02.

Delhi

12:00 AM (Midnight)

Even the stillness of the night seemed to surrender at his footsteps. Darkness filled every corner, yet the shadows within him ran deeper—ones that gleamed only through his eyes.

A sleek black Rolls Royce halted outside the dock. The car door opened. A foot stepped out—dressed in a black formal suit, a Rolex on his wrist, Italian leather shoes on his feet, and an aura that could shift the direction of the wind itself.

Arnav Singhania.

At 28, to some, he was merely a businessman. To others, the CEO of AR Industries. And to many, the reigning king of Delhi’s underworld.

But those who knew the truth didn’t see him as just a name—they saw him as fear itself. A living legend, whose mere mention could silence the boldest voices.

His eyes… they didn’t think with the heart, but with the mind. Cold, sharp, unreadable. Emotions had no business on his face. No smile, no visible anger—just a stone-cold silence.

Four bodyguards followed him, all trained commandos.

“Boss, the shipment has arrived,” one of the men informed, bowing slightly.

Arnav glanced at him briefly, gave a nod, and walked ahead.

That was his routine—sealing deals in the dead of night, eliminating enemies in the shadows, and by morning, stepping into the limelight as a powerful businessman.

~

AR Industries – The House of Power and Wealth

The AR Industries headquarters stood tall atop Delhi’s most elite skyscraper. It wasn’t just a company—it was an empire. Real estate, fashion, arms dealing, logistics, media, tech—name a field, and AR controlled it.

But the world only saw what Arnav allowed them to see.

The moment he stepped into a boardroom, silence fell. His presence wasn’t just powerful—it was royal. He didn’t look like a CEO. He felt like a king.

~

Arnav’s Home – Where Love Resided, But He Stayed Distant

Singhania Mansion, nestled in the heart of Delhi, looked like a royal palace—a perfect blend of modern elegance and traditional charm. As vast as the mansion was, it echoed with laughter and warmth.

His grandmother—Savitri Devi Singhania—was a sweet, grounded woman. She performed her daily prayers, spoke kindly to everyone, and had only one wish in her heart: “May my Arnav smile again.”

His grandfather—Ratanlal Singhania—was calm and logical. He tried to make others understand life practically, but he had grown distant from Arnav, unable to grasp the pain hidden inside him.

His mother—Malti Singhania—a soft-spoken, graceful woman, loved Arnav dearly. But she could never truly understand the darkness that consumed her son.

His siblings—Karthik and Ahana—were both in college, fun-loving and carefree. Ahana was his heartbeat, and Karthik, his confidant.

But Arnav kept his distance from them all. To him, emotions were a weakness. Love was an illusion. His life ran on only two principles—loyalty and power.

~

Arnav’s Past – The Moment That Broke Him

There was a time, once, when Arnav used to smile. When his world felt normal. But one wound, one betrayal, had shattered something inside him.

Who had betrayed him? How?

Only Arnav knew the answer—and even he had never spoken of it.

Now, each day of his life was a jungle. You were either the hunter… or the prey.

And Arnav? He had never been prey.

~

The Photograph on His Desk

On his office desk stood a small photo frame—a picture from his childhood. In it, a young Arnav was smiling beside a little girl.

Who was she?

No one dared to ask.

~

To Be Continued…