Deepak slipped his phone back into his pocket and turned to the shopkeeper.
"How much?" he asked, his voice laced with reluctance.
The man glanced at the time before responding, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "The price for the first level is high, but since you're a regular, I'll cut you a deal. Ten points."
Deepak's eyes widened. "What?"
The shopkeeper chuckled. "It's a friendly price! Relax!"
Grinding his teeth, Deepak pulled out his card, watching as the hard-earned points vanished from his balance. He exhaled sharply, feeling a pang of regret but knowing there was no other choice.
Arjun, standing beside him, remained unreadable as always. His calm demeanor made Deepak sigh. He envied that composure.
"Let's leave work for later and head to the Aurora Coffee House first," Deepak suggested, his mood lifting. Just thinking about it filled him with excitement.
The Aurora Coffee House was magnificent—a place that somehow retained its charm even in these desperate times. "Come on, let's go. We should enrich our experience," he added with a grin.
Arjun raised an eyebrow but didn't object. He, too, was curious about how a café could still function in a world teetering on the edge of ruin.
Ten minutes later, they arrived.
Arjun came to a halt at the entrance, his expression shifting from curiosity to deep disappointment.
Deepak immediately noticed. "What's with that look? Were you expecting a five-star experience? Brother, this is the end of the world! Ordinary people can't afford anything here!" He clapped a hand on Arjun's shoulder and grinned. "Remember, a man who is content will always be happy."
Inside, the café was nearly empty. A handful of patrons sat at distant tables, sipping their drinks in silence. A row of neatly dressed waiters stood near the reception, their youthful faces carefully maintained. More than just employees, their presence was part of the establishment's appeal—something comforting in a world that had lost its warmth.
One of the waiters, a young woman with an impeccable smile, stepped forward. "Table for two?"
"We're expecting two more," Deepak corrected.
"Of course. Right this way." Since the café wasn't busy, she led them to a spacious table without hesitation. "Would you like to order now?"
"Can we see the menu first?" Arjun asked.
"Certainly." The waiter handed over a drink list and stepped back politely.
Arjun unfolded it, and Deepak leaned in to take a look as well.
A second later, Deepak nearly choked on his own breath. "F*ck!" His eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of his skull. "Are you kidding me?"
A single cup of fresh coffee cost 100 contribution points.
No wonder the place was so empty. Who could afford this luxury in the apocalypse?
In a world where every resource mattered, no ordinary person would waste their precious points on a cup of coffee. Yet, as Deepak scanned the café, he noticed two tables where the guests had all ordered coffee without hesitation. It was a stark reminder that no matter the era, the gap between the rich and the poor remained unbridgeable. That was why this coffee shop could thrive even in such a miserable environment.
"We really do live in different worlds," Deepak thought, his fingers instinctively reaching for his pocket. Arjun had just arrived here—of course, he had no money. Deepak himself barely had enough, and the prices were outrageous. That left only Ishita to cover the bill…
What a loss of face.
"Have you decided what to order?" the waiter asked politely.
"Give us a minute. We're waiting for our friends," Deepak replied quickly.
Arjun nodded in agreement, his expression unreadable as usual.
Forty minutes later, two beautiful girls appeared at the entrance of the café. Their presence immediately caught the attention of pedestrians on the street.
The first girl was petite, her exquisite dress and flawless makeup giving her a doll-like appearance. Her cascading curls only added to the air of elegance, making it seem as if she had stepped out of another world—one untouched by hardship.
The second girl, though dressed simply in a white T-shirt and fitted jeans, carried an aura that set her apart. Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders like a silk waterfall, and her effortless grace made her just as captivating. People couldn't help but stare.
Despite the attention, no one dared to approach them. This was the military zone—reckless behavior wasn't tolerated here.
"Oh my god, it's so hot. I can't take another step," Esha groaned, stopping in her tracks. Frustration was clear on her face. She regretted coming here. The bus ride had been unbearable—something she had never experienced in her entire life. Before the apocalypse, she had only ever traveled in air-conditioned cars.
Even when she first arrived at the military zone, she had come in a private vehicle. But today, they had taken the public bus, which was filled with strange, raggedly dressed people. More than once, someone had brushed against her, making her shudder in disgust. She had spent the last few minutes anxiously dusting off her expensive coat, as if trying to erase the touch of strangers.
Before doomsday, her dress had cost tens of thousands of rupees. It was practically worthless now, but she still cherished it.
"Esha, we're almost there. Just hold on a little longer," Ishita said, her tone carrying both encouragement and mild exasperation. Even the short walk from the bus stop had been exhausting.
Esha sighed dramatically but continued walking. When Ishita mentioned her friend, Esha inwardly scoffed. Truthfully, she blamed him for this entire situation.
"Well, my dear sister, I need a break," Esha finally relented, rubbing her legs before stepping into the café. Ishita followed close behind.
"Arjun?"
A soft, familiar voice made Arjun look up.
A beautiful young woman stood before him, her gentle smile warming the air between them. The moment their eyes met, time seemed to rewind.
Three years had passed since they last saw each other—three years filled with chaos, loss, and survival. Yet, as Arjun gazed at Ishita, memories of college resurfaced. He remembered a girl in a simple dress, always carrying a quiet grace. He recalled seeing her through the window during lectures, her profile bathed in soft light, completely focused on her studies. Their classes had been in opposite wings, but somehow, he had seen her more often than anyone else.
His lips curled into a small smile. "Long time no see."
"Yes, it has been a long time," Ishita replied, her voice still carrying that same gentle warmth. "Meeting you again under these circumstances… I don't quite know how to describe it."
