By morning, the city was under the control of the Vow.
Devendra Malhotra, acting through the corrupted Commissioner Patil, declared state martial law. The regular police were stripped of their authority, replaced by armored Malhotra enforcers and the elite Chaya-Dutas.
"Curfew is twenty-four hours," a metallic voice broadcasted from a hovering drone. "Any citizen found on the streets without authorization will be processed as a hostile agent."
The streets were empty. The shops were shuttered. Malhotra enforcers patrolled the avenues in groups of four, carrying heavy Aetheric rifles and portable dark-light scanners that could detect bio-electric spikes.
In Dharavi, the citizens were forced into their homes. Anyone suspected of helping the resistance was dragged out into the wet streets.
"They're searching block by block," Rahul said, slipping back into the sewer junction. His clothes were soaked, and his face was smudged with dirt. "They're using local informers. We can't stay near the surface anymore."
"The people are terrified," Rohan said, his voice tight. "We need to show them that we can still fight."
"No," Vikram said, looking at the map. "Not yet. If we fight them on the streets now, they'll crush us. We must strike the heart."