Arun woke up to his alarm vibrating like an angry bee at 7:30 AM.
He slapped the screen, groaned, and sat up slowly.
The events of last night replayed through his head — frozen world, bike crash, instinctive time stop.
For a moment, he just stared at his hands.
Then muttered, "Machan… I need to insure these hands."
He dragged himself to the bathroom, showered, got dressed, and walked out into the humid morning.
As he reached the bus stop, life looked painfully normal again. Autos honking, school kids rushing, bakery smell, aunties yelling at their husbands — typical Chennai soundtrack.
But inside Arun, things weren't normal anymore.
He felt braver.
Sharper.
More aware.
Like the world had secretly added a new difficulty mode… except he was the only player with cheat codes.
The bus arrived. Packed as usual. He squeezed in.
Halfway through the ride, his phone buzzed.
HR → Arun
"Please meet us at 11 AM regarding your inter-city assignment."
Arun stared.
Assignment.
Not discussion.
Not consideration.
Assignment.
He smirked slightly.
So Mumbai is confirmed.
He typed back a simple:
"Okay."
At Office – HR Summons
At 10:59 AM sharp, Arun stood outside HR's conference room.
Inside sat two HR executives: Priya and Harish.
Priya gestured for him to sit.
"Arun, we'll keep this short."
Good. Arun liked short things: short meetings, short queues, short emails, short naps.
Harish opened a folder dramatically, as if announcing a reality show winner.
"Your name has been shortlisted for our Mumbai client expansion project."
Arun nodded. "Okay."
Priya smiled. "And the client specifically asked for someone quiet, responsible, reliable, not controversial, and not too talkative. Congratulations, you match their entire checklist."
Arun blinked twice.
"…thank you?"
"Think of it as a compliment," she added.
He didn't, but okay.
Harish continued. "You'll be moving to our Mumbai branch in about four weeks."
Arun didn't react immediately.
Inside, a hundred thoughts collided:
New city. New challenges. Higher salary? More food options? More traffic? Maybe fewer autos? Power testing? More privacy? More chaos?
"Is it mandatory?" he asked neutrally.
"Actually, yes," Priya replied. "Based on performance, senior management wants you there. Plus, Mumbai has a very important client."
Arun raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Priya's face changed slightly.
Not dramatically.
But enough for Arun to notice.
She exchanged a quick look with Harish.
"Just a major client," Harish said too quickly. "You'll know more when you join."
Arun tilted his head.
Ah. Suspicious behavior detected.
Something big.
Something political.
Something involving money.
But Arun didn't pry. He wasn't emotional enough to care deeply.
He simply asked the only question that mattered:
"What's the salary difference?"
Priya laughed nervously. "We'll email the increment letter."
"Okay."
Harish slid a paper toward him. "You need to sign this acknowledgement."
Arun read it quietly.
Transfer to Mumbai.
New reporting manager.
Accommodation assistance for the first month.
Project code name: "RATHORE TECH – PHOENIX"
Arun paused.
"Rathore Tech?" he repeated.
Priya nodded. "Yes, they're one of India's top privately-owned tech entities. Old money. Big investments. Strong influence."
Harish added, "They are known for being… selective."
Arun raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
Priya sighed. "Meaning they don't tolerate incompetence or drama. And their internal board is very strict."
Arun stared at the signature line.
Old money… strict… highly selective… Chennai HR acting scared…
Interesting.
He signed.
As he handed the paper back, Priya leaned forward slightly.
"Arun… just a tip. Don't offend anyone there. Especially the people from the Rathore side."
"Okay."
"And if you see someone with the last name Singh or Rathore… do not stare. Do not speak unnecessarily. Just be respectful."
Arun blinked. "I'm always respectful."
Priya raised an eyebrow.
Harish coughed. "In your own way."
Arun shrugged.
Okay so this client is definitely some royal-adjacent, super-influential, high-pressure group. Fine. As long as the salary clears on time, I don't care.
But the name stuck in his mind.
Rathore.
