As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city,
Varun ventured out once more, this time drawn by the allure of Kolkata's night market. The 'City of Joy,' as it was known, transformed under the cloak of darkness, becoming a vibrant tapestry of sights, sounds, and smells.
The air thrummed with the energy of hawkers calling out their wares, the aroma of street food mingling with the exotic scents of spices and incense.
After a tour through the bustling night market, Varun found himself drawn to the flickering lights and raucous sounds emanating from a nearby gambling den.
The den, a dimly lit, smoke-filled room, was a hive of activity, a microcosm of Kolkata's underbelly.
Men with greedy eyes and desperate faces crowded around tables, their voices rising and falling with the turn of a card or the roll of dice.
Varun, sensing an opportunity, approached a high-stakes game.
He placed his bet: a collection of tiger bones and a deerskin, trophies from his journey.
The gamblers, their eyes gleaming with avarice, eagerly matched his wager, their greed blinding them to the potential consequences.
With his heightened senses and Daivik's probabilistic predictions, Varun played with calculated precision.
He anticipated the dealer's moves, predicted the outcome of each roll, and manipulated the odds in his favor.
The gamblers, blinded by their greed, bet everything they had, their fortunes dwindling with each passing round.
By the end of the night, Varun had amassed a staggering seventy rupees, a sum equivalent to roughly 15,696 rupees in 2025.
For those who dared to question the results, a swift, decisive slap from Varun's hand served as a potent reminder of his authority. The sting of his palm against their cheek was enough to quell any dissent, transforming defiance into obsequious obedience.
The spectacle of Varun's effortless victory and his iron-fisted enforcement of the rules drew the attention of the surrounding crowd.
The night market, usually a cacophony of sounds, fell into a stunned silence.
Even a group of British hawaldaars, their eyes narrowed and their expressions wary, watched from the periphery, their interest piqued by the stranger's display of power