Chapter 7 : The New Misson

[20 August 2115 (11:55 am) ]

BhattTech's HQ new Delhi NCR

Maharshi(exhales) : Arya did you get the call for congrating from your parents or family ?

A long silence. Too long.

Maharshi frowned, stopping in his tracks.

Maharshi : Arya?

Arya : I didn't get any calls. Not a single message.

Maharshi blinked, caught off guard.

Maharshi : Wait… what? Not even from your family?

There was another pause before Arya spoke, her voice calm. Too calm.

Arya : No.

Something in her tone made Maharshi's stomach twist. He had heard her speak in battle, in strategy meetings, even in moments of frustration—but this? This was different.

Maharshi : But why? This is one of the biggest moments of your life. One of the biggest achievements for your entire bloodline. Why wouldn't they—

Arya suddenly stopped walking. The air around her seemed to shift, darken. Her hands clenched at her sides, her gaze distant.

The guards stationed at the entrance noticed and immediately stepped forward.

Guard 2 : Ma'am, is something wrong? Why did you stop?

Arya inhaled sharply, pushing whatever emotion she felt deep down. Her voice was firm, controlled.

Arya : I'm fine. Thank you for your concern. You can go now. I know the way to the office.

Guard 1 : As you wish, ma'am.

The guards exchanged a glance before stepping back to their posts.

Maharshi, still on the line, exhaled.

Maharshi : Arya… why?

Arya : Because they already knew.

Maharshi : Huh?

Arya : They always knew I would be the one. Since the day I was born, there was no doubt, no question. I was destined to be the strongest. It wasn't a dream. It was an expectation.

Maharshi stayed silent, letting her words sink in.

Arya : They don't celebrate expectations, Maharshi. They only mourn failures. If I had failed—if I had become anything less than what they envisioned—I would have been forgotten. Erased. As if I was never born at all.

Maharshi's grip on his phone tightened.

Maharshi : That's not fair, Arya.

Arya let out a small, bitter chuckle.

Arya : Fair? Do you think I ever had the luxury of knowing what 'fair' meant?

Maharshi clenched his jaw.

Maharshi : But you did it. You achieved what they wanted. You became the strongest.

Arya : Exactly. And that's why they don't need to say anything. Because to them, this was inevitable.

Maharshi : Arya, you deserve more than that.

Arya : I don't need more. I have people who congratulated me. People who stood by me. That's enough.

A silence hung between them. Maharshi exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

Maharshi : Alright… I won't push it. Just… take care, okay?

Arya : I will. Thanks.

The call ended.

Maharshi lowered his phone, staring at the screen for a moment. His expression hardened.

[20 August 2115 (12:00 am)]

BhattTech's dormitory new Delhi

Maharshi (muttering to himself): This isn't right. I shouldn't have asked her that at a time like this…

Maria: Is everything alright, Young Master?

Maharshi (startled): Whoa—!!

Maria, Maharshi's personal maid, had been assigned to him by Radhika, who was too concerned about his well-being to let him live in the dormitory alone. Maria was loyal, emotionless, and strictly followed orders from the Bhatt family.

Maharshi (exhales): How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that? I can't even sense your presence.

Maria: My apologies, Young Master. But I am concerned. Is something troubling you?

Maharshi (rubbing his temple): It's Arya. She's the reason I can't calm my mind.

Maria tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable.

Maria: Young Master has fallen in love. I must report this to Radhika ma'am.

Maharshi (shocked): What?! No!

Maria, as efficient as always, instantly reached for her phone. Without thinking, Maharshi grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid-action.

Maharshi: Maria, that's not what I meant!

Maria blinked, looking at him with the same blank expression.

Maria: You're hiding something. That's rare.

Maharshi (groaning): Just because someone is on my mind doesn't mean I love them. Who even told you that?

Maria: I apologize, Young Master.

Maharshi (sighing): Sometimes I feel like I'm the one taking care of you. And why do you always call Mom over every little thing? She told you to do this, didn't she?

Maria: You are correct, Young Master.

Maharshi: Don't "correct" me. Correct your brain's wiring.

Maria simply nodded, as if taking his words as genuine instruction. Maharshi ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.

Maharshi (groaning, rubbing his forehead): Maria, seriously, one day you're going to give me a heart attack.

Maria (tilting her head): I am programmed to prevent that, Young Master.

Maharshi: Oh, good to know my personal maid doubles as a defibrillator.

Maria: If you require medical assistance, I can call Radhika ma'am—

Maharshi (panicking): NO! Stop calling my mom for everything!

Maria: But Radhika ma'am said—

Maharshi: Forget what she said! You need to develop some independence, Maria.

Maria (pausing, considering the thought): Independence… understood.

Maharshi (suspicious): …Wait. What are you planning?

Maria suddenly straightened up, speaking in a formal tone.

Maria: As part of my newfound independence, I will no longer follow your commands.

Maharshi: WHAT?!

Maria: I will now act on my own judgment.

Maharshi: No, no, NO! That is NOT how independence works!

