LUST ROYALE

Chapter-12

-----Chapter-12------

The revelation hit Nandita like a punch to the gut. She had been prepared for The Circle to make a bold move, but this—blowing up the entire venue—was beyond what she had anticipated. The stakes had just been raised to a whole new level.

Ekaksh's face was taut with concern. "We need to evacuate everyone immediately, but quietly. If the guests realize what's happening, there'll be chaos."

Nandita nodded, her mind already racing through their options. "We need to find those explosives and disarm them. Do we have any idea where they might be?"

Ekaksh glanced around the corridor, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "We've got intel that they might be planted in the utility rooms and possibly near the main stage."

Nandita tapped her earpiece. "Advait, do you copy?"

"Copy," came Advait's voice. "What's the situation?"

"The Circle has planted explosives," Nandita said, her voice steady despite the chaos in her mind. "We need to locate and disarm them immediately. We also need to start a controlled evacuation of the venue."

"Understood. I'll get the team on it," Advait replied. "I'll send a few people to help with the evacuation. You handle the explosives."

"Got it." Nandita turned to Ekaksh. "We'll split up. I'll take the utility rooms; you head to the main stage. Meet me back here in fifteen minutes."

Ekaksh hesitated, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of determination and concern. "Be careful, Nandita."

She gave him a reassuring nod, though inside, her heart was pounding. They were both walking into danger, but it was a risk they had to take.

Nandita moved swiftly through the corridors, her senses heightened. The grandeur of the wedding venue, with its intricate decorations and luxurious ambiance, now seemed like a facade hiding a dangerous threat. She reached the utility rooms, which were located behind the main kitchen area.

Her mind raced as she pushed open the door and stepped inside. The room was filled with various supplies—cooking equipment, cleaning supplies, and stacks of linen. She had no idea where to start, so she began methodically, searching through the room, carefully checking behind boxes and beneath tables.

As she moved, her earpiece crackled with intermittent updates. Advait's voice came through, reporting the progress on the evacuation. "We're making headway. Guests are starting to leave. The situation is under control, but we've got to find those explosives fast."

Nandita felt a surge of relief mixed with anxiety. "I'm in the utility rooms. No sign of the explosives yet. I'll keep searching."

She moved deeper into the room, her flashlight sweeping over the dark corners. Then, her beam caught something—a small, black bag partially hidden behind a stack of cleaning supplies. Her pulse quickened. She approached cautiously, carefully opening the bag to reveal a set of wires and timers.

Her heart raced as she realized what she was looking at. These were the components for the explosives. She needed to act fast.

Nandita pulled out her toolkit, the one she had brought for emergencies like this. Her fingers moved with practiced precision as she began to disconnect the wires, disabling the timers. She worked methodically, her training as a doctor coming in handy as she kept her hands steady despite the tension.

She glanced at her watch. Ekaksh should have reached the main stage by now. She needed to finish here quickly and get back to him.

Meanwhile, Ekaksh was making his way to the main stage, his mind focused on the task at hand. The grandeur of the stage, with its ornate decorations and colorful lights, was in stark contrast to the gravity of the situation. He knew that if there were explosives planted here, they would be well hidden.