The college campus was buzzing with its usual liveliness.
Boys were playing cricket on the lawn, girls sat gossiping under the shade of trees, and near the canteen a crowd had gathered.
Aryan and Rahul walked slowly through the crowd.
With a bag slung over his shoulder, freshness on his face, and confidence in every step—Aryan was someone impossible to ignore.
Wherever he passed, eyes naturally followed.
Rahul, suppressing a laugh, said—
"Bro, looking at you, it feels like no one else even exists in this campus."
Aryan smiled, replying casually—
"Eyes always turn. The only difference is… some look deliberately, some without thinking."
Rahul burst out laughing—
"Here we go again… your philosophy mode, early in the morning!"
As they passed the canteen, a group of girls whispered while glancing at Aryan.
One of them leaned toward her friends and murmured—
"Isn't he the new guy? He looks so different from the rest…"
Aryan noticed, but as always, without lowering his gaze, he moved on with just a faint smile.
Rahul whispered—
"Bro, it's your carefree smile… that's driving them crazy."
Aryan replied—
"Not carefree… I just know how to keep my heart light."
The two reached near the college gate.
On the busy road outside, the sudden roar of motorbikes cut through the air.
Instantly, everyone's eyes turned toward the gate.
Four or five shining bikes stormed into the campus, their engines thundering like a challenge.
Leather jackets, chains, branded shades, and pointless laughter—everyone knew at once who they were.
The gang no one dared to mess with.
Leading them was Vivek.
Tall, arrogant eyes, and a swagger that screamed as if the campus belonged to him.
The bikes screeched to a stop.
The crowd stirred—girls whispered nervously, boys moved aside to clear the way.
Rahul's face turned pale.
He leaned to Aryan's ear—
"Bro, that's Vivek. The biggest troublemaker here. Crossing him is no joke."
But Aryan's eyes showed no fear.
He stood there with the same calm confidence—like this was nothing but an ordinary sight for him.
Vivek slowly removed his shades.
His gaze locked directly onto Aryan.
For a moment he just stared, until one of his boys whispered something in his ear.
Then, with a sly grin, he spoke—
"So you're the new guy, huh?
The one who was showing attitude yesterday?"
Aryan adjusted his bag strap, gave a faint smile, and replied—
"Attitude? No.
I was just standing straight.
Maybe you're too used to bowing… so you thought I was above you."
The crowd gasped.
Girls exchanged wide-eyed glances, boys whispered—"Ohh…" "Now he's done for…"
Rahul's heart pounded.
He thought, "Bro, what have you done… this is going to end badly."
Vivek's face hardened.
The laughter of his gang fell silent.
The air grew tense—everyone expected something big to erupt.
Vivek stepped forward, his voice cold—
"Seems like someone needs a reminder of his place…"
The crowd held its breath.
The scent of conflict was in the air.
And Aryan? Still standing with that calm smile—
As if silently saying, "Come on… let's see what you've got."
The campus grew silent.
Vivek Malhotra, with his boys, moved closer, taking off his glasses and standing face-to-face with Aryan.
His eyes glinted with arrogance as he pointed a finger—
"Listen, kid… even if you're in final year, you're new here. And your place? Far below ours.
If you want to survive in this campus, you'll do as we say. Otherwise, I'll make your life here worse than hell."
His boys laughed loudly behind him.
Rahul's face flushed with anger, but he held himself back.
He knew—this was Aryan's moment.
But Aryan remained calm.
No fear. No worry.
Just that same smirk, which only made Vivek burn more.
To everyone else, this was just a clash between a new guy and some bullies.
But the truth was—Aryan was no ordinary student.
He was… a mafia.
Fate may have given him a second life inside a college campus,
but his soul was still the same—
forged in the fire of blood and bullets.
That icy calm within him?
It belonged to a man who had watched death dance before his very eyes.
Threats like these meant nothing to him.
Leaning slightly toward Vivek, Aryan whispered—
"You talk about place?
Time decides that.
And when my time comes… you won't even remember yours."
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Girls gasped, boys muttered under their breath.
Vivek's face turned crimson with rage.
He glared back—
"Let's see how long you last here while I'm around. Many like you have come before… and I've crushed them all. Now it's your turn."
