Romance The Crown and The Scar (Completed)

[Aryashadow]

Chapter 37 — Wounds That Don’t Bleed​

“Some wounds never bleed… because they were carved in silence.”

Operation Red Night​

Dubai. Midnight.
Rain window ke sheeshe par gir rahi thi,
aur VAREM Tower ke top floor par ek shadow calm khada tha — Vihaan Arya,
ya jise duniya The King kehti thi.

Screen pe live satellite feed chal rahi thi —
three cities, three targets, three simultaneous strikes.

Aarav ne bola,
“Boss, all systems ready.
Code name — Red Night.”

Vihaan ne whiskey ka sip liya aur calmly bola,

“Trigger time 2:14 a.m.
Make sure the world wakes up to my silence.”

Aur 2:14 pe teen explosions ek saath hue —
Berlin, Hong Kong aur Mumbai.
Har jagah sirf ek symbol mila — ek silver crown,
aur uske neeche likha tha:
“The King Has Arrived.”

Underworld cheer kar rahi thi.
World fear me thi.
Aur Vihaan bas ek word bola —

“Balance restored.”

The RAW Wake-Up Call​

Delhi, 5:30 a.m.
RAW Headquarters red alert pe tha.
Sirens, encrypted calls, emergency meeting.

Riya ne report table par rakhi,
“Ma’am, triple-target attacks.
Pattern same — cyber breach, silent execution, no casualties but total collapse.”

Aishani ne poocha,
“Casualties none?”

Riya: “Yes ma’am.
He destroys systems, not people.”

Aishani ne cold tone me bola,

“That’s worse.
He kills belief.”

Screen par ek image zoom hui — wohi silver crown.
Aishani ne us image ko dekha,
aur andar ek voice goonji:

“Crown toh humne stars ke neeche promise kiya tha…”

Usne apne thoughts shake kiye.
“Trace karo. Jo bhi hai, uska base mujhe chahiye.
Operation Shadow Net continues.”

The Message in the Code​

Teen din baad ek naya code RAW ke secure channel par blink hua.
Message tha —
“You trained to fight shadows. Now fight me.”

Riya ne panic se bola,
“Ma’am! He’s inside our network again!”

Aishani ne comm band kar diya aur quietly bola,

“He’s not inside our network.
He’s inside my pattern.”

Usne system log khola aur data ke beech ek subtle line mili —
ek timestamp, ek signature — “A-42.”

Woh number dekh kar uske haath se pen gir gaya.
A-42… wohi prisoner code jo kabhi Vihaan ka tha.

Ek moment ke liye world freeze ho gayi.
Dil ne bola, “It’s him.”
Dimaag ne bola, “Impossible.”

Aishani ne aankhen band ki aur whisper kiya,

“You’re not real, Vihaan.
You can’t be.”

Vihaan’s War Within​

Dubai me Vihaan apne dark office me tha.
Aarav andar aaya,
“Boss, RAW traced your A-42 signature.”

Vihaan ne smile kiya,

“Good.
I wanted her to.”

Aarav bola,
“Why risk your identity?”

Vihaan ne window ke bahar dekha,
rain aur neon light ke beech calm voice me bola,

“Usne mera naam duniya ke saamne tod diya tha.
Ab main chahta hoon woh ussi naam se apni duniya bigadte dekhe.”

Woh apne desk pe baitha aur diary kholi —
same jail wali diary.
Usne likha:

“Pain remembered is pain repaid.”

Aur page ke corner pe usne ek aur line likhi:
“She’ll remember soon.”

Aishani’s Confusion​

RAW base me Aishani ne apni team ko instructions diye,
par uska mind kahin aur tha.
Har time jab woh The King ke moves padhti,
usme ek familiar pattern milta —
RAW training ke techniques, precision, aur discipline.

Ek raat Riya ne kaha,
“Ma’am, aapko nahi lagta woh koi humara ex-officer ho sakta hai?”

Aishani ne softly bola,

“Ex… ya ghost.”

Uske dimaag me Vihaan ka face ek blur sa tha —
par voice clear thi.
Ek baar woh apni mirror ke samne khadi thi aur bola,

“Vihaan, agar tu zinda hai…
toh main tujhe pakad kar phir khud se poochhungi — tu bana kya?”

Mirror me uska reflection chillaya,

“Aur tu?”

The King’s Philosophy​

Vihaan ek secret meeting me tha.
Underworld ke leaders usse pooch rahe the,
“Boss, RAW ke saath direct conflict dangerous hai.
Aapka plan kya hai?”

Vihaan ne calmly bola,

“Plan nahi, process.
Har empire ko ek storm chahiye hota hai.
Aur main woh storm hoon.”

Ek ne dare kar ke bola,
“RAW ki top agent Aishani Rao aapke peeche hai.”

Vihaan ne slow smile diya,

“Let her come.
Main usse dard nahi dunga.
Main usse woh banne pe majboor karunga jo main ban gaya hoon.”

Aur room silent ho gaya.

Wounds That Don’t Bleed​

Waqt beetta gaya.
Vihaan aur Aishani ke beech ek invisible war chal rahi thi —
codes, strategies, missions.
Na ek dusre ko milte,
na ek dusre ko bhool paate.

Aishani ne ek file close ki,
aur diary me likha,

“Some enemies don’t bleed blood.
They bleed memories.”

Dubai me Vihaan ne bhi apni diary me likha,

“Some memories don’t heal.
They learn to fight back.”

Do alag cities me do diaries band hui —
aur dono ke dil me ek hi fire jalti rahi.


ek taraf RAW’s logo light me chamak raha hai,
dusri taraf The King’s Crown neon me.
Dono symbols ek second ke liye align hote hain,
jaise fate keh raha ho —
“The storm hasn’t even begun yet.”

 

[Aryashadow]

Chapter 38 — The Vow​

“Kabhi kabhi zindagi ek promise pe tikti hai…
aur kabhi, ek promise hi zindagi tod deta hai.”

The Night of Reckoning​

Dubai ke VAREM Tower me chandni ka noor sirf ek aadmi par gir raha tha — Vihaan Arya, ya jise duniya The King kehti thi.
Table par khuli diary, ek half-burnt photograph, aur ek whiskey glass.

Usne diary ke last page par likha hua dekha —
“Pain remembered is pain repaid.”
Aur uske neeche likha tha — Aishani Rao.

Vihaan ne photo uthai — wahi RAW medal ceremony wali, jahan ek muskaan thi, ek sapna tha.
Usne photo ko candle ki aag ke paas le ja kar dekha.
Aag ke reflection me woh khud ka chehra dekh raha tha — calm, expressionless, broken.

“Aaj se na main kisi naam pe vishwas karunga,
na kisi wajah pe.
Sirf dard pe.”

Usne photo jalayi —
aur jaise hi aag ne Aishani ka chehra nigla, Vihaan ne aankh band karke apni kasam li.

The Blood Oath​

Aarav aur poori core team uske saamne khadi thi.
Conference room dark tha, sirf ek candle burning.
Table ke beech ek dagger pada tha.

Vihaan ne apna haath us dagger ke upar rakha aur bola,

“From today, my name, my past, and my mercy — sab khatam.
Jo mujhe bana kar tod gaya, main uske naam se ek naya world banauga.”

Usne apni ungli cut ki — blood candle ke wax me mila.
Aarav shock me bola, “Boss… yeh ritual kyu?”

Vihaan ne calmly kaha,

“Because silence ke saath kasam tabhi tikti hai jab usme dard ho.”

Aur phir dheere se bola,

“Agar kabhi meri raah uske raaste se takraye,
toh main usse wohi dard mehsoos karwaunga jo maine saalon tak jhela.”

Room silent ho gaya.
Sirf candle ki aag aur blood ka ek drop — dono ek jaise laal aur steady.

The Architect Turns King​

Agle kuch mahine me Vihaan ne apna empire aur bhi expand kiya.
Arms, finance, smuggling, cyber-intelligence — sab kuch ek perfect rhythm me chal raha tha.
Har deal me uska ek rule tha: No emotion, no error.

Usne world ke sabse bade cartels ko apne under le liya — bina fight ke, sirf planning se.
Log kehte the, “The King doesn’t fight. He calculates.”

Ek night Aarav ne bola,
“Boss, RAW ne phir se trace try kiya. Unhe lagta hai aap kaun ho, woh samajh gaye hain.”

Vihaan ne calmly kaha,

“Let them guess.
Jab tak unhe lagta hai woh mere paas aa rahe hain, main unke andar ghus chuka hunga.”

Woh ek chess board ke pieces ko dekh raha tha.
Ek queen ko uthakar haath me ghumaya —
aur whisper kiya,

“Queen strong hoti hai… par King kabhi dikh kar nahi khelta.”

The RAW Countermove​

Delhi me RAW ke HQ me same night ek nayi mission file open hui.
Aishani ne naam padhe — The King, Kabir, VAREM.
Riya ne bola,
“Ma’am, yeh banda game khel raha hai.
Har jagah ek step aage hai.”

