" Akash interrupted, "What? Aren't you brave?" Rahul reluctantly admitted, "I am, but—" Akash persisted, "What? You're not up to the challenge?" Rahul sighed, "Argh... alright, I'll do it." Rahul gathered the necessary equipment and ascended. Akash observed Rahul scaling a wall and entering. Turning to Sudhesh, he voiced his uncertainty, "Is this the right choice?" Sudhesh nodded reassuringly. Inside the warehouse, Rahul spotted four men seated on a bench, playing cards. Man 1 commented, "How do you always manage this?" Man 2 replied, "Luck is always on my side." Man 3 and Man 4 watched him with resignation as he collected money from the bench. Meanwhile, Sudhesh discreetly moved around and circled to the back. In the yard, scraps of iron were strewn about. Concealing himself, Sudhesh infiltrated the old house. Through a window, he saw three to four women attending to around 20 frightened girls. Armed men and the sketch's subject, seated on a couch in front of the girls, were also present. Rahul updated the team about what he saw. Upon hearing his report, Akash readied the team for the assault. Stealthily, they entered the warehouse, positioning themselves behind the men at the bench. Akash signaled to open fire, and they shot down the men. The suppressed shots went unnoticed due to the silencers. The men fell, disoriented and in pain. Akash and the team advanced, taking cover in a corner of the yard. Glancing toward the old house, they noticed three men on the roof, four at the entrance, and two beside a window indoors. Akash gestured first to the roof and then toward the entrance. Karthik and Sudhesh aimed at the roof, while Akash and Harish targeted the men at the entrance. At Akash's signal, they fired, and all the men collapsed, clutching their wounds. Inside David sensed he heard a sound from the outside. He instructed one of the seven men beside him to investigate. As his man stepped out, a scream erupted. Anxious, David stood and shouted, "What's happening?" The dispatched man responded, "Apologies, boss. It's a snake." David breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, four well-equipped men stormed in, firing at his group. The sound of gunshots sent the women and girls crouching in fear. Five of David's remaining men were shot down. While lying low, David looked up after the gunfire ceased. He spotted his dispatched man, now standing with tied hands, his expression guilt-ridden. Irritation clenched at David. As Akash and the others believed the situation was contained, one of the men on the floor abruptly rolled toward the girls, taking one hostage. He aimed his gun at her and shouted, "Halt, or I'll fire." Panic-stricken, the girl froze. A glimmer of hope crossed David's face. Further back, Rahul, who had been observing, aimed and shot David's man in the back of the head. He collapsed to the floor. David watched in speechless absurdity. Akash approached David and said, "You're wondering how we discovered this location." David responded, "Yes." Akash mockingly smiled. "You were betrayed. Oberoy personally tasked me with removing you." Disbelief etched David's expression. "No, how could he... How could he do this? These businessmen can't be trusted. I did so much for him, and in the end, he discards me like this." Suddenly, David caught the odd smile on Akash's face and realized the ruse. David exclaimed, "You tricked me!" Akash retorted, "Initially, I had doubts. But you just confirmed my suspicions. Danish Oberoy is behind all of this, right?" David claimed, "I don't know anything." Akash responded, "You don't know? No worries, you've already divulged all I needed to know." David roared back in anger, "I haven't told you anything." Rahul emerged from the background. Akash glanced at him and commended, "Well done, you executed it perfectly." Rahul grinned. "Thank you." Akash glanced at the victims. "Harish, inform the headquarters about this. Sudhesh, go call the media and medics." Nodding, they proceeded to make the calls. Rahul and Karthik, standing behind Akash, observed the frightened girls. After fifteen minutes, the media, medics, and NIA's support arrived. The officers swiftly sealed the building's entrance. Wasim nervously approached the entrance, his gaze sweeping the surrounding terrain as he swore. "Shit! This was his site." Noticing Akash among the others, Wasim walked up to them, but just as he was about to speak, someone loudly called out to Akash. "Well done, my boy. I expected nothing less than this from you." With the voice, a middle-aged man emerged from the outside. All the officers straightened up and saluted him. The man chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I just came to see. Go do