Raghav kept making his rounds, visiting each of the family's establishments one by one. At every stop, he performed the same sacred routine—unlocking the cash boxes, logging into the systems, and setting the day in motion. It was tiresome, but necessary. Finally, he arrived at the last stop: the theme park. His face lit up the moment he stepped out of the car—this was his favorite place of all, a world of color and chaos where responsibility felt a little lighter.
The theme park sprawled wide like a carnival kingdom, bursting with rides that promised thrills for both children and adults. Colors danced across the skyline—roller coasters twisted overhead, and ferris wheels stood tall like sentinels of joy. But the vibrant view was overshadowed by the dense crowd gathered outside the gates. People pressed forward anxiously, murmuring in impatience. The park hadn't opened yet—because the ticket counter, bound by tradition, still waited for one person to unlock it.
"Oh Raghu, you are here." a distant voice called to Raghav while he was walking towards the cash counter.
Amid the restless crowd stood a girl with striking purple hair that shimmered under the morning light. She wore a blue top adorned with delicate frills at the shoulders and a flowing cream-white skirt that brushed against her ankles. With a sweet, innocent charm in her expression, she stood out from the sea of faces—waving her hand eagerly, her sparkling purple eyes met with Raghav's.
"Ah, Amayra."
The moment Raghav spotted her, a bright smile lit up his face, and a faint blush crept across his cheeks. Without a second thought, he hurried through the crowd, weaving between people with a newfound energy, heading straight toward her.
"Hey, I didn't know you were waiting here. I am so sorry I came so late, why didn't you texted me or gave me a call. I would have come here first rather than all the other places." he said
"What do you mean?" she asked
[Oh right, she doesn't know about all that tradition thing.] Raghav concluded
"Don't worry, I will get the park open now."
"Um, Raghu."
"Yup?"
"You know it's already 12 O'clock in afternoon."
"What about that?"
"I mean, you are still in your pajamas. So..."
Raghav looked at himself and grew instantly embarrassed embarrassed because of how he looked in front of his childhood friend.
"Ah, this you see."
"Hey, Raghav." a voice called to him
"Yes, coming. Sorry Amayra I have to go." he quickly got away from there and went to the cash counter.
At the counter stood a guy slightly younger than Raghav, waiting patiently. Unlike Raghav, he had striking green hair and matching eyes he got from his mother. He wore a black jacket paired with leather pants, his appearance sharp and deliberate.
"Yo, how you doing bro." the guy greeted him
"Thanks Suraj, you saved me there."
"Saved you?"
"Forget it, let's do the thing already."
Raghav did the same thing he did at the mall.
"Okay, let the crowd in now. The line is already so big." Suraj ordered his employees after Raghav finished.
"Let's pick up papa now that I am here." he put his hand into his pocket but there was no phone in his pocket.
"Shit, I left it at home."
Raghav went back to where his car was parked. His driver was lying and waiting in the car. He was a blonde handsome guy with a nice fit body as he was also Raghav's bodyguard, he straightened up as soon as he saw Raghav coming back.
"Sandeep, give me your phone. I forgot mine at home." he said to driver
"Sure, young master" he replied and gave his phone to him.
Raghav dialed the number and put it on his ear.
"Hello Sandeep, liste-" Mukesh was talking with a panting sound while speaking from the other side of call
"Papa papa, it's me Raghav. I am calling from Sandeep's phone. I am standing right outside the park, where are you?" he interrupted him
"Son, listen to me, we have been betrayed. Run run their target is you." Mukesh continued while panting like he was in a hurry.
"Relax papa, what are you talking about." Raghav realized something serious is going on
As he was talking, he suddenly felt a tremendous pain in his abdomen.
*Ah* *groans*
He put his hands on his stomach and look down. There was a blade piercing his stomach which was inflicted from behind.
Raghav looked back with a painful and confused expression.
"Wha-, why" he said in a shock
Standing just behind him was his driver and bodyguard, Sandeep. His face was unreadable, not a flicker of emotion in his expression. He stood there calmly, one hand gripping a knife with quiet confidence.
"I missed the vitals on purpose as ordered."
"Sandeep, what are you" Raghav didn't know what to say, he was filled with pain and confusion at the same time.
"Oh, I wasn't talking to you, previous young master. I was talking to your cousin."
Raghav reached toward the knife, and as his hands neared the blade, it disintegrated into blue ash. The glowing particles swirled around his fingers before sinking into his skin—like the weapon had been absorbed by his power.
In an instant, the knife vanished completely, and Raghav broke free from Sandeep's grasp. But the relief was short-lived—pain still throbbed from the wound, sharp and unforgiving.
"Doing the show-off of your powers as always, huh." the voice was of neither Raghav's or Sandeep's.
Suraj joins the scene with a sinister smile on his face.
"Suraj, you-you planned this?" Raghav asked him
"Yeah, that's right. Mr. heir, I told Sandeep to not kill you because I wanted to torture you by myself." Suraj exclaimed with big laugh.
"Sandeep, you were papa's most faithful. I never imagined that you would be the one to backstab me." Raghav said while looking into Sandeep's eyes from a distance.
"Fuck the faithful and loyalty, you think I am some kind of dog. Even after so many years, my wages equal to that of a servant. A whole 10 million just couldn't compare to that." he said with anger and clenched his fist.
"Enough with the chit-chat. Sandeep, seize him for me." Suraj shouted with an ordering tone
"No." Sandeep answered
"What, did you just say no?" Suraj was surprised
"You paid me for the successful abdomen backstab which I did. The job is done, I have earned enough for my family. I am no longer a part of this whole Agars drama." he said while turning swiftly and started walking
"Smartasses, I don't like them." The moment Suraj spoke those words, flames erupted from Sandeep's body, engulfing him entirely in a sudden, furious blaze.
*aah**screams*
Sandeep's screams of agony echoed through the air as his skin began to melt, the fire consuming him mercilessly.
"Suraj, what the hell. Stop it" Raghav exclaimed in worry and an expression of fear appeared on his face
"Now you get it mama's boy. This is not some joke going on or some prank your brother is pulling on you, it is for real. This is the end."