The server room door slid open slowly.
Cold blue light filled the corridor.
Inside, massive screens displayed maps, military routes, satellite feeds… and financial transfers.
And in the center of the room—
A man stood calmly.
Tall. Well-dressed. Confident.
He clapped slowly.
"Impressive," he said. "Two enemies. Fighting together."
Preyajeet tightened his grip on his weapon.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"You can call me… Director Khan."
Akanksha froze.
Her breath hitched.
"You're supposed to be dead…"
Khan laughed softly.
"Death is useful. It removes suspicion."
Preyajeet glanced at her.
"You know him?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"He trained me."
Silence.
Khan walked closer, hands behind his back.
"You were my best operative, Akanksha. And yet… you chose emotion over mission."
She stepped forward despite the pain in her shoulder.
"No. I chose truth."
Khan's expression darkened.
"Truth? Nations don't run on truth. They run on control."
He pressed a button.
Screens changed.
Preyajeet's confidential army files appeared.
Personal details. Family records.
Even classified operations.
Preyajeet's jaw hardened.
"You think fear will stop me?"
Khan tilted his head.
"No. But responsibility might."
Another screen lit up—
A live drone feed near a crowded civilian railway station.
A timer blinked: 12:00
Akanksha's heart dropped.
"What have you done?"
Khan's voice turned cold.
"A small explosion. Enough to ignite panic. India will blame Pakistan. Pakistan will retaliate."
He looked directly at Preyajeet.
"And you will become the spark."
Preyajeet stepped forward.
"Call it off."
"Convince me."
The timer: 10:47
Akanksha grabbed Preyajeet's arm.
"He won't stop. He wants escalation."
Khan smirked.
"Smart girl."
Preyajeet suddenly fired at the control panel.
Sparks flew.
Khan moved quickly, pressing another remote.
The timer continued.
"System is independent," Khan said calmly. "Destroying this room won't stop it."
Akanksha rushed to the main server console.
"I can trace the drone signal!"
Bullets shattered glass near her head.
Khan's hidden guards emerged from behind partitions.
Gunfight erupted again.
Preyajeet moved with deadly precision, shielding Akanksha while returning fire.
"Two minutes!" she shouted.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
Sweat mixed with blood on her sleeve.
Khan pulled out a pistol and aimed at her.
Preyajeet saw it.
He jumped forward—
The shot fired.
Preyajeet staggered.
The bullet hit his side.
Akanksha screamed, catching him before he fell.
He gritted his teeth.
"Finish it…"
Her hands trembled.
The timer: 02:18
Khan approached slowly.
"You both could have ruled the shadows with me."
Akanksha's eyes filled with fire.
"No. We end them."
She typed the final override command.
Signal rerouted.
Drone feed cut.
Timer froze at 00:17
Silence.
Khan's expression finally changed.
Shock.
"You—"
Before he could finish, Preyajeet, despite his wound, lunged forward and disarmed him.
The two men struggled violently.
Akanksha joined, using the last of her strength.
Together—
They overpowered him.
Security forces sirens echoed outside.
Backup had arrived.
Khan was restrained.
The screens around them began displaying one message:
DATA TRANSFER COMPLETE – SHADOW NETWORK EXPOSED
The truth was now public.
No more hidden manipulation.
No more secret war.
Preyajeet collapsed against the wall.
Akanksha knelt beside him, tears falling freely.
"You idiot… why did you jump?"
He gave a weak smile.
"You jumped first."
Her voice cracked.
"Don't leave me."
He gently touched her hand.
"Not this time."
Emergency medics rushed in.
As they carried him out—
He didn't let go of her hand.
Outside, dawn was breaking.
For the first time—
There was no border between them.
Only light.