While Tanishka and the guy sitting with her were laughing and chatting, she suddenly paused her laughter and let her eyes wander around the restaurant. Her gaze roamed across the nearby tables until it froze on one particular spot.
It was the very table where Aryan and Rahul were sitting.
Tanishka's eyes locked on them instantly. Her face reflected disbelief as she muttered under her breath—
"How is this possible… how can he be here?"
The very next moment, she tried to convince herself—
"No… it must be someone else."
She shut her eyes for a second and opened them again—but the sight hadn't changed. Rage clenched her fingers tight against the table.
Eshan noticed it and asked,
"What happened, Tanishka? Why did you suddenly go silent?"
Taking a deep breath, Tanishka steadied her gaze and said—
"Nothing special… I just saw someone, and it ruined my mood."
Eshan raised his brows slightly,
"Who?"
Tanishka didn't speak—she just made a slight gesture toward Aryan and Rahul's table. Her eyes revealed her anger, but she restrained herself from bursting out.
Eshan followed her gaze, then smirked lightly and asked—
"And who is he?"
Tanishka replied in a low voice—
"He's the same guy I told you about… the one because of whom I had to face humiliation in front of everyone. And yes—he also happens to be my ex."
Eshan thought for a moment and then chuckled—
"Oh… so he's the one. No wonder you're suddenly so angry."
Tanishka bit her lip and said with frustration—
"Yes… but what I don't understand is how that pauper can even afford to eat here. From what I know of him, he didn't even have enough to buy someone a plate of samosas."
Eshan looked at her for a while, then laughed softly—
"Hahaha… so you want me to take revenge for you—and that too on your pathetic ex-boyfriend?"
His eyes lingered on her for a moment, and with a sly smile he added—
"Alright… but tell me, what's in it for me?"
Tanishka let out a cold sigh, leaned closer, and whispered—
"Whatever you want… you can have."
Eshan's grin widened instantly. He snapped his fingers lightly and gestured for the waiter. The waiter bent down nervously, and after Eshan whispered something in his ear, unease clearly spread across the waiter's face.
---
Meanwhile, Rahul was still mid-conversation when a well-dressed man suddenly appeared before their table. From his demeanor and confidence, it was clear he was a senior member of the staff.
He bowed slightly and said—
"Excuse me, sir… I'm the manager here. I have a small request."
Aryan looked up calmly. His tone was composed but direct—
"Yes, go ahead. What is it?"
In a professional voice, the manager said—
"Sir, my responsibility is to make sure every guest can enjoy the atmosphere here comfortably. We've received a complaint that your table is making some guests uncomfortable."
Aryan frowned slightly—
"Uncomfortable? But we've just been sitting quietly. What's the issue?"
The manager hesitated, then replied—
"Sir, I can't go into details, but we must consider other guests' privacy and comfort. So I kindly request you to shift to another table. Otherwise, I may have to involve security."
Rahul shot up, furious—
"This is pure injustice! We're paying here, and you want us to move? Why doesn't the one who has a problem leave instead?"
The manager looked uneasy and fell silent. Aryan, however, spoke in a calm but firm tone—
"Look, no one can be accused without reason. Tell me clearly… who made the complaint?"
The manager stayed hesitant. Aryan's voice turned colder—
"Complaints don't come without reason. Speak up—who complained?"
The manager was about to reply when Eshan and Tanishka rose from their seats and walked over.
Tanishka smirked—
"Oh… so these are the ones disturbing the atmosphere."
Eshan looked directly at the manager and said—
"Now you see where the problem lies. Better tell them to get up and leave."
Rahul shot up in anger—
"So this whole drama is your doing!"
He was about to charge forward, but Aryan held him back with a calm gesture. Then he turned to the manager and said coolly—
"If your hotel's rule is that anyone can file a baseless complaint and you act without verifying, then we'll have to reconsider ever coming here again."
The manager hesitated, but then recognition dawned as he looked at Eshan. His expression changed, and he said with a polite smile—
"Oh, Mr. Eshan… it's you? So you filed the complaint?"
Eshan nodded casually—
"Yes. We were disturbed by them."
Without delay, the manager said—
"If you say so, then it must be true."
Rahul couldn't hold back anymore. He stood up, his voice booming—
"This is unfair! How can you even think of throwing us out without proof or investigation?"
His raised voice caught the attention of the entire restaurant. Everyone turned toward the two tables.
