When Mayra suddenly ignored Vivek, his face flushed red with suppressed anger.
Even his entire group was left stunned by Mayra's behavior.
But… the real twist came when Mayra had barely taken a few steps ahead… when her eyes suddenly fell upon Aryan.
He was just staring at her— as if time itself had frozen in that very moment.
Mayra's face turned crimson for a second, her heartbeat raced, but she quickly averted her gaze and walked toward the college building.
And Aryan… stood frozen in place, his eyes still fixed on the doorway through which Mayra had just disappeared.
One of Vivek's friends chuckled softly—
"Bro… bhabhi just ignored you and walked away."
Vivek forced a fake smile, but inside, his blood was boiling.
"She ignored me… and noticed that new guy instead?"
But with so many people around, he decided it was better to remain silent.
Swallowing his rage, he walked away from the crowd.
Aryan was still lost in thought when Rahul tapped him on the shoulder—
"Hey hero, back to earth… your dream girl is in class now. Come on, the bell's about to ring, otherwise you'll get marked late on the very first day."
Aryan gave a faint smile, adjusted his bag strap, and walked in with Rahul without saying a word.
The bell had already rung inside the classroom.
Chairs screeched, boys joked around, girls giggled— all blending into one chaotic hum.
Aryan and Rahul walked in slowly.
A few boys at the back had their legs propped up on desks, while the girls in the front arranged their notebooks and pens neatly.
Rahul grinned—
"Bro, let's sit at the back… that's where the fun is. If we sit in the front, the professor's gaze will burn straight into our foreheads."
Aryan smiled faintly and followed him to the back.
But as his eyes drifted toward the window on the left, his steps slowed.
There she was— Mayra.
Her fingers absentmindedly traced lines on her notebook.
The breeze played with her hair, and the golden sunlight made her glow even more.
Aryan froze for a moment, as if time wanted to hold him there.
Rahul nudged him with his elbow—
"Hey, don't turn into a statue… sit down."
Two seats were empty right behind Mayra's bench.
Rahul plopped down, and Aryan joined him.
As soon as Aryan sat, Mayra turned slightly.
Their eyes met. And for that brief second, both their hearts raced.
Their faces flushed red, before Mayra quickly lowered her gaze and pretended to write in her notebook.
But her heartbeat was still uncontrollable— something she herself couldn't explain.
Aryan, on the other hand, was quietly overjoyed.
That one look made him believe— maybe, just maybe, she felt something too.
Just then, the classroom door opened.
A new professor walked in— formal shirt, a file in hand, serious expression… but with a strange gleam in his eyes.
The whole class fell silent.
"Good morning, class." His deep voice echoed.
"I'm Professor Ranveer Sinha… your new faculty for Business Management."
Rahul whispered—
"New entry… let's see if he's a Hitler or a cool dude."
Aryan hid a smile.
Mayra heard it too and buried her face in the book to hide her laughter.
Then, Professor Sinha began roll call.
One by one, names echoed through the classroom.
"Mayra Malhotra?"
Mayra stood up softly.
A murmur rippled across the class.
Some boys whispered—
"Oh… from the Malhotra family."
The professor just nodded—
"Sit down."
She sat, but her eyes instinctively flickered back— toward Aryan.
"Next… Aryan?"
Aryan stood.
Straight posture, confident body language, and a calm smile.
The class suddenly fell silent.
Professor's eyes lingered on him for a moment.
"Hmm… interesting."
Then he moved on.
Mayra's heart once again skipped a beat.
Rahul leaned closer—
"Bro… what was that 'interesting' about? Did the prof catch some vibe from you?"
The class chuckled.
Mayra's eyes found Aryan again— and for the first time, she realized… this boy was different.
The professor's voice cut in—
"Okay class, introductions. One by one."
When it was Rahul's turn, he grinned—
"Sir, my name is Rahul… but my friends call me the Hrithik Roshan of college."
The class erupted in laughter.
"Sit down, Mr. Hrithik Roshan," Professor sighed, facepalming.
Even Mayra couldn't hold back her laugh.
Aryan noticed her smile— and felt something stir within.
Now it was Aryan's turn.
He stood.
"My name is Aryan."
Just that.
But his deep, steady voice silenced the class.
Mayra's eyes lingered on him again.
Professor Sinha raised an eyebrow—
"Alright, Aryan. Since you sound so confident… you'll begin today's class. Tell me, what's the true purpose of college life?"
The class murmured—
"Now the hero is trapped…"
"Let's hear his lecture."
Vivek leaned back, smirking—
"Now let's see how smart you really are."
Aryan's gaze met Mayra's first.
She blushed and quickly hid her face in her book.
Then he looked at the professor and said—
"Sir, the true purpose of college life isn't just degrees, marks, or jobs.
The real purpose… is to become the person we want to show the world.
Because the real battles aren't fought inside classrooms— they're fought in life."
Silence.
Every eye in the room was fixed on him.
Professor Sinha took a deep breath, that gleam in his eyes burning brighter.
"Interesting…" he muttered, turning back to the board.
But Vivek's fists tightened.
Because in everyone's eyes— Aryan had just become the hero.
The rest of the class turned into laughter, jokes, and lighthearted fun— Rahul kept teasing Aryan as "Gyaani Baba," and even Mayra whispered a line that made the whole class giggle.
But at the back, Vivek was boiling.
Every laugh, every clap pierced his ears like poison.
"This act won't last long," he thought, fists clenched.
"If he wants to play the hero— I'll make sure he gets the real taste of reality."
The bell rang.
Students packed their bags.
Rahul chuckled—
"Bro, you're officially Gyaani Baba now."
Aryan just smiled faintly and walked out.
Mayra gathered her books quietly, her heart still somewhere else.
And at the very back— Vivek muttered to his friends—
"By tonight… I'll break his arrogance. Behind the canteen alley… that's where this story will really begin."
His lips curled into a cold smile.
Meanwhile, Aryan and Rahul headed to the canteen.
Rahul joked around with everyone on the way, making people laugh, while Aryan stayed quiet— his mind drifting back to Mayra.
As Rahul went inside to get snacks, Aryan sat on the bench, scanning the crowd restlessly— searching for her.
And then… his eyes froze.
There she was.
A girl in tight jeans and a crop top— clothes made to flaunt, not to hide.
Aryan frowned.
"Her…?"
Memories hit him like a shockwave.
Yes— she was the one.
The same girl who had left him once… because of money.
He never thought he'd see her again— and certainly not here, in this college.
In his past life, this moment had never existed.
She laughed with her friends, while nearby boys ogled shamelessly.
Then her gaze landed on Aryan.
At first, she didn't notice.
But her friends whispered—
"Oh my God, he's so handsome!"
"Look at that personality— like a model."
"He's hot, yaar. Totally different vibe."
Their words made her look again.
And then— she recognized him.
Her steps faltered.
Her lips curved into a sly, crooked smile.
She walked toward him.
"Oh… so it's you?"
---
So what awaits Aryan in this new life?
Will he ever confess his feelings to Mayra?
Or will his silence become his greatest weapon?
And who is this girl from his past?
Is she just a symbol of betrayal— or the venom that will poison his new journey?
Stay with me in this dangerous tale…
with me, ✍️ Nitish Chandel.
Because this story… is only going to get darker.
The King of Shadows