My Brother Stole My Future

That morning, the city was alive as usual. Vehicles filled the streets, moving in a rhythm they had followed for years. The sound of engines, car horns, and countless footsteps blended together into the heartbeat of the city. People walked past one another, focused on their own destinations without paying much attention to anyone else. Some stopped for a moment while waiting for public transportation, exchanging greetings and small talk. They spoke about the weather, their jobs, and other trivial things that would likely be forgotten before the sun set. Street vendors took advantage of the morning crowd. They offered food, drinks, and various products, casually asking customers how they were doing. There was nothing extraordinary about the day. It was simply another ordinary morning. Nothing hinted that someone's life could change in a single moment. As the clock approached nine in the morning, the crowd gradually began to thin. The streets became quieter. Most people had already settled into their offices, shops, factories, and workplaces. Cars that had once crowded the roads were now neatly parked throughout the city. A different kind of silence, however, surrounded a large mansion located in the city's elite district. The home of the Aditya family. The two-story mansion stood proudly on a vast piece of land. Its cream-colored marble walls reflected the morning sunlight, while the carefully maintained garden displayed the wealth of its owners. Inside the luxurious house, everything remained peaceful. A few servants quietly carried out their daily duties. Some polished the floors until they shone like mirrors. Others prepared meals in the kitchen, while the rest moved from room to room organizing and cleaning the house. Meanwhile, the owner of the mansion was still fast asleep. Paul Aditya. He slept soundly in his master bedroom, as if the outside world had nothing to do with him. Although he lay on an expensive bed with soft blankets and luxurious pillows, exhaustion was still visible on his face. It was understandable. He had only returned home a few hours ago. For the last five years, Paul had lived a life very different from that of most people. He was not a friend of the sun. When others were preparing to end their day, his work was just beginning. The night was his world. Like a bat emerging after sunset, Paul spent most of his time awake while the city slept. Not because he attended important meetings. Not because he joined elegant dinner parties. And certainly not because he was chasing corporate targets like thousands of office workers struggling from morning until night to make a living. His world was much simpler. He owned and managed a business that had made him incredibly wealthy. Every evening, he would sit with a glass of vodka in one hand and a clove cigarette in the other. The moment he exhaled his first cloud of smoke was often the signal that business operations had officially begun. A casino business. Not just any casino. The largest casino in the city. Its exterior was decorated with bright flashing lights. The road leading to the main lobby stretched far beyond the entrance gate. The parking area was enormous and surrounded by high walls. Massive security guards stood by the gate, watching every visitor who entered. Every night, the place was filled with people carrying hopes and dreams. Some came hoping to double their wealth overnight. Others simply wanted to forget their troubles for a few hours. And some came only to experience the excitement and energy of the crowd. There were those who arrived with confident smiles and left with pale faces and empty pockets. Others walked in carrying the weight of life's problems and returned home feeling as if part of that burden had been left behind inside the casino. Some even arrived alone and left accompanied by beautiful women, newly convinced that fortune had chosen them. But none of that mattered much to Paul. In his mind, it made little difference whether they won or lost. They would always come back. He treated every customer with the same level of comfort and respect. It did not matter whether someone wore the most expensive suit in the city or a simple t-shirt. Everyone was welcome. As far as Paul was concerned, his customers' addiction was a blessing. As long as gamblers continued to return, money would continue to flow. The system was simple. New players were often given a taste of victory. That first win filled them with excitement. It made them believe that making money was easy. It gave them confidence. Hope. Greed. And once that feeling took root in their hearts, many of them found it impossible to walk away. At least, that was what Paul believed. What he never realized was that fate was quietly preparing something that would destroy everything he had built. That morning was different. Not because Paul noticed it. But because he didn't notice it at all. Downstairs in his private office, a large television was still turned on. One of the servants had forgotten to switch it off the previous night. The screen displayed a live press conference from the city government. Several officials stood behind a podium while reading from a thick document. No one inside the mansion paid any attention to it. No one knew that a few sentences being read at that very moment would soon change the lives of thousands of people. Including Paul Aditya. At the same time, in the center of the city, Paul's casino had just completed another night of operations. Security guards changed shifts. Cleaning crews moved quickly to erase every trace of the long night. Glasses were collected. Ashtrays overflowing with cigarette butts were emptied. The marble floors were polished until they looked untouched. During the daytime, the casino wore a different face. No loud music. No laughter from winners. No complaints from losers. The building looked like an empty shell waiting for nightfall to bring it back to life. Inside a private office, a middle-aged man sat staring at a financial report. His name was Tillak. For many years, he had been Paul's operational manager and most trusted associate. His forehead was wrinkled with concern. Again and again, he read the article displayed on his phone. Then he read it once more. Finally, he let out a long sigh. "I hope it's only a rumor," he muttered quietly. He tried calling Paul. No answer. He called again. Still nothing. That was not surprising. Paul rarely woke up before late afternoon. After thinking for a moment, Tillak lowered his phone. Maybe the news would turn out to be false. At least, that was what he hoped. But deep inside, he could not shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. As noon approached, the sun climbed higher into the sky. Most people in the city were busy working. Paul was still asleep. And he was having a strange dream. He stood alone in the center of his casino's main hall. The brilliant lights above slowly went dark one by one. The sounds of slot machines disappeared. Rows of chairs sat empty. There were no customers. No employees. No voices. Only silence. Then he heard knocking. Knock... Knock... Knock... The sound echoed from somewhere far away. With every knock, it grew louder. Closer. As though someone was pounding on the casino's massive front doors. Paul searched for the source of the noise. But before he could find it, darkness swallowed the entire room. He woke up with a sharp breath. Cold sweat covered his forehead. "Oh... just a dream." He rubbed his face and sat on the edge of the bed. For the first time in years, he felt uneasy. As if something was waiting for him outside. Something he could not control with money. Something he could not stop with power. Something he could not buy with wealth. His phone vibrated on the bedside table. Dozens of missed calls appeared on the screen. All of them were from Tillak. Paul raised an eyebrow. Tillak never called this many times unless something serious had happened. He immediately returned the call. The line connected within seconds. "Mr. Paul," Tillak said. His voice sounded tense. "What is it?" "We need to talk. Right now." Paul smiled slightly. "Relax. Did the casino burn down?" "No." "A robbery?" "No." "Then what is it?" Several seconds passed. The silence on the other end felt strange. Finally, Tillak spoke. "The government has just announced a new law." Paul's smile slowly disappeared. "It's just a proposal." "That's the problem," Tillak said after a brief pause. "It was approved this morning." Paul did not reply. His eyes drifted toward the bedroom window. Outside, the sky was still blue. Birds still flew overhead. People still worked. The city was still alive, as if nothing had happened. But for Paul, the world seemed to stop moving. Because for the first time in his life... He had no idea what to do next.