The first day of college always brings a strange mix of emotions – the excitement of new beginnings, the fear of the unknown, and a vague hope for the future. For Neil, this day was no different, except for one old question that always lingered in his eyes: that dream?
The morning's hustle had died down. Classrooms had transformed into empty chairs and tired faces. Neil walked out in his usual calm manner, backpack slung loosely, his eyes still holding that questioning gaze. As he crossed the corridor, Abhinav joined him. They walked together to the college gate.
Abhinav said with a slight smile, "Neil Bhai, today was just timepass. But, I did something for you today."
Neil looked at him, a little surprised. "What did you do?"
Abhinav slowly replied, "I found out about that girl you've been staring at twice since morning." He paused for a moment, then added mysteriously, "Her name is—Myra Singhania."
Neil's steps slowed. That name... it sounded familiar. But how?
Abhinav continued, "She's the daughter of one of Mumbai's top rich families. Think expensive cars, business empires, and high-profile parties. There was a hint of amusement in his voice, "But there's a twist to the story."
Neil stopped, a little curious. "What?"
Abhinav spoke in a hushed tone, "My cousin told me—that girl has been disowned by her family. Her family abandoned her, as if someone had cut her off from her entire name and identity." He lowered his voice even further, "It's about some scandal. Something happened because of which the entire Singhania family has disowned her."
Neil remained silent for a while. A strange unease rose within him—"A girl who seems to have everything on the outside, but is perhaps completely empty inside. There was something about that girl. Her face wasn't royal, but the layers of hidden pain seemed no less than a prince's story."
Neil thought to himself, Sometimes the quietest people scream the loudest. The world just doesn't hear them.
As they walked out of the college gate, an unspoken friendship had already formed between Neil and Abhinav. Laughter, conversations, and a few shared secrets.
Abhinav pulled out his phone from his pocket. "Come on, Bhai, let's exchange numbers. It'll be useful if we want to bunk the next lecture."
Neil smiled faintly. "Sure. And if you ever need an emotional lecture, call me then too."
They both laughed. Names were typed on phone screens—in the lives of two unknown boys, another name had now been added.
Then Abhinav waved and walked off. Neil was left alone. But his steps were fast. Very fast. As if he was on a mission. There was a strange restlessness inside him. He had to get home early today. He had to tell his mother today—that college was good, everything was fine, and he was happy.
The truth was, he was more worried about his mother not being tense than he was about his studies. He didn't want to see that same worry in his mother's eyes again—the one he had seen many times in his childhood. Mother might not be royal, but a kingdom resides in her blessings, Neil thought to himself.
The fast-moving road, rushing cars, and Neil's light sweat. But there was no fatigue in that sweat—it was a son's effort, who just wanted his mother to say, "My son is fine, and he is happy."
Evening was falling. The last rays of the sun fell on Neil's back, like a spotlight. Neil had walked out of college—a bag on one side, a crowd of thoughts on the other. I have to tell Mom today that my college is really good. Maybe she'll worry a little less. A slight smile was on his face. There was a playfulness in his stride that wasn't typical of an ordinary boy. But today… it wasn't an ordinary evening.
From behind, a black Mercedes slowly matched his pace. Its windows were tinted, and inside was a shadow—whose eyes were watching Neil as if he were its prey.
"That's him. That's the boy," the man inside the car said. Fear, greed, and streaks of sweat were clearly visible on his face. "He has the same locket around his neck, Boss. The same symbol. Which is only worn by the heir of the Wolf Bloodline. Now give me my reward."
The car's owner tilted his head slightly—and smiled. But his smile wasn't human—it was a hunter's smile. "Reward? You'll get it. But first, his elimination." He pulled out a pistol. The muzzle of the black gun was now pointed at Neil.
Neil had now turned into a deserted alley. Streetlights flickered—silence all around, and the slow sound of a car from behind.
Click.
