Once upon a time a warrior

The Avenging Blade

Flashback

In the bustling town of Gorkha, at a dimly lit bar with rustic wooden tables and a few flickering candles, Avneet, Vikrama, and Guru Kailash sat around a table. The air was thick with the aroma of aged whiskey and tobacco smoke.

Vikrama eyed the glass of alcohol in front of Avneet with concern. "That's alcohol. You should really avoid it."

Avneet, with a defiant glint in her eye, took a hearty gulp. "I don’t care. I just want to try it. I want to know what it tastes like." She grimaced as the bitter liquid slid down her throat. "It tastes awful, but there's something... it makes me feel alive."

Guru Kailash, observing the scene with a raised eyebrow, interjected, "Isn't that meat?"

Vikrama nodded. "Yes, it is."

Without hesitation, Guru Kailash picked up the glass and tossed it into the dustbin, much to the surprise of everyone at the table.

"What's the matter with you?" Avneet asked groggily, her head drooping as the alcohol began to take its toll.

Just then, Pravin arrived and took a seat at the table with a purposeful demeanor. "I’ve made inquiries. Kalaven will be here soon. Our plan is simple: we need to pour this poison into their drinks and eliminate them."

Guru Kailash's eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and vengeance. "It's not just about poison. I want to cut their heads off and exact my revenge."

Pravin shook his head, dismissing the suggestion. "That won't be as effective as this poison. It’s the most excruciatingly painful poison available. It will make them suffer in ways they can’t even imagine. There's no antidote till now."

Guru Kailash, his enthusiasm reignited, embraced Pravin warmly. "I must have misjudged you. You’re not useless after all."

Avneet, struggling to stay awake, muttered, "You figured it out. I knew it too. He’s been deceiving us the whole time. He’s a great... a great...zzz."

She fell asleep abruptly, her head lolling to one side.

Pravin looked at her with a frown. "What happened to her? Did she drink alcohol?"

Vikrama, clearly uncomfortable, stammered, "I tried to stop her, but she drank it before I could intervene."

Guru Kailash, peering at Avneet, asked, "What’s she saying?"

Pravin, his gaze shifting to Vikrama with a hint of annoyance, replied, "It’s not important. I’ll handle Kalaven. You come with me in a few minutes. Vikrama, mix this poison into Kalaven's drink."

He handed over a small vial of poison. Vikrama nodded solemnly as Pravin went to join Kalaven and his entourage who had just arrived and were now ordering drinks.

Pravin approached the group, his demeanor casual but calculated. "Hey, I’ve heard you guys are quite popular around here. I need a girl for myself, and I’m willing to pay for it."

One of Kalaven's friends eyed Pravin skeptically. "Who are you? We usually help people we know."

Pravin smiled smoothly. "I’m Pravin, son of merchant Jalan Sultan."

Present:

The old man leaned in, continuing the story with a hint of nostalgia. "This is one of the mistakes he regrets."

Pravin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

The old man, with a knowing look, replied, "He mistakenly mentioned Avneet's father’s name as his own."

Pravin frowned slightly. "Okay. And what about that?"

The old man’s eyes held a mysterious glint. "You will soon find out."