A sudden commotion shattered the street's stillness as a boy, disheveled and in pain, stumbled out of an alley and collapsed on the footpath.
A crowd gathered, their eyes filled with curiosity and sympathy, but no one dared to move.
Among the onlookers stood Abhi, his gaze sharp and intense, scanning the boy's features with a quiet determination. Wondering if this was someone he knew, maybe someone familiar.
The boy groaned, lifting his dirt-streaked face with effort. His arms trembled as he slumped upward. The sharp angles of pain twisted his posture.
It was Shaan—battered beyond pride, his once-confident features smeared with blood and fear. His wide, disbelieving eyes stayed locked on something invisible—haunted by regret and something worse.
The tense silence was shattered by a furious voice, stormy and sharp, cutting through the air: "Bold enough to touch my brother, weren't you?"
Words echoed down the street, sharp and agitated. It was as if the voice itself struck with precision, landing directly in their minds.
Parallelly, Abhi's curiosity piqued, and he looked up as the crowd parted for a figure whose presence commanded attention.
A well framed young adult with his sharp features and the fury burning in his eyes, moved with the calm intensity of someone accustomed to dominance. His well-favored face, framed by messy dark hair, was both striking and fierce. A storm dressed in a senior class uniform, exuding an aura of power that felt almost out of place.
In his hands, he gripped a wooden bat with unnerving ease, the dark stains of blood marking its surface.
Those around them seemed to shrink back instinctively, retreating as though they feared the very presence of the deadly being.
Vihan, standing among them, felt the knot of displeasure tighten in his chest. "Senior Arun..."
Arun, undeterred by the tense atmosphere or the frightened crowd surrounding him, fixed his gaze solely on Shaan.
He held back the rage boiling within, but the force of his words was enough to send a shiver through those watching. "From now on, if my brother gets even a scratch, I promise... you will regret it till your last breath."
No one doubted his ruthless warning.
With a sudden, decisive motion, Arun hurled the bat towards Shaan, his fury, almost destructive.
The bat hit the ground with a resounding clash, its sharp echo reverberating across the entire crossway, and all faces contorted in discomfort and unease.
Amid the tension, Abhi's expression shifted, as a serene confidence softened his features. His gaze lingered on Arun, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Calm down, Young Master..."
The words hung in the air, laced with subtle sharpness, as if testing Arun's resolve.
Arun's attention snapped to Abhi, the name slicing through his fury like a sudden breeze on hot skin. For a fleeting second, something unnameable flickered in his eyes. But just as quickly, it vanished.
His gaze, now even more severe, locked onto Abhi with an intensity that could burn through steel.
Without a word, Arun took a step forward, closing the distance between them. His presence was overpowering as he leaned in, his face mere inches from Abhi's. His breath was warm against Abhi's skin, and yet, despite the proximity, they remained untouched.
"Don't mess with me " Arun growled.
Abhi stood his ground, calm and unyielding, his sharp eyes meeting Arun's fiery glare without hesitation. His playful smile never wavered, it was as if he was peeling back the layers of Arun's anger, searching for something hidden beneath.
Arun, caught off guard by the intensity of Abhi's silent scrutiny, suddenly stiffened.
Then, he stormed past Abhi, his shoulder brushed Abhi's—not forcefully, just a feather like touch.
Abhi, unfazed, grinned mischievously as Arun walked away, rolling his eyes with an air of quiet amusement.
...
Seconds passed.
Abhi was still lost in something, he couldn't quite grasp. The quiet was broken when Vihan shouted, "Hey… Senior-Arun is going back to university! "
Abhi's head snapped up, his thoughts snapping back into focus, just as Karan also turned, their face etched with concern and Karan's voice trembled as he asked, "Call Aarav… quickly."
Abhi's response came swiftly, his tone calm yet urgent. "It's library... He won't be able to answer… Let's go."
Without another word, the trio rushed to follow Arun to the university, but by the time they reached the gates, he had already entered the junior wing.
Karan stopped, panting. "It'll be suspicious if we run after him like this."
Abhi paused, considering Karan's legitimate point.
He turned his head sharply toward a scarcely visible route between the building's boundaries and the junior wing. "This way,"
Understanding the plan, the other two followed him. One by one, they entered the narrow, gray passage, the best and safest route they could take.
They emerged at the rear of the junior wing—facing a seven-foot wall. Rugged, and standing between them and their destination (The library).
They exchanged glances, silently confirming their next move.
Each of them took a few steps back, their eyes locked on the top edge of the wall. Muscles coiled, feet pounded, and palms hit the stone. One by one, they hauled themselves over—landing on the other side in perfect, practiced silence.
Then, without a single glance exchanged between them, they sprang into action.
Karan and Vihan, driven by their shared goal, immediately veered off toward the library.
Meanwhile, Abhi made a sharp turn in the opposite direction, moving with a quiet determination, as he disappeared down the corridor.
[ The library ]
Aarav sat quietly in his chair, a book in his hands, yet his attention was nowhere near the pages. His gaze was fixed on Ayan, who sat across from him.
There was a quiet yearning in Aarav's eyes, an unspoken adoration that lingered in the depths of his gaze.
