Family Matters

Diljeet turned to Anant, "Get our men ready. I've had enough rest. We're going to Afghanistan to bring back some weapons." Anant sprang into action, and within the next five hours, they were ready. Fifteen cars filled with men, dust flying as they sped towards Kabul. It took them eighteen hours to reach their destination. Upon arrival, their front party had arranged a hotel for them to rest. They stayed for a day before heading to the meeting spot in Kabul.

At the meeting spot, they were told to wait outside. Anant felt insulted and was ready to storm in, but Kuljeet and Diljeet calmed him down. After forty minutes, they were called inside. The room was large, with a huge table surrounded by ten chairs and guns on every surface. Armed men stood around the room, and Diljeet's armed men flanked him as he approached the main man, a sixty-year-old with a long white beard.

Diljeet greeted him warmly, "Salam, sir," and hugged him. "How are you, sir?"

The man, Rufi, responded, "I am good. How are you, young man, after that prison break? And where is Labu, the hero of that break?"

"Labu is busy with other business, but he sends his regards, Rufi saab," Diljeet replied.

"I doubt that," Rufi said, laughing. Diljeet and Kuljeet joined in, but Anant remained stoic.

Rufi gestured for Diljeet to sit beside him, "Only the main man has the authority to sit beside me, not the side cast."

Anant bristled at the insult, but Kuljeet discreetly restrained him, and Diljeet gave them a calming glance.

"Bring some Kabuli pulao for our friend," Rufi ordered. Then, turning to Diljeet, he asked, "Why did you bring fifteen cars full of men here? Are you planning to kill me?"

Diljeet smiled, "No, Rufi saab. I wanted to show you that we are as powerful as ever, so you can trust us. And you know, Rufi saab, even if we wanted to kill you, we couldn't. You're in your territory, more powerful than us, and most importantly, the organization would kill us all if we did such a thing."

Rufi laughed, "I know, Diljeet. So you still know your place, huh? That's good."

As they ate, Diljeet asked, "So, Rufi saab, what's the delay? Can we grab our trucks and go?"

Rufi smiled, "So you don't like my company? That's why you want to leave early?" He paused, then continued, "I want to talk about something. Let's finish our food first."

After the meal, Diljeet asked, "Can we talk now?"

Rufi's demeanor changed, "I'll come straight to the point, Diljeet. I want Anant's head."

Shock rippled through the room. Diljeet, trying to stay calm, asked, "And why would you want that?"

Rufi's voice hardened, "Your guy killed five of my men who were trying to cross the Indo-Pak border. They were my close ones, going to make an important deal, and this dog shit Anant ruined it all."

Anant, in full rage mode, shot back, "I didn't know they were your men. When I beat the shit out of them, they said they were making a deal with our rivals. That's all I needed to know."

Rufi, now furious, retorted, "And you didn't bother to ask who they worked for?"

"I didn't need to. They were going against us, that was all I needed to know, you old prick."

Rufi, enraged, tried to pull his pistol on Anant. But Diljeet, with cold precision, asked, "Does the organization know about all this?"

"Yeah, sure they do. Now, can I have his head?"

Diljeet's tone turned icy, "What if I say no?"

"You think you can deny me, you worm? I am more important to the organization than you guys. If you say no, I'll have all your heads rolling under my feet," Rufi threatened, raising his pistol.

In a swift motion, Diljeet drew his own pistol and shot Rufi in the head, leaving a gaping hole. "They are my family, and family matters more than anything to me," he said, his voice steady and unwavering.