He raised his hand, signaling his boys—
"Let's go."
They followed him out.
But as he left, Vivek turned back and shot Aryan a venomous glare—
as if saying, "You won't escape me."
For a moment there was silence.
Then Aryan looked at Rahul and smirked—
"Who was that guy? Acting all high and mighty."
Rahul sighed—
"Bro… that's Vivek Malhotra. Rich spoiled brat.
His money, power, and his gang—he uses them to rule the campus.
Everyone who's ever faced him… either bowed down or disappeared."
Aryan chuckled softly—
"Oh… so that was the famous Vivek Malhotra?
Looks like he was desperate to meet me."
Rahul, worried, said—
"Aryan, don't mess with him.
He's not just about fists—he plays mind games too. He's dangerous."
Aryan listened carefully, then tilted his head to the sky and laughed—
"Maybe for others. But not for me."
Rahul fell silent.
He knew Aryan looked calm outside… but inside, he was lethal.
Just then—the atmosphere shifted again.
A black luxury car rolled slowly through the gate.
Its very presence changed the air.
The door opened—
and stepping out was Mayra.
The breeze caught her flowing hair, carrying a fragrance that seemed to freeze the moment.
Her white kurta and blue dupatta made her steps look almost regal.
Her eyes sparkled like moonlight brought down to earth.
The crowd buzzed—
"That's Mayra…"
"Queen of the campus."
"No, bro… queen of the whole city."
And it was true.
Mayra wasn't just any girl.
Daughter of the city's biggest business tycoon, and beauty so divine that calling her "the most beautiful" still felt too small.
Aryan's heartbeat quickened.
Like a metro train rushing down the tracks.
He wanted to look away… but he couldn't.
Every blink engraved her deeper into his soul.
At the same time, not far away—Vivek and his gang also noticed her.
One of his boys laughed—
"Vivek bhai… look, bhabhi is here."
Vivek smirked, his walk turning cockier.
The crowd cleared a path as he strutted toward Mayra.
"Wow, Mayra ji…" he drawled.
"Campus feels different today.
I used to think this college belonged to me…
but clearly, your beauty owns it all."
Mayra frowned.
She wasn't used to this kind of vulgar attention, and Vivek's tone irritated her.
But he stepped even closer, leaned slightly, and smirked—
"Beauty like yours deserves a bodyguard. Don't worry though… I'm always here for you."
The crowd fell silent.
Girls shifted uncomfortably, boys lowered their gazes.
No one dared to speak against Vivek.
But Aryan's smile had vanished.
His eyes now burned cold and dangerous.
His aura had changed—like a storm gathering quietly in the middle of the campus.
The mafia inside him was rising again.
His face made it clear—if Vivek took even one more step… the game would begin here and now.
But Mayra didn't respond with words.
She simply gave Vivek a cold, dismissive glance.
And then… walked past him without a second thought.
Her stride carried such royalty—like she'd just shown a cheap thug his place.
No argument, no anger—just pure ignore.
The crowd erupted in whispers—
"Oh my god… she just ignored Vivek."
"No girl has ever dared to do that."
Vivek froze.
His smile stayed, but his eyes burned with humiliation.
His fists clenched, his breath grew heavy.
Inside, he raged—
"She… ignored me? Me, Vivek Malhotra?"
But reality hit him hard.
Mayra's name alone was untouchable—
the daughter of the city's richest man.
Even Vivek knew—he couldn't lay a finger on her.
He trembled with anger, masking it with a fake smile, rooted in place.
Meanwhile, Aryan had watched everything silently.
A faint smile touched his lips.
He understood—
Mayra was no ordinary girl.
And Vivek? Just a filthy insect.
One that screams for now… but will be crushed when the time comes.
Aryan's heart still raced.
Not with fear—
but with that strange pull, dragging him toward Mayra.
Toward the love he had lost once before.
The love that still burned scars in his soul.
But this time…
Would fate heal those wounds?
Would Aryan correct the mistakes of his past life… and make Mayra his forever?
Or would destiny once again drag him back to that very moment—
where Mayra would slip away from him forever?
To know more… keep listening to—
"The King of Shadows" ✍️ by Nitish Chandel