The car door opened. The man stepped out—Neil still oblivious, lost in his own thoughts. Just as he was about to take aim…
Bang!
A stone hit his hand—the gun fell.
"Neil, get down!" someone shouted loudly.
Neil looked up, startled—a boy was running fast, in a black jacket, with intense focus on his face. On the other side, a girl jumped straight from the roof—as if she had cut through the air.
They both stood in front of Neil at the same time. Neil couldn't understand anything—"Who are you people?"
The boy said—"Kunwar Sa, this is not the time for questions. They were about to shoot you."
Then a fierce fight began. Another man got out of the car—both attackers now clashed with these two unknown protectors. The girl's moves were as fast as lightning—every kick hit its target directly. The boy's movements were like trained army combat—he dislocated the opponent's shoulder in one swift move.
Neil was still stunned—his breathing fast, his heart racing. What... what is all this happening?
The attackers fell to the ground; the girl flipped them over and threw their pistols far away. The boy turned to Neil—"Kunwar Sa, you don't know anything yet. But a lot is connected to you—something hidden in the history of this country." There was seriousness in his voice, "We have come not to kill you, but to save you. And this is the beginning... of a blood feud."
Neil, with a mixed expression of surprise and fear, said—"Kunwar Sa? Who is this Kunwar Sa? My name is Neil, Neil, you fools. And what is all this drama?"
This was Neil's first encounter with a gun, which was why he was a bit scared today. He didn't even know what he was saying in fear, because he genuinely didn't understand what was suddenly happening in his life. Until now, he was a normal student, a middle-class man, and now he had become someone's Kunwar Sa. He couldn't comprehend it.
Then, those two grabbed Neil by the shoulders and quickly pushed him into the black Mercedes—now he was sitting in the same car that was just used to plot his murder. The two people who had attacked Neil were also put in the car's trunk.
The car sped off into the darkness. On the way, Neil was surprised and disturbed. He wanted to go home now, but these strangers were taking him to an unknown place. He didn't know anything about it himself. He said to them, "Let me go! I want to go home! My mother is waiting for me!"
At Neil's words, the girl said, "Kunwar Sa, it's not time for you to go home yet. Your mother can wait a little longer, but now the enemies know about you and your true identity, and you cannot be safe without training. You will not only be in danger yourself, but you will also put your mother in danger, so just sit quietly."
"What's with this 'Kunwar Sa' all the time? How long have you been giving me a royal feeling? I'm not a Kunwar Sa. I told you, my name is Neil, and I think you might be mistaken. You're looking for someone else, and you've accidentally caught me," Neil said, almost shouting. His voice held fear along with frustration.
The car moved away from the city's glare, onto a deserted road. Dense rows of trees, the faint moonlight, and a strange silence in the air. Neil tried again, "Look, whoever you people are, I don't know what Kunwar Sa you're talking about, but I'm an ordinary person. I have nothing to do with your 'blood feuds.' Let me go!"
The boy, who was sitting behind the driver's seat, turned back. There was seriousness in his eyes. "We understand your concern, Kunwar Sa. All this has happened suddenly, and it's hard to believe. But we are not lying. Your name may be Neil, but your identity is not just that. This locket around your neck… this is the mark of the Wolf Bloodline. It is the mark of an ancient bloodline that has protected this country for centuries."
Neil unknowingly touched the locket around his neck. It was an old, intricately designed locket that his mother had made him wear since childhood, saying it was an old family heirloom. He had never paid much attention to it.
The boy nodded, "Kunwar Sa, yes, this locket is part of this bloodline. Anyway, this is not the right time to explain all this. We need to reach the 'Akhara' as soon as possible."
"Akhara?" Neil asked.
"Yes, the Akhara, a hidden underground base," the girl replied. Her voice was confident. "That's the place where you will be introduced to your true identity and where your training will begin. The enemies now know you are alive. They saw you today. They won't stop."