Tanishka, of course, wouldn't let such a moment slip. With a mocking smile, she leaned forward and said—
"Aryan, you talk big… but the truth is, you don't even belong in a place like this."
She locked eyes with him and added in a taunting tone—
"If you really have the guts, order the most expensive items on this menu."
Rahul growled, half-rising from his chair—
"This is too much!"
But before he could say more, Aryan raised his hand and stopped him. His face remained calm, but in his eyes shone a cold, steady glint—the silence before a storm.
He thought to himself—
"So she wants to humiliate me in front of everyone? Fine… if this is the game she chose, then I'll play it my way. The only difference is—I never stop until the other person admits defeat."
Seeing him still quiet, Tanishka was certain he would back down. She believed she'd get yet another chance to embarrass him.
But instead, Aryan looked straight into her eyes and said in a calm voice—
"Alright. If that's what you want… so be it."
Tanishka was taken aback for a moment. But then her smile returned—
"He's bound to lose. A pauper like Aryan can never stand against Eshan."
She laughed, while Eshan smirked confidently—
"Then let's see who has the real power here."
---
Soon, both tables began ordering one luxury dish after another.
At Eshan's table: French Wine Château Lafite, Beluga Caviar, Italian White Truffle Risotto, Exotic Cheese Platters.
At Aryan's table: Bluefin Tuna Sushi, Japanese Wagyu A5 Steak, Persian Saffron Ice Cream, and Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne.
The hall was stunned. Staff scribbled notes while guests whispered—
"Hey, that's Eshan Mehra, the younger son of the Mehra family."
"But who's that other guy? How dare he challenge him?"
Someone chuckled—
"He won't last long. Watch, he'll give up soon."
After nearly an hour and a half, the bills arrived.
First, the staff turned to Eshan—
"Sir, your total bill is 5.8 million rupees."
Eshan's face paled. He sighed deeply and muttered—
"That's it… I can't go any further."
Tanishka smirked with relief. She whispered—
"We still haven't lost. Wait until that pauper tries to pay his bill. He'll never be able to."
But then the staff turned to Aryan—
"Sir, your total bill is 6.4 million rupees."
The entire restaurant froze. All eyes turned to Aryan in disbelief.
Tanishka burst into laughter—
"Ha… ha… ha… Aryan! You ordered all this to show off, but you forgot one thing—the bill isn't about ordering, it's about paying."
Guests around nodded—
"She's right. How could an ordinary guy pay such an amount?"
With pride, Tanishka looked at Eshan, then back at Aryan with mocking eyes—
"Let's see how long your act lasts now."
But Aryan, unfazed, simply pulled out a sleek black card from his pocket.
Tanishka laughed louder—
"Hahaha! What's this, Aryan? Do you think flashing a fancy card will scare people? It's all show-off. The truth will be out when the machine says: Transaction Failed."
Confidence returned to Eshan's face too.
Aryan stayed silent, handed the card to the waiter, and said calmly—
"Please swipe it."
The waiter hesitated, then inserted the card. The entire hall held its breath. The screen showed "Processing…" for a few seconds—and then, in bright green, appeared—
"Transaction Successful."
Silence. Utter silence.
Guests stared at one another in shock.
"He really paid?"
"6.4 million—just like that?"
"Who on earth is this guy?"
Some even pulled out their phones to record.
Tanishka's laughter stopped cold. Disbelief etched across her face. She just stared at Aryan as if the ground had slipped from beneath her feet.
Eshan too sat frozen, unable to believe Aryan had pulled it off.
Aryan took a calm sip of water, then looked at Tanishka with a faint smile and said—
"Sometimes… reality isn't as simple as you imagine."
The machine still displayed: Transaction Successful.
Tanishka's eyes widened, her voice rising in shock—
"How… how is this possible!? This must be fake! Yes, it has to be a fake card—otherwise this can't happen!"
Her outburst startled many guests, who whispered—
"But the machine confirmed it…"
"If it were fake, the payment would've been declined."
The waiter bowed politely—
"Ma'am, the payment is genuine. It's already cleared."
Tanishka's face fell completely. Anger mixed with disbelief flickered in her eyes.
But Aryan sat there still—calm and composed.
---
So what happens next?
Even after this crushing defeat, will Eshan create new troubles for Aryan?
And will Aryan's true identity finally come to light?
To find out… continue in the upcoming chapters of The King of Shadows.
With me: Nitish Chandel