Ayan, unaware of the intensity of Aarav's gaze, kept scanning the pages of his book. However, beneath his calm exterior, his heartbeats raced, boundless and erratic, as he felt the weight of Aarav's presence near him.
Finally, gathering his thoughts and steadying his breath, Ayan lifted his gaze toward Aarav. But the moment their eyes met, a blush crept up his neck, and his gaze quickly dropped in bashfulness, overwhelmed by the heat of Aarav's passionate stare.
Aarav, noticing Ayan's shy reaction, couldn't help but feel a rush of nervousness. A gentle, almost nervous smile spread across his face. His grip on the book tightened, his fingers curling around it as if it were the only thing grounding him.
...
Elsewhere, Arun entered the junior wing with an unsettling, dominating presence that pressed down on the students.
Other students parting in silence, their gazes fearful and uncertain, unsure if he was human or something far more menacing.
Vihan and Karan had reached the same corridor by then, their eyes scanning the space, but it was already too late. Arun had already passed them and entered the library.
They stood there, frozen for a moment, watching with a mix of disappointment and conflict.
...
As Arun stepped into the library, his piercing eyes scanned every corner of it. Books. Murmurs. A librarian too busy to sense the dread creeping through the shelves.
Then his eyes landed on Ayan., who sat alone at a table, his eyes lighting up when they met Arun's.
A soft smile tugged at Ayan's lips. And, he swiftly gathered his belongings, his movements hurried but purposeful.
They both walked out of the library together, leaving the atmosphere behind them, their departure as quiet and deliberate as their entrance had been.
...
As soon as Arun and Ayaan exited the library, Karan and Vihan walked in, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.
They glanced around, trying to make sense of the situation. Until they spotted Aarav, emerging from behind a bookshelf, followed by Abhi, who had a grin on his face that resembled that of a Cheshire cat.
Without hesitation, the two of them made their way toward the pair.
Vihan, unable to contain his curiosity, turned to Abhi, "Brother? You have transportation power... How did you end up here ?"
Abhi laughed. "No. Just a shortcut."
He pointed at a half-concealed door behind stacks of book cartons.
The room relaxed as everyone exhaled a collective sigh of relief.
Aarav sank into a chair with a kingly posture. "God... that was close ."
The others followed suit, settling into their chairs, eyes fixed on him.
Abhi, eager and playful, leaned forward, a mischievous smile on his face. "So, Brother... Are you full?"
Aarav scratched the back of his neck, a slight flush creeping up his cheeks. His expression softened, and with a tender smile, he replied, "He looked so cute that I..."
Vihan, leaned out of curiosity, "That you...?"
The other two followed suit, inching closer with eager expressions, their noses practically poking at Aarav in their excitement.
Aarav's face turned an even deeper shade of red as he stammered, "He was looking so cute that I couldn't even muster the courage to talk..."
He quickly covered his sheepish face with his right palm, as if to hide the embarrassment.
The three of them straightened back up, the air around them deflating with a collective sigh of despair.
"I knew it,..." Karan shook his head, a dispirited expression on his face. "This idiot is only good with arms and books."
Aarav shot an irritated glare at Karan.
But before he could retort, Vihan spoke up, his voice defensive yet tinged with disappointment, "Brother... We almost got caught... and you did nothing."
Abhi, unable to stay quiet any longer, abruptly chimed in. "Forget it. I already left a book for another chance... And Brother, please don't disappoint us again."
The four of them sat on the edge of their seats, all sporting that familiar, fussed expression. They were desperate to know the next move—eager to put a plan into action.
[ Singh's House ]
Mr. Singh sat on a plush couch, surrounded by luxury, studying papers with growing seriousness and disdain. His brows furrowed and eyes narrowed with every word.
Behind him, Mr. Raj stood rigid, hands crossed, his expression anxious as he nervously glanced between the papers and his master.
The tension in the room was thick, almost tangible.
The main door creaked open.
Arun and Ayan stepped inside, their shoulders slumped, looking drained and uncomfortable, as though the weight of the day had worn them down.
Mr. Singh, who had been absorbed in his work, glanced up and immediately took notice of their arrival. He called out in a calm yet authoritative tone, "Arun."
Arun straightened slightly at the sound of his name, then looked over at Mr.Singh before nodding in response.
Then turned his gaze back to Ayan and ordered, his voice measured and polite, "Go to your room. I'll call you for dinner later."
Ayan nodded and retreated to his room.
Meanwhile, Arun walked over and sank onto the sofa beside Mr. Singh.
Mr. Singh narrowing his sharp eyes as he turned to Arun. His voice dropped into a hard, authoritative tone, "What progress has been made regarding that town-side land ?"
Arun's voice, tinged with stress, lacked his usual confidence as he spoke. "I've made an appointment with Uncl..." His words faltered, a brief hesitation causing him to choke on the name. He quickly corrected himself, "Mr. Rawat."
Mr. Singh's expression darkened immediately, his tone shifting to one of command. "Do what you have to, but remember—this land is important for me."
Arun nodded, but there was an unmistakable unease about him. He seemed jittery, uncomfortable under the pressure, though he said nothing more.