đź’” The Contract Groom
The screen remained black.
Silent.
Dead.
But the presence left behind by that final voice still filled the underground room like poison.
"Bring Aryan back."
The words echoed endlessly inside Dr. Prem's mind.
Not because of what was said.
But because of how familiar the voice felt.
A familiarity buried deep beneath years of erased memories.
Sasmita looked at him carefully now.
For the first time—
he no longer seemed completely controlled.
Something inside him had cracked.
His breathing remained calm on the surface.
But his eyes—
they looked different.
Lost.
"Who was that?" Sasmita asked quietly.
No answer came immediately.
Because Dr. Prem himself didn't know.
Or maybe—
some part of him did.
A sharp pain suddenly returned behind his eyes.
Another memory forced itself forward.
A dark office.
Rain outside the windows.
A man standing near him saying—
"One day he'll come looking for the child."
Then another voice replied calmly—
"By then, Aryan will belong to me."
Dr. Prem staggered slightly backward.
Sasmita moved instinctively.
"Hey—"
"I'm fine."
The answer came too quickly.
Too sharply.
He turned away immediately, pressing both hands against the edge of the table.
Trying to stabilize himself.
Trying to think.
But how could someone think clearly after discovering their entire identity was manufactured?
Aarav.
Dr. Prem.
Aryan.
Which one was real?
Behind him, Sumitra Devi remained weak but conscious enough to observe fragments of the conversation.
Her trembling eyes followed him silently.
Pain filled them.
But something else existed too.
Guilt.
Then slowly—
she whispered again.
"…Don't let them take him…"
Sasmita immediately moved closer to her aunt.
"Piusi, who are 'they'?"
Sumitra Devi's breathing weakened.
"The people… behind Tiger Gang…"
A dangerous silence followed.
Because until now, everyone believed Tiger Gang itself was the highest power.
But her words implied something worse.
Something hidden above even them.
Dr. Prem slowly turned back.
His expression colder now.
More focused.
"What do you mean?" he asked quietly.
Sumitra Devi looked toward him again.
Tears gathered weakly in her eyes.
"They used your mind…"
Her voice trembled painfully.
"…to build power."
The underground room fell silent again.
Then suddenly—
a loud noise echoed from upstairs.
Glass shattered.
All three froze instantly.
Sasmita reacted first, grabbing the gun immediately.
Rudra.
Or worse.
Without wasting another second, she rushed upstairs.
Dr. Prem followed right behind her.
Instinct overtaking confusion.
The hallway above had changed completely.
Wind rushed violently through the broken living room window now.
Rainwater spread across the floor.
Curtains moved wildly in the storm.
But the room itself—
was empty.
No intruder.
No movement.
Then Sasmita noticed something near the center table.
A small black device.
Blinking red.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Move!"
Dr. Prem reacted without hesitation.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her backward hard—
just as the device exploded.
The blast shattered nearby furniture violently.
Smoke filled the room instantly.
Glass rained across the floor.
The explosion wasn't huge.
Not enough to destroy the house.
It was a warning.
A message.
Dr. Prem shielded Sasmita instinctively during the blast.
His arm wrapped around her as debris scattered across the hallway.
For one brief second—
everything slowed.
The sound faded.
The storm blurred.
And Sasmita felt something unfamiliar.
Safe.
Then reality returned instantly.
Smoke spread across the room heavily.
Dr. Prem released her immediately and looked toward the shattered wall.
His expression had become dangerously calm now.
"Professional explosive," he murmured.
Sasmita coughed lightly before looking toward him.
"You knew that quickly."
His eyes shifted toward the remains of the device.
"Because I've seen them before."
Another dangerous answer.
Another hidden truth.
Before she could question further—
a laser dot suddenly appeared on the wall beside them.
Both reacted instantly.
Sniper.
Dr. Prem grabbed Sasmita and forced both of them down behind the overturned table just as a bullet shattered the wall above.
Silenced shot.
Professional distance.
Another bullet struck seconds later.
Closer.
"They're outside," Sasmita whispered sharply.
"No," Dr. Prem replied immediately.
His eyes scanned the angle carefully.
"…Higher position."
Rooftop.
Another shot cracked through the room.
Dr. Prem's expression sharpened instantly.
This wasn't random intimidation anymore.
Someone had officially marked them as targets.
Then suddenly—
his phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered without thinking.
Silence greeted him for two seconds.
Then—
that same deep voice from the screen spoke again.
"Your memories are returning faster than expected."
Dr. Prem's eyes darkened instantly.
"Who are you?"
A faint chuckle echoed softly through the phone.
"Someone who built Project Aryan."
The words froze his blood instantly.
Sasmita looked toward him sharply.
"You experimented on children," Dr. Prem said coldly.
"No."
The voice remained calm.
"We created evolution."
Another sniper shot shattered the remaining window violently.
"You're killing people for it," Dr. Prem replied.
"Sacrifice creates progress."
The answer came without emotion.
Without guilt.
And suddenly—
Dr. Prem understood something terrifying.
The real enemy wasn't Tiger Gang.
Tiger Gang was only a layer.
A mask.
Something much larger existed behind it.
Something patient.
Something powerful.
The voice spoke one final sentence before disconnecting.
"Come back willingly, Aryan…"
A faint pause followed.
"…or we'll destroy everyone around you until you do."
The call ended.
Silence returned briefly.
Then another bullet tore through the darkness.
And this time—
the war truly began.