The punch landed directly against Anvay's nose.

Yohan's infuriating fists met his jaw relentlessly, without a pause.

Blood started to spill instantly from his nose.

Garvith held him upright while his body sagged between them.

Drop's of blood landed on Yohan's knuckles.

He stared at it for a second... Then wiped it across Anvay's shirt carelessly.

Anvay's nose was bleeding terribly staining the ground below.

His face bruised rapidly beneath repeated hits.

Still...

he kept staring back.

That irritated Yohan more.

"Interesting."

His voice dropped lower.

"Still not scared."

His face was terribly bruised.

Yet still not enough for the merciless person to stop.

The next punch landed harder.

Jay's smile faded slightly now.

Even Sahas noticed the way Anvay clenched his fist.

Not in fear. In resistance.

Then again, and again...

Finally Yohan stepped back slowly.

He studied his unfinished experiment with a chilling satisfaction.

Then straightened his jacket calmly.

"Yaad rakh."

{"Remember that."}

His voice remained terrifyingly quiet.

"Blackstone weak logo ko chance nahi deta."

{"Blackstone didn't give a chance to weak people."}

His eyes darkened slightly.

"Bas warning deta hai."

{"It just gave a warning."}

Then he stood up slowly, brushing invisible dust from his hands and clothes.

"Then he released Anvay's collar like dropping something worthless.

Laughter echoed around them.

Vivaan loosened his grip.

Anvay couldn't balance himself and then his legs gave out.

He collapsed onto the ground.

A few boys stepped forward automatically.

Like violence here followed routine.

Kicks landed. Shouts echoed.

Laughter followed.

It look like a part of their duty.

Yohan didn't move.

He remained exactly where he stood, his gaze fixed on Anvay as if studying something which he had already predicted.

A faint satisfaction slowly appeared.

Then his gaze flicked briefly toward the bleachers-just for a second then returned to Anvay, expression unreadable.

Anvay's vision blurred. His body ached.

Rage burned quietly beneath the pain.

But he wasn't alone.

______________________________

• FLASHBACK!

______________________________

Morning lights crept slowly over the city.

As if trying to wake them up from their deep heavy slumber.

Glass towers have caught the first light of sun rays, their reflections stretching across empty roads still wet from the night.

Coffee shops were just beginning to open, the scent of the fresh brew drifting through quiet streets while the distant hum of traffic slowly woke the city.

A place where ambition never slept.

And somewhere in the heart of it stood a University.

______________________________

• BLACKSTONE UNIVERSITY

______________________________

Blackstone University was not simply a place of education.

It's a monument to power.

Glass towers rose above manicured lawns, reflecting sunlight like polished blades.

Marble pathways cut through the campus with mathematical precision, connecting luxury dormitories, elite sports arenas, and buildings that looked more like corporate headquarters than lecture halls.

Every inch of the university whispered the same truth.

Only the powerful thrived here.

Blackstone belonged to

YUVRAJ KASHYAP, one of the richest men.

Because of that, the institution followed rules very differently from the rest of the world.

• Status was currency.

• Influence was armor.

• Fear was the language which everyone understood.

The sports ground was pulsing with afternoon energy.

Football flew across the turf.

Sport shoes scraped against grass.

The air was thick with the scent of mown grass and expensive cologne.

Groups of students shouted and laughed as practice sessions continued under the bright sky.

Girls screaming & cheering for their favourite players.

In the middle of that noise,

A guy named Anvay Sharma walked quietly just humming a soft tune.

The song is across the field with his headphones.

As a scholarship student, he was an anomaly.

Anvay looked nothing like the boys who feared from Blackstone rulers.

Or maybe he was like this just because he is still a fresher.

His frame was straight rather than the lean & his posture slightly guarded as if he had learned to make himself smarter and noticeable in crowded places.

His uniform was not simple at all - a plain white t-shirt with a grey jacket paired with black cargo pants.

Sneakers and a black backpack which slung over one of his shoulders.

Strands of his hair fell messily yet styled across his forehead.

His eyes carried the shining curiosity and gaze of someone who had spent too long living instead of surviving.

He watched the students around him.

They didn't look at faces; they were looking at brands.

