Aryan's eyes were still stuck on Mayra.
She was walking out of the canteen slowly with her friends, but it felt as if Aryan's heart was tied to every step she took.
For him, that moment was like a half-forgotten dream turning real. As if… if he even blinked, Mayra would slip out of his life again—just like last time.
Suddenly, a hand tapped lightly on his shoulder.
Startled, Aryan turned back—and saw Rahul standing there.
That same mischievous smile, a half-eaten samosa in hand, and words rolling off his lips—
"Hey Romeo! I've been watching you for a while… Thought any second now, background music would start playing 'Tera Hone Laga Hoon.' And what's wrong with your hand, man? Did you grab coffee or sacrifice yourself?"
Aryan tried to bring a faint smile.
"Nothing… just a small burn."
Rahul caught his arm, lifted it, and said—
"Small? Bro, I can see smoke from here… Don't go this far just to impress a girl. You'll burn yourself before winning her heart."
Nearby students burst into laughter.
Rahul laughed louder—
"Man, our canteen has found its own Shah Rukh Khan. Saved the girl with coffee but burned yourself. Next time, don't play duplicate hero, or I'll step in myself!"
Aryan too smiled faintly.
But behind that smile… a storm was raging.
Inside, he whispered to himself—
"Yes, I did burn… but this time for you, Mayra. And this time, I won't let you slip away."
Rahul teased again—
"Look, bro, hero-panti isn't for you. You want notes in class, samosas in the canteen—that's my department. You just study, leave the girl business to me."
Aryan glanced at him. A smile on his lips… but an ocean in his eyes.
Softly, he said—
"No, Rahul… this time, everything is mine to do."
Rahul laughed—
"Wow! Revolutionary Aryan! Come on, let's find some ice cubes before you become the villain from this burn instead of the hero."
They both laughed and walked out of the canteen.
But the moment they stepped outside, Mayra's laughter echoed in Aryan's ears.
He froze. His eyes were stuck on her again.
Rahul kept walking ahead, but Aryan whispered silently—
"God gave me a second chance… and this time, Mayra, I won't remain incomplete without you."
Moisture lingered in his eyes, and a stubborn smile stayed on his lips. From the outside, everything was normal—his friend's jokes, the buzz of the canteen—but inside, Aryan's real game had just begun.
---
Soon, the canteen's atmosphere had shifted.
Girls were looking at Aryan with soft, loving eyes…
While some boys clenched their jaws in envy and anger.
Their expressions screamed—
"Why is this guy shaking up our entire world?"
Whispers began to spread.
One sneered—
"Who's this? Never saw him before… Must be new."
Another replied—
"Yeah man, definitely new. But look—he's already the hot topic of the whole college."
A third boy, puffing smoke, muttered—
"Thinks he's a hero… Let's see how long he lasts."
Envy, anger, and an unknown fear danced in their eyes. But Aryan… his gaze was still locked on Mayra.
The crowd, the whispers, the tension—they were just background noise. The real game was between his eyes and Mayra's silence.
---
One boy finally spoke louder—
"Oh yeah… I've heard of him. He's a transfer student in final year. Used to study at some ordinary college before this."
Another asked curiously—
"Really? Then how'd he end up here suddenly?"
The first one leaned closer—
"A friend of mine lived near his old hostel. Said Aryan comes from a really poor family. Torn clothes, empty pockets… but still, he was kind of popular in his school."
The boys leaned in further.
He continued—
"And apparently… he even had a girlfriend. But when she saw his condition, she left him for someone else."
Some laughed, others exchanged surprised glances.
The whispers turned into taunts—
"Look at him… broke, heartbroken… and now trying to play hero here."
But Aryan—he was still watching Mayra. His eyes glimmered with quiet pain, but his lips carried that same stubborn smile.
As if none of this mattered.
---
Later, the campus chaos settled.
In the classroom, everyone was seated. Aryan and Rahul were on their bench—
And Mayra… sat right beside Aryan.
Just then, the bell rang.
The door opened—and a new teacher walked in.
Long black hair, sharp features, and such a magnetic presence that the entire class turned their eyes toward her.
Many boys instantly fell into a daze.
Some were lost in her smile, some captivated by her walk.
But Aryan's face remained unchanged.
No smile, no surprise—like beauty of this kind was no stranger to him.
After all, in his mafia life, he had seen countless women who would do anything with just one signal from him. But Aryan was a man of principles.
For him, a woman was only rightfully his when she chose to be—touching her without her will was nothing less than a sin.
