The train to Rajasthan hummed steadily along the tracks, its rhythmic motion blending with the distant sounds of chatter and the occasional clink of a teacup. Inside the compartment, Albert Lam and Bhalla Singh sat across from each other. The atmosphere was casual—for now.
Bhalla, ever the jokester, leaned back in his seat, flipping through a magazine with a smirk plastered across his face. He glanced at Albert, who sat with his arms folded and a brooding expression, staring out the window.
Bhalla"Sir, you know, this trip would be way more fun if we at least pretended we're not on a deadly mission. Think about it! We could make a detour to some fort, have a hearty meal, maybe ride some camels…""Imagine you, riding a camel. You'd look like a king!"
Albert didn't react. His gaze remained fixed outside, watching the landscape blur past.
Bhalla"I bet you'd be a natural at it. You'd just have to replace the camel's reins with your usual serious demeanor, and it'd probably be intimidated into doing whatever you say."
Albert gave a tired sigh but said nothing.
Bhalla, still trying, adjusted his tone slightly.
Bhalla"What's eating you, sir? You've been on edge since we left. I know you—you're like a walking statue most days, but today... it's like something's crawling under your skin. You sure you're not planning to break out into a full-on speech about sacrifice and duty? Come on, don't leave me hanging!"
Albert gave a small, almost imperceptible smirk—but it vanished as quickly as it came. The weight returned to his eyes. A silence settled between them, thick with things unspoken.
Time passed. The train rocked gently, the world outside slipping by. Albert grew more restless, his body stiffening, jaw tightening. Finally, after nearly an hour, the pressure burst.
Albert suddenly placed both hands on his head, gripping his hair, his breath ragged.
Bhalla leaned forward, now concerned.
Bhalla"Sir... what's going on with you? You're not acting like yourself today."
Albert's fists clenched. He exhaled sharply, then spoke—voice low, rough with grief.
Albert"Fine... you want to know? You've been pushing me for hours now."
He straightened in his seat, his posture tight with emotion.
Albert"You really want to know the truth about this mission, Bhalla?"
Bhalla fell silent, caught off guard by the shift in Albert's tone. He nodded slowly.
Albert took a breath, eyes still on the window as the world blurred by.
Albert"My nephew… he wasn't a criminal like I led everyone to believe. He wasn't the monster they thought he was… and certainly not what I made him out to be."
Bhalla"What…?"
Albert finally turned to face him.
Albert"I lied, Bhalla. And I need you to know the truth. What happened to him, to my family… it's all connected to my past. I've carried this burden alone for too long. It's time you knew what I did. What I had to do."
FLASHBACK – ALBERT'S PAST
Albert (V.O.)"I still remember the day my life unraveled. Back then, I was a man who believed in duty, trust, and honor. That's what bound me to AGNI. That's what bound me to Aryan."
"He was my best friend. My brother. We faced the darkest threats in the world together. But power always comes at a price."
"Before AGNI existed, we were chasing something ancient. It all began in Rajmala—a forgotten kingdom. Its king, Rajvir Singh, wasn't just powerful—he was supernatural. The secret? A pill. Small. Simple. But inside it… the strength to tear apart a tiger with bare hands."
"Captain Edward Montgomery, a British officer, stole it. When the king ran out, he withered. Years later, Montgomery died too—his corpse found with a note: 'I have uncovered a formula that will make any man the strongest on Earth. Find it, and the power will be yours.'"
"In 1996, AGNI found Montgomery's journal. AGNI hunted the trail. They found it. They found the pill."
"I knew better. No one should touch it. But Aryan… Aryan wanted more. He was obsessed. He wanted the edge."
Albert's voice darkens.
Albert (V.O.)"Then everything changed."
"One day, I visited my sister's house. I remember the sound of my nephew playing, the warmth of family. But he… he took the pill. Thought it was medicine for an infection. I recognized it immediately."
"His body changed. Muscles grew. Veins turned black. His eyes... monstrous."
"I did the only thing I could. I pulled the trigger. I killed him."
"Then Aryan appeared. In the doorway. Smiling."
Aryan (memory)"You did it, Albert. You played right into my hands. It was never him. It was always me."
Albert (V.O.)"He set me up. Swapped the pills. Made me kill my own blood. I shot him too. In the chest. Watched him fall."
"Aryan always plays the long game. Psychological warfare. Sometimes he doesn't need to touch you—he just touches the people around you."
"The pill rolled across the floor. I picked it up. I could have used it. But after what I lost, I knew better."
"So I walked away. And carried that weight ever since."
Bhalla, shaken, finally speaks.
Bhalla"Sir… does this have something to do with the President calling you into his office? What mission did he give you?"
Albert's expression hardens.
Albert"There are serious criminal activities happening in Rajasthan. Something big. And more importantly… Aryan is alive."
Bhalla stands up, stunned.
Bhalla"What? But you killed him, right? How is he alive?"
Albert"Yes. I shot him. A bullet to the heart. Yet the murderer of my nephew lives. I didn't believe it… until I saw his face."
"The President knew only I could handle this mission. And I must.Intel says he is building an army."
Back to present
Aarvansh sits across from Bhalla Singh, eyes wide in disbelief.
Aarvansh"Oh my god… he'd been hiding all this from you? And Aryan—how did he survive? Did you guys get him?"
Bhalla stares into the distance, his tone grim.
Bhalla"That mission… was the most dangerous one in AGNI's history."
"Because when we reached Rajasthan…"
Aarvansh Thinking about the message he received that day on his phone
"Could it be ..... The message said it was from A ..... No , It can't be , why would he contact me ...."