When that girl was taunting Aryan, one of her friends rolled her eyes and asked—
"Hey… do you even know him?"
The rest of the girls also started looking at her curiously. She smiled, bringing a venomous laugh to her lips, and said—
"Know him?…"
Then, pointing sharply at Aryan, she said loudly—
"Yes… I know him very well."
All her friends and the boys stared at Aryan in surprise. She let out a cold laugh and said—
"This is none other than my ex-boyfriend, the loser I dumped a year ago."
Her voice cut through the entire cafeteria. Her friends exclaimed, "Oh my God!" and started laughing, while some boys whistled.
Leaning forward and pouring even more venom into her words, she said—
"This is the same one… who wasn't even worthy of my feet. And now… look… he's standing right here in front of me again."
Her words echoed across the cafeteria. But Aryan… he remained utterly silent. His eyes, however, were fixed on hers—cold, sharp, and so intense that it seemed like something huge was about to happen.
There was a trace of surprise in his eyes, but his face carried that same cold, purposeless smile.
The girl came closer, twisting her hand on her chest, speaking with a tone full of pride—
"So, you've followed me all the way here?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Or are you still doing that 7-thousand-rupee part-time job at the mall?"
Her friends burst into laughter. They all looked Aryan up and down as if watching a lower-class showpiece on display.
But Aryan… still silent. His eyes were fixed on hers—cold, deep, and terrifying.
The girl pressed her lips and taunted again—
"What's the matter? Still can't open your mouth? You weren't worthy of my world before… and you aren't now either."
She shook her head and was about to walk back to her friends. But then—Aryan's voice echoed.
Slow… yet so firm that the whole cafeteria seemed to pause.
"Do you still think I'm the same as before…?" Aryan's gaze now felt like a dagger. Slowly rising from his chair, he said—
"Remember this… very soon you'll regret underestimating me."
The girl's steps froze. Her laughter stopped abruptly. Her friends went silent. The entire cafeteria was submerged in dead silence for a moment.
Aryan, with a cold smile, added even harsher words—
"Listen… you were never love for me. You were just a gold-digger I mistakenly gave space to in my life.
Good thing you left on your own… otherwise, I swear, I would have thrown you out of my world myself."
There was so much poison in his tone that the girl's face drained of color. Everyone's eyes were now on him—trying to hide their smiles. Whispers spread across the crowd. Some boys covered their mouths to stifle laughter—
"Whoa… we got a live drama today during lunch."
One nodded and said—
"I always thought Aryan must have done something wrong, that's why she left him. But turns out… she's the real gold-digger."
Another whispered near his ear—
"Yeah… gold-digger is correct, but look at her figure… no one would actually want her as a girlfriend." The rest of the boys whistled softly, holding back laughter.
Then, a voice from behind spoke—
"Look… there's some truth in what he said." Everyone turned to see the boy.
With a light smile, he said—
"Every girl wants a good, successful guy for herself. There's nothing wrong in that. But a boyfriend isn't just about money… trust and support matter too. Look at me—poor as I am, yet my girlfriend has been with me for four years."
Some boys nodded at his words. One laughed—
"True, but not every girl is as loyal as yours."
The girls whispered among themselves—
"Yes… what Aryan said shows this girl was just showing off." And trying to belittle Aryan… "but now her true colors are exposed."
The cafeteria atmosphere had completely changed—some whispers, some laughter, some sympathy… but all eyes were on one person—Aryan.
Then Aryan taunted one last time—
"Stay where your limits are… girls like you have no value in my world anyway."
Upon hearing this, the girl's face flushed. Clenching her teeth, trembling with anger and shame, she walked out swiftly, splitting through the crowd.
At that moment… the cafeteria door opened. Rahul came in and froze at the scene. Silence spread across the hall. Everyone was whispering, all eyes on Aryan. Rahul laughed and called out—
"Hey, is this a cafeteria or a parliament?"
A wave of light laughter spread. Some students laughed, some bowed their heads silently, but Aryan… kept his mysterious smile, looking at Rahul. Rahul came over and quietly said—
"Dude… what's happening here? The whole cafeteria seems to be a battleground in your name."
Aryan didn't reply. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a slight laugh. Rahul sat opposite, frustrated—
"Come on man, are you going to say something or just keep smiling? People are watching a live show, and you act like it doesn't matter."
Aryan, calm and composed, slowly said—
"Nothing… just met a foolish girl I didn't expect to see in this college."
Rahul's eyes widened in shock.
"Which girl? Who are you talking about?"
Aryan gave a side look, cool as ever—
"You already know her."
Rahul flinched and asked quickly—
"Which girl?"
Aryan smiled faintly—
"Taniska."
