Kasha's footsteps thundered through the cold night as he marched toward the interrogation room.
His breath steamed in the air.
His fists trembled.
His eyes burned with fury.
The guards at the jail entrance straightened immediately.
"You cannot go in," one guard said firmly, blocking the doorway. "Chief has ordered strict protocol. No one is allowed near the prisoner till morning."
Kasha's voice was low, deadly.
"I won't kill him. I just need to interrogate him."
"No," the guard repeated. "You're too angry right now. It's not safe."
Kasha clenched his jaw, ready to push past them—
But then a familiar voice came from behind.
"Let him in."
It was Rahul.
He walked closer and placed a steady hand on Kasha's shoulder.
"But only under one condition," Rahul added. "You will not lay a hand on him."
Kasha's breathing slowed.
He closed his eyes briefly.
"…Fine," he said at last.
Rahul nodded and opened the wooden door, leading him inside.
The interrogation cabin was dim, lit only by a single oil lamp placed on a crude wooden table.
The masked man—now unmasked—sat tied to a chair.
Thick ropes bound his arms and legs.
Half his face was melted and twisted, as if acid had chewed away his flesh.
One of his eyes was narrow, snake-like, glowing with a strange yellow tint.
He stared at Kasha.
Kasha stared back.
No one spoke.
But the air between them was thick—
as if their eyes were already locked in battle.
Minutes passed in total silence.
Neither man blinked.
Then, abruptly, Kasha spoke.
"What is your name?"
The guards inside the room stiffened—they had questioned him earlier.
He had refused to utter a single word.
But now…
The prisoner smiled weakly and said:
"Luka."
The guards exchanged shocked glances.
He had broken his silence for Kasha only.
Kasha leaned closer.
"Why did you try to kill the Chief?"
Luka tilted his head and said softly,
"Karm nichit karte hain ki aapka bhagya kya hoga."
The guards shivered.
His voice was heavy, distorted—
inhuman.
Kasha's eyes narrowed.
"So you think you're some kind of god?"
Luka let out a deep, eerie laugh.
"I am no god.
But I believe in karma."
Kasha's jaw tightened.
"What happened to your face?"
Luka smirked—
a grotesque curl on his burned lips.
"When your Chief wakes up… ask him.
Oh—
and if he dies—
I'll tell you myself."
He began laughing again, a horrible, rasping sound that made even the guards take a step back.
Kasha slammed his hand on the table.
"Stop playing riddles with me!
Tell me who sent you!"
Luka leaned forward slowly.
"We never act without purpose.
But forget me—
think about yourself."
Kasha's fists tightened.
"In four months," Luka said, "your tribe will be nothing but dust."
Kasha's heart dropped.
His breath quickened.
His voice grew harsher.
"Are you from Shromin's Army?"
Luka chuckled darkly.
"No. I do not work for them."
His eyes glimmered strangely.
"But if you truly want to know who I am…
ask your Chief—
Yarul."
Kasha froze.
"Maybe," Luka whispered, "you will also learn something about your parents. Who knows… your whole life might be a lie."
That broke him.
Kasha lunged forward, hand raised to strike—
But the guards grabbed him instantly.
"STOP!" Rahul shouted, pulling him back.
Luka only laughed as Kasha was dragged out.
His twisted smile followed Kasha like a curse.
Kasha stormed out of the jail, breath shaking.
His heart pounded under the weight of Luka's words.
What did he know?
What about his parents?
What about Chief Yarul?
Questions collided violently inside his head.
He ran straight to the medical hut.
Surbhi rushed to him the moment he entered.
"Kasha!" she cried, wrapping her arms around him. "Are you okay?"
Then she noticed his knuckles—
bloody, scraped, raw.
Her eyes widened.
"What did you do? Sit down—I'll put medicine—"
Kasha pulled his hand away sharply.
"I'm fine."
His voice was cold.
Too cold.
He walked past her toward Chief Yarul, lying unconscious on a wooden bed, breathing weakly but steadily.
Kasha's voice, dark and emotionless, asked:
"When will he regain consciousness?"
Surbhi hesitated.
"He's stable now. He'll wake by tomorrow."
"Good," Kasha said.
He sat in the corner, eyes fixed on the Chief.
