Scene - 1 :

Paruskha paced restlessly around the locker room, her footsteps echoing against the cold tiled floor. Her fingers trembled as she twisted them together, anxiety sitting heavy in her chest. Tonight wasn’t going to be an ordinary night she could feel it in her bones.

Tonight, her brother and Shivan were going to face each other in a boxing match.

Her breath hitched at the thought.

Her brother hadn’t fully recovered from his accident, yet in a moment of reckless pride, he had challenged Shivan in front of the entire college. And now there was no turning back.

"What if something happens to Mihir?" Paruskha muttered, her voice shaking. "He already has a stiches near his eye. What if it opens again? What if his injury gets worse?" She bit her nails nervously, panic clouding her thoughts.

Receiving no response, she lifted her head and looked toward her best friend only to find olivia laughing softly at something on her phone.

"Olivia White!" Paruskha yelled, startling her.

"What?" Olivia looked up, completely unfazed, as if she had no idea why Paruskha was losing her mind.

Paruskha marched toward her and snatched the phone straight out of her hand.

"Here I am, worrying myself to death, and you’re scrolling through your phone like everything is perfectly peaceful!" she snapped.

"I already told you the solution, Paruskha,"

Olivia said calmly, taking her phone back.

Paruskha’s shoulders slumped in defeat. The fight drained out of her all at once.

"You know it… I can’t do that," she whispered tiredly.

"Then continue worrying about your brother," olivia replied bluntly, making Paruskha groan in frustration.

"Fine," Paruskha muttered. It was the only option left to her now.

"Where could he be?" she asked, though she already knew olivia wouldn’t help.

Olivia simply shrugged.

Paruskha clenched her fists.

She would deal with her best friend later.

First, she needed to find him.

She glanced at her watch—5:09 PM.

Without wasting another second, she headed toward the basketball court area, her heart pounding with every step.

She hoped desperately that she would find him there.

Shivan Richand.

The reason behind her tension…

and perhaps the only solution to it.

As Paruskha stepped onto the basketball court, the sight before her made her pause. There was no one else—just him.

Shivan was alone, dribbling the basketball with a rhythm that seemed to echo in the empty court. His white shirt was untucked, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. His blue coat was missing, and his hair was a mess, strands falling over his forehead in a way that made him look effortlessly dangerous.

"If you’re taking pleasure in staring, you could at least open your mouth," his deep voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Paruskha exhaled slowly, gathering her courage, and walked toward him.

Shivan stopped dribbling and lifted his gaze, eyes locking onto hers. After a week of ignoring him, she was finally standing right in front of him.

"Do you have something to say, kitten?"

Shivan asked, one eyebrow raised, his smirk teasing her.

"Or… do you want to wish me luck so I can beat the hell out of your brother?" he added, the corner of his lips curling.

Paruskha’s anger flared, and seeing it made him smile.

"I… I have a request to make," Paruskha said softly, doing her best to mask her anger.

"Request? I never knew you considered me god, kitten," Shivan chuckled.

"I will never  consider you a god. Monsters can never be gods," Paruskha snapped, her voice sharp.

Shivan stepped closer, closing the distance until he was just a heartbeat away.

"Finally… at least there’s something we agree on," he said, flicking her nose playfully.

Paruskha instinctively took two steps back, making him clench his jaw in irritation.

"Now, tell me what you want. I’m getting late for the match," he said, his tone casual but impatient.

"Don’t hit my brother," Paruskha said, taking a deep, steadying breath. Her voice trembled slightly, but her resolve was clearsaving her brother was her priority above everything.

"So… you’re asking me to spare your brother’s life?" Shivan’s teeth clenched as he spoke, his jaw tight with controlled anger.

"My brother is injured," Paruskha snapped, frustration and fear mixing in her voice.

"Then tell him to back off," Shivan said, gripping the basketball tightly, his expression darkening. Every muscle in his body screamed danger he wasn’t one to let things slide.

"It was him… he got overwhelmed and challenged me in front of the whole college," Shivan snapped angrily

Shivan’s hatred for Mihir Solanki ran deep. Enough that he would rather let his fists do the talking than listen to explanations. Bloodlust danced in his eyes, yet…

"Shivan…" Paruskha murmured softly, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

A smirk crept across his face. Of course, he hated Kritagya but if it meant playing with Paruskha, he could push that hatred aside… at least for a little while.