Aishani ne thandi saans li aur bola,

“Yeh koi banda nahi, ek reflection hai.”

Rahul ne confusion me poocha,
“Reflection?”

Aishani ne uski taraf dekha,

“Haan.
Jaise hum apni light se shadows banate hain…
yeh wahi shadow hai jise humne khud create kiya.”

Team silent ho gayi.
Aishani ne RAW ke badge ko dekha — uske fingers thoda shake hue.
“Mission continue karo,” usne bola.
“Ab yeh personal nahi… yeh necessary hai.”

The Symbol of Fear​

Dubai me Vihaan ne apna symbol launch kiya —
A Silver Crown.
Ek mark jo ab har underworld deal par hota.

Logo ke liye yeh ek signature tha.
Vihaan ke liye — ek scar.

Ek chhoti meeting me usne calmly kaha,

“Logo ko lagta hai crown ek victory ka sign hota hai.
Mere liye yeh punishment hai.”

Aarav ne poocha,
“Punishment?”

Vihaan ne halki si smile di,

“Har baar jab main yeh sign dekhta hoon, mujhe yaad aata hai ki main kya kho chuka hoon.”

Woh turn hua aur window ke bahar dekha —
same stars jinke neeche kabhi Aishani ke saath promises hue the.
Ab woh stars bhi cold lag rahe the.

The Shadow Network​

Vihaan ne apna empire ShadowNet me transform kar diya —
ek digital underworld jo government ke satellites ke neeche chhupa tha.
Woh har RAW move ko trace karta,
aur unhe apne system ke mirror version me convert karta.

Ek hacker ne bola,
“Boss, hum RAW se sab data pull kar sakte hain.
Lekin aapne kuch restricted files block kyu rakhe?”

Vihaan ne calmly bola,

“Kuch doors kholne ke liye nahi, yaad dilane ke liye band rakhte hain.”

Woh same file thi — RAW Traitor Case: Vihaan Arya (A-42).
Usne kabhi delete nahi ki.
Bas ek red mark lagaya — ‘Do Not Touch.’

The Vow​

Raat ke end me, Vihaan balcony pe khada tha.
Rain baarish ki tarah nahi, saalon ke dard ki tarah gir rahi thi.
Usne aankhen band ki aur bola,

“Main tujhe bhool chuka hoon, Aishani Rao…
par teri wajah se bana har wound ab mera weapon hai.
Agar destiny ne kabhi milaya,
toh main tujhe wohi gift dunga —
dard, bina nafrat ke.”

Usne apni diary band ki,
aur last line likhi:

“The King was never born.
He was created… by betrayal.”


ek balcony, ek shadow, ek burning city below.
Aur ek silent echo —
“Justice and Revenge, same coin… different sides.”

 

[Aryashadow]

Chapter 39 — Echoes Fade​

“Jab awaaz dard ban jaati hai… to yaad ek curse ban jaata hai.”

Ten Years Later​

Time ne sab kuch badal diya tha — log, sheher, systems.
Par ek cheez same thi — Vihaan Arya, the King who ruled without showing his face.
Aur dusri, Aishani Rao, RAW ki sabse deadly aur disciplined officer.

Dono alag duniyaon me the,
par dono ke faisle ab bhi ek dusre se jud rahe the —
jaise koi invisible thread, jise fate khud kheench rahi ho.

Vihaan ka empire ab 22 deshon me active tha — ShadowNet, VAREM, aur KingCorp.
Har illegal deal, har political scandal ke peeche uska system tha.
Aur RAW ke top missions, unhi systems ko todne me lage the.

Irony?
Ek dusre ko khatam karte karte,
woh apni hi kahani likh rahe the —
justice vs justice.

The King’s World​

Dubai ke underworld me ab koi Vihaan Arya ka naam nahi leta tha.
Log sirf keh dete the — “The King knows everything.”
Uska empire perfectly designed tha —
jaise har department uske heartbeat pe chal raha ho.

Uske office me ek massive digital wall thi —
jahaan world ke saare power points mark the.
Aur un sabke beech ek single glowing dot tha — India.

Aarav ne poocha,
“Boss, India pe itna focus kyu?”

Vihaan ne calmly bola,

“Kyunki har king ko apni zameen yaad rehti hai…
aur har wound wahi se shuru hota hai.”

Usne map pe ek mark touch kiya — Delhi HQ: RAW Central.
Aur uske eyes me ek cold shine thi.

“Ab waqt aa gaya hai, unhe unke hi game se haraane ka.”

RAW’s Hunt​

Delhi me RAW ke command room me ek aur emergency meeting chal rahi thi.
Riya ne bola,
“Ma’am, yeh ShadowNet ka scale ab global ho gaya hai.
Har country ke servers hack ho rahe hain.”

Aishani ne calmly kaha,

“King ya koi bhi ho, har empire me ek flaw hota hai.
Find me his pattern.”

Rahul ne screen par kuch zoom kiya —
“Pattern mil gaya ma’am.
Har attack ke baad woh ek single symbol chhodta hai —
ek silver crown ke neeche date likhi hoti hai.”

Riya ne bola,
“Har date aapke RAW missions ke saath match karti hai… purane wale.”

Aishani froze.
Woh dates wahi thi —
wohi missions jahan kabhi Vihaan uske saath tha.

Usne softly bola,

“He’s mirroring me.”

Riya ne poocha,
“Ma’am, matlab?”

“Mere har jeet ko woh apni revenge ka milestone bana raha hai.”

Room silent ho gaya.
For the first time, RAW ki top agent ke voice me fear nahi, dard tha.

The Mirror of Time​

Vihaan ne apne private chamber me diary kholi —
same old pages, ab puri bhar chuki thi.
Last page me usne likha:

“She’s chasing me without knowing she’s chasing her own shadow.”

Uske desk par ek chhoti metallic box thi —
andar wohi telescope lens rakha tha jo bachpan me tut gaya tha.
Woh lens uthata hai aur apne samne rakhta hai,
aur ek chhoti smile deta hai.

“Aaj bhi stars wahi hain,
bas hum dono andhere ke alag hisse me khade hain.”

Aarav andar aata hai,
“Boss, RAW ne aapke servers ke half routes trace kar liye.”

Vihaan calmly bola,

“Perfect.
Unhe lagta hai woh mujhe dhoondh rahe hain…
par asal me main unhe unka past dikhane le ja raha hoon.”

The Emotional Trap​

Ek RAW field operation me Aishani aur uski team Dubai pahunchti hai.
Unka mission tha ShadowNet ke ek local hub ko dismantle karna.
Jab unhone data access kiya,
to ek single video auto-play hua.

Woh video black screen se start hua,
aur ek calm voice boli —

“Agent A.
You still breathe the same way before pulling the trigger.”

Aishani ka heart ruk gaya.
Usne headset utara, aur screen me text flash hua —
“Welcome to the game you started.”

Riya ne panic me bola,
“Ma’am! Yeh trap hai!”

Aishani ne whisper kiya,

“Yeh message mere liye tha…
sirf mere liye.”

The Burn of Memory​

RAW ke wapas base par,
Aishani ne apne cabin me woh video baar baar dekha.
Har baar us voice ke ek tone pe uske andar kuch hilta.
Ek flash: jail cell, ek mirror, ek voice —
“Tu meri truth thi, Aishani.”

Woh chair se uth gayi aur mirror ke samne jaakar khud se kaha,

“Tu zinda nahi ho sakta, Vihaan.
Par agar tu hai…
toh main bhi ab wahi banungi jo tu bana hai.”

Us raat usne apna RAW badge uthaya,
aur pehli baar apni file me likha —
“Target: The King.
Personal Classification: Vihaan Arya (Unconfirmed).”

The Calm Before the Storm​

Dubai me, Vihaan balcony pe khada tha.
Rain gir rahi thi, lekin is baar uska chehra soft tha —
revenge aur emotion ke beech kahin.

Aarav ne poocha,
“Boss, kya aap usse kabhi milna chahenge?”

Vihaan ne thoda socha,

“Milne ki zarurat nahi.
Ab woh mujhe yaad karegi…
tabhi main jeet gaya samjho.”

Aarav ne slow tone me bola,
“Lagta hai aap usse ab bhi…”

Vihaan ne interrupt kiya,

“Pyaar nahi karta.
Bas uski yaad ne mujhe banaya hai.
Ab woh yaad meri empire ka rule hai.”

Camera zoom out karta hai —
ek taraf The King’s Crown ki roshni,
dusri taraf Delhi ke RAW HQ ki blue light.
Dono jagah ek hi sentence likha flash karta hai —
“History is about to repeat.”

 

[Aryashadow]

Chapter 40 — Two Paths, One Storm​

“Kuch raaste takraate nahi…
unhe takraya jaata hai.”

Vienna — The Theatre of Shadows​

Thandi hawa me barf ke chhote chhote tukde ud rahe the, aur purani Vienna Opera House ek battlefield me badal gayi thi.
RAW ka mission simple tha — Operation Finale.
Target: Vihaan Arya — The King.