Maria (ignoring him, taking out her phone): First, I must report my personal growth to Radhika ma'am.

Maharshi (grabbing her phone, panicking): STOP CALLING MY MOM!

Maria: But Young Master, I am now independent. I choose to inform Radhika ma'am.

Maharshi: I TAKE IT BACK! DEPENDENCE IS FINE! TOTAL DEPENDENCE IS GREAT!

Maria blinked at him.

Maria: Are you certain, Young Master? That is highly inconsistent with your previous statement.

Maharshi (defeated, sighing): Maria… I swear, if you weren't a maid, you'd be a lawyer.

Maria: I do have legal knowledge installed. Would you like me to draft an argument on why I should inform Radhika ma'am—

Maharshi: NOOOO!

Maria stared at him for a moment, then calmly put her phone away.

Maria: Understood, Young Master. I will wait until morning to report.

Maharshi (muttering): I need a vacation…

Maria nodded.

Maria: I will book a family trip and inform Radhika ma'am.

Maharshi: MARIA, NO!

[20 August 2115 (12:00 pm)]

BhattTech's HQ new Delhi NCR

Arya reached the office precisely on time. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside with a composed expression, a subtle smile gracing her lips.

Arya: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, Prime Minister.

Kartik Bhatt and the Prime Minister stood near the window, their expressions unreadable, their posture firm. The air in the room was dense with expectation. Arya immediately sensed the gravity of the conversation ahead.

Kartik: Good afternoon, Miss Singh. Please, have a seat.

She nodded and sat down. The silence that followed was deliberate.

Kartik: First of all, congratulations. Your achievement is commendable.

Prime Minister: Thanks to your clan, our nation is better equipped to handle the toughest situations.

Arya dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment.

Kartik: I trust you understand by now what it truly means to be the 7th Ati-Khatarnak Shreni's Srapit Jadugar.

Arya (calm, unwavering): Exactly, sir. I know my duty. My mission aligns with the nation's safety and the protection of its moral fabric.

Kartik studied her, his sharp gaze searching for any sign of hesitation. He found none.

Kartik: Good. Because from this point forward, your actions will not just define you but will reflect upon your entire bloodline… and this country.

Arya: I was born for this, sir. I will not falter.

A moment of silence. Then, a flicker of approval passed through Kartik's eyes. The Prime Minister gave a small nod.

The real discussion was about to begin.

Kartik leaned back slightly, his fingers interlocking as he measured his next words carefully.

Kartik: The government and BhattTech have high expectations of you, Arya. You are no longer just an individual warrior—you are an asset of national importance.

Prime Minister: Your actions will shape not only the battlefield but also the perception of our nation's strength. This power… it comes with weighty responsibilities.

Arya: I understand. My strength is not mine alone. It belongs to those I protect.

Kartik (nodding): Then let's get to the real reason you're here.

He slid a tablet across the table. Arya picked it up, her sharp eyes scanning the classified document displayed on the screen. It was a mission briefing—one that bore the highest security clearance.

Arya: A classified operation…?

Prime Minister: More than that. A turning point.

Kartik: There's a situation developing in Kashi. An anomaly. Something beyond ordinary intelligence and warfare.

Arya's fingers tightened around the tablet. She had seen these kinds of reports before—cases where the boundaries between science and the supernatural blurred.

Arya: You suspect a Srapit Entity?

Kartik: No. We are certain.

Prime Minister: And not just any entity. The readings indicate something ancient… something powerful. Perhaps even a remnant from before recorded history.

Arya's expression didn't change, but inside, she felt a rare stir of unease. If the government was acknowledging an entity openly instead of burying it under classified files, it meant one thing—this was beyond their control.

Arya: What do you need me to do?

Kartik: Recon first. If it's hostile, neutralize. If it holds valuable information, extract. But if it's something we cannot control—

Prime Minister: Destroy it before it becomes a threat.

A heavy silence settled over the room. Arya exhaled, nodding.

Arya: Understood. I'll leave immediately.

Kartik: You won't be going alone.

He pressed a button on his desk. The door behind Arya opened. She turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as two figures stepped in.

The first was Pratham Patel, his usual smirk absent, replaced by a rare look of seriousness. The second was a woman Arya hadn't seen before—her posture rigid, her uniform marked with BhattTech insignia.

Kartik: Pratham, you already know. The other is Agent Riva Malhotra—a specialist in paranormal warfare. She will assist you on this mission.

Arya met Riva's gaze. The woman's dark eyes betrayed no emotion, but Arya could sense something beneath them. Experience. Ruthlessness. Someone who had seen the worst and survived.

Arya: I work best alone.

Kartik: Not this time. We cannot afford mistakes.

Arya held his gaze for a moment before finally nodding.

Arya: Then we leave now.

Kartik: Dismissed.

As Arya turned to exit, Pratham fell into step beside her.

Pratham (muttering): This is going to be fun.

Arya: If you slow me down, I'll leave you behind.

Pratham (grinning): Now that sounds like you.

Behind them, Riva followed in silence. The hunt had begun.

To be continue