The gates opened.
Again.
Same guards.
Same silence.
Same watchful eyes.
But this time—
something felt different.
Leena walked ahead.
Alok beside her.
Inside—
nothing had changed.
Men moving.
Phones ringing.
Work happening.
But still—
it felt like a place where nothing was ever normal.
They reached the cabin.
Uncle was already inside.
Sitting.
Waiting.
Leena didn't waste time.
"You called us?"
Uncle looked up.
A slow smile.
"Oh yes."
A pause.
"We need you."
Leena's expression changed.
Slightly.
Not fear.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Like she already knew.
"There's a package," Uncle continued,
"big one."
Alok shifted slightly.
Listening.
"Our guy got caught."
A beat.
"So now—"
His eyes moved between them.
"You both go… and collect it."
Leena's jaw tightened.
Just a little.
She didn't like this.
That was clear.
But she didn't refuse.
"Okay," she said.
"We'll go."
Then—
she added—
"But first… I need to talk to you."
Uncle leaned back.
Interested now.
"What about?"
Leena didn't answer.
She just looked around the room.
At the men.
At Alok.
Uncle followed her gaze.
Then—
he understood.
"Everyone out."
The room cleared.
Alok hesitated for a second.
Then stepped out too.
The door closed behind him.
Silence.
From outside—
the cabin looked the same.
But inside—
something shifted.
Alok stood near the glass wall.
He could see them.
But he couldn't hear a word.
Leena stood across the table.
Uncle seated.
She took something out of her bag.
A paper.
Placed it in front of him.
Uncle didn't react immediately.
He looked at it.
Opened it.
His posture changed.
Not big.
But enough.
Alok noticed.
Leena said something.
Calm.
Steady.
Uncle replied.
Short.
Sharp.
Leena leaned slightly forward.
Her hand pressed lightly on the table.
Not begging.
Negotiating.
Uncle's eyes narrowed.
He said something longer this time.
Leena didn't step back.
She answered.
Without hesitation.
Time passed.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Alok shifted his weight.
Still watching.
Inside—
their conversation didn't stop.
Leena spoke more now.
Using her hands.
Explaining.
Pushing something.
Uncle interrupted once.
Leena cut him off.
That—
Alok noticed.
No one cuts him off.
But she did.
And she didn't step back after.
Uncle leaned back again.
Studying her.
Then—
he smiled.
That kind of smile.
The one that never meant anything good.
Another ten minutes passed.
Alok frowned slightly.
What the hell are they talking about?
Inside—
Leena didn't sit.
Not once.
She stayed standing.
Control.
At one point—
Uncle tapped the paper.
Asked something.
Leena nodded.
Then said something that made Uncle go quiet.
Completely quiet.
That—
Alok noticed.
That never happens.
A few seconds later—
Uncle stood up.
Slowly.
Walked around the table.
Stopped in front of her.
Too close.
They held eye contact.
Then—
Leena extended her hand.
And Uncle—
after a brief pause—
shook it.
Deal done.
Alok's eyes narrowed slightly.
That was it.
That simple.
Or maybe—
not simple at all.
The door opened.
Leena stepped out.
Her face—
calm.
Too calm.
Uncle called one of his men inside immediately.
The door closed again.
Alok looked between the two doors.
Confused.
"What happened?" he asked.
Leena didn't answer.
She just walked past him.
"Let's go."
Alok followed.
"Where?"
Leena stopped briefly.
Turned slightly toward him.
"Better pray…" she said quietly,
"…we don't end up in prison."
Then she handed him a folded paper.
An address.
Alok looked at it.
Then at her.
She was already walking ahead.
Fast.
Focused.
Like whatever she just agreed to—
had already started.
And he still had no idea—
what she traded to make it happen.
The moment Leena spotted the police car at the end of the street, her pace changed.
Not panic.
Calculation.
"Move," she said quietly.
Alok didn't ask questions.
He followed.
The narrow alley seemed tighter now. Every doorway felt like a pair of eyes watching them. The building stood at the end of the lane—old concrete, rusted railings, broken windows patched with cardboard.
Leena looked over her shoulder once.
The police officers were still outside.
Too close.
"Go."
They rushed inside.
The stairwell smelled of damp walls and cigarette smoke. Their footsteps echoed as they climbed.
Third floor.
Apartment 307.
Leena knocked.
Nothing.
Again.
Silence.
She looked at Alok.
"No one's opening."
Alok understood immediately.
A second later he was forcing the damaged door open.
The lock gave way with a crack.
Both of them stepped inside.
And froze.
A man stood in the center of the room.
Thin.
Unshaven.
Eyes red from sleepless nights.
A pistol trembled in his hand.
Pointed directly at them.
The room looked like someone had been living inside a nightmare. Empty food packets. Curtains permanently closed. A mattress pushed into a corner.
The man looked terrified.
Not angry.
Terrified.
"You brought them!" he shouted.
His voice cracked.
"You brought the police!"
Leena slowly raised her hands.
"Easy."
The man's grip tightened.
"Don't move!"
"We're not here for you."
"LIAR!"
His scream echoed through the apartment.
The gun shook harder.
Alok stayed silent.
Watching.
Ready.
The man looked as though he hadn't slept for days.
Fear had hollowed him out.
Leena took one careful step forward.
"We just need the package."
"No!"
"Listen to me."
"They set me up!" he yelled. "I did everything they asked. Everything!"
His breathing became uneven.
Almost desperate.
"Why are they doing this to me?"
Leena's expression didn't soften.
Not because she didn't care.
Because she knew panic couldn't be negotiated with sympathy.
"The police are downstairs," she said.
The man flinched.
"Every minute you keep that package, your situation gets worse."
"They'll never let me go."
His eyes watered.
"They promised."
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Then Leena spoke.
Low.
Cold.
Direct.
"No one is coming to save you."
The words landed harder than any threat.
The man's shoulders dropped slightly.
"You save yourself."
His breathing slowed.
Just enough to listen.
"Give us the package."
He looked between her and Alok.
Searching.
Desperate for another answer.
There wasn't one.
Then Leena's voice hardened.
"If the police find it here, nobody will be able to help you. Not money. Not lawyers. Nobody."
The man's fight started disappearing.
Alok noticed it happen in real time.
That was what Uncle trusted.
Not force.
Not weapons.
Leena understood people.
Especially frightened people.
She knew exactly where to push.
The man looked down at the gun.
Then back at her.
His hand was still trembling.
"Six months," he whispered.
"What?"
"Tell Uncle... six months."
His voice broke.
"Please."
The apartment fell silent.
For the first time, Leena nodded.
"Okay."
The man walked toward a damaged wall panel.
Alok's eyes narrowed.
A hidden compartment.
The man reached inside and pulled out a small wrapped parcel.
The thing everyone had been risking so much for.
He handed it over.
Leena took it carefully.
Then looked at the pistol.
"Give me that too."
The man hesitated.
Then surrendered it.
Completely defeated.
The sound of footsteps echoed from outside.
All three froze.
Police.
Closer now.
Much closer.
Alok moved to the window.
Two officers were entering the building.
"Damn."
The man went pale.
Leena grabbed the parcel.
"Not the stairs."
"What?" Alok asked.
She was already moving.
Thinking.
Calculating.
A different route.
A different exit.
The footsteps below grew louder.
The officers were coming up.
Fast.
Leena looked back once.
The frightened man was standing alone in the center of the apartment, staring at the empty place where the parcel had been hidden.
Like he already knew his life had changed.
"Move," she ordered.
And this time, even Alok didn't argue.
Because for the first time, he understood exactly why Uncle trusted her.
When everyone else panicked—
Leena became colder.