Morning sunlight poured over the quiet campus of Banasthali.
Girls in uniforms walked between lecture halls. Laughter. Books. Dreams. Safety.
Sage adjusted the strap of her bag and walked alone toward the library. Her hair slightly messy from the wind. Eyes thoughtful. Mind somewhere else.
She hadn't slept well.
For two nights now, she felt watched.
Not in a creepy way.
In a... heavy way.
Like someone powerful had noticed her existence.
She shook the feeling away.
Paranoia.
That's what psychology students call it.
But she didn't know-
At that exact moment...
A black luxury car stopped outside the restricted campus gate.
Out stepped a man in a tailored black suit.
S4RKU.
Calm. Controlled. Untouchable.
The guards stiffened instantly. A phone call had already come from higher authorities. Special clearance. No questions asked.
Money and power bend rules.
Even in places meant to be protected.
He walked inside the campus like he owned it.
And technically... he could.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
Disciplined.
Pure.
Soft.
A world he never belonged to.
Then he saw her.
Standing under a tree.
Sunlight hitting her face.
Arguing softly with a friend about some research topic.
She looked alive.
Unaware.
Unmarked by violence.
His jaw tightened slightly.
That strange feeling again.
His phone buzzed beside him.
"Sir, confirm target. Orders?"
He kept staring at her.
She suddenly turned.
And their eyes met.
Time didn't slow.
It stopped.
For the first time in his life...
Someone looked at him without fear.
No recognition.
No trembling.
Just curiosity.
She frowned slightly.
Because he looked out of place.
Too intense.
Too powerful.
Too... dangerous.
Yet she didn't look away.
S4RKU's heartbeat remained steady.
But something else shifted.
She shouldn't look at him like that.
Like he was just another man.
Not a monster.
Not a king.
Just... a stranger.
He walked toward her.
Slow steps.
Controlled.
Her friend whispered, "Sage... who is that?"
"I don't know," she replied softly.
He stopped in front of her.
Close enough to feel her warmth.
Close enough to smell the faint scent of jasmine.
"You're Sage?" His voice was calm. Deep. Commanding.
She blinked once.
"Yes."
No stutter.
No shaking.
Interesting.
He studied her face like she was a puzzle.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Do I know you?"
A dangerous question.
He leaned slightly closer.
"Not yet."
A shiver ran down her spine.
Not from fear.
From something else.
Something new.
Something thrilling.
He straightened.
"Stay away from things you don't understand."
Her brows pulled together.
"What things?"
He looked at her for a long second.
Then said quietly-
"Me."
And just like that...
He walked away.
Leaving confusion.
Leaving curiosity.
Leaving a spark.
Sage stood frozen.
Her heart racing.
She didn't know why.
But she knew one thing.
She wanted to see him again.
And that...
Was the beginning of her fall.