Aishani ne apne headset pe code diya, “Team ready?”
Riya ka voice aaya, “All clear, ma’am. East wing secured.”
Rahul ne bola, “Thermal signature detected. Ek banda stage ke peeche hai.”

Aishani ne apni pistol cock ki. “Let’s finish this.”

Stage ke parde dheere dheere hil rahe the.
Ek dim light sirf ek figure par gir rahi thi.
Woh khada tha — tall, calm, aur ek smile jo sirf Vihaan ki hoti thi.

Aishani ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
It’s him.
Wo ladka jise usne kabhi chhoda tha.
Wo aadmi jise usne ek baar apna enemy mana tha.

Usne gun uthayi, “Vihaan Arya. You’re under arrest.”

Woh aadmi thoda sa hansa, ek familiar hansi.
“Under arrest?” Uski awaaz soft thi, par dangerous calm se bhari.

“Tumhe ab bhi lagta hai, tum mujhe rok sakti ho, Agent A?”

The Illusion Unfolds​

Aishani ne slow step liya.
“Stop your games, Vihaan. It’s over.”

Woh aadmi ne halki si head tilt di,
aur bola, “Over? Tumhe lagta hai story abhi khatam ho gayi?”

Usne apne haath se ek mask utara —
aur neeche wahi chehra tha jise Aishani ne pehle bhi dekha tha…
wohi jise usne mara tha.

Dil ek dum se thandaa ho gaya.
“Yeh… kaise…?”

Woh aadmi muskuraya,

“Main woh hoon jise tumne samjha tha Vihaan Arya.
Par main sirf uska reflection hoon.
Asli King toh hamesha shadow me tha.”

Riya ne comm pe chillaya, “Ma’am! Uska DNA Vihaan se match karta hai—”
Aishani ne uski baat kaat di.

“Woh match karta hai kyunki use banaya gaya tha Vihaan jaisa.”

Woh aadmi step aage badhata hai,
“Waqt ke saath har king apna ek mask banata hai.
Main uska mask tha.”

Aishani ka face pale pad gaya.
“Tum matlab… tum woh nahi jisse main saalon se chase kar rahi thi?”

Woh calm tone me bola,

“Main woh hi tha jise tumhe dekhna tha, Aishani Rao.
Asli Vihaan toh kabhi front line pe aata hi nahi.”

The Confession of the Mask​

Theatre ke beech silence chhaya tha.
Stage ke chand light bulbs flicker kar rahe the, aur peeche ek piano apne aap bajne laga — jaise fate khud background score likh raha ho.

Woh aadmi — the fake Vihaan — thoda peeche hataa aur bola,

“Usne mujhe banaya, taaki tum uska face pehchaan hi na sako.
Tumhe lagta rahe tumne usse dhoond liya hai.
Par asal me tum uske plan ka hissa thi.”

Aishani ne gussa dabate hue bola,

“Kyun? Mujhe kyu target kiya?
Main uski dushman thi, koi pawn nahi!”

Woh aadmi bola,

“Uske liye tum dono cheezein thi.
Dushman bhi, aur test bhi.”

Aishani ke aankhon me tears the, par uska face still tha.
“Usne tumhe yeh kehne bheja tha?”

“Nahi,” usne kaha, “main khud kehne aaya hoon.
Main uska mask tha, par main ab aur jhoot nahi jee sakta.
Tumhare saamne khade hokar main yeh kehna chahta hoon —
asli Vihaan kabhi mara nahi.
Usne mujhe marne bheja, taaki tumhe lag sake woh khatam ho gaya.”

Riya ne comm pe bola, “Ma’am, extraction in 5 minutes!”
Aishani ne bas ek hi line boli,

“Woh kaha hai?”

Fake Vihaan ne uski aankhon me dekha,
aur dheere bola,

“Shadow ke andar.
Aur jab woh bahar aayega…
tumhe pehchaan nahi aayega.”

The Collapse​

Achanak stage ke peeche ek explosion hua.
Dust aur smoke ne pura theatre cover kar liya.
Rahul ne chillaya, “Hostiles incoming!”

Fake Vihaan ne ek small smile di.
“Lagta hai woh nahi chahta main zyada bolu.”

Aishani ne gun uthayi, “You’re not leaving till you tell me—”
Par usse pehle hi woh aadmi peeche hataa,
aur ek flash grenade floor pe chhod gaya.

Bright light ne sab kuch white kar diya.
Aur jab Aishani ne aankhen kholi, woh gayab tha.

Sirf ek chhota note pada tha —
burned edges ke saath, usme likha tha:

“He never wanted you to see his face yet.”

Aishani ne note uthaya, aur aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.
Riya ne uske shoulder par haath rakha,
“Ma’am… are you okay?”

Aishani ne seedha dekha,

“Nahi.
Ab main samajh gayi hoon —
jise humne dhoonda woh sirf ek mask tha.
Real King abhi bhi kahin zinda hai.”

The King’s Perspective​

Usi waqt, Dubai ke ek secret chamber me,
Real Vihaan Arya ek screen ke saamne khada tha.
Uske monitor pe Vienna theatre ka live feed chal raha tha.

Aarav andar aaya, “Boss, mask compromised.”

Vihaan ne soft tone me bola,

“I know.
She was supposed to find him.
It was time.”

Aarav ne poocha, “Ab kya?”

Vihaan ne mirror me apna reflection dekha —
aur whisper kiya,

“Ab jab woh mujhe dekhegi…
woh samjhegi ki main uska Vihaan nahi,
uska dard hoon.”

Usne candle blow out ki, aur screen black ho gayi.

The Storm Ahead​

RAW HQ me wapas, Aishani ne apna mission file close kiya.
“Mark the Vienna operation incomplete,” usne kaha.

Riya ne poocha, “Next step?”

Aishani ne deep breath li,
aur dheere se bola,

“Ab hum real Vihaan Arya ko dhoondenge.
Na mask, na shadow.
Sirf asli chehra.”

Rahul ne slow voice me kaha,

“Aur agar woh mila?”

Aishani ne aankhon me steel bhar kar bola,

“Toh ya toh yeh kahani khatam hogi…
ya phir dobara shuru.”


ek taraf RAW ke control room ki blue lights,
dusri taraf Dubai me Vihaan ke dark chamber ki red hue.
Beech me ek invisible storm ready khada hai.

Same sky, same silence,
aur do dil —
jo ab phir se takraane wale hain.

PHASE IV​

 

[Sushil@10]

Chapter 37 — Wounds That Don’t Bleed​

“Some wounds never bleed… because they were carved in silence.”

Operation Red Night​

Dubai. Midnight.
Rain window ke sheeshe par gir rahi thi,
aur VAREM Tower ke top floor par ek shadow calm khada tha — Vihaan Arya,
ya jise duniya The King kehti thi.

Screen pe live satellite feed chal rahi thi —
three cities, three targets, three simultaneous strikes.

Aarav ne bola,
“Boss, all systems ready.
Code name — Red Night.”

Vihaan ne whiskey ka sip liya aur calmly bola,

“Trigger time 2:14 a.m.
Make sure the world wakes up to my silence.”

Aur 2:14 pe teen explosions ek saath hue —
Berlin, Hong Kong aur Mumbai.
Har jagah sirf ek symbol mila — ek silver crown,
aur uske neeche likha tha:
“The King Has Arrived.”

Underworld cheer kar rahi thi.
World fear me thi.
Aur Vihaan bas ek word bola —

“Balance restored.”

The RAW Wake-Up Call​

Delhi, 5:30 a.m.
RAW Headquarters red alert pe tha.
Sirens, encrypted calls, emergency meeting.

Riya ne report table par rakhi,
“Ma’am, triple-target attacks.
Pattern same — cyber breach, silent execution, no casualties but total collapse.”

Aishani ne poocha,
“Casualties none?”

Riya: “Yes ma’am.
He destroys systems, not people.”

Aishani ne cold tone me bola,

“That’s worse.
He kills belief.”

Screen par ek image zoom hui — wohi silver crown.
Aishani ne us image ko dekha,
aur andar ek voice goonji:

“Crown toh humne stars ke neeche promise kiya tha…”

Usne apne thoughts shake kiye.
“Trace karo. Jo bhi hai, uska base mujhe chahiye.
Operation Shadow Net continues.”

The Message in the Code​

Teen din baad ek naya code RAW ke secure channel par blink hua.
Message tha —
“You trained to fight shadows. Now fight me.”

Riya ne panic se bola,
“Ma’am! He’s inside our network again!”

Aishani ne comm band kar diya aur quietly bola,

“He’s not inside our network.
He’s inside my pattern.”

Usne system log khola aur data ke beech ek subtle line mili —
ek timestamp, ek signature — “A-42.”

Woh number dekh kar uske haath se pen gir gaya.
A-42… wohi prisoner code jo kabhi Vihaan ka tha.

