Ayaan navigated the final alleyway leading back to his apartment, his mind surprisingly calm after his high-stress brush with Professor Durga on the way.
The academic panic had faded, leaving behind a clear head. With that newfound peace of mind, he slowed his pace, letting his thoughts wander for some time, and started to walk toward his building once again.
Outside the building, the tactical team sent by Aakash Kaushal stood exactly where they had parked, their faces a collective picture of utter, absolute bewilderment.
"Hey... did we somehow get the coordinates wrong?" one of the men asked, shifting his heavy boots and aggressively scratching the back of his head as he stared at the blank wall of the housing structure.
"I have no fucking clue, man," another guard grumbled, checking his tactical tablet for the third time. "Is it possible they changed their living place? The data said he registered this exact address with the university administration."
Up on the higher floor, Sunidhi was still looking down at them through the glass pane of the window. The slight, mocking smile never left her face as she watched the highly trained operatives pace around in useless circles like lost children.
Ayaan finally reached the entrance of the narrow alleyway that led directly to his apartment block.
The moment he stepped past the brick threshold, the first thing his eyes locked onto was the pair of sleek, pitch-black SUVs idling near the mouth of the lane. Their tinted windows and polished metal gleamed unnervingly under the dim streetlights.
Huh. Why are these luxury vehicles parked out here? This looks really out of place for a neighbourhood like this, Ayaan thought to himself, his inner warning bells softly ringing.
With that suspicious thought anchoring his mind, he continued to make his way toward his apartment, the familiar, sharp stench of the alleyway immediately rising to assault his nose.
"Uhh, I swear to God, one day I am going to buy a whole bottle of perfume and spray the entire damn place down here," he muttered to himself, waving a hand in front of his face.
But before he could even finish his complaint, a sudden, high-pitched ringing pierced his ears. The chaotic noises of the city vanished, replaced by the distinct sound of a calm, unnatural breeze whistling from the front of where they lived. A split second later, his entire body started to tingle with static energy, and his jaw flared up with an intense irritation.
He raised a hand and scratched his beard roughly. "Why the hell am I having this itch all of a sudden?" Ayaan muttered under his breath. But his irritation instantly turned to shock as, riding on the back of that calm breeze, he felt a massive, suffocating accumulation of dense prana radiating from his doorstep.
The moment Ayaan recognised the sheer weight of that prana density, he abandoned his casual walk and bolted toward the apartment. The moment he rounded the final corner and reached the landing, the first thing he saw was six men in tactical combat suits staring right at his front door.
These six heavily armed men were staring at the entrance with eyes as wide as saucers, completely paralysed by what they were witnessing.
"W... what the fuck? Am I dreaming right now? How the hell did this door just appear here all of a sudden?" one of the operatives muttered, his voice shaking as he stared at the wood that had literally materialised out of thin air before them.
Inside the apartment, Sunidhi now had her eyes tightly closed. Her shoulders heaved as she panted softly, the immense spiritual strain taking its toll. The deep, swirling golden clouds that usually occupied her pupils had suddenly bled into a sharp, volatile crimson.
"Huh. What are you guys doing here, and who exactly are you?" Ayaan asked, stepping into the open and looking at the six men crowded around his doorstep.
The tactical team's initial confusion regarding the vanishing cloaking field instantly evaporated the moment they heard his voice and saw him standing right in front of them.
The man with fairly short hair and a jagged scar cutting across his left cheek snapped out of his daze first. He looked at Ayaan and then quickly glanced down at the high-resolution photo provided by their employer. "He's the guy; take him. And keep him unharmed if possible," the scarred man barked, instantly issuing the order to his squad.
"Woah, woah, guys. Why so violent? Calm down a little," Ayaan said, raising his hands in a loose surrender gesture.
As he spoke, his perception quietly swept over the group to gauge their cultivation levels. His eyes widened slightly as he took a peek at their hidden strength: four of them were firmly established at the second stage of the Yoddha rank, while the remaining three were operating at the absolute peak stage of Sadhaka.