It sounded familiar.
Old.
Royal.
Heavy.
He left the room quietly.
At His Desk – Senthil Shows Up
Senthil rushed over the moment Arun sat down.
"BOSS! What happened? HR called you? Did they fire you? Did they promote you? Are they giving you free lunch coupons?"
Arun looked at him.
"I'm being transferred to Mumbai."
Senthil froze like someone pressed pause on him.
Then—
"BRO YOU'RE LEAVING?!"
"For a while."
"I won't survive without you. Who will explain servers to me? Who will fix my code? Who will stop me from sending memes to the client group by mistake?"
"Don't send memes."
"I CAN'T STOP MYSELF!"
Arun sighed.
Senthil slumped dramatically. "Mumbai is far da… you'll forget us."
"Who?"
"DAIIIII—"
Arun smirked slightly.
Then Senthil asked, "Which client?"
"Rathore Tech."
Senthil's eyes widened. "Bro… they are RICH rich. Like… old palace, bodyguard, private jet type rich."
Arun's eyebrow twitched. "Okay?"
"They OWN half the company, da. And their board is crazy strict. Their shareholders are like some royal mafia."
Arun blinked slowly.
Royal.
The word replayed in his head.
Something about that detail dug into his mind.
Senthil added, whispering, "I even heard there's a Singh-Rathore daughter on the board. Super powerful. Super smart. Super scary."
Arun shrugged. "So?"
"So don't get caught staring at her. You'll die."
Arun stared blankly. "Why would I stare at someone?"
Senthil placed a dramatic hand on his shoulder. "Because bro… she is BEAUTIFUL. But don't look. You'll combust."
Arun pulled his shoulder away. "Okay, thanks for the unnecessary info."
But inside?
Something pulsed.
A strange intuitive feeling.
A small tugging sensation in his chest.
Why does this Rathore name feel important?
He didn't believe in fate or drama.
Still…
His gut whispered:
This transfer is going to change everything.
Lunch Break – A Sudden Freeze
During lunch, while eating sad sambar rice with Senthil, a fork slipped from a coworker's hand and fell off the table.
Arun instinctively raised his hand.
Time froze.
Arun nearly dropped his spoon.
"Oh shit! No no no—"
He waved his hands.
"Resume!"
Time resumed.
Senthil blinked. "Bro, did you just karate block air?"
Arun wiped sweat off his forehead. "Mosquito."
"Inside AC room?"
"Yes. Mutant mosquito."
Senthil accepted this without question.
Arun's heartbeat thundered.
That was TOO close. I need to control these instinct triggers.
He pressed two fingers to his temple.
Before Mumbai, he needed to be absolutely sure he wouldn't freeze time randomly in front of witnesses.
That would be… problematic.
Evening – HR Email Arrives
When Arun got home, his Gmail notification pinged.
He opened the HR email.
Subject: Transfer Approval – Reporting Instructions
Client: Rathore Tech Group
Primary Contact: Name Confidential until onboarding
Attached was a PDF.
Arun opened it casually… and then paused.
The file header had the client logo.
A phoenix in gold.
And beneath it:
Rathore Global Group
Board Member: Miss A. S. Rathore
Arun narrowed his eyes.
A… S… Rathore.
Why did the initials feel important?
He whispered the initials softly.
"A… S…"
A weird chill went down his spine — not fear, not excitement — something else.
Recognition?
Foreshadowing?
Or his brain being dramatic?
He shook it off.
He wasn't psychic.
He didn't believe in signs.
But as he lay down on his cot tonight, staring at the ceiling fan, his thoughts kept circling back to one thing:
Somewhere in Mumbai, someone named A. S. Rathore was going to be very, very important to him.
He didn't know how.
He didn't know why.
But a strange instinct tugged at him softly.
The same instinct that saved him from a bike crash.
The same instinct that told him the power was growing.
The same instinct that made him feel like his life wasn't random anymore.
He closed his eyes.
Mumbai wasn't just a transfer.
It felt like a beginning.