Veer reached the abandoned bungalow near the sea.
The building looked like it hadn't seen life in years. Cracked paint peeled from the walls, windows were boarded up, and the salty breeze carried a faint tang of the ocean mixed with rust and decay. Around it, the area was eerily quiet—the closest activity came from a distant warehouse and the dock, where a few crates were stacked and a lone security light swung lazily in the wind.
As Veer approached the gate, he spotted a man leaning against a pillar. Their eyes met.
No words were exchanged. A simple nod. That was all. Mutual recognition.
Veer walked past him without hesitation. The man didn't move. He simply watched.
Inside, the bungalow smelled of damp wood and old smoke. The floorboards creaked under Veer's careful steps. A dim light hung from the ceiling, flickering intermittently, making shadows dance across the room.
A few men sat around a rickety table, playing cards lazily. Some others were sprawled out in corners, half asleep, bodies slumped like ragdolls.
In the center of it all sat a man tied to a chair, his hands bound behind him, a blindfold over his eyes, tape covering his mouth. His body was bruised, his skin showing signs of countless beatings.
Veer stepped closer, his expression unreadable. Without hesitation, he struck the man in the stomach with a hard punch.
The man grunted, coughing violently, but it was unclear whether he was asleep or unconscious—or simply too bruised to respond properly.
A guy sitting next to him waved a hand lazily. "Veer, take it easy. This guy already spilled everything to Radhe. No need to hurt him more."
Veer didn't respond. He delivered another sharp blow to the same man.
"What? You already told them everything?" Veer muttered, almost to himself. "You should've told me first. You know I don't like hitting people."
The card players exchanged quiet chuckles, amused by Veer's temper. Meanwhile, Dilip Topi—the man tied up—let out a frustrated grunt through his gag.
Just then, Radhe appeared, with Jatin trailing closely behind.
Radhe spoke calmly, but his voice carried authority. "So, the plan is moving as we discussed. I got their attention like we needed, and they're about to go after a guy named Farik. He's part of the transport crew and plans to side with Dattabhai."
Veer smiled faintly. He already knew.
The plan was nothing more than a script. A complicated play with overlapping moves. Veer had seen enough films—and too many chaotic real-life situations—to know how alliances formed and broke, how players shifted. He could see the connections. He could see the traps.
Farik was already aligned with Dattabhai, a well-known gangster in Mumbai. That Dilip Topi was involved at all, in this way, was new—but it worked in Veer's favor. Farik being caught like this was a perfect setup.
Suddenly, a voice whispered in Veer's mind.
Well, well… I thought you were exaggerating, but this… this is a Bollywood-movie level of chaos. Not Marvel. Not DC. Pure chaos.
Veer smiled faintly. He had already briefed Shadow on everything.
Radhe turned to the men in the room. "You all need to lay low. We're going to deal with him."
He pointed at Dilip, tied up and groaning under the gag.
Veer leaned closer to Radhe, voice calm but stern. "No worries. Taking Farik and gaining the trust of Gani Bhai's gang? That's good. But be careful—Dilip has connections in the police. That could complicate things."
Radhe nodded, impressed, but still a little startled at how much Veer seemed to know.
Jatin, seizing a moment of quiet, asked eagerly, "So… any new plan for my mission?"
Veer's jaw tightened. He didn't need to say it aloud. His internal voice carried it all the same. Fuck your mission.
Instead, he addressed Jatin directly, his tone sharp and cutting.
"Jatin, look at Radhe," Veer said, pointing. "This man… he's been undercover for years. Years. And he's still operating at maybe ten percent capacity of what he could do. Every move is calculated, every step cautious. You need to have patience."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping lower, almost a growl.
"And you're going to help him. Not because it's easy, not because you feel like it—but because the mission depends on it. Did I not tell you to join that hotel where Rana Singh stays? Where his wife runs the place and shady people come and go like it's a market? Use that. Gather information. Help Radhe. That's your part."
Jatin's posture straightened. Veer's intensity hit him like a physical wave. He nodded, understanding the weight of the words.
Veer's eyes swept the room once more. "We're not doing this for show. We're not acting. Everything we do now… it has consequences. Be smart. Think ahead. Stay alive."
With that, Veer turned.
He left the abandoned bungalow quietly, blending with the shadows outside, moving back toward the city. His mind was sharp, ready, and already calculating the next steps.
The ocean breeze hit him as he walked along the dock. The salty air, the faint cries of seagulls, and the distant hum of machinery grounded him in the reality of life… yet the weight of the mission, the chaos they were stirring, pressed down harder than the sea wind ever could.
Veer smiled faintly to himself, a calm mask over the storm inside.
"Let's see how this day unfolds," he muttered quietly.
And with that, he disappeared into the morning light, ready for the next move.