Shadow of redemption

Rakshit left the hospital

Rakshit stepped out of the hospital and into the luxurious car waiting for him. His destination was a resort,   The Royal Haven  , a place owned by one of his business partners. Rakshit had helped the owner during a particularly risky venture, and since then, the Presidential Suite had always been reserved for him, no matter when he arrived. The grandeur of the resort didn’t faze him; he had seen it all. Yet today, as he walked through the opulent lobby, the lingering weight of his injury and the recent events clouded his mind.

The receptionist, familiar with him, greeted Rakshit with a polite smile, quickly leading him to the private elevator that would take him to his suite. The lavish suite, filled with high-end comforts and a view overlooking the city, barely registered in his thoughts as he made his way to the bathroom.

Standing under the warm water of the shower, Rakshit instinctively protected his wound, something he had never cared about before.  Aaravi's voice echoed in his mind,  reminding him sternly not to let the wound get wet. He frowned at the thought, slightly irritated that he was even thinking about it.

“Why do I care?”  he murmured to himself, trying to brush it off. But the truth was, something about her calm persistence, her warm concern, had managed to pierce through his cold exterior, even if just for a few seconds. He scowled, regaining his usual composure and reminding himself of who he was—a mafia king, Phantom, feared by everyone. He couldn’t afford distractions like this.

After the shower, Rakshit dressed in a dark, tailored suit and called Raj, his most trusted man.

"Raj," Rakshit’s voice was gruff as always, but there was a slight undercurrent of something more—perhaps a tiredness or frustration.

Raj picked up almost instantly, his voice filled with concern, “Boss, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for days! Is everything okay? Your phone was out of service. We thought...”

“I’m fine,” Rakshit interrupted, his voice sharp but not without a trace of appreciation for Raj's worry. “I had some… complications.”

Raj’s tone shifted, becoming more anxious. “Complications? Are you injured?”

Rakshit leaned back in the plush chair, looking out at the city skyline. He took a breath before answering, “Vikram.” That one word was enough for Raj to understand. "He betrayed me. We had a fight. I need you to find him, Raj. He can’t get away with this."

Raj's voice filled with anger. "That snake! I’ll find him, even if he’s hiding in hell. No one betrays you and walks away alive. Are you okay? Do you need me to send reinforcements?"

Rakshit allowed a small smirk, appreciating Raj’s loyalty. “I’m fine. Just make sure you find him. He’ll pay for this.”

“Consider it done, Boss,” Raj replied with a steely determination.

After ending the call, Rakshit walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the city’s lights below. The bustling city that he controlled, the dark world he ruled over, felt as familiar as always. But now, there was a flicker of something unfamiliar—a soft light that had come into his life unexpectedly.

He thought about Aaravi again, her soft hands treating his wounds, her scolding like a mother to a stubborn child. It was strange how she treated him like he wasn’t Phantom, like he was just a man who needed care. For the first time in years, someone saw beyond the power, the fear, the coldness that had defined his life.

Rakshit’s chest tightened slightly, not in pain but in a strange, unrecognizable emotion. It was unsettling.  Was he capable of being anything more than the ruthless mafia king?  He quickly shook the thought away, his face hardening once more. He couldn’t afford to dwell on such sentiments. His world was dark, and any light that entered was dangerous, threatening to crack the walls he had built around himself.

Still, as he sat in the quiet of the suite, the image of Aaravi remained in his mind—her warm smile, her unwavering care. He knew he couldn’t let such distractions continue, yet he found himself wanting more of that warmth.

But at what cost?  he wondered, feeling the pull between the darkness of his life and the light she had brought, even if only briefly.

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