**chapter - 3**

Back at the base, the atmosphere was buzzing with activity. Abhiraj, though calm on the surface, was restless. The encounter with the mysterious woman lingered in his mind, her piercing blue eyes etched into his memory. He strode into the command room, his mask tucked under his arm, and addressed his team. 

"Technicians, I want everything we can find about that woman," he ordered, his voice firm. "Cross-reference facial recognition, underworld activity, and any reports involving a masked female operative. No stone unturned." 

"Yes, sir!" came the unified reply as the team quickly got to work. 

With the wheels in motion, Abhiraj headed to his quarters, exhaustion weighing on him like a heavy shroud. Just as he sat down on the edge of his bed, his phone buzzed. He frowned, pulling it out to see a familiar name flash across the screen: *Mom*. 

He hesitated for a moment, his fingers hovering over the screen. To his family, he was Abhiraj Malhotra, an ordinary office worker traveling for business. The truth—that he was a soldier leading dangerous missions—was a secret he guarded fiercely to keep them safe. With a steadying breath, he answered the call. 

"Hi, Maa," he said, his voice softening. 

"Abhiraj! How are you, beta?" his mother’s warm voice filled the line, instantly easing some of the tension in his shoulders. "How’s the business trip going? I hope you’re eating properly. You sounded tired last time we talked." 

Abhiraj leaned back against the cold wall, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I’m fine, Maa. The trip’s almost done. Work has been busy, but manageable. I’ll be back home tomorrow." 

"Good, good," she replied, her relief evident. "Your papa was just saying how much he misses you. And your sister keeps asking when you’ll visit." 

"I’ll be home soon," Abhiraj assured her, his tone light but tinged with guilt. He had missed so many family moments, always tied up in missions and operations. But this was the life he had chosen, a necessary sacrifice. 

After a few more minutes of casual conversation—his mother fussing over his meals and asking about his imaginary coworkers—Abhiraj ended the call with a soft "Goodnight, Maa. I’ll call again tomorrow." 

As he placed the phone on the table, the smile faded, replaced by the grim mask he wore around his team. He sighed deeply and lay back on the mattress, staring at the ceiling. The weight of his double life pressed down on him as sleep finally claimed him. 

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**A Few Hours Later** 

The sharp knock on his door jolted Abhiraj awake. He blinked, momentarily disoriented, before the familiar voice of Lieutenant Arjun called out. "Captain, we’ve got something on the woman." 

Abhiraj shot up, the lingering fatigue disappearing in an instant. He straightened his uniform and followed Arjun to the command room, where a group of technicians awaited him. The central screen displayed a profile picture of a woman, her cold blue eyes staring back at him. 

The lead technician stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Sir, we’ve identified her. Name: Shivani Singh. Age: twenty-four. She’s the most powerful mafia lord in the region, leading an organization called *The Black Crescent*. She’s known for her ruthless methods—eliminating her enemies with precision and ruling the underworld with an iron fist." 

Abhiraj’s eyes narrowed as the technician continued. 

"She’s also highly intelligent, a brilliant strategist, and has built a loyal following. Her people practically worship her, claiming she’s brought prosperity to her territories. But to her enemies, she’s a nightmare—cold, calculated, and merciless." 

The room fell silent as the weight of the revelation settled over them. Abhiraj stepped closer to the screen, his gaze fixed on Shivani’s image. The woman who had fought him to a standstill, who had killed The Spider with such ease, was no ordinary enemy. 

"Why was she there?" Abhiraj asked, his voice low and thoughtful. 

"We’re still piecing that together, sir," Arjun replied. "But given her reputation, it’s possible she had her own reasons for eliminating The Spider. Perhaps he crossed her, or she saw him as a threat to her operations." 

Abhiraj nodded, his mind racing. Shivani Singh wasn’t just a new piece on the board—she was a player in her own right, one who could upend everything. But what troubled him most wasn’t her ruthlessness or power—it was the way she had matched him, move for move. 

For the first time in years, Abhiraj felt a twinge of uncertainty. 

Turning to his team, he issued a new set of orders. "Keep digging. I want every detail about her operations, her network, and her movements. And double our security—if she’s as dangerous as she seems, we can’t afford to be caught off guard." 

"Understood, sir," Arjun said, saluting before turning to carry out the orders. 

As the team dispersed, Abhiraj remained in the room, staring at Shivani’s image on the screen. Her eyes seemed to pierce through him, unyielding and defiant. 

"This isn’t over," he murmured to himself. "Not by a long shot." 

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