The Rathod estate stood isolated against the vast Rajasthan desert — stone walls rising from the sand like a memory that refused to fade.

It was not called a palace anymore.

Titles had been stripped decades ago.

But power did not leave with names.

Kabir Rathod's office was carved into the heart of the ancestral estate — thick sandstone walls, high ceilings, silence heavy with history. This was where kings once decided wars. Now, decisions were quieter... and deadlier.

Kabir stood near the arched window overlooking the desert, dressed in a dark suit that contrasted sharply with the heritage behind him. Thirty-seven years old, calm, controlled — a man raised among stories of rule, loyalty, and bloodlines.

The Rathods had ruled long before borders were drawn.

Before law learned to wear uniforms.

And some legacies never truly ended.

Men sat across the table from him — industrial heads, legal advisors, trusted intermediaries. None of them were foolish enough to mistake this meeting for an ordinary business discussion.

"Proceed," Kabir said quietly.

That single word carried finality.

No arguments followed. No questions were asked.

Files closed. Agreements were sealed.

Kabir Rathod did not negotiate authority. He inherited it.

The meeting dispersed silently.

Kabir remained where he was, eyes scanning the desert horizon. He had learned young that stillness revealed more than movement ever could.

His phone vibrated.

Once.

He didn't look.

A second vibration followed — coded.

Kabir's expression changed subtly.

Route compromised.

Delay unacceptable.

That wasn't possible.

Nothing connected to Rathod operations moved without precision. The desert had taught his ancestors one rule — disorder meant death.

Kabir dialed immediately.

Veer Rathod answered.

"Where are you?" Kabir asked.

"Jaipur outskirts," Veer replied. "Kavya's with me. What happened?"

Kabir's voice remained steady. "Lock internal channels. Quietly."

A pause.

"You sensed something," Veer said.

"Yes."

That was all.

Veer didn't question him. He never did.

⸻

Underworld Operation – Rajasthan Border

The meeting location lay far from cities — an abandoned stone structure near the Rajasthan border, chosen for its isolation and silence.

Kabir arrived personally.

That alone should have warned them.

The desert night was cold. Wind moved sand like whispers. His men were positioned, alert — yet something felt wrong.

Kabir noticed it instantly.

One man avoided his eyes.

Another shifted his stance too late.

Betrayal always announced itself — if you knew how to listen.

The first gunshot came from behind.

Pain tore through Kabir's side.

Then another.

And another.

The world fractured into heat, impact, and instinct.

Kabir dropped, rolled, returned fire with lethal precision. Blood soaked his shirt, but his mind stayed sharp. This wasn't an assassination.

It was a test.

With shaking fingers, he sent a single message to Veer.

NOW.

⸻

Veer & Kavya – Reaction

Veer's phone buzzed.

His body moved before his mind caught up.

"Kavya," he said sharply.

She was already opening encrypted feeds. "Signals just dropped across three routes."

Veer's jaw clenched. "Someone's testing us."

Kavya looked up slowly. "They're testing him."

Veer grabbed his keys. "They picked the wrong bloodline."