A sudden commotion shattered the street's stillness.
A boy stumbled out of an alley, disheveled and groaning, before collapsing on the footpath. Pain was etched into his every movement, and blood streaked his dirt-covered face. A crowd gathered around him, eyes filled with curiosity, concern, and uncertainty.
No one dared to step forward.
Among the onlookers stood Abhi. His gaze was sharp, intense, scanning the boy's features with quiet determination, his mind racing.
Then the boy lifted his head—a groan escaping his lips.
Shaan.
The confident spark once familiar in his eyes had dimmed. Now, they were wide, haunted, filled with regret. His body trembled with pain and something deeper—fear.
A voice, sharp and furious, cut through the tension like a blade. "Bold enough to touch my brother, weren't you?"
The voice landed like thunder. Heads turned instantly.
The crowd parted, and through the gap stepped Arun.
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. Gripped a wooden bat with unnerving ease, the dark stains of blood marking its surface.
Even the air felt heavier around him.
Vihan's chest tightened as he muttered, "Senior Arun..."
Arun ignored the murmurs and gazes. His eyes locked onto Shaan.
"From now on, if my brother gets even a scratch... you'll regret it till your last breath."
His words didn't need volume. The promise within them was enough to chill the crowd.
Then, in a sudden motion, Arun hurled the bat.
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.
From the edge of the crowd, Abhi's lips curled into a small, unreadable smile. Amused. Calm. Dangerous.
"Calm down, Young Master…" he drawled.
The words hung there—casual on the surface, but laced with sharp undertones.
Arun's head snapped in his direction. For a brief second, something flickered in his gaze. Confusion? Recognition? Spark?
Whatever it was, it vanished.
He stepped forward, each movement heavy with intent. In a heartbeat, he was in front of Abhi—so close their breaths mingled. But they didn't touch.
"Don't mess with me," Arun growled.
Abhi didn't flinch.
He held his ground, that same subtle smile resting on his lips. He stared right back, gaze unwavering—like he was peeling back Arun's rage, layer by layer.
Arun stiffened.
Then—he walked away. Not storming, not slamming. Just... gone. But as he passed, his shoulder brushed Abhi's. A feather-light touch.
Abhi grinned.
But Arun doesn't seemed to felt anything, or even sense it .
---
Seconds ticked by.
Abhi was still staring ahead, lost in something he couldn't quite name. Until—
"Hey—Senior Arun's going back to the university!"
It was Vihan's voice.
Abhi blinked, snapping out of his trance. Karan, standing beside Vihan, looked worried.
"Call Aarav… Quickly." Karan muttered.
"He's in the library," Abhi replied. "His phone's probably off. Let's move."
...
The three boys broke into a sprint. But by the time they reached the gates of the university, Arun had already slipped inside—toward the junior wing.
Karan halted, panting. "It'll look weird if we run after him now."
Abhi nodded, his gaze darting toward a slim passage between two buildings. "This way," he said.
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.
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 dared to lift his gaze up.
Their eyes met.
A blush crept up Ayan's 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.
Vihan and Karan had reached the same corridor by then, their eyes scanning the space, but it was already too late.
Arun had already entered the library's threshold.
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.
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.
...
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.
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 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, "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 his plush leather sofa, flipping through a stack of papers with growing disdain.
Behind him, Mr. Raj stood silent, eyes darting between the documents and his master's grim expression.
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 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, "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, "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.