your jobs." Upon hearing this, they resumed their tasks. Akash spoke earnestly to the man as he approached. "Srikant sir, the case is solved, and now the criminals will be convicted." Srikant replied, "All thanks to you. For this, I am granting you and your team a one-month holiday. Your holiday starts tomorrow." Akash shook his head, declining the offer. Wasim asked, "What's with you? Didn't you tell me that day that you'd only take a vacation after solving this case?" Srikant looked at Akash, seemingly inquiring. Akash smiled and said, "Yes, I did say that." Wasim questioned, "Then why are you backing off now?" Akash clarified, "I'm not backing off. It's just that there's still one guy left, their boss. He wields significant influence, and presently, we lack substantial evidence against him." Srikant appeared thoughtful. "Who?" Akash replied, "A highly influential individual, the CEO of Oberoy Industries, David accidentally mentioned him earlier." Wasim's hands trembled upon hearing this, though no one noticed. Srikant advised, "Don't inform anyone about this for now. We'll discuss it at the office." ...... January 10, 2019 Inside Aditya Sehgal's office: Aditya sits in his chair, engrossed in reading a file. Suddenly, a man enters, prompting Aditya to look up and smile as he recognizes the visitor as Akash. "Welcome, Officer Akash," Aditya greets. Akash takes a seat across from Aditya and says, "Hello, Mr. Aditya." Aditya questions, "How did you arrive here? If it's not crucial, please leave; I must prepare for tomorrow's hearing. I intend to wrap up this case in this session." With a serious expression, Akash asks, "What about Danish?" Taking a sigh, Aditya responds, "I'm aware that Danish is the true mastermind behind the syndicate. Unfortunately, we're powerless without sufficient evidence." Frustrated, Akash blurts out, "Can I eliminate him?" "Have you lost your mind?" Aditya questions. "Not at this moment," Akash clarifies. "Akash, we're definitely winning this case. However, Danish won't face consequences. It's a reality you must accept," Aditya asserts. Clutching his hand in anger, Akash admits, "I know, but I'm struggling with this." Amused, Aditya chuckles, "Honesty often brings about such situations." "Alright, I'm leaving," Akash declares. As he gets up to exit, Aditya halts him, saying, "Wait. Be cautious; they might come after you." Unfazed, Akash replies, "Let them. I'm not scared." "But what if they target your family?" Aditya's question leaves Akash stunned. Without responding, he leaves the office. Once Akash departs, Aditya walks over to the window, takes out his phone, and makes a call. "Keep a close watch on him and his loved ones." A man's voice on the other end confirms, "Yes, Sir." Ending the call, Aditya puts his phone back in his pocket. As he gazes outside, he chuckles, "He's suited for this role, but the time hasn't come yet." … … . … … . … January 13, 2019, Afghanistan. Inside a US military base, a military truck entered from the guard post after inspection. It rumbled towards the center of the base and came to a halt a short distance from the command center. Stepping down from the truck was Jason Traut, a man in his early forties, holding a suitcase. With short blonde hair, sunken eyes, thin lips, black eyes, and a tall build, he was Jason Traut, the Chief Warrant Specialist responsible for information gathering. His face appeared tense at the moment. A soldier approached, saluted, and stood beside Jason. Nodding at the soldier, Jason handed over his suitcase and proceeded towards the command center, with the soldier following. Upon entering the command center, he scanned the area for the base commander, Eliot Chrystal. Spotting his figure, he walked towards the central wall screen. Coming to a stop behind a man, both Jason and the soldier saluted, saying, "Commander." The man they addressed as commander turned around. He had black thinned hair, a round face, a prominent nose, chubby cheeks, and brown eyes, along with a slight paunch. This was Lieutenant O'Brain Stell, the base commander. O'Brian looked at Jason and smiled, saying, "Hey Jason, you arrived at the right time. I was just about to call you. Come, let's go—" Jason cut in, "I apologize for interrupting, Commander, but I have distressing news." Upon hearing this, O'Brian noticed the tension on Jason's face. O'Brain's expression turned grave as he asked, "What happened?" Jason responded, "Sir, three of our heavily fortified guard posts were attacked by terrorists this morning." O'Brian grimaced, "That's unfortunate. What's the casualty count?" Jason replied, "Sixty." O'Brian sighed, "Alright, I'll look into it. You're dismissed." Jason interjected, "Commander, that's not the distressing news." O'Brian's expression shifted, dreading what might come next. "Then what is it?" Jason took a moment to steady himself and said, "All three guard posts were simultaneously destroyed in under ten minutes. The attackers used unknown high-tech energy weapons." "What?!" O'Brien exclaimed in disbelief. O'Brien turned around and retrieved a tablet from his bag, which the soldier behind him was holding. Playing a recording on the tablet, he handed it to Jason. "Commander." Jason took the tablet, his face growing serious as he watched the video. In the video, two soldiers were patrolling beneath the front barrier, with a military truck entering from the outside. