She wasn't ungrateful—far from it. She owed her life to Advik Bhardwaj, her former classmate, who had somehow risen to a level of authority that no one seemed to question. But there were things that didn't make sense, things she had been too exhausted to process before.
Today, as she finally stepped out of the Leela Palace Hotel and into the streets of what used to be the V3S Mall, she finally saw it—the impossible transformation.
Priya had expected to see survivors trying to rebuild their lives, forming makeshift markets, scavenging for supplies, or finding ways to live normally. That was not the case.
Instead, she was met with a fully militarized city.
She stopped in her tracks, staring at the rows upon rows of armored vehicles parked along the wide road. There were M1A2 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradleys, and massive military transport trucks. Some were lined up, others were actively moving supplies.
Further down, she spotted construction teams welding steel reinforcements, erecting watchtowers, and installing automated sentry turrets along the perimeter walls. The former commercial district had been turned into a war zone.
"What the hell…?"
Priya barely recognized the V3S Mall Complex anymore. It wasn't just a safe zone—it was a fortress.
Ten-meter-high concrete walls now surrounded the entire area, topped with what looked like electric fencing and mounted machine guns. At the intersection leading to Highway Main Road of Delhi, massive Patriot missile batteries stood guard, their sleek forms aimed at the sky.
Soldiers—hundreds of them—patrolled the streets, fully equipped with modern combat gear, moving in tight formations as if preparing for a battle that hadn't even started yet.
"Where did they come from?"
No one knew.
Even the survivors she spoke to were just as clueless. Some whispered that Advik Bhardwaj had connections to the government, others believed the military had hidden itself here before the outbreak.
But Priya knew better.
None of this was here a week ago.
Her feet carried her to where most of the survivors were gathered—a processing center set up near the former MX Convention Center. The survivors from Leela Palace Hotel and the V3S Mall Complex operation were all lined up, waiting to receive their new identification cards and living assignments.
Priya sighed and joined the queue.
She could hear muffled conversations around her.
"Have you seen the military presence here?" one man whispered behind her. "They weren't here before, right?"
"No way," another muttered. "I was at Leela Palace Hotel the whole time. There weren't this many soldiers before the purge. Now they're everywhere."
A woman in front of them shushed them. "Does it matter? We're alive, aren't we?"
Priya didn't say anything. But she felt the same unease.
She moved forward, reaching the registration desk where a military officer in digital camo uniform sat behind a terminal.
"Name?"
"Priya Garcia," she answered.
The officer typed something into his tablet before nodding. "Former occupation?"
"Student."
"Any medical conditions?"
She shook her head.
The officer handed her a plastic identification card. Priya took it hesitantly and read the details.
ID: 0223-SG
Name: Priya Garcia
Civilian Status: Tier 1 Resident
Work Assignment: Pending
Housing Unit: Shore Residence Tower D, Level 3, Room 318
"Shore Residence Tower D?"
She glanced up at the officer, but he was already calling the next survivor forward.
Stepping aside, she turned her gaze toward the massive high-rise buildings just beyond V3S Mall Arena. It was a newly-constructed residential building. So it made sense that's where they'll put the survivors.
When she visited her room, it was like in the Leela Palace Hotel, it was a studio type room with one bed, and everything was tidy as if it was just your premium hotel. It has water and electricity and every necessities required for survival such as clothes.
"They turned a corporate office into an apartment complex."
It was strange—efficient, but strange.
Her stomach growled, reminding her of her next priority—food.
Priya followed the signs leading to the food distribution center, located near V3S Mall Arena.
She wasn't alone. Hundreds of survivors stood in line, clutching their ration vouchers as they shuffled forward. Armed guards were stationed at key points, watching over the crowd.
When she finally reached the serving station, she was handed a steel tray with a scoop of steamed rice and a single canned sardine.
She stared at it.
"That's it?"
But she didn't complain. Food was food.
Priya took her tray and walked toward the seating area—a long row of plastic chairs and folding tables under a military-grade tent.
She sat down, staring at her meal. The rice was dry, the sardine smelled metallic, and the water was lukewarm.
It was barely enough to sustain someone.
Across from her, a man let out a heavy sigh, stirring his rice with a spoon.
"You'd think with all the military gear they have, they'd have better food," he muttered.
Priya looked up "What do you mean?"
The man shook his head. "The soldiers, the tanks, the aircraft. Where did all of it come from?" He leaned in slightly. "They didn't have all this before. Now they're everywhere."
Priya frowned. "I was thinking the same thing. But we should be grateful that we are alive thanks to them,"
Another survivor, an older woman spoke softly. "I agree. I don't care where it came from. As long as we're safe."
Priya picked at her sardine with her fork. It was a far cry from the sumptuous meal that she had during her stay in Leela Palace Hotel. Is Advik Bhardwaj becoming practical?
After finishing her meal, she returned to Shore Residence Tower D, where she walked toward the window and watched the scene outside. Military presence but didn't belong to the armed forces of the India.
"Advik Bhardwaj -- just who are you?"
Location: Leela Palace Hotel – Command Center
Advik Bhardwaj sat at the head of the command table inside Leela Palace Hotel's command center, staring at the live feed displayed on multiple monitors. The entire V3S Mall Complex was now a fortress, filled with thousands of heavily armed soldiers, state-of-the-art military hardware, and defensive structures that made it nearly impenetrable.