Ek moment ke liye world freeze ho gayi.
Dil ne bola, “It’s him.”
Dimaag ne bola, “Impossible.”

Aishani ne aankhen band ki aur whisper kiya,

“You’re not real, Vihaan.
You can’t be.”

Vihaan’s War Within​

Dubai me Vihaan apne dark office me tha.
Aarav andar aaya,
“Boss, RAW traced your A-42 signature.”

Vihaan ne smile kiya,

“Good.
I wanted her to.”

Aarav bola,
“Why risk your identity?”

Vihaan ne window ke bahar dekha,
rain aur neon light ke beech calm voice me bola,

“Usne mera naam duniya ke saamne tod diya tha.
Ab main chahta hoon woh ussi naam se apni duniya bigadte dekhe.”

Woh apne desk pe baitha aur diary kholi —
same jail wali diary.
Usne likha:

“Pain remembered is pain repaid.”

Aur page ke corner pe usne ek aur line likhi:
“She’ll remember soon.”

Aishani’s Confusion​

RAW base me Aishani ne apni team ko instructions diye,
par uska mind kahin aur tha.
Har time jab woh The King ke moves padhti,
usme ek familiar pattern milta —
RAW training ke techniques, precision, aur discipline.

Ek raat Riya ne kaha,
“Ma’am, aapko nahi lagta woh koi humara ex-officer ho sakta hai?”

Aishani ne softly bola,

“Ex… ya ghost.”

Uske dimaag me Vihaan ka face ek blur sa tha —
par voice clear thi.
Ek baar woh apni mirror ke samne khadi thi aur bola,

“Vihaan, agar tu zinda hai…
toh main tujhe pakad kar phir khud se poochhungi — tu bana kya?”

Mirror me uska reflection chillaya,

“Aur tu?”

The King’s Philosophy​

Vihaan ek secret meeting me tha.
Underworld ke leaders usse pooch rahe the,
“Boss, RAW ke saath direct conflict dangerous hai.
Aapka plan kya hai?”

Vihaan ne calmly bola,

“Plan nahi, process.
Har empire ko ek storm chahiye hota hai.
Aur main woh storm hoon.”

Ek ne dare kar ke bola,
“RAW ki top agent Aishani Rao aapke peeche hai.”

Vihaan ne slow smile diya,

“Let her come.
Main usse dard nahi dunga.
Main usse woh banne pe majboor karunga jo main ban gaya hoon.”

Aur room silent ho gaya.

Wounds That Don’t Bleed​

Waqt beetta gaya.
Vihaan aur Aishani ke beech ek invisible war chal rahi thi —
codes, strategies, missions.
Na ek dusre ko milte,
na ek dusre ko bhool paate.

Aishani ne ek file close ki,
aur diary me likha,

“Some enemies don’t bleed blood.
They bleed memories.”

Dubai me Vihaan ne bhi apni diary me likha,

“Some memories don’t heal.
They learn to fight back.”

Do alag cities me do diaries band hui —
aur dono ke dil me ek hi fire jalti rahi.


ek taraf RAW’s logo light me chamak raha hai,
dusri taraf The King’s Crown neon me.
Dono symbols ek second ke liye align hote hain,
jaise fate keh raha ho —
“The storm hasn’t even begun yet.”

Shandaar update

Chapter 38 — The Vow​

“Kabhi kabhi zindagi ek promise pe tikti hai…
aur kabhi, ek promise hi zindagi tod deta hai.”

The Night of Reckoning​

Dubai ke VAREM Tower me chandni ka noor sirf ek aadmi par gir raha tha — Vihaan Arya, ya jise duniya The King kehti thi.
Table par khuli diary, ek half-burnt photograph, aur ek whiskey glass.

Usne diary ke last page par likha hua dekha —
“Pain remembered is pain repaid.”
Aur uske neeche likha tha — Aishani Rao.

Vihaan ne photo uthai — wahi RAW medal ceremony wali, jahan ek muskaan thi, ek sapna tha.
Usne photo ko candle ki aag ke paas le ja kar dekha.
Aag ke reflection me woh khud ka chehra dekh raha tha — calm, expressionless, broken.

“Aaj se na main kisi naam pe vishwas karunga,
na kisi wajah pe.
Sirf dard pe.”

Usne photo jalayi —
aur jaise hi aag ne Aishani ka chehra nigla, Vihaan ne aankh band karke apni kasam li.

The Blood Oath​

Aarav aur poori core team uske saamne khadi thi.
Conference room dark tha, sirf ek candle burning.
Table ke beech ek dagger pada tha.

Vihaan ne apna haath us dagger ke upar rakha aur bola,

“From today, my name, my past, and my mercy — sab khatam.
Jo mujhe bana kar tod gaya, main uske naam se ek naya world banauga.”

Usne apni ungli cut ki — blood candle ke wax me mila.
Aarav shock me bola, “Boss… yeh ritual kyu?”

Vihaan ne calmly kaha,

“Because silence ke saath kasam tabhi tikti hai jab usme dard ho.”

Aur phir dheere se bola,

“Agar kabhi meri raah uske raaste se takraye,
toh main usse wohi dard mehsoos karwaunga jo maine saalon tak jhela.”

Room silent ho gaya.
Sirf candle ki aag aur blood ka ek drop — dono ek jaise laal aur steady.

The Architect Turns King​

Agle kuch mahine me Vihaan ne apna empire aur bhi expand kiya.
Arms, finance, smuggling, cyber-intelligence — sab kuch ek perfect rhythm me chal raha tha.
Har deal me uska ek rule tha: No emotion, no error.

Usne world ke sabse bade cartels ko apne under le liya — bina fight ke, sirf planning se.
Log kehte the, “The King doesn’t fight. He calculates.”

Ek night Aarav ne bola,
“Boss, RAW ne phir se trace try kiya. Unhe lagta hai aap kaun ho, woh samajh gaye hain.”

Vihaan ne calmly kaha,

“Let them guess.
Jab tak unhe lagta hai woh mere paas aa rahe hain, main unke andar ghus chuka hunga.”

Woh ek chess board ke pieces ko dekh raha tha.
Ek queen ko uthakar haath me ghumaya —
aur whisper kiya,

“Queen strong hoti hai… par King kabhi dikh kar nahi khelta.”

The RAW Countermove​

Delhi me RAW ke HQ me same night ek nayi mission file open hui.
Aishani ne naam padhe — The King, Kabir, VAREM.
Riya ne bola,
“Ma’am, yeh banda game khel raha hai.
Har jagah ek step aage hai.”

Aishani ne thandi saans li aur bola,

“Yeh koi banda nahi, ek reflection hai.”

Rahul ne confusion me poocha,
“Reflection?”

Aishani ne uski taraf dekha,

“Haan.
Jaise hum apni light se shadows banate hain…
yeh wahi shadow hai jise humne khud create kiya.”

Team silent ho gayi.
Aishani ne RAW ke badge ko dekha — uske fingers thoda shake hue.
“Mission continue karo,” usne bola.
“Ab yeh personal nahi… yeh necessary hai.”

The Symbol of Fear​

Dubai me Vihaan ne apna symbol launch kiya —
A Silver Crown.
Ek mark jo ab har underworld deal par hota.

Logo ke liye yeh ek signature tha.
Vihaan ke liye — ek scar.

Ek chhoti meeting me usne calmly kaha,

“Logo ko lagta hai crown ek victory ka sign hota hai.
Mere liye yeh punishment hai.”

Aarav ne poocha,
“Punishment?”

Vihaan ne halki si smile di,

“Har baar jab main yeh sign dekhta hoon, mujhe yaad aata hai ki main kya kho chuka hoon.”

Woh turn hua aur window ke bahar dekha —
same stars jinke neeche kabhi Aishani ke saath promises hue the.
Ab woh stars bhi cold lag rahe the.

The Shadow Network​

Vihaan ne apna empire ShadowNet me transform kar diya —
ek digital underworld jo government ke satellites ke neeche chhupa tha.
Woh har RAW move ko trace karta,
aur unhe apne system ke mirror version me convert karta.

Ek hacker ne bola,
“Boss, hum RAW se sab data pull kar sakte hain.
Lekin aapne kuch restricted files block kyu rakhe?”

Vihaan ne calmly bola,

“Kuch doors kholne ke liye nahi, yaad dilane ke liye band rakhte hain.”

Woh same file thi — RAW Traitor Case: Vihaan Arya (A-42).
Usne kabhi delete nahi ki.
Bas ek red mark lagaya — ‘Do Not Touch.’

The Vow​

Raat ke end me, Vihaan balcony pe khada tha.
Rain baarish ki tarah nahi, saalon ke dard ki tarah gir rahi thi.
Usne aankhen band ki aur bola,

“Main tujhe bhool chuka hoon, Aishani Rao…
par teri wajah se bana har wound ab mera weapon hai.
Agar destiny ne kabhi milaya,
toh main tujhe wohi gift dunga —
dard, bina nafrat ke.”