"Luxury cars, hollow laughs... What's wrong with these people?" he thought, his gaze was fixed on a group of girls staring more at a boy's watch than his eyes.

At Blackstone University, students like him were meant to stand out and create their own space and influence.

They weren't meant to stay invisible and forbidden.

His bag hung from one shoulder, his gaze fixed on the environment near him as if trying to memorize the entire world.

His steps were slow yet deliberate, like noticing every small detail about the people and the scenery.

He wasn't like someone who had learned the hard way that attention could be dangerous.

He needed to reach his locker.

To get his things a camera of course to capture the beautiful scenario.

Just a few more meters.

Then it happened.

The Fall.

THUD.

A violent shove struck his back.

Anvay stumbled forward instantly.

His shoe snagged against the turf, and the next moment he crashed into the dirt.

Dust scattered across the grass.

Laughter erupted. Gaze turned.

Anvay clenched his teeth as pain shot through his knees because of a side stone.

A faint line appeared on his knee.

His palms burned against the rough ground while humiliation crawled up his spine like slow poison.

"What the hell..." he spoke firmly yet loudly enough for everyone.

He tried to push himself up quickly, ready to face whatever is coming next.

But when he flipped his body and looked ahead, his path had already vanished.

Several students stood there, forming a loose circle around him.

Predators think of him as an easy prey.

One of them, named Garvith Mehra, took a step ahead, tilting his head and smirking.

Voice laced with mischief & sarcasm.

"Kya hua, NEWBIE? Tu bhaag nhi raha?"

{"What happened, NEWBIE? Why are you not running?"}

He stood over him like a vulture.

Another one approached him, Vivaan Rawat laughed & then added.

"Maybe, janta nhi hai hame!" he laughed.

{"Maybe, he don't know about us!"}

A slow grin was clearly visible on his face.

Anvay was confused about all this.

But one thing he knows is that they were gonna BULLY him.

Just then Garvith bent a little and took Anvay's bag, unzipped it and started to throw his things out.

Notebooks, pens, books and water bottle fall out on the ground.

He looked at his things which were scattered all over the ground messily.

Anvay clenched his hands so hard, even his knuckles turned white.

Anvay pushed himself off the ground and stood out in a blink of an eye, he grabbed Garvith's collar in his hand and roared,

"Teri himmat kesi hui"

{"How dare you."}

Adrenaline rushed through him.

Garvith's expression changed into rage.

He slapped Anvay so hard that he fell on the ground again, with his fingerprints visible on his cheek.

Anvay wiped the side of his lips with his hand as he felt something in his mouth.

When he looked at his hand he saw blood on it.

Garvith wiped the imaginary dust from his collar and said without looking at him, "aaya bada"

{"came, big"}

The ground was already heavy, the sarcasm got broken by a rhythmic sound.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The entire group went silent.

For a moment... nothing moved.

Then-

Heads turned slowly.

Like their life depends on the grand entry.

JAY SINGHANIA walked like urgency didn't even exist in his vocabulary, he stepped into the circle like he owned the pause itself.

Posture relaxed, hands in his pockets, head titled slightly as he was speaking.

"Arre bhandara chal ra h, kya? Jo sabne itni bheed laga rkhi h?"

{"Hey, is there a feast going on? That's why everyone has gathered in such a crowd?"}

His lazy sleepy voice cut through the tension like it wasn't even there.

He leaned slightly, then pushed his hands in the pockets of his white trousers paired with an oversized navy-blue sweatshirt with white horizontal lines on it and sneakers.

Sleeves slightly up just enough to show a Rolex watch that looked expensive-but worn like it meant nothing.

His hair was messy on purpose, eyes sharp in contrast to that careless smile of his.

His eyes flicked to Anvay on the ground, then to the boys around him.

Annoyance was clear in his gaze.

"Arre yaar... kya scene bana rakha hai."

{Hey man... what a scene you have made."}

He rolled his eyes and said, looking at the Garvith & Vivaan who were standing a little close to Anvay.

"Thoda aur push karta toh sayad... Olympic ke trials me BRONZE MEDAL jeet jaata.."

{Could've pushed a bit harder, maybe then...would have won a BRONZE MEDAL in the Olympic trials.}

he said annoyingly.