A storm was raging in Neil's mind. Was his entire life a lie? An ordinary middle-class boy whose mother had protected him from every trouble in the world, was he actually the Kunwar Sa of an ancient lineage? And now he would have to jump into a 'blood feud' he knew nothing about?
"My mother..." Neil's voice trembled, "What will happen to her? If the enemies are after me, she will also be in danger!"
The girl took Neil's hand. "Your mother will be safe, Kunwar Sa. We have arranged for her protection as well. But your safety is our first priority. Your mother will only be in danger if you become weak."
The boy pulled out a small tablet from his jacket. Complex maps and symbols appeared on the screen. "The enemies are known as 'Chhaya' (Shadows). They have been trying to eliminate the Wolf Bloodline for centuries. You are the heir to this lineage, Kunwar Sa. You possess a power, a legacy that you must recognize."
Neil clutched the locket tightly. He felt a strange energy within him. Along with fear, there was something else—perhaps curiosity, perhaps a calling of an unseen power.
The car was climbing a desolate mountain road. The barking of dogs could be heard from somewhere far away. Neil remembered that he had to tell his mother that he was happy and that college was good. All that seemed so distant now. His world had completely changed.
A little later, the car stopped in front of an old, rusted iron gate. There was no symbol above the gate, just dense bushes and a broken wall. The boy and girl got out. The boy entered a secret code, and the gate slowly opened. Inside was a long, dark tunnel.
"Come inside, Kunwar Sa," the girl said.
Neil took a deep breath and got out of the car. He felt as if he was walking in a dream. He had never seen such a mysterious place in his life. As he stepped inside the tunnel, he felt a strange energy in the air—old, powerful, and a little terrifying.
As they emerged from the tunnel, they found themselves in a vast, cave-like complex. The light was dim, but Neil could see many people training there. Some were practicing swordsmanship, some were demonstrating their physical strength, and some were sitting in meditation. It looked like the headquarters of a secret society.
"This is our Akhara," the boy explained. "The remaining members of the Wolf Bloodline live and train here. We will keep you safe here and introduce you to your powers."
Neil looked at them both. "Who are you people?"
Devika's House, Night Deepening
The wall clock struck nine, but silence reigned in every corner of the house—only the sound of Devika's breathing and the anxiety of her heart could be heard.
She sat on the sofa, staring intently at the door. Neil's picture was on the table in front of her, with his same innocent smile—but looking at that smile, Devika's eyes welled up.
"He's never been this late before," she murmured to herself.
Her mobile phone was in her hands—she repeatedly turned the screen on, then off. No call, no message. Neil's phone was also switched off.
She peered out the window—the roads were deserted, and with every passing car, her hope surged that maybe... maybe Neil was coming.
But no.
Her heart was now filled with dread.
Devika immediately picked up her dupatta and went outside.
College Campus, 9:45 PM
Only security guards remained at the college gate.
Devika reached there with quick steps—her breathing was fast, her eyes clearly restless.
"Bhaisahab, Neil! Neil Chauhan! Was he here at college today?"
The guard, startled, nodded his head—he went to his office and entered Neil's name into the computer. "Yes, Madam, he was here. But he left for home at 4:00, and no one has seen him since."
Devika's soul trembled.
"Can you check the Closed Circuit Television?"
"Madam, you'll have to talk to the management for that. It can only be done tomorrow morning."
Devika paused for a moment, then pulled out her phone—she made a call to someone, but her voice was trembling.
Police Station, 10:25 PM
Devika looked tired but determined.
She stood at the report desk—"My son is missing. He went to college this morning and hasn't returned yet. And his phone is also switched off."
The Inspector looked closely at her face—"When did you last speak to him?"
"In the morning... he left in a hurry. He smiled at me... that's all."
Her voice suddenly broke.
"We'll file a missing report right now. Don't worry, Madam, if we get any information, we'll call you first."
Devika nodded slowly, but her eyes were fixed on the door, as if waiting for Neil to return from every possible direction.