Hearing the name, Rahul was stunned. His breath quickened, eyes wide, face a mix of surprise and slight irritation. Leaning forward, half in shock and half in anger, he said—
"Taniska… the one who measured your true love with money. Who betrayed you for someone else's wealth. And after doing all this, couldn't even find peace, so now she shows up in the same college… that witch. Honestly, Aryan… I've never seen a gold-digger like her in my life."
Rahul's words brought back that night in vivid detail—the night when Aryan had gone silent, surrounded by bottles of alcohol, his eyes empty, pain hidden behind them.
Aryan tried a weak laugh, but it was broken inside.
"Leave it, man… even her name feels poisonous now. I don't even want to think about her."
Rahul slammed the table, his voice heavy—
"Tell me the truth… have you really forgotten? Or is this just you pretending to be cool?"
Usually, Rahul was never this angry. He was the fun, jokester type. But when it came to Aryan, he couldn't contain his anger. He never wanted to see his friend in the same broken state that Taniska had left him in.
Aryan saw the unease in his eyes and smiled slightly—
"Come on, leave it, man… it's nothing."
Rahul took a deep breath, his eyes still showing both anger and concern.
"Honestly, brother… that girl was never worthy of your love. She never valued your true feelings. She only cared about money and her own interests."
Hearing this, Aryan's mind went back to that painful moment—
The night… bullets raining down, screams echoing, enemies surrounding them. Rahul had thrown himself into the middle without hesitation, becoming Aryan's shield.
Pierced by bullets, Rahul had fallen into Aryan's arms. Bloodied, but with that same spark of friendship in his eyes, he had whispered through trembling breaths—
"Aryan… my friend… take care of yourself. Trust no one blindly. Remember, you're not alone… as long as I was here, I was your shield… now you have to be your own shield."
And with that final breath, he was gone forever.
That moment still haunted Aryan's soul. Outwardly calm, inside he was trapped in that night's gunpowder and blood. His eyes were slightly moist, which he forced back…
Recalling that moment, not only Rahul's last breath but their entire childhood flashed before him. From street fights in the neighborhood to facing huge storms together—they were always side by side.
From small dreams to the darkest nights of life—Rahul had always been there. And maybe that's why today, his absence felt like a wound Aryan could never heal, no matter how hard he tried. He had always felt guilt that he couldn't save Rahul.
As he sat lost in thoughts, the cafeteria door opened.
Maira entered with her friends. Instantly, all eyes turned to her. She came and sat at a nearby table.
Aryan's gaze drifted toward her involuntarily. Maira's innocent smile and carefree demeanor made him momentarily lost.
Rahul noticed this and leaned close, whispering—
"Whoa… control your eyes, man. Everyone's watching in the cafeteria."
Aryan tried to suppress a small smile, and the atmosphere lightened slightly.
Meanwhile, several boys were now watching Maira, but she didn't pay attention to anyone. A few whispers about Aryan and Taniska reached her ears, stirring a strange unease inside her… which she couldn't understand.
She tried shaking off the thought and focused on chatting with her friends. But whenever her friends looked at Aryan, they whispered—
"See, that's Aryan… so handsome, isn't he?"
Maira heard it, but showed no reaction. She tried to appear indifferent… yet her eyes kept drifting unknowingly toward Aryan.
Meanwhile, one of Maira's friends, Juhi, leaned over and whispered—
"Maira, be honest… how did you feel when Aryan sat at your table?"
Maira paused for a moment. A slight hesitation crossed her face, as if she couldn't find the right words. Then she quickly lowered her gaze and replied—
"Looks okay… so what."
Juhi rolled her eyes, smiling—
"Oh, come on, don't say just okay. I think you're hiding something. Forget it, do one thing—let me talk to him. If you mention your name, maybe he'll listen. I mean, who can resist your beauty?"
Maira frowned firmly and said—
"Look, I'm not doing any of that. I always prefer staying away from all these nonsense things. If you really like him, go talk to him yourself. I won't get involved."
Juhi got a little upset and stayed quiet, but Maira's heart started racing. Somehow, she was unconsciously drawn to Aryan's mysterious and cold demeanor… yet she refused to admit it to herself.
Meanwhile, some students nearby were still quietly talking about Aryan and Taniska. Maira tried to listen but couldn't make sense of it. She shook it off and focused on her breakfast.
Aryan, sitting opposite, silently observed her every move. Maira eating innocently, searching for something in her eyes repeatedly… it all unknowingly pulled him in.
After a while, class time started. Maira got up with her friends and left. Aryan's gaze followed her departing steps… as if something unsaid was left behind with her.
So… will Aryan leave his broken heart behind and succeed in Maira's love?
Or will some unseen wall prevent him from reaching her?
And why has Taniska returned?
Why did she betray Aryan?
Was it just an accident… or is there a deeper conspiracy behind it?
Will Taniska become an obstacle between Aryan and Maira again…
Or will the game this time be entirely different?
To find out, keep listening—
"The King of Shadows"
With me: Nitish Chandel