Jwala Vayu
Chapter 5 - Rising Tensions
Sanju’s leadership gained momentum as a social media campaign encouraged people to follow survival protocols. Meanwhile, Pratap monitored his rise closely, hiring individuals to oversee Pune’s reconstruction efforts.
Small conflicts arose between Rahul and Pratap, with Sanju constantly acting as the mediator. Pratap used his financial influence to gain the support of powerful individuals, leaving Sanju struggling to bridge the gap between different groups.
On social media, people began calling the storm THANOS Storm, likening its disintegration effect to the infamous supervillain. However, a sage emerged and officially named it Jwala Vayu (Firestorm).
Sanju confronted Rahul. “Why do you hate Pratap so much?”
Rahul scoffed. “When I needed capital for my business, he acted like an angel investor. I didn’t realize the devil’s horns were hidden behind his money. He made shady deals, involved dangerous people, and when I questioned him, he fired me—only to hire me back as a consultant just to control me.”
Sanju frowned. “What kind of deals?”
Rahul’s face darkened. “Drugs.”
Sanju exhaled sharply. “And money bought him out of trouble.”
Rahul nodded. “Now he’s back—same arrogance, same greed.”
Sanju sighed. “If he overpowers me, Pune will become divided.”
Before Rahul could respond, Samarth rushed in. “Guys! We have a situation.”
They arrived at a Pune Cantonment Area, where Captain Surya Ranade briefed them.
“A convoy was headed here, and we protected it for a while. But now...”
“But?” Rahul pressed.
Surya’s face turned grim. “They’re stranded on the Mumbai-Pune Highway. They’ve survived some storms, but one more, and they won’t make it.”
Sanju checked his watch. “Two hours until the next storm. Even our vehicles won’t survive the storm’s impact.”
Samarth smirked. “I have an idea. You won’t like it.”
The team arrived at Pratap’s Research & Development Facility, where advanced vehicles were being developed.
Rahul groaned. “I’d rather be thrown into the storm than ask him for help.”
Pratap smirked. “The storm might be a better option than dealing with me.”
Sanju cut in. “Enough! We need to save soldiers. You mentioned something on the call?”
Pratap motioned toward three modified trucks equipped with heavy-duty fans, reinforced armor, and high-powered loaders to push obstacles off the road.
“These are fully packed, airtight, with built-in oxygen supplies and storm-resistant armor,” Pratap explained.
Surya nodded. “Impressive.”
“Take them,” Pratap offered. “They’re ready.”
Sanju, Rahul, and Surya each took a truck and raced toward the stranded convoy. As they moved, vehicles were thrown aside with the loaders, clearing a path.
Rahul checked the time. “Thirty minutes left!”
Sanju saw the soldiers’ damaged vehicles ahead. “One kilometer more!”
Surya signaled to the soldiers. They boarded the trucks just in time.
Rahul exhaled. “Now what?”
Pratap’s voice crackled over the radio. “Now—watch.”
The storm engulfed them. The trucks’ fans activated, creating a barrier of air that deflected the worst of the storm. With no gaps, the vehicles held firm.
Minutes later, they sped into Pune’s safe zone.
Pratap stood at the cantonment area, smirking. “Nice work.”
Rahul scowled. “Looks like a deal with the devil actually worked.”
Samarth chuckled. “Saw that one coming.”
As the soldiers were treated and stationed, news arrived from Roy in Delhi.
“The storm has spread across India—moving toward Pakistan and beyond.”
Sanju barely had time to process this when a fighter jet roared past.
“What the hell?!” he shouted.
Surya immediately contacted the Indian Army.
“That’s not one of ours,” the response came.
Pratap launched drones for a closer look. The jet opened fire, destroying them.
Rahul analyzed the images. “It’s a terror organization from Afghanistan and the Taliban. They’re targeting major Indian cities.”
Samarth’s face paled. “A terror attack during an apocalypse?!”
Sanju gritted his teeth. “Perfect timing for them. Cause more destruction, then seize power.”
