As the golden rays of the rising sun slowly seeped through the curtains, painting the room with a warm, soft glow, Karthik stirred from his deep slumber. His eyes fluttered open, groggy from the remnants of sleep, but the familiar hum of the city outside quickly pulled him into reality. He stretched his long limbs, letting out a quiet yawn. At 5 a.m., the world outside was still asleep, but for Karthik, this was just the beginning.

"Once again, the hectic day begins, and the countdown to the devil's arrival has started," Karthik muttered under his breath, his voice thick with sleep, though there was an unmistakable edge to it. He turned towards the window, his gaze sweeping across the bustling city beneath him, a sea of lights flickering as the day prepared to begin. The warmth of the morning sun did little to calm the storm brewing in his heart.