Chapter 68: The Arrival

Flashback Arc - Chapter 2

"The Arrival at Dibrugarh"

Dibrugarh Railway Station – 5:30 AM

The train screeched to a halt, metal grinding against metal, as the morning mist clung to the air. Dibrugarh.

Mri stepped off first, his red eyes scanning the area. This city had a different air—heavier, thicker, charged with something unspoken. The towering buildings, the chaotic streets, the distant honking of rickshaws and bikes—it was a far cry from the peaceful riversides of Majuli.

Ishu and Kai followed, stretching as they adjusted to their new surroundings.

> "Feels different," Kai muttered, pulling his backpack higher on his shoulder.

Ishu smirked. "Welcome to hell."

> "Not hell yet," Mri corrected, his voice low. "That comes later."

Aamon was supposed to meet them at the station, but there was no sign of him. Mri checked his phone. No messages.

Ishu frowned. "Where the hell is Aamon?"

Kai pulled out his own phone, but before he could dial, a sharp whistle caught their attention.

> "Over here."

They turned.

A young man with wild black hair, sharp eyes, and a half-smirk stood near a tea stall, sipping from a small cup. Aamon.

His clothes were wrinkled like he had been up all night. The last two years had changed him. He looked older, tougher—like someone who had seen things he didn't want to talk about.

> "Took you long enough." Aamon's voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it.

Mri walked up to him. No words were needed.

They gripped each other's hands—a silent acknowledgment of what lay ahead.

Kai grinned. "Did you even sleep?"

Aamon exhaled through his nose. "Do I look like I sleep?"

Ishu crossed his arms. "So? What's the situation?"

Aamon's smirk faded. His expression turned serious.

> "Not here. Let's go somewhere quiet."

Aamon's Hideout – 6:15 AM

Aamon led them through the narrow alleyways of Dibrugarh, past early morning vendors setting up their stalls. The air smelled of chai, fried samosas, and damp earth.

They arrived at an abandoned warehouse near the river, hidden between two old buildings. Inside, a single mattress, a chair, and a desk cluttered with papers and maps filled the space.

Ishu raised an eyebrow. "This is your hideout?"

Aamon threw his bag down. "It's not much, but no one bothers me here."

Mri walked over to the desk, eyes narrowing at a photo pinned to the wall.

A man in his late 30s, wearing a dark coat, stood in the middle of a street, his face partially turned away.

Mri clenched his fists. "Him?"

Aamon nodded. "Diroj Sen. That bastard."

Ishu's expression darkened. "So he's the one who…"

Aamon's jaw tightened. "Yeah. He killed my family. And I finally found him."

Kai sat down on the desk, arms crossed. "Where is he now?"

Aamon exhaled. "He's deep inside the city, protected. He's not just some random murderer. He's connected."

Mri's eyes flickered. "Connected to what?"

Aamon's voice dropped lower. "The underground."

Silence.

Kai let out a slow breath. "Well, that complicates things."

Ishu shook his head. "Then we'll just tear through them."

Aamon smirked. "That's the plan."

Mri leaned forward, his voice steady.

> "How do we get close to him?"

Aamon tapped the map. "Dibrugarh Academy."

Kai frowned. "What's the connection?"

Aamon's eyes gleamed. "Diroj's nephew is a student there. And Diroj himself visits often."

Mri nodded. "Then that's our way in."

Ishu leaned against the wall. "And once we're inside?"

Aamon's smile was cold. "We hunt."

Dibrugarh Academy – 8:00 AM

The massive iron gates of Dibrugarh Academy loomed ahead. It was nothing like their old school in Majuli. The campus was huge, with towering buildings, well-dressed students, and a heavy security presence.

As they walked through the gates, Mri, Ishu, Kai, and Aamon knew one thing—

> This wasn't just a school. It was a battlefield.