The music was loud, but the two men somehow managed to listen to the question asked by Satin. They turned to him, “Who are you kid?” One of the men, who was in his forties asked with a smile.

Satin shook his head, “I’m no one special, and just heard this somewhere. So aren’t you guys going to join the tournament?”

The younger of two men, tapped the table, “Not everyone can join the tournament. We don’t stand a chance. You have to be a part of a big guild to be there. There’s no way you can stand your ground in there if you are ordinary adventures like us,” He paused and sighed, “And we don’t have a death wish.”

Satin was not hearing any music, the man was not speaking aloud, but he was able to hear and understand most of it. He was right, there’s too much unknown there and it was too dangerous to be there. He was better searching for the job in some product based company or if the current situation persists, service-based will also do for him.

A woman in nearly naked attire came to him. She twisted her waist and touched Satin’s face. She came close to his face, “Why you roam in valleys like a stray dog?” She was lip-syncing with the music playing, “Come stay in my heart, your humble abode.”

Satin took the glass and took a sip, the woman took the glass from him and finished it in a single go.

She winked at him. He turned to the man behind the counter and waved at him to fill the glass once more.

His phone vibrated, he took it out and saw the name. He put it back. It rang again. And again after a few minutes. He clenched his fists and took it out, “Why are you calling me?”

“My mom, she is in hospital. She collapsed suddenly and I didn’t know what to do.” A woman answered him.

“I don’t care whatever happens to your mom or you. We are over, we have been over for a year. Do not disturb me again or I’ll take tough measures.” Satin began to walk out of the club, the swarm of people kept blocking him, and he placed the phone away for a second, “Get off from my face.” He pushed them away and went outside. He placed the phone to his ears, “Yes.”

“Satin, I know I’m being selfish, but she will die. They are saying she needs to be operated soon. Her heart condition is back.”

“Get on to the point already.”

“They are asking for money. Too much money. They asked for half a million.”

“Why are you calling me then? How am I supposed to help you?”

“Satin, you are intelligent, you are smart and you know how to get the work done. You must have moved on, but I’m still there. I’m still there Satin. You must have found many people like me, but for me, there is only one like you. I can’t go anywhere else.” Hearing the sobbing voice, Satin’s hand shook.

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He ended the call and went to his car. He switched off the car light, “ARGHHH!!”

He covered his face with hands. And tried to calculate all his savings. They were no way near the amount she was asking. He checked his suit and found the card. He would pretend to join whatever that man was saying. He would ask the money upfront and when the time of joining would come, he would hide. This was the best he was able to think at this moment.

He called the number mentioned on the card, “This is Satin. I’m ready to join.”

“Okay, come to the same office tomorrow and I will be there.”

“No, I want the money now. Have some emergency.” Satin said in haste.

There was a pause on the other side. Satin could feel the sweat on his palms.

“Well, I can pay you right now. Where we can meat?” The man asked.

“In the parking of ..” Satin told the name of the club and his car’s plate number.

In an hour a man knocked on his door. Satin opened it, he was the same man, “Take this.” He handed him a bag, “Remember, tomorrow at 10 AM. Same office.” He smiled at him and walked away.

Satin pulled the car. On the way, he asked for her address.

He gave the bag to the woman, “Don’t call me ever again. I will not answer your call from now on.” He didn’t wait for the reply.

His legs paused. He didn’t want to do this, “Can I sleep at your house? You will be here for the whole night?”

The woman nodded. She took out the keys and handed them to Satin, “There is some food in the fridge if you feel hungry.”

Satin took the keys.

The house was the same as Satin remembered. Nothing had changed in the past year. He took out the food from the fridge and went to the dining table.

He took one gulp. From tomorrow, he will think of something to return the money to that man and then he will go look for a job.

He left the apartment early, she was already home. He bid a normal goodbye to her.

His destination would be the interview he saw in today’s newspaper. He needs to collect the money quickly and return it to them. If only he could quickly get a job.

He gave the first interview and was going to his next destination. It was well past 10 AM. He was driving fast. A car came parallel to his. His phone ranged, he picked it up.

“Mr. Satin you were supposed to reach the office by 10 AM. Stop the car and follow us, or it will be bad for you.” The man on the phone said.

Satin looked at the car beside him and pulled his car behind it. Well, He could only pray everything goes fine.

They drove some ten miles. The car stopped in front of an under-construction building. Satin saw three men coming out. They waved at him to follow them.

Satin stepped out of his car. They took him to a corner. One of them took a knife. Satin felt uneasy. The two others quickly grabbed his hands.

“What are you going to do?” He shouted. He could almost hear his heart beating.

The man came near to his face, with a single clear movement he sliced Satin’s left ear.

The sensation reached to him after some seconds, “What did you do?”

The two who were holding him pushed him. He fell on his face. The ground in front of him, he could see drops of blood falling.

He covered the wound with hand and looked at the man, he was holding his sliced ear.

“If you want this back, then you have to come with us and do as we say. Are you ready?” The man said, his eyes behind the glasses never leaving Satin for a second.

Satin was clueless. They were serious. He had to accept this.

“Okay, I’ll do whatever you guys need. Just put it back.” He whimpered. The rusty and wet sensation was nauseating to him.

The man nodded towards one of the guys who went somewhere and came back with a first aid kit. He took out a needle and some stitching thread. He took the ear from the man and began to stitch it back. The other two were holding his head and arms.

Satin felt something piercing his skin, and the pain afterward. A tear fell from his eyes.

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