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a blue ray of light struck the truck, causing a massive explosion that disabled the camera. Stunned by the video, Jason fell silent after watching it. After a moment, he turned to O'Brian and inquired, "When did this occur?" "It happened four hours ago," O'Brian responded. Through clenched teeth, Jason remarked, "They possess advanced weaponry, and you're informing us after an attack? What has your department been doing?" O'Brian replied, "We received intel about new weapon imports and managed to seize some of them. However, we haven't found any trace of these weapons or information about them." Jason scoffed, "This is a significant problem. If it's not addressed swiftly, the consequences will be severe." … … … … … In a compact room, a middle-aged man is seated on the couch, engrossed in watching the news broadcast airing on the TV in front of him. The man murmured, "During your difficult moments, he will emerge as a beacon of hope, dispelling your problems just like a loyal friend. However, be cautious, as this is a ruse; he will seize everything from you after initially instilling hope. He will plunge you into the depths of despair, leaving you with nothing but regret and animosity. The devil will revel in your suffering, and you may even contemplate ending your life. Nevertheless, do not succumb, for you possess the capacity to achieve more than you have forfeited." January 14, 2019, New Delhi. "...a case emerged against businessman Danish Oberoy, accused of complicity with the recently apprehended leader of a human trafficking syndicate, David. Yesterday marked the initial hearing of the case, and on its inaugural day, the judge dismissed the proceedings, citing insufficient evidence or logical basis to carry the case forward...." Inside the cabin, Akash, Sudhesh, Rahul, Harish, and Karthik are seated around the table, their attention fixed on the news broadcast on the TV. Harish scoffed and commented, "That judge was biased right from the beginning. It's possible they had already bribed him prior to the case's commencement." Their spirits dampened due to the outcome of the hearing, Akash rose from his seat and remarked, "How much longer can he escape? One day, his reckoning will also arrive." Sudhesh added, "Let's not dwell on it. Keep your spirits up; this is just a single setback. There's still a long journey ahead for us." Akash chuckled at Sudhesh's words and said, "You certainly have a knack for lifting our spirits... By the way, I've requested a two-month holiday. I'll be traveling abroad with my wife." Harish applauded and congratulated, "Well done! Remember to make the most of it." The others joined in the congratulations. After a while, they began to disperse. Akash was the second-to-last to leave. Just before stepping out, he bid, "See you in two months." As Akash exited the cabin, the sole remaining individual muttered, "Farewell. See you in hell." On the street, Akash rode his bike back home. Suddenly, his gaze landed on the car's side mirror beside him. In the reflection, he spotted several armed men in a car trailing behind. Acting as though he was searching for someone, he looked back and memorized their number, vehicle, and faces. It became evident that they were tailing him. As the traffic light turned green, he veered his bike toward the outskirts of the city, accelerating. The pursuing car also picked up speed. Once they reached a deserted street, the occupants of the car opened fire at Akash. Skillfully maneuvering his bike in a zigzag pattern to evade the bullets, he sustained minor gunshot wounds on his shoulder and arm. Annoyed, he leaped from the bike and rolled to the side. He retaliated by shooting at the left side tires of the car, causing them to deflate. The car lost control, flipped, and crashed into a small ravine. Akash approached the wreckage, standing by the roadside and looking down. Akash remarked, "Idiots." His phone rang, Akash extracted it and answered the call. On