RED DAY ORIGINAL

Robin ended the call with a sharp exhale. "Yes, Mr. Chen Yong, my car will pick you up tomorrow morning. Soon, we will start our meeting…"

He paused, listening intently before replying with a hint of authority. "I understand, Mr. Yong… all your needs will be fulfilled. Just ensure that everything goes as planned on your end…"

A brief silence followed before Robin spoke again, his tone final. "Alright, see you tomorrow. Good night, Mr. Yong." He ended the call, placing the phone on the table.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he muttered to himself, "The deal is practically mine. Once it's sealed, uncle will finally see my worth. He'll trust me with more responsibilities in the North empire. This is my chance to prove I'm capable."

Lost in his thoughts, Robin walked toward the dining room, his steps confident but measured. The clinking of plates brought him back to reality.

Hema, busy setting the table, noticed his expression. "What happened, dear? You look tense," she asked gently, concern evident in her voice.

Robin turned to her, his expression softening briefly. "It's alright, Hema," he assured her, but his voice carried an edge of weariness. He took his seat at the table and added, "Tomorrow is a big day for us. The Chinese deal is almost done. Once we close it, everything will change for the better. But..." His voice trailed off, his brows furrowing.

"But what, big brother?" Ritik asked, sliding into his chair, his curiosity evident.

Robin's gaze shifted sharply to Ritik, his eyes narrowing. "Do you think you need to know about this?" His tone was stern, almost dismissive.

Ritik froze mid-motion, the water he was pouring into his glass spilling slightly. He lowered the jug, his movements slow and uncertain.

Robin's voice hardened further as he continued, directing his words to Hema. "Tell him, Hema. A family means sharing—feelings, thoughts, everything. If someone can't do that, it means they don't value the family. They don't deserve it."

The weight of Robin's words hung in the air, his anger unmistakable. Ritik sat quietly, his head bowed, guilt washing over him.

Hema, ever the peacemaker, walked over to Robin and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Robin," she said softly, her voice soothing. "Calm down. You've punished him enough by ignoring him all these days. Remember, he's your brother, after all."

Robin let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly under her touch. But his eyes still lingered on Ritik, a mixture of disappointment and expectation etched across his face.

"It's okay, Hema bhabhi. I deserve all this," Ritik murmured, his eyes cast down, his voice barely above a whisper. The weight of his guilt hung heavily in the air.

He continued, his tone even more subdued, "Maybe I should leave. This dinner doesn't need me anymore." Slowly, he pushed back his chair, rising from the table.

"Wait, Ritik! Stop! At least listen to me," Hema called out, her voice filled with concern. She moved towards him, her hand reaching out to stop him, but Robin caught her arm gently.

"Let him go," Robin said softly, his voice calm yet firm. "He needs space, I guess."

Hema turned to Robin, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Why did you do this to him?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of frustration.

Robin met her gaze, his expression steady. "He needs to understand what family means. This was his lesson." Without another word, he picked up his fork and resumed eating, the clinking of cutlery the only sound in the room.

The tense atmosphere in Robin's house seemed to signal an impending storm, one that none of them were aware of.

Meanwhile, across the city, a man's voice crackled through a walkie-talkie. "I'm at the location... I repeat, I'm at the location."

A reply came swiftly, "Copy. Fifteen hours to go. Get ready."

The man switched off the device, his face set with determination. He began assembling his equipment with practiced ease, his hands moving swiftly but precisely.

"Finding this spot was a challenge," he muttered to himself, adjusting the scope on his sniper rifle. "But it gives the perfect view of where the target will be in the morning."

He paused, checking his gear meticulously. "This hotel room was already booked. Convincing the previous occupant to leave took some time."

With a small, satisfied smile, he continued, "But it's done now. Soon, we'll execute the mission. My babe's waiting for me..." He chuckled softly, a chilling contrast to his words, before settling onto the bed to rest, anticipation buzzing in the air.

On the other side of the city, Suru was tidying up after dinner, her hands moving mechanically as her mind drifted elsewhere.

"Suru, I'm so lucky to have you," Sneha said, her voice warm and grateful as she finished brushing her teeth and headed to bed. "The way you handled everything today... I can't even begin to express how much it means to me. You were amazing. Thank you. Tomorrow, I'm treating you! Be ready!"

But Suru barely heard her. Her thoughts were swirling, caught in a loop of confusion and unease. "It happened again," she muttered to herself. "That strange feeling... those voices. I know I'm not sick. This is something else, something completely different. I have to figure it out."

After putting away the last of the dishes, she headed to the bathroom to wash her face. The cool water was refreshing, but as she looked up at the mirror, she let out a small gasp.