Usne apni diary band ki,
aur last line likhi:

“The King was never born.
He was created… by betrayal.”


ek balcony, ek shadow, ek burning city below.
Aur ek silent echo —
“Justice and Revenge, same coin… different sides.”

Amazing update

Chapter 39 — Echoes Fade​

“Jab awaaz dard ban jaati hai… to yaad ek curse ban jaata hai.”

Ten Years Later​

Time ne sab kuch badal diya tha — log, sheher, systems.
Par ek cheez same thi — Vihaan Arya, the King who ruled without showing his face.
Aur dusri, Aishani Rao, RAW ki sabse deadly aur disciplined officer.

Dono alag duniyaon me the,
par dono ke faisle ab bhi ek dusre se jud rahe the —
jaise koi invisible thread, jise fate khud kheench rahi ho.

Vihaan ka empire ab 22 deshon me active tha — ShadowNet, VAREM, aur KingCorp.
Har illegal deal, har political scandal ke peeche uska system tha.
Aur RAW ke top missions, unhi systems ko todne me lage the.

Irony?
Ek dusre ko khatam karte karte,
woh apni hi kahani likh rahe the —
justice vs justice.

The King’s World​

Dubai ke underworld me ab koi Vihaan Arya ka naam nahi leta tha.
Log sirf keh dete the — “The King knows everything.”
Uska empire perfectly designed tha —
jaise har department uske heartbeat pe chal raha ho.

Uske office me ek massive digital wall thi —
jahaan world ke saare power points mark the.
Aur un sabke beech ek single glowing dot tha — India.

Aarav ne poocha,
“Boss, India pe itna focus kyu?”

Vihaan ne calmly bola,

“Kyunki har king ko apni zameen yaad rehti hai…
aur har wound wahi se shuru hota hai.”

Usne map pe ek mark touch kiya — Delhi HQ: RAW Central.
Aur uske eyes me ek cold shine thi.

“Ab waqt aa gaya hai, unhe unke hi game se haraane ka.”

RAW’s Hunt​

Delhi me RAW ke command room me ek aur emergency meeting chal rahi thi.
Riya ne bola,
“Ma’am, yeh ShadowNet ka scale ab global ho gaya hai.
Har country ke servers hack ho rahe hain.”

Aishani ne calmly kaha,

“King ya koi bhi ho, har empire me ek flaw hota hai.
Find me his pattern.”

Rahul ne screen par kuch zoom kiya —
“Pattern mil gaya ma’am.
Har attack ke baad woh ek single symbol chhodta hai —
ek silver crown ke neeche date likhi hoti hai.”

Riya ne bola,
“Har date aapke RAW missions ke saath match karti hai… purane wale.”

Aishani froze.
Woh dates wahi thi —
wohi missions jahan kabhi Vihaan uske saath tha.

Usne softly bola,

“He’s mirroring me.”

Riya ne poocha,
“Ma’am, matlab?”

“Mere har jeet ko woh apni revenge ka milestone bana raha hai.”

Room silent ho gaya.
For the first time, RAW ki top agent ke voice me fear nahi, dard tha.

The Mirror of Time​

Vihaan ne apne private chamber me diary kholi —
same old pages, ab puri bhar chuki thi.
Last page me usne likha:

“She’s chasing me without knowing she’s chasing her own shadow.”

Uske desk par ek chhoti metallic box thi —
andar wohi telescope lens rakha tha jo bachpan me tut gaya tha.
Woh lens uthata hai aur apne samne rakhta hai,
aur ek chhoti smile deta hai.

“Aaj bhi stars wahi hain,
bas hum dono andhere ke alag hisse me khade hain.”

Aarav andar aata hai,
“Boss, RAW ne aapke servers ke half routes trace kar liye.”

Vihaan calmly bola,

“Perfect.
Unhe lagta hai woh mujhe dhoondh rahe hain…
par asal me main unhe unka past dikhane le ja raha hoon.”

The Emotional Trap​

Ek RAW field operation me Aishani aur uski team Dubai pahunchti hai.
Unka mission tha ShadowNet ke ek local hub ko dismantle karna.
Jab unhone data access kiya,
to ek single video auto-play hua.

Woh video black screen se start hua,
aur ek calm voice boli —

“Agent A.
You still breathe the same way before pulling the trigger.”

Aishani ka heart ruk gaya.
Usne headset utara, aur screen me text flash hua —
“Welcome to the game you started.”

Riya ne panic me bola,
“Ma’am! Yeh trap hai!”

Aishani ne whisper kiya,

“Yeh message mere liye tha…
sirf mere liye.”

The Burn of Memory​

RAW ke wapas base par,
Aishani ne apne cabin me woh video baar baar dekha.
Har baar us voice ke ek tone pe uske andar kuch hilta.
Ek flash: jail cell, ek mirror, ek voice —
“Tu meri truth thi, Aishani.”

Woh chair se uth gayi aur mirror ke samne jaakar khud se kaha,

“Tu zinda nahi ho sakta, Vihaan.
Par agar tu hai…
toh main bhi ab wahi banungi jo tu bana hai.”

Us raat usne apna RAW badge uthaya,
aur pehli baar apni file me likha —
“Target: The King.
Personal Classification: Vihaan Arya (Unconfirmed).”

The Calm Before the Storm​

Dubai me, Vihaan balcony pe khada tha.
Rain gir rahi thi, lekin is baar uska chehra soft tha —
revenge aur emotion ke beech kahin.

Aarav ne poocha,
“Boss, kya aap usse kabhi milna chahenge?”

Vihaan ne thoda socha,

“Milne ki zarurat nahi.
Ab woh mujhe yaad karegi…
tabhi main jeet gaya samjho.”

Aarav ne slow tone me bola,
“Lagta hai aap usse ab bhi…”

Vihaan ne interrupt kiya,

“Pyaar nahi karta.
Bas uski yaad ne mujhe banaya hai.
Ab woh yaad meri empire ka rule hai.”

Camera zoom out karta hai —
ek taraf The King’s Crown ki roshni,
dusri taraf Delhi ke RAW HQ ki blue light.
Dono jagah ek hi sentence likha flash karta hai —
“History is about to repeat.”

Dynamic update

Chapter 40 — Two Paths, One Storm​

“Kuch raaste takraate nahi…
unhe takraya jaata hai.”

Vienna — The Theatre of Shadows​

Thandi hawa me barf ke chhote chhote tukde ud rahe the, aur purani Vienna Opera House ek battlefield me badal gayi thi.
RAW ka mission simple tha — Operation Finale.
Target: Vihaan Arya — The King.

Aishani ne apne headset pe code diya, “Team ready?”
Riya ka voice aaya, “All clear, ma’am. East wing secured.”
Rahul ne bola, “Thermal signature detected. Ek banda stage ke peeche hai.”

Aishani ne apni pistol cock ki. “Let’s finish this.”

Stage ke parde dheere dheere hil rahe the.
Ek dim light sirf ek figure par gir rahi thi.
Woh khada tha — tall, calm, aur ek smile jo sirf Vihaan ki hoti thi.

Aishani ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
It’s him.
Wo ladka jise usne kabhi chhoda tha.
Wo aadmi jise usne ek baar apna enemy mana tha.

Usne gun uthayi, “Vihaan Arya. You’re under arrest.”

Woh aadmi thoda sa hansa, ek familiar hansi.
“Under arrest?” Uski awaaz soft thi, par dangerous calm se bhari.

“Tumhe ab bhi lagta hai, tum mujhe rok sakti ho, Agent A?”

The Illusion Unfolds​

Aishani ne slow step liya.
“Stop your games, Vihaan. It’s over.”

Woh aadmi ne halki si head tilt di,
aur bola, “Over? Tumhe lagta hai story abhi khatam ho gayi?”

Usne apne haath se ek mask utara —
aur neeche wahi chehra tha jise Aishani ne pehle bhi dekha tha…
wohi jise usne mara tha.

Dil ek dum se thandaa ho gaya.
“Yeh… kaise…?”

Woh aadmi muskuraya,

“Main woh hoon jise tumne samjha tha Vihaan Arya.
Par main sirf uska reflection hoon.
Asli King toh hamesha shadow me tha.”

Riya ne comm pe chillaya, “Ma’am! Uska DNA Vihaan se match karta hai—”
Aishani ne uski baat kaat di.

“Woh match karta hai kyunki use banaya gaya tha Vihaan jaisa.”

Woh aadmi step aage badhata hai,
“Waqt ke saath har king apna ek mask banata hai.
Main uska mask tha.”

Aishani ka face pale pad gaya.
“Tum matlab… tum woh nahi jisse main saalon se chase kar rahi thi?”

Woh calm tone me bola,

“Main woh hi tha jise tumhe dekhna tha, Aishani Rao.
Asli Vihaan toh kabhi front line pe aata hi nahi.”

The Confession of the Mask​

Theatre ke beech silence chhaya tha.
Stage ke chand light bulbs flicker kar rahe the, aur peeche ek piano apne aap bajne laga — jaise fate khud background score likh raha ho.

