A sudden sharp buzz of Adyansh’s phone broke the silence.

"Brace yourself, Sachdeva I’m back deadlier than ever."

His eyes darkened.

"Impossible..." he muttered under his breath.

Slow, deliberate clapping echoed down the corridor.

Clap... Clap... Clap...

Every gaze snapped towards the entrance.

And there he stood—calm, cruel, confident—Rehan Oberoi.

His grin was unsettling, eyes burning with something dark and dangerous. A predator who’d finally found his prey again.

"Missed me, Adyansh?" His voice oozed mockery, but his stare was deadly serious. "Tch tch… You’ve built such a perfect little life here… new friends... new toys… but you forgot I exist?"

Adyansh’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Rehan… you should’ve rotted where you vanished. Wapas kyun aaya hai?"

Rehan laughed, stepping closer—invading Adyansh’s personal space like he owned it.

"Why? To take back what’s mine. Everything you have... should’ve been mine, Adyansh. Your life. Your friends. Your respect. Aur ab..."

His gaze shifted to Ridrakshika, lingering with dark intent.

Ridrakshika stiffened, glaring. "Stay away, creep."

Rehan ignored her completely, eyes never leaving Adyansh. "You always had what I wanted. Every damn thing. But not anymore. This time... I'll snatch it all. Slowly. Painfully. And you? You'll stand there helpless. Watching. Breaking."

Adyansh's jaw flexed. "Himmat hai toh saamne aa. Games band kar, Rehan."

But Rehan smirked wider. "Games? Oh, this is no game, Adyansh. This is war. And I always play to destroy. Pehle tera naam... fir tera status... aur ab tera sab kuch."

He flicked his eyes to Ridrakshika again, and whispered darkly,

"She looks like someone... worth ruining."

Adyansh growled low in his throat, ready to punch, but Sanskaar yanked him back.

Rehan chuckled coldly. "Bas ek baat yaad rakhna... I don’t lose. This time... you will."

With a last poisonous glance at Ridrakshika, he smirked and turned, walking away with the air of a king claiming his kingdom.

The tension hung thick like smoke.

Ridrakshika muttered under her breath, "Kya problem hai is psycho ka? Adyansh, ye kaun hai?!"

Adyansh stared at the space where Rehan stood, eyes dark as a storm.

"Purana dushman... ek purani kahani... jo ab khatam hogi. Par kaise... ye nahi pata."

-----

The library corridor stood eerily silent, save for the faint squeaks of Ridrakshika’s shoes against the polished floor. She clutched the reference book tightly against her chest, nerves prickling at the back of her neck like invisible fingers tracing her skin.

Why did this corridor feel so... wrong?

She glanced over her shoulder, heart thudding wildly. Empty. Still. Cold.

"Bas Ridrakshika... overthink mat kar. Koi nahi hai yahan." She blew out a shaky breath and turned to walk faster. But the sense of being watched... grew heavier. Like eyes dragging down her every step.

Hidden behind the shadow of a tall pillar... Rehan Oberoi watched.

His lips curled into a sick, unsettling smirk.

"Kitni masoom si lagti hai... aur kitni akeli," he whispered darkly. "Kya karu... Samne aa jaaun abhi? Nah... game toh abhi shuru hua hai."

His gaze followed her like a predator stalking its prey. His voice low, filled with twisted amusement.

"Adyansh... hamesha sab kuch tere paas hi kyun hota hai? Ye ladki bhi... naye khilone jaisi hai. Ab isse bhi cheen lunga. Dekhte hain tu kitne samay tak ise bacha paayega."

He chuckled soundlessly and melted deeper into the shadows, unseen.

Meanwhile, Ridrakshika quickened her steps, clutching the book tighter, her breath short.

"Kya ho raha hai mujhe... koi toh hai mere peeche. Kya karoon... Ye library itni dur kyun hai yaar?..."

A soft sound. Footsteps? Or imagination? She spun around sharply—

THUD!

—straight into a hard chest.

“Tum pagal ho kya? Dekh ke nahi chal sakti?” Adyansh’s familiar voice snapped as his hands steadied her by her shoulders, preventing her from toppling backward.

She gasped, looking up—wide startled eyes locking into his sharp ones.

His face was dangerously close. Warm breath fanned across her skin. Her heartbeat roared in her ears.

Adyansh froze for a beat too, their gaze locked. Neither moved.

For a moment... the world, the corridor, the strange creeping fear—everything dissolved into that intense eye contact.

“Tum itni der kyun laga rahi thi? Saara project chhod ke tumhe dhundhne aana pada...” he muttered, voice low but rough, not out of concern... but pure irritation.

She swallowed hard. “Kuch... kuch ajeeb feel ho raha tha... jaise koi dekh raha ho...”

His eyes darkened slightly, scanning the corridor behind her. His grip unconsciously tightened on her arms.

“Koi nahi hai yahan. Tumhara dimaag zyada imagination kar raha hai.” he said, but his jaw clenched slightly.

Before she could respond, her hand brushed against his shirt... her book slipping from her fingers to the floor.

Neither bent to pick it up.

The tension thickened. His gaze dropped briefly to her parted lips... then snapped back up.

Suddenly realising the closeness, she pushed against his chest lightly. "Move karoge?" she muttered awkwardly.

His smirk returned, lazy and sharp. "Tum hi takrayi thi. Main toh bas... bacha raha tha."

Their eyes clashed again—silent, fierce, lingering.

And from the dark corridor behind the pillar... Rehan watched silently. A deadly smile curling his lips.

"Khel toh mazedaar hone wala hai... bahut mazedaar." His whispered promise vanished into the emptiness.

-------

It was the last period before departure. The OG Four were bored out of their minds when Sanskaar suddenly whispered with a mischievous grin,

"Guys, let’s play Truth or Dare... classroom version!"

