December 3, 2019 – 5:45 AMMehrauli Ridge – Clearing

  Ashu arrived before sunrise. The cold bit through his jacket, frost clinging to the grass. He stretched quietly in the dawn stillness, waiting.

  Footsteps crunched behind him.

  “You’re early.”

  Imran emerged from the trail, gym bag slung over his shoulder. His breath fogged in the winter air.

  “You said sunrise,” Ashu replied. “I don’t like being te.”

  Imran raised an eyebrow. “At least you listen.” He dropped the bag on the ground. “Let’s see if you follow instructions too.”

  He barked an order. “Fifty push-ups. Now.”

  Ashu dropped immediately, hands braced against the frosty dirt. His muscles burned by thirty, shook by forty, but he finished.

  “Not bad,” Imran said. “Run ps. Five rounds. Go.”

  Ashu obeyed. Each round left his legs heavier, his lungs tight.

  By the time he staggered back, dripping sweat, Imran nodded. “You’re stubborn. I’ll give you that.”

  Ashu straightened. “You’ll need stubborn people.”

  Imran studied him. “I don’t even know what I’m training you for, kid.”

  Ashu hesitated. “Something’s coming.”

  “Something?”

  “A breakdown.” Ashu met his eyes. “Systems. Power. Food. People. All of it.”

  Imran’s gaze narrowed. “You sound like a prepper.”

  “I sound like someone who’s seen it happen.”

  Imran’s lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re still talking in riddles.”

  “Because if I tell you the truth right now,” Ashu said quietly, “you won’t believe me.”

  Imran exhaled sharply. “Then you better earn it.”

  He tossed Ashu a battered sparring glove. “Gloves on. You want to prove yourself? Show me how you fight.”

  ?? Mehrauli Ridge – 7:30 AM

  Ashu’s arms trembled as he blocked another blow. Imran’s fists moved like iron hammers.

  “Guard higher!” Imran snapped. “You’re too stiff!”

  Ashu gasped, adjusted, barely caught the next punch.

  “You’re slow. But you’re learning.” Imran stepped back, lowering his gloves. “You’ll need speed if you want to st in real fights.”

  Ashu wiped blood from his lip. “I’ve fought worse.”

  Imran raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Street brawls?”

  “Something like that.”

  Imran tossed a towel at him. “Tomorrow, same time. Bring a mouthguard.”

  Ashu caught it with a faint smile. “I’ll be here.”

  ?? Neel ? Ashu“Your radio picked up another weird signal. Intermittent burst. Same frequency as yesterday.”

  ?? Ashu ? Neel“Log it. Every second matters.”

  ?? Neel ? Ashu“You seriously think the government’s hiding something?”

  ?? Ashu ? Neel“Not hiding. Trying to contain. But they’ll fail.”

  ?? Neel ? Ashu“…Bro, you’re scaring me again.”

  ?? Ashu ? Neel“Good. Stay scared. It keeps you moving.”

  Mehrauli Ridge – 8:00 AM

  Ashu sat on a bench, drinking from a pstic bottle, arms heavy with exhaustion.

  Imran walked over, watching the trainees pack up.

  “You coming back tomorrow?”

  Ashu nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have 38 days left.”

  Imran frowned. “Left for what?”

  Ashu stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

  “To get ready.”

  He started down the trail.

  Imran watched him go, thoughtful.

  [SYSTEM ALERT: Void Log 005 unlocked.]

  Ashu gnced at the notification fshing faintly in his vision.

  And in the distance, faint sirens echoed over the city.

  ?? End of Chapter 4