During this, Tanishka's face reflected both anger and astonishment. Meanwhile, Aryan sat calmly in his place. A glass of wine rested in his hand, and he took small, measured sips. His nonchalant demeanor made Tanishka and Ishan increasingly uncomfortable. Their irritation and anger seemed to grow with every passing second.
The hall fell into a sudden silence. The atmosphere had grown so heavy that people could hear their own heartbeats clearly.
Even the manager's expression changed abruptly. Inside, a sense of fear gripped him—he worried that the earlier siding with Ishan might now cost him dearly. His anxiety was visible; beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.
Suddenly, Tanishka stood up, breaking the silence with a trembling voice:
"You've definitely cheated, Aryan! No one can suddenly spend such a huge amount. And for someone like you, this is absolutely next to impossible. It's clear this is some kind of trick—otherwise, a person like you wouldn't even come close!"
Her loud voice echoed throughout the hall, making the atmosphere even heavier. Some people began whispering to each other, while others fixed their gaze on Aryan.
Ishan, whose face had been full of pride just moments ago, now looked uneasy and angry. A hint of shock lingered in his expression. He kept looking at Tanishka, who continued speaking relentlessly, yet his eyes kept darting toward Aryan. One question circled in his mind:
"Who exactly is this boy?"
He barely knew him, yet losing to him like this was hard to accept. Moreover, Tanishka herself had earlier said that Aryan was just a penniless nobody.
So had Tanishka lied? Or had he himself underestimated this boy? These questions now endlessly circled in Ishan's mind. At that moment, all he could do was regret believing Tanishka and scold her in his head. The same question repeated: why had he trusted her back then?
Meanwhile, as Tanishka continued attacking Aryan verbally, the manager mustered courage and tried to calm the situation with a polite voice:
"Madam, please calm down. The transaction is genuine. Our records are completely clear."
But hearing the manager's words, Tanishka's voice only grew louder:
"I know you're trying to embarrass me. But remember, Aryan… this will be your first and last victory. From now on, I won't give you a moment's peace."
The hall fell into a deeper silence. All eyes were on Aryan—what would he say now?
Aryan placed the glass on the table with a hint of boredom. His cold, bone-chilling gaze fixed on Tanishka. In a deep voice, he said:
"Think whatever you want, Tanishka… but the truth is, the game has already slipped out of your hands. So it's better you keep that poisonous mouth of yours shut… and don't disturb everyone here unnecessarily."
There was such chill in Aryan's words that Tanishka froze for a moment. Her eyes blinked involuntarily, and she took a few steps back. But almost immediately, regaining her composure, her face flushed red with anger.
Before she could respond, her gaze fell on the people sitting around her—everyone was looking at her strangely, as if she had lost her mind. This only fueled her anger. She slammed her purse on the table and shouted at Ishan:
"Come on, let's go!"
She glanced toward him, but he was nowhere in sight. Looking around, she realized Ishan had already headed toward the exit.
Tanishka's face sank for a moment. She shot a sharp look at Aryan, then stamped her foot in frustration and screamed:
"Ishan… wait!"
---
Both of them rushed out of the hall. As they left, the atmosphere gradually returned to normal.
Rahul exhaled in relief:
"Good thing Tanishka left. Honestly, listening to her felt like my head was going to explode."
He added with a slight smile:
"But I have to admit, Aryan, you gave that arrogant girl a lesson she'll never forget. The atmosphere got a bit messy, though."
Aryan smiled faintly and nodded:
"You're right… but knowing her personality, she's not someone who will give up so easily."
His cold gaze then fell on the manager, who stood there stunned. Aryan's stare was so intense that cold sweat appeared on the manager's face.
After a moment, Aryan spoke:
"So, manager, tell me—how do I make up for the mistake you made with that girl, judging her without proper verification, just based on appearances and clothes?"
The manager's voice trembled as he tried to speak:
"S-sir… I… I didn't mean… I… I just—" His words faltered repeatedly, getting stuck in his throat.
"Sir, it was just pressure… I admit, I made a huge mistake…" His voice broke, every word sounding more difficult to say than the last.
Rahul laughed from the side:
"Ha-ha… say something, manager. Looks like your tongue has gone silent."
But Aryan ignored Rahul, his cold voice cutting him off:
"Manager, I understand that under pressure mistakes can happen. But deciding someone's fate without proper checks isn't right. Make sure it doesn't happen again."
The manager bowed his head, his voice breaking:
"I… I apologize. I promise I'll ensure such a mistake doesn't happen again."
After this, the hall was silent for a while. Tanishka and Ishan had already stormed out in anger and frustration. The rest remained seated quietly—some whispering, some still staring at Aryan.
Rahul leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath, while the manager stood, wiping sweat, bewildered. Meanwhile, some of the girls in the hall kept glancing at Aryan. His calm yet confident presence and nonchalant attitude had caught their attention. They exchanged glances, then peeked at him discreetly.
Aryan sat quietly for a while, lost in thought. Then, suddenly, he stood, placed his glass on the table, and walked toward the exit without a word.
His slow footsteps echoed through the hall. Rahul immediately followed, while the manager stayed rooted, eyes fixed on every movement. The hall returned to normal—empty chairs, tables, and a routine atmosphere.
Yet the girls who had been watching him still carried the same question in their eyes:
"Who exactly is this boy?"
A small group of girls in a corner had now become fully engrossed in discussing him. Curiosity sparkled in their eyes, and faint smiles played on their lips.
One of them whispered:
"Look at him… he's so hot."
Another, raising her eyebrows while suppressing a laugh, said:
"Hot, yes… but did you see what he just did? He spent that much money as if it meant nothing. The way he carries himself… totally untouchable, like no one is on his level."
The rest of the girls gasped. For a moment, it felt as if everyone's breath had stopped. Then one leaned forward mysteriously:
"I'm telling you, he must be some arrogant prince from a big family."
A third girl, pressing her finger to her lips to suppress a smile, added:
"Arrogant or not… honestly…" She looked at the others, then with a mischievous grin said, "He's hot, boss. No doubt about it."
The girls burst into laughter, but their eyes kept darting to the door Aryan had just exited. It was as if his presence still lingered in the air.
Then the first girl, biting her lip with a mischievous look, said:
"Should I go talk to him? Maybe… he'll say yes."
The second whispered nervously:
"Are you crazy? Didn't you see how he taught that girl a lesson? He's not someone to take lightly."
The third, who had been quiet until now, suddenly laughed with sparkling eyes:
"Whatever it is… I'm telling you, if I get the chance, I'd even be ready to be his one-night partner."
Hearing this, it was hard for the rest to suppress their laughter. Some nudged each other playfully, some made exaggerated eyes. But the truth was—everyone's mind was secretly running the same thought.
Meanwhile, unaware of all this, Aryan and Rahul moved forward.
As they advanced, a shadow followed them—but so cleverly that it remained completely hidden from their eyes.
Yet no matter how clever, it couldn't escape Aryan's gaze. A faint smile appeared on his face as they walked. It wasn't fear or worry, but a confirmation that he was fully in control of the situation and his plan. He concealed it, remaining completely calm—like a mafia boss who already knows every move in his territory.
---
So what happens next?
In Aryan's journey full of challenges, whose shadow is following him? Is it a new threat, or just a test?
To find out, read the next chapter—The King of Shadows.
With me: NITISH Chandel