Syndicate [Thriller]

Chapter 7: The Road to Kolkata

It was finally time. Everything had been set in motion—years of moves and countermoves were beginning to come together. The Naxalites were in place, the tribes under Tashi's influence had agreed to our terms, and now the last piece of the puzzle lay in Kolkata. My old war comrade, Brijesh, had reached out, desperate for help. The Bhaskarans had taken over his bookies, his control of the Calcutta streets slipping through his fingers. He needed backup, and I had what he needed.

Outside, the car was ready, the engine humming softly in the cool morning air. I took one last drag from my cigarette, flicking the ashes out the window before crushing the butt under my heel. The time had come. We were going to Kolkata, and when we arrived, the streets would feel our presence.

I stepped out of the pub, the door creaking shut behind me. My brothers were already by the car—Vijay, Rangan, and the rest of them. They stood by, waiting for my word, their faces set with determination. The weight of what we were about to do wasn't lost on them. This wasn't just business—it was war.

The car engine rumbled softly as I approached. Vijay leaned against the door, arms crossed, a half-smirk on his face. "All set, Ajay?"

I nodded, my eyes scanning the street before us, the empty road that would soon lead us to Kolkata. "Yeah. It's time."

We piled into the car, the leather seats creaking as we settled in. The air inside was tense but electric. The road ahead wasn't just a trip—it was a step into the heart of the storm. As the engine roared to life, I began to speak, my voice low and measured, the way I knew my brothers would listen.

"The Bhaskarans made a move on Brijesh's territory," I said, lighting another cigarette as the car pulled onto the road. "They've taken his bookies, cut his income, and now they think they own a piece of Calcutta. They don't know how wrong they are."

Rangan, seated next to me, shifted slightly. "And Brijesh? You trust him?"

I glanced at him through the smoke, smirking. "We served together during the war. He owes me more than his life. We fought on the same battlefields, lost men together. Trust isn't a problem."

Vijay chimed in from the front seat, his voice steady. "So, what's the plan when we get there?"

I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke swirl toward the ceiling. "Simple. We meet with Brijesh. Reinforce his position. The Bhaskarans are hungry for power, and they think they can take Calcutta by force. They're forgetting one thing—we've got control. We've got men. And we've got alliances."

"And Tashi?" Rangan asked, leaning forward.

"The tribes are with us," I said, flicking the ash from my cigarette. "Tashi and his people will keep the Bhaskarans occupied on the outskirts. Meanwhile, we take the heart of the city. Brijesh has the manpower, but he needs someone to show him how to use it. That's where we come in."

Vijay glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes sharp. "And if the Bhaskarans push back?"

I smiled coldly. "Then we push harder."

The car sped up as the road stretched ahead, leading us toward Kolkata. The city was a different beast from Siliguri, but it was no stranger to men like us. I could feel the weight of the coming confrontation hanging in the air, the anticipation thick between us. But this was our game now, and the pieces were all falling into place.

As the wind whipped through the open window, I leaned back in my seat, speaking to my brothers with the same calm I'd learned on the battlefields of Europe. "We're walking into a fight, but we've already won. The Bhaskarans think they've got the upper hand, but they don't know what's coming. They've forgotten how this works."