(Starts the second the Rolls-Royce stops at the palace gate – 00:00 sharp)
The gates opened by themselves.
Same cherry blossom driveway.
Same pink petals.
But tonight they looked blood-red under the car's headlights.
The palace was exactly as we left it three years ago.
Not a speck of dust.
Lights off except one golden spotlight on the throne.
Fluffy walked in first.
No hesitation.
Crown already solid gold on his head again.
Red eyes burning brighter than ever.
I followed.
The butler closed the giant doors behind us with a sound like a coffin lid.
Fifty new bodyguards lined the walls.
Younger. Meaner.
All wearing tiny ruby pins shaped like dog paws.
Fluffy climbed the throne and sat.
The butler handed me a new black envelope.
Thicker this time.
I opened it.
Inside:
- One photograph: the little girl from the old videos (now 17–18 years old), standing in a school uniform, smiling.
- One line in golden ink:
"She is alive.
Save her.
Or lose everything again."
My hands went cold.
Fluffy looked straight at me and did something he had never done before.
He spoke.
First time in ten years.
Voice deep, calm, exactly like a human's, but with a slight electronic echo.
"Her name is Aria Oberoi.
My daughter.
They took her six hours ago.
You have 72 hours."
I couldn't move.
The dog who never spoke just spoke.
Fluffy stood up on the throne, cape materialising out of nowhere.
"New contract, Vikram.
Same salary.
Same rules.
But this time… failure means the end of the Oberoi bloodline."
He jumped down, walked to me, and placed one paw on my shoe.
Red eyes locked on mine.
"Find my daughter.
Bring her home.
Or I burn the world until I do."
The butler snapped his fingers.
A wall slid open revealing an arsenal: guns, gadgets, black credit cards, fake passports… everything.
Another wall opened: a giant screen with live footage.
Aria tied to a chair in a dark room.
A countdown on the wall behind her.
71:59:59
71:59:58
71:59:57…
Fluffy turned and started walking toward a hidden elevator.
His voice echoed without him moving his mouth this time.
"Clock is ticking, assistant.
Welcome back to the job."
The elevator doors closed on his glowing red eyes.
I was alone in the throne room again.
Same palace.
Same dog.
Same nightmare.
Only difference?
This time it was personal.
I grabbed the first gun I saw,
checked the magazine,
and ran after him.
72 hours.
One girl.
One billionaire dog.
And a city that was about to learn
Fluffy Oberoi never really retired.
He was just waiting.
**To be continued…**