"I can’t back off from the match… I’m not coward," Shivan said, his tone firm, and Paruskha glared at him, frustratedly.

"But… I will not hit your brother," he added finally, his smirk softening.

"What… what do you want in return?"

Paruskha asked cautiously. She knew this man well enough to know he never gave without expecting something.

"I didn’t know you knew me this well,"

Shivan said, tilting his head, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"I have… four conditions," he announced.

Paruskha’s eyes widened in shock.

"Wh-what?" she stammered, her heart skipping a beat.

"Your brother is going to hit me," Shivan said casually, spinning the basketball once on his finger before catching it. "Slap me. Punch me. Maybe even break a few bones."

Paruskha stiffened.

"At the very least. he’ll land four solid hits on me. Guaranteed," he continued with a shrug.

He looked at her then really looked at her.

"For four hits,there will be four conditions" he said slowly .

Her jaw tightened.

"Decide fast, Paruskha," Shivan added, glancing toward the exit of the court, where the noise of the college echoed faintly. His fingers flexed around the ball, knuckles whitening.

"I’m already getting late for the match."

Late for breaking Mihir Solanki.

"Fine," Paruskha said finally, folding her arms across her chest.

A slow smile spread across Shivan’s face.

He started walking toward her.

One step.

Then another.

Paruskha’s eyes widened with every step he took, her heartbeat racing despite herself. He stopped so close that their shoes brushed, the heat of his presence overwhelming. She refused to step back refused to give him that victory.

"Condition number one,You’ll save your mobile number in my phone" he said softly, voice low enough to make her skin prickle.

"No," Paruskha replied instantly.

The smile didn’t leave his face.

"As you wish," Shivan said with a careless shrug, already turning away.

"Fine!" Paruskha snapped, frustration bursting through her control.

That made him grin again.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, unlocked it, and held it out to her. Paruskha snatched it from his hand, fingers shaking slightly as she typed in her number.

"Save it as Madore," Shivan said lazily.

She looked up at him, confusion flickering in her eyes, but she didn’t argue. She saved the contact and shoved the phone back into his chest.

"Condition number two,If I ever text you… you won’t ignore it" Shivan continued, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

"Fine," Paruskha said through clenched teeth.

She would change her number, she decided. Immediately.

"Condition number three,You’ll come to watch my next basketball match wearing my jersey" he said, tilting his head.

"No," Paruskha snapped without hesitation.

He knew exactly how much she hated basketball. So coming to watch wearing his jersey is something she doesn't wants to do in her nightmare also.

"Yes," Shivan corrected, his tone firm, final.

Paruskha inhaled sharply.

"Fine," she muttered.

She wouldn’t even come to college that day, she promised herself.

Shivan’s smile turned evily as he thought about fourth condition .

"Condition number four," he said slowly, enjoying the way her body tensed. "I’ll reveal it tonight after your brother wins… and I lose."

An evil smirk curved his lips.

Paruskha raised her finger and pointed it straight at his chest.

"Don’t you dare cross your limits, Shivan Raichand." Her voice dropped, deadly calm.

"And don’t forget what I did one month ago."

The playful glint in Shivan’s eyes vanished instantly.

The memory hit him like a punch.

The court fell silent between them.

One second, Paruskha’s finger was pointed sharply at him, her eyes blazing with defiance. The next, Shivan’s fingers intertwined with hers, spinning her around with a fluid motion until her back collided against his solid chest. His arm snaked around her, holding her wrist firmly against hernneck, pinning her in place.

The basketball clattered to the floor, forgotten.

"I didn’t forget your insult yet, Paruskha," he whispered, his hot breath brushing over her neck. The words sent a shiver racing down her spine, her heartbeat spiking with sudden heat.

"Now tell me you’ll do whatever I say," Shivan murmured, his voice low, dark, and dangerously commanding.

"Fine," Paruskha breathed, trying to wriggle free, but his grip was unyielding.

"Not like this," he said, his lips grazing her earlobe, the slight bite making her gasp.