Arjun understood. She had always been kind yet distant—especially with men. Back in college, many had tried to win her over, but none had succeeded.
"When did you arrive?" Ishita asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Two days ago," Arjun answered simply.
Ishita was about to say more, but a loud voice suddenly interrupted them.
"Hey, is that Miss Esha?" A well-dressed young man from a nearby table stood up, his expression lighting up in disbelief. "What a surprise! I never expected to see you outside the first level. How did you end up here?"
Esha turned, surprise flickering across her face. "Uday? What are you doing here?"
Uday smirked. "Came to meet a friend, but he hasn't shown up yet. What about you?"
"I came with Ishita. She wanted to meet an old classmate," Esha said, gesturing toward their table.
At the mention of Ishita, Uday's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He quickly turned toward their direction, lowering his voice as he whispered, "Is that beauty Ishita?"
Esha nodded, casting him a sidelong glance. Uday lived on the first level—his father was a senior army official, granting him status and privilege. Despite being an awakener, Uday was weak and had never dared to fight zombies or monsters. His laid-back nature made him unremarkable in Esha's eyes.
"Oh, seeing her in person is even better than hearing about her a hundred times. You have to introduce me!" Uday said eagerly.
Before Esha could respond, Ishita, having already noticed them, turned to her. "Esha, who is he?"
Uday didn't wait for an introduction. He stepped forward smoothly, offering a polite smile. "Miss Ishita, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Uday. I also live in the first level. My father is Captain Sarad. In fact, he's familiar with your mother and grandfather. I've always had great respect for Professor Vikram."
Ishita gave a polite nod. "Hello." She hadn't heard his name before, but given his connection to her family, she maintained her courtesy.
Originally, Ishita's mother and grandfather were professors. No wonder her family could live on the first level. As for Uday, Ishita thought he was only able to live there because of his father's high-ranking position.
Uday was an awakener, but a weak one. He lacked real combat ability, yet he was skilled in networking and had a wide circle of acquaintances.
"Arjun, this is my best friend, Esha, and this is Uday," Ishita introduced. "This is my friend Arjun, and this is Deepak."
"Hello, I'm Uday. Nice to meet you all."
Uday shook hands with Arjun, observing him closely. Ishita wasn't the type to socialize much, so Uday had never had the chance to speak with her before. He was genuinely surprised that she had come all the way here just to see Arjun. Through their conversation, Uday quickly gathered that Arjun was just an ordinary person.
"So this is the guy Ishita went out of her way to meet?" Uday thought, slightly disappointed.
From what he could tell, both Arjun and Deepak were just regular people with no special abilities. Still, Uday knew that connections mattered as much as power. Some ordinary people had high status, like Ishita's family. And Uday, who dreamed of becoming a politician one day, understood the importance of building relationships.
"Brother, do you also live on the first level? What about your parents? Maybe I know them?" Uday asked enthusiastically.
"No, I don't live on the first level yet—" Arjun started to say, but before he could finish, Ishita smoothly cut in.
"He just arrived not long ago. He probably hasn't settled yet."
"Oh, I see." Uday smiled, but his expression briefly changed.
He knew very well that only refugees needed time to settle in. That realization disappointed him, but meeting Ishita was still a valuable opportunity. Her grandfather was a highly respected genetics professor, someone of real influence.
"Professors like him don't deal with people like me," Uday thought. " But their children? That's a different story."
Smiling, he casually pulled out a chair and sat down. "What a rare encounter. Miss Ishita and her friends, let me treat you today!"
"What? And what about me?" Esha demanded, pretending to be offended.
"Of course, my princess Esha," Uday grinned, quickly standing up and pulling out a chair for her. "It would be my honor."
"I'd like to order five cups of cappuccino!" Uday declared grandly.
Deepak nearly choked. Five cups of cappuccino in this cafe meant spending 1,000 contribution points! That was an absurd amount of money—enough to buy essential food supplies for weeks.
Uday, always perceptive, noticed Deepak's reaction and felt satisfied. It was easy to impress people like him. However, something else caught his attention—Arjun was completely unfazed. His calm expression annoyed Uday.
"Arjun, brother, what do you plan to do in the stronghold?" Uday asked suddenly.
Refugees who arrived at the stronghold usually scrambled to find jobs, though most could only get manual labor work at the trading hall. Uday considered offering Arjun a position—it would be a small favor to Ishita.
Arjun, however, wasn't fooled. He recognized the shift in Uday's attitude the moment he realized Arjun was new here. He had encountered plenty of people like him before.
"Haven't decided yet," Arjun replied simply.
It was a truthful answer. He had no intention of finding a regular job—he planned to go out and hunt.
Uday smiled, pleased with Arjun's vague response. "Actually, I came here to meet a friend today. He's a team captain, and I remember him saying his team needed new recruits. How about it?"
"A survivor's team? That sounds dangerous," Ishita said, frowning.
"Sister Ishita, let them decide for themselves. It's rare for Uday to offer help like this," Esha said, her tone teasing. She had initially been curious about Ishita's classmate, but after observing him, she wasn't impressed. Arjun seemed too quiet, too reserved. People like him were easily overlooked.
Arjun wasn't the type to talk much, and because of that, people often underestimated him.
"Haha. Sister Ishita, don't worry. I wouldn't recommend a dangerous job to my buddies," Uday laughed. "There are two positions available. One is more tiring, but the pay is good."
Deepak looked up, curious.
"The job is to clean up zombie bodies inside the stronghold and in the areas the military has cleared," Uday continued. "It's actually a very popular job among survivors."
"That sounds disgusting!" Esha wrinkled her nose in disdain.
When girls heard about dead bodies, their imaginations always made it worse.