the other end, Sudhesh's voice resonated, "Akash, are you alright? Someone plans to attack you and your family." Akash exclaimed, "What! They indeed attacked me, but I confronted them. But my—" Sudhesh interjected, "Don't worry, I'm already at your house. You should hurry." Akash sighed with relief, "I'm on my way, and thank you, Sudhesh." Sudhesh responded, "You're welcome." The call terminated. As his bike became inoperable, he hailed a taxi for the journey back home. Since his bike was rendered unusable, he hailed a taxi to return home. Arriving home, he entered and shouted. "Vaani...Maa." As he stepped into the living room, shock and terror gripped him. Two bodies lay before him—one on the floor and another on the couch. The lifeless form on the floor belonged to his mother, Shanti, who had been shot in the stomach, her wound bleeding. Some of the blood had congealed. The figure on the sofa bore a gruesome sight—Vaani, his wife, had suffered a gunshot that had blown half her head off. Akash fell to his knees, releasing a heart-wrenching scream filled with sadness, regret, and anger. Akash's tears flowed uncontrollably. He gazed upon their lifeless forms with overwhelming remorse. Suddenly, applause resounded from within the room. Sudhesh, Wasim, and a man in his early thirties, characterized by black hair, neatly combed, brown eyes, thin lips, angular face, average build, and sharp features, entered. The man was the one applauding. Shocked anew, Akash saw Wasim and Sudhesh, accompanied by the intruder, Danish, in his home. With a smirk, Danish addressed Akash, who remained on his knees. "How did you like my surprise?" Through gritted teeth, Akash replied, "You—" In an instant, Sudhesh fired a shot into Akash's thigh. Though in pain, Akash refrained from screaming. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Sudhesh with cold determination. "If you intend to shoot, make sure it's fatal. Otherwise, I promise to bring you hell if I survive." Enraged, Sudhesh was about to fire again when Danish intervened. "Hold on, what's your hurry? He has cost me dearly. His death can't come so easily." Drawing his gun, Danish shot Akash in the other thigh. Turning to Wasim and Sudhesh, he ordered, "Set this house ablaze, with him inside." Sudhesh complied, saying, "Of course, sir." Once Danish and Wasim departed, Sudhesh fetched containers of kerosene, dousing the house in it. Approaching Akash, he murmured, "Farewell." Looking up quietly, Akash questioned, "Why?" Sudhesh grinned and replied, "Certainly, it's for money. I grew weary of this job – the risks are too immense, and the salary isn't satisfying. Thus, I ventured into something different, which I enjoyed. Now, I have abundant resources to spend on whatever I desire." Akash shut his eyes; Sudhesh noticed and returned to his work. Emptying the containers, he reached the door. Glancing back at Akash, he murmured, "Choose wisely in your next life." Sudhesh exited the house before setting it ablaze. The fire gradually consumed the entire building. After a while, a crowd gathered in front of the house. Far behind the crowd, beneath the shadow of a shed, a figure walked with unsteady steps, draping his body with a shawl. It was Akash, who somehow escaped the house. Gazing toward his home, he declared, "The suffering they inflicted upon me, I shall repay it tenfold." He collapsed onto the ground, grunting in pain. Suddenly, a man dressed in a black robe and mask approached him. "Do you need some help?" With his vision fading, Akash turned and inquired, "Who are you?" The man responded, "I am a nobody – no home, family, friends, or identity. Yet, these are inconsequential. What matters is your potential, which I want." Amidst tears and blood, Akash chuckled. "Hahahah... You want me who has lost everything in a single night?" The man explained, "Precisely why I seek you. You have nothing to lose." Akash fell silent and asked plainly, "Can you aid in seeking revenge?" Without hesitation, the man assured, "I can." Akash replied, "Then, please accept me." The man agreed, "Indeed. We will assist you in achieving your goals. However, remember that we will discard you if you succumb entirely to madness." Akash didn't register his words, succumbing to physical and mental agony. The masked man supported him and led him to a car. Placing him in the back seat, the man took the driver's seat. Another, shorter man sat in the front beside him. The second man, his voice youthful and anxious, suggested, "Shouldn't we seek medical attention for him? His condition appears dire." Starting the car, the first man reassured, "Don't worry; he won't die. He hasn't lost his will yet." They swiftly departed from the scene