"Repeat my words," Shivan demanded, his left hand fingers sliding up to caress the curve of her neck.

"I will do whatever you say, Shivan," he whispered again, just to feel her shiver beneath his touch.

"I will do whatever you say, Shivan,"

Paruskha said through gritted teeth, her body betraying her resolve, responding to every movement of his hands and the weight of his presence.

Shivan smirked, satisfaction curling in his chest. Then, as suddenly as it started, he released her.

Paruskha spun away, rubbing her wrist in frustration, her chest still heaving.

Shivan bent down and picked up the basketball from the floor . He walked toward her, his gaze locked on hers, unyielding, heavy with intent.

As he reached her, he stood close enough that the faint scent of him reached her, and casually tossed the ball back toward the hoop.

Paruskha’s eyes widened in surprise as the ball arched perfectly and swished through the net. Her gaze darted from the dripping ball to him, taking in the slow, confident tilt of his head, the faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips, and something in the intensity of his eyes made her heartbeat raise.

Before she could even think of stepping back, Shivan leaned down. His hand curled around her waist, pulling her flush against him. The sudden contact made their chests collide with a delicious, almost shocking heat. His other hand reclaimed hers the one he had held before and his thumb traced slow  circles across the sensitive skin of her wrist.

Her breath hitched. A shiver ran down her spine, each nerve alight with the heat of his touch.

"See you at night kitten… and remember one thing," he murmured, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear. The warmth of his breath made her tremble involuntarily.

Paruskha swallowed hard, her pulse hammering in her ears as a shiver rolled through her at his next words:

"Shivan Raichand muft ki cheez aise hi nahi chodta."

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Scene - 2 :

"Let’s go to canteen! I’m starving!" Paruskha said dragging her friend towards the canteen .

"Yes… more like you just can’t wait to see your boyfriend," Olivia teased, bumping her shoulder against Paruskha’s with a sly grin.

"He didn’t even come to college today"

Paruskha muttered, rolling her eyes, her tone a mixture of annoyance and irritation.

"So that’s why your mood’s sour today,'

Olivia said, louder than intended, her teasing voice carrying across the corridor.

Paruskha’s hand shot up, slapping lightly over Olivia’s mouth.

"Olivia can you please lower your volume?" she whispered, her eyes wide, trying not to draw attention.

"Come on, why are you shying?" Olivia teased through her muffled voice.

"Who’s shying?"

A voice came.

They both immediately turned and saw Mihir striding toward them, his friends trailing just a step behind. Paruskha quickly removed her hand from Olivia’s mouth, while Olivia straightened her clothes and kept a innocent smile on her face . Paruskha could only roll her eyes.

"No one," Olivia said with a mischievous smile.

Mihir nodded at them before turning his gaze toward his sister. "By the way, Dad called, but your phone is off. Talk to him later," he said.

"I will," Paruskha replied, just as Mihir’s sharp eyes caught something falling from above.

"Paruskha!!!" he yelled, rushing forward instinctively and pulling her close. Something thudded near her feet.

Paruskha staggered slightly, startled, her heart hammering.

"Are you okay?" Mihir asked, his voice suddenly soft, protective.

"I-I’m fine, but…" Paruskha’s words trailed off as her eyes fell on the object on the ground.

Her breath caught.

It wasn’t just any object , it was Professor Hendrick’s body.

A horrified gasp escaped her lips. Around them, students began to gather, craning their necks to look at the fallen professor.

Paruskha’s hands shook violently, her stomach twisting in disbelief. She had read about the murders at the Grand Thronwell University, but seeing it firsthand witnessing the lifeless body was another world entirely.

Mihir knelt beside the body, checking for a pulse. Shaking his head, he signaled to his friends, confirming silently that the professor was indeed dead.

Then, Mihir’s gaze caught something peculiar in Professor Hendrick’s right hand he was clutching something tightly.

Carefully, Mihir pried the fingers open and removed the object. To everyone’s surprise, it was a pair of headphones.

Paruskha’s eyes narrowed, confusion knitting her brows. She leaned in, noticing the tiny initials engraved on the headphones. Her eyes widened recognising the Initials.

S.R.

Shivan Raichand.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

"𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦,

𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩."