A Debt to Be Paid

The night swallowed them as Malik and Raju ran through Kasab's narrow alleys. Footsteps followed at first, then faded.

Near the docks, they stopped. Raju leaned against a crate, breathless, his face swollen. Fear was all over him.

"They were Shetty's men," Raju whispered. "I owe money… I thought I could—"

Malik didn't let him finish. "You can't go back home. They'll come again."

Raju's silence was the answer. He knew.

Malik looked around. The city stretched in all directions, but Kasab had no safe corners.

"You should leave," Malik said.

Raju gave a hollow laugh. "Leave? And go where?"

Malik didn't have an answer.

A car passed on the main road. Black. Tinted windows. Malik recognized it immediately.

The slim man.

He stood near a tea stall, watching. Not hiding. Just waiting.

Malik exhaled. "Stay here."

Before Raju could argue, Malik walked toward the man.

The slim man smiled. "I heard you caused some trouble tonight."

Malik didn't reply.

The man took a sip of his tea. "Good." He placed a small note on the stall counter and walked away.

Malik picked it up. An address.

No instructions. No name. Just a location.

Malik knew what it meant.

Kasab had given him a door. Now, he had to decide if he'd walk through it.