Before Ridrakshika could protest, Esha had already spun a pen on the desk — and it stopped pointing right at Ridrakshika.

Sanskaar smirked:

"Rida... Truth or Dare?"

She narrowed her eyes. “Dare.”

Bold as ever.

Sanskaar grinned devilishly.

"Go to Adyansh... aur usko bol — ‘Tumhare bina meri life incomplete hai!’”

The whole OG Four gasped.

Adyansh, who was busy doodling on his notebook, suddenly looked up, suspicious.

"Kya bakwas planning chal rahi hai waha pe?"

Esha whispered, “Go Ridu! Dare complete kar!”

Rolling her eyes but hiding a smile, Ridrakshika stood up dramatically, walked straight to Adyansh’s desk and leaned in, eyes shining with fake seriousness.

“Adyansh...” she said, loud enough for nearby classmates to hear.

“Tumhare bina meri life... incomplete hai!”

PIN DROP SILENCE.

Adyansh slowly raised a brow, smirk curling on his lips.

"Acha? Tum kabse itna sach bolne lagi?"

The class burst into giggles. Ridrakshika hit his desk lightly:

"Shut up, you narcissist!”

Just then, Mr. Mehta entered.

“What’s going on here?!”

The OG Four froze.

Adyansh, cool as ever:

"Sir, Ridrakshika bas apni feelings confess kar rahi thi.”

Mr. Mehta (confused):

"Feelings... for Commerce?"

Laughter exploded.

Ridrakshika, burning red, threw a notebook at Adyansh’s face:

"Tumse na ho payega!”

Adyansh (catching the notebook effortlessly):

"Par tum toh bol chuki ho.. incomplete life ke baare mein!”

OG Four hooting. Tanisha sitting at the back glaring daggers.

And like this...

The game that started as a boring dare turned into another battle of words between the two enemies-who-were-maybe-something-else.

------

The pen spun once again. This time—destiny wanted drama.

Esha smirked.

"Adyansh… truth or dare?"

Without lifting his gaze, twirling his pen smoothly between his fingers, he said lazily,

"Dare."

Sanskaar and Esha exchanged evil glances.

"Perfect. Dare hai ki tum Ridrakshika ke paas jaake uske dono haath pakad ke bolo—‘Mujhe tumhari aankhon mein future dikhta hai Ridrakshika.’”

Classroom gasped.

Ridrakshika blinked, totally caught off guard.

"Kya bakwas hai Sanskaar! Yeh kya dare hai?"

But Adyansh was already standing, slow smirk on his face — like a king approaching his favorite fight.

He stopped right in front of Ridrakshika’s desk, leaned a little too close — enough to blur the space between them — and gently took her hands in his.

The whole class held its breath.

His voice low, teasing...

"Mujhe tumhari aankhon mein future dikhta hai, Ridrakshika...”

Their eyes locked — and for a second, the world really did blur.

The teasing smirk from Adyansh’s face faded into something unreadable... intense... real.

Ridrakshika, frozen, felt her heart skip.

"Bas... bas karo, nautanki bandh karo," she whispered shakily, trying to pull her hands away.

But he tightened the grip just a little, grinning wickedly —

"Dare pura karne do yaar... warna penalty milegi."

Their faces were now inches apart — she could feel his breath, and for the first time... it didn’t feel annoying.

It felt dangerously thrilling.

“Tum pagal ho gaye ho kya?” she muttered.

He leaned a little closer — just enough for her heart to race violently.

"Hamesha se tha ... tumhe ab realise ho raha hai?”

Before the moment could break, Sanskaar and Esha literally screamed:

"Bas bas! Fire brigade bulaaye kya?!"

OG Four exploded into laughter.

Ridrakshika snatched her hands free, face burning.

"Tum... tum pagal insaan ho! Mujhse door raho!”

Adyansh winked:

"Too late madam... future toh main dekh chuka hoon."

And behind them — at the back seat — Tanisha’s pen broke under her grip as she burned with pure jealousy.

------

As the laughter from the dare game still echoed in the classroom, Ridrakshika stole a side glance at Adyansh—his smug grin still perfectly in place. Sanskaar was rolling on the floor laughing while Esha wiped her tears of joy.

Just when Sanskaar was about to spin the pen again—

the door creaked open.

Silence fell.

Rehan  strolled in casually, hands buried in pockets, wearing that ever-familiar smug smile—the kind that only spelled trouble.

"Lagta hai main perfect time pe aaya hoon… drama ka asli maza toh ab start hoga," he said, his cold eyes fixed directly on Adyansh.

Everyone stiffened.

Rehan walked straight to Adyansh's desk, stopping just close enough to break the invisible line of personal space. His voice low... taunting... dangerous.

"Bahut din ho gaye Adyansh… tujhe teri aukaat dikhaye hue. Kya bolta hai ek basketball match ho jaaye? Purane scores clear karne ka time aa gaya hai."

Pin-drop silence.

Adyansh leaned back in his chair, folding his arms—unfazed, cool as ever. His eyes locked with Rehan’s, no hint of fear—only sharp, simmering confidence.

A sly smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Aukaat? Rehan... aukaat dikhane ka kaun sa chance main tere liye chhodta hoon? Match toh hoga... lekin kaun kise kiski aukaat dikhata hai, ye toh waqt hi batayega."

A dangerous pause.

His gaze sharpened.

"Game on, Oberoi.”

Rehan’s smile widened darkly.

"Game on, Sachdeva."

The silent warlines were drawn.

OG Four exchanged worried glances. Ridrakshika felt her stomach twist.

The tension crackled in the air — as if the whole school was about to witness a war.

__________________________________

Stay tuned for further updates 🎀

~shanshya🧿