But Surbhi noticed something that made her heart clench.
Kasha wasn't looking at Yarul with worry…
He was looking at him with anger.
A deep, burning anger.
As if he believed the Chief had hidden a truth.
As if tomorrow's awakening would change everything.
Morning slipped quietly into the settlement.
Pale sunlight filtered through the hospital hut's thin curtains, painting soft stripes across the wooden floor.
Inside, four people kept vigil beside the Chief's bed.
Tulsi.
Keshav.
Surbhi.
And Kasha.
Everyone was asleep…
except Kasha.
He hadn't closed his eyes all night.
He sat silently in the corner, eyes fixed on the Chief, but his mind was far away—
lost in memories he barely understood.
Since childhood, he had never known who his real parents were.
He grew up believing Chief Yarul and Tulsi were like his own parents—
people who fed him, sheltered him, scolded him, loved him.
But Luka's words…
"Ask your Chief… ask Yarul… maybe you'll even learn about your parents."
Those words had carved a wound deeper than any knife.
Kasha's heart was locked in a war between love, fear, and betrayal.
As the sun fully rose, Chief Yarul's fingers twitched.
A low sound escaped his lips—
a pained groan.
Immediately, everyone woke up.
"Kasha, he's waking," Surbhi whispered.
Kasha stood instantly and rushed to the Chief's side.
Chief Yarul's eyes fluttered open.
He looked disoriented, sweating, breathing heavily.
Then his gaze fell on Kasha—
and a faint smile touched his lips.
He slowly lifted a trembling hand and took Kasha's.
"Don't… worry," he whispered. "I'll be fine."
The words hit Kasha like a hammer.
Even now… even after almost dying… he was worried about him.
Surbhi gently helped the Chief sit up and fed him warm medicine from a wooden cup.
His breathing eased.
His forehead relaxed.
Then he chuckled softly.
"I've troubled all of you… haven't I?"
Tulsi wiped a tear.
Keshav hugged her tightly.
Chief then looked at Kasha with soft, grateful eyes.
"You saved my life… Kasha.
I can never repay this debt."
Kasha didn't reply.
His silence made the room feel colder.
Chief blinked, confused by his expression.
So he asked the question himself:
"That masked man… who was he? I only remember the knife… and then darkness."
Kasha answered flatly,
"His name is Luka."
A shock shot through Chief's entire body.
His face drained of color.
His breath stuttered.
"L… Luka?" he whispered.
The cup slipped from his hand.
Tulsi steadied him as he swayed, almost fainting again.
Chief's eyes darted around the room wildly.
"Are… are all of you safe? Did he hurt anyone else?"
"We're fine," Kasha replied. "The guards captured him. He is imprisoned."
"No!" Chief shouted, suddenly standing up despite the pain.
He winced sharply but didn't stop.
"Why did you keep him alive?
You should have killed him!
He's dangerous—
he's not even a man!"
Kasha's eyes widened.
So Luka was telling the truth.
"What do you mean he's not a man?" Kasha asked.
"You don't understand!" Chief yelled. "Luka is not a prisoner—he wants to be there. He came here on purpose. Binding him means nothing!"
Kasha's doubts hardened into certainty.
"Chief," he said quietly, "I spoke to him. I need to clear some things. Alone."
Chief stared at him, fear spreading across his face.
"Whatever he told you… it's all lies," he said quickly. "Don't believe a word."
"That's why," Kasha said calmly, "I want to talk to you alone."
His voice was firm.
Cold.
Almost emotionless.
He turned to Tulsi, Surbhi, and Keshav.
"Please… leave us. Just for a while."
Tulsi hesitated but nodded.
Surbhi touched Kasha's arm softly, worried.
Keshav followed his mother outside.
The room grew quiet.
Kasha poured a cup of water and handed it to Chief Yarul, then sat down.
He inhaled slowly…
eyes glistening with pain.
"I've always considered you like my father," he began.
"I trusted you more than anyone.
So please…
tell me the truth."
Chief Yarul's lips trembled.
He lowered his head, breath shaking.
Then—
to Kasha's shock—
tears slipped down the Chief's cheeks.
"I knew… I knew this day would come," he whispered.
"But I never thought it would come so soon."