A few nervous laughs sparked... and died immediately because of the side eyes of the two bullies.

Not because it was funny-but because Jay Singhania has his own way of making chaos sound like that.

Jay tilted his head.

"Tum log bhi na... naye logo ko aise treat karte ho?"{You people really treat new people like this?}"

Sarcasm was clear in his tone but people didn't even notice, too impatient waiting for the upcoming tragedy.

Of course, the campus scenery has more plots than any movie could ever have. Just food was the missing item in all the scenery...

He stepped forward casually, and extended his hand to Anvay's side.

Anvay looked at him with his shining bright eyes, thinking of him as a guardian angel.

Someone who came to save him from these bullies.

But the truth was still unrevealed yet..

"Relax." He assured him & murmured with a slight grin clear on his face.

Before Anvay could hold his hand..

Footsteps followed-

Slow & Measured.

Jay tilted his head in the direction, and when he saw who had arrived, he took his hand back like he would get burnt if someone touched him now.

SAHAS KHURANA..

He looked calm, too calm...

His posture was relaxed.

Like he didn't have a single care in the entire universe.

Unnecessary drama and noise didn't exist around him.

[A/N: EXCEPT one person😁]

He appears there while attending a phone call. Clearly listening more than explaining, cause that's how he is...

With his expressionless face.

He was styled in a beige colour V-line sweatshirt paired with cream straight pants and black shoes. Sleeves covering his hands fully.

A small chain resting on his collar bone

and then his glasses, which look like his saviour in the entire universe.

No extra movement-no wasted energy.

Everything about him was... controlled yet precised.

He ended the phone call & swiftly put the phone back in the pocket, like somehow it belongs there..

He slowly lifted his head and scanned the whole crowded place, just then his eyes fell on a familiar figure.

Jay.

Who was looking at him with his mischief eyes & a big wide smirk, which Sahas already knows

and was ready for what was coming next.

[Eyes which says: "Who's gonna save you from me now?"]

Sahas rolled his eyes at him.

From another side Jay's voice cut the silence like the ice itself started to melt.

"Ouch, dil Tod dia Mera!"

{Ouch, my heart got broken! }

Jay spoke while holding his little-poor heart.

As if Somehow Sahas has5 already rejected him and it hurt his feelings more than a sword ever could.

Sahas didn't speak at first.

He just stood there.

Eyes steady. Expression unreadable.

And strangely-People stepped back...

without even knowing why.

Jay sighed heavily and spoke again while widening his grin and stood next to Sahas.

"Finally, Mr. Icecube bhi aagya"

{Finally, Mr. Icecube has also arrived.}

No response.

Sahas's gaze moved again-from the crowd... to Anvay... then to the one holding control.

Cold. Calculating.

A pause.

Then, quietly-

"Bas!" {That's it!}

Just one word.

But it didn't carry a threat... it carried certainty.

[Like he was saying: "THIS END'S NOW."]

Jay exhaled a soft laugh and slapped Sahas's shoulder.

"Damn! Tum hamesha entry late lete ho... but, worth it."

{Damn. You're always late to the scene... but worth it.}

Silence thickened.

Because the atmosphere changed once more.

The laughter died. A group of girls stood straighter, instinctively fixing their hair.

The bullies stopped their mid-sentence jeers.

This time it was like silence before an upcoming tornado.

A whisper rippled through the air like a cold draft: "He's here..."

Before the sound of an engine could even be heard, fear had already entered the field.

The whole situation was calm & silent now until a car's screeching tyres broke the heavy silence like a perfect knife's blade..

The car stopped directly in front of the crowd.

Every student's head turned in the direction.

Some were aware of the upcoming storm and some were enjoying the scene..

Even Anvay, who was lying on the ground, stood up to look.

The silence was shattered by the scream of tires.

A heavy black Bugatti La Voiture Noire

skidded to a halt.

The car's beauty was beyond words.

Especially the hand made design on it,

It was looking so ethereal.

& the most shocking part was the car's number plate on it.

It was indeed a VIP number..

The door opened, and stepped out.

Everyone holds their breath, as if waiting for the biggest tragedy in their lifetime to occur.