"Oh my God! My face... I've got acne... Oh, no!" she exclaimed, her reflection staring back at her with newfound flaws.

Her shoulders slumped as she touched the blemishes gently. "This must be from all the stress," she whispered. "Since I got back from Prayagraj, I haven't had a moment to take care of myself. My skincare routine is practically non-existent."

Suru sighed, recalling the whirlwind of events. "And then Sneha needed me. I had to stand by her side, and the whole day just slipped away." She rubbed her face with her cleanser, hoping it would bring some relief.

"But at least everything turned out okay. At least now, I can get some rest."

As she dried her face, a sudden memory flashed through her mind—the voice she had heard in the lockup.

"I'm sorry, Manish, but this can't happen."

The words echoed, sending a chill down her spine. She paused, staring at herself in the mirror, the moisturizer still in her hands.

"That voice... it sounded so much like Sneha. But why? What could it mean?" Suru's thoughts raced as she gently applied the cream to her face, the mystery gnawing at her. The answers felt just out of reach, but she knew she couldn't ignore them for long.

Suru slipped into bed, her body weary but her mind still racing. As she lay there, she noticed Sneha beside her, peacefully asleep. Her soft hair had fallen across her face, lightly brushing her closed eyes. Suru reached out gently, tucking the strands behind Sneha's ear, her touch tender and protective.

"She's so adorable," Suru thought, a soft smile forming on her lips. "How could anyone even think of hurting her? Whoever chose to betray her, they missed out on a lifetime of happiness. Instead, that fool is now rotting in a jail cell, his life on the brink of ruin."

She sighed deeply, her gaze lingering on Sneha's serene face. Suru leaned over, turning off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into a comforting darkness. Closing her eyes, she murmured, "Tomorrow is a big day for Sneha. Justice will be served, and Manish will get what he deserves. I need to rest. We can't afford to be late to court."

The room fell silent, but the day's events left a heavy weight on Suru's heart.

Elsewhere, another restless soul battled his own demons.

At 2:20 a.m., under the shroud of a dark Prayagraj night, a man sat alone in his dimly lit room. A half-empty glass of beer trembled slightly in his hand as he stared into the void, his thoughts a chaotic storm.

"Two days," he muttered, taking a slow sip. "That's all I have to crack this case. This bizarre, convoluted mess has to be untangled before it's too late."

He rubbed his temple, the weight of the unsolved mystery pressing down on him.

Suddenly, a soft voice broke the silence. "Papa, I can't sleep," a little girl said, her tiny fingers rubbing her sleepy eyes as she padded into the room.

The man's hardened expression softened instantly. "Oh, my sweet little one," he whispered, placing his glass on the nearby table. He reached out, scooping her into his arms, her warmth a soothing balm to his weary soul.

"Come here, my darling," he murmured, holding her close, the worries of the world momentarily forgotten in the embrace of his beloved daughter.

"Daddy, I can't sleep. I miss Mom," the little girl whispered, her voice heavy with sleep and sadness.

The man's heart softened instantly. "My little warrior is missing her mumma, huh?" he said gently, his lips curving into a soft smile. To lighten her mood, he started tickling her tiny stomach.

Her laughter, sweet and pure, echoed through the room, filling the air with a momentary joy. He chuckled along, basking in the precious sound. Scooping her up, he carried her to the bedroom, tucking her into bed and making sure she was comfortable.

As she snuggled into the blankets, he sat beside her, his thoughts turning heavy once more. "She's so small, so innocent. If this world keeps throwing such harsh realities at us, how will she ever survive it?" The weight of his worries pressed down on him, but he pushed them aside for her sake.

Just then, his phone buzzed, breaking the quiet. He stood, careful not to disturb her, and stepped out of the room to answer it.

"Sir, the autopsy report will be ready by 10 a.m.," came the voice from the other end. "I received a call from the hospital just now."

"Alright, good," the man replied, a bit puzzled. "But you could've informed me in the morning. Why now?"

"Sir, you're leading this investigation as the head of Team Solver. It's my duty to keep you updated on every little detail," the voice explained.

A small smile touched his lips. "Seems like I've got a responsible team this time."

"Absolutely, sir. We're on alert 24/7 for you. However, there's something odd. The way the doctor conveyed the information... I think they found something unusual in the autopsy."

The officer's smile faded as he considered this. "Hmm... could be. We'll find out soon enough. For now, I need some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

He ended the call and leaned against the wall, lost in thought. In different corners of the city, Suru, Manik, and Team Solver were all gearing up for the challenges ahead, each unaware of what the new day would bring. The tension simmered beneath the surface, ready to erupt with the dawn.