Encountering the Family: A Twist of Fate and a Shocking Encounter

A few hours had elapsed since Akash's recent meeting with the individual from the Mafia. Now, he found himself escorted to a building in close proximity to Elgin Road by the very same individual

"Where are we, uncle?"

The guy from Mafia looks at Akash

"Welcome to the headquarters of the Pal Mafia Family, the organization you'll be working for. From this very place, we exercise control over our territories and businesses"

("Pal" is used as a surname rather than a synonym for "friend")

Akash nods in understanding and gazes around with a sense of awe

"This place is so big and luxurious"

The man chuckles

"Glad you liked it, kid"

Akash looks back at him

"Are you the boss here uncle?"

The man smiles but shakes his head

"I'm the underboss, not the don, in simple words I'm the second in command"

Akash nods

"Ohhh... I just realized that this place isn't very far from my college."

The man chuckles

"Oh? Which college do you attend?"

"Jadavpur University"

The man pokes Akash's forehead

"Is that why you're good at fighting?"

Akash looks away in embarrassment

"w-what do you mean?"

The man chuckles

"You know damn well what I meant by that"

(Fights sometimes occur at Jadavpur University, where students from various political groups often gather near the college entrance. Occasionally, these gatherings result in clashes among students)

Akash looks back

"Well I never fought or attended those gatherings, complete waste of time and energy"

The man nods

"You're a smart kid"

Akash looks up at him

"hey uncle, what's your name?"

"Arun Chatterjee"

"ohh ok ok"

Akash thinks for a moment

"What is our purpose here? I thought that I was going to become part of the Mafia"

Arun pats Akash's head

"waiting for the boss, he'll be here soon"

"ohh you mean the don?"

"yeah, actually let's go inside the meeting room and wait there"

Akash looks excited to meet the other people from Mafia

"OK I can't wait to meet other people from Mafia"

Arun chuckles

"Others aren't as kind as me so don't offend others"

"oh ok"

Arun leads the way to the meeting room and Akash follows him quietly

"We're here, you ready Akash?"

Akash takes a deep breath

"Yes! Let's do this"

Arun opens the door and enters the room and Akash follows him inside the room.

The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with smoke.

A long table dominated the space, surrounded by intimidating figures in well-tailored suits.

The air was heavy with an unspoken aura of authority and danger.

Everyone instantly stood up and bowed down before Arun to show their respect towards the Underboss

"w-woah they all respect you, uncle"

Akash said in awe as Arun replies

"If you rise through the ranks in the future, they'll respect you as well"

Arun takes his seat at the designated spot, while a captain stands up and poses the first question

"Who's the kid, sir?"

Arun sighs

"He's a new recruit I brought, one of the best if I say so myself, he single-handedly finished those rats from Bansdroni"

"Finished?"

"Yeah, he killed all 8 by himself with a single metal pipe"

"HE KILLED ALL 8?"

The entire room gazes at Akash, their expressions filled with acceptance and appreciation

Akash puts a nervous grin on his face

"You got potential kid"

A Ravager says to Akash

(Ravager is an enforcer team leader in Mafia)

"Thank You, uncle"

Akash smiles

"Little brother, do you know who we are?"

A female high-ranking official questions Akash in a deep voice

"Umm yes, Uncle Arun told me you all are part of the Pal Mafia Family"

The female official nods

"Yes, we're known for that and you do realize that we're criminals right?"

Akash quickly nods

"Yes, I know big sister. And after having killed those eight guys earlier, I don't consider myself innocent either"

The female official smiles mischievously

"You'll be a fine addition to the family, what's your name?"

"It's Akash"

"Akash, sky eh? let's see how high in the sky can you fly in the future"

(Akash means sky in Bengali)

Arun smiles

"I have high hopes for him"

30 minutes pass by

"Where the hell is Abhishek Da? He was supposed to be here 30 minutes ago"

Arun says annoyed as suddenly a guy barges into the meeting room

"It's bad news, Mr. Arun, Our boss, Don Abhishek, got shot by the cops on his way here"

Everyone immediately stood up and looked at the guy but Arun spoke first

"Son of a...! How the hell did they manage to get him?"

"I don't know all the details, but they caught him off guard. It was like they knew his every move.

They were waiting near Tollygunge crossing and suddenly stopped the boss's car and started firing guns blazing.

I swear, there must have been at least 280 of them as per the news!"

Arun slams his hand on the table

"Unbelievable! That's a small army! Did the Don make it out alive?"

"No since today was a puja day, the boss didn't take any guards or his men with him and I wish I could say he did, but they overwhelmed him.

The Don fought like a lion, but the sheer numbers were too much. He didn't stand a chance against that many policemen at once"

The room falls into silence as Arun sits down on his chair

"Damn it! The Don was our guiding light, the one who held us together. How are we going to survive without him?"

The bearer of news silently exits the room, leaving the other members devastated by the sudden blow, as they sit down on their chairs

The female official from earlier speaks first

"Arun. It's a devastating blow. But we can't let his death go unanswered. We owe it to the Don to avenge him, to make those cops pay for what they did"

Arun looks devastated as he looks up to the female official

"How? Spill it, Anindita. How the hell did this happen? Now that the don's dead, our so-called allies will be quick to ditch our alliance. And mark my words, those four families will swoop in to claim what's rightfully ours, leaving us high and dry. The boss was the glue holding this whole damn operation together, and now it's all falling apart"

". . ."

Another moment of silence

"Can't argue with that"

A Consigliere(Advisor) speaks first

"We need to fill up the boss's position before everything's over, since Mr. Arun was the Underboss it's natural that he takes the lead"

Arun shakes his head

"I'm not cut out for giving orders. Arun Da offered me the leadership a while back, but I turned it down because I know I'm not suited for it."

Everyone looks at him

"Then who'll be the new boss"

Arun smirks and points directly at Akash.

"He will"

The room descends into an eerie silence, thick with tension. Moments later, a synchronized chorus of voices breaks the stillness as everyone speaks up in perfect unison

"WHAT?"

Chapter 2: Kolkata Chronicles - The Rise of the Underworld... still the beginning of the story, a lot more awaits