Woh aadmi — the fake Vihaan — thoda peeche hataa aur bola,

“Usne mujhe banaya, taaki tum uska face pehchaan hi na sako.
Tumhe lagta rahe tumne usse dhoond liya hai.
Par asal me tum uske plan ka hissa thi.”

Aishani ne gussa dabate hue bola,

“Kyun? Mujhe kyu target kiya?
Main uski dushman thi, koi pawn nahi!”

Woh aadmi bola,

“Uske liye tum dono cheezein thi.
Dushman bhi, aur test bhi.”

Aishani ke aankhon me tears the, par uska face still tha.
“Usne tumhe yeh kehne bheja tha?”

“Nahi,” usne kaha, “main khud kehne aaya hoon.
Main uska mask tha, par main ab aur jhoot nahi jee sakta.
Tumhare saamne khade hokar main yeh kehna chahta hoon —
asli Vihaan kabhi mara nahi.
Usne mujhe marne bheja, taaki tumhe lag sake woh khatam ho gaya.”

Riya ne comm pe bola, “Ma’am, extraction in 5 minutes!”
Aishani ne bas ek hi line boli,

“Woh kaha hai?”

Fake Vihaan ne uski aankhon me dekha,
aur dheere bola,

“Shadow ke andar.
Aur jab woh bahar aayega…
tumhe pehchaan nahi aayega.”

The Collapse​

Achanak stage ke peeche ek explosion hua.
Dust aur smoke ne pura theatre cover kar liya.
Rahul ne chillaya, “Hostiles incoming!”

Fake Vihaan ne ek small smile di.
“Lagta hai woh nahi chahta main zyada bolu.”

Aishani ne gun uthayi, “You’re not leaving till you tell me—”
Par usse pehle hi woh aadmi peeche hataa,
aur ek flash grenade floor pe chhod gaya.

Bright light ne sab kuch white kar diya.
Aur jab Aishani ne aankhen kholi, woh gayab tha.

Sirf ek chhota note pada tha —
burned edges ke saath, usme likha tha:

“He never wanted you to see his face yet.”

Aishani ne note uthaya, aur aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.
Riya ne uske shoulder par haath rakha,
“Ma’am… are you okay?”

Aishani ne seedha dekha,

“Nahi.
Ab main samajh gayi hoon —
jise humne dhoonda woh sirf ek mask tha.
Real King abhi bhi kahin zinda hai.”

The King’s Perspective​

Usi waqt, Dubai ke ek secret chamber me,
Real Vihaan Arya ek screen ke saamne khada tha.
Uske monitor pe Vienna theatre ka live feed chal raha tha.

Aarav andar aaya, “Boss, mask compromised.”

Vihaan ne soft tone me bola,

“I know.
She was supposed to find him.
It was time.”

Aarav ne poocha, “Ab kya?”

Vihaan ne mirror me apna reflection dekha —
aur whisper kiya,

“Ab jab woh mujhe dekhegi…
woh samjhegi ki main uska Vihaan nahi,
uska dard hoon.”

Usne candle blow out ki, aur screen black ho gayi.

The Storm Ahead​

RAW HQ me wapas, Aishani ne apna mission file close kiya.
“Mark the Vienna operation incomplete,” usne kaha.

Riya ne poocha, “Next step?”

Aishani ne deep breath li,
aur dheere se bola,

“Ab hum real Vihaan Arya ko dhoondenge.
Na mask, na shadow.
Sirf asli chehra.”

Rahul ne slow voice me kaha,

“Aur agar woh mila?”

Aishani ne aankhon me steel bhar kar bola,

“Toh ya toh yeh kahani khatam hogi…
ya phir dobara shuru.”


ek taraf RAW ke control room ki blue lights,
dusri taraf Dubai me Vihaan ke dark chamber ki red hue.
Beech me ek invisible storm ready khada hai.

Same sky, same silence,
aur do dil —
jo ab phir se takraane wale hain.

PHASE IV​

Outstanding update

 

[Aryashadow]

Shandaar update
Amazing update
Dynamic update
Outstanding update

Thnak you bro and i going to end this story in next few chapters

 

[Aryashadow]

Final Phase​

Chapter 41 — The Awakening​

( The Past Comes Alive)

“Sach kabhi soya nahi rehta…
bas ek awaaz ka intezaar karta hai.”

The Echo of Guilt​

Hospital ke room me sirf monitor ki beep beep sunai de rahi thi.
White light andar ghus kar Aishani ke band palkon ko chhoo rahi thi.
Woh hosh me aayi to pehle kuch samajh nahi aaya.

“Where am I?” usne slow se poocha.
Riya ne relieved voice me bola, “Ma’am, you’re safe. 36 hours se aap behosh thi.”

36 hours… par andar ek aawaz goonj rahi thi jo usne saalon se daba rakhi thi.
Ek naam, ek yaad — Vihaan Arya.

Flash blink hua — ek court room, documents ke pile, uska signature aur Vihaan ka toota chehra.
Woh yaad thunderstorm ban kar aayi: “Maine usse jhoothe case me jail bhej diya tha.”

Uske haath thande pad gaye.

“Maine kya kar diya tha…” she whispered, voice tooting hui.

Riya aur Rahul ek dusre ko dekhe — par yeh khaali pachtawa nahi tha.
Yeh woh moment tha jab Aishani RAW agent nahi balki ek aurat ban gayi thi jise samajh aaya — usne apna pyaar kho diya tha sirf ek uniform ke liye.

The Mirror of Regret​

Aishani window ke paas gayi, city ki lights neeche shine kar rahi thi.
Woh apne reflection me khud ko dekh rahi thi — RAW officer nahi, ek ladki jo kabhi chhat pe stars ginti thi aur ek ladke ke saath sapne dekhti thi.

Uske andar voice goonji: “Tu RAW join kar legi na? Main tera backup banunga.”
Woh muskaan yaad aayi jo usne khud tod di thi.

“Main usse pyaar kart thi…” Aishani ne khud se kaha.
“Par main apne pyaar se zyada RAW se darti thi.”

Woh diwaar se lag kar baithi, aur aankhon se ansoo gir gaye.
Flash after flash — Vihaan ka proposal, uska majak banana, aur phir woh cold sign jo usne case files pe kiya tha.

Har signature ek dagger ban kar andar ghus raha tha.

The Other Side​

Dubai.
VAREM Tower ke andar Vihaan Arya ka face calm tha par andar vulcano tha.
Screen pe ek old file open thi — RAW Case #472 – Traitor Vihaan Arya (Accused by Agent Aishani Rao).

Aarav andar aaya, “Boss, hume record mila hai. Case fake tha. Evidence planted by internal agent. Name confirmed…”
Vihaan ka voice thanda pad gaya,

“Bolo.”

“Agent Aishani Rao.”

Room me pin-drop silence.
Whiskey glass toot gaya.
Blood nikla, par usne notice nahi kiya.

Uska chehra stone ban gaya.

“Toh yeh tha uska love?”
“Usne mujhe nahi bheja tha RAW me, usne mujhe seedha hell me bhej diya.”

Aarav ne slow se kaha, “Boss… maybe she didn’t mean to.”

Vihaan ka answer steel jaisa tha:

“Intention doesn’t matter when punishment is served.
Ab main sirf ek target dekh raha hoon.”

The Awakening​

Hospital se discharge ke baad, Aishani ne RAW HQ me report submit karne se mana kar diya.
“Main ab sirf missions nahi chalaungi,” usne bola,

“Main apna past face karungi.”

Riya ne poocha, “Ma’am, aap kaun sa past?”
Aishani ne seedha jawab diya,

“Wo jo mujhe har raat sapne me maar deta hai — Vihaan Arya.”

Ussi raat uske phone pe message aaya —
“Toh tujhe yaad aaya. Ab main bhi aata hoon.”

Aishani ka chehra thanda ho gaya.
She knew — it had begun.

The Rising Flames​

Dubai me Vihaan ne Project Phoenix activate kiya.
Command line par ek word blink kar raha tha — Aishani.

Woh aag ki tarah bol raha tha,

“Ab main na pyaar bacha hoon, na maafi.
Jo aag usne mere andar lagayi thi,
ab main use jinda jalane aaya hoon.”

Aarav andar aaya, “Boss, yeh war hoga?”
Vihaan ne cold smile di,

“War toh tab hota hai jab dono zinda rehe.
Main already mar chuka hoon.”

Two Souls, One Storm​

Aishani apne terrace pe khadi thi, stars ko dekh rahi thi.
Har star ek yaad ban gaya tha — unke sapne, unke vade, aur unke dard.

Woh aankhon se tear nikalte hui boli,

“Main galat thi, Vihaan.
Par ab main bhool nahi sakungi.”

Door kahin Dubai ke balcony pe, Vihaan bhi same sky dekh raha tha.
Usne whisper kiya,

“Tu bhool nahi sakegi kyunki main tujhe yaad rakhne wala ban gaya hoon.”


ek side Delhi ki blue night, dusri side Dubai ki red glow.
Beech me ek line likhi jaati hai:

“One love. One betrayal. One war.”