A Battle in the Sky
Surya and his men opened fire, but the jet retaliated, injuring soldiers.
Rahul checked his watch. “Fifteen minutes until the storm!”
Sanju predicted, “They’ll retreat before it hits.”
Above, the pilot’s voice crackled. “Ten more minutes, then return to base.”
As Sanju rushed toward the base, the fighter jet launched a missile. He barely pushed Surya aside in time.
The Indian flag fell. Rahul dived, catching it just before it hit the ground.
Sanju lifted a rail gun. “Damn, it’s heavy.”
Rahul smirked. “Told you to hit the gym.”
Together, they fired, clipping the jet.
The pilot panicked. “I’m hit! Damn it!”
The jet wobbled.
Rahul grinned. “He’s in range.”
Sanju took one final shot. The bullet pierced a wing.
The pilot fired his remaining missiles, but the storm arrived. The missiles collided mid-air, neutralizing each other.
The jet crashed.
Pratap analyzed the wreckage. “Its windows were storm-proof.”
Rahul narrowed his eyes. “Then why did Jwala Vayu feel weaker?”
As the storm ended, soldiers arrested the pilot.
Surya examined his ID. “Rehman Kazi, ex-Afghan Air Force.”
Rehman smirked. “Throw me into the storm… before it’s too late.”
Sanju folded his arms. “I thought Afghan cricketers were cool guys.”
Rahul sighed. “Not all fingers are the same, Sanju.”
As Roy confirmed similar attacks in Mumbai, Sanju sighed. “Storms, terror attacks… what’s next?”
Venkat’s voice came through. “We’re analyzing patterns—but stopping Jwala Vayu is proving nearly impossible.”
Samarth suddenly called them over. “Look at this.”
On screen, an image of Kedarnath Temple appeared—untouched, burning flames glowing.
The sage there sang a prayer, blessing them. Meanwhile, in his office, Pratap smirked. “Make more trucks—we’ll weaken them. If survivors try to leave Pune…
We’ll make sure they don’t.”
Jwala Vayu
Chapter 6 - The Turning Point
Sanju arrived at Pratap’s R&D Facility. “You called?”
Pratap leaned back. “I know you all hate me—rich brat and all. But I am actually helping Pune. The trucks? They worked. And there’s more where that came from.”
Sanju crossed his arms. “If you expect me to trust you, you’re mistaken. But if what you do helps Pune, then fine.”
Pratap smirked. “Glad to hear it. Drone technology is booming—so I built shelter colonies outside Pune. Food, water, better housing. We can fit over 100,000 people in each.”
Sanju nodded. “Sounds good, but what’s the catch?”
“No catch,” Pratap assured him. “If people want work, they can be sent there.”
“I’ll ask around,” Sanju said warily.
Sanju and Rahul announced the job opportunities, and many needy people volunteered. However, Sanju soon noticed something odd.
“Where are their husbands?” he asked.
The women pointed inside the shelters—where their drunk husbands lay, passed out.
Rahul shook his head. “No surprise. The reports said most deaths were drunkards and men lying on roads.”
Sanju sighed. “Time for Plan B.”
Rahul, Ashish, and others dragged the drunkards outside, just as the storm approached. Their wives barely reacted.
The men pounded on the doors, begging for help.
Sanju folded his arms. “If we save you, will you work tomorrow?”
“YES!” they shouted.
Sanju nodded and let them in just before the storm hit. From that day forward, alcohol was strictly controlled in the shelters.
As the group discussed ways to stop Jwala Vayu, Kiara pointed at the screen. “What are these two anomalies?”
Mona frowned. “Those are times when the storm was less effective.”
Sanju’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
At that moment, Captain Surya walked in, laughing.
Rahul smirked. “What’s so funny?”
Surya grinned. “Two of our soldiers were on duty during a storm. One stuck his hand outside—and nothing happened. Right after that terrorist’s missile explosion.”