Fuck... am I really the only weak one in this entire city? Ayaan muttered to himself inwardly, realising his current prana couldn't match their raw numbers.
"Look, guys, let's not cause a massive public scene out here. I surrender," Ayaan said to the men, choosing strategy over a meaningless brawl.
The scarred leader let out a loud, disdainful sneer. "Oh. He is just a coward after all. Tch. "What a massive waste of tactical resources," the man commented dryly. "Take him."
"Well, can I at least know where you guys are taking me?" Ayaan asked casually as they grabbed his arms. The only reply he received was a series of low, hostile grumblings from the men, so Ayaan didn't think much of it and willingly entered the back of the SUV.
The very moment his boots cleared the frame of the car, a thick, heavy blindfold was aggressively tied over his eyes by one of the guards.
"Wait, a blindfold? Seriously? I think you guys have definitely got the wrong person. Just so you know, I am not interested in boys," Ayaan joked,
"Shut up, brat," the man sitting in the front passenger seat growled, turning around to glare at Ayaan with menacing, bloodshot eyes. "If only I had the boss's explicit permission to hit you right now..."
Upstairs, Sunidhi watched the dust settle through the glass pane, catching one last glimpse of the SUVs as they sped away from the alleyway. "Well... I certainly didn't expect him to just willingly go along with them. I wonder what you are up to this time, little brother," she murmured to the empty room
With a soft sigh, she turned away from the window and entered the kitchen to start preparing something for dinner.
On the other side of the situation, Ayaan had been travelling in total darkness for almost half an hour. The bumpy roads finally smoothed out, but the air in the SUV remained suffocating.
"Uhh, since you guys have already covered my eyes, can you please give me something to cover my nose as well? No offence, but you literally smell like a pig," Ayaan said, tilting his head toward the guard next to him. The guards' muscles tensed, their knuckles turning white as they forcefully controlled the burning temptation to smash his teeth in.
After another long hour, the heavy vehicle finally came to a complete halt. They dragged Ayaan out, guiding him through a maze of opulent hallways until they reached a grand, secure office where Aakash Kaushal sat waiting behind a mahogany desk.
"Sir, we brought him," the scarred leader reported, stepping into the room first.
"Good. Bring him inside and stand guard at the door," Aakash commanded, his voice dripping with authority.
"Yes, sir," the man replied. With a rough jerk, they ripped the blindfold from Ayaan's face and pushed him into the centre of the room.
The moment Ayaan headed inside, the cooperative, scared face that he had played in the alleyway completely vanished. It was instantly replaced by a calm, effortless smile.
"Hello", Ayaan greeted, looking around the lavish office before resting his eyes on the billionaire. "The way you sent a literal tactical convoy to kidnap me... I believe you are Ritesh's father. You know, you really could have just called me if you wanted to meet. There was absolutely no need to send such an expensive convoy to my doorstep."
"Would you have actually come if I just called you?" Aakash asked, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinised the young man standing before him.
"Well, of course," Ayaan said smoothly. He walked right up to the heavy desk, completely ignoring the guards, and casually picked up a premium cigar from the expensive box sitting on the table. "Why else do you think your son is still alive right now, huh?"
Aakash's calm demeanour shattered, his face turning a dark shade of crimson as his voice rose to a dangerous pitch. "Don't be so arrogant, kid! I can have you wiped from this earth with a simple flick of my hand!"
"You can, true", Ayaan replied, his tone remaining perfectly level. He picked up a gold lighter from the desk and sparked it, lighting the tip of the cigar until it burnt evenly. He took a slow, deep drag, exhaling a thick cloud of grey smoke across the mahogany wood. "Ahh... this taste. Damn, this is good. Give me some more of these to take home if you have a spare box."
Ayaan's playful smile suddenly dropped, his eyes freezing over into a cold, lethal gaze as he leant slightly over the billionaire's desk.
"And Mr Aakash... don't mistake my silence for weakness. If my life is currently sitting in your hands... then your son's entire life is firmly held in mine."