10 October,2023

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Morning 4:00 am

In the silent hours before dawn the world was still wrapped in the last embrace of sleep while a man in late 20s sat cross - legged on the cold stone floor draped in a simple white dhoti. His eyes were closed hands were joined his body still as sculpture.

The soft glow of the oil lamp casted flickering shadows on the wall behind Shiv Linga before which he knelt in reverence. The silence was broken by his chanting that flowed smoothly from his lips.

"ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्।"

He recited the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra his voice steady with peace and power. Before the Mahakal, the Shiva, Lord of Death Veeransh Raghuvanshi found his only semblance of solace.

As the last syllable faded into the stillness he opened his eyes. With a bow he concluded his ritual and rose to feet.

Back to his chamber the transformation began.

The saffron clad ascetic was now gone. In his place stood the ruthless heir of the Raghuvanshi legacy. Draped in a tailored charcoal grey three piece suit his frame oozed authority. His hair sleek and gelled was set with meticulous precision. A black rolex graced his wrist ticking away like a silent herald of doom. 

Standing before the balcony his hazel eyes wandered to the horizon.

"The sun rises again they say, even after the darkest nights," he murmured, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Maybe for nature. But human life? Bullshit."

Hi phone buzzed. He accepted the call with a swift swipe. A gruff voice echoed from the other end.

"Good morning, Boss." 

A nonchalant hum was his only reply. "What's the update?'

"We got them."

A sinister smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.  "Give them the special treatment." he said, his voice sharp and final.

"Understood, Boss."

He ended the call and exhaled rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What a beautiful start to the day!" he muttered with biting irony.

Downstairs the dining hall buzzed with lighthearted chatter. His younger brothers were busy pulling each other's legs. But the moment Veeransh entered silence fell like curtain. 

"Morning everyone." He greeted. 

Arav, Kairav, Ayansh straightened up instantly. Despite their love for their elder brother  a flicker of fear always lingered in them. Veeransh was their protector but he was also unpredictable like a calm sea that could swallow you whole. 

"Good morning, beta," said Padmini ji, his grandmother offering him a gentle smile. The only woman in the household, she alone dared to fuss over her four grandsons especially the eldest. 

Veeransh nodded and took his seat. And as always the prayer was whispered before they began to eat in silence as was tradition. 

                       ｡.* ☆ *. ｡

The black SUV halted in front of an abandoned textile mill on the outskirts of the city. Vines crept along the rusted gates shattered of glass lined the windowpanes and the walls bore the scars of time. But behind its worn facade lay a dungeon a personal purgatory Veeransh had crafted for those who dared to cross him. 

As the stepped out the atmosphere turned more colder. Men stood straighter their eyes lowered. His mere presence commanded reverence and fear alike which he earned for years.

He walked into the dimly lit dungeon where two battered figure lay chained. Bloodied, bruised and barely conscious after screaming for a long time. At the sight of him terror passed through them. 

"Please....." one croaked, his lips split and bleeding. "Kill us. We can't take it anymore."

Veeransh's boot clicked sharply on the stone floor as he moved closer, his expression unreadable. He sat on a chair crossing one leg over the other with elegance that felt almost out of place in the dingy room.

"Tired already?" he asked with mock sympathy, his voice laced with venom.

"Sir.....I have a family," the other begged trembling. "Children ..... a wife .... please... have mercy."

Veeransh's eyes narrowed as his voice dropped to a deadly whisper.  "Did you think of my family when you plotted to have them killed while I was away?"

"N-o, we didn't mean to-"

"Save your apologies for your god," he snapped, dead and final.

"Forgive us! Please, just don't-"

"Shut up," he growled.

A nod to his right-hand man, Daniel and a red-hot iron rod was brought forth which was glowing ominously in the dim light. The prisoners' eyes widened in horror. One began to sob uncontrollably and the other tried to crawl back only to be held down. 

"You know what I love the most?" Veeransh asked walking over to them. "The look in your eyes right now. That fear."

He held the iron rod aloft. The rod met flesh with a sickening sizzle. The raw guttural screams erupted. But his face remained impassive. His enemies writhed in agony until they could scream no more. The smell of charred skin filled the air.

And then silence. 

"They're dead." Daniel confirmed. 

"Burn their bodies. Leave no trace," he ordered turning away.

As he walked out of the dungeon the faintest trace of peace settled over his face not the peace of redemption but the twisted calm that comes from vengeance fulfilled. 

This was Veeransh Raghuvanhsi the name that made enemies lose sleep the shadow in which even death hesitated to tread. A man carved by pain, ruled by silence and feared for his ruthless justice. 

One wrong step and you don't just fall, you descend into his hell. 

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