 

[Aryashadow]

Chapter 42 — The Fire of Shadows​

( The Hunt Begins)

“Kuch sach dil se nahi, toofan se samjhe jaate hain.”

The Calm Before the Breakdown​

Delhi RAW HQ ke briefing room me Aishani akeli baithi thi.
Table pe ek hi file khuli thi — “Case 472 – Vihaan Arya”.
Uske upar ka red stamp — CLOSED.
Par uske andar ka guilt abhi bhi open wound tha.

Usne pen uthaya aur likhne ki koshish ki:

“Case reopening request…”

Par pen uske haath se gir gaya.
Aawaz goonj gayi, aur uske saath uska heartbeat bhi.

Har line yaad aa rahi thi — woh court room, woh cold signature, aur Vihaan ka aankhon se nikalta hua dard.

“Main tujhe protect kar rahi hoon,” usne us din kaha tha.
Par ab samajh aaya, wo protect nahi, destroy kar rahi thi.

Aishani ka reflection uske samne mirror wall me tha — ek officer, jiska medal chamak raha tha…
par andar ek aurat thi, jiska pyaar mar gaya tha.

The Message​

Raat ke 2 baje uske encrypted phone me ek message aaya:
From: Unknown

“Aishani Rao…
Ab tu bhi meri tarah ek ghost ban gayi hai.”

Woh line uske andar seedha ghus gayi.
No signature. No trace.
Par tone Vihaan ka tha.

Usne immediately trace command daala —
but system flashed: “Sender location: Unknown — mirrored through 47 dark nodes.”

Riya ne rush karke kaha,
“Ma’am, yeh impossible trace hai. Koi aise network control kar raha hai jo sirf…”

Aishani ne uski baat poori ki,

“…sirf Vihaan Arya kar sakta tha.”

Woh khadi hui.
Eyes cold. Heart racing.

“He’s not hiding anymore.”

The King’s Countermove​

Dubai me VAREM Tower ke top floor par Vihaan ka command hub alive tha.
Har screen par RAW ke server pings flash ho rahe the.
Project Phoenix ab full throttle pe tha.

Aarav ne bola,
“Boss, aapne usse message bhej diya? It’ll trigger her.”

Vihaan ne whiskey ka glass table pe rakha aur bola,

“That’s the point.”

Usne ek screen kholi — Aishani ka live CCTV feed from Delhi HQ.
“Dekha, Aarav? Ab woh apne guilt se nahi, mere pace se chalegi.”

Aarav ne poocha, “Boss, ab aap kya karne wale ho?”

Vihaan ne halki si smile di,

“Ab main uske system me ghus kar usko uske hi mission se destroy karunga.
Pyaar usne khatam kiya tha; ab main uska mission khatam karunga.”

RAW Under Attack​

Next morning RAW servers par multiple breach alerts aaye.
Riya ne panic me chillaya,
“Ma’am! Phoenix network RAW ke internal communications ko mirror kar raha hai.
Har line ke reply me ek message auto-generate ho raha hai — ‘THE KING IS BACK.’”

Aishani ne apni screen pe dekha — har email, har encrypted chat me wohi line flash ho rahi thi.
“Wo hamare andar aa gaya hai,” usne thandi awaaz me kaha.

Rahul ne poocha,
“Ma’am, iska matlab?”

“Matlab,” Aishani ne kaha, “wo ab data nahi chura raha… wo hume study kar raha hai.”

Usne command diya,
“System lockdown.
Aur mujhe ek secure room chahiye — bina cameras, bina mics.”

The Room of Truth​

Secure chamber me sirf ek light thi.
Aishani ne ek recorder rakha aur bola,

“For official records — if anything happens to me,
this is my truth.”

Usne record button dabaya.

“Main Aishani Rao confess karti hoon…
Vihaan Arya never betrayed this nation.
Maine use jhoothe case me phasaya tha,
kyunki main RAW ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti thi —
even if it meant destroying someone who loved me.”

Usne ek pause li.
Aankhon me tears aaye,

“Par ab mujhe samajh aaya hai — desh se pyaar karte karte maine insaniyat kho di.”

Woh recorder band karti hai, aur whisper karti hai,

“Vihaan, agar tu sun raha hai…
main bhaag nahi rahi.
Aa ja, samna kar.”

The Preparation​

Dubai me Vihaan ne Aishani ka voice intercept kiya.
Recorder ki same line uske system pe chal rahi thi.
Usne aankh band kar li.
Uska chehra hard tha, par aankhon me ek micro-second ke liye warmth aayi.

“Tu abhi bhi wahi hai, Aishani…
dil se lad rahi hai, dimaag se nahi.”

Aarav ne bola, “Boss, she’s calling you out.”

Vihaan ne khidki se bahar dekha,

“Good.
Maine bhi apna jawab ready kar liya hai.”

Usne ek red file uthayi — “Phase 3 – Confrontation.”
Aur uske neeche likha tha —

Location: New Delhi.

The Storm is Set​

Raat me Delhi aur Dubai dono me ek hi mausam tha — thunder.
Aishani RAW HQ ke terrace pe khadi thi,
aur hawa me bola,

“Tujhe lagta hai tu mujhe tod dega, Vihaan?
Main ab woh nahi jo tujhe jail bhejne se pehle thi.
Ab main woh hoon jo guilt se bani hai.”

Door kahin Dubai me Vihaan ne apna black coat pehna,
aur bola,

“Aur main woh hoon jo us guilt ka reason hai.”


ek taraf Delhi ki blue baarish, dusri taraf Dubai ki red lightning.
Beech me ek invisible map blink karta hai —

DESTINATION: SAME.

 

[Aryashadow]

Chapter 43 — The Fire Within​

( The War Takes Form)

“Kabhi kabhi jung dil se nahi, zameer se ladi jaati hai.”

The City That Never Sleeps​

Delhi, 2:45 AM.
RAW HQ me lights ab bhi on thi.
Rain ne sheher ko mirror bana diya tha — aur har puddle me ek chehra dikh raha tha… ek chehra jisse Aishani bach nahi pa rahi thi.

Usne apni desk se Case 472 ki copy uthai.
Wo file ab uske liye sirf paper nahi, ek punishment thi.
Her eyes red thi, neend gayi thi.

Rahul ne andar aake bola,
“Ma’am, kal high alert hai. Phoenix network har border par movement kar raha hai.
Aur uska origin Dubai ke VAREM Tower se trace hua hai.”

Aishani ne dheere se kaha,

“Toh ab wo छुप nahi raha.”

Riya ne add kiya, “Sirf ek signature har breach me mil raha hai — ek silver crown.”

Aishani ne aankhen band karke whisper kiya,

“Vihaan Arya… The King.”

Woh khadi hui, apna badge table par rakha,
aur calmly bola,

“From now, this mission is personal.”

The King’s Command​

Dubai — same time.
VAREM Tower ke war room me ek dozen screens blink kar rahe the.
Har ek screen par map of India glowing red.

Vihaan ne apna coat utaar kar ek system ke saamne khada hua.
Aarav bola, “Boss, RAW ne Delhi aur Mumbai dono pe surveillance double kar diya hai.
Kya hum Phase 3 execute kar rahe hain?”

Vihaan ne uski taraf dekha — calm, controlled, par aankhon me aag.

“Phase 3 already shuru ho gaya hai.”

Screen par ek code run hua —
PROJECT FIREWALL / TARGET: RAO.

Aarav ne poocha, “Boss, kya yeh personal revenge hai ya political game?”

Vihaan ne thandi si muskuraahat di,

“Politics tab hoti hai jab dil involved na ho.
Ye toh personal war hai, Aarav — dil se likhi gayi.”

Phir usne ek line add ki:

“Aur mujhe apna dard poora karna hai.”

The Guilt’s Grip​

RAW HQ ke training floor par Aishani apne haathon se punching bag pe baarish ki tarah punches maar rahi thi.
Har hit ke saath ek yaad flash ho rahi thi:
— Vihaan ka proposal
— uska cold rejection
— aur uska sign karna us file par

Uske haath se khoon nikla, par wo rukhi nahi.

Riya ne peeche se aake bola,
“Ma’am, please stop. You’re bleeding.”

Aishani ne thandi nazar se kaha,

“Mujhe yaad rakhna hai yeh dard.
Jab tak yeh jalega, main weak nahi padungi.”

Riya ne softly bola,

“Aap ab bhi use pyaar karti hain na?”

Aishani ne ek second ke liye aankhen bandh ki,
aur halki si awaaz me bola,

“Haan.
Par ab pyaar mera punishment ban gaya hai.”

The Infiltration​

Usi raat, RAW ke satellite uplink pe ek new signal detect hua.
Code name: CROWN LINK.
Rahul chillaya, “Ma’am! King ne RAW ke mainframe me ghost access liya hai!”