Some even took out their phone, recording the upcoming disaster.

Girls were screaming at the top of their lungs.

Some boys clearly uninterested and the reason-

YOHAN KASHYAP!

The golden boy of Blackstone.

Rich. Influential. Untouchable.

But those descriptions barely scratched the surface.

What people really feared about how Yohan Kashyap... enjoyed controlling people.

A tall devilishly handsome figure came out of the car, one hand resting inside the pocket of his sports jacket, observing everything with unsettling calmness.

A presence that didn't introduce itself-it just declared itself.

His athletic build rippled under the sleek cut of his jacket, every movement controlled yet effortless.

His muscular chest and biceps were visible even beneath the black T-shirt, the fabric stretched perfectly over his frame.

The tattoos on his right hand and forearms peeked from beneath his sleeves like owning the complete presence without even being asked.

Dark lines and symbols hinting at stories no one dared to ask about.

Black jeans fit him like armor,

paired with a FERRARI jacket at the top that seemed to carry the weight of authority itself.

His designer Nike Air Jordan shoes hit the ground lightly, and the subtle glint of his de Grisogono Samsung Gear S2 smart watch and expensive accessories told a silent tale of power and wealth.

The space around him seemed to adjust itself, like reality was making room without being asked.

He stepped forward slowly.

The noise of the sports ground seemed to fade around him.

He walked with a quiet precision that made the crowd part like the Red Sea.

Confidence radiated from every movement.

His black-hazel eyes, sharp and piercing, dark black hair, falling just enough over his forehead, completed the untouchable, predatory aura.

His lips and eyebrow piercing caught everyone's attention in such a way that felt unavoidable at every cost.

Every inch of him radiated danger, dominance, and control-unshakable, impossible to ignore.

The cold amusement in his eyes all carried the same message.

AUTHORITY...

His slow footsteps echoed across the field.

Not loud. Not rushed.

Just absolute with a quiet precision.

Even the crowd made space for letting him enter and own the full chaos.

In a few stripes he stands between Jay & Sahas.

Looking like the one in the control charge.

Jay smiled while showing his gummy teeth.

Jay spoke with his mischievous voice laced with sarcasm, "Missed me?"

On the other hand, Yohan didn't even look at him properly yet speaks firmly with his deep-husky voice.

"Had better things to do."

Jay clutched his heart dramatically.

Sahas remained silent.

His eyes flicked to the new boy who was standing in front of him, whose clothes were dirty because of the mud.

He tilted his head and looked at the two bullies behind Anvay, whose heads were bowed in full respect instead of chin up.

He didn't ask nor did he look at anyone else.

He already knows everything.

A faint smile formed.

Not warm. Not cold. Certain.

Yohan stepped forward slowly.

Each step erased hesitation from the ground itself.

He stopped in front of Anvay and for the first time-it felt like the entire situation had found its axis.

Their eyes met.

And for half a second-

something changed.

Recognition.

Tiny. Dangerous. Gone instantly.

Anvay froze.

Those eyes.

The balcony.

The rain.

His stomach dropped.

It was him.

Yohan walked forward slowly.

Garvith and Vivaan immediately stepped aside.

Nobody spoke. Nobody breathed.

Yohan stopped directly in front of Anvay.

Silence stretched.

Then-

"So..."

His voice came low and calm.

"Tum ho."

{"You are the one."}

Anvay's pulse spiked.

Before he could respond-

Yohan shoved him back onto the ground.

Hard.

Pain exploded through his shoulder.

Other students gasped in quiet surprise.

He fell hard onto the ground this time.

Panic began tightening around his chest.

Then a deep voice spoke.

Calm, Controlled & Dangerous.

The entire group went silent.

"Yahi hai wo."

{He is the one.}

Jay tilted his head slightly, like he was considering whether to listen.

He lifted his both hands in surrender, sighed heavily and put them down.

"Jesa aap kahe boss."

{As you said boss.}

Yohan stepped forward and grabbed Anvay's arm-not brutally, not gently...

Just controlled enough to make resistance useless.

Vivaan and Garvith stepped forward instantly.

They grabbed Anvay by the arms and forced him upright, locking his shoulders so tightly he could barely move.

