The same week the previous HS Kolar student's lineage was spread through rumours, both the child student of Kolar and his mistress' mother had disappeared into thin air…

No one knew the true identity of the child's father, but it was clear he held a high-ranking position and was incredibly powerful—brutally cruel enough to 'banish' his own child and his mother to keep the secret hidden. No one wanted to become entangled in a conspiracy like that because many of the whistleblowers who spread such rumours were ‘dealt with’ in ominous and unspeakable ways.

When Abhi decided to hide his lineage, he unknowingly implied a parallel to a case like this, it made everyone hold their breath. Getting involved in such matters could jeopardize not only their jobs and social standing but also their safety. Consequently, everyone decided it was best to suppress their curiosity and avoid engaging in the conversation with Abhi.

Noticing the sudden shift in the people, the conductor, Naru, felt the pressure from his peers and chose to end the discussion casually. "I see. Well, have a good day. I'll get back to work." After saying that, he manoeuvred his way past a few passengers and started fiddling with his ticket printing device, much like a boy walking past a group of girls might distract himself with his phone

Abhi was somewhat perplexed by how the lively conversation had abruptly halted, but he didn’t dwell on it too much into thinking about it, yet he somehow knew something bad was happening.

Left to his own thoughts, Abhi felt a bit more relaxed. He leaned against the railing beside him and sighed. Reflecting on the day's events, he felt a mixture of fatigue and happiness. It had been a day filled with making friends and finding companionship with someone of high standing, like his principal. Despite the cramped and dirty environment, the ride home felt oddly comforting and serene, the mechanical sounds of the moving bus just added to the ambience rather than breaking the immersion—it was a good day in Abhi’s life.

In this relaxed state, Abhi's gaze wandered to the scenery around him. He looked out of the bus's windshield and observed the terrain which was almost entirely dark except for the areas highlighted by the bus’s headlights.

To his right, another lane of vehicles was ascending the mountain and even further right lay the rocky surface carved through the mountain. To his left stood large barricades erected to prevent vehicles from plunging off the steep cliff beside the road as Bharat followed a left-lane system. Beyond the cliff, far below, he could see dark farmlands and swaying crops. Since it wasn’t fully night yet, there were no lights illuminating the fields, except for a few scattered huts with their residential lights used by workers.

The names High City and Low City were quite literal. Nixtom was a circular city situated inside a crater on a flat, deserted land. At its centre rose a steep but dwarf mountain, atop which lay a plateau holding all of High City. And the colony surrounding the mountain's base was known as Low City.

Low City primarily featured farmlands at the southern and northern ends, while the eastern and western ends were populated with low-quality housing for less fortunate workers, as well as slums and factories producing significant pollution. In contrast, High City boasted commercial offices, upscale residences, most schools, and hospitals.

Currently, there was only one route to travel from High City to Low City: a hillside pathway carved through the mountain swirling around it. Due to the steepness of the mountain, it was impossible to directly descend from High City to Low City. The Yin and Yang pathways were affixed around the mountain's circumference, with one starting at the eastern edge and the other at the western edge of High City, both encircling half the mountain.

Thus, as Abhi made his way to the eastern bus station of High City, his bus would travel around the mountainside to reach Low City, eventually stopping at the mountain's foot on the western end, known as the Yang stop.

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Time passed in a haze as Abhi used the tranquil ride to catch his breath. Subconsciously glancing at a passenger's wristwatch, he noted it was 7:45 PM. "Only 15 minutes until work starts…" Panic fluttered in his chest, but he quickly reassured himself there was nothing he could do at that moment.

Soon the bus arrived at Yang stop. While most passengers felt unfortunate for not having a seat during the ride, Abhi felt differently. He was grateful to stand by the door because as soon as the bus arrived at its destination, he could jump out without waiting in line like the others trapped deeper inside the crowded vehicle.

And that’s exactly what he did. He waited a few seconds for the half-open doors to fully open, then swiftly jumped out and began running like a cat chasing a rat.

He dashed as fast as he could, careening past the bus station like a bullet. He ran and ran, passing many huts, tents, and battered buildings. Though all areas in Low City were generally considered “poor,” the western region was particularly dire—it was a hotspot for gangs and slums, as well as a dumping ground for factories.

…

Just ahead of Abhi's path, a group of junkies were smoking cigarettes on the street. One of them noticed Abhi running hurriedly and decided to pull a prank on him—by sticking his leg out to trip him. But to his surprise, when he kicked his leg out in front of the speeding Abhi, the slick-looking young student, with an urgent expression and luggage on his back, front-flipped over the leg and landed in a dirty puddle of water.

By coincidence, or perhaps Abhi's pre-planning, the dirty and shallow puddle splashed at the perfect angle, soaking the prankster's face and extinguishing his cigarette.

“Dog sh*t!” the junkie exclaimed, throwing down his wet cigarette in anger.

“Nah, I’m pretty sure it was dog p*ss,” Abhi replied, grinning widely while maintaining his speed.

The junkie wiped his face, and along with his friends, attempted to seek revenge. He ran after Abhi. However, their dusty lungs didn’t stand a chance against the especially swift Abhi. He soon left the huffing group behind and turned a few corners before finally reaching home.

Knock, knock, knock. Gasping for air, he knocked on the door.

Abhi and his mother lived in a modest apartment on the bottom floor of a two-story building. It was a one-room kitchen flat, but it was acceptable for the two of them since it only housed Abhi and his mom. He was particularly concerned about his job because it not only supported him financially but also provided their living space; the company granted the apartment as “living quarters."

Abhi considered himself especially lucky—not only had he secured a job that many in Low City could only dream of, but he had also received an apartment that, despite its small size, was exclusively for employees at his level. Some of his less fortunate colleagues had families of five or more living in the same cramped spaces.

The job was irreplaceable for Abhi, especially since they adjusted the timing of his shifts to accommodate his school schedule. He really needed to be on time for his first day.

After a few moments, the door to his home finally opened, revealing Abhi's mother, Archana. She was a beautiful woman dressed in a classic brown kurta, adorned with matching greenish-blue bangles and a long reddish-brown stole wrapped around her neck. Although she was the mother of a 17-year-old, she appeared no older than 30. Her gentle eyes were a pristine green with a hint of blue, and her skin had a slight fair tone with a tint of brown. As she brushed her dark black hair away from her face, her hands were dusted with flour from the dough she had just been working with.

Archana's primary source of income came from preparing tiffins for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for dozens of people, many of whom were Abhi's former colleagues who lacked anyone to cook for them. She was well-educated and often assisted Abhi with his studies, but as an abandoned orphan herself with no family or identification, she found it challenging to secure a high-paying job, particularly in western Low City. As a result, she relied on her cooking skills to make a living.

“MOVE!” Abhi said, trying to keep calm.

“Hey! Watch your tone, little boi. That’s no way to speak to your mom,” Archana replied. “And why are you so late? Did something happen at school? Or wait—have you started getting into fights again? Why are you so out of breath? Why—” her motherly concern was interrupted.

“Okay, wait, wait! I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything later, but I need to change into my work uniform as fast as possible. I’m just really late,” Abhi said. Glancing at the wall clock hanging across from him he gulped nervously as he saw the time: “7:58 PM.”

……….