Mona’s eyes widened. “Wait… didn’t Rahul say the same thing? The storm felt weaker?”
Rahul nodded. “Yeah. It did.”
Sanju’s mind raced. “I think I know why.”
Surya raised an eyebrow. “What’s the connection?”
Sanju paced. “When Narendra Sir died, there was an explosion—a gas pipeline ignited. The storm only lasted 50 minutes instead of 2 hours!”
Kiara gasped. “The fire created an explosion—and the storm weakened!”
Surya’s face lit up. “So explosions destabilize Jwala Vayu?”
Sanju clenched his fist. “Damn right.”
Sanju immediately sent the data to Venkat.
Venkat’s voice came through. “Impossible! This explains why the storm grew unchecked in Alaska. There was no fire, no explosions.”
Sanju nodded. “Fire plus a flammable element causes a reaction that disrupts the storm’s energy.”
Venkat hesitated. “If this explosion theory works, how do we test it at scale?”
Sanju smirked. “I have an idea.”
During the next free time window, Sanju distributed petrol barrels across Pune. Surya connected them to explosives, while Pratap prepared drones to carry extra payloads.
Rahul scoffed. “We don’t need a ‘maybe,’ genius. We need a definite plan.”
Sanju turned to the group. “Listen up. The barrels have long-range detonators. When the storm hits, I’ll signal the detonations. Pratap’s drones will deploy explosives in high-impact zones.”
The city held its breath.
As the storm reached full intensity, Pratap deployed his drones. But something went wrong.
The storm deflected the drones, slamming them into the barrels before the detonators were triggered.
Massive explosions ripped through the city, destroying shelters.
People panicked, setting off unplanned blasts.
Rahul shouted, “Damn it!”
As smoke cleared, Pratap muttered, “Experiment failed.”
Sanju’s jaw clenched. “No… the storm—it weakened.”
Rahul lingered at Pratap’s facility, observing him closely.
Pratap wiped his brow. “We can try again, but petrol is limited. If we use it all now, we won’t have any left for the trucks.”
Rahul crossed his arms. “Got it. We’ll be careful.”
Pratap smirked. “Actually, many workers are headed to a job site tomorrow. It’ll be chaotic. We need someone competent to manage them.”
Rahul’s eyes narrowed. “You want me to go?”
Pratap nodded. “You can handle it, right?”
That night, at their shelter, Sanju frowned. “Why you? Send someone else.”
Samarth stepped forward. “I’ll go. I have connections with the workers—I can handle them.”
Rahul hesitated. “Something’s off about Pratap. He’s helping the poor, but he despises them. He relies more on technology.”
Sanju nodded. “He’s definitely hiding something.”
Rahul made up his mind. He snuck into Pratap’s facility.
As Samarth left with the workers, Pratap received an alert.
“Where’s Rahul?” he demanded.
Inside Pratap’s office, Rahul accessed security footage. His face paled. “Pratap, you son of a—”
Guards burst in. A brutal fight broke out. Blood splattered the floor.
Pratap smirked as he watched from his chair. “Seat him down.”
Rahul struggled. “You knew the drones would fail. You set off the explosions on purpose.”
Pratap smiled. “Of course. The poor live there. I hate them. The storm gave me a chance to erase them. Out of the 60% erased, most were BPL workers.”
Rahul’s rage boiled over. “You think only the rich deserve to live?”
Pratap grinned. “Exactly.”
At the job site, Samarth’s shelter doors suddenly unlocked.
Workers screamed as Jwala Vayu rushed in.
Rahul’s eyes widened. “NO!”
Samarth fought to hold the doors, but the wind was too strong.
He aimed his gun at a petrol tank and fired.
A massive explosion engulfed the storm—and Samarth vanished.
Rahul broke free, attacking Pratap in a brutal fight.
By morning, Pratap was arrested. Sanju mourned Samarth’s loss.
As the new shelters were built, Sanju vowed, “This wasn’t a loss—it was a sacrifice.”