Anvay struggled violently.

Useless. It didn't help.

"Thoda easy..." Jay murmured, almost teasing, "Agar survive karna chahta h toh."

(Easy there... If you wanna survive.)

Anvay looked at Jay, with confusion. Angry.

Jay simply smiled.

Sahas watched everything in silence.

No response.

That silence said more than any threat could. Around them, the atmosphere shifted.

Students nearby slowed their steps.

Some turned away instantly.

Mostly quickly turned away.

Others pretended not to notice.

No one interfered.

No one dared to.

Anvay slowly lifted his head slowly.

Yohan stood inches away now.

Too close.

Anvay's breathing turned uneven.

But he hid it.

Then Yohan crouched slowly.

Their eyes met.

Despite the blood forming on his knee, a bitter smile appeared.

"Kya baat hai... mujhe itna miss kar liya?"

His voice was hoarse but mocking.

{"Well, well... missed me that much?"}

A faint smile curved on Yohan's lips.

Not friendly. Predatory.

"Abhi bhi hero banne ki acting kar raha hai?" he said quietly.

"Cute lag raha hai."

{"Still pretending to be the hero?"

"Looks cute."}

He tapped Anvay's cheek lightly..

Then suddenly he grabbed his collar and yanked him closer.

The movement was sharp enough to knock the breath from Anvay's lungs.

Yohan leaned near his ear, lowering his voice.

"Kitna dekha tha tumne?"

{" How much did you see?"}

Anvay's heartbeat stopped.

"Camera kaha hai?"

{"Where's the camera?"}

A chill crawled down his spine.

Yohan pulled back slightly.

His gaze remained calm. Too calm...

The next word he says, sent chills over him.

"Tumhe uss raat, rukna nahi chahiye tha."

{"You shouldn't have stopped that night. "}

Anvay stared at him.

So it was real.

Not imagination.

Yohan noticed the realization immediately.

A faint satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

"Tujhe pta h, curiosity badi khatarnak cheez hoti hai

{"You know curiosity is dangerous thing."}

He loosened his grip slightly.

"Especially yahan."

{"Especially here."}

His gaze drifted across the silent students watching from a distance.

Then it returned to Anvay.

"Tum galat jagah aa gaye ho."

{"You have come to the wrong place."}

A heartbeat passed.

"Tujhe to pta nhi hai, abhi mere bare me.."

{U don't even know about me, till now..}

He pushed him slightly to make some distance between them.

"Ye ground... ye college... sab mera hai."

{"This ground... this college... it's all mine."}

A heartbeat passed.

Then

his fist moved.

______________________________

• BACK TO THE CHAOS!

______________________________

At the edge of the sports ground, partially hidden behind the tall metal bleachers....

Someone else had witnessed everything.

A group of students-

Among them-

one with piercing eyes, watched everything with perfect stillness.

No fear. No shock.

Just observation.

A phone rested loosely in her hand.

The recording is still running.

They had seen everything.

The shove. The laughter. The punch.

The rest of their friends flank behind silently like shadows.

None of them moved. None of them flinched.

Below them, Anvay lay bleeding against the grass while Yohan Kashyap stood untouched in the center of the chaos.

Like a king watching his empire obey.

But somewhere beneath the violence...

something had shifted.

A crack.

Small. Invisible. Dangerous.

The first crack in Blackstone's empire had already begun.

Because for the first time in a very long time-

Someone had looked directly at Yohan Kashyap.

and refused to lower their eyes.

Neither of them knew it yet.

The game at Blackstone had just begun.

And she had a feeling the king of this empire had finally met someone who wouldn't bow to him.

> "Neither knows. But the moment their paths crossed... Blackstone University would never be the same again."

______________________________

Now... I'll leave this chapter bleeding here.

So... how did it hit you?

If it burned, stunned, or twisted your mind, don't just scroll-vote and tell me which moment cut deepest.

Want to catch every shadow, every secret, every twist?

If the darkness pulls you in... follow for the next chapter.

• FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM

✦ shubhXwrites

• Outfit's uploaded on Pinterest.

~Brace yourself... The next chapter will hit harder.

______________________________