The time was 8:58 am. The sun was rising on the horizon, and Karan was standing in his clinic. He was alone in the reception area, staring at the huge portrait of his late mother. She was a middled aged woman, with glowing yet wrinkly brown skin, and had curly black hair with streaks of silver hair on her forehead. In the potrait she had this bright smile, and a toothy grin that always made Karan reminiscent of the past.
Below her portrait was the small stand, hardly big enough to keep anything on it. He uses it to keep his late mother's bangle on it.
The bangle was smooth to touch, older than him, worn by the previous generation of Ahujas. According to her mother, the Ahujas were the last descendants of protectors of some sort. They lost their history and religious legacy in the religious purge of the early 2060s, but they have kept their beliefs alive. Her mother believed that it was their duty to always protect and help people in need.
She didnt like violence. Nor did she ever get to know what Karan was, or what he had done. She passed away knowing that he changed, which he never did, and he was very grateful that his mother never really saw the monster he was.
To this day, he still follows her teaching to honor her. He never got any implants, which could have made him stronger and faster, because his mother believed that the human body is sacred. Implants should not defile it.
He not only runs the clinic, but also helps those in need, even though he really doesn't need to.
Every time he opens his clinic or helps anyone, he wears the bangle in his right hand. It was just his way of honoring the ways of Ahujas, and today was not any different…
Whenever Karan comes back from a long trip, at whatever time, the news always spreads through the slums like wildfire. Today was no different. There was a literal line of people outside his clinic who wanted to get a free checkup from him.
There was a homebrewed AI system that he had prepared that takes care of the people's profile, their medical history, and their appointments. Whoever visits the place would just have to sign in for free. He would treat them, give them medicine, all for free. People who can pay, or want to pay, can donate some amount through the system itself.
It was not a very sustainable practice, considering that resources are scarce resources are in the world. But Karan had set up some legit foundations that get funding from the upper echelons of the city. Some of the money is transferred from his own earnings through various bogus accounts.
Like every other clinic day, today was no different. Poor and malnourished people of every sort came to his clinic. Some were sick from contaminated water, some had wounds that had gone septic, while some were facing conditions whose cure was not with him. But he could only offer them some drugs or medicine, which could just give them enough relief to walk for another day.
It is only after a grueling 6 hours of non-stop patients that today's list of patients was about to be over.
On his patient's check-up bench was an old man in his seventies, with a mouth full of only three teeth, and the old man was smiling constantly, ".. It worked wonders, doc. I lasted a full whole minute, it was a miracle."
Karan didnt find the interaction funny or relatable. Still with a grin on his face, he said, "The drug was supposed to be used for your blood pressure. Not for coitus."
The old man let out a hearty laugh, "Come on, doc, let me live a little. I will surely leave a good word for you.. Wherever my soul eventually ends up. They would sure look out for you."
Karan bloomed a fake smile, "Whatever you say, old man…"
It is then that they heard a small disturbance outside. Curious, Karan slid the curtains of the check-up room and peeked outside. There were two military-grade SUVs outside, all of them bearing Popov family insignia.
"What the.." Karan mumbled.
The Popovs are a very powerful family of District 3. They controlled around one-fifth of District 3. But that doesn't mean that they can enter the territories of other families whenever they want. To maintain neutrality and control, the car bearing family insignia hardly enters the territory of other families. If they even do, they do not take cars bearing insignia.
Which meant whoever was visiting the place had official business in the area. And with his luck, Karan believed that they had come here for him.
And sure enough, a Metallic, armed from arm to boot, walked inside the clinic, pushing away the small line of patients who were left.
He entered and came straight to him, "Are you Doctor Karan Ahuja?"
Acting scared, Karan backed away in small steps, "Yeah.. What dont.. I do… you…" He fumbled with his words, just to sell the act.
"Who the fuck is asking!" the old man yelled from the bench
The goon put his hands on his sidearm holster as he stared at the old man. It was then that Karan acted. He got between the goon and the old man and hurriedly said, "Please do not mind him, brother. The old man has gotten senile with age. He acts this way in front of everyone,"
Seeing his pleading face, the goon put his hands down, "You have been summoned. Let's go. Now." The goon said.
With that, the goon turned around and started walking towards the door. It is then that the old man lost it, "He is not going anywhere, tin head!" This made the goon grunt with annoyance, but he didnt stop and went straight out of the door.
Karan quickly followed behind the goon and saw the trio of Chen, Ahmed, and Dave standing outside. "You guys close the clinic. I have to go for an emergency surgery!" he quickly added.
He didnt want people outside to get riled up as well, like the old man. It was not like they would be able to do anything to the Popov soldiers, it is just that he didnt want anyone to get shot for him.
Which is why Karan practically ran to the SUV to get inside. "You, the iron we gave you, right?" Chen yelled from the entrance of his clinic. To ease his worry, Karan nodded quickly.
Popov soldiers didnt wasted anytime, they quickly got in and drove off…