Rahul nudged him and whispered—
"Bro… look at her! She's our Zoology madam. Swear to God, if she looks at me just once… my whole destiny will change!"
Rahul's eyes sparkled, his world spinning around the teacher.
But Aryan… remained still, expressionless.
The teacher placed her book on the desk and said in her deep voice—
"Good morning, class."
Everyone stood together.
"Good morning, ma'am…"
Her voice was steady, enchanting—leaving some boys completely mesmerized. But Aryan's gaze was still fixed out the window, as if none of this mattered to him.
Mayra secretly glanced at him.
She couldn't understand—
"How can someone stay this indifferent to such beauty? Who is this guy… and why is he so different?"
Meanwhile, the teacher said—
"In the coming sessions, I'll be teaching you Zoology in a way you won't just read in books… but feel in life. And I expect everyone here to stay attentive."
The class went quiet.
Rahul leaned toward Aryan again, whispering—
"Bro… admit it. She's deadly."
Aryan finally replied softly—
"Falling for beauty is easy, Rahul… but holding onto your heart is harder."
Just then, Aryan's eyes collided with Mayra's.
For a moment, they both just stared at each other—
Before Mayra quickly looked away.
The teacher turned to the board and wrote:
"Human Anatomy."
Students scribbled notes, but their eyes kept wandering back to her face. Rahul was already lost in dreams.
Suddenly, the teacher's gaze fell on Aryan by the window.
He was still staring outside, lost in another world.
Her eyes lingered on him—his sharp jawline, deep eyes, and carefree demeanor.
"This boy… he's so different. No nervousness, no pretense… just an unsettling depth."
She forced herself back, then spoke sternly—
"You… yes, the one by the window. Stand up."
All eyes turned to Aryan.
Rahul muttered nervously—"Oh no… now he's done for."
Aryan slowly lifted his head, locked eyes with the teacher, and stood up. His face remained calm, detached.
She asked—
"Tell me… what is the strongest muscle in the human body?"
The class buzzed. Some whispered, others waited for Aryan to fail. Mayra's heartbeat quickened.
Aryan replied without a pause—
"The heart. Because it's the only muscle that keeps beating… even after it's been broken."
The class froze.
The teacher's eyes widened slightly—
"This boy… turned a simple question into life's truth."
Mayra's breath caught in her chest.
Rahul whispered—
"Bro, that wasn't an answer, that was a storm."
The teacher steadied herself and raised the bar—
"If you're really paying attention, then tell me—
What's the most critical function of the Medulla Oblongata, and what happens if it gets damaged?"
Gasps spread across the class.
"That's a final year question!" some whispered.
Mayra's heart raced.
Aryan answered instantly—
"The Medulla Oblongata controls respiration and heartbeat. If it's damaged… breathing and the heart both stop. Life ends right there."
The class was silent again.
A flicker of admiration flashed in the teacher's eyes.
"Incredible… such confidence and knowledge at this age. This boy doesn't belong to the same world as the rest."
Aryan bowed his head and looked back out the window.
But in his mind—gunfire, smoke, blood-soaked streets—his mafia past still haunted him.
Later, the bell rang and chaos returned. Chairs scraped, books closed, chatter filled the room.
But two pairs of eyes were still locked on Aryan—
Mayra's and the teacher's.
Both carried the same question—
"Who exactly is this boy?"
Mayra thought to herself—
"Can someone really be this mysterious?"
Aryan remained silent, his gaze on the fading sunlight.
But deep inside, bullets, smoke, and shadows of the past swirled restlessly.
Rahul slung his bag and teased—
"Bro, are you coming, or planning to live here forever?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Aryan turned his head—
and noticed the seat beside him was empty.
The place Mayra had just been sitting.
For a moment, unease flashed across his face.
He grabbed his bag and rushed out.
The corridor buzzed with laughter, chatter, phones ringing.
But Aryan's eyes searched for only one person—Mayra.
Rahul caught up and teased again—
"Couldn't even wait for me, huh? Tell me, who were you looking for? Did someone already strike your heart on day one?"
Aryan gave no reply.
His eyes searched the crowd—but Mayra was already gone.
He stood silently in the middle of the crowd,
his silence carrying all his secrets.
---
So what lies ahead in Aryan's new life—
a life full of crossroads and turns?
Will he succeed in reclaiming his love, or will fate twist his path once again?
Stay tuned to find out…
"The King of Shadow."
With me: Nitish Chandel