Aishani ne headset lagaya,

“Track him, but don’t block him.
Let him think we’re unaware.”

Riya ne hairan ho kar poocha, “Why?”

Aishani ne cold tone me kaha,

“Kyuki agar main uska trace chhupne de rahi hoon,
to wo samjhega main ab bhi same Agent A hoon.
Jab wo samne aayega… tab main alag ho chuki hongi.”

Screen pe ek second ke liye ek encrypted video flash hua.
Static ke beech ek familiar voice:

“You can’t erase your sins, Aishani.”

Uske haath thandey ho gaye.
Woh Vihaan ki awaaz thi.

The Message of Fire​

Dubai me, Vihaan balcony pe khada tha, lightning ke glow me ek ghost jaise.
Uske haath me ek lighter tha — flame ke reflection me uski aankhen aur bhi dark lag rahi thi.

“Tu ne mujhe barsaon pehle ek cell me daala tha.
Ab main tujhe teri guilt ke cell me daalne aaya hoon.”

Aarav ne quietly bola,
“Boss, yeh war dangerous hoga. RAW sirf mission nahi, system hai.”

Vihaan ne jawab diya,

“System us waqt dangerous hota hai jab usme dil na ho.
Aur main toh ek broken dil hoon.”

Usne lighter bujhaya aur bola,

“Start transmission.”

Crossed Frequencies​

Next morning, RAW aur Phoenix network ek hi frequency par jam ho gaye.
Har RAW agent ke comm pe ek audio chala —
“The King returns to collect what was taken.”

HQ me panic tha.
Aishani ne calmly bola,

“Sab connections cut karo. Manual mode par switch karo.”

Woh khud apne system ke saamne baithi, ek purani code line likhne lagi —
wohi encryption jo Vihaan ne usse saalon pehle sikhayi thi.

“Agar wo mujhe apni trick se marega,
to main usi trick se usko pakadungi.”

Uske screen pe ek line flash hui:
“Hello, Agent A.”
Aur fir —
“Missed me?”

Aishani ne type kiya:

“Stop hiding, Vihaan.”

Reply turant aaya:

“Main kabhi chhupa hi nahi tha.
Tu kabhi dekh nahi paayi.”

Usne screen band ki aur whisper kiya,

“Toh dekhte hain ab tu kitna chhup sakta hai.”

The Fire Within​

Raat ke 3 baje Delhi ke aasman me baarish aur thunder saath ghoom rahe the.
Aishani terrace pe khadi thi — bina umbrella ke, bina fear ke.
Har drop jaise uske guilt ko dhone ki koshish kar rahi thi.

Woh aankhon se sky me dekhti hai aur chillati hai,

“Tu aayega na, Vihaan?
Ab main ready hoon — na officer ke roop me, na lover ke,
balki ek insaan ke roop me.”

Door kahin Dubai me Vihaan ne bhi sky ki taraf dekha.
Usne softly kaha,

“Main aa raha hoon, Aishani.
Lekin ab main woh Vihaan nahi hoon jise tu jaanti thi.
Ab main woh fire hoon jise tu khud ne jalaya tha.”


ek taraf Delhi ka blue lightning, dusri taraf Dubai ka red storm.
Dono lines ek hi point pe milti hain:
CONFRONTATION.

 

[Aryashadow]

Chapter 44 — The Hunt Begins​

( The King Returns to His Land)

“Kabhi kabhi jung zameen par nahi, yaadon ke raste par ladi jaati hai.”

The Arrival​

Mumbai International Airport.
Raat ke 2:10 baje.
Ek private jet silently land hua, bina clearance ke.
Customs systems ek second ke liye blink hue aur wapas normal ho gaye.
Kisi ne trace bhi nahi kiya — kyunki signal ek ghost ne mask kar diya tha.

Ramp ke neeche ek black coat wala aadmi utarta hai.
Footsteps slow, controlled, deliberate.
Ek hi chehra — Vihaan Arya.

10 saal baad apni mitti par kadam rakha.
Air ki smell change thi — par uske dil me wahi fire thi.

“Welcome home, King,” Aarav ne kaha.

Vihaan ne halki si smile di,

“Home?
Nahi, battlefield.”

Uske peeche container se black SUV nikalti hai.
Destination clear tha — Delhi.
Par rasta ab sirf miles ka nahi, yaadon ka bhi tha.

The RAW Response​

Delhi RAW HQ.
Emergency alert trigger hua.
“Unknown encrypted jet entered Indian airspace. Trace shows ghost signature — possible Phoenix activity.”

Riya ne turant bola,
“Ma’am, yeh wohi signature hai — silver crown ke mark ke saath.”

Aishani ne file band kar di,
aur calm voice me kaha,

“He’s here.”

Rahul ne shocked tone me poocha,

“Vihaan Arya… India me?”

Aishani ne uski aankhon me dekha,

“Woh kabhi gaya hi nahi tha.
Uska plan shuru tab hota hai jab hum sochte hain wo khatam ho gaya.”

HQ silent ho gaya.
Sirf rain ke drops window pe tap kar rahe the — jaise countdown chal raha ho.

The First Strike​

Next morning, Mumbai port area me ek blast hua — bina casualties ke, par ek message ke saath.
Wall pe ek silver crown paint tha aur neeche likha tha:

“King is back. Game restarts.”

Media me chaos.
Government silent.
Par RAW ko pata tha — yeh Vihaan ka introduction tha.

Aishani ne board pe map lagaya,

“Wo randomly attack nahi karega.
Ye ports, communication hubs, aur intelligence lines — sab symbolic hain.
Ye warning nahi, declaration hai.”

Riya ne poocha,

“Toh hum kya karein?”

Aishani ne ek deep breath li,
aur kaha,

“We hunt him like he hunted us.
Par is baar, uske rules nahi chalenge.”

The Ghost Trail​

Delhi ke outskirts me ek abandoned textile factory thi.
Wahi Vihaan ka first base set ho gaya tha.
Screens par Indian security grids chal rahe the — uske haath me ek small pendant tha, jisme ek purani photo thi.
Wo aur Aishani, cadet days me smiling.

Usne photo dekhi aur whisper kiya,

“Tu RAW join kar gayi thi…
main underworld join kar gaya.
Dono ne system choose kiya, par dil kabhi chhuta nahi.”

Aarav ne bola,
“Boss, RAW ne surveillance start kar diya hai. Aapka presence detect hone me time nahi lagega.”

Vihaan ne calmly kaha,

“Let them detect me.
Fear tabhi banta hai jab enemy samjhta hai woh close hai.”

Usne ek code initiate kiya — Phase 4: Mirror Game.

The Mirror Game​

Next day, RAW ke main screens par ek live broadcast open hua — bina authorization ke.
Black screen par ek silver crown blink kar raha tha.
Aur uske baad ek familiar voice:

“Hello, Agent A.”

HQ freeze ho gaya.
Aishani ne dekha — woh Vihaan tha.
Live. Calm. Confident.

“Tu ab bhi system ke peeche chhupi hai, Aishani.
Main khud system ban gaya hoon.”

Riya ne panic me bola, “Cut the feed!”

Aishani ne haath uthaya, “Nahi.
Let him talk.”

Screen pe Vihaan ne halka sa smile diya.

“Main India wapas aaya hoon… na badla lene, na maafi maangne.
Sirf apna hisaab poora karne.”

Phir screen blink hui aur message likha:
“Let the hunt begin.”

Transmission khatam.
Room silent.
Sirf Aishani ki saans tez ho gayi.

“It’s time,” usne kaha.
“Ab yeh chase nahi, yeh war hai.”

The Chase​

Next few days, pure desh me ek silent war chal rahi thi.
Phoenix network vs RAW.
Every city, every system — ek invisible battlefield ban gaya tha.

Vihaan ke moves surgical the.
Aishani ke counter precise.
Par har bar jab wo ek step leti, Vihaan ek step aage hota.

Riya ne bola,
“Ma’am, yeh impossible hai.
Har operation me wo ek second pehle hume outsmart kar deta hai.”

Aishani ne calmly kaha,

“Kyunki wo mujhe jaanta hai.
Aur main ab seekh rahi hoon — mujhe apni tarah sochna hoga.”

Usne map par ek circle banaya — Delhi outskirts.

“Wahi hai wo.”

The Warline​

Night mission initiate hua.
Aishani ne comm pe bola,

“Team Alpha, south entry. Beta, cover the north.
Aur koi unnecessary firing nahi.
Mujhe wo chahiye — zinda.”

Rain shuru ho gayi thi.
Lightning ne factory ke upar ka sky ek second ke liye roshan kiya —
ek silhouette dikhayi diya.
Tall. Still. Watching.

Vihaan Arya.

Uske lips hilte hai, par awaaz hawa le jaati hai.
Bas ek word sunai deta hai —

“Welcome.”

Aishani uske saamne rukh jaati hai.
Unki aankhen milti hain — 10 saal ke dard, pyaar aur nafrat ek pal me.

Rain unke beech girti hai, aur world static ho jaata hai.